Power isn't everything
Discussion
I hear this quite often. Apparently on the road you can have as much fun in a 1 litre box as you can in a 911 turbo. Just for the record, I drive (I believe) quite sensibly on the road, I strictly obey all the speed limits (OK maybe not the 70... occasionally), and I'm courteous to other road users.
What's the point of having power you can't use? OK, so I hear 'it's there if you need it'. So what do all the people who don't have it do when they need it? Maybe they never need it, it's only those who have it that seem on occasion to 'need it'.
I'm rambling, anyway the reason I've posted this is because I've just had a conversation with a chap who's also a fellow petrolhead, follows F1 avidly (goes to GP's), and does occasional track days. I asked him what he drives, and he replied 'a BMW 135i with a 420bhp'. Now, I don't know why, and I can't explain it, but for some reason I found this vaguely annoying. He has a car that some might buy for the wife to go shopping in and it has more horse power than beastie. In some way this is just wrong.
I had almost become content with beasties power and performance, knowing that the next bout of expenditure would be chassis refurb and a few other important jobs, major service, engine bay spruce up, new screen, drivers side carpets etc. Needing lots of 'stuff' for the cottage I bought last year put the ITB's firmly out of the picture. And then this...
The obsession for more power is inescapable, sometimes it hovers in the background, hardly noticeable, at other times, like this morning, it's in my face, bullying me, questioning my manhood. Well that's what it feels like...
Next time someone tells me power isn't everything I might punch them in the face.
What's the point of having power you can't use? OK, so I hear 'it's there if you need it'. So what do all the people who don't have it do when they need it? Maybe they never need it, it's only those who have it that seem on occasion to 'need it'.
I'm rambling, anyway the reason I've posted this is because I've just had a conversation with a chap who's also a fellow petrolhead, follows F1 avidly (goes to GP's), and does occasional track days. I asked him what he drives, and he replied 'a BMW 135i with a 420bhp'. Now, I don't know why, and I can't explain it, but for some reason I found this vaguely annoying. He has a car that some might buy for the wife to go shopping in and it has more horse power than beastie. In some way this is just wrong.
I had almost become content with beasties power and performance, knowing that the next bout of expenditure would be chassis refurb and a few other important jobs, major service, engine bay spruce up, new screen, drivers side carpets etc. Needing lots of 'stuff' for the cottage I bought last year put the ITB's firmly out of the picture. And then this...
The obsession for more power is inescapable, sometimes it hovers in the background, hardly noticeable, at other times, like this morning, it's in my face, bullying me, questioning my manhood. Well that's what it feels like...
Next time someone tells me power isn't everything I might punch them in the face.
ChilliWhizz said:
I hear this quite often. Apparently on the road you can have as much fun in a 1 litre box as you can in a 911 turbo. Just for the record, I drive (I believe) quite sensibly on the road, I strictly obey all the speed limits (OK maybe not the 70... occasionally), and I'm courteous to other road users.
What's the point of having power you can't use? OK, so I hear 'it's there if you need it'. So what do all the people who don't have it do when they need it? Maybe they never need it, it's only those who have it that seem on occasion to 'need it'.
I'm rambling, anyway the reason I've posted this is because I've just had a conversation with a chap who's also a fellow petrolhead, follows F1 avidly (goes to GP's), and does occasional track days. I asked him what he drives, and he replied 'a BMW 135i with a 420bhp'. Now, I don't know why, and I can't explain it, but for some reason I found this vaguely annoying. He has a car that some might buy for the wife to go shopping in and it has more horse power than beastie. In some way this is just wrong.
I had almost become content with beasties power and performance, knowing that the next bout of expenditure would be chassis refurb and a few other important jobs, major service, engine bay spruce up, new screen, drivers side carpets etc. Needing lots of 'stuff' for the cottage I bought last year put the ITB's firmly out of the picture. And then this...
The obsession for more power is inescapable, sometimes it hovers in the background, hardly noticeable, at other times, like this morning, it's in my face, bullying me, questioning my manhood. Well that's what it feels like...
Next time someone tells me power isn't everything I might punch them in the face.
Chilli mate, POWER IS NOT EVERYTHING. Now to quote a famous Norfolk based Engineer "To add speed add lightness". Now see if you can punch me in the face. What's the point of having power you can't use? OK, so I hear 'it's there if you need it'. So what do all the people who don't have it do when they need it? Maybe they never need it, it's only those who have it that seem on occasion to 'need it'.
I'm rambling, anyway the reason I've posted this is because I've just had a conversation with a chap who's also a fellow petrolhead, follows F1 avidly (goes to GP's), and does occasional track days. I asked him what he drives, and he replied 'a BMW 135i with a 420bhp'. Now, I don't know why, and I can't explain it, but for some reason I found this vaguely annoying. He has a car that some might buy for the wife to go shopping in and it has more horse power than beastie. In some way this is just wrong.
I had almost become content with beasties power and performance, knowing that the next bout of expenditure would be chassis refurb and a few other important jobs, major service, engine bay spruce up, new screen, drivers side carpets etc. Needing lots of 'stuff' for the cottage I bought last year put the ITB's firmly out of the picture. And then this...
The obsession for more power is inescapable, sometimes it hovers in the background, hardly noticeable, at other times, like this morning, it's in my face, bullying me, questioning my manhood. Well that's what it feels like...
Next time someone tells me power isn't everything I might punch them in the face.
Ged
My last car was a lightly modified 2.7 bi turbo Audi S4, it could run rings around most things. It was also no fun until you was pushing so hard that losing your license was guaranteed, it couldn't raise a smile until it was doing 3 figures on a country lane.
Power is only good for one thing, going fast. Going fast is only a fraction of the enjoyment that I get from driving.
Power is only good for one thing, going fast. Going fast is only a fraction of the enjoyment that I get from driving.
Horses for courses and all that. Some of the most fun I ever had was with a 1.4 carbed 205 wearing China's finest Nangkook rubber. Wasn't fast, had a crap top speed, but by heck it felt lethal on the twisties at 50mph. It kept you on your toes at moderate speed and was a real hoot!
Life is not about having a hairy chest. Its about making the best of what you've got (well, that's what the missus tells me anyway!).
Life is not about having a hairy chest. Its about making the best of what you've got (well, that's what the missus tells me anyway!).
ChimpOnGas said:
s p a c e m a n said:
Power is only good for one thing, going fast. Going fast is only a fraction of the enjoyment that I get from driving.
Perfect statement, absolutely spot on s p a c e m a n 
Edited by ChilliWhizz on Monday 9th February 09:52
Chilli I know from reading your past posts on this subject you feel, as I do, that our cars were once held in awe regarding their performance and that we feel affronted when someone can turn up in a hot hatch (which requires far less driving skill to keep on the road) and be quicker/more powerful. I mean, anyone with enough spare cash can do that! But here's a cautionary tale to those who think they want more.....
When we bought 'Kate' she was a boggo 4.0L putting out around 200bhp. Felt ok to start with but soon I wanted more so out came the engine to be replaced by a 4.6. Felt ok for a while at 280bhp but soon wanted more and had twin plenum and Canems, lifted to around 300bhp (think of the cost so far). Felt ok for a while, soon wanted....yes, you get it. So, on went the supercharger and 400bhp was mine. And that felt great until it all went wrong mechanically, long story yada yada yada but now the car is back home with a fully rebuilt engine, still with the SC and yet more sophisticated management. And is so heavily restricted for the first 1000 miles that it came off the dyno at 197bhp, at the end of the running-in phase she'll go back for a week on the rollers and will be back up around 400. But....the point of this ramble is that at the moment the car is back where she started, just about exactly the same output as her original 4.0L and feels lovely. With all that lightness she's a sharp as a knife and I'm thinking 'what do I need the other 200bhp for?' And as Spaceman said, going quickly is only a tiny portion of the enjoyment.
When we bought 'Kate' she was a boggo 4.0L putting out around 200bhp. Felt ok to start with but soon I wanted more so out came the engine to be replaced by a 4.6. Felt ok for a while at 280bhp but soon wanted more and had twin plenum and Canems, lifted to around 300bhp (think of the cost so far). Felt ok for a while, soon wanted....yes, you get it. So, on went the supercharger and 400bhp was mine. And that felt great until it all went wrong mechanically, long story yada yada yada but now the car is back home with a fully rebuilt engine, still with the SC and yet more sophisticated management. And is so heavily restricted for the first 1000 miles that it came off the dyno at 197bhp, at the end of the running-in phase she'll go back for a week on the rollers and will be back up around 400. But....the point of this ramble is that at the moment the car is back where she started, just about exactly the same output as her original 4.0L and feels lovely. With all that lightness she's a sharp as a knife and I'm thinking 'what do I need the other 200bhp for?' And as Spaceman said, going quickly is only a tiny portion of the enjoyment.
neal1980 said:
Time to rebuild the engine for turbo power..
Or check out those heads from the other thread I think he is 429bhp....
Or go mental sell your engine and get an ls then have more power than you will ever need
How much do those heads cost ,and are they a bolt on job ? Or check out those heads from the other thread I think he is 429bhp....
Or go mental sell your engine and get an ls then have more power than you will ever need
I could sell my heads .
I have had a few chats with Dom at TVR Power about "tweaking" my 450. So far he has persuaded me not to and has also persuaded me to spend money on new suspension (GGP's), fast road set up for said suspension and a thorough cleaning and flow mapping of my injectors. The car is now running as it should as a 450 and drives beautifully at all speeds, especially round corners.
I am no expert on these things but I am happy with the car and how it goes/handles/sounds etc. and Dom tells me the car is A1 mechanically. I seriously doubt I could handle more power in a Chimaera and am enjoying the car as it was designed. The temptation of forced induction was there for a while but then I thought about the added cost of revised/uprated suspension, uprated brakes and a new engine management system and the cost per BHP was too high for my wallet.
The only mechanical thing I can think of doing is to put it on a RR session and see what the figures say. If it is down on power noticeably against the book/known levels for a 450 perhaps an investigation into the heads for porting and a new camshaft would do the trick and give me a greater buzz.
Everyone has a different view on their car and it's performance but as long as they are happy with it that's the main thing.
I am no expert on these things but I am happy with the car and how it goes/handles/sounds etc. and Dom tells me the car is A1 mechanically. I seriously doubt I could handle more power in a Chimaera and am enjoying the car as it was designed. The temptation of forced induction was there for a while but then I thought about the added cost of revised/uprated suspension, uprated brakes and a new engine management system and the cost per BHP was too high for my wallet.
The only mechanical thing I can think of doing is to put it on a RR session and see what the figures say. If it is down on power noticeably against the book/known levels for a 450 perhaps an investigation into the heads for porting and a new camshaft would do the trick and give me a greater buzz.
Everyone has a different view on their car and it's performance but as long as they are happy with it that's the main thing.
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