Discussion
Guys,
I know it's probably not normally a PHer's concern, but
is it me or is the current BHP war between the likes of Merc' BMW and Audi getting out of hand ??
You may well call me a hypocryte, (spelling ?) considering I own a MKII GT3 and a 996 Turbo cab, but EVEN I am concerned just where this is all taking us ?
My Daily Drive is a C32 AMG merc which is a very quick car, but the more and more I drive it, the more pointless I think it becomes. For example its full potential can rarely be used on our roads, and its not the kind of car that you would take on the track. On top of this, it has an apetite for fuel that would make a Saud Arabian OIL tycon wilt !!
We now are looking at production cars from these people with circa 500bhp or even 600+ on the new Merc
CL65 AMG as seen on last top gear.
Can anyone honestly tell me why on earth you would want that kind of power on a car like that, as it would
clearly be useless on a track, and one blip of the throttle on the road at the wrong time could mean the end of your liscence !!
Where will we be in 4-5 years time 800 BHP new M5 ??
Glenn.
I know it's probably not normally a PHer's concern, but
is it me or is the current BHP war between the likes of Merc' BMW and Audi getting out of hand ??
You may well call me a hypocryte, (spelling ?) considering I own a MKII GT3 and a 996 Turbo cab, but EVEN I am concerned just where this is all taking us ?
My Daily Drive is a C32 AMG merc which is a very quick car, but the more and more I drive it, the more pointless I think it becomes. For example its full potential can rarely be used on our roads, and its not the kind of car that you would take on the track. On top of this, it has an apetite for fuel that would make a Saud Arabian OIL tycon wilt !!
We now are looking at production cars from these people with circa 500bhp or even 600+ on the new Merc
CL65 AMG as seen on last top gear.
Can anyone honestly tell me why on earth you would want that kind of power on a car like that, as it would
clearly be useless on a track, and one blip of the throttle on the road at the wrong time could mean the end of your liscence !!
Where will we be in 4-5 years time 800 BHP new M5 ??
Glenn.
I agree it's becoming a little worrying.
Car manufacturers are chasing after higher and higher bhp figures and forgetting about things like a chassis, steering feel and pretty much everying thing else in a car.
The 118 horses packed into the back of the elise are plenty to have some fun. And I guarantee the elise will be a more entertaining drive than a 1000bhp bugatti or any other car if/when they arrive
Manufacturers do seem to have become very narrow minded - power is fun though.....hummmmm
>> Edited by Ruxpin on Thursday 15th July 15:19
Car manufacturers are chasing after higher and higher bhp figures and forgetting about things like a chassis, steering feel and pretty much everying thing else in a car.
The 118 horses packed into the back of the elise are plenty to have some fun. And I guarantee the elise will be a more entertaining drive than a 1000bhp bugatti or any other car if/when they arrive
Manufacturers do seem to have become very narrow minded - power is fun though.....hummmmm
>> Edited by Ruxpin on Thursday 15th July 15:19
Agree entirely. Not only is that kind of power pointless in a saloon car, but it also gives more ammunition to the anti-car lobby about "crazy" speeds on British roads.
Trouble is that all the power is getting soaked up by the bloating out to 2 tonnes+
Whatever happened to "add lightness" as a sportscar philosophy? The only thing keeping a 2 tonne, 600bhp merc on the road is the electronics......why bother?
couldn`t agree more - manufacturers seemt to have a warped understanding of power/weight ratios i.e
more power = more weight = more power = more weight = etcetc ad infinitum.
and don`t get me started on the nannying systems and ludicrous wheel/tyre combinations that they force upon us...
more power = more weight = more power = more weight = etcetc ad infinitum.
and don`t get me started on the nannying systems and ludicrous wheel/tyre combinations that they force upon us...
RichardD said:
Given that the top of the range Merc is the Mclaren jobbie (620 bhp?), I don't see any other Mercedes being allowed to top that, even if technically they could.
I also think that the SLR has the output it has so that it didn't top the Mclaren F1's power output.
Isn't this new CLK-DTM a pretty hariy-arsed machine as well? - I'm sure I read that it's not even limited to 155
Chris
Freedom of choice, let the manufacturers do as they see fit. If no one buys them, they'll stop building them. Just because they need electronics to keep them stable in bad conditions does not take away from the fact the superb in gear accelleration they give at 120+ on autobahns.
DAZ
DAZ
welshchris said:
Isn't this new CLK-DTM a pretty hariy-arsed machine as well? - I'm sure I read that it's not even limited to 155
Seems that this fits in the line up between the current top of the range heavyweight Mercs and the SLR. A quick WWW ferret gives 582 bhp and 1748kg. Limited to 320k's (198mph).
Something about mega power outputs is then what happens in the future.
It is me, or when Porsche bring a car out, they plan in 20 years of gradual upgrades. Something like +200cc and +20bhp every 4 years for a long long time...
I have my own worries about Mercedes. All that power, yet NO direct mechanical device between driver and device- its electronic all the way.
Now even the steering is electroonically controlled, with no direct input from the driver. As are the pedals.
Great when new, but at 100,000 miles and 5 years down the line do you want all that power with old electronics??
It really worries me...
Now even the steering is electroonically controlled, with no direct input from the driver. As are the pedals.
Great when new, but at 100,000 miles and 5 years down the line do you want all that power with old electronics??
It really worries me...
The demand for heavy, powerful cars like it or not is there.
Lets single out Merc. The SL55 AMG production has had to be radically stepped up because demand has actually been three times greater than Merc forecast. Its only good business sense to supply the demand.
I doubt the world would be witnessing the 65 series if it were not for the success of the 55.
Worrying maybe. Power corrupts, but its interesting stuff all the same
>> Edited by TimJMS on Thursday 15th July 21:30
Lets single out Merc. The SL55 AMG production has had to be radically stepped up because demand has actually been three times greater than Merc forecast. Its only good business sense to supply the demand.
I doubt the world would be witnessing the 65 series if it were not for the success of the 55.
Worrying maybe. Power corrupts, but its interesting stuff all the same
>> Edited by TimJMS on Thursday 15th July 21:30
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