How much BHP is enough for normal driving?
Discussion
I know this will sound controversial on PistonHeads, but hear me out. Four years ago, I made a decision that many enthusiasts would consider sacrilege: I swapped my Z3 Coupe 2.8 (193 hp) for a BMW 316d F31 automatic with just 116 hp. Why? Because I live in Austria, where road tax is calculated based on horsepower, and it’s stupidly high. The difference in annual tax between a 316d and a 320d is around €500. For me, that’s simply not worth it.
Here’s what I’ve learned after 60,000 miles and five years of ownership:
The 316d has about 76 hp per tonne. It’s not exciting, but it’s enough, and it’s safe if you have some skill. 80% of my driving is on the autobahn with an 80 mph limit. The car will cruise at that speed all day, even with three adults on board. The other 20% is city driving, mostly in 20 mph zones.
I’ve never had to abort an overtaking maneuver or struggled to join the autobahn. Sure, more power would be nice occasionally, but those moments are rare.
With traffic jams, average speed cameras, and strict limits everywhere, the reality is that extra horsepower goes unused in 98% of time. For me, paying €500 more every year for a 320d just doesn’t make sense. If tax weren’t an issue, I’d pick a more powerful engine for the occasional “just in case” scenario, but that’s not my reality.
Bottom line: For daily driving in today’s conditions, 116 hp is perfectly adequate. It’s not thrilling, but it gets the job done safely and comfortably.
Here’s what I’ve learned after 60,000 miles and five years of ownership:
The 316d has about 76 hp per tonne. It’s not exciting, but it’s enough, and it’s safe if you have some skill. 80% of my driving is on the autobahn with an 80 mph limit. The car will cruise at that speed all day, even with three adults on board. The other 20% is city driving, mostly in 20 mph zones.
I’ve never had to abort an overtaking maneuver or struggled to join the autobahn. Sure, more power would be nice occasionally, but those moments are rare.
With traffic jams, average speed cameras, and strict limits everywhere, the reality is that extra horsepower goes unused in 98% of time. For me, paying €500 more every year for a 320d just doesn’t make sense. If tax weren’t an issue, I’d pick a more powerful engine for the occasional “just in case” scenario, but that’s not my reality.
Bottom line: For daily driving in today’s conditions, 116 hp is perfectly adequate. It’s not thrilling, but it gets the job done safely and comfortably.
Huzzah said:
My lowest power car is 84bhp, it's adequate.
Mine is similar, it struggles on hills a bit, but is otherwise a hoot to drive. I quite enjoy the challenge of maintaining momentum.Given I am always catching the traffic in front, the answer to the question must be somewhere between 50 and 60.
For anything but longer motorway/dual-carriageway driving, I find 70hp in a small city car to be perfectly acceptable (a 2010 Hyundai i10 to be precise).
However, I've also run 2 cheap Alfa 147 8v diesels (a 99hp/150lbft JTD and a later 118bhp/200lbft JTDm) - and due to their relatively light weight and torquey turbo-diesel engines, they were find on longer runs as they could still muster enough oomph to overtake quickly.
None of them were as much fun on a run as my Z4MC (c.340hp/270lbft) or 335xD (c.300hp/460lbft)...but both 147s made it from Liverpool to the Nurburgring and back - with a few fun laps - even if a lot of time was spent over the limit of the grip the all-season tyres offered.
However, I've also run 2 cheap Alfa 147 8v diesels (a 99hp/150lbft JTD and a later 118bhp/200lbft JTDm) - and due to their relatively light weight and torquey turbo-diesel engines, they were find on longer runs as they could still muster enough oomph to overtake quickly.
None of them were as much fun on a run as my Z4MC (c.340hp/270lbft) or 335xD (c.300hp/460lbft)...but both 147s made it from Liverpool to the Nurburgring and back - with a few fun laps - even if a lot of time was spent over the limit of the grip the all-season tyres offered.
Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 17th December 15:23
I don t think I ve ever had access to a car with more than 110 horses (Golf type cars, typically). I d definitely swap my life for one where I bomb around in cars much more powerful but in truth most of my time I m one of the nippier cars and if you really drill down into it very very rarely indeed am I ever held back by a lack of power.
My driving is mostly urban/suburban and on the motorways.
Edited for context.
My driving is mostly urban/suburban and on the motorways.
Edited for context.
Edited by scenario8 on Wednesday 17th December 15:39
My old Mk1 escort had less than 50 if google is to be believed (1100cc poverty spec and well past it's best) and that was always plenty.
I did use all of it, nearly all the time, usually to go as sideways as possible...though it did involve driving round looking for a slippy round-a-bouts, some cobbled streets....or even a diesel spill!
Happy times
I did use all of it, nearly all the time, usually to go as sideways as possible...though it did involve driving round looking for a slippy round-a-bouts, some cobbled streets....or even a diesel spill!
Happy times
Depends on the weight. I've had plenty of just-over-100bhp cars that were plenty powerful enough for normal driving.
Also had a couple under 100bhp that were not enjoyable, but did the job. I wouldn't have one again but they got me from A to B.
Torque matters too - for normal driving it can hide a power deficiency quite well.
Personally I wouldn't ever want to go under 100bhp per ton again, that's the point for me where driving can be fun. Less would be fine for most people though.
Also had a couple under 100bhp that were not enjoyable, but did the job. I wouldn't have one again but they got me from A to B.
Torque matters too - for normal driving it can hide a power deficiency quite well.
Personally I wouldn't ever want to go under 100bhp per ton again, that's the point for me where driving can be fun. Less would be fine for most people though.
Not surprising that many are coming up with big numbers.
So many seem to feel the need to use a big number as a status symbol or indication of "driving god" status.
My sons last car was an Up with 74bhp, that was enough for normal driving, never struggled to maintain speeds, happy on the motorway, accelerated ok - it was enough - did it render some overtakes that would be possible in higher powered cars impossible - yes, of course it did but that does not mean it did not have enough power for normal driving.
Deary me, perhaps I should hand in my PH badge for being overly sensible
So many seem to feel the need to use a big number as a status symbol or indication of "driving god" status.
My sons last car was an Up with 74bhp, that was enough for normal driving, never struggled to maintain speeds, happy on the motorway, accelerated ok - it was enough - did it render some overtakes that would be possible in higher powered cars impossible - yes, of course it did but that does not mean it did not have enough power for normal driving.
Deary me, perhaps I should hand in my PH badge for being overly sensible
My Panda 4x4 has 59bhp, but weighs less than a tonne. It's fine? Not one for white knuckle overtakes on twisty roads but it's completely adequate and perfectly capable (if loud) in the motorway.
If you want to get into power/weight p1ssing contest, everything is slow compared to even a half decent bike. My Street Triple had 105bhp and weighed something like 180kg.
If you want to get into power/weight p1ssing contest, everything is slow compared to even a half decent bike. My Street Triple had 105bhp and weighed something like 180kg.
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