how ,much power is too much power ?
Discussion
Hi guys,
i'm from over on the Noble M12 and am a big fan of the ultima (lee is a great guy !!)
i know that some of the ultima's are pretty big power now
but what is the limit when the whole experience becomes harder to drive and you enjoy it less ?
i've seen a few big bhp cars perform quite poorly on the top gear track due to all the power
i'm guessing over 650 bhp it all starts to get messy ?
i'm from over on the Noble M12 and am a big fan of the ultima (lee is a great guy !!)
i know that some of the ultima's are pretty big power now
but what is the limit when the whole experience becomes harder to drive and you enjoy it less ?
i've seen a few big bhp cars perform quite poorly on the top gear track due to all the power
i'm guessing over 650 bhp it all starts to get messy ?
The factory demonstrator is running 720hp.
On the occasions I have seen it there appears to be nothing dramatic or sensitive about it. It starts cleanly and can trickle away from a standstill like a pussycat. Not been in it myself but I'm sure Ted would be more than happy to take you for a test fright.
500 is more than enough for me.
Steve
On the occasions I have seen it there appears to be nothing dramatic or sensitive about it. It starts cleanly and can trickle away from a standstill like a pussycat. Not been in it myself but I'm sure Ted would be more than happy to take you for a test fright.
500 is more than enough for me.
Steve
Impossible one to answer!
Everyone will have an opinion on this and there's no right/wrong answer. I can only speak from personal experiece having had 630hp supercharged GTR and a more 'docile' 400hp Can-Am and even then, it's purely based on my personal preferences.
1) To me, a balance of power/handling is more important than outright power alone (but I like track use not drag use).
2) It's more rewarding too - Do you like to drive a car where you feel you're getting 9 or 10/10ths out of it - or 4/10ths? If you're a trackday/race circuit fan, you'll struggle to use all the power (on road tyres) once your beyond 500hp - if that.
3) The more powerful the car, the more temperamental it may be (power is not 'free' in this respect - compromises get made)
4) How will you use it - HONESTLY? Do you want to take it out once a month, but be able to win any pub willy waving hp contest and any traffic light GP? Or do you want to be able to use and enjoy the car alot (note that having high power doesn't necessarily preclude this, but it's likely to be more onerous)
You see there's no simple answer. It's a very individual thing. Some will happily live with monster power engines and swear everything is fine, but in my experience, you don't get 'owt for 'nowt
Anyway, even a 350hp Ultima will run rings round an M12 though
But for re-sale and an 'expected for an Ultima' rule of thumb, I'd say 500hp is a nice round number.
I still say you don't need more than 350 though (have a look at my Rockingham vid if you doubt it )
Everyone will have an opinion on this and there's no right/wrong answer. I can only speak from personal experiece having had 630hp supercharged GTR and a more 'docile' 400hp Can-Am and even then, it's purely based on my personal preferences.
1) To me, a balance of power/handling is more important than outright power alone (but I like track use not drag use).
2) It's more rewarding too - Do you like to drive a car where you feel you're getting 9 or 10/10ths out of it - or 4/10ths? If you're a trackday/race circuit fan, you'll struggle to use all the power (on road tyres) once your beyond 500hp - if that.
3) The more powerful the car, the more temperamental it may be (power is not 'free' in this respect - compromises get made)
4) How will you use it - HONESTLY? Do you want to take it out once a month, but be able to win any pub willy waving hp contest and any traffic light GP? Or do you want to be able to use and enjoy the car alot (note that having high power doesn't necessarily preclude this, but it's likely to be more onerous)
You see there's no simple answer. It's a very individual thing. Some will happily live with monster power engines and swear everything is fine, but in my experience, you don't get 'owt for 'nowt
Anyway, even a 350hp Ultima will run rings round an M12 though
But for re-sale and an 'expected for an Ultima' rule of thumb, I'd say 500hp is a nice round number.
I still say you don't need more than 350 though (have a look at my Rockingham vid if you doubt it
)
BHP still seems to be the main figure that gets banded about - surely for the Ultima it is the torque figures we should be more interested in. As an indication of how quick a 311bhp (at the wheels) is comparative to other cars including Nobles, Super-charged Honda powered Exiges, well sorted Catheram R400 and others I uploaded a little clip.
[url]www.pistonheads.tv/clip1187[/url]
We are all running on Road legal tyres. I dropped the clutch at about 2000rpm until moving - hence my reason for advocating good torque across the range - others on the grid were sat red-lining their engines.
[url]www.pistonheads.tv/clip1187[/url]
We are all running on Road legal tyres. I dropped the clutch at about 2000rpm until moving - hence my reason for advocating good torque across the range - others on the grid were sat red-lining their engines.
Chewy said:
[url]www.pistonheads.tv/clip1187[/url].
HAHAHAHAHA
BHP seems to mean different things to different people... to some its Brake Horse Power. After watching that video it also seems to mean many other things when talking about an Ultima:
Bugger, He's Passedme
Blown His Pooftercaraway
Beteezgota Huge Penis
Beats Helloutofa Porsche
Bloodly Hell... Police
gtr-tt said:
GTWayne said:
There is a fella in Sweden with a twin turbo Lexus motor and nearly 1000bhp (allegedly).
And theres another fella in Sweden with a twin turbo Brodix BD2000 motor and over 1000hp. Ohh that's me
Terribly sorry old bean, it would seem that I am getting my modified Ultima's confused
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