How much HP is the optimum for a daily car ?

[jimmy156]

My 156 has 150bhp, and about 118 bhp/tonne. Its quick enough for most situations but overtaking when the car in-front is doing over 55ish can take a bit of a run-up.

ETA: 175-200 in the same car would be lovely!

Edited by jimmy156 on Tuesday 19th April 09:41

[renrut]

I've got 240 in the current car @1650kg and do generally cross town, D/C and country lanes and it seems spot on. Overtaking is fine and dandy unless you're overtaking someone doing nigh on the limit anyway in which case what's the point. You have enough power to get out at junctions easily and its not too bad on fuel either. Obviously lower weight but the same ratio would be a better compromise but I use it for towing and low weight isn't ideal for that so I live with it.

Those stats come out at 145bhp/ton which sounds about right to me. More than 200bhp/ton and IMO for a day to day car you're into the seriously quick stuff.

So I'd say 150bhp/ton is adequate for most drivers and as low a weight as you're comfortable with to get the best mpg.

Previous cars have been around 100bhp/ton and that definitely doesn't feel comfortable overtaking things on country lanes (esp if the w@nker decides to speed up!) but can still be good fun in a light enough car.

[kambites]

To my mind, it depends on which wheels are driven. I think the optimal (as in ideal) power output is such that you can accelerate quickly, but don't have to be tiptoe everywhere in conditions of poor grip so for a FWD car that'd be something like 150-200bhp/tonne, for a RWD one maybe 250-300bhp/tonne and for a 4WD one 350bhp/tonne. More than that and it starts to become more of a hindrance than a help when grip gets low.

Anything under about 60bhp or 60bhp/tonne starts to get annoying.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 19th April 09:49

[pilchardthecat]

Rawwr said:

GingerWizard said:

700+bhp/ton.

Excessive non?

But 50mpg! Every little helps.

With bikes you really should add the weight of the rider and some fuel, so it's probably "only" 550bhp/tonne

I never got anywhere near 50mpg out of mine, you must be riding it wrong

[6potdave]

The more the merrier!

[cv01jw]

54 is fine.

[SD1992]

My 130 bhp Mondeo is fairly decent for day to day driving. It is not happy in town, no power low down, but on faster roads it can keep up with traffic no bother.

Overtaking is fairly easy too, but you do have to floor it in 3rd to get it going!

All I really need to be honest, but "want" is starting to take over...

[S3000]

6potdave said:

The more the merrier!

you mean MPG ?