Getting used to power
- Thread starter Oxide™
- Start date
The 330i has a very linear power delivery, and in relative terms, it's power to weight is only that of a hot hatch, which is nice enough, but very easy to get used to IMO.
Even 200BHP/Tonne is entertaining but still easy to get used to, get to 300BHP/Tonne and things get more interesting, but still in a straight line you'd get relatively used to it, 400-500BHP/tonne and although mostly manageable, I would say it doesn't ever get old..
Car wise, the E39 M5 is about the fastest I've spent many hundreds of miles driving, and although I would say the actual acceleration etc you actually easily get used to, since traction limits it in lower gears, and by 3rd, it's not overwhelming, it's your relative speed to everything around you that keeps you on your toes, so it's just about the level I'd say would entertain for quite a while.
Above that, I've only had bikes with higher power to weight ratios, the GSXR600's I had after a few years felt a little tame, but moving up to the 1000, fighting the front wheel in the first 3 gears, and an ability to spin up the rear on any corner at will made it much harder to get completely used to, only higher gears on straights started feeling more normal.
As for the OP, would a quick RR session just confirm everything is tickety-boo?
Even 200BHP/Tonne is entertaining but still easy to get used to, get to 300BHP/Tonne and things get more interesting, but still in a straight line you'd get relatively used to it, 400-500BHP/tonne and although mostly manageable, I would say it doesn't ever get old..
Car wise, the E39 M5 is about the fastest I've spent many hundreds of miles driving, and although I would say the actual acceleration etc you actually easily get used to, since traction limits it in lower gears, and by 3rd, it's not overwhelming, it's your relative speed to everything around you that keeps you on your toes, so it's just about the level I'd say would entertain for quite a while.
Above that, I've only had bikes with higher power to weight ratios, the GSXR600's I had after a few years felt a little tame, but moving up to the 1000, fighting the front wheel in the first 3 gears, and an ability to spin up the rear on any corner at will made it much harder to get completely used to, only higher gears on straights started feeling more normal.
As for the OP, would a quick RR session just confirm everything is tickety-boo?
Last edited:
a few years ago a mate of mine had an e30 with an m50 2.5 24v lump in there. it felt ok but it was a lump that had been sat around for ages.[TW]Fox;17281905 said:
after a few oil changes the oil filters werent coming out as scary looking.
after that we made up a concotion of diesel 5w40 fully synth and auto gearbox fluid for the engine (both fantastic engine cleaners). i think due to the improved oil pressure and the cleaning effect the car had a far more noticable vanos "kick" (obv not neck breaking like vtak) but it showed exactly how dependant the system was on oil pressure. we were even able to compare before and after output plots and visually the difference was huge
Yes I would be interested but in the RR thread they all seem to take place a bit too far from myself
I'm sure you can find a rolling road close to yourself, If VANOS was an issue, surely it'd change the shape of the power curve and be readily obvious.?
The trick is to never upgrade to a quicker car, then you won't be spoilt
I like my crappy Zafira for the fact it has a 'sports' button that effectively adds ~50BHP, so driving it around normally you just get used to the lower performance, and on the odd occasion you use 'sports', it instantly feels much quicker.
thats like the air conditioner button in an s2000, maybe they should label it differently
*runs*
The ski resort called - they want their troll back You just get used to the power. I remember the first couple of weeks in the Evo.
Passenger: So it's pretty quick then?
Me: Yes, look when you floor it - you waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahuipsefhidrupghdfoigdfiojgo[djgiojdf[ogjodfjgoijdfg
I remember every time I planted it in the early days, if I was talking I would instantly and unintentionally cut off my sentence. I would focus intently on the road and nothing else, eyes popping out of the head with focus and I would have no idea what revs I was doing, what level of boost I was at, no idea of speed, or anything else.
Now I'm used to it it's great because I enjoy it more and don't look like this all the time:
yeah I remember my first few full throttle gear changes in a few of mine, I constantly failed to grab second gear due to the unexpected G's, tad embaressing if I was engaged in traffic light g-prixs, fly off the lights then freewheeling in neutral like a numpty
troll is off for lunch
troll is off for lunch
I went from a 197PS Clio (R27) to a 270PS Megane (R26) and once I got used to the extra torque and 'power' it soon become pretty boring!
I personally miss having a lighter, more chuckable car that I have to rag the crap out of to extract the power. The Megane is too easy, not much fun at all.
I think I need a Clio 200 in my life, or an FD2 Civic.
I personally miss having a lighter, more chuckable car that I have to rag the crap out of to extract the power. The Megane is too easy, not much fun at all.
I think I need a Clio 200 in my life, or an FD2 Civic.
I've had my Leon FR for just under two weeks, and I had it remapped last night. I perhaps should have waited till I was 'bored' to have it done, but it's done now, and I'm very happy it is! It's around the 240bhp mark, and really excells in the mid range. I just need to get some nice 18's and some decent tyres; likely Toyo T1R's...
excelling in mid range won't help you when some scroat excelling in top end passes you
excelling in mid range won't help you when some scroat excelling in top end passes you
If it was me, then said "scroat" who's prime concern is racing, can carry on
Hi there
Something you definetely get used too, even more so in a 4WD car that deploys it so easily.
But I got used to the Mustang, 577BHP, 1600kg which is approx 350BHP per tonne, but I got used to it.
I think if you want power that is a lot harder to get used to then look at getting 2 wheels, i.e. motorbike and a fast one.
Something you definetely get used too, even more so in a 4WD car that deploys it so easily.
But I got used to the Mustang, 577BHP, 1600kg which is approx 350BHP per tonne, but I got used to it.
I think if you want power that is a lot harder to get used to then look at getting 2 wheels, i.e. motorbike and a fast one.
Hi there
Something you definetely get used too, even more so in a 4WD car that deploys it so easily.
But I got used to the Mustang, 577BHP, 1600kg which is approx 350BHP per tonne, but I got used to it.
I think if you want power that is a lot harder to get used to then look at getting 2 wheels, i.e. motorbike and a fast one.
Bike power to weight isn't as good as you'd think once you take true 'wet weight' and rider weight.
For a 1000cc machine, you have about 210kg and 80kg rider, so with approx 190bhp you get a grand total of 655bhp/ton....
I guess though if you put it into perspective, a Veyron is around 450bhp/ton, plus you can get a old shed of a litre sportsbike for about £4.5, quite good value
Everyone should try it at some point, you may find you like it... and none of us can afford the Veyron
Edit: Hyundai i10 is 77bhp/ton, oh dear
Last edited:
Drive something else for a while.
I regularly drive my mum's MX-5, and then get back into my VR-4 - that makes the VR-4 keep feeling fast, and I don't get used to the power of it as easily. This also means I've yet to really think about pushing more power from it!
I regularly drive my mum's MX-5, and then get back into my VR-4 - that makes the VR-4 keep feeling fast, and I don't get used to the power of it as easily. This also means I've yet to really think about pushing more power from it!