How much power do you really need?

[GreyZed]

I will be remapping mine in March and have a target of 400hp.

You not a Z4 owner then?

Just got a 35is and running it in. At about 1500 miles will be putting it on the rolling road at PDT in Sunderland. Plans for a few other mods for stage 2 to hit the 400hp. That's total not per tonne.

Just had a look at their website says they are in Boldon but no address. Very secretive. States £400 for only 14bhp gain for the 3.0 E85 and the E89 sDrive. I don't think I'll be trying to find their secret location.

 

[paulgs1000]

It's not what you've got it's what you do with it that counts......

If you want acceleration get a bike with 100+ bhp. My Triumph with 140bhp was mentally fast - always a 'Yahoo' moment with that - especially when you gave it an extra handful to the stop - Incredible!

So frustrating having a capable vehicle on a conjested and speed managed road - at least on the bike I could easily sneak past all other road users. Gained 6 points in as many weeks (in a people carrier - our slowest vehicle!) and then had a dreadful three years watching for cameras and vans more than the road - terrible. That's why the 2.0i does it for me I can rev it out without feeling I'm dicing with another 6 points or a ban. (Shouldn't have said that! - Touch wood spit on the ground and turn around three times )

 

[rhodesey35iM]

The 35i has got 200bhp p/t and when you floor it it feels plenty. 0-60 in under 5 secs feels almost like bike acce;eration.

Err, that'd be 'slow bike'. Halve the time for a good sports bike. Its really a different game.

Thats why I said almost feels Zed Five. The feeling on the bike when fully opened up is clinging on for dear life, in the Z its the same feeling only more like a kick in the pants.

 

[lux]

I know nothing about engines but isn't torque more important than bhp? :dizzy:

 

[un1eash]

I voted 200bhp/ton. Current car is around 190bhp/ton, 0-62 5.1s, 130mph top speed and still 40mpg.

 

[bluestreak56]

I know nothing about engines but isn't torque more important than bhp? :dizzy:

Greater torque = greater acceleration but not overall power.

 

[buzyg]

Why is 500 bhp/ ton not up there. :?

I'm getting old now but I'd still be happy if the Z had double the power it has. would make sunny days even more entertaining.

On the other hand my little Mazda has 100 bhp/ton and handles well. Guess it's fast enough for your average none sunny day. :wink:

As for congestion, what's that. Move to Cornwall or Scotland

As for 400bhp from a Z4 normally aspirated or out running a superbike in a drag race. LOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

[Benny88]

I voted 200bhp/ton

Based on the fact that my 3.0si has 184bhp/ton and that to me is a comfortable amount of power for any situation. My old A3 2.0tfsi had 137bhp/ton and in certain situations i found that lacking, eg on the motorway in 6th.

Would 250bhp+/ton be good, hell yes :evil:

But do you "need" it, probably not.

 

[Finisterre]

I voted 80 but 40 is actually sufficient. I have managed with 79 bhp 'powering' my 2 ton van for the last 14 years and it gets me about okay. We also have a 2.0z which is quick enough. A 3.0z would be good.

But when all is said and done I don't really care - It is just a bit of fun.

 

[IKZ4]

For me, in a purely 'fun' car, weight is more important than power to weight. My old kit car weighed 460kg and had 290hp/tonne with me in it. It was bike engined so it was very quick in 1st, hitting 60 in sub 4 secs on sticky tyres. I raced an R6 bike from 4 sets of lights on a private road and we were evenly matched.

The quality of the acceleration was quite weird, more like just getting somewhere else very quickly rather than any sensation of building momentum. I don't think that kind of power to weight weight would feel the same in a 1.5 tonne car.

I voted 250, as I feel that the M which has c230-240 has a nice balance of power and usability.

 

[sars]

Need 100 want 200, choose 150.....but all the willy wavers on here can't differentiate between need and want

 

[original guvnor]

Need 100 want 200, choose 150.....but all the willy wavers on here can't differentiate between need and want

How does that work with shoes Sars?!

 

[sars]

ah, but that's not the same

want is inversely proportional to need, as in I need as many shoes as I have outfit combination but can only afford the ones I really want, simple really.

 

[SUUNTOBOB]

Has antone mentioned taking the traction control off and then making a descision, I find having the traction control on permanently masks how much power you really have