Are cars getting too powerful?

[Dirty_Zulu]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

In the '60s and '70s, cars were underrated anyway so people wouldn't be killed by insurance costs. And a Superbird would destroy those cars you mentioned above. I don't think you realize just how fast those cars were. Although, by 440 , I'm assuming he meant the engine, which certainly wasn't as powerful as the 426.

I don't think it's fair to compare the top muscle cars of it's time vs the average Joe's modern sedans which are the point of this thread. To have nearly 300HP on a daily commuting sedan is my point.

Now if you just want to throw everything in, someone already mentioned above the more insane cars that are a notch above the daily driver sedans: Cadillac CTS-V, Pontiac G8, Chryslter 300 SRT8, M5's, Benz CLk's, Gs-460, etc... All these would blow the best muscle cars away.

The 440 6packs, 428 Hemis, and 427 cobras were top engines of it's time. It's like having a modern SRT or AMG tuned engines in premium sedans.

Most muscle cars are slow. The Cadillacs, Olds Cutless, most Mustangs, Torinos, etc.. all slow pokes. Then you get a few gems that are worth collecting.

 

[Stoutwood]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

I don't think it's fair to compare the top muscle cars of it's time vs the average Joe's modern sedans which are the point of this thread. To have nearly 300HP on a daily commuting sedan is my point.

You were the one comparing them. I wasn't trying to assert that a bunch of sedans were faster.

Now if you just want to throw everything in, someone already mentioned above the more insane cars that are a notch above the daily driver sedans: Cadillac CTS-V, Pontiac G8, Chryslter 300 SRT8, M5's, Benz CLk's, Gs-460, etc... All these would blow the best muscle cars away.

I would certainly hope so. There have been 40 years of improvement in engineering.

 

[KillerAim]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

Stoutwood:

Although, by 440 , I'm assuming he meant the engine, which certainly wasn't as powerful as the 426.

You're right. My bad. Although the 426 Hemi version wasn't that much faster.

- - -

Dirty_Zulu:

The 440 6packs, 428 Hemis, and 427 cobras were top engines of it's time. It's like having a modern SRT or AMG tuned engines in premium sedans.

But the original muscle cars were low cost, easily affordable cars. Certainly, they weren't your average family car, but they were in the price range of many young males. The whole goal of Plymouth was to build a car that could do a 14 second quarter mile for less than $3,000. The Road Runner fit the bill.

 

[Dirty_Zulu]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

You were the one comparing them. I wasn't trying to assert that a bunch of sedans were faster..

No--you did.

And a Superbird would destroy those cars you mentioned above

 

[Stoutwood]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

No--you did.

In response to your assertation:

Yes---I've had muscle cars, they can spin tires, gives out lots of smokes, loud, but aren't faster than the family sedans I've mentioned above.

Which I assumed was referring to the Superbird that Killeraim mentioned, since it was in response to his post.

 

[BobCox2]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

But the original muscle cars were low cost, easily affordable cars. Certainly, they weren't your average family car, but they were in the price range of many young males. The whole goal of Plymouth was to build a car that could do a 14 second quarter mile for less than $3,000. The Road Runner fit the bill.

I grew up and learned to drive on my parents cars, Mom had a Ford Fair-lane and and a Toyota station wagon, Dad had a Plymouth Barracuda (V8 Special Edition with the wrap around rear window High amount of low end-torc speed and fast off the line back then,first beat down off the line 1/4 was a KHZ-1000 Motor-cycle) and a Road Runner the Gold pre-super-bird 440 HP. The feel is very different from todays hot rods.

Buddy had Iroc with Nitro and we used it.

But it was all empty new roads and less dense back then.

 

[pancakeman]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

The new Ford Taurus SHO

Thanks, it was killing me trying to think of it. I could have sworn they retired the Taurus, but I guess they're bringing it back or something.

I was trying to articulate what Magi said about weight, but I eventually gave up and went to bed. So, what he said. I'd much rather have, say, my M30 with it's dinky 186 horses than a lumbering Chrysler 300 with however much it has. (300?) This sort of doesn't work for the CTS though, that thing is sweet on a track.

 

[BobCox2]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

Nice car .

 

[Stoutwood]

Re: Are cars getting too powerful?

I never thought I would think a Taurus looked good.