How much power do you have, and how do you use it?

[TheAngryDog]

I have circa 400bhp (though I think my car is down on power at the moment). Apart from once, I do not think I have ever really used this power.

Watching this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... has really made me think. I was all set to supercharge my car next year to take it north of 500bhp, but I'm now thinking that there is no point. I dont do the traffic light GP, I dont race on the roads in other capacities and I currently do not do track days (though I think I may start doing a few), though I think if my car is running a healthy 400bhp then I think this should be enough. Sure I'll get passed by lower powered cars that are lighter and deliver their power differently, but I'll still enjoy it, and will get to use my car in a safe way while wringing its neck.

I dont drive anything special, yet on Saturday I had some clown in his chavved up Lexus IS200 show off to me. He came flying passed, weaving in and out of traffic, and very nearly rear ending another car. I dont need nor want people to show off to me, I dont need or want to race people, I have nothing to prove.

Anyone else had similar?

[kambites]

This is one of the reasons that I can't see myself replacing my current car. I've never driven anything else that entertains so much whilst remaining at sensible speeds. I've only got 160bhp, but I can't imagine what I'd do with more.

I've driven some much, much faster cars (including faster versions of my own car) and without exception found them less fun on the road. If I ever started doing track days, I might consider more power although I'd almost certainly go for less weight, instead.

Edited by kambites on Monday 24th March 09:08

[ED209]

Probably about 200hp and plenty of diesel torque, thing is i don't really use it a lot of the time i try to drive sensibly it is however nice to have when you are being held up ny somebody driving slower than normal, makes overtakes more available and safer when they are.

[Blib]

I usually have 84BHP on tap. But, mostly, I drive my daily in eco mode. The turbo is disengaged and therefore, the power available to my right foot is somewhat less. 60?

[TurboHatchback]

I have 200hp and it is more than enough. It only all gets used for the occasional overtake but even then it's often unnecessary. Then again, I live in the pensioner capital of England so keeping up with the traffic would take no more than 20bhp .

[ArsE92]

300bhp (335i) and I use it all at least once each day

[irocfan]

I'm on 300ish bhp as standard and although a lot of mustang owners rave about the benefits of supercharging TBH I really can't see the point. I'm not going to go tracking it and like the OP the whole traffic-light GP leaves me cold, the odd blat around is fun so 300 works for me

[Dodsy]

I have 400BHP and generally use about 20% of the throttle when commuting, just no point tearing the arse out of it as you dont get there any faster.

But when I want to make progress its nice to have those horses under the right foot. Never get stuck behind anything as TED is minimal when overtaking and even though its a massive barge it handles very well so I can chuck it around when the mood takes me. Probably 90% of my driving is a drudge but for those moments when I want to enjoy driving just for the hell of it those 400 horses come in very handy.

[Vladimir]

This isn't very PH but I honestly don't need any more power than my M135i has. Even with 320bhp, I'm at triple figures in what feels like no time. But I do like using the power to adjust the handling balance.
Off to Germany in May so will try and vmax it if I can.

The van is miles from quick but it has enough power to hold speed up most hills and it easily keeps up with all but keenly driven cars in day to day driving. The torque is useful off road though.

[AA999]

Over 500bhp.
It does get used from time to time.
Obviously the pedal is never full to the floor in urban areas but on the open road on spirited drives it gets used.
I enjoy the solo drives whereby it is me versus the road and the conditions, rather than wishing to show any sort of dominance to other road users. If people come flying past me, and they often do, then I really can't remember the last time I had the thought to 'show them up' so to speak.
I do my proper driving on the track

[Bill]

About 180, but it doesn't go far in a 2.2T Landrover. 140 and limited torque before the remap was painful though.

My previous car had 400bhp and if I'm honest for 95+% of the time a 2l diesel would have done, but those moments where you really want to let rip make up for the sub-20 mpg IMO.

[scjgreen]

75 Rampaging French Stallions and I use every single one!

[ArsE92]

Vladimir said:

This isn't very PH but I honestly don't need any more power than my M135i has.

Vladimir last year said:

This isn't very PH but I honestly don't need any more power than my 335d has.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Power is for straight lines, and straight lines are boring. I'd prefer to have limited power and use all of it occasionally than have massive power which I was never able to exploit.

I have never made any power upgrades to any of my cars, I've never felt the need to.

I feel that people like to have big numbers for the sake of willy waving pub chat.

[Vladimir]

ArsE92 said:

Holy stalking technique!

It's only a bit more power…. and a lot less weight...

[Matt 211988]

in my daily i have 170bhp per tonne, it gets full use most the times im in the car, aslong as im heading out of town, if not il just plod about

as for my toy, 300bhp per tonne, rarely use anything other than full power, thats what its for

if you dont use 400bhp then give some to someone else, i'll take some off you

[Glosphil]

A 2-litre 170hp diesel. The 140 version would be perfectly adequate for 95%, at least, of the time.

[Limpet]

163 PS (and 380NM of torque)

Can count on one hand the number of times I find the throttle stop in a typical week's use.

The odd occasion I get a clear motorway slip, or find an open stretch of road, I wish it had a bit more, but the sad truth is 0-60 in 8 secs and a 140 top end are actually more than adequate for 90% of driving in the South East these days. Not that I would ever turn my nose up at more, of course.

EDIT: I find myself wishing it had an automatic gearbox far more often than I find myself craving more power.

Edited by Limpet on Monday 24th March 15:38

[Camoradi]

One of my cars has allegedly 175BHP, but I'm damned if I can find it.

Another has about 130 BHP, but today it has a 0-60 time of Wednesday.

The other has 125BHP, and feels like it has about 300

[stargazer30]

198bhp of Honda's finest.

When the opportunity allows I use all 198 of them, but its a Honda, you have to rev the nuts off it, honest.
Pottering about I use about half of it I'd say.