World's Most Powerful V8?

[Gumby]

Seriously, for the money of a GT500 or an SRT, you could have 2, or maybe 3 old muscle cars, nicely done. Or 2 old muscle cars and a badass 69 C Body convertible for a lux-o-barge. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Really, realistically, what the hell are you going to do with all that horsepower? Drive it around on the street? Auto Cross it? You can only go so fast on the interstate or highway, before you start getting speeding tickets or tickets for DWHUA. When I had my Grand National, I had a cop tell me he should give me a ticket for DWHUA. I asked him, What's that? He replied "Driving with your head up your ass" As much as I like all the cool stuff coming out right now. It isn't feasible. It isn't practical. It isn't useful, and I sure as heck can't afford the car, the taxes or the insurance. These are rich boy toys only. Give me a couple of old muscle cars that outclass these things, and are user friendly and relatively cheap to work on price comparison wise ANYDAY. Kudo's to you if you have the bankroll to pull off having one of these cars, - but they aren't for the average joe. What ever happened to the bare bones stripped down Road Runner that any one could afford, work on, and enjoy? It's all a pissing match anymore of old farts that have expendable income. Or young sizzlers that make more money than God, and don't have the brains to realize how stupid they look when their 700 HP car is on the nightly news for getting out of control and injuring or killing regular civilians because they never had fun, fast cars when they were kids and learned how to drive them growing up. I hate to be a wet blanket, but these cars might be a little more appealing if they were $27 to $30 gees so the average joe could enjoy them as well. My GN was only $17 thousand. Wages haven't kept up with car price increases. Or car repair prices. At least mine haven't. I don't drive a car because its feasible, practical or useful, (except for my Suburban) but I don't have the money to toss around for the new stuff either. I'm sure not going to buy a car that costs more than my house and requires higher maintenence fees and insurance to own and work on. Where is the fun in that?

[Gumby]

Just an example, there is a buddy at work that bought a new Camaro. Like $48,000 or something. That, to me, is the definition of pure insanity. That's just effing stupid. And not because it wasn't a Mopar. (actually, he talked his real good buddy into buying one also, so there are 2 of them) Maybe I'm getting old and whiney.

[hpe600rt]

if you want to play you have to pay,i have over 100k in my hennessey

[73Chally]

So what's the point of 600+HP in anything other than a race car?  I guess if you have a small peter...................I just don't see any need for anything more than a 5.7 RT 6 speed for around $35K.

[Ornamental]

So what's the point of 600+HP in anything other than a race car?  I guess if you have a small peter...................I just don't see any need for anything more than a 5.7 RT 6 speed for around $35K.

Small peter?  
FFS...

So what's the point of having 375hp in anything other than a commercial truck?
If needs are dictating, then do you really need anything more than a 1.4 160hp Dodge Dart?
Nobody needs a big comfy car that can go from 0 to 60mph in 5.7 seconds. What's the point of having that, really?
Sure, you can want one, and if you can afford it, why not get one? It's not about need for it, or other people being able to see the point in that.
The very same applies to a 600+hp car.

In fact, I say screw other people, and their sanctimonious opinions about other peoples cars. Especially those involving speculations about the sizes of other peoples genitalia being inversely proportionate to the engine output. Because in that way lies moonbat arguments that anything being remotely phallos shaped must be a display of male insecurity, male suppression of the females, or whatnot.
Bollocks to that.
Pedal to the metal! 

[kissalien]

So what's the point of 600+HP in anything other than a race car?  I guess if you have a small peter...................I just don't see any need for anything more than a 5.7 RT 6 speed for around $35K.

Slower traffic keep right.

[hpe600rt]

well for me i got to car shows every weekend hear in detroit mich and people drive some bad azz cars all the time like 8 second fast.so i like to have a cool car not something every one else has.and something i like a normal challenger woundt get a second look around hear.they are all over.you can see a guy pull up in a 426 hemi or alot of 440 6 pack cars all the time.i have even seen a 440 86 dodge daytona rear wheel drive and a 8 second 90s dusteralot of mustangs around hear runing 9s or 10s all day so it is just nice not to be let behind lol

[ViperMan]

What ever happened to the bare bones stripped down Road Runner that any one could afford, work on, and enjoy?

2012 Ford Focus - 160 hp - $16,500 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 16.4 seconds


2012 Honda Civic SI Coupe - 201 hp - $22,000 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 14.7 seconds


2012 Mazda MX-5 - 167 hp - $22,500 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 14.9 seconds

Here you are - your modern day "sports coupes."  This is where they went.  To compare, here is a 1968 Road Runner:


1968 Roadrunner - 335 hp - sub-$3000 price - Calculating inflation to 2012 - $19,775 - according to http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm
1/4 Mile Time: 13.5 seconds

Be sure to analyze those numbers really well - the Roadrunner has 160% the power of the Civic's engine, and only makes it down the track a second faster...

As to WHY all this happened?  -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis

There's also technology, a huge demand for safety as people got more lazy and more distracted at the wheel.  The need for standards affected things too, and of course fuel economy, pollution control, etc...  This didn't happen overnight - it's been just shy of 40 years, people.

Look I like the classic cars as much as anyone else on this forum, but I get awfully tired of the "why do things have to change!?" complaint...  Bottom line; if you have an account on facebook, an iPhone/Android/Google/whatever cell phone, a personal computer, cable television service, or central air conditioning in your house, you might as well give up the "we want our classic cars back" argument.

And if you refuse, then might I suggest this website:  www.factoryfive.com

[ragtopdodge]

I'm in favor of, you can NEVER have enough HP.

If you can afford it, why not?

662 HP...22MPG highway, safety cage/airbags/stereo/ac/cruise, pw/leather/navigation...why the heck not?

Stripper muscle cars don't sell.

People would rather have a 300HP V6, but have nice things like a decent stereo, PW, AC, and cruise.

No one is looking for a 500HP, stripper  unless they plan on racing it.  And you're talking .0001% of the car market.

[ChallengerHK]

2012 Ford Focus - 160 hp - $16,500 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 16.4 seconds

2012 Honda Civic SI Coupe - 201 hp - $22,000 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 14.7 seconds

2012 Mazda MX-5 - 167 hp - $22,500 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 14.9 seconds

Here you are - your modern day "sports coupes."  This is where they went.  To compare, here is a 1968 Road Runner:

For the most part I agree with your argument. While all of those are cars that one can afford and enjoy, I don't look at any modern car as a "car you can work on yourself," however, or at least not in the way you could back in the day. You need expensive computers to tell you what's going one inside the black box that is currently called an engine, and they even put a big, expensive cover over that black box to dissuade you from checking it out. The very simple things (spark plugs, fuel filters) can be done by anyone, but if you need to diagnose a driveability problem, that's a lot more difficult to do for the average person.

[73Chally]

Small peter?  
FFS...

So what's the point of having 375hp in anything other than a commercial truck?
If needs are dictating, then do you really need anything more than a 1.4 160hp Dodge Dart?
Nobody needs a big comfy car that can go from 0 to 60mph in 5.7 seconds. What's the point of having that, really?
Sure, you can want one, and if you can afford it, why not get one? It's not about need for it, or other people being able to see the point in that.
The very same applies to a 600+hp car.

In fact, I say screw other people, and their sanctimonious opinions about other peoples cars. Especially those involving speculations about the sizes of other peoples genitalia being inversely proportionate to the engine output. Because in that way lies moonbat arguments that anything being remotely phallos shaped must be a display of male insecurity, male suppression of the females, or whatnot.
Bollocks to that.
Pedal to the metal! 

I know.  You can never have enough.

[ragtopdodge]

I stand corrected on fuel mileage:

"The GT500 achieves an EPA- estimated 15/24 mpg city/highway and does not require a gas guzzler tax. Competitors include the 580-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the 470-hp Dodge Challenger SRT8 392. The former is EPA-rated at 14/19 mpg, and the latter is rated at 14/23 mpg."

662 HP, 631 FT-LB torque.

Friggin' amazing.

[ViperMan]

For the most part I agree with your argument. While all of those are cars that one can afford and enjoy, I don't look at any modern car as a "car you can work on yourself," however, or at least not in the way you could back in the day. You need expensive computers to tell you what's going one inside the black box that is currently called an engine, and they even put a big, expensive cover over that black box to dissuade you from checking it out. The very simple things (spark plugs, fuel filters) can be done by anyone, but if you need to diagnose a driveability problem, that's a lot more difficult to do for the average person.

I'll give you the diagnostics aspect of your argument.  The computers required to diagnose it though aren't entirely expensive - I picked up an OBDII scanner for about $60 and I got a slightly upgraded model.  Also, the engine covers on any of the cars I shared at least are anything but "expensive," though I agree they're a pain...  that is, the first time...    (no one said you had to put 'em back!)

That being said, all of the cars I posted are four cylinder engines which are generally still pretty easy and affordable to work on.  I did a quick tune-up on the wife's focus - probably cost me $50 (spark plugs are a bit pricey these days) and I did it all in about 10 minutes.

The problem today is crank positioning sensors, cam positioning sensors, anything with variable valve timing, and of course the dreaded PCM, which though rare, can sh!t it's own bed and throw all KINDS of weird readings...

One of my favorite things to do is pop over to my old Stratus forum (www.2gstratus.org) and browse the problem reports forum - much like Chrycho Psycho does here.  I have a lot of knowledge on the newer cars and like to help out where I can.

[Gumby]

2012 Ford Focus - 160 hp - $16,500 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 16.4 seconds


2012 Honda Civic SI Coupe - 201 hp - $22,000 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 14.7 seconds


2012 Mazda MX-5 - 167 hp - $22,500 starting price
1/4 Mile Time: 14.9 seconds

Here you are - your modern day "sports coupes."  This is where they went.  To compare, here is a 1968 Road Runner:


1968 Roadrunner - 335 hp - sub-$3000 price - Calculating inflation to 2012 - $19,775 - according to http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm
1/4 Mile Time: 13.5 seconds

Be sure to analyze those numbers really well - the Roadrunner has 160% the power of the Civic's engine, and only makes it down the track a second faster...

As to WHY all this happened?  -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis

There's also technology, a huge demand for safety as people got more lazy and more distracted at the wheel.  The need for standards affected things too, and of course fuel economy, pollution control, etc...  This didn't happen overnight - it's been just shy of 40 years, people.

Look I like the classic cars as much as anyone else on this forum, but I get awfully tired of the "why do things have to change!?" complaint...  Bottom line; if you have an account on facebook, an iPhone/Android/Google/whatever cell phone, a personal computer, cable television service, or central air conditioning in your house, you might as well give up the "we want our classic cars back" argument.

And if you refuse, then might I suggest this website:  www.factoryfive.com

OK, I won't bring up the comparisons of old vs. new anymore. I Don't have any account on any social network. I Don't have a smart phone. I Do have a PC. I Don't own a television. I Don't have central air. I have a 220 volt window unit that works just fine if it gets really hot out. (3200 sq ft house) I DO understand the need for speed. I DO intend on building a big horsepower plant for my Challenger. The new cars and their engines are truly amazing. I would buy the RR for $20,000 any day over what is currently offered. lol. I would buy 3 of them for the price of 1 Camaro or 1 SRT. If I had won the Mega Millions a few weeks back, I would have a few exotics. The Bugatti Veyryon (sp) would be the first on the list.

[Ornamental]

I know.  You can never have enough.

Amen to that!