Is 300hp enough to have fun?
Posted by Repulsive_Machine933@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 671 comments
Alright. disregard these 600-900 hp bmws and scats and cats. Is 300 horsepower an amount of hp that can give you a rush (im gonna be going from 187 awd honda crv to a 300 (ish) hp 350z) and do a good pull or doing a dig. cause i know 300 is perfect for a drift. so is it?
DrTurb0@reddit
I say it depends on the weight. My personal feeling is like
300HP for a Miata
400 HP for a hatchback
500HP for a sports car.
I own a 350HP hatchback and 400 HP sports car and I feel it needs just a little bit more to be special fun.
Minimum-Confusion-89@reddit
I think 300hp is kinda the sweet spot. I've had a few around the 200 mark. Got bored after awhile and sold them. Miata, GTI, 944, couple A4s. Cars Ive owned that always put a smile on my face when driving 911, S5. Both of these cars gave me severe owner anxiety though. Waiting for some catastrophic failure to Bankrupt me. Enjoyed some mustang GT's too.
I also think everything is dependent on where and how you drive. You live in prairies roads are straight boring? You live in the mountains/ canyons lots of curves and switch backs.? Or you live in a city with lots of stop and go traffic? In a perfect world, I would want a different car for each scenario.
UnderTheFrozenSky@reddit
Depends on how much it weighs and if it is manual.
300 HP in a 3 ton auto truck? Not really.
300 HP in a 3000 lb manual sports car? Yeah.
I have a 5 speed convertible Geo Metro that makes all of 55 HP and its a hoot.
wsxdfcvgbnjmlkjafals@reddit
wow, a Metro? we had a used one when I was a teen... I just remember it couldn't even maintain 100 km/h lol
UnderTheFrozenSky@reddit
It can definitely go 100 km/h. Source: Ive touched 100 mph in it!
wsxdfcvgbnjmlkjafals@reddit
I didn't think about it so I just looked, there were 2 models so you must have the 4-cyl
the 3-cyl not so much...
UnderTheFrozenSky@reddit
I've got the 3 cylinder, 4 never reached the US . I think the max speed is like 90 on flat areas for the 3 banger.
AdministrativeCar141@reddit
used to have a metro back in the day. now i have a gr corolla. full circle moment
shaard@reddit
My 5spd 94 Geo tracker was a riot with 80hp. In the winter it didn't care which direction it faced.
UnderTheFrozenSky@reddit
Loooove my Tracker. The tiny square wheelbase makes for some excellent times on logging roads.
shaard@reddit
Honestly I miss mine. It was simple and easy to work on. Ate clutches but I suspect that was mostly my learning to drive it and the abuse it took. Took it up to 350k km before I sold it almost 20 years ago. Still ran decently at that time. Back door didn't open cause it was internally fucked. But man that thing could not get stuck.
UnderTheFrozenSky@reddit
Funny enough I am staring at a clutch that I have to install into it this weekend (:
shaard@reddit
I did mean to wish you good luck, as well! I apparently am incapable of politeness at near midnight. XD
shaard@reddit
I didn't have the knowledge to do my own at the time. Young and dumb and not enough tools. But now I would have loved to be wrenching on that thing. I had pie in the sky ideas of engine swaps or engine build with the stock block, beefy suspension, all sorts of fun ideas. I keep peeking on auto trader for any in my area for an okay price in okay shape.
Amaakaams@reddit
I am going to fight this a little bit. Only because I have to defend my baby (3.6 Gladiator). People were having tons of fun in early 5.7 Hemi Rams. The pentastar makes the same HP and about 30 less torque. Roughly same weight (though mine is a midsize).
The ease of getting 300+ HP is more a like a 2015+ thing. You can hoon just about anything at that point. Just because you can get more power affordable elsewhere doesn't mean you can't have fun with less.
surmatt@reddit
That was my first car! I got an excessive speeding ticket when I was 17. Lol. I also took it on forest service roads, got it stuck on top of a boulder once so we got out and lifted it off. I don't think I've ever had more fun than with that car.
Cheepshooter@reddit
Using all 3 cylinders to the max!
UnderTheFrozenSky@reddit
More HP/L than a Dodge Viper from the same year! Pretty impressive if you ignore that the Viper has 8x the displacement.
No_Introduction_9355@reddit
If that 3 ton truck has 300hp but 8-900 ft/lb torque we are having fun
UnderTheFrozenSky@reddit
I will easily concede that point.
Binford6100User@reddit
This is a great answer, and lines up well with my experience.
Had a 330hp SUV that was 5,200lbs. Put a tune on it and it was closer to 400hp and became MUCH more entertaining. Around 13.0 lbm/hp.
Now I have the slowest Rivian made, it's 553hp, but weighs 7,200lbs. Still entertaining at around that same 13.0 pm/hp.
Also have a Ducati Monster (also the slowest one they make), and it's absurdly fast at 4.9 lbm/hp. Completely, and utterly different experience, but you get the idea.
Had an RX8 that only made 232hp, but only weighed 2,900lbs. About 12.5lbm/hp, and supremely entertaining to drive!
Personally, I would consider anything in that 10-12 lbm/hp to be "fast", and has a good chance to be entertaining to drive. Which is right around that same 300hp/3,000lbm sports car.
GraphicWombat@reddit
They are sought after now! I wonder how many are left.
fatninja987@reddit
100hp is enough to have fun tbh
A_Bungus_Amungus@reddit
I like closer to 400 but 300 is definitely still capable of fun. A 350z is 300hp stock and its arguably one of the most fun cars you can buy for the price
Zerofawqs-given@reddit
Have a GR Corolla used to own a C6 Z06 Vette….I find it’s much more enjoyable to drive a car @ 8-9/10ths of its full potential than a monster @ 7-8/10ths….Same happened on motorcycles….I owned an RG500 Gamma Suzuki 2T and my buddies started buying NSR250’s and RGV250’s….great fun riding on “velocity bikes”….rather than risking immediate jail time for 100MPH+ riding to be thrilled by your bike
Malakai0013@reddit
People who acreech about a certain horsepower not being fun dont have a clue what theyre talking about. A 155hp Impreza is tons of fun in the snow or dirt.
The Miata is the single most popular car for motorsport and enthusiasts generally love it, and the most horsepower for a stock Miata afaik is the new Red Dragon version with 265 or thereabouts.
People need to put down the brochures and just go drive. Have some fun.
AggravatingLow77@reddit
It’s all about weight:ratio and G forces applied on launch.
But yes, 200HP is enough for fun in a lightweight car.
Consistent-Day-434@reddit
Yes and no... 300hpnin something 8k lbs suuuucks not something around 3k lbs pretty fun. . 300hpnon a bike scary
Miserable-Election25@reddit
Bruh I have a Kia K4 with half that power and it sits my ass back sometimes lmfao, any car is a fun car if you know how to drive it
mdenglish@reddit
I owned a 94 celica gt and a 93 integra ls. Both together didn't have 300hp, but both were plenty of fun.
broccoli_02@reddit
Definitely, i think its the sweet spot. 2 people i know are contemplating getting rid of their 500 horsepower cars because its impossible to truly enjoy them without breaking the law. Engagement > speed
NotElongtusk2@reddit
it depends on the weight of the car, suspension, and type of driving you intend for it. I personally have been blessed driving vehicles from 150hp to 755hp and the most fun I've had was when I was able to go through the gears and weight transfer with every turn on a stock GR86.
tanneruwu@reddit
I have a motorcycle with like 50hp and that's a ton of fun.
My car has 380hp and it's boring.
N_ModeVN@reddit
My ND3 had 181 HP and its tons of fun.
Automatic_Mulberry@reddit
200 is enough to have fun. Hell, my first car was loads of fun and it made 75hp.
midri@reddit
Shit 130 is enough to have fun, Miata is one of the most smiles per gallon you can have on the street
snakeproof@reddit
My Prius swapped Corvair only has 140 and it's a helluva fun car.
VRTravis@reddit
Pics please. -69 covair owner
snakeproof@reddit
r/corvairius has a lot more, but here's a few. https://imgur.com/gallery/a89lBz0
VRTravis@reddit
Man that is cool! Love the instrument panel! Mine is rotting away, but I still hope one day... It was my great aunts that she bought brand new. I tried working on it as a 15 year old. But in 1989 it was hard to get parts for a car. Parts for a Corvair were damn near impossible. Had to go to car shows and swap meets and even there they were a rare find.
snakeproof@reddit
It's still pretty hard to get parts, I bought a whole second rotten Corvair Monza 900 for parts. Got all the chrome and luxury features from it, plus a quick ratio steering box!
VRTravis@reddit
Let me know if you need anything moving forward. It's been sitting since 1989 and it was sitting before then. So I am sure the frame is gone. I might be able to get you some parts. I would happily spare things for a running one. Easy to get to parts that is. Sadly it's at my moms in a field. So, it's not moving in any direction any time soon.
NetworkCompany@reddit
Tired of throwing belts lol... Don't blame you for the swap
getsu161@reddit
I gotta hear about that
snakeproof@reddit
r/corvairius has everything you'll want to see, it's a '10 Toyota HSD mid mounted, battery is in the frunk now. I transferred all of the computers and the harness over.
Giving people rides is always fun because they're not expecting 140 to throw them back, but just like an EV, the acceleration is instant and it's weight reduced so much.
Nobody understands power to weight ratio anymore.
Demented-Alpaca@reddit
You said "Prius swapped Corvair" and I literally said "Who the fuck would do that?" Then I immediately thought "Someone who knows how to have a good time!"
Cant_Work_On_Reddit@reddit
That sounds badass!
Big_Slope@reddit
I had a base model Mini Cooper for years and really enjoyed the fact that I could just floor it all the time without getting in trouble.
AdEastern9303@reddit
Used to have an MGB. Think it had about 100hp and was an absolute blast to drive… when it was running.
TheEstablishment7@reddit
My Triumph Spitfire, 75 hp in 1700 lbs of go kart with power nothing, is hecking fun.
SnooChipmunks2079@reddit
My dad used to do autocross in his Renault LeCar. Very similar specs to a modern Mirage - dimensions and horsepower both.
OmNomChompsky@reddit
My buddy took me out in his MGA and we took a corner that I would normally take at 25 in my truck at about 60. Fucking thrilling.
CommonBubba@reddit
That’s cause the brakes were about as iffy as the electronics…
90210fred@reddit
MGA and "electronics"? I think you're being a bit optimistic there!
OmNomChompsky@reddit
Hahahahahaha
Austindg4me@reddit
Growing up in the 70’s, our neighbor had two MGB’s (red and green) and raced them. He was always working on one while the other worked. Fun little cars for a 7-8 yr old to hop in for a quick ride. Thanks for prompting a trip down a great memory lane.
midri@reddit
"when it was running" how quintessentialy British.
mrthrowitawaytemp@reddit
Had a scion XD 128 hp. Even that was enough to get speeding tickets.
Feisty-Equivalent-92@reddit
As an owner of two Miata’s, I agree. I also have a mustang that makes 300hp and that is fun too. It’s not really about the hp
Iacoboni04@reddit
Amen.
Timsmomshardsalami@reddit
I guess.. if you swing that way
OperationAsshat@reddit
If you can't have fun in a miata then that's a dire skill issue.
DIY_at_the_Griffs@reddit
Yep, mines putting out stock power and is a blast in the tight’n’windies, plus if you do put your foot down you’re not looking at jail time in less than 10 seconds.
Pinkcadillac90@reddit
Can confirm. Bought on a whim a few months ago and it’s the most fun car I own. And top 5 I’ve ever owned. Driven all the exotics. And the Miata is all smiles.
unurbane@reddit
130 is perfect on a small Civic/Focus/Corrola
JipJopJones@reddit
E7 corolla with a 3tcakes 85hp. Probably one of the most fun cars I've.ever owned. 4age swapping it for 7700rpm of 125hp was basically a rocket ship.
GirchyGirchy@reddit
There are plenty of fun little low-power cars outside the US...I loved the 67-hp Kia Picanto we had in France.
flamingknifepenis@reddit
This is one of the most “Reddit” car posts ever. People chronically conflate horsepower with fast, and fast with fun. My first car was 92 hp and it way more fun than it had any right being. My car now is 165 hp and while it’s not winning any drag races it’s a kick in the pants to zip around town in compared to some cars I’ve driven that have twice that.
Automatic_Mulberry@reddit
Way more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
wsxdfcvgbnjmlkjafals@reddit
yeah except I would like just a bit more punch. If I stomp the gas I can practically make a sandwich before it revvs hard lol
Timsmomshardsalami@reddit
The beauty is that you can drive a fast car fast too surprisingly
51onions@reddit
I think they were using "fast" and "slow" relative to each car's respective maximum performance.
You can wring 100% out of a slow car and not be doing anything particularly illegal or dangerous, whereas you can't push a fast car to 100% on public roads.
Demented-Alpaca@reddit
Not only that but if you go to a track day with your Golf or Miata you can push that bastard to the limit.
Take a Corvette or Lambo to that same track and you're still having to hold it back. Most track day tracks aren't big enough to let a fast car get wide open. You need a LOT more space for that.
SnooLemons9175@reddit
This is the way. Small underpowered cars, with skinny tyres, can be driven on the limit, more than a big power monster, with huge grippy tyres.
TrickyPineapple5863@reddit
Same! First car, 92 civic hatch, 92hp, and was still “faster” than 95% of the cars I encountered in the late 90s/early00s. It was by no means fast. I still have it, only now it has a close ratio 5 speed, and approximately double the power. So it’s still faster than 95% of the cars I encounter.
Due-Pear-8687@reddit
But it’s GOT to be a manual. We had a 2008 civic w lo Hp that was an Abso GAS to go around town in.
ZU_Heston@reddit
Yep, some of the most fun I’ve had in a car (as a passenger) was my buddy driving through TN in an MT scion xB
EarBubbly9421@reddit
Laughs in 36 hp air cooled VW.
Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit
My first car was maybe 55hp, still fun on a nice twisty road
schlaminator@reddit
I had a great few years with my first own car, a Cintroën C2, with 60hp. And it's not like I didn't drive other cars until that time, used to work as a driver in a rent-a-car with hundreds of vehicles, all younger than 6 months, before I got what I considered optimal at the time, for the time. Every time I see a C2 on the street nowadays, I get a little bit nostalgic.
Euler007@reddit
A 24hp cart on the proper track will be a lot of fun. Plus you'll actually be racing in a controlled environment, not on a public road. And let's be real, you're being blown away at the stop light by an EV unless you spend a lot of money, and if you like to hit the peak G force in curves on public road you're one bad bump away (or suprise deer) from lights out.
adhq@reddit
I can relate. My first 3 cars all made under 100hp and loads of fun. When I got my 4th car with 140hp...DANG it was fast!!! 😁
adhd_mechanic@reddit
My 50hp VW bus was a blast
howrunowgoodnyou@reddit
My 38hp mini cooper was more fun than my 400hp Audi or my outlaw 911.
:/
Not joking
erinbisme-@reddit
I currently have a 2012 Cooper Coupe S 6 speed manual transmission and it is extremely fun!! It’s so light being a 2 seater. It’s my little go-cart.
confuus-duin@reddit
Even a Subaru vivio can be a fun car. More power doesn’t equal more fun. I love driving mountainboarding in my area but don’t think I’d enjoy it much in a dodge ram. The roads are small and I’d have to stop for everyone in oncoming traffic. A smaller vehicle is more fun here.
codydexx@reddit
I need at least 50hp to carry my girth
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
Notice you didn't say "to drive".
adhd_mechanic@reddit
Just let me pretend it ran, ok?
g_halfront@reddit
I’m sure it did.
… once
weirdoldhobo1978@reddit
My 71 Super Beetle was how I learned what snap oversteer was.
FutureAlfalfa200@reddit
That’s a fact. Drove my buddies gutted civic with a cammed k24 (around 200 hp to wheels) and it’s borderline scary. Thing weighs 2200 lbs empty.
Obviously it’s a tin can but power to weight really matters.
midri@reddit
Yup. My Miata is 2500lbs and 181hp, it's a hoot
ThrowawayTrump420@reddit
I will second that with my 227HP BRZ that weighs ~2700
Equivalent_Thievery@reddit
I had fun with 55hp in a 1.0 Chevy metro, on gravel back roads running flat out and shifting when the lifters started floating.
There's too many variables to say yes or no to how much hp is "fun".
TheMeanKorero@reddit
The fun is found when pushing something to it's limits.
The more horsepower the further your going to have to push the envelope.
My classic mini had like 38hp and was some of the most fun I've had.
That said power to weight ratio is key, a 300hp big boat of a vehicle will be alright but a 300hp light weight hatchback can be an absolute handful.
Scary-Ask-6236@reddit
Right there with ya! 75 hp and a 4 speed on the floor. lol
twelfthfantasy@reddit
I learned to drive on a 1992 240sx which made 155hp minus whatever it lost with age, and it was a blast on a nice twisty road.
ucbiker@reddit
If you’re not having enough fun drive harder.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
so 87 more ontop of 200 would be great for me! thank you
Rotaryfan@reddit
I feel like Youtube/Instagram personalities have really poisoned our perception of "fun" power in cars; when all you see are 1000hp cars you start to think that you NEED that in order to have fun. The truth is you just don't need it and you'll have an absolute riot driving your Z at stock power or just above.
splynneuqu@reddit
Also 20 years ago if you had 700-1000hp then most likely u did alot of work to the car and take it to the track. Most ppl buying a 700+hp car today aren't hitting the track.
LUXOR54@reddit
As an owner of a 6MT 2003 350Z, it's enough.
Anything more than that with taller gearing is just going to get you more so in trouble vs having more fun. It's nice to actually be able to row through the gears in town without breaking speed limits or chirping tires everywhere.
Gonna_do_this_again@reddit
I had an 83 Mazda 323 hatch that was a hella fun 68hp until I broke it
Canelosaurio@reddit
As an owner of an 8th gen Civic Si, I concur.
ParticularGrouchy736@reddit
200 to 300 in a 1 ton car is perfect Just look at first gen impreza while beeing a bit heavier its still super fun but you also get the awd though yeah thats the weight above 1 ton. I dont want to imagine how unreliable or expensiv maintenace get byeond these numbers. Everything needs to be stronger for more hp and so will be more expansiv. If its a smaller car like 800 to 900kg 150 to 250hp will do with ease. Its all just power to weight to cost. I prefer the lightweight option because handling is more important than power unless you live here in germany than I can understand why you want more power to go 300+ on the autobahn. Obviusly track cars are a different breed.
WideOpenAutoHub@reddit
300 is perfect tbh. Enough to feel fast, but not too much to enjoy on the street.
I had an S3 (300hp) and it was perfect for the street.
My car now is an M340 (380hp ish) and it’s much better than the S3 but it’s right at the ceiling of being too much for backroads.
SigAndTired@reddit
HP alone does not equal fun. Nor does lb/ft torque.
What matters is the power and torque ratios with mass.
Second to that is quality of tire. If you have shit tires you can't safely use all your power.
Third thing is where on the rev band the peak torque and peak HP reside.
Miata and Elige prove these points.
CarGullible5691@reddit
300 is more than enough. Friend of mine has a Yaris GR. That’s 321 bhp in a small hatchback. I had a Subaru wrx sti uk 2014 car. That was 337bhp after the engine was rebuilt and mapped. That was a handful.
jackruyyy@reddit
go drive an 8th gen or earlier civic and see how much fun you have
ellasfella68@reddit
Porsche RS60 Spyder has 304 BHP. More fun than you can shake a stick at.
RacerXrated@reddit
Most people lack the talent to safely wring out even a 300hp street car. Yes, it's enough. Get it and go autoX.
Philosophical_Sayer@reddit
It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow
PassPuzzled@reddit
165 in a 3000lb Toyota is fun on back roads. Just not much for straight line fun
Smashego@reddit
The number of horsepower it’s kind of irrelevant. How quickly your engine revs and produces its torque curve is more important.
Honestly, 300hp in the car you’re getting is kind of boring.
It’s not nearly the same as say 300hp in a Tesla that produces its torque nearly instantaneously and it’s satisfying. A 700hp car produces 300hp and all it’s low end torque instantly. So you can’t really compare HP figures.
300 peak horsepower is going to leave you wanting more and understanding why bigger more powerful motors exist.
bigcee42@reddit
Depends on how much mass you're carrying.
Vb_33@reddit
What if OPs car is carrying Americans
Demented-Alpaca@reddit
Are you calling me fat!?
Look, I KNOW ok!
:)
mikeysd123@reddit
Christ how many of these posts are we gonna see.
Power. To. Weight.
Guilty-Log6739@reddit
It’s exhausting isn’t it? At some point it feels like the logical thing to do is conclude many folks can’t keep two variables in their minds at the same time
SirPisserOfGreatness@reddit
Maybe you should go outside more
Guilty-Log6739@reddit
Your comment is so edgy. We’re all blessed for your insight and valuable contribution
SirPisserOfGreatness@reddit
Nothing edgy about it. It is a shame your kid has such a bitch ass for a dad though.
Emotional man
Guilty-Log6739@reddit
Not sure why you’re bringing my family into this. If anyone seems emotional, that’d be you.
Be well. Have the day you deserve.
SirPisserOfGreatness@reddit
You do the same. Try not to project so much in the future though.
myco_crazey@reddit
That's not very nice is it? Looks you're getting quite emotional again, poor little man.
SirPisserOfGreatness@reddit
The tears are dripping on the screen as I type this
myco_crazey@reddit
We can tell, hang in there little'un.
SirPisserOfGreatness@reddit
Ty 🙏🏻
myco_crazey@reddit
The irony.
SirPisserOfGreatness@reddit
Says the legit retard
Efficient_Roll22@reddit
Typical Dodge owner just see big HP. Doesn’t see weight.
WillieMakeit77@reddit
Yeah buuut.. One has to be significantly lighter to hang with the guy with gobs more power. The more power guy usually always wins. Especially when talking street cars.
For example, a ‘98 Miata weighed something like 2,300 lbs, made 140 horsepower, and it did a 1/4 mile in 15-16 seconds. A ‘17 Nissan Titan weighs around 5,800 lbs, makes 390 horsepower, and it too does the 1/4 mile in 15-16 seconds. It took a 3,500 lb weight reduction to make up for the 250 horsepower deficit.
A ‘00 Mustang GT weighs somewhere around 3,400 lbs, made 260 hp and ran 14 second 1/4 mile. A new Mustang GT weighs around 3,800 lbs, makes 480 hp, and it does the 1/4 mile in 12 seconds. The heavier car blows the lighter one out of the water. Being lighter helps but not if there’s a giant power deficit.
midri@reddit
For quarter miles sure, but weight factors in a lot more when cornering. My Miata can hit a 90 degree then at 60mph reliably because it simply has less mass to compensate for when redirecting.
WillieMakeit77@reddit
It’d still have a hard time beating a 350 horsepower car that weighed 1k lbs more around a race track though.
Insertsociallife@reddit
A 42-horsepower Yamaha R3 will do it in 14.3 seconds according to Google, as fast as a 260hp mustang.
You can't think of "it takes 3,500lb to make up for 250hp". It doesn't scale like that. It's power to weight ratios. The Miata makes 35.9% of the power of the Titan and weighs 39.7% of the Titan and that's why they're so close.
If you are racing someone with twice the power, you need to be half the weight. Being lighter is everything.
WillieMakeit77@reddit
The 3,500 lb figure that I threw out was just an arbitrary way of saying that it takes a bunch of weight reduced to make up for a sizeable power gap. Look at the R3 vs the 260 hp mustang. There’s a 218 hp and a 3k lb weight difference between the two vehicles that run the same 1/4 mile.
The gist of the power to weight ratio game is that a 2,500 lb car making 200 hp is quite a bit slower than a 3,500 lb car that makes 350 hp. Generally speaking.
Hunefer1@reddit
That is not technically true because of other effects like air resistance. If you are racing someone with twice the power, you would need half the weight but also half the air resistance. Since the second one is usually close to impossible, you need less than half to weight. How much depends on the distance (larger distance makes this effect larger of course).
No_Introduction_9355@reddit
The old argument of “no replacement for displacement” and “light is right”
Insertsociallife@reddit
As Colin Chapman put it, "more power makes you faster on the straights, less weight makes you faster everywhere".
No_Introduction_9355@reddit
I could still burn rubber in second gear with the 260hp
WillieMakeit77@reddit
With 332 at the wheels in an SN95 with a 3.73 rear I could burn rubber 1st through 3rd if I launched at 3k rpm. There wouldn’t be too much fwd momentum though..
But even when I got a good launch I still got my azz handed to me in the 1/8 mile by the new at the time stock coyote Mustangs. These were first and 2nd gen coyotes. I was running high 8’s and they were running low 8’s or a better. Had I had a set of bias ply tires and if they were on a street tire I might’ve been able to keep the race a little closer. But been still their trap speeds were usually around 5-10 mph or so higher than mine.
I get what you’re saying though. You don’t have to make a lot of power to have fun. You just have to keep your explanations reasonable and like it for what it is. Sht’s relatively fast out there these days. A something as mundane as a stock ‘12 Maxima runs a 13.9-14.0 1/4 mile. That’s about what a mid 1990’s Ferrari 348 ran. Wild huh?
No_Introduction_9355@reddit
I learned the power to weight ratio figure in gran turimso games was the best gauge for the cars I liked to drive the pikes peak escudo had something like 1:1 hp to lb ratio
WillieMakeit77@reddit
I learned by racing a guy that was in a car that was just like mine only his was “gutted.” Mine was making about 50 more hp than his and I smoked him pretty handily.
WolframBeta2112@reddit
Can confirm. I’ve driven both a busted ass Ranger and a stock Miata. They both had about the same horsepower going to the wheels but the Miata was more fun because I didn’t have to haul around an Orange half stack and a lawnmower and an overweight goth girl.
Villiage_Layman@reddit
She wasn’t gettin in the Miata!
Automatic-Peanut8114@reddit
I saw a Miata the other day with a bumper sticker that said “NO FAT GUYS - The bumper will drag”
midri@reddit
Hehehe. I have both of these vehicles atm, changing between the two is wild. Also the ranger being a v6 but making like 40 less hp than my Miata is kinda hilarious.
WolframBeta2112@reddit
I never owned a Miata but I had an absolute blast in both the NA and the NB that I’ve driven.
I still miss my Ranger. She was a royal piece of shit and I felt like I was gambling with my life every time I had to merge onto the interstate, but she carried me through some really fun and some really rough times.
I think if I ever get rid of my 350z I’ll replace it with an old Ranger and restomod it into something special.
Yakb0@reddit
I was expecting this to lead into a joke about the girl.
midri@reddit
I'm in my 40s, there's not a lot of goth girls big or not left to date in my area.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
3200-3400 lbs (350z)
JewelerExciting7576@reddit
I have an i30n sedan ( elentra n ) that has 350hp
windmill09@reddit
The 350z is one of the most fun cars I have ever owned. I moved on to Porsche 987 and 991 and they are not as fun as the 350z. They are more capable, yes. Not fun though. You can slide a 350z around. Porsches, you only grip on the street. I went back to front engine cars now with an RCF, but seeking a Z or 86 again for the canyons.
Ombortron@reddit
As someone who has spent a fair bit of time in the 350z, along with its siblings the 370z and G37x, yeah the 350Z is totally fast and it’s fun as hell. It’s got a great engine that loves to rev out.
People’s perceptions get distorted by the crazy fast speeds of modern cars, but 300HP on a car that size is nothing to sneeze at. When I floor it in these cars I have a fantastic time. Even when I don’t floor it, it’s still a great nimble platform with excellent balance. It’s a platform that has legit racing pedigree behind it.
A 350Z has an average 0-60 time of around 5.5 sec. That’s approximately the same as the old-school NSX, a legendary supercar. Man even the Testarossa had a 0-60 of 5.2 sec. It’s silly to think these cars are not fast. Sure, there are faster cars, there are almost always faster cars, but Z cars are fun as hell and there’s a reason that they are such well established sports cars.
Madeitup75@reddit
I had one for years. YES it is fun! It’s fun in a straight line but even more fun on big sweeping curves when you can accelerate and turn at the same time. Good handling, good brakes, good acceleration, good all around performance.
If it’s a stick shift, 2nd gear is where the acceleration is most impressive.
bigcee42@reddit
That is a moderate amount of power, certainly enough to have fun.
400+ HP and you're in really fast car territory for this weight class.
Agile_Session_3660@reddit
350z is plenty of fun for public roads. I’d never criticize one. Even more so if it’s a well kept example and not scraping the ground on lowering springs.
Due_Prior_7962@reddit
So true.
I was 145lbs with a 350lb in the passenger seat, another 600lbs in the back (my friend's were all linemen). Fun became "please Lord let my struts not blow out"
Lazy-Objective-1630@reddit
Bit personal.
SuggestionOrnery6938@reddit
This. Had a Gti that was more fun than my 928 in the city.
snipsuper415@reddit
unpopular opinion...
Bro get a rush by going to a track day, in any car, or find a high speed go-karts. I've read up and personally seen to many car accidents and deaths because people want to feel a thrill on public roads.
Medium_Rare_Emu@reddit
Hell yes it is lol I had a mk7 gti autobahn APR stage 2 that mf was pushing like 320 or somethin. My god the smile I would have every day waking up to go to my college campus know I get to drive that car.
You could only imagine the pain I had when a stolen car on a full on police chase ended on my cul de sac at 1 am only to find my car had been shoved as good 20 ft into a closed garage door and the frame of the house by a getaway vehicle that had push bars on it. Straight pain brother.
Went to a s550 5.0 after but it honestly didn’t feel the same even though I had more power and rwd. I found you quickly got over the speed limit on roads too easily = no fun.
Sold that now I have a 26 3.0 Supra 6mt, and this is definitely replacing the gti itch now. It’s fast but not ludicrous fast, I can row through gears, and it’s lightweight.
Personally I believe a light weight car with about 300-400hp is probably the most sane sweet spot for a street car for everyday. Big emphasis on weight though as that makes probably the most difference in how nimble a car feels on the road imo. Now days most high hp cars are equally boaty on weight so you get this couchy feel in power and handling (basically any challenger or charger m5 etc) I probably just hate fat cars so ignore me lol.
wsxdfcvgbnjmlkjafals@reddit
my 99 Civic gets a powerful 90 HP, and I have fun!
lol :(
Mizar97@reddit
Yes, 300 is plenty. My WRX has 268 and I'm never bored or even tempted to mod it.
Anything over 300 is pointless anyway if you aren't going to the track. "Well my car has 700-" yeah ok, you get up to the speed limit 1 second faster. Then we're both stuck at the same red light.
TetrisPlayer3223@reddit
I assure you, we don't go high power to drive speed limit, especially when there is none :).
No offense but saying "we will be stuck at the same red light" is showing ignorance on your side. Let's say you do drive the amazing american speed limit of 75 mph, the it's always fun to chose where to merge, not have to submit to the traffic.
And we don't care about being at the same traffic light, overtaking people, taking corners hard, sllwokg down and then stepping full gas is the fun, driving is the fun, it's not about time saving.
Mizar97@reddit
Oh yeah i get that, I just find it funny when muscle cars will go flying past me and then refuse to make eye contact when we're stopped at the same light lol
I have a 450 dirt bike that I made street legal, that thing is crazy fast. 0-60 in 3.5. 2 seconds of fun and then I'm stuck at 5-10 over the limit 😭 (I do go significantly faster on abandoned roads)
Apostle_of_Fire@reddit
Same, i have a '13 hatch with mostly just cosmetic stuff, but a cold air intake, invidia catback, and protune to a conservative 275 since it's my daily, and I love my car. Launches just great with the tune as well, if I want to go 0-60 in just under 5seconds. I love my car. ✌️
NonGeneriComplaint@reddit
i have 330 horsepower and I feel like I could use 100 more at least.
momoneymocats1@reddit
Eh I think that depends on the car. I went from an RDX to an m40i and it’s much more than 1 second faster and feels like an entirely different beast
subvolt99@reddit
wrx gang. perfect amount of power for any daily driving
Mizar97@reddit
✌️
Event-Forsaken@reddit
Hi, I'm here to sign in.
BondGoldBond007@reddit
I assure you over 300 isn't pointless.
Prestigious_Tiger_26@reddit
Even going to the track, unless you're an experienced track rat who has had tons of seat time, you'd have a better experience with a lower HP car and truly learn how to drive vs feathering the throttle on a powerful monster the whole time trying to maintain traction. You can't hide your mistakes with a weaker car like you can a more powerful one.
SockeyeSTI@reddit
I’ve left my STi stock cause it’s just fine for me. If anything, I’d get a pro tube to smooth up the throttle response and clean up the map.
Or full build this bitch with a rotated big turbo…….but probably not
Boomhauer440@reddit
Yeah I used to be a die hard big engine muscle car/diesel truck guy, then bought a ‘97 WRX because it was real cheap. I was converted in about 5 minutes. That car has 1/3 the HP and 1/5 the torque of my truck at the time but it is an absolute blast to drive. It’s bone stock and there is no need for any more power.
GR4WD@reddit
My GR Corolla says yes ✅
Videoplushair@reddit
My first car was a 1998 mustang GT. It had like 225hp and it felt like when Han Solo hit that overdrive. I think 300hp is great!
Cold-Inside-6828@reddit
My stage 1 WRX was just below 300 and it was fun as hell.
malsell@reddit
Horsepower and fun are not necessarily equivalent. I have had four cylinders that were super fun to drive. I have found that the "fun" drives are the interactive ones. Being able to bark tires and drive at 120+ starts out as fun, but it will never beat driving or riding the twisties.
PDXEng@reddit
First car was a VW beetle spitting out 150hp. It was insanely fun in that go kart of a car
SirLoremIpsum@reddit
Fun is a very relative term.
The NA MX-5 had 85 kW (114 hp), the newest ND has 135 kW (181 hp).
A Suzuki Jimny has 78 kW/105 hp.
Both are known as very fun cars and millions enjoy driving them
You need to come up with a better metric than a specific HP figure. Whether your 350z has 300 or 350 hp is probably not going to change your level of "Fun" at all.
Sure if it had 50 hp it might. But focus on what you find fun and the activities that do it rather than specific hp figures.
Namikis@reddit
It is about the design of the car and how light it is the horsepower is secondary
AdministrativeFly157@reddit
Generally yes, it’s more than enough for fun, assuming it doesn’t weigh too much (>3600 lbs or so). It’s probably not gonna throw you hard back in your seat, you’ll need serious power to do that.
I own a 650 hp supercharged 6th Gen 2ss (manual). I promise you, I do not come close to the limits of this car every day. At a certain point, the power becomes meaningless if you’re daily driving it.
KeepersDiary@reddit
I am probably about 300whp in my 2500 lbs fc and it's HELLA fun.
rriflemann@reddit
The fun factor is entirely the power to weigh ratio, I have a 1100lb car with a 250hp engine, it preforms at super car level, (Lotus 7, series two, with a Mazda 13b rotary engine.)
JSGilst@reddit
Satire. No 3000 HP is needed.
Suitable_Dependent68@reddit
Me and my buddies had a ton of fun in a 57hp vw bug
mordolycka@reddit
it's going to feel like a rocket in comparison to your crv. yes it's enough to have fun no question. just not fast enough to win drag races or impress people on ig
Carolina_Hurricane@reddit
Most fun comes from curvy roads. Full throttle is maybe 1% of driving time.
Boring_Adeptness_334@reddit
It depends the car. For a 350z 300 hp is great. For a Nissan maxima 300 hp isn’t that much. In my opinion 400i-500 HP is the perfect amount. Any more HP and you are going too fast too quick and can’t use it
SP92216@reddit
You sound like a NASA intern on his first week asking “when I’m going to the moon” get the car fist, learn about the car, wrench a little and then maybe if you are not dumb you will learn how to reach your “300 hp” goals.
blackbnr32@reddit
All depends on the vehicle.
createusername101@reddit
Yep. WRX's officially hover around 300ish HP and they're a blast
jabberjaw420@reddit
1000 hp minimum. anything less you might as well be riding a tricycle.
Demented-Alpaca@reddit
My guy, I drive a 2024 Miata that makes 181 hp. And it's a BLAST.
Look, it's WAY more fun driving a slow car fast than driving a fast car slow. And you're a lot less likely to get into legal trouble with the slow car.
Will your 400hp Mustang beat me off the line? Every time. But lets go canyon carving... I'll own you all day long. Because it's not all about power.
Can I beat a 911 in the canyons? Hell no. But a 911 costs 3 times the price of a Miata.
Proper_Buffalo_2923@reddit
My 79 camaro had a 250 straight six in it with 318,000 miles on it. Dump the clutch tires spin at 4500 rpm all .....day.....long (honestly, i tried to blow it up before rebuilding.....couldnt)
billyjawn@reddit
I'm driving a 320hp Integra Type S -- it's a blast. Honestly, any more speed would be largely unusable outside of a track. I can pull with the best of them on an on-ramp.
catmaniabyt@reddit
Have a 300 hp impala that's decently fast and fun, 400hp truck that's decently fun, but the funnest car I've owned had to be my 1988 honda accord that was making probably 120hp
dreamniner@reddit
My 400 some horsepower Camaro was fun but nothing will be the 200 horsepower civic I learned to drive stick on and my first car to mod
FishMan4807@reddit
I’m currently putting together a project that will have around 250 hp, more or less.
On the plus side, it’ll probably weigh around 1,400-1,500 pounds.
A very good power to weight ratio.
runawaydrill@reddit
300 HP Golf R & GR Corolla are both extremely fun.
theLogic1@reddit
Of course it is. You can have loads of fun with a lot less
SnooChipmunks2079@reddit
I don't think I've had a car with more than about 200 hp, and every car I've owned has been more fun than whatever V6 mom-car (Galant, Camry, Camry) my wife had at the same time with similar (Galant) or considerably more (Camry 3.5L) rated hp.
Just in terms of "enough to get out of its own way and still run the AC" anything under around 150 probably kind of sucks - my first new car had about 110 iirc and it was just terribly slow with the AC running.
My next two cars had about 200 and were good, next one had 170 and plenty of power to both drive well and run the AC.
MostlyBrine@reddit
It is not about max power, or even about torque. Fun is all about the power to weight ratio. The most fun I had was in a go-cart.
Goddragon555@reddit
Two of the funnest cars you can buy have way less horsepower then that. The miata and s2000.
MendoMeadery@reddit
All about the power to weight. 300hp in my old 2004 Explorer was not fun. 300hp in a miata will be the sketchiest drive of your life
19Ben80@reddit
More than enough, my 300hp car is sub 6 seconds and 155 mph. Do you really need any more than that..
rahrah47@reddit
My Tesla has crazy acceleration, it’s about 351hp.
MS-06FS@reddit
I had a 205hp 4 speed corvette and yes it was loads of fun.
Dex_Maddock@reddit
I think you have a lot to learn about cars still....
If looking at nothing but HP numbers on a dyno is your only metric for "fun" you'll never have a fun car. There's always someone making more power.
I'll fill you in on a tip that will never be untrue: It's way more fun to drive a slow fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.
GlitteringTune3762@reddit
Very true
I have a 500+ hp car. I barely hit the gas and I’m breaking the speed limit
Tall-Measurement3795@reddit
As someone who used to drive a 2006 Miata, and now drives a 2022 Camaro SS ... Both slow cars and fast cars are fun. I have tons of fun driving my fast car slow. Low end torque is amazing.
Dunoh2828@reddit
My 300HP car can outpace my 450hp car. It’s more than just HP you need.
That said, the roar of my V8 although slower, is more fun.
Dex_Maddock@reddit
Yep, that's my point exactly.
"Faster" isn't always more fun.
"More power" isn't always more fun.
Sometimes it's about the sound. Sometimes it's about how it corners. Sometimes it's about cruising at 30mph in your '69 impala with the top chopped off (that's not me, btw, but if it was I'd have so much fun cruising around at a snails pace).
There's way, way more that makes a car "fun" beyond "how much HP do I need to have fun"....
UmatterWHENiMATTER@reddit
BUT HOW MUCH PSI YOU PUSHING?
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
NO TURBO FOR NOW WHEN I GET THE Z COLD AIR INTAKE SO TECHNICALLY STILL NA HA
Dex_Maddock@reddit
HOW MUCH BOOST BRUH?!
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
Well obviously hp isnt all that matters with drifting. weight distribution matters. technique matters. clutch kick weight transfer handbreak. modulating and squeezing throttle left foot braking. take this as you will but ive put 168 hours on assetto and i have a wheel clutch and shifter sim setup.
Nodnardsemaj@reddit
It's all relative to the actual automobile. 300hp in something really heavy wouldn't be much fun, imo. Now, you get a miata up to 300hp and now you're talking fun!
poutine-eh@reddit
A new spec F1 car makes less HP than a new EV SUV and is slower in a straight line. Guess what one is more fun in the twisties.
GlitteringTune3762@reddit
As long as it’s manual
Ok-Translator-7718@reddit
What does mean “have fun”?
tclark2006@reddit
It's a 350z, so fun will likely involve going to car shows and doing revbangs and donuts in the parking lot.
trickedx5@reddit
for me higher torque and 0-60. Some guys like cornering and g forces.
Eternal-strugal@reddit
You only need 0.1-0.3 horsepower to have fun on a bicycle !
HopefulLet4012@reddit
Horsepower alone means nothing. Power to weight ratio is the number that determines fun. The less pounds per horsepower, the more fun.
DemonScourge1003@reddit
I have 240 in mine and it’s lots of fun. Hell, my wife has a 182 hp Forester and that’s fun to drive
Poysmaster@reddit
Both of my cars sit at 280 hp. Still enough to spin the tires and lose grip if the car is light enough. Its not about how much horse power you have. Its about power to weight ratios.
ArgumentRelevant8274@reddit
You can have fun in anything you drive. I personally think the best spot for a super fun daily driver is around 300-350whp as long as its not 4000lbs lol. The Z will be just as fun as a higher horsepower car, high power comes with a quite a few downsides aswell! You can fully ring out a mid 300s horsepower car way more then a 600-800whp car for daily traffic. My daily makes 390 to the tire and it's way more fun then my drag car for regular driving
eSJayPee@reddit
My first two cars were a blast at under 100 HP
Historical-Stuff-897@reddit
I have heard 181 HP Miata is one of the most fun cars on the road and you can use all of it without breaking traffic laws
froebull@reddit
It's all about power to weight ratio. Small car + moderate horsepower = BIG fun.
Lower horsepower cars that actually handle well, offer different kinds of fun also. Such as driving with the throttle WFO, and "power" shifting to your hearts content, and still not really speeding.
SufficientWall_@reddit
I have fun with less than 200
CaseyAnthonysMouth@reddit
A bit of an arbitrary number but 300 is fun in our rav but we not drifting that thing 😂
PhysicsAndFinance85@reddit
More than enough if you know what you're doing. Realistically there's few things in this world more fun than driving a slow car as fast as you can without a care in the world lol
Honestly, though, most people claiming their car makes whatever horsepower are either using highly inaccurate disneyjet numbers or just pulling it out of their ass. Don't compare to idiots.
Efficient_Roll22@reddit
I had a 2006 350z. Over the years I made it super clean but had to get rid of it due to my financial situation changing and didn’t know if I’d make enough money for gas and maintenance. Turns out I made even more money and I regret selling it. I had the most fun in it. It had enough power and was light enough to spin the wheels and I drifted it a bunch even with an open differential.
I eventually bought a Miata and I’ve been having a lot of fun with that. 2001 6spd. It’s harder to drift but obviously better in auto cross and the track. It’s almost ready for a turbo too. I have plenty of fun with it. I do miss my 350z just going sideways. I also had fun poking at R/T Chargers thinking they’re fast.
If you get the 350z, make sure it has a limited slip differential. If you want to drift, it wouldn’t matter if it’s an open differential because you could just weld it. Also get a differential brace.
Remarkable-Jaguar938@reddit
I'd say yes. My STi came factory at 305-310 or whatever and after throwing a turbo back exhaust an intake and a boost controller that car is loads of fun. Hell it was fun in it's stock configuration I just don't like quiet Subarus.
Key_Policy3035@reddit
Depends on the weight. For a smaller car it's insanely powerful but if you have a big truck it's gonna be enough but not that fast
EZBeezyTV@reddit
Depends how heavy the car is
Netghod@reddit
LOTS of cars have well under 200 HP and are a blast to drive….
It’s about WEIGHT as well. The weight to HP ratio is a larger factor and most low HP cars are also lightweight. And torque is a major factor, especially where it comes in.
For example, a Miata is a lot of fun, is lightweight, and has less than 200HP. But the Torque comes in above 3500 rpms. Many owners who daily drive their cars aren’t up in the range a lot but it completely changes the nature of the car. NA vs. Supercharger vs Turbo charger all drive differently. And size of turbo and type of supercharger can play a role as well.
You might find the 350 very different because AWD vs. RWD is very different and breaking the rear wheels loose may be a bit unexpected vs what’s needed on AWD.
Hops_n_Boost@reddit
It’s all subjective. What might be fun to some, might not be to others. Enjoy your car until it’s not fun anymore before you consider searching for more. Having more hp than experience/seat time is dangerous. My car was scary when I first got it on the road. Now it’s not scary, but it’s still a lot of fun. It’s scary to people that I take for rides. It also depends on what you are using the car for. If it’s drag racing you will probably want more and more and more until your priorities change. That’s what happened to me. I got older and changed my mind on what I wanted before I got bored/used to the power. When I sell this car, my next one will have less power because I want something different out of it. Will I add power to it, definitely. But, I have found my limits and am happy to dial it back to what I personally think will be a blend of fun and reliability for me and my priorities. There will always be someone out there that is faster. Trust me. All that said, don’t chase a hp number. Chase the fun.
WatchingyouNyouNyou@reddit
It depends a lot on how the engine sounds when you open up tge throttle. A 300hp muted sedan won't be as fun as a 300hp rumbling v6/i6
KetamineGod420@reddit
Yes, I have an e350 cdi with 265 hp and its really fun to drive. Anything greater than 200 on a decent road will get the job done.
hotrods1970@reddit
Miata, fun car. 197hp.
saadcee@reddit
I believe 300 is the sweet spot. Enough to get moving, not too much to be unreliable or hard to control. I had a family sedan and a sport coupe, both with just over 300 and they were perfect.
CorgiLittle7672@reddit
Z-cars scoot. You will have all of the fun. Keep in mind that a Z is more muscle car than sport car and will be more inclined to over steer (which is fun when done intentionally).
SatanVapesOn666W@reddit
200 is plenty if you're in a car and not a suv or crossover. Their height has a direct Impact on the sensation of speed along with requiring way more HP to accelerate the non-arrow dynamic 4000lbs bricks.
PiIIan@reddit
Yes, and even 100 is enough to have fun, depends on the car and where you drive.
RocMerc@reddit
I have 270 horse and have a blast
AsainGlockgirl99@reddit
I test drove a 2023 Miata last year. They have less than 200hp and it was really fun. Slow but fun. I have a 2019 mustang GT you really can't do too much in it if you run through the gears at all your basically doing double or even triple the speed limit in a matter of seconds.
Iacoboni04@reddit
Dude. You can have fun with 150 HP.
plasmamaniac@reddit
I have some fun in my 300hp Pickup truck, I imagine in a smaller, lighter vehicle that's even better
carpet_whisper@reddit
Depends on the weight.
Under 3500 lbs with a decent setup can be fun, like a 05-09 Mustang GT for example which are fun cars. 5spd manual RWD.
Under 3200 lbs and you looking at like MK7 Golf R which are plenty fun.
Under 3000 lbs and we’re looking at stuff like S2000 with only 250hp are super fun.
ObviousAlias7@reddit
Depends on the weight of the vehicle.
Average sedan/coupe? Plenty. SUV? Might want 400+
HauntingPoet191@reddit
My car makes like 200hp and it’s fun
Not_A_Squirrel69@reddit
My volvo is like 190ish and it's enough to have fun. I'll be sitting hopefully just above 250 by the end of the summer and I'm looking forward to that, 300hp is plenty. The internet is full of posers, notice how EVERYBODY seems to say you need 500+ minimum? you think EVERYBODY actually has that? Nah, most of them are talking out their ass about things they don't have, and half of them who do have it are only in the game for social media views. You're gonna love 300hp
mcdonalds675@reddit
Depends, 300hp in a heavy ass truck vs 300hp in a smaller car is a very different feel.
bullmilk415@reddit
500 ho in a modern sedan can be boring. 150 hp in a lightweight older car can be exhilarating. There is a lot more to fun cars than power.
DavidinCT@reddit
Depends on the car, 300hp in a large SUV is different than a small car. It's about power to weight.
Going from an AWD drive Honda with 187hp to a 300hp 350z, should give you the boost in performance and sportiness you want. Smaller lighter car will act more fun and peppy on those turns.
Assuming your young, check your insurance rates before going from low powered SUV to a sports car, make sure you plan accordingly as insurance on a sportscar for a younger person can bite you in costs.
Akin_Ra@reddit
You can have fun with 200. It's all about power to weight. Drop some weight on that 350z and it will be more fun, otherwise it's kinda average
Dart_boy@reddit
It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.
MilesBeforeSmiles@reddit
The most fun I've had driving a car was in a 2001 BMW Z3 on a mostly empty and windy back road near the begining of Covid. That car had 114hp new, and probably a fair bit less when I drove it. It wasn't fast, but it handled well and the environment I was driving it in allowed me to push it to it's limit.
Fast is fun, but it's not the only way to have fun in a car.
HighGroundIsOP@reddit
Yes a 300hp Z is going to be fun.
Quick_Delay_8459@reddit
Horsepower is addicting. But the first thing you need to reframe is how important you make the hp number. The more important number is power to weight ratio. A 300hp Miata is way more fun than a 300hp f150.
A 350z is very fun. It does have “plenty” of power. Just be aware that the fun wears off. The mod bug bites. You start with intake and exhaust. And next thing you know you’re slapping on turbos.
bushinkaishodan@reddit
Had a Lotus Exige S with 219 hp. On a winding road only another Lotus could keep up, beat or equaled most muscle cars in a straight line until it hit its aero wall. It weighing around 2000 lbs made all the difference.
Gordo_51@reddit
I drive a 66 horsepower car and thats fun as hell, and my friend's 45hp car is even more fun.
Leading_Leader9712@reddit
The Mustang was back in the 80’s:
Stock Horsepower Highlights (1979–1993) 5.0L HO V8 (1987–1993): 225 hp @ 4200 RPM / 300 lb-ft torque @ 3200 RPM (GT/LX). 5.0L V8 (1986): 200 hp (Auto) or 225 hp (Manual). 5.0L V8 (1982–1985): Ranged from 157 hp to 210 hp. 1993 Cobra 5.0L: 235 hp. 2.3L Turbo (SVO/Turbo GT): 131–205 hp. 4.2L V8 (1980–1981): 118–120 hp.
These were bad rides back in the day!
OkDesk7930@reddit
My c5 z06 is 400hp and it’s more fun than the cars you listed soooo
Tobazz@reddit
You can have a ton of fun with 2hp 🤣 hp matters waaaay less than the internet thinks. Just look at any Miata, pretty sure none of them hit 200hp and they are arguably the most fun car to drive
Achmiel@reddit
I've got a Mazda Miata with 167 horsepower. It's the most fun car I've ever driven. What you want is a good power to weight ratio, IMO.
IndependentClear469@reddit
Depends on the handling of the car, not the power in my experience. 300 will give you a rush though if the cars not overly heavy
largos7289@reddit
oh definitely. I mean unless your in like Oklahoma with the cows or what not, where you going with 500+ Hp anyway? You would be better off setting up a stop light warrior type car and 300 is around that area.
Smykster@reddit
I think if your car is less than 3500lbs, 300whp is a riot.
rocknrollstalin@reddit
What kind of cars do you see other people driving at the track you’re thinking of having fun on? Usually best to just start with an older model of whatever is popular in your community
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
50hp is enough if it’s light enough or shitty enough.
TheyCallMeBigPoppa83@reddit
I had 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. 240hp from the factory. The only thing I did to it was an aftermarket exhaust, high-performance tires on the stock rims, and lowered it a little bit. It's the funnest car I've ever driven, even though it was 20 years ago.
Turbulent-Dentist-77@reddit
A dump truck has 300 hp. Not sure most would call 0-60 in 20 seconds fun.
Depends on how heavy the car is.
For a compact sedan, 300 is more than plenty for fun factor.
For a mid-sized or what we call larger sedan these days, in the area of 350-400 hp / 400 torque is generally where you want to be.
Large heavy coupes you want to be 500 ish hp.
Ok-Ad8998@reddit
Depends what kind of fun you want. I had a blast road racing my 137 hp Neon. And it looked like the guys I was racing against who had Miatas (113 hp) were having fun too. But if your 'fun' goal is to burn up tires, you might need more.
black-kramer@reddit
330 hp porsche cayman s owner. yes. more than enough.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
My cadillac has 260 hp and if it was a more sporty car, id have loads of fun with it. Its still faster than most regular cars on the road, its always funny when minivans and crossovers think they can prevent me from passing, all I need to down is downshift and ill be at 80 before they get to 70. Its a thrill
Ok_Manufacturer6460@reddit
300hp in a 2 ton truck meh... 300 hp in an 1800lb car woo hoo
OofNation739@reddit
I mean I have fun wirh 40hp in a kei truck.
My WRX is 300hp and I barley touch the power because I only need it for passing/acceleration. Just doing 40mph with cruise control on a windy road is more fun than gunning it imo.
BearvsShad@reddit
I have a blast on the twisty back roads in my WRX without needing to push it to the limits. It's nice having the power if I need it, but I think it would be just as fun with 50 less hp.
OofNation739@reddit
Depending on vehicle weight and all that really I find 200-250hp a magical number of fast.
Like at 3000lbs-3500lbs 250-300hp is the number.
The lighter you are the less hp you need. Ive really wanted to get a 2000lbs 200hp monster. Where its light enough its closer to a 400hp traditional vehicle.
My dream lately has been to find a nice compact car from 80s like a escort or civic. Then go full on weight reduction and just suspension and light engine work. That would turn it into a street legal race car.
_ask_me_about_trees_@reddit
My miata makes 120 and is a whole lot of fun
dattosan240@reddit
Some of the most fun cars I've owned had less than 300hp and were all a total riot to drive.
95 Infiniti P10 5sp, 03 Maxima 6sp, 97 240SX 5sp, 78 280Z, 89 Lotus Esprit
All a blast to drive, all under 200hp. More fun to drive than my cars that have had over 300 or even 500hp.
lenny446@reddit
I went from 170 in a legacy to 270 in a wrx and it’s so much fun
JustAGuyTrynaSurvive@reddit
As others have posted here already, it's mostly horsepower to weight ratio. I would add to that gearing plays a significant role as does overall structure of the vehicle. In 2007 I had a job doing enclosed auto transport delivering Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and other high performance vehicles. I delivered a 1997 McLaren F1 to a guy in Oregon who must have had 30 or 40 Ferraris in the building I parked the car in for him along with six Lotuses. Lotuses look cool but they're extremely inexpensive compared to a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, and among people who are supercar owners or enthusiasts they are considered toys. So I asked this guy what was the deal with all the lotuses when he had so many Ferraris to choose from, and his reply was that they by far were the most fun to drive vehicle out of all of the cars that he owned, and this guy gave me a ride back to my truck in a Ferrari Enzo.
Below is a short blurb about 2008 lotus exiges, and then some of the specs and performance numbers. I am certain you can pick them up for less than $30,000 today as they were only 60 to 70,000 brand new if I remember correctly.
The 2008 Lotus Exige is a lightweight, track-focused sports car featuring a supercharged 1.8L 4-cylinder engine (Toyota 2ZZ-GE). It produces 220–240 hp, accelerating 0–60 mph in 4.0–4.1 seconds with a top speed of roughly 148–153 mph. Its ~2,077 lb curb weight, sharp handling, and 6-speed manual transmission offer extreme, go-kart-like performance.
Key Performance Metrics Engine: 1.8L Supercharged Inline-4 (2ZZ-GE). Power: 220 hp (standard S) to 240 hp (S 240/Club Racer). Torque: 165 lb-ft to 170 lb-ft. 0–60 mph: 4.0 – 4.1 seconds. 0–100 mph: ~11 seconds. Top Speed: 148–153 mph. Curb Weight: ~2,077 lbs. Transmission: 6-speed manual only.
Leody@reddit
300 is plenty more than enough to have fun.
600 is more than enough to kill you in the blink of an eye.
Granted, most modern cars have enough safety features to keep you from going over the edge, but 300 is more than enough.
WatchStoredInAss@reddit
No, you need 18,000hp.
JustAGuyTrynaSurvive@reddit
In a motorcycle? Sure!
No_South_9912@reddit
Mustang Ecoboost is over 300HP
No_Base4946@reddit
30bhp is enough to have fun, in the right car.
You'll have more fun driving a piece of shit flat out everywhere than occasionally getting to use a fraction of a more capable vehicle.
6StarBowtie@reddit
Definitely and its a responsible number to start at. Its why so many people wreck cars now a day, they're way faster out of the box than they used to be and people aren't prepared.
The 350 is gonna feel like a racecar and its a pretty solid platform performance wise so if get used to it and want to go faster theres a ton of options.
My daily is at about 300whp, it's fast enough to get into trouble and make me feel decent when I floor it. Anything over 500 a lot of stuff can go wrong im a hurry and if you arent ready for it, mistakes happen
Bulky_Wind_4356@reddit
You want a rush? Get a 70hp car and overtake on an incline, before a curve.
MCBarlan@reddit
From a CRV to a 350? Yeah, that's going to be a life changing difference. Enjoy.
frisbm3@reddit
Yes. I just accelerated quite fast (not quite floored) in my 2021 bmw 750i and I got lightheaded and my phone shot to the back of the car and unplugged itself. It is too fast, I don't need that much!
Automatic-Peanut8114@reddit
A ~2000 lbs car with 120hp is lots of fun, it all depends on weight
Fark0tron@reddit
You will never have more fun than a Caterham Super7 with all of 175hp.
JDasper23@reddit
Depends how much weight you’ve gotta carry around and how much the vehicle weighs, I had a car with 308 hp and it was enough but nothing crazy fun, I now have a car with 250 hp that weighs a lot less and it’s way more fun
No-Individual4184@reddit
My car is only 250hp with like 200 pounds of torque, its super fun, i gas it and feels like im time traveling, but its the fastest car ive drove so far
chickenCabbage@reddit
I've got 90hp in a 1000kg car and it's fun.
47ES@reddit
You can drift a Miata with only about 140 HP, and skills, or lack of skills. Been there done that. Fun but not fast.
What is a "dig"?
A pull lasts seconds, yawn.
Our 140 HP Miata is more fun than our 300 HP STI.
Any manual sports car such as a Z is fun for so many reasons, especially compared to your current appliance / couch on wheels.
Go find an Autocross, your cheaks will hurt from all the smiles. It's the most fun you can have in a car with your pants on.
MaximumDerpification@reddit
I've owned cars with way over 300hp and my current car is more fun than most of them.
It has 160hp.
GunMaxxer@reddit
What car?
MaximumDerpification@reddit
Abarth 500
Informal_Ad4399@reddit
Owned a Barretta as my second car. Those got I think around 120 hp. Wasn't breaking any records, but man could she go when I wanted her to.
My buddy had a BRZ for about a year. That thing was really fun as well. Had well under 300 hp.
300 hp in a lighter car can be incredibly fun.
jolsiphur@reddit
Well under. 1st gen BRZ is rated for about 200HP, second gen gets about 238. Both are incredibly fun.
Timsmomshardsalami@reddit
So slow though it’s irritating
MaximumDerpification@reddit
Back when I was a teen, a white-on-white Quad-4 Beretta GTZ was my dream car!
Informal_Ad4399@reddit
Mine was graphite with a dark red interior.
I miss the car sometimes, but then I remember the interior in those sucked.
PapiSpanky@reddit
Brother if you can't have fun in a manual 350Z with traction control turned off, then you're incapable of fun.
Forget horsepower and spec sheets, drive the car and see if it makes you grin from ear to ear. No other measure matters.
Hell I've had more fun a Miata than most other cars with a lot more power and better straight line speed.
stomper4x4@reddit
Some of the most fun cars I've ever driven were low HP.
300 HP is plenty to get you in trouble lol. Think about it, 300HP is a good number from the legendary muscle car days.
TacitRonin20@reddit
I drive a station wagon that probably makes close to 300 at the crank by now. It's plenty of fun even in a boat like that. The 350Z will be a blast. Just be careful and get used to the car before trying anything too wild.
ZaphodG@reddit
A 1967 MGB has 95 horsepower.
sangfoudre@reddit
Try 120 on a 900 kg car, it's gonna be more fun than 300 on a 3 tons suv
shadire@reddit
Fun is subjective. Horsepower is subjective. What really matters is what you enjoy out of a car.
As someone who owns a 300hp WRX and a 515hp Scat, I can tell you in my own experience 300hp is a lot more enjoyable. I barely get to enjoy the Scat outside of the track for worry of possibly getting slapped with reckless driving or worse.
bigtony8978@reddit
Yes
Embarrassed_Ad1722@reddit
Had a 70bhp Peugeot 205 with faulty brakes long time ago and no car to this day beats it on fun...and terror.
Hopeful-Mirror1664@reddit
It all comes down to the power to weight ratio. 300hp in 2300 pound car is a very different experience than 300hp in 4200 pound car.
Working_Farmer9723@reddit
I don’t know. I have one vehicle with 430 and it isn’t very fun at all. Another with 120 is pretty smiley. Of course one is a 7000lb truck and the other is a 3000lb FIT. So maybe hp isn’t what matters.
Bluetex110@reddit
Depends on what you want to do, i had a 75hp car that i had a lot of fun with on a small track😁
For drifting i would go above 200hp for sure
MegaTurboLaser@reddit
My current track car - Suzuki Swift Sport ZC32s - has a whoopin' 136HP from an NA engine.
And it's AWESOME! It's basically a FWD Miata - light, nimble and handles like a gokart.
JCDU@reddit
55bhp and 1200lbs and you've got a giant-killing legend that is still ranked as the most fun you can have in a car:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini#Mark_I:_1959%E2%80%931967
Power means nothing, power-to-weight and handling are where it's at. Colin Chapman was right.
Intrepid-Focus8198@reddit
First fun car I had was a rover 114 gti about 100hp.
So much fun to drive.
Zheiko@reddit
Its all relative... 60hp rental is a LOT of fun if you pay for full insurance.
800hp $300k supercar will be less fun than that, I can almost guarantee it.
200hp miata will be perfect
Beer_Snacks@reddit
I track a car with ~225 and that’s enough to have fun. You’ll have plenty of fun with the Z
JP147@reddit
If you have to ask, it is probably too much.
300hp in a 350z is more than enough to kill you if you are inexperienced or get too confident.
PercentageNo3293@reddit
Like others said, depends.
My buddy's newer Miata was more fun than his older G35. Nearly half the power, but nearly half the weight.
300HP would be "meh" in a truck, but would be amazing in a Miata lol.
Full-Meringue-1057@reddit
lol 230hp in my GTI still gives me a rush
potruss@reddit
The most fun car I drove (and still own) is a Fiat Seicento. Mine has 29kw (maybe a tiny bit more now). Do with that information what you want.
Upstairs_Truck_3724@reddit
Maybe 10 years ago 300 was fun however not today.... Recently I got into a friend's z cause he was like it's static yo, buh it was pretty lame compared to the new mustang my bro took me in on the "track" we hit 155 easy n it felt like it kept going. These new toys coming out with 400hp+ seems like a better answer.
seaofboobs9434@reddit
200ish is fun 300 is very fun
Upstairs-Result7401@reddit
My view is a 100hp per 1000 pounds provided gearing and transmission match the task at hand. Is a very fun vehicle.
With 75hp per ton is more then adequate provided gearing matches power band.
eeveep@reddit
A 300bhp 350z should be heaps. Chuck some Goodrides and a decent wheel alignment on it and you'll be able get her sliding.
The worst thing about those Zs is the engine bay is a knucklekiller to work in.
My MX-5 was fun at stock power. Was arguably perfection at 200 and is downright foolish at about 260.
Consider decent brake pads and send it. You'll be right. The worst thing will be fuelling the bastard, these days.
Brilliant-Onion2129@reddit
Sure is enough!
Dredgeon@reddit
Fun is more about how tossable a car is. The more horsepower you have, the closer you have to get to a felony charge to have any fun.
Depress-Mode@reddit
I have 170hp in a 1,000kg city car, it’s the least powerful and most fun car I’ve owned.
Valuable_Mud316@reddit
Side note: It's torque that throws you into your seat when you floor it, it's as important to enjoyment as horsepower and way under appreciated imo.
Imaginary-Badger-119@reddit
hp should meet or exceed body size but 350z is is a crazy difference in hp to body size but
Briggs281707@reddit
300ho is still fast enough, even in a heavy car
nick_c8_vegas@reddit
The radical sr3 has 200-230 hp and laps faster then almost every single production car. Even cars with 1000+ hp. You can have more fun in a go kart with 40 hp if you actually embrace improving driving techniques and not street racing
Dedward5@reddit
160BHP and 750kg , Lots of Fun
Due_Prior_7962@reddit
I had a blast with my 150 hp Neon. That thing could corner so damn well. Who knows what it was at with the long tube header, upgraded PCM, etc.
My 300+ whp SRT4 is insanely fun too! Break the tires from a cruising speed. I dont drive it much because E85 is a bitch to find. Add great coilovers and stiffen things up, even more fun in the corners.
My dad's 78 Trans Am is a bunch of fun too. Stock motor rebuild, automatic, but man that torque.....just dont take a corner fast. Body roll for daaaaaaays.
HP to me is just a number. A car (for the most part) can be fun in many ways. My 04 Buick Century? Zero fun but the ride quality rules.
jordyb3231@reddit
Most fun I ever had was in my 200hp Peugeot 206 RC absolutely fantastic little rocket. I know have a 310hp car and the Peugeot still was amazing compared
RaiseOurAxesToTheSky@reddit
I have tons of fun with 110hp 👍🏻
Average-Monk@reddit
Yes. Horsepower is over rated unless your only definition of fun is "how many drag races can I win?"
gunsdrugsreddit@reddit
My car has 100hp and is fun 🤷🏻♂️
Exotic_Call_7427@reddit
A go-kart with 6HP is enough to have fun.
The "fun" comes in the corner, not in accelerating in a straight line.
Hot-History8911@reddit
I have fun on a mountainbike
gpowerf@reddit
One of the most fun cars I've driven only had 210bhp and dry weight of just 525kg. And yes it was road legal... barely! This was before EVs came along and it was one of the fastest things on the road then.
surmatt@reddit
Yes. My 26 year old base model Miata is a blast with good tires and a curvy road.
Mrcarlosvega@reddit
300Hp in a Hyundai Elantra N or Civic Type R and you would have a fun driving experience where you will look forward to ramps and twisties.
300HP in an overweight yet sexy Challenger, not as much fun.
blunttrauma99@reddit
First gen VW GTI had like 90 HP.
G series Porsche 911 had at most 220 HP for N/A, the Turbo ~300.
whiskey_piker@reddit
I’d take a 150hp manual transmission car over a 300hp automatic transmission car, like the G35 sedan or CLK320 I have - both are boring to drive but would be so much better w/ a real transmission.
So, moral is, it depends.
dfm503@reddit
HP is way less important than torque if you’re looking for smiles.
Doublestack00@reddit
Depends on the car.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
350z! Manual ofc!
Thisisnotgoodforyou@reddit
I had one. It was fun. The tail wants to kick out on these.
Thisisnotgoodforyou@reddit
A 981 Cayman base has 275hp. Try to tell me it's not fun.
Equivalent_Thievery@reddit
It depends on the weight of the vehicle
bdubz325@reddit
My GR Corolla has 300hp and it's way more than I can fully enjoy while daily driving
Monthra77@reddit
Miata’s only have 181.
And as we all know.
Miata is always the answer.
Alternative_Dust1245@reddit
Have you ever ridden a bicycle? 1/3 of a hrsprs is enough if it's properly applied
ThirdSunRising@reddit
What kind of stupid question is this. A 5hp Honda lawnmower engine is enough to make a go kart fun. There are tons of super fun to drive cars with two digit horsepower ratings. And there are tons of boring shitboxes with 200+hp.
So what are you doing with that power? What are you moving with it and how will it move? That’s what tells you whether or not it will be fun.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
hah sorry for asking a stupid question. I plan to just be the average car enthusiast with a rwd. but smart. you know the 2-3-4 pull. the rain drifting. roundabouts.
ThirdSunRising@reddit
Rain drifting with rwd requires maybe 150hp
Package_Objective@reddit
It's all about power to weight, with a 2x multiplier if it's a manual.
AJHenderson@reddit
I've had tons of fun in a go kart. Weight to power matters far more than power.
Fine-Concern-8238@reddit
169BHP in my Ora GT always made me smile
Scott43206@reddit
310/350 torque is all I need to be waving "see ya" in the rearview to the idiot that thought they were going to cut me off.
haloimplant@reddit
For sure most morons are driving cars mich slower than this, usually the ones with really flashy cars are driving on the slower side chilling out
Slipknot31286sic6@reddit
300 is more than enough and not be at the gas station every other day.
haloimplant@reddit
Indeed whenever I get tempted by the monster 430+ hp cars I think about whether it's worth going from over 25mpg to 20 or less. Not really 350 lets me do plenty of stupid stuff
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
fair fair fair point. 350'z dont have awful gas mileage yeah?
givemesendies@reddit
If you drive highway its not bad. The HR engines get better mpg than the DEs. City, you need to not mash the gas
UmatterWHENiMATTER@reddit
What engine? Some of those are 93+ only.
davokr@reddit
350z only came in a v6, reasonable gas mileage for what it is, averaged around 19mpg iirc
UmatterWHENiMATTER@reddit
Right, I just don't know if they're the higher compression nissan v6 that only takes premium fuel.
davokr@reddit
They’ll take lower octane just fine, but do prefer 91+. It’s the VQ engine, found in several Nissan/Infiniti’s.
UmatterWHENiMATTER@reddit
Oh. I've got that one in my G35. The upgraded HR version is picky and likes 91+ in my experience. Never owned the DC version.
Slipknot31286sic6@reddit
See all these kids getting dodge charger rt Or scat packs and circling. Gas station every other day. 😆
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
yesyes yes
Beautiful-Ad-8028@reddit
Lol I've had both 350zs and scat packs have the same exact gas mileage. Both are good too but the champ for milage fun combo was our 335d 32 city and almost 350hp 700tq.
onetenoctane@reddit
You can have fun with a quarter of that; I’ve got 260ish and it’s plenty fun as well
Hairy_Photograph1384@reddit
Driving a slow car fast is way more fun than driving a fast sar slow
SidneyBeanz82@reddit
If you can’t have fun with 50hp you don’t know how to drive
Extreme_Design6936@reddit
I thought this was r/motorcycles and was about to have a heart attack. Lol
NikonNevzorov@reddit
Bruh my car makes "250" from the factory and it's 13 years old now so realistically 200 and it's still fucking fast if you floor it off a stop in the sequential shift mode.
tech240guy@reddit
I had owned a 370z, GTR, NB Miata, and 240sx modified KA-T build. Currently drive an S2000 and Civic SI.
GTR has the neck breaking power and Gs to make yourself feel very sore after HPDE (race track) event. However, it kinda lost its magic on me as it ended up chasing track time records while reducing actual time of racing itself. It's like if the GTR go 1 lap around the track in 2 mins while the Miata takes about 3 minutes, I loss 1 minute of actual play time. Also, in a slower car, you get to see and feel more of what's around you, like more time to play.
Stop light drag racing seems fun, but gets old quick, especially after your 3rd wreckless driving ticket lolz.
apoleonastool@reddit
300 hp is a sweet spot for the street. High enough to have fun, but still not crazy high.
No_Tower_7026@reddit
I have a Miata, so yes…
Viking2151@reddit
Oh yeah, depending on the car, even 150 200hp can be fun. I remember racing around a track in a Mercury Cougar with a 2.0 4 banger making like 120HP, it was fun, pushed that thing hard too. Im sure a 300HP BMW can be fan, its faster but something about slow under powered cars are fun on a track.
SoundMedal@reddit
It's all about tire width
ryguymcsly@reddit
My car came from the factory with 133hp and definitely doesn’t have that now and it’s fun as hell.
BrownEyesWhiteScarf@reddit
I have a car that outputs 360+ and another that outputs 160 hp. Both are very fun, but 160 hp just beats out.
Unless you’re tracking it, your torque curve matters more than hp.
imightknowbutidk@reddit
My 240hp 2002 Mustang GT was tons of fun
DishRelative5853@reddit
No, OP, not at all. No fun at all.
dayglo98@reddit
My 2.0T Genesis Coupe with 300whp is plenty fun to drive
FunctionSudden958@reddit
Depends on the weight of the car.
imjeffp@reddit
I'd rather have the torque of an EV than ICE HP. My base-model Mach=E make 270-ish, and that's enough that I'm grateful for the traction control.
plank_beefchest@reddit
If you can't have fun with 90hp, then 900hp is useless.
buenobeatz@reddit
More than enough
lrbikeworks@reddit
My 50 hp dune buggy was a damn riot. Most fun car I have ever owned.
eevvmmaann@reddit
If you’re asking this question, then you just need to get something w 4 wheels that you like driving. Worry about the rest later.
Boring-Firefighter34@reddit
I have a 300 hp taurus police interceptor, and it's a blast. More power than daily driving needs but wakes up when I want it to. My 170 hp Focus while slower is super fun to chuck into corners. It's like a go-cart. You can have fun in most cars.
IBringTheHeat2@reddit
A Camry has 300 horsepower
HardestKhakis@reddit
I had Mustang’s, Camaro and a Corvette c5 but the most fun car I drove was a rental 96 Suzuki Swift with a whopping 70 hp, it was going balls out just pottering around San Diego.
EXfedBTW@reddit
I have a 2006 gt, if you make it sounds good/loud 300hp is perfect imo. Its a manual an auto is kinda iffy but thats the perfect amount. Anything more is too much.
TheWhogg@reddit
Straight line speed really isn’t that much fun. It’s nice to have for normal driving, but recently driving 400, 520 and even 674hp cars is meh. “Yes, it’s quite lively” was my reaction to the Zeekr 7x. But it wasn’t much of a car to drive because it fell apart trying to corner hard. Conversely, the 440i at the bottom of that power range put down amazing cornering.
300hp is plenty of power to be a fun car but it takes way more than that.
ArrozConChopsticks@reddit
330hp in my stock M37x is fun for me.
DingBat99999@reddit
I owned a gen 1 MR2 and those only had about 120 hp. Most fun Ive ever had w a car.
My Mazdaspeed3 had 263 hp and that felt downright dangerous at times.
Commercial-Bluejay59@reddit
Yes! My 245 HP Z3 is tons of fun. It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
axiomata@reddit
Ask AI to make you a table for Top Cars (<$60k) — HP per Ton per $1000 (Sorted)
axiomata@reddit
Here's top 30:
Camaro LT1 Mustang GT Toyota GR86 Subaru BRZ Mustang EcoBoost Hyundai Elantra N Mazda MX-5 Miata Corvette Stingray VW GTI Toyota Camry TRD Hyundai Kona N Hyundai Sonata N Line Kia K5 GT Honda Accord 2.0T Honda Civic Si Mazda3 Turbo Honda Civic Type R Toyota GR Corolla Nissan Altima VC-Turbo Nissan Z Mini Cooper S Tesla Model 3 Long Range Toyota Corolla XSE Dodge Charger GT Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Subaru WRX Acura Integra A-Spec VW Golf R Toyota Corolla Hybrid Genesis G70 3.3T
Buk_Danger@reddit
A modern car with more than 400hp needs traction control or you just be spinning allover.
H_rusty@reddit
with the 350z .. yes you definitely will... lovely car
AskThis7790@reddit
Yep
Barutano74@reddit
I own a 45-year-old sports car with 200hp. By numbers, it’s about as fast as a V6 Camry. There is no car in the world I’d rather drive than it (and I drive it hard). So, yes.
SnooStories7409@reddit
Unless it’s not stock that 350z is not making 300 hp. Also if that car is not stock, be prepared for a headache. Every modified z I’ve ever bought (3 so far) have been piles of shit that gave me endless problems
twelfthfantasy@reddit
Hell, 150hp is enough to have fun in a small, light rwd car.
Evening_sadness@reddit
I think my first car was 68hp, it was endless fun.
trickedx5@reddit
in sedan sure. In suv, just barely. I modded my x5 from 335 hp to 415. HUGE difference and finally really fun.
Jjzeng@reddit
The first car i drove extensively after getting my license was my mom’s 2L macan. 250hp but goddamn it was a fun car to drive with surprisingly violent acceleration. Body roll was a bit much but still a fantastic car to drive. Graduated to my dad’s 3L g12 7 series (first gen b58) and took that mf on long road trips twice (round trip 800-900km) and despite weighing two tons that mf had some zip, despite the boat like handling it was also a really fun car to drive. Now drive a v8 m3 convertible and that brings its own fun, have broken traction (with ESC on) and lots of tunnel revs. 400hp but weighs the same as the 7, different kind of fun altogether and much more put-together handling.
Point being, HP is not the be all and end all of fun cars. Driving a car well and to its limits (within reason) is extremely fun and satisfying in and of itself
Wide-Engineering-396@reddit
My first 66 galaxy 500 had 6 cy, 3 on the tree no power nothing, wish i had it back
immee1@reddit
Any amount of horse power.is enough to have fun as long as its utilized right.. bigger numbers just mean bigger fun
MorallyAmbiguouish@reddit
Get a motor with turbo. BMW sit around 220hp but the twin scroll turbos give 220 torque at 1800rpms. Makes it feel faster than it is. Super fun. Kinda depends on how you get the 300hp
BudFox_LA@reddit
If you can’t have fun with 300 hp I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe some driving lessons.
UniversalConstants@reddit
My soccer mom car has 300hp, and it’s weirdly fun to drive even at its size
Active_Drawer@reddit
I got in more trouble in my 155hp(crank) car than I have in anything else.
Aerospaced0ut@reddit
69HP is fun in a 6 speed Panda Hybrid I'm sure you'll have fun with the Z.
KrevinHLocke@reddit
I owned a 350z and that car was sad. It uses the same 3.5 motor of every other Nissan. Nothing special, unless you are going to build it out.
nauticalcummins@reddit
My 160 hp, 400lbs torque 1st gen Cummins 5 speed is more fun than the grocery getting 400hp 400lbs torque suv, mainly because of the stick I'm sure. The grocery getter just drives. You have to drive the 1st gen. All relative.
Material-Priority-66@reddit
My first retirement job was delivering mfgr vehicles to press/media/influencers. I have driven most of the supercars and a few hypercars. Big HP is fun and easy. But my NA Miata is more fun to drive. The best memory? I got to drive the PopeMobile … it was maybe 75 yards, repositioning it in the warehouse, but I got to drive the PopeMobile.
Naught2day@reddit
The Porsche 930 turbo, also known as the widow maker, had less than 300hp. Starting in '78 they went up in displacement to 3.3 and cracked the 300hp barrier.
nissanfan64@reddit
I had more fun in my 85 horsepower lifted Geo Tracker and 70 horsepower Nissan Pulsar NX than any of the cars I’ve owned since.
I would hardly equate power to fun.
totaltimeontask@reddit
I have an E90 with I think 220hp factory, and it’s a blast. It isn’t gonna win any drag races but it’s a hell of a time in twists and turns, one of the best steering cars I’ve ever driven short of a Miata.
Ok-Measurement-1270@reddit
Let me put it this way, I have 500 HP and it scares me sometimes, 300 is absolutely enough
H0SS_AGAINST@reddit
NA6 Miata had like 115.
Speedymcspeeder@reddit
When i got mine at 165k it was more like maybe 100? Most fun car I've ever driven and I've driven a bunch of exotics and crazy American cars with a few supercars in there. It's a blast to be pedal to the floor and shifting gears only to be finally getting to freeway speed. Those go carts are fun.
Optimal-Buddy6566@reddit
Don’t worry I’m having a good time driving a 172 horsepower 6 speed subaru Outback. Honestly in terms of driving any manual transmission car will feel fun but not necessarily sporty. That being said literally any car with a decent horsepower to weight ratio and a manual will usually be a blast. I wouldn’t recommend an automatic transmission car if an engaging drive is your main concern. Yes they are fast and yes there is definitely still a thrill to them but they cannot quite produce the same feeling.
Lanky_Ad6712@reddit
In 2016 my first new car purchase was a Focus RS. It current has 222k miles, and im not selling...
ButchDeanCA@reddit
Yes, 300hp is awesome. It is said that that isn’t enough to kill you but enough to get you in trouble. Note that any car can kill you so don’t be reckless but it gets the point across.
Engines capable of that power normally sound better and have larger turbos anyway that also sound even better.
Different_Sock_8689@reddit
It depends on the car. Miata only has 181hp but it’s the most fun car ever
East_Yellow8389@reddit
I personally think 2000hp is the fun number. That's what I call a mood stabilizer!
Stubbornslav@reddit
With a stick. Yes. Auto. depends.
BoomGoesTheFirework_@reddit
250 in a sedan is fun as hell. 300 hp is a lot of power but not typically widow maker power if you aren’t stupid.
j-ravy@reddit
Yeah. I have a 650hp stroker jeep srt and 300hp 300S. Yes there’s a major difference but I still have a lot of fun in my 300
RoleCode@reddit
You can have fun in your own way. Some people having fun to drive by not being fast
aWesterner014@reddit
Yes. And it blows my mind that there is a little 2026 Acura Integra with a 4 banger that makes almost as much as my 09 v8 mustang.
MarchCompetitive6235@reddit
All depends on how heavy the car is
_Jakebrake_@reddit
My car has 227hp and it’s quite fast and very fun I love every moment I get behind the wheel.
silcerchord@reddit
My minivan has 260 and is a hoot. My old crv "only" had 160 and that was an absolute riot.
Rare4orm@reddit
Gotta say I really appreciate HP, and torque without transmission trickery.
ExcitingTurn2886@reddit
Real fun in a car is for the track, and real fun comes from the handling and brakes. Horsepower after a certain base level is hugely overrated unless you are actually racing
megaracerx@reddit
S2000 has 250 hp and is the best car of all time.
LoganC1127@reddit
Hell I’m making 175hp in my daily car and it’s a fun car to drive honestly! At 300 you’re definitely gonna feel a difference when you punch it, but do be cautious cause you’re going from a AWD compact SUV to a RWD sports car. If this is your first time going into a 300+hp RWD sports car, take it easy and take your time with getting use to the way your car responds with the throttle and it’s handling characteristics. Once you got a good feel for the car and want to push the limits to see what it’s capable of doing find yourself a racetrack to try on.
Pitiful_Hedgehog6343@reddit
350z will be tons of fun, send it
Waste_Business5180@reddit
My 81 vette was a blast to drive all 190 hp. It would still bark the tires and roar with a proper v8 sound. The best part is you had to really screw up to push past its/your limits. One of these new Mustangs, hellcats or vettes? I guess traction control helps but 400 plus hp is a hell of a lot of power to wield responsibly. 300 hp is a good sweet spot.
SolarWind77@reddit
I drive 275/260 for my fun car and its plenty for the street.
overmonk@reddit
Power to weight is the main thing. 300hp in a small car is a riot. 300hp in a ford explorer is adequate.
kurai-tsuki@reddit
Think about how you'll drive it, not engine power. Even 130 is enough to have fun.
MarionberryOpen7953@reddit
My e46 makes about 300 to the wheels with a supercharger. Very quick, very fun. I think it’s a fantastic power level, I can floor it on the highway and not have to worry about loosing traction
Ashton-MD@reddit
It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
There’s a reason for that.
inphinitfx@reddit
It depends on the rest of the vehicle. 300hp in an oversized tank, is gonna be slow. 300hp in a roadster or hot hatch is fun.
SuspiciousOwl816@reddit
I owned a 2004 STi which pushed 320 to the wheels. It was more than enough, you’ll have fun. Ignore whatever anyone else says, buy what YOU want to enjoy and enjoy it.
YoMamaRacing@reddit
It depends on the car and how heavy it is. I had a 100hp 1972 Mini Cooper and it was an absolute blast but I have a 400hp Silverado that doesn’t do much for me.
Successful_Piano8118@reddit
Yes. 300hp is perfect for anything under 3500lbs For the 3500-4000lb segment, 400hp For the real fat cars, 500hp.
ap2571@reddit
350z is a blast to drive! Have fun!
Rare-Bet-870@reddit
Power to weight is key
Better-Credit6701@reddit
300 hp in a 4,000 pound vehicle, not so much fun.
181 in a 2,400 car equals fun.
Just go ahead and try to reach maximum amount of speed while sliding around a corner is a lot more fun than just stamping on the throttle.
Fun = Miata
Sleep_adict@reddit
My 90hp MG is more fun than my 835hp Rivian
ChimneyNerd@reddit
Mine has 110 and it’s ridiculously fun, speed is not what makes a car fun (at least to me)
Calabeeb@reddit
i spoiled my self with my zl1 1le hci. For me anything under 600whp feels slow. But I do miss the f out of my s197 5.0. Enjoy what you got brotha
Some_How_I_Manage@reddit
Don’t think about just HP, there is a lot more that goes into fun, like handling, weight, rowing gears, and even your sight picture.
200 hp in a clapped out 4k sedan might not be fun, but 200 hp in a 2700 coupe is a blast.
I can tell you what isn’t fun, $1500 tire changes and $500 German oil changes. Driving a slow car fast Is the vibe, it sucks that it takes so long for most to realize that.
PyroMedic1080@reddit
Bro my grom has 9hp and its a hoot.
No_Introduction_9355@reddit
Riding my bike down a hill still makes me smile every time, I am a simple creature
Lewa1110@reddit
I have a 1991 Ford Pickup that has 175 horse and is fun
PoniesPlayingPoker@reddit
I autocross my 90hp shitbox and have a lot of fun
Worth_Reply_6002@reddit
If it’s not you don’t know how to drive. Depends on the weight of said lead sled a little.
dokturdeth@reddit
100%
ActuaryFew6884@reddit
yes; that's about what my Camaro has
xxBrun0xx@reddit
It really depends on what kinds of roads you have access to. If you live in Florida or Texas where every road is straight and flat, you need big power to have fun driving. If you live near windy new England roads or have a California canyon in your back yard, you can have a blast with a lot less power.
There's nothing fun about driving a brz in a straight line or a plaid on a canyon road. Different tools built for different tasks. Got to be honest with yourself about what you're going to use the car for.
Realistic_Fix189@reddit
Had an 06 g35 coupe you gone love it man
Interesting-Yellow25@reddit
I have a 2014 Audi S4 in the 300hp neighborhood. It's a helluva lot of fun ripping around thr mountain roads of western Virginia / West Virginia. Supercharged 3.0L combined with AWD & 6-speed manual is a very fun combination.
xredfrostgames@reddit
my car is 42hp!
Kip-ft@reddit
Well I bought a 90 Integra, in part because it makes like 100hp at the wheels.
Just-Evidence-5349@reddit
Also to further add, my daily is a 7.3 PSD, (comes in at about 7600 lbs) my butt dyno says it’s about 300 wheel, and about 650 ish foot pounds of torque with my turbo, tuner, and injectors. And I get up to plenty of fun with it. It’ll light the tires when I want it to, it’ll load up the turbo real good if I mash it in 3rd on the highway, feels like freight train pulling
sir_thatguy@reddit
I had a shitload of fun in a 56 hp CRX.
I also had a ton of fun in a G35 coupe, likely the same engine as that 350Z but a couple hundred ponds heavier car.
bandit1206@reddit
Yes, unless you’re driving a barge.
Wigberht_Eadweard@reddit
Honestly if it’s got torque to match, a barge can be extremely fun at 300hp or even less—see the Buick roadmaster and impala ss of the 90s
bandit1206@reddit
Not what I had in mind when I said a barge.
Think 70’s Cadillac.
Wigberht_Eadweard@reddit
A downvote for that is crazy man but ok. The over 18 ft long and over 6.5 ft wide station wagon is absolutely a barge…
bandit1206@reddit
I guess they were closer in size than I thought. Those 90’s cars just always seemed smaller than the true 70’s land yachts.
DickWhittingtonsCat@reddit
A lot of them were but the Road Master and earlier Park Avenues were bigger than an LTD or Caprice
IntheOlympicMTs@reddit
Fun fact that really shows how much bloat has happened to cars in the last 35 years. A new challenger can weight up to 4400 pounds, mustang and camaro up to 3900. While a 92 roadmaster wagon tips the scales at 4500 pounds.
IOI-65536@reddit
like an NC?
bandit1206@reddit
NC? I’m not familiar with that brand/model
IOI-65536@reddit
I'm surprised I haven't gotten some other Miata owner responding in 7 minutes. It's a the Miata designation for 2006-2015 models and there are frequent jokes in Miata communities about it being a boat because it's like 1" higher and \~200-300lbs heavier than other years.
bandit1206@reddit
Gotcha, I don’t fit in Miatas so I’ve never really followed them.
I guess I kinda fit, but looking over the windshield in a convertible isn’t a very fun feeling.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
barge?
IntheOlympicMTs@reddit
A large unpowered ship that’s used to haul cargo. Has to be pushed or pulled. Very heavy and slow.
BLINGMW@reddit
Like a 3200-3400 lb car
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
ahhh haha
AKentPhoto@reddit
Having fun is a state of mind... Get after it. 350z is a great platform to learn how to drive. Do some autoX to get started if you want to learn how to drive fast safely. Knowing how your car handles at the limit will help you not exceed it on the road when you don't intend to.
Tenos_Jar@reddit
As I've gotten older I've learned that there's more to having fun in a vehicle than HP. What matters to me is torque and handling.
I've had more fun at 30-40 mph on a mountain road than I ever had on a wide open interstate.
NuclearHateLizard@reddit
Absolutely. Weight of the car makes a big difference too. Some of those cars mentioned are chonkers, literally in excess of double the weight of some sports cars
Just-Evidence-5349@reddit
300 is about double what your average econo box is. Social media has made anything less than 700 seem “useless” or “slow” but try telling me that in a solid 450 N/A LS build in sub 2500 lb frame. So yes, 300 is fine man, don’t let the social media HP bloat convince you need to do a full VQ build because it won’t keep up with guys who have more money then brains, also please for the love of god don’t put an exhaust on that, we don’t need more trumpets.
badhoopty@reddit
i got a 98 ls1 firebird ws6 with 340hp and its a goddamn hoot.
i couldnt care less how fast it is compared to somebody elses car. theres ALWAYS gonna be somebody faster and straight line racing from a dig or roll just aint my thing anyway.
midri@reddit
Another thing to consider is HP at what rpm? If you're not wrapping out an engine that redlines at 7000+ you're likely not getting peek HP.
grumpy0282@reddit
lol depends on the fun youre looking for
i have about 650, i want more
Few-Bear-7510@reddit
Miata
puddinface808@reddit
My first car was a 5-speed 1995 Nissan 200SX making 115hp on a good day. To this day the most fun car I've ever owned and it's not even close.
SouthernDrama4895@reddit
no
damion366@reddit
It depends on the car 300 in a 76 Lincoln is alot different from 300 in a miata
smkn3kgt@reddit
My second car was a base model 1994 3000GT.. 222 HP on a good day. It was so much fun to drive
SecureImagination537@reddit
Everyday of my life I wish that I had my 1996 Nissan 200SX. It was like 145 horsepower, but it was so fun and easy to drive.
One-Bodybuilder309@reddit
My old Alfa is barely over 100 horses and it’s crazy fun to drive
DrunkProntoPup@reddit
In a CRX, yes, in a hatch probably, in a sedan, i suppose, in a CRV, sure
___GRUMPY___@reddit
We had a 1977 Triumph Spitfire. I believe it only had 85hp. It was a blast to drive with the top down. It felt like driving a go kart down the street.
Drunken_Sailor_70@reddit
Ive had a few spitfires. It was more like 50 or 60 horsepower, but plenty of torque, especially in the 1500s.
C0smic_Cunt@reddit
My BMW came stock with 240, with a sport plus tune it puts out closer to 260-70 depending on conditions and what mode I'm in. It's more than enough to have fun, especially if you live in a place that's mostly back roads
Active_Scholar_2154@reddit
My 2003 mini cooper makes less than 200 hp and is fun.
Mazda Miatas makes less than 191 hp
Spyderbeast@reddit
Yes
I have a Subaru BRZ, and it's only 228hp but it's still fun. I was surprised, because I have had faster cars in the past. And it's awesome driving a stick again
Chessdaddy_@reddit
More about the car than horsepower. My Highlander has more horsepower than my e46 but that dosent mean the Highlander is more fun
chris77982@reddit
My bmw 335 was fun when stock, 320hp. It's even funner now at 400.
Bug_406@reddit
Had an 02 camaro z28 6 speed, was something like ~325 hp, and it was always fun when I wanted it, and is plenty enough to get stupid with. 380 hp in my truck now, but it weighs 9k, so not the same fun.
eoan_an@reddit
Depends on how you get fun.
People looking at you? Maybe.
Driving in straight lines? Definitely.
Taking on windy mountain roads? 100hp plenty. I had so much fun in my 84hp 323. Even took on and passed a 460cc V8. In his defence, it was an empty van he was driving. Never stood a chance.
mattkime@reddit
It’s different for everyone. That said, I wonder where people drive that much more than 300hp (in a regular car) has any utility.
00goop@reddit
6.5 is enough to have fun on a go kart.
Live_Lychee_4163@reddit
Yes
AgitatedHat5620@reddit
300hp can be more fun than 600hp. What’s the fun in not being able to floor your car
DELTA_TSA@reddit
I went from an RX-8 to a 335i to an M3. Definitely had the most fun in my clapped RX-8 racing other slow cars, M3 is only fun with other BMWs or American V8s. HP doesn’t matter, it’s how you feel driving the car.
Zhombe@reddit
Pull, Dig, and Nissan in the same sentence.
I foresee a bumper less; curbed, how much to fix this? Reddit post after rearranging the drivetrain around unmovable objects.
It starts with a stupid useless hot air intake ruining the engine and shitty tires on cheap bling bling wheels and ends in OP sadness and Reddit predictable laughs.
HopeSuitable669@reddit
Manual transmission is gonna be the most fun regardless of hp.
dmv1985@reddit
dude 80 hp is enough to have fun. my motor cycle had 30, pure joy. my 1973 MG B has 79hp and 94ft/lb of torque. its the most fun car I have ever driven. dude jist wide open pinned through the twisties.... not even over the speed limit but it feels like 1millon miles an hour
mundotaku@reddit
My car doesn't even have 200hp and 8s fun as heck.
Brilliant-Nebula903@reddit
It's more to do with how the car feels. My favorite fun car I've had was a Peugeot 106GTi with 120bhp. But it was light and handled so sweet. It had lift off oversteer that was controllable (on a track). I've had way faster cars since with way more power, more grip, better brakes etc but it's a balance of it all.
RocketDog2001@reddit
Hp to mass ratio + gear ratio = Fun quotient - 1% per door.
1995LexusLS400@reddit
The most fun I’ve ever had in a car was with a 60hp Ford Ka.
Get a shitbox you don’t care about and find good roads. Straight line pulls gets boring incredibly quickly.
Cptn_Flint0@reddit
Dudes with 500hp mustangs wouldn't even know what to do with the power if they put their foot down. 300 is perfect you can crank it and control it
Eric20255@reddit
My first car, a 2010 Camry , had about 175. It was fun to drive on curvy roads but slow on the highway. Same goes for my 2012 Camry. Then I upgraded to Lexus IS 300. F-sport that pushes 270hp. It feels fast to me.
Successful_Ad_9707@reddit
My daily has 300 hp, and it's tons of fun. Hell, even my 142hp Integra is still fun lol
ConsistentMove357@reddit
My 1990 mustang GT would do 144mph I had a lot of fun in it
Never_mind_honey@reddit
How times change, my new Miata is faster than my 92 5.0 mustang in all aspects except top speed lol
Cheepshooter@reddit
With a manual transmission? Absolutely. I have a 305 hp Mustang and a 90 HP VW. Both fun.
ShatterProofDick@reddit
Say it with me folks.
Strength to weight ratio!
300hp in a 4 thousand pound pig of a car will be kinda meh.
300 hp in a 2 thousand pound car is fuckin quick.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
yup id like to include bikes as an example. those bike come out to like 70 hp and they are quick. its cause they are so light.
ShatterProofDick@reddit
All day. My 100 hp Honda 919 i bought for 3 grand will do 0-60 faster than a 90k sports car.
shrekerecker97@reddit
Hell 180 can be enough if you do it right
scoville27@reddit
Power to weight ratio!
I had a shitbox 2000 mustang gt, never got close to 300hp and it was fun af! Sliding all day, everyday!
ringRunners@reddit
I remember a time when I was willing to maker a deal with the devil to have a 300hp car...
_Sammy7_@reddit
It depends on a lot of other factors, but 300 puts you in 930 territory.
margosobet@reddit
i would say no. once you experience 400-500-600 its hard to go back.
acejavelin69@reddit
There is an old saying "If you need more than 100 horsepower to drift, you're doing it wrong"
idontevenlikespam@reddit
In a charger no. In a gutted 90s civic yeah.
BrokePorscheSnob@reddit
300 hp in something RWD and as small as the Z is plenty enough to have fun. It’s also enough to get in some serious trouble and really hurt yourself or others, so make good choices. Be careful getting on the throttle in corners, study how a rear wheel drive car behaves in various conditions, and go do donuts in a parking lot if you get a little snow so you can practice regaining control of the car. I say this assuming you’re young and don’t have experience with rear wheel drive cars. Enjoy the car and be smart. I had a G37 coupe and loved it.
pflau@reddit
it is not power. it is power-to-weight ratio.
cvert09@reddit
My wrx has like 270, more like 200 if the A/C is on but always puts a smile on my face every drive
iAmAsword@reddit
A 300whp 350z sounds fun especially a mountain pass. Straight line acceleration? Meh, but that shit boring anyway.
JONOV@reddit
Bro, I can have fun in a golf cart or a cheap side by side. Fun is relative.
Final_TV@reddit
300hp if your car is light. 400 if on the heavier side IMO
Public-World-1328@reddit
A few years ago i got rear ended and my crv was totalled. The only car available at the rental place was a bone stock, 6 cylinder, automatic, bright red dodge challenger. Dont know how many HP it made but my god, that thing was fun as all get out. I didnt understand car fun all that well, but i immediately got it and the thing was not all that special in the grand scheme of things. With only a little extra gas i could spin the back wheels at a light. 300 hp will tivkle you.
InsaneEngineer@reddit
Much more fun to drive a slow car as fast as it can go rather than barely push your fast car. I have a first gen Miata. I keep it floored all the time and it can take corners and turns better than any other car affordable car I've driven.
funktonik@reddit
If you have to ask, 300hp is too much for you.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
thats what i like to hear. that tells me i have more to learn when it comes to driving to the cars full potential and i am all here for it. safely of course or as safe as possible
funktonik@reddit
Great mind set!
External-Age7446@reddit
Yes my car has 250hp 320 torque and plenty of fun
fuzzycuffs@reddit
Fun is subjective. People have fun in Miatas
Prestigious-Hyena-72@reddit
I think it depends on the weight. My stock Accord with a tune was just about 300. With the tiny turbo and paddles it was fun, not I’m FBO and big turbo and it’s fun af lol
ItzyaboiElite@reddit
Kei trucks have 50 hp, and are so fun to drive
mikeyramos@reddit
My 04 accord coupe v6 6mt had 240 hp and it was a blast. So yeah. 300 is fun.
chodeobaggins@reddit
My first "sporty" car had 180hp and it felt like a rocket ship. Even my overweight f150 is quite fun with 415hp.
SeminoleVictory@reddit
It depends on the weight of the car
jmvxc@reddit
I have a 340hp sedan and it’s definitely enough to have fun can definitely get you in trouble too.
sim-o@reddit
Depends how you drive it
Ok_Explanation1697@reddit
Probably the most actual fun I've had in a car was a 5 speed Mitsubishi Mirage. Driving slow cars fast is more fun than driving fast cars slow.
lunchbox651@reddit
Not much is more fun than driving a slow car fast.
300HP isn't slow though, thats roughly Porsche 928, C4 Corvette etc power.
If the car is light enough it's a ton of power. My old Golf GTI put 320ish to the wheels and it was too much for a lot of the city driving I was doing.
Ever notice how people love stuff like the AE86, BRZ, Miata/MX5, etc? None of them make 300 without modifying but they are all a brilliant driving experience.
DELAZ1@reddit
Its all about weight. 15HP go-karts are a blast to drive
Civil-Departure-512@reddit
A little over 300hp seems to be the sweet spot for most vehicles. I’ve got 333hp in my Q7 and it’s a lot of fun to drive
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
awesome thank you!
ads1031@reddit
And I've got 335 hp in my i4, which weighs approximately 4,700 pounds. It's fun.
...although, the Miata is more fun, and it only has 130 hp... But it also weighs less than half as much.
foolproofphilosophy@reddit
My X3 35i had 320 and was almost as fast straight line as an e46 M3. It’s something like 4.8 v 5.3 seconds.
No-Magician6232@reddit
sir, go carts run on like 5hp engines and are a blast.
TheBarnard@reddit
I had fun in my manual VW golf w/ 170hp
Big-Web-483@reddit
Like the Frieburger says: It's way more fun going fast in a slow car than going slow in a fast car!!!
UndertheRottedFlesh@reddit
My Honda Fit puts out 117hp bro and it’s very fun
idownvoteanimalpics@reddit
Alh tdi enters le chat
Maddad_666@reddit
Depends on the car. My 230hp BMW is way more fun than my 400hp RAM.
ChivalryMaxximus@reddit
Depends on the weight. In a 2200 lb car? Hell yes. In a 3000lb car? Not too shabby. In a 4000lb car? Meh
Comfortable-Shoe9543@reddit
Herby had tons of fun and a beetle bug has what like 80hp?
MaddieBre@reddit
I have the most fun in my 95hp geo tracker.
Pure_Squirrel_1621@reddit
To me? Not really. I like tire melting power and torque at virtually any legal speed.
Fight_those_bastards@reddit
Realistically, 300HP is more than enough to go to jail. 600+ HP is fun, but ultimately next to useless on public roads. You’re going triple digits in seconds.
m0dern_baseBall@reddit
I’m at 280hp and a 5.4 second 0-60 with a zf8, I think it’s fun
shart-tank69@reddit
Having a low hp car but being able to actually drive it at its limit is better then having 500hp and never using the whole pedal
ethereal_twin@reddit
Any car is fun to drive if you know how to! 300hp is plenty, especially if the power to weight ratio is right.
ztcsdtx@reddit
I had a 2007 G35 Coupe, which just a 350Z with back seats. The VQ35DE RevUp in mine was 293 stock, but I was making about 330 with mods. Incredibly fun cars. Mine had the VLSD, and it was almost impossible to break loose, even on turns, so I could almost floor it on big sweeping turns. The engine is mounted further back to improve handling. You'll have plenty of fun.
noladutch@reddit
It all depends on you man.
In another thread was talking about Datsun 510s. They weighed nothing with about 100 hp and four wheel independent suspension.
Great great fun cars. Having fun is about turn in and long pulls in curvy roads between shifts.
Slow car fast is a real thing
It is a real thing that also helps you not get written tickets all the time..
Lots of slow but fun as hell cars.
If you ever get the chance to drive a real vintage lotus do it. I have had an elan s2 and an elan +2.
The s2 weighed 1400 pounds and 105 hp. It was a hoot and a half. You just giggle the whole time driving that thing.
Horsepower is not the whole answer to fun sometimes. It is just easy now to have it.
When I got married sold the lotus stuff. Kinda dangerous but super super fun.
KyOatey@reddit
I can attest that 113 hp, and even quite a bit less is enough to have fun.
nulsec123@reddit
Didn’t know what fun was until I upgraded my 320 whp sti to a Camaro zl1 1le. Sure 300hp gave me a rush on the mountain roads but when I finally felt what 500+ felt like it made it 300 feel like a regular car.
shambahlah2@reddit
I love my V8 6sp Manual with 300hp. Its all about the car too.
jsaranczak@reddit
Ahh to be young and dumb haha
ForcefulUnicorn@reddit
300 wheel or 300 crank? Either way, coming from a CRV you'll definitely notice more acceleration. The issue with horsepower and straight-line speed is that you eventually become used to it, and you'll continue to chase that adrenaline rush until the car becomes unsafe to push on public roads. The other issue is that you may end up comparing your car to other cars when you drag race, and nowadays EVERYTHING is fast; it's kind of dumb how quick the average car is. So your 300hp sports car may lose to higher-end/higher-trim economy cars that are currently in production. You just have to try to not let that bother you, because a Z is a fun car to zip around in. Main piece of advice I have for you, though, is to learn how to drive a RWD vehicle without killing yourself or other people-- too much throttle around a corner that may have some dirt, gravel, or even on a completely dry but worn out road, will kick the ass end out. It's a concern even in a straight line. Try to learn how to respond to that without panicking (easier said than done).
The saying "driving a slow car fast is better than driving a fast car slow" is pretty true most of the time. If you only plan on driving on public streets, then yeah I wouldn't push crazy HP numbers because it becomes more dangerous. 300hp is a nice spot. BUT if you plan on going to tracks, obviously more horsepower will be okay to chase.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
"The other issue is that you may end up comparing your car to other cars when you drag race" my friend this is exactly why i made this post hah. I do not care for racing people on the street. I. DO. NOT. CARE. i only care about having fun with me and my future z. sliding in the rain and a little on clear days. doing the occaisonal pull yk? enjoying my first manual car. not racing others who just have money. idc about racing randoms.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
also im very well aware what rwd is hah. not attacking you btw! i realized that people in this comment section dont know what i know i know about cars and drifting and rwd. trust me i know hah!
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
i know how to counter steer. i say that with 168 hours of sim drifting on assetto corsa btw so take that as you will hah!
Chainsawsas70@reddit
200 HP Fiesta ST... Tons of fun, decent mpg (35 ish) and because it's a 4 door hatchback it's also great for being able to haul stuff or people. If you Really wanted more you can add an additional 150 HP with some mods and tune.
woodenmetalman@reddit
My ioniq5 has over that, is incredibly fun and is less than a nickel/mile to operate
thestrongbeach@reddit
Look at more than HP.
For the ‘rush’ feeling, torque is the more important number. You know that sensation of being pushed back into your seat? That, friend, is torque, not horses.
Also, turbocharging vs. natural aspiration makes a noticeable difference (mostly because turbocharging motors generally adds more torque).
UmatterWHENiMATTER@reddit
I didn't read his history... I'd go for it if the price is right... bearing is just a few bolts to swap. That said, I'd torque it all to spec once finished. Not everyone has my work/life history, so diy like that can be dangerous.
thestrongbeach@reddit
Yeah. I’m just wondering, if it’s an easy fix, why the seller wouldn’t take care of it before the sale. I’d worry that there might be more going on than just a sensor and a wheel bearing.
UmatterWHENiMATTER@reddit
Oh yeah. I just looked it up and they come with the same engine that's in my G35!
MAJOR POTENTIAL ISSUES IF THE GALLY GASKETS ARE LEAKING
Other than that, the VQ35HR is a fantastic platform. Sensitive to overheating and burt oil because of it. Great torque and 300ish to the wheels. Takes boost well with just fuel and tune.
The older version, the VQ35DE had much worse versions of the same problems and only had 1 intake which somewhat limited it's stock power.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
it already sold hah. before i realized it sold i came to my senses and realized its not a good idea so i let it go.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
response to your edit: luckly for me it was sold already. i realized that it wouldve been smarter to keep searching. also i gave the false mileage. the z i was referencing in that post had 178k so even worse hah. but the one im looking at now has 112k and the seller has no issues listed with the car mechanically. i even asked him directly and he said car has no issues except the hood front fenders and front bumper are black while the rest of the car is silver. which i dont care about because i would wrap the car or repaint it anyway so yeah.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
yes! i know torque is what pulls you back. its what makes you swallow your gum. im getting a 350z in the future and im hella excited. it will be my first manual and car with some ok/decent power. ive been preparing skill wise and wealth wise
PoopScootnBoogey@reddit
Fun begins at 797 hp
blackfarms@reddit
300 Horse in a 3000lb car is a 12 second ride in the quarter. Enough to scare you on the street.
GraphicWombat@reddit
It’s all relative.
I went from 126hp to 305hp. Two completely different cars. 2008 matrix vs 2025 rav4 phev. I’m not romping on it at all though.
CucumberWest9394@reddit
Any vehicle can be fun if you want it to be.
berg450@reddit
The 350z is a fantastic car. Enjoy it and don’t worry about hp!
Uzi_Jesus_@reddit
Bro I have fun with 130hp. I drive slow car fast.
Gloomy_Wolverine_491@reddit
My boi only has 181hp but it's super fun as a daily. 34mpg too
Firedoge723@reddit
my buddy just purchased a 2004 manual 350z after going through his 2004 honda crv so he is right there with you
he loves it to say the least
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
awesome hah im sure ill be head over heels hah!
Meguwubie@reddit
Call me crazy but I managed to have fun with 55 peak hp in a 1.6 4cyl non turbo diesel 5 speed 80's Jetta. Even managed to chirp into 2nd gear a few perfect times. That thing always made me smile. Would absolutely have one again. Good luck.
July_is_cool@reddit
Depends which class you're racing in
Mysterious_Ad_1085@reddit
I loved driving my Mazda 2 stick. It was only 100 hp but dang it cornered.
KJ_Blair@reddit
Jimmy’s have like 130hp and are amazingly fun
SucculentDoorway@reddit
Going from any crossover/suv to a sedan/coupe is the fun part.
Intrepidatious@reddit
I’ve owned 40+ cars and only 2-3 have had over 300hp. Plenty were very fun.
atkinsonda1@reddit
I have maybe 150hp in a 84 celica (22re with a bunch of mods and tuning) that is a blast. My option is if you can't have fun with 5hp then you will always be chasing that "fun" that probably doesn't exist for you.
Last_Ear_1639@reddit
yes. I have a ton of fun in my T6 Volvo with 306hp in fwd.
Equal-Cantaloupe-707@reddit
My current tune profile (flex fuel) is sitting at 440hp in a 6MT VW GTI. This is stage 3, big turbo. It was fun at stage 2, but took a bit to learn how to handle it. There is a weight-power ratio that matters, I’m not sure how I’d feel at 5 or 600hp
RideShinyAndChrome@reddit
Dude, 300hp in pretty much anything less than 1500kg will be a blast to drive if the chassis is also made to be engaging. Hp means sweet fuckall to fun, and can even be a detriment in the higher numbers
GlitteringPen3949@reddit
All depends. A 300hp Suburban is meh. A 300hp Miata is a Supercar. It’s all about power to weight ratios. Gear ratios and aerodynamics can affect the performance too.
hustlegone@reddit
Depends on your car. I have an impala as one of my cars. It is a 19 premier. It honestly sucks ass to me. Not enough to have fun. Thinking of looking for like a fun project car for like 20k or lower that will be easy to mod and upgrade.
Ballamookieofficial@reddit
Absolutely!
myredditlogintoo@reddit
I had fun autocrossing a Sienna and beating much faster cars.
Echo-RS@reddit
I’ve owned a lot of different cars from 100-450ish HP, and I have to say most of the time the fun ones are the low to low-mid horsepower cars.
WebNo81@reddit
What do you mean by “rush”?
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
adrenaline. the sense of damn this thing has a little bit of go to it yk?
WebNo81@reddit
Gotcha. Imo 200-300 is good enough. I had my share of rush with my 258 hp Acura TL v6 when I had it.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
awesome. I currently daily a 02 crv with 187 hp awd. and my next car is a 350z so 280-300 ish hp yk?
WebNo81@reddit
Oh yeah youre gonna feel that rush for sure. My current is a ‘25 Elantra with 147 hp but the occasional sport mode is my consolation prize yk
Particular_Abroad_88@reddit
70hp in a 90’s turbo firefly was fun. It also helped that it was a manual and you could drive flat out a lot of the time. One of my favourite quote is “it is more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow” a car that doesn’t have 1000hp won’t get you much attention at the local cars and coffee or Instagram but who cares it’s your car if it brings you joy that’s all that matters don’t chase the clout.
TactualTransAm@reddit
The most fun I've EVER had was on a 250 Honda rebel. They had like what 20 horsepower? The second most fun was on one of those 50cc liquor scooters. Then I had a Chevy cavalier with the 2.2 ohv. I beat the absolute crap out of that thing. Had a blast. You can have fun in any vehicle.
SpankyDammit@reddit
My Suby has 300 at the wheels and it’s a blast! If I ever get it tuned properly it’ll be 400 but I’m not in a hurry, it’s enough to get in trouble 😎
Zestyclose_Paint3922@reddit
1980s Porsches were 180 hp.
BuyLandcruiser@reddit
I can drift most things with 200-300 hp. 300hp fwd is fun too
Dunoh2828@reddit
My Audi S3 is 299hp, and it’s plenty of fun. Loads of speed too.
All depends on how the car uses what HP it has.
sempai-chan310@reddit
If it’s manual transmission, it’ll be fun
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
obviously I'm getting a manual ha. A 350z is the new 300 ish hp car in question btw! i cant bare my awd auto 02 crv after i drove a manual for the first time. i know that the z being manual alone will be hella fun. id rather have a 70 hp manual then a 300 hp auto.
Monster51915@reddit
Mine has 182 and I have a ton of fun. People need to understand that it’s not all just about the number, it’s about how the car puts the power out and what it can do. Like if you want to drift and drag race then don’t ask me but if you want to have any fun normally you don’t need a ton.
FaluninumAlcon@reddit
Depends on the weight of the vehicle.
insoul8@reddit
Absolutely. I remember when the e46 M3 didn’t have much more than 300hp. Talk about fun car.
adamisapple@reddit
Power doesn’t matter as much as how the car uses it and how it is set up for fun.
Severe_Raise_7118@reddit
Slow car fast or fast car slow
I think 200-300 is the sweet spot for daily driving and roads.
ber808@reddit
I started with a ka24de 240sx making 155 hp stock and that was fun af drifting but when i built the motor and boosted it i was making 350ish whp and that was fun on a different level. That 350ish whp was far more fun than the 400ish wheel im making with my 05 gto but thats also 600lbs or so weight difference. I drove a friends miata and hitting mountains was super fun and that had maybe 150 whp. Its all dependent on what you are doing.
Repulsive_Machine933@reddit (OP)
I plan to do the occaisonal pull and and some simple sliding with transfers maybe. throw in the some roundabouts. maybe comepletely empty parking lots. im big into drifting if you havent picked up on that hah. and i know that 300 is perfect for drifting. great sweet spot
ber808@reddit
I started drifting in 2006 lol im old now but still drift on occasion but my gto isnt that great for it haha for me the sweet spot is 500-600. You can have a ton of fun with less but you need more speed and thats harder and more dangerous. A few of my friends has 350z and they always ended up boosting them and its a far better experience.
PlasticSpend3462@reddit
yes!
Carrera_996@reddit
My car makes right at 300. It's very fun to drive and quite zippy.
BelongingsintheYard@reddit
I have a lot of fun with 130hp
ajaxp0wder@reddit
The most fun cars are between 300-500 whp, manual with minimal driving aids.
You will have a blast
muphasta@reddit
My 250(about) HP Focus ST is a ton of fun.
dselogeni@reddit
It also depends on the weight of the vehicle trying to move. 300 hp in a miata is a helluva lot different than 300 hp in a heavy car
natedogjulian@reddit
A mild tune on my f350 diesel is pushing 600 hp. It’s pretty fun 🤩
Couchfar@reddit
you can have fun with literally 1/3 of that.