Since we're getting explainations for things:

"PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve) 01/15/2014 at 17:56 • Filed to: None

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Why do I see "it doesn't have enough power, I wouldn't feel safe merging onto the freeway" used so often as a dismissal of cars? I drive a car with a truly massive 108 horsepower, and a manufacturer-stated 0-60 time of 10.4 seconds. I have not once, even during heavy-but-fast traffic, had any issue merging onto a highway, even from one of those boneheaded merge from a stop sign ones the Merrit Parkway is stricken with, nor have I had any issue overtaking.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 17:58

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Beats me, I never had any issues with merging either, but when overtaking, at least on the narrow, two lane roads in Brazil, I find it much better to have some more usable power under the hood so I can stay at the opposing lane for less time.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 17:58

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It's just an excuse

CAR_IS_MI > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:00

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Because the ignorants driving the appliances feel the need to get on the highway in less than 2 seconds, and you would never keep up.

I am in the same boat as you, and I just say screw 'em, they can wait for me, go a head and pout, I'm in here smiling and laughing my ass off.

Nonster > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:00

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my old ford ranger has about 90 hp new (probably a lot less now) and I clocked its 0-60 time at about 16 seconds. Every now and then I have to wait for a bigger opening on the really fast roads, but I've never felt it wasn't safe.

CPT Speedbump > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:02

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A entire 108?? Jeeze, Mr. Huge Engine over here! My (winter) car only has like, 9o something! ..that said, its a beetle, it weighs nothing, and thus is as fast as any other average car, lol, people keep changing lanes to take off past me at lights only to realize that my Beetle ain't no slouch, haha :)

JustWaitingForAMate > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:02

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'It is better to have and not need, then need and not have'

KB Garage > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:03

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My lightning quick two point slow beater has no issues. Pedal to the floor. Count to eight Mississippi. Boom ready for merging.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > CPT Speedbump 01/15/2014 at 18:04

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To be fair, I wouldn't measure the 1NZ-FE in horsepower. It has 108 of them, but they aren't very good. I think "mulepower" would be a better term.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > KB Garage 01/15/2014 at 18:06

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As someone who used to own a two point slow VW, those engines are deceptively crap. They feel a whole lot better than they actually are. I think in place of making them actually powerful, VW spent all their money on creating some kind of reality distortion field that makes the car feel like it isn't powered by something slightly less effective than an anvil.

Casper > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:07

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You almost certainly only drive in urban or urban freeway traffic. I doubt on a short run up merge you are hitting 75-80 to match traffic speeds if you have a 10.4 0-60.

In overtaking, they are talking about outside town and would require a huge passing zone (which you almost never have) in a car like that. Most passing zones around here require you to pre-accelerate before you are even able to clearly check the passing zone for being clear if you hope to make it. The only cars that do it well are things with a sub 3 second passing time. It's possible with 108 HP, but it's rare something has the gearing for it today with all the fuel economy concerns.

I have made due with a 3 cylinder Geo Metro running on 2 cylinders and a slipping clutch, that doesn't mean the rest of the world liked being stuck dealing with me getting from A to B.

TwoFortified > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:08

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Did you want a cookie? I mean...congrats. I prefer more horsepower as it makes merging easier (with some upward limit somewhere between 400-1400 whp), but that doesn't mean that having a...I'm guessing land yacht...with fewer ponies at the wheels then a new lawnmower makes it impossible to merge...just more difficult, depending on the situation.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:08

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Because people are idiots and don't understand that sometimes one must actually make an engine rev in order to get more power.

It amazes me to no end that we don't have more diesels here, because we sure as hell are lazy about throttle application.

People would just as easily not even touch the gas, or the brake. That means they have to work. Work sucks. Driving is boring. I don't like having to think. Herp derp drool

POD > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:20

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I went from a car that had 116 horsepower and had a curb weight of 3200 pounds to one that has 300+horsepower and a curb weight of 3380 pounds.

Now, with both vehicles I could merge onto the freeway with no trouble. However, with the 300+horsepower car I can better respond to emergencies and feel much safer.

All things being equal (proactive driving habits, passive safety systems, etc.) I'll take the car with more power (within reason).

KB Garage > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:23

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sigh Well, my bestie mcbestington is a VW certified tech. Since I was shopping for a beater, he suggested the two point slow over all the others for one simple reason: timing chain vs. belt. I realize now I would have been much happier with literally any other VW engine in terms of "get gone" power at cruising speeds, but if anything goes wrong, he can help me fix it and I get a discount on parts. Most importantly, it was also the cleanest example we could find at the price point I wanted to pay for a beater (about $3K). The rest had some serious cosmetic and mechanical issues.

Korea Miéville > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:25

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I dunno, I drove a beat-to-hell '78 Mercury Zephyr for a while, and I felt like I was trying to merge a golf cart onto the freeway. I wanted to just put a big sign on the rear window saying "I'M SORRY!!!"

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:52

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This.

I drove from my house in the South of England to our holiday house in Vernantes, France (a journey of ~420 miles) in a 59bhp 1.1l Peugeot 106 laden with 3 people and a boot of luggage.

Zero problem whatsoever coping safely with the 90mph top speed limits on French motorways (they vary between that and 60mph), nor their miniscule on-ramps.

Just think ahead.

Makoyouidiot > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 18:58

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I'm packing 101hp and I drive the interstate every day. No problems.

NaturallyAspirated > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 19:02

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The only car I've ever owned that felt like it could use a little more power for freeway merging was my '74 Dodge Dart with the 225 slant 6.

getFuckedHerb > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 22:07

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There have been a couple times in the jeep, where I thought "OH &&&& I'M GETTING RAN OVER" but only when someone is stopped at the #*%# YIELD sign at the end of an onramp onto the 75 mph interstate and for some stupid reason there are cars on the intestate. I run it out as hard as I can but I can't help but look for semi's that are about to run up my backside.

hethoughtofcars > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/15/2014 at 22:24

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I agree, the majority of cars I have owned have been in that 100 hp neighborhood: '88 Corolla (maybe 90 hp?), '89 Jetta (105), '95 Del Sol (102), '05 xB (103), '10 MINI Clubman (118). They've all had manual transmissions which has helped immensely, but hey I see Ford Aspires on the freeway doing ok. Ford Aspires!

ihm96 > Casper 01/15/2014 at 22:36

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On urban freeway traffic you dont have to go 75-80 if you stay in the right lane, nor do you truly need to pass anyone in a passing zone. Its really just a convenience. I drive on Philly's freeways often and if you go 60 and stay to the right you'll be fine. And most urban freeway systems are constantly stopped by traffic anyway haha

Casper > ihm96 01/15/2014 at 22:39

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That's my point. You drive in mostly urban traffic. Most people making the reverse argument are talking about outside urban zones (the majority of the country). It's a matter of perspective.

ihm96 > Casper 01/15/2014 at 22:43

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I used to live in central PA in a non-urban zone and still I never felt it was anything more than an inconvenience to not have a good amount of power, but never unsafe. I think it is probably that most people just enjoy modern conveniences, which is fine. And I feel kinda stupid for the way I misread your first comment, my apologies

Casper > ihm96 01/15/2014 at 22:54

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Some people feel unsafe requiring 90%+ of a vehicles performance to simply perform a basic task... it leaves no margin to recover from an error.

No problem. I skim read most comments too.

ihm96 > Casper 01/15/2014 at 23:02

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I think you'd have to reach back pretty far to get to where you actually need 90%+ of a vehicles performance to do basic tasks. Considering speed limits in the US are mostly the same as they were 50 years ago, then I think almost all cars can do these tasks safely and without using 90% of the performance.

Casper > ihm96 01/16/2014 at 09:56

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Speed limits are irrelevant. If you pull out in front of a loaded truck you didn't see, you would much rather be able to mash to go pedal and get moving out of the way than do it and still be going so slowly you get obliterated.

A speed limit of 55 still requires nearly 10 seconds in your car. If you misjudge a distance and pull out with 6 seconds or less distance and the other driver doesn't stop for you, you are completely outside the capability of your vehicle to get out of the way... unless you just drive straight off the road into a ditch or something. That's the generally the point. The same applies to braking, if your car is made of bargain basement economy parts, it lacks the stopping capacity of a better equipped vehicle. That's the different between little Johnny being scarred by you braking in front of him and his brains on the windshield. Some people like that extra padding in their capability, even if they never have to use it. It's no different than a seat belt or airbag.