What's the least powerful car you have ever driven?

"BrownMiataDieselWagon" (opporamblings) 11/28/2014 at 19:28 • Filed to: None

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BigNSlow asked earlier about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Coincidentally, the first car I ever drove was also probably the least powerful car in terms of horsepower I have ever driven: a 4-cylinder 1980s Ford Escort (made 68-88hp when new) that most likely had ~40hp. So, what is the least powerful car you have ever driven (in terms of either horsepower or power-to-weight)? Motorcycle-engined vehicles and farm equipment do not count.

(Picture from Wikipedia, it looked just like this only more rust)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:30

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Girlfriends Taurus: 157 horsepower. Though my van has a worse power-to-weight.

Conan > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:32

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140 HP V8 on the 1985 Mercury Grand Marquis. Yesss.

 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:32

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I think Lada which was first car that I drove was also the least powerful.

Jedidiah > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:34

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Least: Beetle

Most: Viper

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:35

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Wahey! 73hp 30 years ago. Probably only about 5hp left I reckon.

pip bip - choose Corrour > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:36

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fsm 650E NIKI , from poland (Fiat 126) all 650cc of throbbing power!

Jayhawk Jake > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:37

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Honda Insight? It's like 80hp.

Still didn't feel as slow as the Impala I rented once...

Scary__goongala! > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:37

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By output numbers that would be my miata *cries

Slowest car was my W123 300TD.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 11/28/2014 at 19:38

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What a beautiful machine! Is that yours and does it still run?

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Jedidiah 11/28/2014 at 19:38

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What Viper was it?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:40

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1996 Ford Fiesta. I've driven two different ones that were identical, both the same colour, except the second had a couple cosmetic mods. Both had 75 hp and 81 lb ft torque.

Killing-Machine > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:40

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without a doubt it was my friend's brother's ram50. I drove around in it for 3 weeks doing odds and ends jobs for his father and I went full throttle the whole time and I think I broke 50 going down a steep hill once!

vdub_nut: scooter snob > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:41

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First gen. single cam saturn (85hp, single cam, Throttle body injection LOL) with all kinds of mechanical issues. Probably around 60 hp. But it was about -30000 degrees out, so even without the cold air intake, it had a cold air intake.

T5Killer > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:42

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Its between a 87 Merc Tracer and a '89 Volvo 740 wagon.

KirkyV > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:42

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My first, and current, car, had 59HP when new. I've absolutely no idea what it's making now.

Thankfully, it only weighs 800kg/1760lb, so you don't feel it as much as you might otherwise. I don't have any trouble with motorway driving, and so on.

dogisbadob > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:42

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So the 3-cyl Swift/Metro doesn't count!

I think my lowest was a 90-hp Geo Storm. But I ended up with a 95-hp Camry as my first car.

Bandit > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:43

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I think the book said it has something like 19hp. It tops out at about 45mph.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Scary__goongala! 11/28/2014 at 19:43

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This just shows that some of the greatest cars ever built don't need horsepower.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:43

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Dont know how much power, but it wasn't a lot.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-just-drove-a…

BrownMiataDieselWagon > KirkyV 11/28/2014 at 19:47

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What do you drive?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:47

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Runs like a champ. As you can see its in the barn atm as I need to clean/seal the chassis and paint the body as it's looking a bit tired, but it'll be back OTR next summer (hence why the roof is off so I can capitalise on the miserable two days of annual British sunshine)

BrownMiataDieselWagon > dogisbadob 11/28/2014 at 19:49

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Awesome! What year was the Camry?

SlickMcRick > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:49

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1990 Escort GT 110hp. 20 years later is when I got is so I'm guessing 80ish hp. (Would totally own again.)

1996 Honda Civic LX 106hp and an automatic.

dogisbadob > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:50

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86, last year of the first-gen. Had so much space inside for such a small car.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > SlickMcRick 11/28/2014 at 19:50

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Yes! The Escort is a fantastic car!

SlickMcRick > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:55

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I miss it so much but can't seem to find another one for sale ANYWHERE. My heart hurts because of that. Honestly I was hoping any Escort GT would pop up when I was searching for my winter beater but to no avail. :-(

BrownMiataDieselWagon > dogisbadob 11/28/2014 at 19:55

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I love old Camrys, as you can tell from my avatar picture

sdwarf36 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:55

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My current ride-91 diesel Jetta. 52 hp. The original motor wore out at 240k miles. Sure it was pretty low by the end. Now has a rebuilt motor-and a turbo. Its all the way up to 'fucking slow'.

Tohru > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:56

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1991 Mercury Tracer - 88hp new, owned in 2007-8.

1988 Dodge Ram 50 - 92hp new, owned in 2014.

1998 Kawasaki EX250 Ninja - 37hp new, owned in 2009-10.

KirkyV > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:56

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A Peugeot 106 1.1. I love it dearly. (The one in the .gif has quite a bit more power than mine, naturally.)

VonBelmont > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 19:57

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My CR-V's nickname is Wheezy for a damn good reason.

Frosted > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:00

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First gen Scion xB. 101 horsepower. But it was lighter than my Cube so performance was likely comparable.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > pip bip - choose Corrour 11/28/2014 at 20:01

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If this was a contest, you would win.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:01

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This. The vehicle I miss the most from my childhood.

67hp when new, but still a whole lot quicker than my 150 hp 4Runner.

bingham123 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:06

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a friend let me drive his car on 200mile trip, it was the best/most terrifying trip i have ever had, 200 miles with 375 screaming cc and a whopping 9HP ish.

i have never been overtaken as much as i did driving that but i didn't care because i was having so much fun

VonBelmont > Scary__goongala! 11/28/2014 at 20:07

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My mom's first car was a then-new 1982 240D. She used to tell us stories about getting passed by butterflies and birds on the road.

Steve in Manhattan > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:09

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1972 Volvo 142S B18D engine (dual Strombergs) = 90 BHP

1979 Rabbit Diesel (4 speed) = 48 BHP

The Rabbit felt faster, but still ....

cbell04 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:10

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1983 nissan sentra diesel. Cant find the hp rating but no freaking way it was over 45 or so.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Steve in Manhattan 11/28/2014 at 20:13

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I'm jealous. I want to drive/own a Volvo 142 so badly.

Jedidiah > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/28/2014 at 20:25

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A red 03 roadster.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:25

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I believe my Tercel has only 89hp on the 3A engine.

Sam > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:26

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Probably my 924. It looks fast, but somewhat lacks in the power department.

110hp in 1978. Same engine as a Gremlin.

Steve in Manhattan > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:27

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Friend had a '72 142E (fuel injected, not the 142S) a long time ago - that's the one to get. Avoid the carbs ( I rebuilt one of them once, and one of them twice (within a 48 hour period, if you get my meaning)). I'd go wagon, but if you like the 2 door, it's fine - fewer window mechanisms to replace (I did that a lot).

Put the car in the air and check for rust on the suspension and inside the rocker panels. The radio is far away on the passenger side. But those cars are tough, no doubt about it. The electrics took a bit to sort out (this car was 8 years old) but were easy. That's all I can think of ... and get a yellow one. That's Jalop.

Brickman > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:30

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2012 Mitsubishi Galant. That thing sounds like an old tractor and has the acceleration of one too. Don't even think of passing anyone on the freeway. You will be humming next to the vehicle you are passing up for a few minutes. My 96 Caravan is quicker and sounds better :)

sebdel > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:35

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If you take year of production into consideration I can win this, my mom had a 2004 daewoo matiz, 3cyl 0.8l 52hp, not that bad considering it was 800kg. My sister has the chinese copy (exact copy) of this, the 2009 chery QQ, 0.8l 3cyl 51hp, wich adds power steering and 100kg for a total of 900kg. That one is noisy and slow and 0-35mph takes you to 4th gear.

dogisbadob > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:35

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Yeah, Toyota is awesome, and I love the first three gens especially; Gen3 is easily the best car ever made. I have owned each of the first three generations: that 86 Camry, a 91 ES250, and the 96 ES300 I have now. And no, my next car won't be a 2001 ES300; it'll be a 4-cylinder wagon or hatchback.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:36

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My car, probably around 90-100hp at the crank. Still a screamer, and still brings a smile to my face.

Scary__goongala! > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:39

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I'll raise a beer to that

Scary__goongala! > VonBelmont 11/28/2014 at 20:43

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I got pulled over in it for making an illegal right turn. I suppose the cop guessed I was speeding based off the noise and told me to watch my speed. I had only made it to 25 on the 35mph road

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:49

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Probably the 2010 Aveo I had as a rental car. A whopping 108hp. That thing was beyond slow. My 2001 Cavalier wasn't far behind at 115 horses. Chevy was pretty good at making dreadfully slow, not-so-fun-to-drive sardine cans as cars.

fhrblig > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 20:53

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I've owned 2 48-hp Chevy Sprints. I loved them both.

Dr Emilio Lizardo > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 21:00

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A Renault Twingo in the south of France.

Something like 50hp. There were mountains there that I wasn't sure we could get all the way over in that car with two not very large adults inside.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 21:15

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Oh come on, let my friend's Honda N360 came in :(

Oh well. At least i once driven a Citroen GS with a massive 45hp. And i kid you not it could go 100mph, thanks to the aerodynamics.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. 11/28/2014 at 21:19

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Who knew that a Citroen GS has the same top speed as a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6?!

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 21:27

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Yeah. But you need a loooooooooooong straight to get that thing up to 100 since it do 0-60 in somewhere arround 20 seconds or something.

But you never drove a slow car until you drive old kei cars with it's tiny 360cc engine.

McMike > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 21:28

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It's a tossup between the Mini I have now.

And one of the cars we had when I was a kid.

60-65 bhp

AMC/Renauledge > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 22:24

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A 70hp 1993 Suzuki Swift GA 1.3L 4cyl 5-speed. Non-power steering. I had it crammed full of people and luggage and drove it over mountain ranges here in Oregon several times. Never wanted for more power. One of the most nippy, zippy, enjoyable steers I'd had.

I currently have a Fiat 500 Pop, with 101hp. Of the 11 cars I've owned, it's the 6th most powerful. That makes me pretty Jalop, right?

Takuro Spirit > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 23:05

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My free '94 Talon DL.

1.8L 8-valve 92hp with a 5-speed stick.

The sad thing is, it was a one owner car, but since I got it for free and was young and dumb I beat the ever loving shit out of it. But kept it stock.

Starlionblue > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 23:06

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A rented first-gen Daewoo Matiz (a car nowadays known as the Chevrolet Spark) with a rather underwhelming inline 3 that had a whopping 51hp when new. Not ideal on Sicilian hill roads but it was cheap to rent and sipped petrol very very gently.

Starlionblue > Takuro Spirit 11/28/2014 at 23:09

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I can't decide whether that slanted panel is epic or awful. Probably both. It looks like the car had a rough night and has a hard time standing perfectly straight today. ;)

Takuro Spirit > Starlionblue 11/28/2014 at 23:10

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It was very soft and squishy, if that helps. Also found $2.xx worth of coins in that tape deck.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/28/2014 at 23:10

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It's a toss-up between my Dad's '86 Novarolla, which would have been 22 years old with 250,000 miles when I was driving it (80ish bhp when new) and my current DD '96 Lada Niva 1.7i, which also had 80ish bhp when new. I can't really find any firm numbers on either. I guess no one really cared all that much... neither one was ever intended to be fast.

AccidentalFinance & Hapless Jag Owner > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/29/2014 at 00:24

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Friends Mazda GLC (web image). HP is irrelevant. It was the feeling of sadness and diminished virility that came from driving it.

Mack Miller > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/29/2014 at 00:45

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This 1982 Mercury Zephyr had an advertised 86 hp when new who knows how much of that power was lost when I drove it almost 26 years later.

Cé hé sin > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/29/2014 at 04:46

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I have an ambition to drive one of these. A Ligier voiture sans permis , limited to 45 kmh

.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > BrownMiataDieselWagon 11/29/2014 at 17:29

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1990 Volkswagen Golf Non-Turbo Diesel. This car made about 60hp when new, probably made about 40 when I drove it.

Second place goes to a 1966 VW beetle. This one was "sooped up" and made about 80hp with it's webber carb, straight up exhaust, over-bore, and other stuff. When it was new it made like 55hp.

S62B50daily > BrownMiataDieselWagon 12/02/2014 at 11:56

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90HP 2002 Golf TDI. But it has 155 torques