HP is Overrated

[Chills]

Very good read. HP is a bit over rated. When running from stop light to stop light its fun, but I like turning better than going straight.

Yesterday I woke up early and headed out into the country. I put the top down and hit my favorite motorcycle roads for the first time in my Boxster. It was amazing. I could feel the wheels gripping and pulling, taking each turn as it was meant to be taken. Braking, down shifting, swinging into the turn, and accelerating through the apex I felt like the Boxster was having the time of her life.

I am so glad I bought a Boxster.

Oh, and I like in the article where the author says that every true sports car should have a crap stereo. hahahaha.

[Brucelee]

They are right. I run regular gas in my car so that its HP is a bit down, where I like it!

[Perfectlap]

my two cents
HP is addressed for two types of sports car buyers:

Sports car DRIVERS (those who partake in at least one DE, Driving instruction,
time trial, atucross, etc.)

and those who have never really turned the steering past 90 degrees, WOT in straight lines only. Let's call these sports car owners/enthusiasts.


Porsche doesn't put enough power in their cars when you look at the car market in general. This is glaringly obvious. The cars are fine as they are but its clear that they are manipulating horsepower and HP delivery, gearing etc. in an artificial manner to suit their interests and not really those of the sports car drivers and sports car owners.

1-Why does the CaymanS have an inexplicably tall 1st gear? So it doesn't beat the heavier 911's 0-60 time.

2-Why doesn't the Boxster still have HP well into the 300HP range when BMW and Merc are already offering this to their customers? We know why....

3-Why are all the non GT/Turbo 911's underpowered? So that the standard Carrera owners always have something to trade up to and Porsche can continue making boat loads of cash for cars that are pricey for what you get (true of all Pcars).

But given the underpowered issue at Porsche, most people complaining that this car doesn't have enough power or that car doesn't have enough power fall into a category: THose who demmand more power yet don't have the high performance driving skill to come withing 90% of a car's the lowest possible lap time at any given track. It's like the deer hunter that complains his assault weapon doesn't have enough firepower to take out an 80 pound deer. Your basically talking to a poser.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Regardless, I always welcome more HP



Porsche could sure use some hp upgrades. They have been using the same engines for a long time now. Might be time for new engines?



It's not like Porsche is stranger to having the fastest cars on the road. For a long time, Porsche DID hold claim to that title.



270hp for a base Boxster/Cayman, 325 hp for a Boxster S/Cayman S...and we're good :P

[aren040]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

Regardless, I always welcome more HP



Porsche could sure use some hp upgrades. They have been using the same engines for a long time now. Might be time for new engines?



It's not like Porsche is stranger to having the fastest cars on the road. For a long time, Porsche DID hold claim to that title.



270hp for a base Boxster/Cayman, 325 hp for a Boxster S/Cayman S...and we're good :P

Sounds good to me, but then the Boxster might not be the cheap girlie car anymore.

But, before I take the HP bump, I would like to take care of that little pesky RMS issue.

[pecivil]

But given the underpowered issue at Porsche, most people complaining that this car doesn't have enough power or that car doesn't have enough power fall into a category: THose who demmand more power yet don't have the high performance driving skill to come withing 90% of a car's the lowest possible lap time at any given track. It's like the deer hunter that complains his assault weapon doesn't have enough firepower to take out an 80 pound deer. Your basically talking to a poser.

gotta call BS on that. More HP is fun, any way you slice it. I think the real poser is the guy who crows from the monuntaintop about his great lap times like he is Juan Pablo Montoya or something. That sounds like a "my dick is bigger than yours" comment to me. I have not taken my car to the track, but it sure is more fun to drive with the extra HP. You can really powerslide it. Torque oversteer I believe they call it. That is FUN.

Say it S-L-O-W-L-Y. More HP is fun. There is no argument that can be made against it. Does that mean a Vette is a better car than the Box? Of course not. But if you ask 100 sports car people is they want more or less HP, you know what they are going to say, don't you?

[Perfectlap]

of course everyone wants more power. It's like your boss asking you if you want more money? Who is going to say no to that?

But you can't have everyone at work making the boss's salary can you?
The boss gives you more money and then you get used to it and
what comes next? You want more money.
HP is the same, they give you 300HP coming from a 180 HP car you think
this is awesome. But then you get used to 300HP and want more. It doesn't end
until you are in a Z06. But how many of those 100 sporst car guys ever take any those cars to their native habitat? Most never do. The percentage of sports car owners who actually seek out formal driving instruction is tiny compared to the total number of sports cars sold. Yet they complain about a car not having enough power? Does it really not have enough power or have they simply convinced themselves that the car is not up to the task? Seems to me its more in their heads than the reality of the car not being capable of going fast enough. Once a driver has really stretched his/her's car's legs in the right and left directions, as opposed to merely stomping on the gas at the red light, he will then have a new respect for his sports car because he knows that he is far from extracting the limit of the car...safely. That realization tends to curb the apetite for more power.

I don't believe anyone has said that HP isn't fun. I highly doubt you will find anyone to say otherwise. The question is why do some people feel
that a particular doesn't have enough power? While some think it's more than fine? Most sports cars are tested by professional drivers and if its REALLY lacking they add more power. Speaking of Montoya, I know someone who raced with him in a junior formula and when he was driving for Mercedes they gave Juan Pablo first crack at some AMG Merc and he told my pal "this car has WAY too much power for the public". I believe they listened and put less power in whatever car it was I can't remember the model.