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Really, on paper 300hp sounds great (and I saw the first STi on the road in Toronto this morning which manages 300hp AND 300ft-lbs) but aren't we getting to the point where this is more power that we can safely and responsibly use on public roads? And how many of us really have the skill required to drive such a car at its limits? I'm willing to bet a professional race car driver could outrun a "300hp 9-5" with a Linear.

My Aero wagon has 250hp and 258lb-ft of torque, and it can easily reach speeds where I would lose my driver's licence on the spot long before the limits of the car are reached. Cars are great fun, but in reality motorsports are a very expensive hobby. If you're going to use a 300hp or more car to its potential then you'll be renting out a track, and if you've got the cash to do that, then you've got the cash to modify your Saab to get that 300hp you're after. On the other hand- you could get a dedicated track car for far less than what you'd pay for a luxury car like the 9-5 and spend the money you would have spent for things like climate control and leather seating on bigger turbochargers and a good set of track wheels and brakes.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Aero and the power it has. But I also love my mountain bike partly because I can get out and ride at the limits without endangering anyone else's life. It also is comforting to know that my mountain biking performance is more a factor of the health of my body rather than the health of my wallet.

It is easy to be wooed by claims of 400hp though...

My $0.02 ($0.144 USD and rising)
bRAD


posted by 65.123.118...

• 9-2 Wish List..., MMM, Tue, 6 May 2003 19:49:23
  • Wish List for 9-5 Linear, T Randell, Wed, 7 May 2003 10:08:27
    • cassette player, Jason 0W-40, Wed, 7 May 2003 11:14:30
  • realisitically, I think..., T Randell, Wed, 7 May 2003 05:54:10
    • It's all in the torque, the Linear has about ...., TKC, Wed, 7 May 2003 06:11:32
      • Yes, that's absolutely right, But....., T Randell, Wed, 7 May 2003 07:58:31
        • I have to confess, I've never driven those cars, Allan, Wed, 7 May 2003 15:53:53
          • Torque vrs RPM, T Randell, Thu, 8 May 2003 04:46:12
        • The engine is plenty powerful, phred, Wed, 7 May 2003 12:07:37
  • Yes. I think 300HP is a good combo with AWD too., Schu, Wed, 7 May 2003 04:06:38
    • Will 258lb-ft of torque do?, bRAD, Wed, 7 May 2003 05:51:39 <-- Viewing This Message
      • Thanks for the sanity check, Lou, Wed, 7 May 2003 12:59:42
        • I agree as well, Allan, Wed, 7 May 2003 15:59:09
      • Re: Will 258lb-ft of torque do?, Schu, Wed, 7 May 2003 06:01:38
        • Re: Will 258lb-ft of torque do?, Dean, Wed, 7 May 2003 14:32:02
    • Well, we just have to keep asking :-) n/m, TKC, Wed, 7 May 2003 05:27:23

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