Do we really need 300kw/500nm+ for a daily driver?

[LJCHSV]

Driving a very high powered car is one of the very last few freedoms thats we have left in this country....So whilst its still a freedom, i'll be driving & PASSIONATELY ENJOYING the most powerfull road car i can afford. Enough said!

[V8LOAD]

Bikes in traffic can be a bit unsafe, not to mention looking a bit like a tard in all that lycra, so might as well walk.

Speak for the pushy riders and the ricers. When on my 1980 Shovelhead, you can hear me coming over your HSV, AND i get about 45mpg in the city.

and when I am not on the Harley, I love my VY SS wagon. I commute halfway to work, park at train station and ride the rest of the way as fuel thirst doubles in city traffic, and it is on my own dollar.

I had a 1978 400cu in Lincoln Continental in the UK and it did something like 24L/100km, so when my wagon give me 12L/100km I smile about how technology has been my friend, and throb along happily in the 2003 wagon.

[Radikl]

Driving a very high powered car is one of the very last few freedoms thats we have left in this country....So whilst its still a freedom, i'll be driving & PASSIONATELY ENJOYING the most powerfull road car i can afford. Enough said!

Well said..........i think the days are numbered though.......look at what the pollies are trying to do here in Vic....lowered speed limits, micro managing us on every front....

[Mcgmaloo]

Driving a very high powered car is one of the very last few freedoms thats we have left in this country....So whilst its still a freedom, i'll be driving & PASSIONATELY ENJOYING the most powerfull road car i can afford. Enough said!

Well said. That was a deciding factor when I bought my maloo. Enjoy it. Mod it. Love it. Before we have to stop in at the servo to plug our cars in to get home.

[Swordie]

Seems trend is cars get more powerful overtime. 300kw might be power of six in 10 years time.

[planetdavo]

Seems trend is cars get more powerful overtime. 300kw might be power of six in 10 years time.

True.
Some people just get too hung up on dyno outputs. Power to weight ratio is the true marker of "performance". Either way, why would 300kW or whatever suddenly be a reliable marker of (for example) a safe overtaking car? Why can't 150kw be more than enough, or why stop at 300? Make 400kW the "required" amount, or more even.
What is required the most in a daily driver car is a driver with a brain capable of making safe decisions...not decisions driven by ego, aggression, poor judgement or kilowatt output.

[IJ.]

Most people don't realise just how good Modern cars have gotten, Drive something with King Pin front end 4 wheel drum brakes and no synchro in the 3 speed column shift and maybe on a good day 70Kw and even the lowliest of Modern cars will seem like a race car by comparison... ahhh the good old days

The Speed limits haven't changed a whole lot since then and were NEVER based on any actual research, it isn't speed that kills it's piss poor driver training, getting a license has always been a joke..

[boostmypulse]

yes my berlina is a must. have a bad day at work, Jump in it, turn the key and its all worth it.

[Woodchukka]

The Speed limits haven't changed a whole lot since then and were NEVER based on any actual research, it isn't speed that kills it's piss poor driver training, getting a license has always been a joke..

I agree the L's program for car is piss weak. I am all for a driver training program for cars like they do for motorbikes. To get your L's and P's on a motorbike you have to complete (depending on location of testing centre) a rider training course. Most of the people there (all but one) could ride however the other well needed more help . However to get in a car you do a test on a computer and away you go? I taught my wife to drive in my VL turbo (got her licence later in life) and had her learn to drive in the middle of nowhere first then once confidence was built introduced her to more complicated situations and ensured she drove in the wet, dry, gravel whatever the conditions and she drove it on her P's as well and she is yet to have an accident to date. You can teach someone to drive in a powerful car easy. It is not the power but the decisions we make and I have made some bad ones I'll admit that.

[IJ.]

My driving test consisted of 1 parallel park, out of the Police station car park, right, left, left, left, right back into the car park passed!

“Here’s your licence son” I then proceeded to get into my 5 litre 4 speed V8 Monaro and was let lose....

Only thing in my favour at that time was I’d spent years sliding around on grass and dirt so had the car handling skills needed to NOT die in the first 5 minutes, been “learning” to drive ever since.

[planetdavo]

...been “learning” to drive ever since.

The above quote should be a life lesson for everything in our lives, every day.
We NEVER stop learning. Anyone that thinks they know everything they need to know in life already has a problem.

[Woodchukka]

My dad live in a small town and the cop said your Joe's (not real name LOL) son aren't you. "yes" was my dad's reply. You drive on the farm? "Yes" was my dad's reply. No worries sign here.... For the record my father never had an accident and I can't recall a fine or ever being pulled over by the cops when I was in the car with him.

[tunga]

I drove a couple of lads back from the upper Hunter one day in the ole Clubby. Travelling in lane one of two dual lane (overtaking road), one lane the other way. We were doing the speed limit and cruised up behind a truck in lane one, and a 4WD travelling behind in lane one. I moved to lane two (at the speed limit) to overtake both 4WD and Truck. When I approached 4WD 'she' decided this was the time to pull out to overtake truck. I was forced into oncoming traffic. Right floot planted, redsled kicked back to 2nd, hell broke loose, and I narrowly avoided a head on killing myself and (at least) three others. If I was in a 4 or 6 banger, I (and others) would be a statistic. Enough reason for me, and my family. 300kw and 500nm saved my life.

Remember a couple of years back

[macca_779]

Remember a couple of years back

Trying to analyse that in my head and as much as I too enjoy a powerful daily. You can always brake and slip back in to get out of a sticky situation.


iPhone 5

[Solone]

True.
Some people just get too hung up on dyno outputs. Power to weight ratio is the true marker of "performance". Either way, why would 300kW or whatever suddenly be a reliable marker of (for example) a safe overtaking car? Why can't 150kw be more than enough, or why stop at 300? Make 400kW the "required" amount, or more even.
What is required the most in a daily driver car is a driver with a brain capable of making safe decisions...not decisions driven by ego, aggression, poor judgement or kilowatt output.

Used the benchmark of 300kw/500nm as most LS1/LS2/LS3 cars make this power either stock or with minimal mods. Most of us on here have AT LEAST this power so I thought it would be a good base point. Thats where my car is at also.

Its a fair kick in the pants when you open up a 300kw/500nm car.