Power Ranges

[jacethemutt]

I am going from a large slow car and wanting to go the complete opposite, but I do want some advice as I don't want to regret my decision.

My first question, is there a point where you don't really feel a gain in acceleration? E.g. Leon Cupra 0-60 is 5.7 and the golf r is less than 5, both as auto. Is that equivalent of 0.7 seconds noticeable? Particularly as the times stated I guess vary most at the initial push off due to the 4WD. They have the same engine of course.

Secondly, is it better to consider an auto? They seem to accelerate slightly quicker and it doesn't risk any damage to the clutch if In manual you rag it through the gears.

I am likely to get a 3 year old car and put a stage 1 remap in it. For example bringing a fiesta ST down to 6 seconds 0-60. Is this a more cash efficient way of looking at it, opposed to buying a Cupra and mapping it which will likely only see a 1 second gain on the fiesta for what is likely to be an extra £6k ?

Thanks for any advice, hopefully you can get my general query from the above

[anonymous-user]

jacethemutt said:

I am going from a large slow car and wanting to go the complete opposite, but I do want some advice as I don't want to regret my decision.

My first question, is there a point where you don't really feel a gain in acceleration? E.g. Leon Cupra 0-60 is 5.7 and the golf r is less than 5, both as auto. Is that equivalent of 0.7 seconds noticeable? Particularly as the times stated I guess vary most at the initial push off due to the 4WD. They have the same engine of course.

Secondly, is it better to consider an auto? They seem to accelerate slightly quicker and it doesn't risk any damage to the clutch if In manual you rag it through the gears.

I am likely to get a 3 year old car and put a stage 1 remap in it. For example bringing a fiesta ST down to 6 seconds 0-60. Is this a more cash efficient way of looking at it, opposed to buying a Cupra and mapping it which will likely only see a 1 second gain on the fiesta for what is likely to be an extra £6k ?

Thanks for any advice, hopefully you can get my general query from the above

In my personal view I would never buy a car with a automatic gearbox. For me driving means changing gear and I will never be converted. Yes I have driven great cars with very good DSG systems and they are faster to 60 but does it really matter.

This again is totally a personal view and many others love an auto.

You have suggested a few cars above and fitting a stage 1 map but you might also want to consider a turbo diesel. The gains you can get are very impressive plus you will have the torque of the diesel engine.

Now I do not know if anyone who has done this but if you check out a BMW 114i F20 series 102ps on the Superchips website it states the following

Horsepower 101ps to 215ps
Torque 180nm to 314nm

Again this is what it states on the website but I would imagine something else would have to be done even though it is not stated.

So going by that information you could pick up a BMW 114i for around £12,000 and spend £400 and have a car which has huge gains for less money.

Again you would need to ask others or perhaps phone Superchips yourself as I am just going by the site.

Link

http://www.superchips.co.uk/search?make=3&fuel...

[ZX10R NIN]

Forget the Auto thing if you want a hot hatch get the best:


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...


Not only will you have fun in a straight line but you'll have fun through the corners too.

[bigmowley]

Like the question! It's all about torque, the feeling of acceleration.
I have had lots of really quick cars but the car that never ever failed to put a massive smile on my face and even the odd LOL was my much missed and loved Toerag V10 TDi. Lightly chipped it had simply the most irrepressible wave of acceleration I have ever felt. Totally outrageous huge fun and such a good feeling.
Mind you it was awful at stopping and going round corners but that did not matter on iota as I was always smiling like a demented loon.
So simples forget all the quoted figures and b/s and buy the car with the highest torque figure you can find. I gaurentee that you will love it.
Good hunting.

[Dave Hedgehog]

For me it depends on how you use your car,

for a daily driver that I commute in it has to be an auto (twin clutch)

For a car that I primarily use for fun would be manual only

[Ahbefive]

Are people really suggesting diesels over a fun hot hatch that the OP wants? What is happening to this place?

Op, just go for a couple of test drives and see which you like most.

[Fore Left]

Has to be manual. Has to be petrol. Surely in-gear acceleration times (which seem really hard to find online) are more important than the traffic light grand prix?

[C70R]

You're asking an impossible question here - you're effectively asking whether other people think you will be able to 'feel' the difference in a few tenths of a second to 60mph.
If you're hung up on looking at book figures, power:weight is probably your most reliable indicator of 'feel', although there are still small variables (such as torque delivery, drivetrain and gearing) that can distort this.

The answer is to get out and try some.

[Herbs]

Fore Left said:

Has to be manual. Has to be petrol. Surely in-gear acceleration times (which seem really hard to find online) are more important than the traffic light grand prix?

This all day long - along with throttle response makes the biggest difference to your seat of the pants speedo regardless of actual performance.