Since when did we get HP crazy……
 

When and why did so many folks start believing that a “sports car” had to have a lot of POWER!

It sure as heck didn’t start that way.


Car Year HP Weight (lbs) lbs/HP

MGB 1970 92 2,220 24
TR-6 1970 104 2,490 24
240-Z 1970 151 2,300 15
Fiat 124 1970 105 2,100 20
Porsche 911-T 1970 123 2,250 18
Miata 1990 116 2,116 18
Corvette 1953 150 2,850 19
FR-S 2013 200 2,758 14


Comments..??

(sorry it's hard to read .... I can't get the "chart" to cooperate .....:cry:)



humfrz

We got HP crazy when safety standards made vehicle weight skyrocket.

Because people have the misconception that all sports cars must be over 300hp to be a true sports car when all the other factors are over looked, like handling. I have friends who drive high powered vehicles and none compare to the engagement, handling and sheer driving pleasure of the 86.

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Cafe racers.

Gotta have those high hp figures on hand when you quote from the brochure.

Lol numbers are tempting but 200 feels great IMO.

forget the hp the car needs a tad more torque or at least until I get rid of the torque dip then it will feel even more awesomeness

I think the lines became blurred between production cars trying to mimic race machines of the same make. "Race on Sunday, win on Monday! I've recently learned the true essence of a sports car this this week! (youtube the 240Z Documentary)

Because boasting about numerical values makes manufacturers look better than their competition. Payload, passenger/trunk space, tow capacity, horsepower, torque, mpg, etc. It all looks good on the brochure when a comparison chart of car A has more checks than car B.

very true indeed
whenever I look at car manufacturers website for any car in general its always a pros and cons comparison between cars in specific class like mpg or utility space etc etc

but for me I dont care about most of those things at least for the given car I want I mean I bought a sports car for fun its still just a unnecessary luxury item compared to a fuel sipping car thats economical in such but I dont see why people want everything in a car like if the frs had no trunk it wouldnt bother me cuz I mean its a sports car for fun driving if I wanted space get a sedan or suv imo

I dont think it's comparable numbers I reckon is ego. Like comparing **** sizes. If the car feels right for you then who cares about numbers.

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Same as squarefootage for homes (hp), neighborhood (brand), year built etc. we all want more and best of everything. what happened to the days where all siblings shared rooms? One telephone per house? One TV? we live in a attainable luxurious bountiful illusion era, more HP is just a result from advanced efficiency and technology.

Yup. Fixation with ever growing HP is a problem. Damn Pokemon TCG is ruined because of it.

But really, its true. Its one of the biggest complaint i had about the subaru community. This one is a bit better, but that was mostly because the early adopters knew what we were getting mostly. Now its hyped to the public and its getting more noticeable.

Why are people always upgrading their smartphones?
Why are people always upgrading their homes?
Why are people always upgrading their shoes?
Why are people always upgrading their clothes?
Why are people always upgrading their jobs?
Why are people always upgrading everything?
..because they can.
The question is not really about HP.

Because I want to beat my competitors at autox. I don't need to achieve the same HP numbers as them due to the amazing chassis design, but my average speed over the course has to be higher than theirs to win. YMMMV.