Perfect amount of power
Discussion
Interesting musing from Chris Harris on the front page on how much power is 'enough' to be entertaining and regularly exploitable on the road. He concludes 163 bhp per tonne, which I was pleased to see is almost smack on a standard S1 Elise isn't it? I think he has a point that more power isn't always more fun. That's why I stopped riding sports bikes. I still wouldn't mind another 30 or 40 bhp though. Where do people think the sweet spot is in a Lotus (for road use)?
GR4 said:
Interesting musing from Chris Harris on the front page on how much power is 'enough' to be entertaining and regularly exploitable on the road. He concludes 163 bhp per tonne, which I was pleased to see is almost smack on a standard S1 Elise isn't it? I think he has a point that more power isn't always more fun. That's why I stopped riding sports bikes. I still wouldn't mind another 30 or 40 bhp though. Where do people think the sweet spot is in a Lotus (for road use)?
problem with that is define road use?me personally, I think ~300 in an Elise is about the right place, but I am sure others will disagree...
GR4 said:
Interesting musing from Chris Harris on the front page on how much power is 'enough' to be entertaining and regularly exploitable on the road. He concludes 163 bhp per tonne, which I was pleased to see is almost smack on a standard S1 Elise isn't it?
Mine's at 162.98 bhp per tonne, so yeah, good one. I'm glad to hear that I made the right choice (at least according to Mr Harris)... always had the goal of owning a car that was the most fun on the road. That said (and I know this is common), I may be itching for more power at some point, so I guess one's opinion of 'enough power' changes.
peter450 said:
I think 200bhp per ton is the sweet spot, which for a Elise is around 150 to 160 hp for a K and around 170hp for a yota car
I'd go slightly higher personally, went from a sport 160 to another S1 with much more power but with that it was slightly less fun. Just couldn't rag it along in the same way. Problem is that power corrupts the mind into thinking you need more. My current stock 200bhp vx turbo is as fast as I need but the temptation of another (cheap) 40bhp is hard to resist. Just think how corrupt your mind must be to want 740bhp!
tricky one, the 189bhp in my car is pretty peachy and pub bragging aside is undeniably fun. However I wouldn't have an Elise with less power, so I consider it a minimum. I suppose my ideal would be around 250 naturally aspirated horses with even higher revs.
300bhp turns an Elise into a very different propostion but yes of course, a hilarious one!
300bhp turns an Elise into a very different propostion but yes of course, a hilarious one!
The Pits said:
tricky one, the 189bhp in my car is pretty peachy and pub bragging aside is undeniably fun. However I wouldn't have an Elise with less power, so I consider it a minimum. I suppose my ideal would be around 250 naturally aspirated horses with even higher revs.
300bhp turns an Elise into a very different propostion but yes of course, a hilarious one!
the question was BHP/Tonne....300bhp turns an Elise into a very different propostion but yes of course, a hilarious one!
Moospeed said:
Problem is that power corrupts the mind into thinking you need more. My current stock 200bhp vx turbo is as fast as I need but the temptation of another (cheap) 40bhp is hard to resist. Just think how corrupt your mind must be to want 740bhp!
More power always creeps on to my mental list of upgrades when I've not driven the car for a while, then I get out and use it and decide I've got all I really need.The Pits said:
tricky one, the 189bhp in my car is pretty peachy and pub bragging aside is undeniably fun. However I wouldn't have an Elise with less power, so I consider it a minimum. I suppose my ideal would be around 250 naturally aspirated horses with even higher revs.
When I took mine out on track for the first time last year I was surprised how little difference there was between mine and the 111R's out on track. They never really seemed to pull away until we were up past 100mph.The Pits said:
thread is entitled 'perfect amount of power'
congratulations you are pistonheads pedant of the day!
Except he has a point? congratulations you are pistonheads pedant of the day!
Why wouldn't you consider an Elise with 170bhp, for instance, if it weighs 10-15 per cent less than yours?
Hence the BHP / ton thing. 170bhp S1 would easily keep up with your R, so engine preference aside, and talking purely numbers, it's back to being a pissing contest, no?
Obviously, if you bounce along on the limiter at 145mph, you may appreciate the additional 3mph that your +20bhp gets you, and if this is the case fair enough...
I accept the point.
but I'd still prefer an S1 with 190bhp to an S1 with the same power to weight ratio as my current car. Naturally I'd also prefer my car to an S1 with the same bhp/ton (otherwise I have one of those instead). So it isn't merely about power/weight for me.
I think the Exige is better suited to a higher power/weight ratio than the Elise for example, especially if the rest of the car remains as standard.
but I'd still prefer an S1 with 190bhp to an S1 with the same power to weight ratio as my current car. Naturally I'd also prefer my car to an S1 with the same bhp/ton (otherwise I have one of those instead). So it isn't merely about power/weight for me.
I think the Exige is better suited to a higher power/weight ratio than the Elise for example, especially if the rest of the car remains as standard.
The Pits said:
I accept the point.
but I'd still prefer an S1 with 190bhp to an S1 with the same power to weight ratio as my current car. Naturally I'd also prefer my car to an S1 with the same bhp/ton (otherwise I have one of those instead). So it isn't merely about power/weight for me.
I think the Exige is better suited to a higher power/weight ratio than the Elise for example, especially if the rest of the car remains as standard.
So what about, say, an S2 111S with different cams / slight mods etc - say 175bhp. but I'd still prefer an S1 with 190bhp to an S1 with the same power to weight ratio as my current car. Naturally I'd also prefer my car to an S1 with the same bhp/ton (otherwise I have one of those instead). So it isn't merely about power/weight for me.
I think the Exige is better suited to a higher power/weight ratio than the Elise for example, especially if the rest of the car remains as standard.
You've ruled that out by saying you wouldn't have an Elise with less power - but if it offers identical performance, then why not? Or even a milder Duratec car - again less power, but performance certainly won't be poorer than your R.
Not trolling, I'm just curious, as I'm struggling to see past the numbers on this one.
Again - taking Rover / Toyota engine preference out of the equation etc. And don't worry, I wasn't hinting that you should go out and buy an S1, I was just using it as an example.
Edited by pthelazyjourno on Thursday 16th February 19:26
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