So a few weeks ago I had a conversation with a friend who is also a C5 owner. I was rambling on about rwhp numbers and he mentioned this podcast about how much hp may be to much for a street car. Anyway, for those who have been there done that years ago and even those now who are building up their C5s, where do you think the "sweet spot" is with them? 500rwhp? 600? 450? Or are you set on that 1000hp FI build?

https://youtu.be/LVmQA10vQEo?si=shs5AsQlVyl7YJ3P

Hope this link works. I😬

 

For me 475-500 whp, manual, w/4.10 gears is the sweet spot. Above that you will need sticky tires...

 

Generally 500 ton600 hips all you need. To put more to the ground it takes a lot of computer control to get the power to the ground. or a lot of true racing parts.

You can have 800 hp in a street car but you may never come close to utilizing it in street trim.

‘’Even the Lemans winner is restricted.

 

It's not necessarily how much is too much for a rwd car but how much is too much for a C5 Corvette without compromises. I personally think that around 550whp is about the right range where you can still have a lot of fun with the car and still drive around on normal tires in most seasonal environments, sans snowy weather. Other rwd platforms are different and they can handle different levels of power more gracefully. However, you're bound to have that guy chime in about how he makes 850whp in his C5 and how we're all idiots and we just need to lern-2-driv. Considering I've owned a range of cars all making 200-1000+hp, I think I have a fair amount of experience to make a reasonable assessment of the chassis in relatively stock form. Could you? Sure. Should you? Most likely not.

 

450 rwh 450 torque. I am happy. Just highway driving. No track. No spinning wheels at the traffic light. The torque curve is almost dead flat above 400 ft-lb from 3000 to 5750 rpm and above 300 ft-lb at 2000 rpm. I run out of open road very quickly. Normally aspirated and pump gas. Headers and mufflers.

George

 

It's an interesting conversation to have. From 320rw stockish, 500rw sounds like a lot. Yet when you have good tires and some miles on it you'd be amazed at just how quickly you adapt to it. 1000+rw is just too much. It turns the ca into an idle/cruiser with occasional very brief romps. That's not my jam and I've been there. But to answer another question, yes, it was a lot of fun! To find that balance between fun and a hint of adrenaline from fear I'd say anywhere north of 650rw is going to be there. When you can feel your stomach ride your spine on a launch that's fun. But short of wot the power often remains fully usable and you're also at or near the threshold of the oem equipment in the car. So I'd say 550 to 600rw all day. You can pass emissions if not NA and still enjoy a calm driver which can also set the tires ablaze when commanded.

For a low risk, no thought, wot all the time and send it..... 450 to 500 rw. Fun all day. No extra focus on traction or elevated driving focus. Just slamming gears and good times. Burnouts and ice cream, right?

For future readers, electric cars change the game entirely. Cruisers and economic when in responsible mode, but drift, drag, high power rippers when you open the taps. Even a stock Model 3 Performance can rip off 11.00s with smaller aftermarket 235 tires while the car engages reaction control. That means with correct tires it can absolutely clean into a high 10.

​​​​​​Any time you want. Without waking the neighbors. Without looking like a kid in a sports car inviting police attention. And if you option it right or sub the service, you never need to commute again or do those long drives becihe car will do it for you. Auto drive is a game changer.