QOTD: What 300hp car is the least 300hp car? 

"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw) 10/01/2015 at 20:40 • Filed to: 300hp cars

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300 horsepower. Three-Hundred Horsepower. I remember when that was a big number, it meant a car was capital-F Fast . But cars deploy their power in different ways, and some fail to meet the promise of their spec sheet.

Thus, I submit:

The Volvo S60/V70R

I want to like these, I really, really do. A 300hp, 2.5L 5cyl turbo, AWD, Swedish, manual wagon even... it should be quick, right? Nope. Underwhelming, to say the least. It’s ok on roll-on once spooled, but it’s just not fast . You end up let down, looking at the speedo after what seems like too long, thinking, “huh... well, there’s 60.” A stock 250hp B5 S4 is quicker. A BMW 335i, with 306hp, is much, much quicker. A Subaru STI makes is look like a stock N/A 2.4. Granted, I’ve never launched one because I don’t mistreat cars that aren’t mine, and the somewhat dim-witted automatic doesn’t help them, but still... this doesn’t live up to its promise. Thus, this is my nomination for the least 300hp 300hp car. What’s yours?

TheHondaBro > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 20:44

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About 5.5 seconds to 60. That’s not slow.

Alex from Toronto > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 20:45

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Chevy Equinox/ GMC Terrain 301 HP from the 3.6 v6 , pretty quick suv’s.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 20:48

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Surely the RL is slower.

RallyWrench > TheHondaBro 10/01/2015 at 20:49

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I admitted I haven’t launched one, but in roll on acceleration, it would be left for dead by many of its contemporaries. 5.5 sec for a “sports sedan” was middle of the road in 2004.

RallyWrench > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 10/01/2015 at 20:49

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I’m sure it is, but I haven’t driven one of those. That’s why I’m curious what others think.

TheHondaBro > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 10/01/2015 at 20:50

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It is slower, and don’t call me Shirley.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 20:55

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The 3.6l V6 in the Chevrolet Impala from 2013-on (this body style). Only used for fleet and rentals, this was bestowed 303hp and 262ft lb of torque. And it did nothing with it. Nothing. Slow as musky balls and with some of the most uncomfortable seats ever. Great sound system though.

Tohru > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 20:55

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2006 Infiniti G35 coupe. 298hp.

In 6MT guise: 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. 1/4 mile in 14.5 seconds at about 100mph. Weighs about 3400lbs. No matter how fast it goes, it will never look fast because it’s all soft focus curves with no pesky styling to catch the eye.

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/01/2015 at 20:58

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In an onramp drag race versus a friend, I beat one of those with the Bonneville. The Bonnie is 205hp and 230lb/ft. He was pissed.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tohru 10/01/2015 at 21:04

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Woah, a naturally aspirated 3800 beat one of those? That’s pretty impressive.

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/01/2015 at 21:21

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From the stoplight to where the ramp incline starts (about where the box truck is) is about 1500ft - a little more than a 1/4 mile. When it starts to go uphill, it goes from 2 lanes to 1. There’s no cross traffic, no pedestrians, no bicycles - as safe as doing something this dumb can be.

At the base of the incline I had a car length on him and was going fast enough to get my license revoked if caught.

Textured Soy Protein > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 21:22

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So...all the car needs is to be downshifted.

So you should revise what you’re saying to the automatic versions of these cars, because in the manual versions they’re a quick downshift away from plenty of acceleration.

dogisbadob > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 21:43

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The big GM FWD sedans with 300 hp, like the Deville/DTS, and later the Impala SS. Big FWD boats with front bench seats.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 21:45

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If you think 5.5 seconds is too slow, you’d be really disappointed in my car. 310hp, 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. It’s very smooth and has a load of torque to pull it through passing maneuvers, but it’s a bit sluggish off the line.

Hot Takes Salesman > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 21:58

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You know what is a very 300 horse car? Audi A6 3.0. Supercharged V6 gets out of its own way, holy hell

PardonMyFlemish16 > TheHondaBro 10/01/2015 at 22:18

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With a clutch killer launch....

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > TheHondaBro 10/01/2015 at 22:50

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That is 0.1 sec faster to 60 than a ZHP, which is giving up 65hp and 79 torques and they have similar weights. And its .1 sec slower in the 5-60 run. For 300 hp, it should do better than that.

EL_ULY > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 22:54

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I submit the 2006 ish era Mustang GT. When they first went retro. They are way slower than the S60R. Also, e39 540i

marshknute > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 23:08

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Hummer H1 Alpha. 6.6L turbodiesel V8 with exactly 300 hp. 0-60 in a remarkable 13.8 seconds.

Or about the same speed as tree growth.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 23:32

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A semi. because 300hp doesn’t do jack shit there. it’s a fucking semi. all you need is torque

(I am ignoring your rules about "CAR")

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > RallyWrench 10/01/2015 at 23:33

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these have bad turbo lag. try to nail an EVO in 4th at 40. you'll go nowhere fast

RallyWrench > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 10/02/2015 at 00:13

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I’ve driven and like A8s and 4.2 A6s, the throttle response makes up for it.

RallyWrench > Textured Soy Protein 10/02/2015 at 00:20

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I ‘ve driven both. The manuals are better, but even once kicked down or held in gear the auto just doesn’t pull that hard. I mean, it’s not a slow car, but for the specs and as many R’s as it has on it, it underwhelms.

RallyWrench > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power 10/02/2015 at 00:25

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This is true, they sure rip when spooled up though.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > RallyWrench 10/02/2015 at 00:27

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flywheel hp or wheel hp? quite a difference there especially when its awd vs rwd.

My old talon made 300 hp to the wheels and it could almost keep up with newer mustangs on a roll

RallyWrench > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 10/02/2015 at 00:36

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Flywheel. 300 wheel would get it done.

sellphones2493 > RallyWrench 10/02/2015 at 00:41

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What R did you drive? If it was an ‘04 or ‘05 GT it’s heavily torque neutered. Of course, some mods, but my 2007 R (manual) does a 5.3s

0-60.

RallyWrench > Hot Takes Salesman 10/02/2015 at 00:41

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That they do, especially for being rated lower than the 340hp v8 they replaced. Area under the curve counts, and those 3.0s deliver.

RallyWrench > sellphones2493 10/02/2015 at 00:52

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This ‘04 today, and a couple others. And “torque limited” is exactly how they feel, like it’s being restrained. I’m sure some aftermarket love would wake it up, i know the engine and turbo have headroom. Stock, they just lack the punch that the numbers suggest.

Great looking car, btw!

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > marshknute 10/02/2015 at 10:36

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Still faster than Doug’s though. Also double the HP, but not THAT much quicker. Sad.

sellphones2493 > RallyWrench 10/04/2015 at 11:37

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Wanna buy it? It’s currently for sale.