Kitcat Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 (edited) As a car junkie I confess to thinking that more is better when it comes to power. Toward that end I bought a 414 hp BMW M3 last year. It's terrific. But that extra power can't be used on public roads 99% of the time. I get up to warp speed in no time and start scaring myself and others. On the other hand, I can drive my little Crossflow Cat flat out much of the time since the most immediate result is noise, not speed. And of course, in a Seven, the illusion of speed always exceeds the reality of the situation-with noise/wind/vibration/smells all increasing the sense of high speed. So my question to those of you out there who have driven Sevens in multi-levels of power: is it the excess hp worth it? Or is the ultimate Seven, something moderately powered where the focus is on how to use the Seven's amazing balance and handling to achieve rapid progress, rather than brute strength? (I promise to not let the answers affect my never-ending quest for more power, just curious:)). Mike Edited May 14, 2009 by Kitcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 So my question to those of you out there who have driven Sevens in multi-levels of power: is it the excess hp worth it? Or is the ultimate Seven, something moderately powered where the focus is on how to use the Seven's amazing balance and handling to achieve rapid progress, rather than brute strength? (I promise to not let the answers affect my never-ending quest for more power, just curious:)). Mike I would have to say a 7 with somewhere close to 125 HP is a lot more fun that one with 250+ HP as it is more civilized and these cars were originally designed for short curvy road courses were a lot of power is not really necessary but control and being smooth in the driving inputs plays a bigger factor than raw HP. I think the original 7's designed by Colin only had a 948cc engine that put out a warping 36 to 40 HP and they were extremely fast and nimble for their time and even to this day. Just my belief and thoughts....but more HP is always fun for something’s and places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 my wife insists slower is indeed better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pi7ot Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 I have the Birkin, an E30 M3 and an E36M3. The E36 M3 is the 2nd Quickest, Fastest(with speed limiter deleted), but heaviest. The torque delivery is pleasing but the driving experience as a whole is vastly inferior to the other two due to it's mass. When you let out the clutch you can just about feel the thing trying to get motivated enough to overcome its inertia. The E30 at 2800lbs is about the limit for my preference. A better drive than the E36 due to lighter weight (500lb less), and shorter wheelbase. This car is languid and lazy on the street, but 80% of the Birkin on track in terms of handling and dynamics. A true Jeckyll and Hyde Machine. The Birkin is the quickest but slowest and lightest. I dread getting into the E36 if I'm fresh off driving this car. Every thing is dynamic. On the track the Birkin is fastest and the best to interact with. I'd drive this daily if it wasn't for the attention it gets and seasonal allergies that no medication seem to subdue. The more power you feed into a Caterham regular sized 7, the harder it gets to control. I'm at 140 crank and would be ok to 180 or so but I'd switch to a staggered wheel tyre combo for street driving. I've driven a 300 plus HP EMod se7en and frankly it was too much. I've driven a 200 HP DMod Westie and it was fine. For me, the best part of driving a car is its responses and reflexes. weight, and therefore inertia dull the dynamicism. Power with great weight is ho-hum. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 For me it is fun to feel the dynamics of the car and to push it a bit. Years ago I moved from a 1977 MGB to a 1991 Lotus Elan (M100) as a daily driver. The M100 was much more comfortable and quicker in all respects. It wasn't as much fun on the commute home. My favorite 35 mph corner suddenly became a boor at 45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 My Birkin S3 has a 1600x flow in it and maybe if im lucky 125hp at the wheel, my other car is a 280hp Subaru WRX while its fun to drive and it really does get up and go its still no where near as much fun as my Birkin. My mate has a Leitch Super Sprint 7 (NZ made 7 also sold in the US) that had a 1600 xflow in it but for him it was all about power so he removed the engine and fitted a nissan SD20DE motor in it from a drift car that was worked to 300hp plus but now the poor guy looks like a nervous wreck evey time we go some where for a drive and stop for a break as he has too much power and doesnt lik controlling it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Having driven everything from a 1965 Beetle to a competition Ferrari 430 Stradale, I'm PERFECTLY content with my 120hp Classic Caterham :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemk1 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Being close to the limit is the fun part for me. With most performance cars you are going so fast when you are anywhere near the limit that if you screw up you won't be able to buff it out. With a Seven you can slide the thing around at most any speed. dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I would argue that the same can be said for tires. Less sticky tires are more fun at much lower speeds. I know I have fallen into the more power / more traction trap a few times. Add power to slide the car at will - it becomes fun. Add traction to handle the power, you miss the slide-at-will part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 (edited) Well I cant agree with everyone. While I am sure that a classic seven with 120hp or so is fun to drive. ( I have not driven one) I can only base my experiences off my own cars. Orignal Ultralite dynoed at 188hp at the rear wheels. It was very fast and exciting car to drive. Did a little tuning and the car to 205hp still fun to drive and very good street manners and still flies on track. Added supercharger and got to 300hp at the rear wheels. Still very good street manners and very driveable at the track. The car was as stable with 300hp as it was with 188hp. It was no faster thru the corner but when straights came up it was a different game. We then built Kevins car supercharged 2.2L we were getting about 380 hp at the rear wheels. I drove like a dream on the street and is no slouch when pointed in a straight line. As the One lap results and the Ultimate Track Car challenge results show it is no slouch on the track either. I still think another 100 hp will be even more fun. We shall soon see. The new version should be about 500 rear wheel hp. Maybe it will be enough I guess we will see. Power is very relative thing. I know when I my first car I thought it just doesnt get any faster than this. Well I was very wrong. After only a month of driving it I found myself complaing how slow it was. Each variation the same thing happened. Now Kevins car I only drove for a few days but I could see the 380hp being exciting for a good while but 500 should be just about right. Just my 2. Edited May 15, 2009 by WestTexasS2K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I would argue that it depends if you're racing or not. I think the nice thing about having horsepower is you don't get left in the straights on the track. I would also argue that it also depends on what tires you're running and whether you have a LSD, but mostly the LSD. Speaking of which, anyone know where I can get one for a live axle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobDrye Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Loren: Excitment begins @ 500! It's fun when you can blow the tires out in 3rd and....4th gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Thats what I was thinking Bob. I think it needs to be expierenced to be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 You guys with big horsepower must have some pretty straight and boring roads.http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sad/533.gif The roads we have here, they are so tight and twisty, I can barely unleash the whole 200hp that my car has. I have a friend with an Ariel Atom that has another 100hp on me (and about the same weight) and he really can't go any faster than I can. I am sure the big horsepower is fun for the 5 or so seconds before you have to jump on the brakes though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 (edited) You guys with big horsepower must have some pretty straight and boring roads.http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sad/533.gif The roads we have here, they are so tight and twisty, I can barely unleash the whole 200hp that my car has. I have a friend with an Ariel Atom that has another 100hp on me (and about the same weight) and he really can't go any faster than I can. I am sure the big horsepower is fun for the 5 or so seconds before you have to jump on the brakes though Man I live in West Texas. The roads are very straight. So I have to hurry and get to the next corner. Edited May 15, 2009 by WestTexasS2K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Man I live in West Texas. The roads are very straight. So I have to hurry and get to the next Intersection. Fixed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobDrye Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 MoPho: My shop is 16 miles south of Wash, DC. I'm 1 block from I-95, and could go north or south @ 200mph for 5 miles or more on a 8 lanes. The mountians are 45 minutes away so I spend most of my time on flat straight roads. Acceleration is a nice fix! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 You guys with big horsepower must have some pretty straight and boring roads.http://www.websmileys.com/sm/sad/533.gif The roads we have here, they are so tight and twisty, I can barely unleash the whole 200hp that my car has. I have a friend with an Ariel Atom that has another 100hp on me (and about the same weight) and he really can't go any faster than I can. I am sure the big horsepower is fun for the 5 or so seconds before you have to jump on the brakes though Morgan, I agree that the road you took me on was just about perfect for the cat. yes, here, we have to enjoy the straightaways, and on ramps as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 Morgan, I agree that the road you took me on was just about perfect for the cat. yes, here, we have to enjoy the straightaways, and on ramps as well. And I didn't even get to take you on the really twisty ones since you got all green around the gills on mehttp://www.websmileys.com/sm/obscene/eck16.gif could go north or south @ 200mph 200mph in a Seven, that must rip your eyeballs out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 And I didn't even get to take you on the really twisty ones since you got all green around the gills on mehttp://www.websmileys.com/sm/obscene/eck16.gif 200mph in a Seven, that must rip your eyeballs out Could be because of the barf sticker on the passenger side of your windshield I don't make a good passenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now