JBacklund wrote:
I've never been particularly attracted to powerful cars, and only asked that they be adequate for our purposes, which are of a practical nature.
Curious, am I the only member here who has owned a Renault Dauphine?
Our Miata is 155 hp, and definitely not a 'fast' car, but damn, that thing is a hoot to run around the Black Hills with. Completely satisfied with it's performance.
Most of the motorcycles I've owned since about 2015 (8-10 bikes ?) have ranged in hp from 20 to 55 hp, and the performance of all but one was entirely acceptable to me..that one being the 2023 Royal Enfield 350, which along with being probably THE most attractive retro-styled motorcycle, IMO, was also the most depressingly underpowered machine I've ever experienced. As a result, it regretfully left our garage with only about 300 miles showing on it's odometer.
I've learned a long, long, time ago that the 'fun factor' of a motorbike is not solely dependent on it's hp numbers.
I've learned a lot. Because I'm old now and stuff. And I realized that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. Same for bikes.
Speed limits, anywhere I'm ever going to drive, top out at 75mph. Period. Why on God's green earth would I want a car or bike that does 200? Or 170? Or even 120, realistically? I have never in my decades of driving ever HAD to drive any faster than 80. And even that is illegal. Anything more is just looking for trouble.
I don't think I ever broke 80 with the Volvo. Aerodynamically, either of my VW Buses were like driving a Frigidaire. You were lucky to hit 70. My FIAT tops out at 90, but it will likely never see it.
I have more fun driving the FIAT than I did driving the 928. And my Aprilia is a blast, because I'm usually pushing it to its mechanical limits, but it's still not enough to get me a ticket.
Americans, largely, are obsessed with HP and torque, when most cars on the road are simply overkill. And then we also like to complain about gas prices.