What is fast and enjoyable enough for you?

[NWFRS]

I’ve been very happy with around 120 hp as long as they have at least as much torque.

I think the important thing is that the horsepower and torque be comparable to one another. I generally prefer lower revving engines as well. I had nothing against the power output of several 40-year-old Japanese and Italian cars, but they were all around 2000 lbs, which may be harder for modern carmakers to hit. I’m less concerned with peak horsepower than power delivery. The way a car feels, the gearing, and where the car makes that power is more important. But then, I’ve never been a fan of muscle cars. Power is the one thing that I don’t think is absolutely “necessary” for a sports car.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...-750-zagato-3/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...prpione-corsa/

[Sapphireho]

Just like people, all cars are different. Enjoy each one for what they are.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by AnalogMan

As another thread talks about, the BRZ/86 has similar performance to a Ferrari 348 of not that long ago. That's how far engineering has come - an entry level sports car now has similar performance to a mega-buck super-car of just a couple of decades ago.

A favourite car of mine when I was young was the Ferrari 308GTB: 188kW/252bhp.
There are hatches nowadays with more than that.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

Just like people, all cars are different. Enjoy each one for what they are.

Sorry, there is no way I can enjoy all people.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by Captain Snooze

Sorry, there is no way I can enjoy all people.

Just like you don't all cars.

[Captain Snooze]

lol

[86TOYO2k17]

The “problem” is how stable and secure cars are now days and all the safety features, sound deadening even noise cancellation built into the speakers etc...

My 1st car was a 93 Camry
Then a 02 celica gt that I did some mods to
Then a 17 toyota 86 fully built
And now a 17 infiniti Q50 in the works to being fully built.
Other random 2nd cars here and there but don’t matter.

60 in the camry, 90 in the celica, and 110 in the 86 all “felt” the same in terms of how fast I perceived I was going.

I went 100 one time in the camry and it’s the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced.
Meanwhile I've cruised at 100 in the 86 and didn’t think twice.

Going 60 in the 86 feels like I’m crawling.

The other thing to consider is how long it takes to get to a speed increases your time of “going fast”

60-100 in the camry was like 20 seconds
60-100 in the 86 was like 5.5 seconds. I could have gone 60-100-60-100-60 before the camry got to 100.

Now in my Q50 Im at about 420whp/450wtq (soon to be 500/500) it’s even faster than the 86 and with full suspension setup and aero setup it’s pretty stable still not as much as the 86. But it does have active noise cancelation so 110 in the 86 feels like 100 in the Q50. I don’t actually need to go as fast to feel like I’m going fast, And i can also get to fast speeds quicker. 40-90 (2nd-3rd gear pulls) happen in a blink of an eye give you a good rush and I don’t really feel I need to keep pulling.

Moral of the story modern cars need and can handle the extra power and if you do say 40-90 in 5seconds back to 40 in 4 seconds the time you’re “speeding” is very brief as apposed to doing a pull in a slower car 40-90 in 8 seconds even if it gets back to 40 in 3 its 11seconds total vs 9 seconds and it’s almost twice the time on throttle accelerating.

What car you have, how it’s built, what you use it for, and where you drive all go into what a good ratio or level of power is.

[weederr33]

When I had my Cossie kit on my FR-S, which was rated for 280bhp, I felt that was the perfect amount of power. It was enough to merge and pass, have fun, and still be wild without reckless.

[Magyarman]

As a teen I had a 1300cc VW tuned to 52bhp. O/S sway bar,camber compensater,Koni shocks,Porsche 912 clutch EMPI headers . Handled like a Porsche. 1/4 mile 20.22 sec. at a blistering 67mph. I had more fun at autocrosses and at the drag strip beating the 1500cc VW's.

My 2002 Toyota Avalon is comfortable,smooth and quiet. It has 210bhp that makes for spirited acceleration and great for long trips. 28-33mpg on trips.

My 2016 FRS series 2.0 is beautiful , handles better than my modified VW.It has great comfortable seats and gets great gas milage 31-38mpg.

I like a car that can outrun the more powerful cars on a twisty road. If it can do that I don't care what BHP I have.

Last year I drove a Ferrari Portofino 591bhp on a tight autocross course.Blindingly fast on the short straight,but I think my FRS could better it time wise.

[Atmo]

Though I enjoy power and torque, tunes and suspensions, tires and especially brakes, those together can't equal my version of fun: Driving a two-seat roadster top down on a clear day or night in almost any season.

First on that list and within budget is an MR2 Spyder with nearly perfect ergos for my frame. Its 138 hp is enough to push its 2,195 lbs. along with adequate pace on any road or track I tried back in the day. I've owned two and have a persistent search going for another.

Of course any FR-S/86/BRZ would destroy a Spyder in any sort of faceoff and is a more practical DD. But now that I'm at the age where I'm hesitant to get another motorcycle (divorces are expensive), a Spyder is close enough and in lots of ways better.