Horsepower isnt everything

[xi guy]

I know I shouldnt have...but some dick in a new Nissan Maxima 3.5 (260 horse) was
pissing me off on a curvy road. So I blew him away in my 180 hp 2004 325 xi. The jap car simply
couldnt stick to the road around turns like the Bimmer can. He was trying like hell too; I could hear his motor hitting high revs, but he had to slow down around turns. I didnt!
Even in a straighaway, he couldnt pass me, once my car gets over 80 it will not stop
accellerating. The 260 horsepower guy fizzled out and slowed down as we approached a
slight turn. I just kept the rev steady and took the turn at 105 with zero body roll.

Of course, how you drive a car is very important. But horsepower certainly isnt everything.
I soundly put the 3.5 to shame with the agility of the bavarian beast. I can only imagine what a 330 would have been like to drive. Forget an M......

 

[MrElussive]

Nice kill!

 

[PuShAkOv]

Its also the driver... he was probably did not get to know his car as well as you did yours so was afraid to make sharp turns....

 

[Kirby]

You chose the perfect battleground for your bimmer!!!

 

[snowsedan04]

Nice going XI Guy!

The other day, an Altima got on my tail. An Altima for Gods sake. He was gone with a flick of the wrist around a sharp bend. It's like butta. The car is no hot rod off the line, but it just keeps pulling through all the gears. Glad I got the manny tranny, cause an auto would be seriously deficient in my opinion.

I can see myself in an M3 a few years down the line. Or maybe an NSX (sorry BMW, but I love that car).

 

[MrElussive]

The new NSX is a great car.

 

[landshark]

This story would have been even better if you were driving a 325i wagon.

When reading about your encounter, I recalled times when a friend's Saab 9-3 hatchback devoured various mid-size--and compact--sedans. That goofy little egg-mobile was unstoppable between 50mph and 100mph. Handling was a bit amiss, though.

 

[SamuraiJack]

Sweet! The curves around here are a bit fewer and less in duration. Well you gotta know where to find them.

Along the same lines as snowsedan04 I may attempt to upgrade in the next few years to a Lotus Esprit 2000-2003 (thought they were not available in the USA) [headbang] Although it may come down to the price and availability of parts. Sorry for the side tracked reply. [target]

 

[bmwrocks]

Nice kill, but I would bet in a drag race he may win because when looking for speed in a straight line, horsepower isn't everything, it's the only thing.

 

[donmbmw]

I drove a Maxima....Can you say torque steer? [fake]
I'm talkin' too much HP on a front drive chassis built more for comfort than sport (I don't care how they advertise it). Nissan thinks all you have to do is add gobs of horsepower and you have a great "sporty" car. No thanks. [shake]

 

[MrElussive]

Yeah, I know what you mean, donmbmw. I think Nissan does it because they feel that's all their customers care about...straight-line acceleration. Not only that, it is very easy for them to get massive horsepower out of their 3.5 liter V6 engine, so I guess they figure "Why the hell not."

 

[paddyLV]

Looks like I'm gonna have some fun in my ZHP...

And I thought driving my '03 325i was a BLAST.

My first trip [after delivery] is going to be Palm Springs and San Diego.

The wife already told me if I don't behave [driving2] to the west coast than she will take

flight back to Vegas... "Boy I'm gonna miss her" , {not}

 

[xi guy]

Hey Snow!!!! I was wondering where you were. havent heard from you since the old "D-Day" thread! I trust youre enjoying the car. I have been babying mine since I do have another car to drive. It been over six weeks and she just made it ti 1200 miles! I have been
gentle on her so far, except for that little interlude with the Altima!

I agree with your assessment of the manual tranny. Thank God I got the manal as well and its so much fun. Yes, its no killer off the line but it pulls beautifully through the gears. What impresses me most of all is how it pulls in fifth gear on the highway. I can be doing 70 and still it pulls through 80, 90 etc. Very cool. Definitely due to teh gearing cause, you must admit, the revs are a bit high even at highway speeds. Im hittin 3500 RPM at 80 MPH. Does that sound righ to you. This is definitely a pretty high rev for a 6-banger. But the payback is that torquey pull that we all love.

Let me know about the revving and let me know how youre enjoying the car.

All the best.....