are small engines dangerous?
Discussion
I know a lot of 'non-PHers' (and some PHers!) see quick cars as being 'driven dangerously' when engaged in some spirited driving, but my opinion is that smaller engined cars represent a bigger danger to public roads than anything else.
I now lift-share to work with someone that has a 15BMP (brake mouse power) Honda Jizz or something and on the 100 mile round trip, we have to come on and off motorways and A roads at 70mph. She starts to accelerate at the top of the slip roads and by the time we get to the merge into the inside lane, we may be doing 60 if there's a tailwind. God help us if someone slows down in front of us too, we regularly have to join the m-way at 30mph. She tries to avoid braking when she anticipates cars slowing further in front of her so that she doesn't have to wait 40-50 seconds to get back up to speed. Entering a roundabout is a eyes shut affair too (as a passenger, obviously!) as it takes so long to get enough speed up to pull off the junction and into the flow of traffic, it holds everyone up behind us and in 1 journey, we were nearly side-swiped on 3 different occasions.
So, why do manufacturers still make cars that don't have enough power to meet the needs of modern driving? Is there some form of legislation that states a marque must have at least one car in their range that is slower than a stodgy poo or do they just chose to do this?
I now lift-share to work with someone that has a 15BMP (brake mouse power) Honda Jizz or something and on the 100 mile round trip, we have to come on and off motorways and A roads at 70mph. She starts to accelerate at the top of the slip roads and by the time we get to the merge into the inside lane, we may be doing 60 if there's a tailwind. God help us if someone slows down in front of us too, we regularly have to join the m-way at 30mph. She tries to avoid braking when she anticipates cars slowing further in front of her so that she doesn't have to wait 40-50 seconds to get back up to speed. Entering a roundabout is a eyes shut affair too (as a passenger, obviously!) as it takes so long to get enough speed up to pull off the junction and into the flow of traffic, it holds everyone up behind us and in 1 journey, we were nearly side-swiped on 3 different occasions.
So, why do manufacturers still make cars that don't have enough power to meet the needs of modern driving? Is there some form of legislation that states a marque must have at least one car in their range that is slower than a stodgy poo or do they just chose to do this?
No, not if the driver knows how to drive.
My wife has a 1.2 8v Punto and whilst it's thoroughly depressing to drive, it's perfectly safe. Joining the motorway at 60 or even 55mph isn't dangerous. Joining it at 40mph is dangerous, but I've never driven a car that's that under powered.
There are a small number of situations where it's harder to compensate for other people's mistakes if you're in a low powered cars, but these are, in my experience, massively outnumbered by the situations in which people make a mistake themselves in a higher powered ones.
My wife has a 1.2 8v Punto and whilst it's thoroughly depressing to drive, it's perfectly safe. Joining the motorway at 60 or even 55mph isn't dangerous. Joining it at 40mph is dangerous, but I've never driven a car that's that under powered.
There are a small number of situations where it's harder to compensate for other people's mistakes if you're in a low powered cars, but these are, in my experience, massively outnumbered by the situations in which people make a mistake themselves in a higher powered ones.
Edited by kambites on Monday 14th June 12:51
Never seen anyone in a motorbike struggle 
To go quicker in a smaller engined car you just have to be more aware of what gear you're in and plan ahead. I often used to make steady progress with a 1 litre engine, I just had to rev the nuts off it. Quite fun ringing the neck out of a car occasionally to get those extra few mph out of it
To go quicker in a smaller engined car you just have to be more aware of what gear you're in and plan ahead. I often used to make steady progress with a 1 litre engine, I just had to rev the nuts off it. Quite fun ringing the neck out of a car occasionally to get those extra few mph out of it
Having driven about 30,000 miles in a 45 bhp Citroën AX in my time, I'd say the lack of power isn't dangerous in se. Faster acceleration may give you more options to be safe in certain conditions, but I've yet to experience a situation in which a lack of get up and go leaves you with no safe option.
ArtVandelay said:
Never seen anyone in a motorbike struggle
To go quicker in a smaller engined car you just have to be more aware of what gear you're in and plan ahead. I often used to make steady progress with a 1 litre engine, I just had to rev the nuts off it. Quite fun ringing the neck out of a car occasionally to get those extra few mph out of it
But surely the point of having a smaller engined car is fuel economy? It doesn't make sense to me to have a car that is so underpowered that to make it (in my opinion, of course) safe enough to have on the road, you have to make rev the balls off it!To go quicker in a smaller engined car you just have to be more aware of what gear you're in and plan ahead. I often used to make steady progress with a 1 litre engine, I just had to rev the nuts off it. Quite fun ringing the neck out of a car occasionally to get those extra few mph out of it
No. It's all about anticipation, judging the speed of other vehicles, conservation of momentum, avoiding unnecessary braking, keeping a good distance from the car in front and driving within the vehicles limitations. If anything it makes you a better driver.
My work Vivaro is dog slow and I drive it accordingly. I don't overtake on single roads unless I have a significant speed advantage and a lot of room to do it in. If I am joining a motorway accessed by a steep graded slip road I indicate early, give other drivers as much warning as possible.
If I am joining a fast road ‘at grade’ I just sit and wait for a decent gap. If the visibility is crap, I open a window and listen. If all else fails, I just go for it. What else can you do?
Similarly on dual carriageways I make sure that I return to the left lane well before any steep hills so I don't get in the way of faster traffic and start 'elephant racing'. I agree it's difficult at times because if some cuts you up and you loose all your power you have no choice but to pull in behind them.
My work Vivaro is dog slow and I drive it accordingly. I don't overtake on single roads unless I have a significant speed advantage and a lot of room to do it in. If I am joining a motorway accessed by a steep graded slip road I indicate early, give other drivers as much warning as possible.
If I am joining a fast road ‘at grade’ I just sit and wait for a decent gap. If the visibility is crap, I open a window and listen. If all else fails, I just go for it. What else can you do?
Similarly on dual carriageways I make sure that I return to the left lane well before any steep hills so I don't get in the way of faster traffic and start 'elephant racing'. I agree it's difficult at times because if some cuts you up and you loose all your power you have no choice but to pull in behind them.
Edited by IROC-Z on Monday 14th June 12:57
Jonboy_t said:
ArtVandelay said:
Never seen anyone in a motorbike struggle
To go quicker in a smaller engined car you just have to be more aware of what gear you're in and plan ahead. I often used to make steady progress with a 1 litre engine, I just had to rev the nuts off it. Quite fun ringing the neck out of a car occasionally to get those extra few mph out of it
But surely the point of having a smaller engined car is fuel economy? It doesn't make sense to me to have a car that is so underpowered that to make it (in my opinion, of course) safe enough to have on the road, you have to make rev the balls off it!To go quicker in a smaller engined car you just have to be more aware of what gear you're in and plan ahead. I often used to make steady progress with a 1 litre engine, I just had to rev the nuts off it. Quite fun ringing the neck out of a car occasionally to get those extra few mph out of it
Small engined cars are designed for economy in towns more than anything. Small engine usually means small car, cars designed for use in the city where they can achieve good mpg compared to a larger engined car which will match or beat the economy of the small car on the motorway, in real life at least.
The Volvo S80 1.6d on the other hand...
My current drive is a 1 litre Suzuki Swift GLS. Never have any problems with acceleration/crusing speed and still has enough there to put the boot down a bit if I need to pass a middle lane hog or some such. Does everything I want from a first car without robbing me blind on insurance.
Sounds like your friend doesn't know how to use a motorway.
Sounds like your friend doesn't know how to use a motorway.
IROC-Z said:
No. It's all about anticipation, judging the speed of other vehicles, conservation of momentum, avoiding unnecessary braking, keeping a good distance from the car in front and driving within the vehicles limitations. If anything it makes you a better driver.
I see your point, but she is a relatively good driver and tries to do these things to avoid holding up traffic. She will try to avoid slowing (anticipating traffic etc) but there comes a point where she has to brake, which comes at a later point than most people which causes the person behind to brake harder, the person behind them to do the same etc etcNever read so much guff. Obviously to contribute here you need a trillion horse power and a chassis like an F1 car.
I have had a brand new Jazz 1.4 as a courtesy car in 04. It was a super little car, not very fast, but fast enough to keep up with the flow and I couldn't believe how good it was in town.
My car only has HP in double figures and I don't overtaken very often and it will run all day at ban inducing speeds. To use a small engine the driver has to think ahead a little more and some times rev the engine quite hard, but Honda engines like being reved. I read some where that you only need about 35hp to cruise at 70mph on a flat road.
Not everyone wants, needs or can afford a proper drivers car with loads of power, and this may come as a shock to some on here, but not everyone is interested enough in cars and driving to be bothered to buy one.
I have had a brand new Jazz 1.4 as a courtesy car in 04. It was a super little car, not very fast, but fast enough to keep up with the flow and I couldn't believe how good it was in town.
My car only has HP in double figures and I don't overtaken very often and it will run all day at ban inducing speeds. To use a small engine the driver has to think ahead a little more and some times rev the engine quite hard, but Honda engines like being reved. I read some where that you only need about 35hp to cruise at 70mph on a flat road.
Not everyone wants, needs or can afford a proper drivers car with loads of power, and this may come as a shock to some on here, but not everyone is interested enough in cars and driving to be bothered to buy one.
doogz said:
Willy Nilly said:
Not everyone wants, needs or can afford a proper drivers car with loads of power, and this may come as a shock to some on here, but not everyone is interested enough in cars and driving to be bothered to buy one.
You're in the wrong place. I suggest you leave.
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