James May says the answer is...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/jamesmay/8308786/Why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-meaningless-performance-figures.html

I still believe that the pleasure of driving comes not from the absolutes of performance, but from the nature of its delivery. I would argue that Mazda’s MX-5, although not especially fast in outright terms, is a high-performance car because it heightens the sensations relayed during driving.

hahaha oh nice!!

that makes it a fact, then.

The perfect car for the captain!

Capt'n Slow

Neat. I always like May's articles.

~Segue~ have you seen the TG in Albania episode? I thought the police chase bit was brilliant. Obviously staged, but staged very well. Sliding those big limos around narrow, sketchy roads looked like a blast.

In reply to Luke:

Then the "Bentley" went off a cliff...

Luke wrote: have you seen the TG in Albania episode? I thought the police chase bit was brilliant. Obviously staged, but staged very well.

You mean James didn't get killed at the end when he drove off the cliff?

I was amazed at how well the "Albanian Police" were able to hoon those Aveos they were given. They did remarkably well against the cars in the corners.

I agree with May. I am becoming increasingly bored with horsepower. A nimble car has always been a lot more fun to me.

Otto Maddox wrote: I agree with May. I am becoming increasingly bored with horsepower. A nimble car has always been a lot more fun to me.

Horsepower is fun, provided you have room to let it loose. Where exactly do you let go when you've got 400 on tap? 600? I found the stock 305hp of my SN95 Cobra to be too much to be fun on public roads, the 194rwhp of my foxbody is much more entertaining on my usual jaunts, and the most fun vehicle I ever had had less than 70.

aussiesmg wrote: Capt'n Slow

Who, frankly, is most likely the best actual driver of the 3 of them. All Clarkson can do is drift badly.

I thought Hammond actually had racing experience.

^He does. They all do, in some fashion.

Hammond having the most to the best of my knowledge. I would agree with May being the best driver, though. Then Hammond, then Clarkson.

I'm actually impressed with Clarkson's "drifting skills." Of course, it helps when you tend to spend most of your "reviews" hooning big long cars with massive power.

I'm pretty sure I saw one of the "cops" execute a Scandanavian flick coming around a left hander in the ancient part of town - If American "cops" could drive that well, chases would be short lived.

It surprised me that they never once mentioned the fact the Rolls was PURPLE.

seat time with Sir Stewart would improve anybody's lap times.....and nobody who can push the edge of a veyron's envelope is slow.

quote from the very next episode when talking about the previous episode: "I was killed there!"

corytate wrote: quote from the very next episode when talking about the previous episode: "I was killed there!"

just like that guy they "murdered" to show how big the trunks were in their cars..

Otto Maddox wrote: I agree with May. I am becoming increasingly bored with horsepower. A nimble car has always been a lot more fun to me.

I have never seen the need for big horsepower. The most powerful car I ever owned had 185...

It would be kinda funny if they did a season where one of them "died" in every episode... only to come back the next episode like nothing happened... Sort of like South Park and Kenny.

The most horsepower I have ever owned is 200, and thar is my wife's minivan.

The most I have driven is about 300 (a friends Porsche at an Autocross).

I usually have between 100 and 180 hp on tap for my car, depending on the car. Seems plenty, I guess, maybe if I drive 500 hp I would see the light...

My Bi-turbo A6 was a blast for speeding down the highway, but was too fast to have fun all the time. I need a low power car with a good capable chassis...I wonder what an answer to this question could be...

I have a 305hp mustang as well, just got a 130ish hp miata, and have driven 500+hp cobra replicas.

It depends largely on the course, if you have the room to cut it loose, FUN FUN FUN. That said, to my experience, you balance that against WANTING TO KILL YOU.

I berkeleying hate miatas.