Lets be fair, how much power do you need!!!

[ck11]

But how accesible is that power and how often do you really make use of it? Police brand you a hoon if you accelerate "excessively" so even getting to the speed limit quickly is turning into a crime.

I understand that a V6 is a must for country drives, because the travelling comfort/effortless crusing is brilliant. But i still found it quite frustrating sticking to the limit on a drive to coffs harbour when the car was easily capable of comfortably cruising at 130km/h.

[SVTVNM]

Originally Posted by Fairmont99

'Excessive Acceleration' is an offence

Are you for real!!!!

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by SVTVNM

Are you for real!!!!

Ever heard of the terms "Driving with undue care" or "Driving in a dangerous manner?"
I'm sure it could be interpreted in that way easily by a cop.

As for power, 100kw in the Peugeot is fine and dandy, considering that we live in the country. We have 320Nm of torque on tap for those overtaking maneuvers. I just the fact that you leave it in 5th gear at 90km/h and just put your foot down. You'll be doing 130-140km/h before you realise it.
In the EL, it's what, 140kw? That's fine for country driving and overtaking too. I wouldn't want a small petrol powered car due to the fact they don't have the kw or Nm needed to overtake safely.

[XR6 Hulk]

Im happy to stand around a BBQ and say to a mate "you should go for a drive in my falcon, it certainly drives a little better than your commadore" I think for blokes its about bragging rights, who can honestly use their power on the roads where there car is 90% of the time. even a car with 200kw family sedan is too much.

Its sort of like road presence, you dont have to see a tiger rip apart another animal to give it a little respect, you know what it will do if you upset it. Same with a fast powerful car.

[Buddy 1]

Originally Posted by XR6 Hulk

I had the T modified to 307rwkw. took it for a spin and thought, surely I dont need this much power. Can only go 60km/h, cant street race, not towing a boat, noone to run. Took the Hyundai Getz for a drive and thought, this car has enough power for everyday commuting.

I say a family car with 200kw at the motor (160rwkw) is more than enough power. Do we want more power because we need it or is it because gotta be better than your next door neighbour and you want bragging rights at the BBQ??

Well what can I say :P

You had a powerful vehicle to start with however still felt it needed more power or you would not have modded it lol

Then after you spend your Money on it to make more power you think about whether or not you need it LMAO

Or did I Miss something?

So anyway in answer to your question I will give you my personal & recent Experiance in this matter.

I had a 05 AWD Terra which was slow to get moving from stopped & even when moving along it often seemed slow to respond unless you managed to catch it in the sweet spot for power & torque & then it seemed to take off like a rocket.

Ok we move along to the BFII XR6 Ute which replaced the Terra.

Now this is another story as the loss of 360 kilos & the slightly better engine does wonders for performance however it was still a bit slow to respond at certain rev range.

So after fitting a F6 lower intake, Turbo upper intake, High flow filter & a Flash Tune it now responds nicely & I am almost happy with that aspect of it & after a nice Exhaust is fitted along with a custom tune it should be what I want.

Though maybe an underdrive will come along also.

Now to explain how much power I need to be Happy it is simple really as at the moment I only need to tickle the throttle with most of my driving to get it to respond in a timely manner & when I overtake it is great as I am only on the wrong side of the road for a few seconds & I often do not realise just how quick I am going till I glance at the speedo as it goes from 80 to well over 100 in the time it takes to get past 1 car.

I can only imagine when I get the Exhaust, 4490's & a Redback system with a High flow Metal cat it will be even better.

Now would I want more next time taking into account I am 45 & have most of my fast driving days behind me?

HELL YES as the Ute has but only made me more keen to maybe try a Turbo next time around or even a FPV Turbo (if I can afford it lol).

See I think it is wonderful to have the power at hand if you need it & that does not mean you have to drive like a nut all the time just because you have the power as even a standard Falcon these days has plenty for Tyre Smoking if that is your thing (not mine anymore).

For me then it is all about Driving Enjoyment as the Days of me placing Huge importance on what other people think have long passed (almost) Enjoy.

[Falcon Coupe]

Lets be fair, how much power do you need!!!

For my GT Enough to be sacred of giving it full throttle.

My Daily, enough to tow the trailer and get reasonable economy.

The Family wagon, enough to overtake with ease, Barra 182 does it well.

[poolkeeper]

Originally Posted by troppo

Choosing not to use the power is infinitely more pleasurable than not having the power to choose.

yep couldnt agree more...

So many times Ive been in dangerous situations because of lack of power, when you need to move you need to move!!!

[sprjenkins]

If you really have to ask that question then your life is probably more or less over and whats the point of going on? You wan't to drive a Hyundai and all you care about now is commuting. Where's your sense of fun and adventure gone. Give it up and pack it in and save the rest of us from having to sit behind you as you do 10kmh an hour under the speed limit in the right lane driving your soul destroying, lifeless korean death trap

[Steffo]

Enough power? What is this "enough," you speak of? :P

[muppet]

Uuuummmmmmm around 1000 hp would be just about enough I reckon.
It's all well and good to say you cant use all that power on the street. But I have to say it is a lot more enjoyable to drive around doing the speed limit in my 550 hp coupe than to drive around in my wife's 87kw corolla.

[boxo]

An extra 20rwkw every six weeks i reckon.

[LUXO_8]

11,000,000,000kw

!

[[Tonko]]

You ask why, I ask why not!

You can use 500kw, just use it responsibly... Track work, the strip, "private roads"

[gozza]

I want enough power to Fry the tires at any given moment in time - Im on way way to getting 300hp - Ultimately 400-500 would be pleasing

[onfire]

A few years ago I would have said, as much as possible. Today and maybe the last 2 years or so, Im happy with a pretty much stock AU I6 4.0, its not alot, but thats really the level Im accustomed to, and I wouldnt really want anything under 150kw.

[ck11]

If you really have to ask that question then your life is probably more or less over and whats the point of going on? You wan't to drive a Hyundai and all you care about now is commuting. Where's your sense of fun and adventure gone. Give it up and pack it in and save the rest of us from having to sit behind you as you do 10kmh an hour under the speed limit in the right lane driving your soul destroying, lifeless korean death trap

Dont see the need to sit there and attack other people, a lot of others have actually responded with sensible answers. I cant really see you exploiting your sense of "adventure and fun" in an environment where traffic is crawling at 60-70km/h, unless of course you like flooring your car to 70km/h then hitting the brakes.

Note the poster said for "everyday commuting" and presumably in traffic like sydney where people dont get to exploit their cars, which is a fair point. Try driving anywhere within a 20-30km radius of the sydney cbd.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by LUXO_8

11,000,000,000kw

!

Too much. Unless thats at the flywheel, but if at the wheels thats too much :hihi:

[DDXR6T]

Some people see cars as a way from A TO B. Other's see cars as a hobby, or an adrenalin rush. But to answer the Q, A 200kw engined car would suit me.

[vanman_75]

thats why i dont live anywhere near a city i enjoy All my cars and a little power doesnt hurt i say sorry to those who live in those places. become a country hick and speed a little lol

[TUF_302]

My car has exactly 160rwkw and i must say thats a lot of power!, i drove it for the 1st time in the wet ever last weekend and i broke traction so much it wasnt funny!, it was fun tho lol!

[paul_r_d]

ummmmmmm 74kw does me and my fiesta fine

I love ripping the falcons and commodores on take off. But they soon catch up :(

[paule11]

500nm of torque always liked driving old v8s that were set up for torque not revs hardly have to put your foot down to pull away from the lights, Torques mor important than outright power.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

IMO the most you need is 200kw and enough torque to tow a caravan confortably.

Any more is a waste.

I have retired from the 'chasing every kw' race.

says he with the 5 million killowatt barge

[Buddy 1]

Originally Posted by paul_r_d

ummmmmmm 74kw does me and my fiesta fine

I love ripping the falcons and commodores on take off. But they soon catch up :(

LMAO I am not sure what sort of Falcons you have been beating from takeoff but you would have to have NOS in ya Fiesta to beat me & my Ute from the lights

[Daymoe]

My Dads Mazda 323 Astina 03' has enough power for our country driving, overtaking etc etc, same with my mums 99' Festiva.

[XABEBAGT]

My BAGT has enough power for me however I will be looking forward to the 40 plus extra Kw in the Orion.

[strik9]

450rwkw for a daily driver. now thats what i,m talking about. though i,m chasing 400 again.(lol for people who know my story) he he he

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Buddy 1

LMAO I am not sure what sort of Falcons you have been beating from takeoff but you would have to have NOS in ya Fiesta to beat me & my Ute from the lights

Any 6-cyl Falcon built between what, 1960 and 1987 will lose to a Fiesta. Some of the EA's (3.2 CFI and 3.9 CFI) will also get spanked. Any EA 3.9 MPFI, or EB-BFII will hose a Fiesta though.

[Elks]

How much power do I want?

How much you got??

[paule11]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Any 6-cyl Falcon built between what, 1960 and 1987 will lose to a Fiesta. Some of the EA's (3.2 CFI and 3.9 CFI) will also get spanked. Any EA 3.9 MPFI, or EB-BFII will hose a Fiesta though.

What if you had 3 100kg blokes ineach car and a 30kg toolbox in the back who would win then. Ive seen plenty of fast crossflow 6 cylinders cam carby exhaust not rocket science to get them to go well