[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by clee1982

700hp on 3200 lb car sounds scary to me, but I don't track...

Sounds scary for track duty too. Would need some enormous tires and the corresponding suspension and brake changes if you wanted to harness that power and run consistent lap times. Otherwise, throttle would be really hard to modulate and brakes might fade badly. That level of power in a mostly-stock 3200# front-engined RWD car would make my sphincter pucker up tight enough to sharpen a pencil in.

[dcpatters]

I have a C6 Z06 with A&A Supercharger kit installed. With ~6 PSI it put down just a bit over 600 WHP on 91 octane. The car is an absolute handful. Even with an NT05 R on the rear, I seriously considered wearing some depends diapers.

Had a Hellcat with 850 WHP, and honestly, just too much for the street, even with a DR. 1st and 2nd gear completely useless around town. 3rd could be a challenge too.

Anyway, as for how much power is appropriate for the street, perhaps depends on the power / torque curve delivery. 550-600 NA WHP in a ~3400 lbs vehicle would be about it.

[N54Yankee]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

Plus with the choice of FI you went with, it's a lot more fun as it just keeps pulling. I've had PD blower cars before, and you aren't getting traction off the line.

But they are fun for 40mph "rolls".

When I do move up to a C7, I think the perfect combo would be LT's, Intake, and a custom tune. Those are showing to make right in that 450 rwhp range and give you the sound you want.

And you haven't really done anything except improve the breathing, and the gas mileage you get if you keep your foot out of the pedal. No going into the engine...purely "bolt-ons".

Lol. Yes then are but you have to replace the rear tires every season. ;
That’s one reason why I went Centri. I’m not drag racing on stickies and wanted smooth linear power all the way to redline without heat soak At about 3k rpm it really kicks in a you better have both hands on the wheel. As it is I still need to watch the 3-4 shifts as it will still break loose on occasion even with the 325 rear tires.
450 to the wheels in the C7 would be more then satisfactory I think and especially how easy and inexpensive to get there. Like you said not digging into the engine is a big plus. That too often bites one on the ass down the road. With those mods it will drive very well, as many miles as a stock C7 does with a lot more smiles.
I have LG long tubes, gutted cats, NPP in a box hooked up to my homelink visor for open/ closed switch. When closed its quiet as stock but when I hit that button it roars like a nascar. I like having the choice, especially for long road trips with the wife or just want to cruise along listening to tunes.

[Emilime75]

I didn't think I "needed" more than my 335i, until I drove my buddy's tuned F10 M5.

That car can be as docile as you'd want as a daily, but has the effortless power often needed to get around and away from the dipshits often found on the interstates. His roughly 700whp is a safety feature 😁

[Obioban]

Depends on the powerband-- if a lower torque, more linear car, more power is more manageable. If there's so much power than awd or unstreetable tires are needed, I don't want it-- awd is a huge buzzkill for driving enthusiastically.

Generally I want enough that I can work it over without getting dead. I'd say somewhere ~100whp per 1000 lbs of car-- with a lighter car being far, FAR better than heavier one.

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by Obioban

Depends on the powerband-- if a lower torque, more linear car, more power is more manageable. If there's so much power than awd or unstreetable tires are needed, I don't want it-- awd is a huge buzzkill for driving enthusiastically; .

Generally I want enough that I can work it over without getting dead. I'd say somewhere ~100whp per 1000 lbs of car-- with a lighter car being far, FAR better than heavier one.

What AWD is fun for turns. We have lots of nice roads here. I also live in Chester County.

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

I didn't think I "needed" more than my 335i, until I drove my buddy's tuned F10 M5.

That car can be as docile as you'd want as a daily, but has the effortless power often needed to get around and away from the dipshits often found on the interstates. His roughly 700whp a safety feature 😁

I didn't think I needed 700 till I got the Hellcat. Now, I am so spoiled I have no idea what to do when this lease is up.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

I'd rather have less weight than more hp
Cars are too big and heavy now.

So much this.

Give me a stock power M2 @ 3,000 lbs any day (over a 700 hp version of the same car).

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

I didn't think I needed 700 till I got the Hellcat. Now, I am so spoiled I have no idea what to do when this lease is up.

Yeah, but that thing's 4400 pounds. The OP mentioned a 3200-pound car.

[MmmmmM2]

I have 355hp/369tq in my ZHP and that is already too much to have fun with. 0-60 in under 5 seconds, but then what? Can't do much with it on public roads.

That said, going on spirited drives here in there does my body good!

[quick6]

Tuned M6 with about 612 whp probably too much and need wider tires in the rear, but its nice to have.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by N54Yankee

Lol. Yes then are but you have to replace the rear tires every season. ;
That’s one reason why I went Centri. I’m not drag racing on stickies and wanted smooth linear power all the way to redline without heat soak At about 3k rpm it really kicks in a you better have both hands on the wheel. As it is I still need to watch the 3-4 shifts as it will still break loose on occasion even with the 325 rear tires.
450 to the wheels in the C7 would be more then satisfactory I think and especially how easy and inexpensive to get there. Like you said not digging into the engine is a big plus. That too often bites one on the ass down the road. With those mods it will drive very well, as many miles as a stock C7 does with a lot more smiles.
I have LG long tubes, gutted cats, NPP in a box hooked up to my homelink visor for open/ closed switch. When closed its quiet as stock but when I hit that button it roars like a nascar. I like having the choice, especially for long road trips with the wife or just want to cruise along listening to tunes.

I've got LG's too. IMO....best header made for a Corvette in terms of mid-range gains and ease of installation!

[N54Yankee]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

I've got LG's too. IMO....best header made for a Corvette in terms of mid-range gains and ease of installation!

They’re real good for sure. I made the mistake of buying the 1 3/4 headers, this was a couple years before I did the Vortech, I didn’t plan ahead well as I should have got the 1 7/8 version for better breathing up top with the S/C. I left a little HP on the table but I wasn’t about to change them out at that point.

[eluded]

1000 at the wheels

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

Yeah, but that thing's 4400 pounds. The OP mentioned a 3200-pound car.

Ok sorry, my car is slow now & doesn't have 700 hp then

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

I've got LG's too. IMO....best header made for a Corvette in terms of mid-range gains and ease of installation!

Kooks are good too. Had them on both C6s & my C5.

[TomHudson]

Every time somebody bring gas up the “too much horsepower” I envision the old guy pontificating about the old days, driver engagement....blah blah...

It reeks of the self proclaimed limits, that are usually excessive compared to other cars (like an m2 is somehow...reasonable?)

My experience is usually horsepower has nothing to do with it, it’s torque and where it is.

Driving experience of the stroker was the availability of torque which drastically improves the driving experience.

Also sold a mini van with 270hp (more than the E36 m3) and bought a used 240 hp diesel Mercedes SUV....the torque made this vehicle much better in every aspect...

I also had an 87 hp CRX...lots of fun...

If I could, I’d buy the new M5 in a heartbeat, and tune it a year later...

[Soterios]

Originally Posted by GenXer

Everyone is limited by law and traffic.

I'm gonna have to stop you there, Carl.


Personally I think every car needs ::: cue up Donut Media video ::: MOPOWABABY

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

Kooks are good too. Had them on both C6s & my C5.

Yep....those two brands are top notch in performance and fitment. I had my LG's installed in about 3 hours taking my time.

[XutvJet]

To me, the right amount of power is all about if you can use all the power without the car trying to kill you with odd and uncontrollable behavior. The power, chassis, and handling need to be predictable. I want the whole package, not a one trick pony.

I find the 370whp/400wtq to be plenty in my M235 with mild suspension wheel/tire improvements, and an LSD. I can use all the power on the street. It's lovely.

[fastboatster]

out of these 3 options -200, 500 and 1000, I'd take 200. it'll still be able to make rapid progress in traffic if needed but won't be too much so as that you have to constantly watch how fast you are going. I'd say 230-265hp N52 cars have is good, the sweet spot. even 333hp is sometimes turning into an exercise in self-control. Also, not all the horses are created equal - DI turbo engine with max torque at 1,800 rpm feels very different from the NA engine with peak torque at 6,500. Dare I say, I sometimes enjoy the NA 230hp engine more than a 333hp DI forced induction motor

[dreamingat30fps]

Depends on how you define enough. I don't even know how many hp my corolla has, but it's enough to drive around just fine. My C7 has like 450, but could it have more? Sure. Had an FRS that was slow as fuck all, but damn it was a blast. You could drive all out and only be going 50 mph.

So I guess the answer is depends.