How much horsepower is enough ??????????????
12-16-2011, 02:41 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
How much horsepower is enough ??????????????
I am always amazed at the amount of horse power people want and what the car manufacturers are turning out lately. Even the luxury cars turning out 500 hp plus. I can understand if you track a car, but the vast majority of people don't, and the LS3 with 430 hp is more than I can ever hope to use for street use. It seems like no matter what people have they want more, even those with the Z's. So at what point does more hp become just ridiculous, 700, 900, 1200 ? Where does it end, at some point enough is enough, isn't it ?
I dont understand the question????
12-16-2011, 02:53 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
It's very subjective. After owning a couple 700+ rwhp cars everything else feels so slow lol.
Several people say it's when you can't reliably put it to the pavement. I enjoy having a 1000hp C6 and it seems to be enough for me. Once you eclipse 4 figures it's really hard to tell because it's just a rolling smoke show.
Several people say it's when you can't reliably put it to the pavement. I enjoy having a 1000hp C6 and it seems to be enough for me. Once you eclipse 4 figures it's really hard to tell because it's just a rolling smoke show.
12-16-2011, 02:56 PM
#5
Race Director
Thread Starter
Awhile back there was a thread flaming GM for not updating the LS3 for the last five years and not adding more horsepower. What I just kept thinking when I was reading that thread is how much do people want and at what point is it just a waste.
12-16-2011, 02:57 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '13
Personally, I have an '07 LS2 and no mods and it's enough for me. I don't track or race (don't have the time or desire) and however much makes it to the ground is perfect for me. Then again, I also have a 2.4L 2010 Malibu (gas sipper, long travels, you know) and that has enough power for me as well (only about 170hp at the engine). I'm simple, I enjoy the extra power, but for me I don't need much. The best thing I like about the Vette is the looks. It's like a rolling piece of art 
12-16-2011, 02:59 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
If the LS3 was being roflstomped then I would agree. But I think it holds it's own out of the box quite well. Enough to get a C7 going anyways.
12-16-2011, 03:09 PM
#11
_"SCOTT"_
You can say that about a Smart Car with 40hp and a top speed of 70-80 mph which is enough to easily break the law but You won't catch me in one...
And I don't see you trading your Vette for one in the near future.
I've recently pondered the exact thing your asking. After owning a stock C5 Z06 which was crazy fast, then a C6 Z06 which was super crazy fast, and now a ZR1 with absolutely blistering power, speed and handling, I really just can't imagine having more. I'm probably going to sit this one out for a good long while.
So to answer your question, I think 638hp is enough...
12-16-2011, 03:10 PM
#12
Race Director
Thread Starter
You can say that about a Smart Car with 40hp and a top of 70-80 mph which is enough to easily break the law but You won't catch me in one...
And I don't see you trading your Vette for one in the near future.
Everybody has different budgets and different wants and needs but just speaking for myself I have no want or need to increase the stock hp of my ZR1.
I've recently pondered the exact thing your asking. After owning a stock C5 Z06 which was crazy fast, then a C6 Z06 which was super crazy fast, and now a ZR1 with absolutely blistering power, speed and handling, I really just can't imagine having more. I'm probably going to sit this one out for a good long while.
So to answer your question, I think 638hp is enough...
12-16-2011, 03:10 PM
#13
Team Owner
You could say or reason that all you need is enough HP to get up to the legal speed limits and maintain that speed or slighly more in a safe manner.
But I myself want all the HP I can get, whether I can use it or not, it sure is fun when you have those opportunites to feel it even for a brief time.
Something about knowing it is there, just brings a smile to your face.
Logical, needed, probably not but it is something you can not always explain to others who do not have that feeling flowing their veins.
But I myself want all the HP I can get, whether I can use it or not, it sure is fun when you have those opportunites to feel it even for a brief time.
Something about knowing it is there, just brings a smile to your face.
Logical, needed, probably not but it is something you can not always explain to others who do not have that feeling flowing their veins.
12-16-2011, 03:21 PM
#20
i would say for a majority of people thats all it is....as we know 99% of corvette owners will never truly every realize or appreciate the cars capabilities and i would say that might even be higher with some of these big HP cars coming out now. Now there are those few that really like and use the extra HP, but most of those people mod their cars anyways so what does it truly matter to them other than a starting point.