Adrift

Took the mean green machine for a spin yesterday, and was once again impressed with the grunt this car has. That 414 HP will flat out getty-up. Like most here, I lust after an RS variant, with the extra (approx 80) HP and 9k redline, but is that really "needed?" As a 4rs owner pointed out, a gt4 / spyder / gts, you can usually mash the accelerator and although it can squirm (especially if on uneven surface or in a corner), it usually stays reasonably hooked up. 4rs power, however, needs to be more carefully administered, as it can and will bite you more readily (even though it is hardly a torque monster, like the turbo engines out there). These are hardly momentum cars, by any stretch, and will already circle most tracks at a seriously impressive pace.

So, how much power is enough? Is the 4L we have in our cars the "sweet spot" for power? Ample, but not dangerous / extreme? Good for both street and track?

(Yes, I know this is personal preference, but has practical aspects, so worth a chat, IMO).

85Gold

"" If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower.
Mark Donohue ""

Peter

colnagoG60

If you're good, your good. Having driven someone's 4.5L, and gone back to driving my own, "I'm not good". As always, YMMV.



Full disclosure, I'm still in a 981, but if it accelerated like it does in sub-55F like it has been the past few weeks, all year round, I'd be good.

Adrift

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It'll also eat tires and possibly kill you. Or at least get your license revoked. lol

I had a 996tt in a former life, so I am familiar with significant torque, but that is "handled" by AWD, and so a very different experience.

Xxyion

I think for me its all about power delivery. My last two cars are a very good example of this. Had the A91 Supra with 389hp (but many Dyno's have shown that the car actually makes closer to 450) and an M2 Competition with 410 hp.

The Supra was faster hands down, but the way it delivered the power was significantly smoother and more linear. The M2 Competition just kicked you right in the *** from the getgo and required a significant amount of Throttle and Clutch work in order for it to be smooth.

I Personally preferred the Supra. But the car i preferred over both was my stock engine Honda S2000.

Alan C.

The S2000 makes a fun track car.

Xxyion

It does, its a fantastic vehicle. Unfortunately i'm too tall for it and the thought of getting into a car accident in that car actually scares me. So i sold it, and here i am. I'd say the GT4 is the perfect upgrade.

daaa nope

I've owned, and driven, a lot of cars with a LOT more horsepower. I think the Spyder/GT4 is "enough" - and generally due to the tall gearing. IMO it could get by with less if it had shorter ratios - IMO the old 3.4L 9A1 flat six might've been "enough" with proper ratios (my old 987.2 with a tune and Fabspeed race headers was IMO perfect - it did not have the long long legs of the 981/718 gearing).

I've generally found that, with more power than we have, it becomes difficult to put the power down unless you're already moving. I don't want to have to wait until 60-70mph to be able to go WOT and get the shoved in the back. I want to squirt around town. Pull out of a parking lot, hit it and rip up to 60 before slowing down for the 50mph speed limit.

That and, I want it to last a while so I can enjoy it. I've driven a few Teslas (including a Plaid), a few Taycans (including a Turbo S), a few Audi models including a recent RS7. Stupid, stupid fast... which, yes, it's fun... BUT in a practical, realistic sense, if you're already rolling a bit in traffic, and go WOT because "why not"... In the blink of an eye and before you really even get to savor the sense of acceleration you're at 100+ mph and it's "**** I better slow down."

ausgang

I have it on good authority that 1.21 gigawatts should be sufficient to really get one flying...

Perhaps the corollary question is more important: "How much mass (weight) is too much?"

UncleDude

You need ponies to move overweight America around

You do get used to the power, that said I still find it exciting. The correct noise helps the experience to IMO.

patdonahue

Philosophically speaking if you have a place to use the power in a sane way there is no limit until the laws of physics call the game off. I live in a rural area with good roads nice straight-a-ways, etc. To be honest I have never taken my GTS past 6000 RPM simply because after 3 upshifts at 6000 I am looking at going to jail if a law officer sees me before I see them. Obviously on the track in a controlled environment you can blow your socks off ASSUMING that you have the instruction and experience to control the car in the situations you and the power available can get yourself into and your risk tolerance for damaging the car,
Straight line speed and acceleration are nice but there are only so many places that you can use them in a reasonable manner.
As an aside I used to fly Lear Jets once above FAA mandated speed limit altitudes, we flight planned at 440 knots which works out to 506 MPH or 8.4 miles per minute, but you had less sensation of speed than in the GTS at 90MPH

ausgang

Well put. This is still my favorite "how fast is fast" story:

VVG

THIS!! Truer words have never been spoken. My Spyder has enough power and torque for my driving enjoyment. The power and torque delivery have to be in balance with the rest of the car and for a RWD layout, you can only go so far before the traction and stability systems cut the power you are putting to the ground anyway.

enduro

I bought this car because I decided ~450hp NA, 3200 lbs is a sweet spot for fun on the street and on the track, and because track consumables won't be absolutely insane.

SpeedySpidey

I think right now, my Spyder has enough power… it’s certainly fast enough.
Which is why I want to change the gears (soon, I hope), and make it more torquey.

I want my Spyder to feel faster, not go faster.