Power vs Spec

Cookie_Monster

So, you are out shopping for a new car and have found one you like, however there is a problem.

For whatever reason you can only afford either a better specced model with a smaller engine, or a more powerful engine but with lower spec.
Lets say for arguments sake:

Model A has a 1.6 petrol 4 pot engine, 120 bhp, but you can get leather trim, dual zone AC, xenon's and Cruise control as extras.

Model B has a 2.2 petrol 6 pot engine, 200 bhp, and slightly better spec overall but you can’t afford the above mentioned extras.

(Figures are just made up)
Which would you go for, the extra comfort of the additional spec or the power?

I think I'd have to go with the bigger engine, I could live without those bits, despite the extra fuel and tax and insurance costs. Having already gone from 1.5L to 2L I still want moar

Tea 1000

Always power, never spec.

opinion guy

Me too. Power. Frankly I don't understand those who would choose to spend the cash on getting say 18" alloys and then stick them on a 1.6 before they would upgrade to a 2 litre. At the end of the day I want a car thats good to drive sooner than I want one thats nice to look at. I also could not give a toss about leather.

Thou to be honest I suspect I am in the minority!

djimi

Power over spec anyday. So long as a car has a radio, electric windows and central locking (which all cars have anyway), and preferably A/C but not a necessity, Im perfectly happy. Anything after that is a bonus. The only other spec Id be worried about is security, but a decent alarm can be fitted afterwards.

peasant

That would depend on where I do the majority of my driving.

If 95% of it was stuck in traffic, going nowhere ...then I'd definitely go for creature comforts over (in that case) useless power

R.O.R

peasant wrote: »

That would depend on where I do the majority of my driving.

If 95% of it was stuck in traffic, going nowhere ...then I'd definitely go for creature comforts over (in that case) useless power

I spend 99% of the time in my car trudging up and down the motorway to and from work, so as long as there was enough power to keep up with traffic, I'd take the higher spec car.

I'd rather an S40 1.6d SE than a 2.0d S for example.

opinion guy

R.O.R wrote: »

I spend 99% of the time in my car trudging up and down the motorway to and from work, so as long as there was enough power to keep up with traffic, I'd take the higher spec car.

I'd rather an S40 1.6d SE than a 2.0d S for example.

See know I'd take the 2.0dS anyday. 40-80mph acceleration is more important to me than leather seats.

Gumbo

it used to be power power power for me but now i prefer spec and value for money as such!

when the other half was E90 shopping we viewed many 320d but then a 318d M-Sport came up at SE money and we knwe we had to jump on it.

the 318d is slightly down on power to the 320d (143 V 177) but with the driving she does it wouldnt make tha much of a difference.

although we did have it remapped soon afterwards

Max Power1

Id take spec over power, unless the car was a ridiculously underpowered in the lower powered/higher spec option(eg a 1.4 octavia or something)

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Power is the best option for a car bar none, and the rarest in ireland. Bigger engines tend to have better standard spec regardless.

EPM

As long as the car can drag itself along easily I'd chose spec. Sitting for 3 hours on the motorway with cruise control on I'd prefer a few toys to play with

1948Wolseley

Spec over power every time. I'd also put spec above handling and a 'premium' badge every time too.

opinion guy

Samuel Tall Batter wrote: »

Power is the best option for a car bar none, and the rarest in ireland. Bigger engines tend to have better standard spec regardless.

Agreed. So many cars with lots of spec and horribly underpowered.

Funny thou one spec item I do like on a car with power is cruise control - stops me from speeding too much :P

btkm8unsl0w5r4

1948Wolseley wrote: »

Spec over power every time. I'd also put spec above handling and a 'premium' badge every time too.

Let me guess...skoda of some kind?????

opinion guy

Samuel Tall Batter wrote: »

Let me guess...skoda of some kind?????

hahah no I'm in 1.4 land myself. My mums' mazda however is a different story

af_thefragile

POWEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!


Yup. When you're driving you don't care how loud the stereo is or how cold the AC is or how soft the leather trim is... All you care about is how fast you can get to the next corner!

My next car isn't going to be anything south of a 2l engine. Unless its a Lotus Elise...

SV

Always always always power!
that said I don't know what all these luxuries are like..

I don't think I could live with manual windows again though, that's the only thing.

af_thefragile

SV wrote: »

Always always always power!
that said I don't know what all these luxuries are like..

I don't think I could live with manual windows again though, that's the only thing.

Aye, manual windows is one thing I wouldn't like in my car.
On the other hand I don't need an AC or fancy leather trim or powerful stereo or anything as such.
One the car has a heater and the seats are comfortable enough, that'll do.


Maybe when I'm like over 30-40yrs or something I could get myself a nice comfy Jag... Till then the lighter the better!!

Tea 1000

I don't get spending something like €1,500 for an upgraded stereo, it'll never sound anywhere near as good as something you could buy for your living room for a third of that.
€3,000 for a build in Sat-Nav is madness! Metallic paint is the greatest scam in the motor industry! Leather doesn't make a comfortable seat any more comfortable.
It's all about the power and the handling. Thankfully nearly everything decent comes with AC and a few of the niceties.

GTE

Considering what I need from the car right now I picked spec but only to a point. I prefer to be comfortable with great seats (bad back), cruise control (bad knee) and other things that help my knackered body parts. Electric windows and AC are a must and a nice thing respectively. Folding wing mirrors are a no no.

Some of the extras are a bit mad. I can maybe justify the stereo because Im a sound tech and I love my sound but things like 4 figures for built in satnavs. I dunno, a waste when a Garmin yoke on your window does just as good a job.

So, I would prefer a bit of comfort over power, just not silly needless things like bespoke mudflaps. If I could Id get a car that could be tuned up through remaps and the likes if I wanted.

Tea 1000

bbk wrote: »

Considering what I need from the car right now I picked spec but only to a point. I prefer to be comfortable with great seats (bad back), cruise control (bad knee) and other things that help my knackered body parts. Electric windows and AC are a must and a nice thing respectively. Folding wing mirrors are a no no.

Some of the extras are a bit mad. I can maybe justify the stereo because Im a sound tech and I love my sound but things like 4 figures for built in satnavs. I dunno, a waste when a Garmin yoke on your window does just as good a job.

So, I would prefer a bit of comfort over power, just not silly needless things like bespoke mudflaps. If I could Id get a car that could be tuned up through remaps and the likes if I wanted.

I love my sound too, the car has a Bose system (the joys of buying used, you don't have to fork out anything extra!) but while it's better than almost any other system I have heard in a car, it's still nowhere close to the sound in my sitting room, where a Denon provides the sounds! No matter how good the car stereo is, it still has to combat the ambient noise, which doesn't mix that well with good sounds!
Flip side of that is if you have the right car, then you already have the right sounds coming from the engine!

Joe 90

af_thefragile wrote: »

POWEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!


Yup. When you're driving you don't care how loud the stereo is or how cold the AC is or how soft the leather trim is... All you care about is how fast you can get to the next corner!

My next car isn't going to be anything south of a 2l engine. Unless its a Lotus Elise...

Get the best of both worlds, buy an old 1.8 Elise S1, VRT it and then stick in the Honda engine.

opinion guy

Could it be however that this poll is biased since its on a motoring forum and people are more likely to want power ?

I wonder what the average Joe on the street would chose. Well I suppose I don't have to wonder since looking at what second hands are available tells me they prefer spec over power

Cookie_Monster

opinion guy wrote: »

I wonder what the average Joe on the street would chose.

the 1.2 with the 104 tax per year

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I have had cars with big and small engines...the big engines come with better spec, so its not a case of one or the other. Most low power cars come with SFA in the line of spec (a flower holder, or ipod connection are not extras worth having and can be had in halfords for a few quid.). Also higher power cars come with high power breaks and tyres, ABS, traction control. These are the best extras you can ever have.

Its hard to look down any range of car and not see that the high power car comes with most of the spec as standard.

Average joe thinks that blue car are nice, and gets giddy paying 150 euro a year in road tax.but has never changed their worn out tyres.....

Absurdum

120 bhp ain't worth a dingdong

SV

Absurdum wrote: »

120 bhp ain't worth a dingdong

106gti only has 120hp and it's brilliant

Cookie_Monster

Samuel Tall Batter wrote: »

I have had cars with big and small engines...the big engines come with better spec, so its not a case of one or the other.

indeed, as I mentioned the bigger engined car has generally better spec but still certain things will be extra regardless.

I was laughing at one of my parents friend who bought a 1.2 octavia recently and thats where this thought came from. A car that size and only a 1.2, just cos they could get an extra or two for the price and the cheap tax...

Tea 1000

SV wrote: »

106gti only has 120hp and it's brilliant

126bhp was it not?

SV

Tea 1000 wrote: »

126bhp was it not?

118 actually but..

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Gee I think wikipedia just broke down from overuse

opinion guy

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

indeed, as I mentioned the bigger engined car has generally better spec but still certain things will be extra regardless.

I was laughing at one of my parents friend who bought a 1.2 octavia recently and thats where this thought came from. A car that size and only a 1.2, just cos they could get an extra or two for the price and the cheap tax...

Jesus they actually produced a 1.2 octavia. Does it even go if you are not pointing downhill ?

SV

opinion guy wrote: »

Jesus they actually produced a 1.2 octavia. Does it even go if you are not pointing downhill ?

isn't that a tsi though?
It's not going to be quick like but I'd say it's more than enough

EPM

SV wrote: »

isn't that a tsi though?
It's not going to be quick like but I'd say it's more than enough

Yup 1.2 turbo. 105 brake, close enough to the old 1.6...

R.O.R

EPM wrote: »

Yup 1.2 turbo. 105 brake, close enough to the old 1.6...

I'd say with much more usuable torque than the 1.6 though.

BlackWizard

I'd choose spec over power once the power is adequate enough for pleasurable driving.

challengemaster

leather, xenons and cruise control are some extras I will never opt for in a car tbh. All seem fairly pointless to me.

Mate of mine said it yesterday to me, gotta have either a sunroof or AC, otherwise it better be damn special.

BlackWizard

challengemaster wrote: »

leather, xenons and cruise control are some extras I will never opt for in a car tbh. All seem fairly pointless to me.

Mate of mine said it yesterday to me, gotta have either a sunroof or AC, otherwise it better be damn special.

I think it was just an example. In my head I'm thinking of really nice seats with adjustable lumbar support and other nice stuff that would appeal to me compared with a paddy spec car.

I'd agree with A/C !! It's a must for me too. I think most new cars come with it as stand now? I'd hope they do anyway!

Gumbo

as i said in my previous post, went for trim/spec level for the other halves diesel but for me i got a bit of both!

heated electric leather seats
iPod Connection
Xenons
a big turbo
remap
250bhp



all in my little Audi S3

opinion guy

kceire wrote: »

as i said in my previous post, went for trim/spec level for the other halves diesel but for me i got a bit of both!

heated electric leather seats
iPod Connection
Xenons
a big turbo
remap
250bhp



all in my little Audi S3

Nice. New ? I thought I saw a new one around central dublin recently

Gumbo

opinion guy wrote: »

Nice. New ? I thought I saw a new one around central dublin recently

i wish, mines an 01 model!

Picture Here

my sister said she saw a 10 -D white one in town yesterday and it was lovely. now in saying that it coulda been a 1.9TDi with S-Line kit so im not too sure

opinion guy

kceire wrote: »

i wish, mines an 01 model!

Picture Here

my sister said she saw a 10 -D white one in town yesterday and it was lovely. now in saying that it coulda been a 1.9TDi with S-Line kit so im not too sure

Yeah that's the one - I think it was a 1.9Tdi S line all right. Had the daytime running lights. Gorgeous thing. There's also a black 10 D one in my building - no spec other than Tdi on that back. Awesome looking with the black and the new model with more chrome on the body. Only spoiling factor is they put roof rails on it !

maidhc

I often drive a 1.4 Octavia, and it isn't much slower in the real world than my 1.8 TDCi Focus or even a 1.6 Mazda MX5. It is actually quite nice to drive once you are not trying to overtake artics.

Modern cars are actually obscenely quick compared to when a 1.3 Cortina with 45hp was quite acceptable, and the new roads mean there is less need for power than before. A clio will cruise all day at 160 km/h were it legal.

Again, once the car is adequately powerful I think I'd like toys.

bazz26

When buying my current car I went with spec over power. I've gotten used to the high spec now and the lack of power I have tolerated. My next car however will definately have more power (min 170bhp) but I am prepared to wait for the right one so that I do not have to compromise on spec.

I would also like to point out that I have seen just as many poorly speced cars with decent power, from Audi A4s with manual rear windows or no MFSTW to BMW 5 Series with cloth seats.

Eric Cartman

daily driver - spec , weekend car - power

I drive round dublin all day so dont get to put the foot down often, may as well sit in something massive and nice while in traffic

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I think some peoples ideas of what well powered is, are different.

bazz26

It depends on what you have come from, just like someone's idea of high spec. I currently have a 110bhp so 170bhp+ would be a step up. It's all relative really.

maidhc

Samuel Tall Batter wrote: »

I think some peoples ideas of what well powered is, are different.

You learn to live with what you have. I had a Porsche 968 for a month. It was wonderful, and everything after it seemed dog slow, but memories fade. I'm sure Ferrari F40 drivers wouldn't be impressed by a lowly Porsche 968 though.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Not really, a car that can do 155mph and 0-100kph in less than 7 seconds is powerful. They also tend to be high spec unless your into lotus. A 535d is powerful, a S4, RS4, Rx-8, MPS, OPC etc are powerfull. Where are these powerfull cars with poverty spec....every one I can think of come well specced as standard. The same stuff you pay for on the 1 cylinder 40cc irish model.

maidhc

Samuel Tall Batter wrote: »

Not really, a car that can do 155mph and 0-100kph in less than 7 seconds is powerful. They also tend to be high spec unless your into lotus. A 535d is powerful, a S4, RS4, Rx-8, MPS, OPC etc are powerfull. Where are these powerfull cars with poverty spec....every one I can think of come well specced as standard. The same stuff you pay for on the 1 cylinder 40cc irish model.

I think a read of the first post illustrates the theme of the thread in fairness.

No one is talking about buying a "powerful" car in the objective sense of the word, but a subjectively "more powerful car" as opposed to a "higher specced car".

opinion guy

Samuel Tall Batter wrote: »

I think some peoples ideas of what well powered is, are different.

Lol. This is true. Personally I quantify it as having enough poke to comfortably overtake when your car is loaded down with four heavy blokes. I'm thinking 140bhp+