Cobra Safety and HP

[flipper35]

Some kid's (physically or mentally) will race anything they can get to move. I am sure two people with Honda Insights would race if they had the chance.

But I thought this was a power to weight ratio thread, and to be honest I had my test drive in a 250hp 302 Cobra. It was quicker than my big block Coronet. I think we get de-sensitized (sp?) to how fast these cars are. Drive a 3 cyl. Chevy Sprint all day and a ZX3 Focus feels fast. Drive a Cobra all weekend and your butt becomes recalibrated.

I am just as guilty, my new block will be 485hp/530tq. I could have spend less than $1000 more and had close to 600hp (at the expense of torque). Can I use the new found power on the street? No, I have a hard time with the 406hp I have now. With DOT road race tires on the track I should be able to put my foot down on the straights.

Also on the street you don't get much heat in your tires. I almost balled mine up trying to get ahead of the Jeep next to me to merge. Cold road, cold tires and I almost t-boned the Jeep from beside him at 60mph when I got on it. I used to be scared of the car and got complacent and it almost bit me. I did learn that the street isn't a predictable, consistent place with safety run-offs.

I've done other really stupid stuff in all sorts of vehicles and without them. I think I have matured enough to limit the really stupid stuff and I agree with Richard about no needing any more power on the street, but a dual use car is a comprimise anyway.