Are High Horsepower Cars All They Are Cracked Up To Be?

I know this headline isn’t going to win me any friends, and I’m even a little surprised I’m writing this, but I’ve recently come to a realization: I haven’t had much fun in the recent 400+ horsepower cars I’ve driven.

It’s not because I’m so depraved that I don’t enjoy speed or power—I absolutely do. It’s sort of because I enjoy those things that I’m finding driving powerful cars a chore.

While I’ve always been more in the slow-car-fast school of thought, and while my own idiosyncratic preferences tend to ridiculous, low-HP cars, I’ve had amazing times in fast cars as well. I’ve driven 700 HP Lambos and evil-sounding 662 HP GT500s, the 662 HP SLS AMG Black, the 640 HP Viper SRT, and the famed 707 HP Hellcat—mostly on tracks, though

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TheSteve - 5/6/2016 10:46:00 AM

0 Boost

Here are some fun facts:

- Horsepower translates into top speed, which is likely artificially limited by the auto maker using software

- Torque translates into acceleration (i.e., quicker 0-60mph times)

- Because horsepower translates into top speed, and because high top speeds entail the effects of wind drag (in a big way) and the non-linear relationship between the addition or more power and the resulting increase in top speed, a manufacturer's claim to add 15 more hp to a baseline of 200 hp or 400 hp will make such an insignificant performance difference that you won't be able to perceive it. It's a marketing ploy to influence you to buy their product.

- There are lots of people who have a mindset of "more is better". A V10 engine is "better" than a V8 because it has 2 more cylinders; a car with a 400 hp engine is "better" than a car with a 360 hp engine because it has more horsepower. This is for whom the horsepower wars exist.

I no longer drive at 140 mph on public roads, so I don't seek huge hp numbers. I drive an SUV with a relatively modest 240hp, but with 428 ft-lbs of torque, which gets me the brisk 0-60mph times (6.4 sec) that are fun, on occasion. But if HP floats *your* boat, then go for it!

Holydude - 5/6/2016 11:57:14 AM

+2 Boost

I get high HP cars for the thrills of the acceleration, top speed is pretty much irrelevant unless I am in Germany.

MDarringer - 5/6/2016 8:17:36 PM

0 Boost

Stupid horsepower is fun.

The Hellcats are a hoot.

An LS7 TVR Sagaris is a thing of frightening wonderfulness.

Ford Thunderbolt? Hemi Dart? Driven then and loved them.

Granted, the utilization of this horsepower should be done in a safe environment.

ATrain - 5/7/2016 7:44:48 AM

+1 Boost

For the road, I would agree that once you get past the 300 mark, it becomes irrelevant in itself. Moreover, many other aspects of the car such as the chassis must also be improved to extract value and pleasure.

However, for the track, I think that number gets pushed over 500 quickly, again with significant improvements in aero, suspension, steering, etc.

Case in point

I was tracking my new GT3RS over the past two days. (Its track baptism) On paper, the car is 25 bhp more than my GT3, 14 lb.ft more and 22 lbs lighter. To Steve's point, a seemingly irrelevant set of changes. However, the suspension, aeros, track and contact patches are all optimized.

On eight runs, not a single GT3 came close to being competitive (Black run group) and I had a 4 to 5 second advantage per lap over the nearest GT3. (Assume my base laps were 1:17-1:18 at Thompson Speedway) That is huge. I ended-up lapping several of them, the slower ones of course.

Why do I say this? For one thing, to nuance Steve's comment. I completely agree with him. However, even minor changes in gear ratios without changing anything else can make a car better utilize its power, and be faster.

Also because, to one of Matt's regular comments, once you get above a certain bhp/lb.ft figure, you really need to learn how to drive to get the benefits and keep yourself from making stupid mistakes that could hurt someone.