Just out of wonder have you ever tried out the ZF8 behind a V8 or V12/W12 engine? I have found that combo to so far be the most telepathic combo I've used.

 

So around 7.5 sec and with a heavy low end TQ distribution, cool!

 

Absolutely, the ZF8 speed is a transmission that I didnt think of but I have driven many cars with that transmission and it is excellent. I had it in my 2014 Grand Cherokee and it wasn't as excellent but that was a V6.

 

Haha! Yeah that sums up the ZF8, so good it just fades into the background

 

not sure 'how much power' is meaningful... perhaps how much performance is clearer?
i've rented some vehicles that must have been 8+ seconds 0-60 and they felt flat out dangerous in some situations (merging usually).
so i'd say any vehicle other than a local delivery van perhaps should have 0-60 under 8 seconds.
my suv is under 7 and my coupe is under 5 so both plenty quick enough.

 

How much power do I need?

When I was younger the answer was always MORE! lol
As I get older I'm happy with a little pep but I don't need anything crazy.

Funny thing is if I own a car that looks like it should be fast by gosh it better be fast or it's just disappointing.
As far as trucks I don't need a Ford Lightening, I'd take an older Power Stoke diesel any day or a big block V8 and now that I think about it whenever I drove a truck I never really thought about how fast it needed to be and power was never really a concern cuz always had plenty.

Only exception is the new Ford Ranger I bought years ago, wish I sprung for the V6 cuz the 4 banger in mine had no ballz when pulling a trailer or anything.

 

I'd say that even this much is plenty enough. These are always the fastest cars around here

Peak torque by itself is kind of a useless measure beyond theoretically figuring out the powerband of an engine.

As for what's comfy (read: slightly spoiled) for me - I guess anything >150hp/ton that's not a high RPM screamer? This is for the highway, as the roads here are generally way too bad to be able to rely on any sort of power for maneuvers if you don't have AWD (and even then). Shiny asphalt, dirt/dust/mud, oil spills, that kind of stuff.

 

For six years, I got along just fine with an AWD Outback with a N/A 2.5L flat-four that some people would have considered a slug. And I now have a Buick Encore GX with a 1.3L Turbo-three in it....and, again, getting along just fine. IMO, people worship too much at the altar of HP and torque.

 

Outback = 3.0 or 2.5 turbo (IMO). The regular 2.5 is... kinda all the EJ fuss with no return

 

To be fair you haven't owned many powerful cars, at least not over the past years, you also typically drive alone, I don't hear about you driving on many trips, etc. Your use is important too. You can "get by", but its about what feels really comfortable.

 

I had some 60s-vintage V8s with 400-500 ft-lbs. of torque. Also a 2001 Lexus IS300 with an in-line six that would easily get out of its own way if pushed. But, you are partly correct.....I don't use a lot of power most of the time. I just wasn't an aggressive driver.

 

Aggressive driving is the fast track to finding yourself in the ditch ​​​​​​​

 

The Tesla Model 3, BTW, is a vehicle that, at least from my experience in a test-drive, has FAR more torque, especially at lower RPM (which is typical of electric motors) than the average driver would need under most conditions. I sampled several of the 1960s and early-70s Detroit classic muscle-cars, and even the AWD Model 3 (which I sampled) can easily smoke the best of those unmodified classics at low RPMs....the FWD version would have probably been even faster. When I did my Model 3 review, I mentioned back then that I felt the power level in the Model 3 was borderline-dangerous for immature, inexperienced, or inattentive drivers....and I still feel that way. Get judicious with the throttle, and the car shoots forward like a scared cat. Perhaps the only thing that keeps more of these vehicles from constantly rear-ending the vehicles in front of them is the car's numerous electronic safety and collision-avoidance features.

 

There is no FWD Model 3, RWD or AWD. If the power were dangerous we would see all kinds of accidents, and we don't. Reality is modern traction and skid control systems make high powered vehicles very easy to drive. Why would someone be "judicious with the throttle" with a car in front of them to run into?

And the AWD EV is always faster, because it has an additional motor. You are thinking in ICE terms. No driveline loss in an EV.

Once you get used to a car with more power than you need, its hard to go back to a less powerful car. Its not about driving aggressively, its just much more relaxing to drive a car that has abundant power. Its like anything else, nobody ever says "I wish I had bought the less powerful whatever". Car, tool, lawnmower, whatever you never wish you had LESS power.

 

I need it for the douchebags in lifted trucks that don't like to let you merge or get over. I'm used to having 400 WHP now and it's hard to go back.