Can we talk about this horsepower insanity for a second?

"this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata" (fantastic-mr-foxbody)
12/18/2014 at 02:02 • Filed to: POWWWARRRRRR, Horsepower, CTS-V

We live in a world where a midsize four door luxury car with only 11 horsepowers less than an Enzo sounds " !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! " So reasonable, in fact, that this rumored car would be nearly 70 HP down on a rental car with an engine swap.

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This is the same world where anyone who can follow the speed limit, stop at red lights, and parallel park well enough to pass a driving test can be given the keys to a 1000 horsepower race car and let loose on public roads.

We complain about safety and emissions standards as slowing down and fattening up our cherished performance cars. Yet at the same time we ignore the "nanny state's" complete acceptance of a rapidly growing selection of relatively affordable 200+ mph road cars. By the way 200 miles an hour is, oh, just 250% of the highest speed limit in the country.

All I'm saying is have a little perspective and appreciate what we've got while it's still here.

In fact, on this random Wednesday evening a couple weeks after thanksgiving, lets all join digital hands and be thankful for unrestricted top speeds, unlimited engine displacements, and completely unregulated dyno figures.

DISCUSSION (22)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
12/18/2014 at 02:12

but who cares about 4200lb cars with 680hp when you can as much fun in a 2200lb car with 160hp. and get better gas mileage. What I'm saying is I want an other 4th gen Civic, but maybe with more than 100hp, maybe. I mean my old Civic with like 85hp was still fun. just no in a straight line or in 5th gear. It's also worth saying that I have exactly zero interest in owning a new Civic. I mean if some one gave me one, I'd sell it and buy a 91. I might be ranting so

I'll just stop now.

this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 02:15

Hey, you're preaching to the choir here. I'm currently shopping for 4th or 5th gen Civic hatch as we speak haha.

I just think it's funny that 500 horsepower is barely newsworthy anymore.

SVTyler > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 02:18

Thank you! I understand people's obsession with huge horsepower numbers but seriously, some of those cars better have huge horsepower numbers since they weigh so freaking much. The Hellcat Charger is 4600lb! Give me a 2000lb Exige with ~200hp any day, better driving dynamics, gas mileage, and less to go wrong.

Decay buys too many beaters > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 02:27

Preach it brother

E. Julius > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
12/18/2014 at 02:29

It is a bit ridiculous that the limits of so many cars fall so far outside what would ever be considered normal or safe driving conditions. Although fortunately we've seen an equally impressive improvement in safety technology.

 V8 Rustler > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
12/18/2014 at 02:32

I am thankful for 420 hp paired with a truck axle.

Kinja'd!!!

CRider > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 03:00

Let me get this straight.

This

Kinja'd!!!

Is more fun than the next CTS-V?

Kinja'd!!!

Steve in Manhattan > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
12/18/2014 at 05:56

I hear all of this and agree - who needs 680BHP in a big car when you're commuting across the bridge to Marin, or driving to Northern Virginia from Bethesda, MD? The numbers are a lot of fun, and watching Clarkson turn tires into smoke is an evening well spent, but where are we really? Here I am in my Charger with 700 plus horsepower, but I'm idling on the LIE wishing exit 63 was a bit closer. Here I am in my Mustang that I paid to have hopped up to near 1,000BHP, but I can't put the power down because another set of tires will set me back more than junior's braces payment for the month. But that light, useable CRX type vehicle with 180BHP where you can use it all and drive it at the limit once in a while? It makes more sense every day, but go find it. Like a car with cloth seats, a small four with a 5 speed, a radio delete, and crank windows - we're no closer.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
12/18/2014 at 07:13

I like my underpowered cars. AW11 and BRZ here. Horsepower is almost entirely meaningless to me.

djmt1 > this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata
12/18/2014 at 08:20

Speaking of speed limits it does annoy me (UK wise) that we still have a speed limit from over 50 years ago when cars could barely reach 70 MPH and would take an afternoon to go from 60-0. Fast-forward today where we have cars which can go from 124 - 0 in seconds and where pretty much everything on the road can do 120 MPH. I really wish my government would stand up to The Daily Mail and start increasing the limit rather than lowering it.

Milky > SVTyler
12/18/2014 at 10:29

You're comparing apples to hot sauce there.

One has barely enough room for the driver while the other has room for the whole family and a livable interior. The Hellcat twins are fat, but come on.

Milky > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 10:31

If a '91 Civic is your perfect car you're not buying new then anyways …..

So automakers keep selling 500+hp regular cars please.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CRider
12/18/2014 at 11:11

in terms real life everyday ownership. yes.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Milky
12/18/2014 at 11:17

I'm 6'2" and just under 200lbs. I never felt cramped I'm my 91", unless I had a fat person in my passenger seat lol. Plus the Civic had a surprising amount of room in the rear. I ones hauls 3 skate boards, a bmx bike, a 12" sub, and 2 6x9"s plas their boxes, and a dang desk in that thing. With the hatch shut. Also All that glass, and the thin pillars made the car SEEM a lot bigger from the inside. I've been in plenty of larger newer cars, that felt much more cramped.

Milky > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 11:28

I was referring to his Exige VS Hellcat comment.

Also you need to step your "real life everyday" car driving game up.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Milky
12/18/2014 at 13:41

"step my game up" so what your saying is I need to spend more money and see the big picture, because 40 thousand dollars cars are more fun than 4 thousand dollar cars. While that may be true, are they 10x more fun?

also I'm not actually saying a 4th gen Civic is the best car ever and every one should go out and buy one. No that's the point. The point is I've driven a lot of different cars, and that was probly one of the most over all enjoyable, and livable, 365 daily drivable cars, I've ever sat my pasty white ass in. Now lots of people wouldn't be able to handle it's faults, or lack of creature comforts, but to me that is what made it so special.

Milky > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 14:09

Well you did just straight up say a 4th gen Civic is as fun as the new CTS-V in your first comment.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Milky
12/18/2014 at 15:12

and to me it is. In the context of ownership. also the Civic wouldn't stay stock lol.

CRider > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 16:14

I disagree. A more spacious, luxurious car with power that you can feel all the time is going to be more fun than a cramped old economy car whose engine can't even turn the blower on the Cadillac.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CRider
12/18/2014 at 16:30

who says I'd keep it stock?

CRider > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/18/2014 at 16:39

Considering the number of 800+hp CTS-Vs out there, I'd rethink the mod argument very carefully.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CRider
12/18/2014 at 18:12

yes but do I care? no I do not. because a luxury car can never feel like a 2200lb death box. It will never feel light, or nimble, or agile . yes big HP V8s are cool, yes wagons are great. Yes new cars are comfier. But the bottom line is I don't care.