Future kit builder

[ironman523]

Wise words Mel, Personally I think that 325bhp with massive torque which my motor has is too much for the road. The car is in my opinion a monster, to see the acceleration between 80 and 110 in something that is not a 100,000 supercar is good but stupid. Better to build a balanced car with 200ish bhp, trying to get more than that from the Alfa engine is expensive so better to go Toyota if more power is wanted, but trust me you wont need it. Whats most important is how the car feels and sounds, more power is just bragging rights in the pub. And if you are talking superchargers and heavy gearboxes you are just adding weight to the rear of the car which could upset the balance. Just my opinion but I am in a good position to give it.

[Fingers]

I haven't had the chance to have a proper drive of my car yet, mostly just short runs too and from work and the odd club run around the area. Hope to change that this weekend. I'm estimating, based on what I've read for my mods, that my 2.5 Alfa engine is around 210 hp. I've fitted GTA inlet cams and bigger inlet runners, it revs forever and really pulls well above 4500rpm. My point is that is has enough power to scare me, based on the reputation of the Stratos that I have yet to experience. For me it's always there in the back of my mind that you might end up backwards through a fence or in a ditch. Until I've experienced that limit, hopefully at an upcoming track day, I'm not pushing too hard. After you've spent x amount of hours and dollars/pounds on your dream that last thing you want to do is ruin it.

[john]

No, not a kill joy Mel. Wise words from all.
If I understood the matter correctly ( tho I wasn't there) Bob was quicker at the sprint venue than Neil with his 500+BHP.
I am firmly in the camp of building a reasonably powerful car, standard for whatever engine you choose, in a well sorted and setup chassis.
I'm afraid I've listened to too many "bragging rights"conversations at Motor Clubs, shows, in the pub and at Motorsports events where the amount of money spent and power claimed can be almost universally found to be inversely proportional to the results and demonstrable talent of the spenders. Not always, but mostly!

[mariner]

No, not a kill joy Mel. Wise words from all.
If I understood the matter correctly ( tho I wasn't there) Bob was quicker at the sprint venue than Neil with his 500+BHP.
I am firmly in the camp of building a reasonably powerful car, standard for whatever engine you choose, in a well sorted and setup chassis.
I'm afraid I've listened to too many "bragging rights"conversations at Motor Clubs, shows, in the pub and at Motorsports events where the amount of money spent and power claimed can be almost universally found to be inversely proportional to the results and demonstrable talent of the spenders. Not always, but mostly!

Hi John
It was actually Neil who was the quickest on the day by a couple of seconds.
My 280'ish bhp not able to keep up with his max speed down the short straights.
Neil was always 10 to 15 mph faster.
Rgds Bob

[john]

Oh OK Bob. I got the wrong end if the stick then!
It doesn't change my mind on how much carp there is talked about power though.

[strat24v]

Spend the dough on brakes and dampers.

[Normb666]

Well this has turned into quite the massive thread hijack, hasn't it...

I'm a bit confused here with peeps saying "XXXbhp" is more than enough, and yet there was Neil with over 500bhp in his car and no-one's said how mad or dangerous it was (so I'm guessing it wasn't!).
As Mel and others have said, you build your own car and that's all there is to it. The thing is, a 200bhp 2.5 Alfa-powered effort is always going to be loads of fun, in a wring-its-neck Mazda-MX5 type way. But a mega-power monster will also be a hoot as well (provided you're circumspect about when and where you hoof it). I have a theory that what people say they want changes in proportion to the depth of their wallet at the time...if you suddenly come into funds, that lower-powered option will soon get upgraded to something a bit more eye-opening!

I firmly believe you can never have too much power, you just need some self-control (or, as in my case, cowardice!) And just cos you can go fast doesn't mean you always have to - the throttle goes both ways!