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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
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Ideal pounds per horsepower?
I'm talking for a well balanced street car...not a race car. I'd think around 9-10 pounds per horsepower is a good balance. Get lower than that things become a bit crazy, and 4-5 is very fast track car territory.
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) Last edited by pwd72s; 11-13-2010 at 10:16 AM.. |
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11-13-2010, 09:56 AM
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What kind of car? I can't remember anyone ever saying, "I wish it had less power."
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11-13-2010, 10:08 AM
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Whatever kind of car you like...but to offer a guidline? Both the M-3 BMW and the 5.0 Mustang are a bit less than 10 pounds per horsepower. A 2.4 911S is around 13 pounds per horsepower.
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) Last edited by pwd72s; 11-13-2010 at 10:31 AM.. |
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11-13-2010, 10:14 AM
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My vote is 9-10 hp/lb. My 930 is in the 4-5 range and it's a lot of power to handle unless it's dry with warm tires and even then it's going to break the tires loose at lower speeds with anything over half throttle. With that said, new cars with all the electronic gizmos make really high hp cars managable by almost anyone, but it takes away the fun when you feel the car backing the power off.
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2014 Cayman S (track rat w/GT4 suspension) 1979 930 (475 rwhp at 0.95 bar) |
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11-13-2010, 10:16 AM
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A rear engine, big HP car would be a handful, a FWD big HP car is a bit silly. If it is an AWD car, particularly if it has some sort of traction control, stupid power is going to be easier to manage.Mid engine and about 6lb/HP would be about ideal with me. Say a 914 with a 3.6 in it that has been breathed on a bit, or something like Angela's little black beast. A little plastic car with a stout flat six would have to be a lot of fun, or one of those Lotus 7 knockoffs with a turbo rotary engine. Does it have to have side glass that rolls up and down?
To my mind, a light little car with a good power to weight would be far preferable to big, heavy car with huge power.
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11-13-2010, 10:43 AM
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Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
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I voted 7-8 pounds per horsepower...borderline but okay because my car has 400 at the rear wheels. It's fine around town and on the highway, but if I had to drive it everyday, it's not the HP, but the comfort level that would get old.
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11-13-2010, 11:31 AM
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My daily driver sedan is at 8 pounds/hp. It's just perfect for me.
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11-13-2010, 11:33 AM
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i'm just a cook
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: downtown vernon,central new york
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my general rule of thumb has always been ten to one when available, but a little more would never be shunned.
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11-13-2010, 12:05 PM
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For track use, you can't have enough hp, and the weight is never too light!
I believe in the Lotus school of car design: want to go faster? Add lightness!  But I also believe in the mantra: "There's no replacement for displacement!" -Z-man.
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2010 Cayman S - 12-2020 - 2014 MINI Cooper S Coupe - 05-17 - 05-21 1989 944S2 - 06-01 - 01-14 Carpe Viam. <>< |
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11-13-2010, 01:21 PM
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AutoBahned
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I aimed for 9 in my blue car, Paul.
the only thing wrong with 4 or 5 is the cost... there has to be an upper limit at which you really need AWD and some electronics tho... |
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11-13-2010, 01:50 PM
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bikes ftw hp/lb win
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"The primary contribution of government to this world is to elicit, entrench, enable, and finally to codify the most destructive aspects of the human personality." Jeffrey Tucker |
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11-13-2010, 02:20 PM
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with a full load and me, using rear wheel hp, I'm right about 10.
car weight alone and crank hp is about 8. either way nearly enough for a SWB on 6 inch rims . tire width, brakes, suspension, make a big difference. IMHO as mentioned above, a lighter car, no matter what , is just more fun. a heavy car, no matter how powerful/fast, still feels heavy.
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11-13-2010, 02:28 PM
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JW Apostate
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Napa, Ca
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I think my 914 is right at 10-1.
220-200hp to 2200-2000#'s I need to do a dyno pull and weigh in be sure. I love it! KT
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11-13-2010, 02:29 PM
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Quote:
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11-13-2010, 02:51 PM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
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I voted 2...because .1 wasn't a listed option...
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
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11-13-2010, 03:32 PM
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11-14-2010, 08:41 AM
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Quote:
 only 4 of us two and under type folks so far I enjoy my turbo cab but for  there is not much that matches a modern liter bike. Even right off the show room floor they are beasts, and all for less than $20kIt can be kind of fun to come off a corner and have the front skimming above the pavement all the way to the next braking zone.
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"The primary contribution of government to this world is to elicit, entrench, enable, and finally to codify the most destructive aspects of the human personality." Jeffrey Tucker |
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11-14-2010, 08:59 AM
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I've found that 7.3 isn't enough fo SCCA XP anymore. The step to 5.6 is in work.
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11-14-2010, 09:24 AM
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Quote:
Club Racer (pointing to another in his class): "That guy's cheating." Tech inspector: "What makes you think so?" Club racer: "Because I'm cheating and he blows by me on the straights."
__________________
"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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11-14-2010, 09:35 AM
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Location: Vancouver,Wa.
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Some folks awoke to the SCCA AX 1.4 multiplier for forced induction. The cars are now developed and are devastating. The large open courses of the Nationals at Lincoln are now all the rage for anyone that has a roomy venue. No more tight stuff, even at National Tours (prolly so Mustangs look fast, not ungainly ). .No whining, just adapting. Time to bid a fond farewell to the air cooled Porsche motor.
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JPIII Early Boxster |
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11-14-2010, 09:52 AM
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2004 Mazda Miata
1979 Porsche 930 3.4
1989 Porsche 944S2 3.0l 16v 4cyl
BB
912 SWB
1967 porch 912
