Extra power making cars easier to drive fast
Discussion
I found when I upped my MX5's power with a turbo the whole car seemed to come together and I felt it easier to drive on the limit, the torque seemed to make the handling better.
Talking to a chap about his Supercharged Atom on the weekend he said he had a normally aspirated one before and the charged one is such a better handling car and so much easier to drive.
This is the opposite of what you normally hear, people saying get used to lower power varients before going for the high power ones.
Has anyone else noticed otherwise identical cars except engine output that the poweful ones easier?
Talking to a chap about his Supercharged Atom on the weekend he said he had a normally aspirated one before and the charged one is such a better handling car and so much easier to drive.
This is the opposite of what you normally hear, people saying get used to lower power varients before going for the high power ones.
Has anyone else noticed otherwise identical cars except engine output that the poweful ones easier?
This probably wasn't the comparison you were looking for...
But i had a 1.2 Corsa for my first car, and then a 1.8 for my third.
The 1.8 felt exactly the same if not worse handling (probably due to the added weight)
Certainly did make it easier to drive fast thought, despite having the same gearbox! (Do'h for Vauxhall)
But i had a 1.2 Corsa for my first car, and then a 1.8 for my third.
The 1.8 felt exactly the same if not worse handling (probably due to the added weight)
Certainly did make it easier to drive fast thought, despite having the same gearbox! (Do'h for Vauxhall)
The most relevant to me I can think of is doing the Punto 60 engine swap in a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting.
Takes it from 1108cc with 55hp to a 1242cc with 60hp. Doesn't sound much but the torque increase is around 30% and it really helps shift the car along. Especially when it only weighs 750kg
Should have been the engine they fit as standard, being a straight swap and all.
Takes it from 1108cc with 55hp to a 1242cc with 60hp. Doesn't sound much but the torque increase is around 30% and it really helps shift the car along. Especially when it only weighs 750kg
Should have been the engine they fit as standard, being a straight swap and all.
One thing that's important to me for racing is more power than grip this clearly let's the true best drivers shine through. The other way round it flatters the weaker driver/less skill.
For the road use more power to make them easier to drive fast certainly. Thing is on the public highway your not going to be approaching grip limitations round corners as I can corner pretty much most corners in the wifes 16yr old. 85bhp fed Volvo with little difficulty. So the benefit is on the straights which clearly makes it faster.
Generally speaking this is why people remap their cars without spending anything on handling or increasing stopping power
For the road use more power to make them easier to drive fast certainly. Thing is on the public highway your not going to be approaching grip limitations round corners as I can corner pretty much most corners in the wifes 16yr old. 85bhp fed Volvo with little difficulty. So the benefit is on the straights which clearly makes it faster.
Generally speaking this is why people remap their cars without spending anything on handling or increasing stopping power
Welshbeef said:
One thing that's important to me for racing is more power than grip this clearly let's the true best drivers shine through. The other way round it flatters the weaker driver/less skill.
I disagree, and would say that if you put an average driver in an underpowered car and a great driver in the same car, the great driver would find speed and time where the other driver hadn't a clue it existed. Drive-to-Win by Carroll Smith explains the concept quite well in terms of what separates "good" drivers from the true greats.I know what you mean about FI MX5's - the extra torque makes it easier to balance the car through corners at times. ie there are situations (generally found on track rather than road) where a standard one will bog down a bit or push into understeer in 3rd, so you have to drop to second to work the rears enough to keep it turned in. But with the extra grunt you can hold 3rd. (not sure I explained that very well)
I guess the flipside is with more power you have to be more precise with using throttle to control weight transfer, slides etc as you can't just floor it to settle the rear without losing traction.
Obviously taken to extremes you can reach a point with too much power for the chassis/tyres to deal with, but thats another story.
I guess the flipside is with more power you have to be more precise with using throttle to control weight transfer, slides etc as you can't just floor it to settle the rear without losing traction.
Obviously taken to extremes you can reach a point with too much power for the chassis/tyres to deal with, but thats another story.
Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 17th October 00:08
Herman Toothrot said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
The idea that you can just bolt on a turbo or supercharger and produce an all-round better car is straight from a Nicholas Cage movie and no more credible. Sorry.
Your experience on the subject?
Is anyone REALLY suggesting SIMPLY adding a turbo or supercharger, improves handling or shortens braking distances?
M
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