Anyone afraid to buy a car because it has too much HP?

[6cylVWguy]

I can assure you that it isn't hard to find opportunities to use 700+hp on the street.

I never understood the comment of people purposely not buying higher hp cars because they're afraid they'll never use it. I mean if all you're going to do with the car is commute, then they're probably right. Buy yourself a 4-cyl camry or similar. You can certainly find ways to use higher hp cars, whether they're 300 hp or more. My biggest issue is finding places where I can comfortable use BOTH the chassis and the power. I can usually use one but not the other, at least on the street. I'll have to take the car to the track at some point.

When I got the mustang it was the most powerful car I ever owned, by quite a margin and among the most powerful I've ever driven. On the test drive of a similar car, I did a 3rd gear pull to about 5k rpms and considered that to be an ample enough demonstration of the car's speed. It was certainly a fun experience. And then I bought a mustang and took it home. It drove very nicely when you weren't trying to be aggressive. But the first couple of times I gave it some throttle in the first 3 gears, I was definitely a bit scared with exactly how fast I was passing stationary items. The world went past me much quicker than I was used to and with sounds that I had never fully appreciated.

But over time, you get used to it. I certainly wouldn't say the car feels slow, because I don't think it ever will. I'm just not shocked or surprised by the level of thrust. Having seen the video of the corvette that makes a sudden left into the shrubs after a hard launch, my car actually does the same thing. The rear end will definitely start to wag a little when the rear tires lose grip, but it's controllable. I'm a bit more critical of the suspension of my car than the horsepower levels or the ability to control it.

My biggest question is what I want to do when the time comes for more power. Move to a faster car or throw on FI. At this point in time, I think I'd rather buy a different car, like a C6 z06. I'm years off from that though, so it's not a huge concern.

[Yak Meat]

Id say its alot easier to get out of control in a late 80s porsche with 250 hp than the newer ones with 500...

No drivers aids verse everything under the sun keeping u on the road.

End of the day, know your limits and dont test them... simple as that. Dont do anything stupid, dont do anything you dont think your skill can handle, and dont think you have to prove yourself... if your buying a corvette, your already a douche... so nothing you can do affirms that more than ****ing it up in a silly accident that never should have happened...

[SVTDanny]

But the first couple of times I gave it some throttle in the first 3 gears, I was definitely a bit scared with exactly how fast I was passing stationary items. The world went past me much quicker than I was used to and with sounds that I had never fully appreciated.

I don't have to worry too much about speeding tickets, because my car doesn't actually accelerate quickly until it's well above legal speeds. Below 70 or so, the gas pedal is just a tire-roasting tool.

if your buying a corvette, your already a douche

Grammar aside,

[Mr Roo]

I think you get very used to the cars but have to respect them. People that wreck high hp cars usually dont respect them and in many cases are new drivers or new to the car. I think in general, the younger you are the dumber and more likely to take risks. I dont think any 16 year old boy should be on the street with anything with a lot of power. While age can play a huge factor, I think anyone given a high hp car that has never driven it can get into trouble. My dad is a great driver, but I wouldnt throw him in a 700hp car and tell him to stomp it. Buy a car, drive it, repesct the power and learn how it reacts. As you learn the car, you will adjust to the power level.

[6cylVWguy]

I don't have to worry too much about speeding tickets, because my car doesn't actually accelerate quickly until it's well above legal speeds.

Hmmm, I guess that sort of does make it difficult to access all the power your car has, at legal speeds.

[gti5dr06]

No not afraid of high hp cars.... However I find that being able to apply all of that power can be annoying sometimes.

My STi is moderately quick ( 330-ish whp ) and the only gear it's remotely interesting in is 1st when the boost comes on. Honestly that's only due to the short gearing.

in other words grip = boring?

[corrado-correr]

I like a car to have just barely enough power to be able to break the tires loose a bit in 2nd gear. Anything more is not necessarily scary, but it's intimidating, and you have to respect it. I say this based on a long history of owning underpowered fwd cars.

[SnowGTI2003]

in other words grip = boring?

Honestly.... Yes.

Fun increases exponentially as you approach the limits of grip. This sounds like calculus.

[Yak Meat]

let me fix it for you... i missed it in my haste...

You're already a douche.

[rynodyno312]

I don't know. I've never owned anything with more than 400ish BHP, and that was in a 3800lb car. I'm sure it would be fun to have something super powerful, but I also feel like it would be sort of a waste as an only car or daily driver.

I wouldn't mind finding out for sure, though.

[DIAF]

let me fix it for you... i missed it in my haste...

You're already a douche.

[OldsPowered]

While driving I follow two simple rules:

1. Don't do anything sudden.

2. Don't do anything stupid.


Doesn't matter if I'm driving a rental Kia Rio or a Shelby GT500 on the track, both rules have kept me safe. It is the second one that most people have a problem with.

[curvedinfinity]

While driving I follow two simple rules:

1. Don't do anything sudden.

2. Don't do anything stupid.


Doesn't matter if I'm driving a rental Kia Rio or a Shelby GT500 on the track, both rules have kept me safe. It is the second one that most people have a problem with.

Solid rules. 550 hp was a lot at first but now it feels manageable. I think 400 is plenty even for a track car though.

[Accidental L8 apex]

I went from 17+ years of ~ 150whp FWD VWs to a C55 AMG and was cautious/worried enough about becoming "that guy" that I left the TC on 99.9% of the time for the first 6 mos.. I wanted to make sure I wasn't mid-corner and surprised by a sudden onslaught of torque. Luckily for me, the C55's torque-curve is near table-flat and I've had 6+ years of dodging-cones experience, but I feel your concerns. And while my C55 isn't nearly as tail-happy as any 'vette, a 'vette's throttle is not just an on/off switch. There's a reason I just saw a 70 yr. old "blue-hair" driving a brand new 427 'vert 2 days ago and she looked bored to tears.

[lilmoose21]

Pretty sure that's John L. Sullivan and not Charles Dennis Buchinsky.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L._Sullivan

Kinda looks like this guy...just watched his bio-pic on netflix, pretty badass

[Harry@TheRacersEdge]

Never driven a high horsepower car but other than the drivetrain I can't imagine it being too hard to drive it normal. Me no scared!

[Ross1013]

I don't know if 'afraid' is the right word, but in terms of actual ownership I know I'd get annoyed w/something fast enough to place lots of limitations on how it's enjoyed.

If I'm in a line of work that affords a lot of track time, then I could see myself enjoying owning something like a Z06 (for me it would be a GTR). But for most people, a street car under ~450hp will afford its owner more opportunities to wring it out than those in the 500hp+ territory.

[J.Knipl]

I'm sure of one thing at my age. I'll never be able to afford a car that I can't handle. Kinda of depressing.

[elmer fud]

high hp cars are easy, its peaky powerful that scare me, a car with a very liner power band smooth is easy to control even if its got a ton of power, but a car with a spike of power that comes in can be a handful, even in non-ludacris amounts it can get scary quick. think a car with a large turbo, lag+big boost = whoa! or think v12 that makes 600 hp vs, a 2.0 turbo making 600 hp, v12 will be liner smooth power, where the turbo will come in with a huge hit of power.

so I guess the number doesnt scare me as much as how you make it and how it comes in.

but I cant afford anything too scarey anyway.

[oviewankenobi]

Hell no, 'Merica.



But, realistically, I think a Viper might make me think twice.

[bizybyker]

I can't imagine a car with too much power. The gas pedal is not an on/off switch, it is not hard at all to control a powerful car. Even a powerful bike isn't that bad if you're not an idiot about it

Get the wrong boost control in a big turbo car and it can be very much an on/off switch...

[vdubdave]

I've been driving my 450hp RS6 for about 6mo now and while it's fun in certain situations, I definitely miss being able to push a car to its limits. I have probably only put the pedal to the floor less than 3 times - and it's only for a few seconds before my speed reaches triple digits. The 4.2TT rarely sees its redline. This car was obviously built for the Autobahn or a long road track, neither of which I have been on yet.

Don't get me wrong, I love this car. It's a complete beast. And once I swap a manual trans in I'm sure it will be much more engaging. However, for around town driving there's just no way to (legally) use all of the power this thing has. It's cool to smoke people off the line, pass in the blink of an eye, and otherwise surprise others with an almost 10yr old Audi... but if I'm completely honest with myself it's just not as fun as I thought it would be. I miss pushing my MKV GTI hard and feeling rewarded afterwards. I don't get that feeling in the RS6. It always wants more. Much more.

I gotta get this thing on a track!

[Avus]

Anyone afraid to buy a car because it has too much HP?

Only those people who can't afford a car has too much HP or those who jealous others who bought a car has too much HP...

It is the same like asking who will afraid to have too much money? only poor people will...

[horsty69]

Years back when my Dad purchased his Superformance Cobra with an engine rated around 650hp I was out of town when he got it delivered...I called him to see how much he loved it and for about a week or so he was concerned that it had too much power....that wore off ( kind of) but it was/is an absolute fun and deadly beast that needs to be respected to this day.....I remember taking my girlfriend( now wife) for a ride and I got on it for a second and her skirt flew up around her neck...hahahaha..she never knew cars existed that are this fast

[johnny_p]

Not to buy, but to drive. A co-worker of mine had an AC Cobra with a 351 Windsor that made some ridiculous 465 HP at the rear wheels. That was hands down the fastest car I've ever been in, and the handling and braking were atrocious. He was going to let me drive it, I said no way, lol.

[sp_golf]

I'm used to being in fast cars, to the point where nothing under 700whp scares me. My 400whp mk2 golf feels normal to drive, even on aired down drag slicks. My next car will be RWD or AWD and make 600+whp

[24vGTiVR6]

honestly once you get used to it you'll probably want more...... that's truth

it's the same situation as going to a new track..... you take it easy for a few laps and then, when you're comfortable, you push it. same thing here with a new high hp car. take ur time, learn the car, and if you wanna try sh*t.... FFS don't do it with other cars around like the dumasses you see on youtube. grab a spot in your next local track day and push the pedal to the floor. then you'll know

[BRealistic]

I test drove two modified 5.0 Mustang GTs over the years- and both times I thought the power to control ratio was a bit off for my liking.

I don't think the issue is sheer power, but how easy it is to control in the vehicle.

I just wanted to add that back then... I used to regularly go out to bars and then later drive home. And I was concerned that with any alcohol in my system I might do something really stupid.

Now? I don't think the horsepower to control ratio would be an issue unless it was just stupid dangerous. Like a 500 hp Samurai or something.

[Ross1013]

honestly once you get used to it you'll probably want more...... that's truth

it's the same situation as going to a new track..... you take it easy for a few laps and then, when you're comfortable, you push it. same thing here with a new high hp car. take ur time, learn the car, and if you wanna try sh*t.... FFS don't do it with other cars around like the dumasses you see on youtube. grab a spot in your next local track day and push the pedal to the floor. then you'll know

At one point a 380-hp MB CL550 felt dangerously fast to me. Now a 560hp M6 w/traction off feels 'manageable'.

[x1000rpms]

No

This.

Came in expecting every post to be this..

leaving dissapointed.

[turblow666]

As long as you have some self control and a good feel for a car you shouldn't have a problem. I mean don't go out in the rain and think you can get away with stuff you could do in the dry. I have very easily driven around a Shelby gt500 around like a human being, even having a little fun, an never got into a little trouble. Just take it easy the first few days and get a feel for the cars characteristics and you'll be right as rain. Plus, as cliche as it sounds, you technically shouldn't be doing things on the road that could cause you to lose control if you follow the rules.

[Sporin]

Anyone afraid to buy a car because it has too much HP?

Afraid? No. But I do have to look at cars as 4-season transport so a high-HP, RWD car would present difficulties 4+ months a year for me so I have to consider it.

[deadernie]

only when I think about how much insurance would cost.

[worth_fixing]

It's like accepting a check with too many zeros; you can never have too much. Doesn't exist.

Besides, you don't have to use it all......but you have the opportunity to use any amount you like.

[jamerican1]

I don't know if 'afraid' is the right word, but in terms of actual ownership I know I'd get annoyed w/something fast enough to place lots of limitations on how it's enjoyed.

If I'm in a line of work that affords a lot of track time, then I could see myself enjoying owning something like a Z06 (for me it would be a GTR). But for most people, a street car under ~450hp will afford its owner more opportunities to wring it out than those in the 500hp+ territory.

Whatever your line of work is... I want in. Jus sayin.