The "15% More Power" Rule

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
10/25/2016 at 18:07 • Filed to: Rules

No matter what the car is, especially if you own it, you’ll always wish it made just 15% more power. Even if there is an engine above the one you have, that would be “overkill.” It only needs about 15% more power. Examples:

Say I was driving a Charger with the 292 hp 3.6L V6. I would think, “If only this car made about 335 hp it would be perfect! It doesn’t even need the 5.7L, that would be way too much power.”

Then I get a Charger with the 370 hp 5.7L Hemi. I would end up thinking, “If this made about 425 hp, it would be perfect! The 6.4L would be way too much for this car.”

And so on, and so on. Whatever you have right now, don’t you think just 15% more power is all the additional power you need? Or is this just another me being me thing?

DISCUSSION (27)

HammerheadFistpunch > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:11

I could live with 15% more power, but what it needs is 30-40% more.

S65 > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:12

Why not try to make it lighter first?

OPPOsaurus WRX > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:13

I wouldn’t mind a 100% increase.

MarquetteLa > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:15

I definitely need more than an additional 17 hp in my Miata.

Wobbles the Mind > OPPOsaurus WRX
10/25/2016 at 18:15

But wouldn’t you get cramps walking that fast?

Tekamul > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:17

The problem is, 6 months after you add 15% more power, you want 15% more.

Wobbles the Mind > S65
10/25/2016 at 18:17

Don’t you fat shame my car! It’s just big chassised!!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:20

Having a car that isn’t the best version of itself is maddening. That’s the onny reason I’m kinda glad there isn’t a Fit Si. Instead of thinking “man I wish I had the Si” I get to think “man I’m glad I have the Sport.”

And I’m sure you’re thinking “but if there was an Si you could have it. That’s where you’re wrong. If there was an Si it would have a manual trans only like the Civic Si, and my wife wouldn’t want to drive it regularly.

RPM esq. > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:21

Just you. Solution: always buy the top engine available. Uh, unless you care about fuel economy, I suppose.

Wobbles the Mind > HammerheadFistpunch
10/25/2016 at 18:22

Truth! But I don’t think anyone would ever turn down 15% more in any car they own.

Urambo Tauro > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:22

This sounds similar to a displacement figure I’ve been tossing around in my head. I have this (totally arbitrary) notion that engines can be bored and/or stroked no more than 10% over the original spec. Anything beyond that, and I’d get nervous about things like cylinder walls and overall longevity.

I have no idea if this is accurate, but 10% feels like a nice number to me.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > OPPOsaurus WRX
10/25/2016 at 18:23

Totes I keep telling my wife her Fit needs a turbo, or a K20 swap.

Wobbles the Mind > Tekamul
10/25/2016 at 18:23

Finally, someone understands me!

HammerheadFistpunch > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:24

Thats about the goal if i decided to rebuilt the engine with a different cam profiles and valves. I wont cause if it comes that I’ll probably repower with something cooler.

Wobbles the Mind > RPM esq.
10/25/2016 at 18:25

But the top engine could use just 15% more power, then it would be perfect! Don’t care what car, just 15% more...perfect!!

Wobbles the Mind > MarquetteLa
10/25/2016 at 18:27

Nah, you’ll never use that much power on public roads. Just 15% more power and it’ll be perfect!

Wobbles the Mind > Urambo Tauro
10/25/2016 at 18:30

Yeah a nice round number sounds right boring. I kid, but I definitely understand you and think I feel the same, I haven’t placed a number to it yet though.

Wobbles the Mind > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/25/2016 at 18:32

Funny you say that, I’ve been telling myself that a Fit Si would be the perfect car for the efficient enthusiast. That is precisely the car I want and the CRX successor we have been waiting for.

random001 > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:33

My R-Spec is already crazy quick, and makes no drama to let you know, so it’s ok

My Z06, though, definitely needed 15% more power, and it let me know it loved every one...

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:38

Ironically, the last tune I did to the WRX made about 15% more power (330 -> 380hp). It was also the tune that blew out the stock clutch and made the throttle a hair trigger. So for the last year or so I owned the car, I spent much of the time thinking “man, if only I had 15% less power”.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:40

If Honda made a Fit Si with the 1.5T in 180hp dress and a six speed, I would literally go buy it this weekend. I would trade in my BMW to buy that car.

Urambo Tauro > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 18:44

Yeah, I know displacement’s not specifically what you’re referring to with the 15% power figure, but that’s the first thing that came to mind. Back on the topic of power, I think I’d agree that 15% sounds good.

For my car, that’s another 20-25hp. I think I could get there pretty easily with some top-end mods...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 19:15

So what you’re saying is that my FoST with some mods would be perfect, but a FoRS would be overkill...

I need to keep telling myself that.

The thing is that I enjoy my FoST just as it is. It’s a good car and more than quick enough to deal with all but the most determined hooligans without even really trying.

MarquetteLa > Wobbles the Mind
10/25/2016 at 21:25

I’m planning on dropping 32% of my Miata’s weight and it’ll still need more than 127 whp to be anything close to perfect. Sorry to say you are alone with your theory I think!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Aaron M - MasoFiST
10/26/2016 at 00:08

That would be hot. Not as hot as a Fit with a k20 but still okay. The idea of a turbo charged Honda still rubs me wrong.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Wobbles the Mind
10/26/2016 at 00:10

When the first gen Fit came our I said “man I can’t wait to see the Si. When the second gen came or I said “I hope they make and Si” now the third gen is out and I’ve lost hope.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/26/2016 at 06:18

The one reason (an admittedly flimsy one) I’m holding out hope is because the Fiesta ST exists. I decline to comment on whether Honda following the example of Ford would be rational for them, but they could...