Too much HP?
As an autocrosser, I'll weigh in here.
There is a thing as "too much power," but most people will hit the "too much power for YOU to handle" limit first.
Thinking from a track/autocross aspect, you obviously don't want a huge, laggy turbo as you want a broader tq curve. But aside from that, is 400 hp usable at autocross? Sure. What about 500? Probably. If you learn to control the power the car has, you can take advantage of it when it CAN be used. Modulating your right foot can do wonders to bring a car under control, no matter the power it puts down.
When I started autocross, my car was around 320 awhp. I couldn't control it. I actually de-tuned the spool time to keep the car more tame coming out of corners. Now, I'm pushing closer to 385 awhp (on E85 and 29 psi) and I've got the boost coming in as soon as possible. It hits like a ton of bricks, but only if I want it to.
Sure, there are courses where I can't really use the full power of the car, but others where I can. If I dialed back the power I'd be handicapping myself.
So, in short, power is only as usable as you make it. With more time behind the wheel you will get used to it and learn how to manage it if you work at it.
There is a thing as "too much power," but most people will hit the "too much power for YOU to handle" limit first.
Thinking from a track/autocross aspect, you obviously don't want a huge, laggy turbo as you want a broader tq curve. But aside from that, is 400 hp usable at autocross? Sure. What about 500? Probably. If you learn to control the power the car has, you can take advantage of it when it CAN be used. Modulating your right foot can do wonders to bring a car under control, no matter the power it puts down.
When I started autocross, my car was around 320 awhp. I couldn't control it. I actually de-tuned the spool time to keep the car more tame coming out of corners. Now, I'm pushing closer to 385 awhp (on E85 and 29 psi) and I've got the boost coming in as soon as possible. It hits like a ton of bricks, but only if I want it to.
Sure, there are courses where I can't really use the full power of the car, but others where I can. If I dialed back the power I'd be handicapping myself.
So, in short, power is only as usable as you make it. With more time behind the wheel you will get used to it and learn how to manage it if you work at it.
As soon as I saw this thread I thought of you Matt. What was it, the first autox this year when that dude took your car and just about slid it into those trucks / into the curb?
Too much HP seems like blasphemy to me. However, im over here kickin about 300 to the wheels, so im not even in the arguement.
I've got over 600 to the wheels and I can tell you that it's super fun when you whoop a competitor! It also feels good that almost no one can take you on.
Home-built 4g63 engine FTW!
Home-built 4g63 engine FTW!
I have ~320 to the wheels on STM's MD and I can say with the utmost honesty that I don't have the skill to corner and use all the power. There are some corners, typically decreasing radius sweepers, that I take in a higher gear so that I'd have more control of the throttle. Meaning, revving lower and making less power.
I've been working on a tune that makes a little more power, albeit at the expense of drivability. Having 25-30whp more under the curve feels amazing at WOT, but it won't make me corner any faster. As such, I'm content with my 320whp. Once I can tap its limit cornering, perhaps more power is in order.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
From: Camano Island, Wa
I'm running 497HP and 396TQ on my DD and it's because once I got used to the power of 300HP then 350HP then 400HP ect... I wanted more. Yes it's not to useable on the streets but when I do use it...
. Plus yes when the average civic srt4 or even that muscle car pulls up and "trys" to race me and very soon after looses to me I get that again and I normally dont race on the streets but at the track with some good tires its alot of fun. Plus it's always nice to have 497HP on tap when needed to shoot around a car thats driving to slow and here in Washington State we have alot of those plus people here like to speed up when ur passing them to try and block u from passing. they cant really do that when u have 497HP at the push of a pedal.
. Plus yes when the average civic srt4 or even that muscle car pulls up and "trys" to race me and very soon after looses to me I get that again and I normally dont race on the streets but at the track with some good tires its alot of fun. Plus it's always nice to have 497HP on tap when needed to shoot around a car thats driving to slow and here in Washington State we have alot of those plus people here like to speed up when ur passing them to try and block u from passing. they cant really do that when u have 497HP at the push of a pedal.
I'm running 497HP and 396TQ on my DD and it's because once I got used to the power of 300HP then 350HP then 400HP ect... I wanted more. Yes it's not to useable on the streets but when I do use it.... Plus yes when the average civic srt4 or even that muscle car pulls up and "trys" to race me and very soon after looses to me I get that again and I normally dont race on the streets but at the track with some good tires its alot of fun. Plus it's always nice to have 497HP on tap when needed to shoot around a car thats driving to slow and here in Washington State we have alot of those plus people here like to speed up when ur passing them to try and block u from passing. they cant really do that when u have 497HP at the push of a pedal.
. Plus yes when the average civic srt4 or even that muscle car pulls up and "trys" to race me and very soon after looses to me I get that again and I normally dont race on the streets but at the track with some good tires its alot of fun. Plus it's always nice to have 497HP on tap when needed to shoot around a car thats driving to slow and here in Washington State we have alot of those plus people here like to speed up when ur passing them to try and block u from passing. they cant really do that when u have 497HP at the push of a pedal.
Newbie
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: OK
I'm looking for around 350-375. I'm sitting at around 320 now and I've upgraded the intercooler and will be putting on an intake soon, both since my last tune. I'm hoping with a few adjustments i can bump my number up to 335 or so... sound realistic?