It's funny, I think it's easy to get caught up in the horsepower wars and the mentality that MORE is always BETTER.

But, is this always the case? Also, doesn't it depend on the type of racing application that power is applied to?

I would think that in road racing or auto crossing, TOO MUCH power might actually be a detriment? Do you really need 700hp on a very twisty road?

Also, how much is enough for a daily driver? 500? 600? 700?

Just thinking out loud here, guys.

 

For me, my 05 being used for autocrossing and being a daily driver 425-450 is going to be my limit. I have started my supercharger fund for a Saleen blower. Should have the money saved up in time for the factory warranty to run out.

 

I've always wondered myself. For some people the sky is the limit. For some of us it could just be whatever you get out of a 4.6L with a good tune. It really depends on what you want to do with the car. If I was drag racing it all the time I'd probably want as much power as I can get. However, since I like to drive it to work, on trips, and to the track now and then that mid 400 range should be good enough. Heck with the power I have now the car feels good.

 

Personally I think it depends on a persons specific wants and needs but IMO 600hp is the top limit for a street car. Anything over that isn't even useable. Even that I think is pushing it.

 

thanks for your answers, guys. Part of the reason I ask is because you have now have all these factory cars putting out 500+ HP...the new Viper pumps out 600HP and runs mid 11s!!

 

Simple.

Step 1. Find out how much hp you are making when the engine lets go. Call it X.

Step 2. Subtract 1 from X.

And there you have it. X-1 is enough horsepower.

Of course, if you drive on public streets and abide by the laws, then 300 is plenty, right?

 

For a daily driver like mine I think stock plus a nice tune is perfect, maybe a few bolt ons (CAI, H-pipe, axlebacks, etc) but that's it. Now for a summer fun car that isn't a DD, heck supercharge it with goodies, but still over 500 is getting to be to much. 400-450 is good, I know if I let the Mustang be a weekend/fun car I'll be getting a Saleen SC, but not till then.

Also the brings up the point as to how loud does a DD need to be for me some grunt and some rumble is good, so I'm going to get the MRT catted h-pipe and call it a day.

 

he he...good formula, but a bit simplistic. There are lots of guys who take their daily drivers to the track or strip, and DO benefit from additional HP. As far as the engine letting go, well there are lots of variables there, too - tuning, fuel octane, forged internals, etc.

I myself plan to start auto crossing in the near future, so I think I'm going to start focusing on more handling and suspension mods. I think I have enough HP to hold me for a while.

 

I would want enough to put my car solid into the 12's, so my guess is the low to mid 400 hp range. Shooot, I struggle with 300 plus cause there's no place to go with it. Guess I better head to the track.

 

This car can be solid 12's with $2k bolts ons. Does 100hp and $5-7k more provide $5-7k MORE of an experience? I would guess only for some. Maybe its me but 425 rwhp didn't feel that much more than 325 rwhp. Also the extra hp was hard to put to the ground in these cars without a proper setup. FWIW, the GT-500 does the 1/4 mile in 13.2 with 500hp. The N/A Mustang with 325-350 rwhp for ~$2k can run 12.8. My thought is to maximize the traction before adding horsepower.

 

With a correct setup a 1000+rwhp is useable on the street. Reliable enough to be a daily driver though? Not likely.

 

well, I'm pretty sure the GT500 can do a hell of a lot better than 13.2 with the proper setup, but I see your point.

I think that there HAS to be a practical limit for something other than a hardcore drag racer. Hell, even NASCAR implemented restrictor plates on some tracks to REDUCE hp cause too many guys were flying into the wall!

 

Finally after a lot of Overtime I now have a Intercooled Vortech on my 05 GT.I went with the Ford racing duel pump set up and had is Dynoed at 470HP 420TQ Great numbers and I owe it to the pumps and the tuner.I then went to the track on street tires (not DR) and after a long wait after two oil spills on the track I made my first pass with a 2.1 60 foot (Horrible) but the quencher is it went 12.50 at 114MPH. Thats great!! Drag Tires and a 1.7 60 foot time and I'm in the 11's I am finally happy with my combo.My performance has caught up with the Looks!

 

for me 600 should be about right, maybe 650 for a street car, after that, I'd get in too much trouble, it is different for everyone, some people would say 300 is plenty

 

IMO forget the HP unless youre racing- I'd much prefer the feel of a silky smooth bigblock over a ripsnorting 500 hp smallblock...anyone thats ever had a old bigblock in the 'close to 500 ft/lb under 3k rpm' range knows the feeling I'm talking about- just effortlessly plant your butt in the seat from stoplight to stoplight without making attention drawing noise...I want a positive displacement blower for mine to give it a little of that bottom end grunt- wouldnt care if it came with a 4000 rpm redline either...for daily driving, torque down in the rpm range you can legally operate is the only way to fly...at the track, hp is hp, dont matter if topend or bottom end its gonna get the same amount of work done if you can hook it up- but in legal driving, the bottom end is all you can enjoy without breaking the law, so what good is the hp except for getting in trouble or at the racetrack...its all fun, but bottom end torque is fun ALL the time...

just an opinion

 

I'm with you on that. Nothing like some good ol bottom which is why I'm going twin-screw. I love that big block feel and thrust, plus the ability to get the job done without making the motor scream

 

Not so sure I agree with the restrictor plates because they were going too fast -- rather it was an attempt to curb costs so more teams could compete. I would argue NASCAR promotes crashes anyway--as long as they are safe and everyone walks away. But that is a different story...

As far as the "how much is enough" -- in my book it comes down to how much it takes to overcome the tires under spirited driving. I would much rather be touching firewall and ripping quick shifts instead of trying to soft-pedal it to keep the car pointed straight. That would still be more than enough for tire frying fun when the mood strikes

But, that also means, better tires = more hp you can have.
Also, more weight = more hp.
500hp in a CR-X is a whole lot different than 500hp in a 300C for example.

Of course, the bigger question here is what are you building the car for?
Race times, dyno sheet bragging rights, or just driver experience?

The answer to that will dramatically change the answer to "how much is too much."

 

900hp will be enough for me.

 

http://nascar.about.com/library/weekly/aa041398.htm

 

How much can you afford?