cars you remember as being massively powerful that weren't..
Discussion
off the back of just viewing the 21 turbo thread it got me thinking about cars that in their day were big power numbers that are now below normal powered vehicles. the one that still makes me chuckle is the 3.0s capri. remember at the time thinking it was a monster despite it having less than 140 bhp. great for it's day but just an indicator of how much power figures have come on.
W00DY said:
The Volvo V40 T4 was brutally quick. I remember my Father's trying to snap my neck clean off.
So quick that they appear to have recalled all of them and de-tuned them by at least 100bhp.
Back 14 years ago I'd wager they were pretty fast though - certainly quick enough to drop the old 328i and Merc C280 in a straight line according to the car tests of those days. So quick that they appear to have recalled all of them and de-tuned them by at least 100bhp.
Escort XR3i. At the time felt rapid, but it wasn't.
My dad also had a BMW E34 530i when I was aged about 12/13 and I couldn't imagine anything quicker, I remember it pinning me in the seat. I would still say it was a reasonably quick car but I think driving one now would shatter my memories!
My dad also had a BMW E34 530i when I was aged about 12/13 and I couldn't imagine anything quicker, I remember it pinning me in the seat. I would still say it was a reasonably quick car but I think driving one now would shatter my memories!
6speedmanual said:
Audi 80 Sport. Felt rocketship fast. Matched acceleration of Golf II GTi due to having slightly shorter gearing. Only 115 bhp.
More power than that Shirley? I'd thought 16 valves and around 135BHP?I remember the 205 1.9 GTi being biblically quick when I was a nipper...
Going from a 957cc Fiesta (1983 - Y-reg) and the only car I had ever driven (I did all my lessons and passed my test in it) I then went to a Scirocco 1.8GTXi Scala........delusions of grandure had me next to a Porsche 928 in a traffic light Grand Prix. It went how you'd expect it to go...........!
Probably 120bhp.
Probably 120bhp.
I had 3 RS200's, one of which was a group B rally car, with a few mods was around 170bhp, which felt like it was the fastest car on earth!
Mind you, bearing in mind how little it weighed, it was very swift indded!!
Edited because I forgot to say that fresh out of the box these cars were 110bhp!!
Mind you, bearing in mind how little it weighed, it was very swift indded!!
Edited because I forgot to say that fresh out of the box these cars were 110bhp!!
Edited by Speedracer329 on Monday 4th April 22:24
Late'80's early 90's IIRC i had a mk2 Cavalier SRi with 114bhp - but i really hankered after the SRi 130 which i considered the ultimate....
Until a mate got a new (mk2) Astra GT/E 16V with 156bhp - i nearly fainted the first time i drove it due to being overwhelmed by the power and acceleration
.
Until a mate got a new (mk2) Astra GT/E 16V with 156bhp - i nearly fainted the first time i drove it due to being overwhelmed by the power and acceleration
.At the tender age of 20, a hire car company delivered me a spankers new Mondeo ST24. Must have been a T plate IIRC
It was for a 50 mile work trip. Managed to turn that around to 300 + miles...
As far as I was concerned that was as fast as mortal man was meant to go. Any more and my skin would have simply fell off.
It was for a 50 mile work trip. Managed to turn that around to 300 + miles...
As far as I was concerned that was as fast as mortal man was meant to go. Any more and my skin would have simply fell off.
Speedracer329 said:
I had 3 RS200's, one of which was a group B rally car, with a few mods was around 170bhp, which felt like it was the fastest car on earth!
Mind you, bearing in mind how little it weighed, it was very swift indded!!
Edited because I forgot to say that fresh out of the box these cars were 110bhp!!
I think you missed an '0'Mind you, bearing in mind how little it weighed, it was very swift indded!!
Edited because I forgot to say that fresh out of the box these cars were 110bhp!!
Edited by Speedracer329 on Monday 4th April 22:24
My first proper fast car was a 2.8 injection. I was 25 (over 20 yrs ago). Had it for a couple of years and thought it was a THE fastest thing on the planet. Would love to take one out for a spin again. Although only 160 bhp, the car only weighed 1200kg. The latest 3 series coupe weighs about 1600-1700 kg, so it might not be that much faster. I've not driven any modern fast cars so can't compare.
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