Why do we adore BHP

[David Bird]

Its a bit of a mystery - Speed cameras coming thick and fast ,very little opportunity to open the throttle and blow away the cobwebs yet more is it seems better .Even the most meagre of cars can now reach the countries speed limit although some get to those heady heights far sooner . A friend of mine altered his house to allow his car to be parked in the living room whilst he and his partner lived in the kitchen and conservatory ,he did do various forms of motorsport including trackday stuff so to an extent i can understand his passion for fast cars . The car in question many of you i'm sure will never have heard of but it blitzed the top gear track knocking six seconds of the previous best lap time (yes you read right "Six" seconds ) the car in question was Ultima Gtr check it out. Chap has now got rid and exchanged the Ultima for another rare beast "Dax Rush" 4.5 litre v8 in a very light coat similar to a lotus 7. So motor sport use apart why would anyone require upwards of 150 Bhp in the uk ?.

 

[Carrsey]

You will never win the Bar braggin with 150hp...




As i wise man once said, well Jezzer Clarkson "POWER"

 

[Vilus]

I often ask myself the same question sitting in traffic with the dash display showing 7 mpg amd 476 bhp under my right foot! However when some idiot tries to cut you up, a quick dab on the throttle and a smile on your face. I guess I look on it as a kind of 'nuclear deterrent'.

 

[MicB]

Once you have enough bhp (say 400) then it is only torque that matters.

Mic

 

[renault12ts]

As they say...if you have to ask...

 

[developer]

Once you have enough bhp (say 400) then it is only torque that matters.

Mic

Except for diesels where torque is everthing, even on lower outputs.

My chipped diesel "only" has 272bhp but has 50% more torque than a V8 4.0l 420bhp BMW M3 (600Nm vs 400Nm).

The mid range is intoxicating, though I do wish they revved like a petrol.

 

[c63chris]

Good question OP. Been tailed by an unmarked car today and told I was doing 80 in a 40 and must go to court. Wasnt going that fast but was doing over 40 and so easy to do with a big diesel. My fault but think this will hurt

 

[developer]

Good question OP. Been tailed by an unmarked car today and told I was doing 80 in a 40 and must go to court. Wasnt going that fast but was doing over 40 and so easy to do with a big diesel. My fault but think this will hurt

Are you contesting the 80mph if weren't going that fast - you're in ban territory if they can prove 80mph .

 

[renault12ts]

Good question OP. Been tailed by an unmarked car today and told I was doing 80 in a 40 and must go to court. Wasnt going that fast but was doing over 40 and so easy to do with a big diesel. My fault but think this will hurt

Oops...double the limit...chauffeur time.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Good question. I'm currently bombing around in a 190E 2.0 with all of 120bhp (torque is good though) and most of the time I am away from the lights considerably faster than cars with a lot more (a fellow in a white Brabus - chipped I think - S class didn't like being overtaken by me on the A40 the other day, serves him right for dawdling).

The quickest I ever drove from London to Plymouth was in a 1.3 litre Golf Mk2. With the risk of being nicked at over 100 and the most effective speed reduction measure of all, congested roads, I have never managed to beat that time in increasingly powerful cars.

 

[Ian Donkin]

40 over the posted limit is likely to earn you a ban... Did my speed awareness today; better than 3 points, but at 40 over you won't be offered it I'm afraid.

 

[Berkshire Rich]

Power to weight ratio is much more relevant than just power. As well as some element of the ability to handle it when not going in a straight line! Hence my previous RX8 was so much fun and so able to leave much bigger monsters trailing, despite a modest 230bhp and almost zero torque.

It was partly a desire to go up a level of quality (and grow up finally!) and partly a desire to keep my licence, that made me switch to the much heavier C class that I have now. It's only slightly less powerful but a lot more "sensible" and does not really lend itself to charging around.

 

[Igurisu]

As they say...if you have to ask...

This

 

[MicB]

Except for diesels where torque is everthing, even on lower outputs.

My chipped diesel "only" has 272bhp but has 50% more torque than a V8 4.0l 420bhp BMW M3 (600Nm vs 400Nm).

The mid range is intoxicating, though I do wish they revved like a petrol.

I assumed we were talking about motor cars.....not tractors !!!***???

Mic

 

[David Bird]

Brain needs to be faster than car otherwise licence in danger .I have always had brisk cars - Dolomite sprint - Opel Monza GSE - Vauxhall senator to name just three i also have a clean licence having done mega miles (taxi driver) am i lucky or do i make my own luck .

 

[Silver CL55]

"There is no replacement......for displacement"

 

[Bellow]

"There is no replacement......for displacement"

The most powerful Formula 1 engines were a mere 1500cc - and good for nigh on 1500hp. Not since bettered.

 

[Oli]

Because some people enjoy driving fast.

 

[Bellow]

Good question. I'm currently bombing around in a 190E 2.0 with all of 120bhp (torque is good though) and most of the time I am away from the lights considerably faster than cars with a lot more (a fellow in a white Brabus - chipped I think - S class didn't like being overtaken by me on the A40 the other day, serves him right for dawdling).

You should see what happens when something 'quick' is overtaken by my 64hp smart!

The quickest I ever drove from London to Plymouth was in a 1.3 litre Golf Mk2. With the risk of being nicked at over 100 and the most effective speed reduction measure of all, congested roads, I have never managed to beat that time in increasingly powerful cars.

Aberdeen to Edinburgh (130 miles) in 1hr 10mins, return trip 1hr 20mins (raining) - with 140hp.
Try that today.

 

[Charles Morgan]

The most powerful Formula 1 engines were a mere 1500cc - and good for nigh on 1500hp. Not since bettered.

The famous BMW M10 engine among others. I think the longevity was an issue though!