You don't know what under powered is until you drive a 1950 CROSLY with a 26 HP OHC 4 cyl. My little red Crosley station wagon. I loved that little car. Ed
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What is the most underpowered vehicle found in large numbers on the roads today?
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See that 9 page thread on the Subaru Crosstrek? That. It will fool you off the line but after 40mph it has absolutely nothing (yes I've actually driven one).
Diesel Chevette no longer qualifies by the "large numbers on the roads today" rule because there's not (or ever has been) large numbers of them. But I use that as my benchmark for underpowered US cars in the modern era.
A 4 cylinder Dodge Dakota (yes there was such a thing) could give a 4 cylinder Ranger a run for its money. My understanding is that was a fleet only vehicle.
Strictly speaking, the original Volkswagon Beetle meets all the criteria. Large numbers of them (mostly in garages) and very slow.
A 4 cylinder Dodge Dakota (yes there was such a thing) could give a 4 cylinder Ranger a run for its money. My understanding is that was a fleet only vehicle.
Strictly speaking, the original Volkswagon Beetle meets all the criteria. Large numbers of them (mostly in garages) and very slow.
Originally Posted by Dave9
Originally Posted by CR94
... Typical American V8s of the mid-1970s were slower than any of the modern vehicles that are ridiculed in preceding posts of this thread.
Disagree, my first mid-'70s car had a 350cu in and 4 barrel carb, was not slow at all. ...
The Geo Prizm though, Yugo, Ford Escort Pony, etc., several very cheap compact cars were arguably underpowered, could not even maintain 55 MPH going up hills on the interstate.
But your 350 4-barrel was an optional step or two up from the base in power. After catalytic converters arrived in '75, GM was a little ahead of Ford and Chrysler regaining power lost to earlier emissions controls.
Any healthy Prizm or Escort should be able to maintain 55 mph on nearly any Interstate hill, although you might well have to downshift. Even my 68-hp Mazda could (admittedly barely) maintain 55 mph on most Interstates of the East without shifting out of 5th gear---and it was geared higher than most earlier and later small cars.
Originally Posted by CR94
... Typical American V8s of the mid-1970s were slower than any of the modern vehicles that are ridiculed in preceding posts of this thread.
Disagree, my first mid-'70s car had a 350cu in and 4 barrel carb, was not slow at all. ...
The Geo Prizm though, Yugo, Ford Escort Pony, etc., several very cheap compact cars were arguably underpowered, could not even maintain 55 MPH going up hills on the interstate.
But your 350 4-barrel was an optional step or two up from the base in power. After catalytic converters arrived in '75, GM was a little ahead of Ford and Chrysler regaining power lost to earlier emissions controls.
Any healthy Prizm or Escort should be able to maintain 55 mph on nearly any Interstate hill, although you might well have to downshift. Even my 68-hp Mazda could (admittedly barely) maintain 55 mph on most Interstates of the East without shifting out of 5th gear---and it was geared higher than most earlier and later small cars.
Originally Posted by simple_gifts
I had a 76 LeMans with a 110HP Olds 4.3L V8; bought it for $150, with about 60K on it; estate car.
Regardless of the fact that all my vehicles I currently drive have been mentioned, the LeMans is a class leader in dangerously slow vehciles
Yes, My father had a '77 LeMans, straight 250 six. Lugging a large 4-door land yacht. Could hardly get out of its own way.
I had a 76 LeMans with a 110HP Olds 4.3L V8; bought it for $150, with about 60K on it; estate car.
Regardless of the fact that all my vehicles I currently drive have been mentioned, the LeMans is a class leader in dangerously slow vehciles
Yes, My father had a '77 LeMans, straight 250 six. Lugging a large 4-door land yacht. Could hardly get out of its own way.
The 1.0 litre naturally aspirated 3-pot in my Suzuki Celerio develops a maximum of 67 HP. Given the sedate way I drive & the fact that it only weighs 845 kg (1,860 lbs), I suspect I only ever use half of that at most.
However it is THE most fuel efficient car I've ever driven. 70-ish mpg is normal on UK unleaded but on a good long motorway run, it's hit 76.6 mpg.
When the younger generation finally wake up to how the older generation have stuffed up their futures & set about murdering everyone over the age 60 in their bed, I will tell the angry mob how me & my little Suzi tried to save the planet. Maybe I will get lucky & be spared the chop!
However it is THE most fuel efficient car I've ever driven. 70-ish mpg is normal on UK unleaded but on a good long motorway run, it's hit 76.6 mpg.
When the younger generation finally wake up to how the older generation have stuffed up their futures & set about murdering everyone over the age 60 in their bed, I will tell the angry mob how me & my little Suzi tried to save the planet. Maybe I will get lucky & be spared the chop!
Originally Posted by CR94
Any healthy Prizm or Escort should be able to maintain 55 mph on nearly any Interstate hill, although you might well have to downshift. Even my 68-hp Mazda could (admittedly barely) maintain 55 mph on most Interstates of the East without shifting out of 5th gear---and it was geared higher than most earlier and later small cars.
The Escort Pony was basically a stripped Escort with the same drivetrain, and IIRC only available with a stick. Drove a 1987 Escort with a 4 speed. It was a peppy little thing and had no issues keeping or exceeding the limits on most highways.
There is a road I used to frequent in western PA - PA 31 where there is a hill called "3 mile hill" - 3 miles up a mountain with 6-9% grade (IIRC). A decent test of a car's abilities... 1986 Mustang 2.3 4 speed topped out at 35 or so. 1987 Escort 4 speed did it at 45 or so. Todays cars have no issues with at least 65+. The Taurus and F150 have me running out of nerve before they run out of power.
Any healthy Prizm or Escort should be able to maintain 55 mph on nearly any Interstate hill, although you might well have to downshift. Even my 68-hp Mazda could (admittedly barely) maintain 55 mph on most Interstates of the East without shifting out of 5th gear---and it was geared higher than most earlier and later small cars.
The Escort Pony was basically a stripped Escort with the same drivetrain, and IIRC only available with a stick. Drove a 1987 Escort with a 4 speed. It was a peppy little thing and had no issues keeping or exceeding the limits on most highways.
There is a road I used to frequent in western PA - PA 31 where there is a hill called "3 mile hill" - 3 miles up a mountain with 6-9% grade (IIRC). A decent test of a car's abilities... 1986 Mustang 2.3 4 speed topped out at 35 or so. 1987 Escort 4 speed did it at 45 or so. Todays cars have no issues with at least 65+. The Taurus and F150 have me running out of nerve before they run out of power.
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1979 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel = 48 H.P. Slower than a drunk reciting the alphabet.
I will so there are no Under powered vehicles sold new in 2019. There are many overpowered IMHO. Some of you never had to ride a bike or take the bus for transportation and it shows.
Originally Posted by Leo99
The big American cars in the late 70s were really slow.
More recently:
1995 Suzuki Samurai
66 horsepower
"The drag coefficient of a parachute. ".
The big American cars in the late 70s were really slow.
More recently:
1995 Suzuki Samurai
66 horsepower
"The drag coefficient of a parachute. ".
Plymouth TC3 had a Volkswagen rabbit engine and when you turned on the air conditioner it would really dog out. Those cars were the biggest piles ever made and were nothing but junk.
Buick Encore, Chevy Spark? Those tend to be roadblocks.
Originally Posted by knerml
Originally Posted by zorobabel
Underpowered vehicles were not sold in the US for at least 50 years.
1969 VW Beetle 53 HP
1969 Fiat 128 49 HP
These do qualify for under powered. I may have overshot a bit with the 50 year time span. It looks like they stopped selling the Beetle in 79.
Originally Posted by zorobabel
Underpowered vehicles were not sold in the US for at least 50 years.
1969 VW Beetle 53 HP
1969 Fiat 128 49 HP
These do qualify for under powered. I may have overshot a bit with the 50 year time span. It looks like they stopped selling the Beetle in 79.
Originally Posted by billt460
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel = 48 H.P. Slower than a drunk reciting the alphabet.
That's fast compared to a $40k new BMW that is out now.
https://chimicles.com/second-amende...t-filed-bmw-i3-rex-class-action-lawsuit/
The current BMW i3 with Rex (Range Extender) is by far the slowest thing around when the battery, good for only 80 miles, quits on a trip. 34 hp is all you get when the main battery is dead and the tiny 647cc scooter gas engine takes over .... It scares the begeezus out of people when it quits going up a hill or passing. ... Hence the lawsuit.
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel = 48 H.P. Slower than a drunk reciting the alphabet.
That's fast compared to a $40k new BMW that is out now.
https://chimicles.com/second-amende...t-filed-bmw-i3-rex-class-action-lawsuit/
The current BMW i3 with Rex (Range Extender) is by far the slowest thing around when the battery, good for only 80 miles, quits on a trip. 34 hp is all you get when the main battery is dead and the tiny 647cc scooter gas engine takes over .... It scares the begeezus out of people when it quits going up a hill or passing. ... Hence the lawsuit.
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Originally Posted by dishdude
The 2.0 they were dropping in the Jetta for a few years was pretty pathetic. Think it was like 115 hp, 8 valve rig. Closest modern car you'll probably find that's close to 1980's slow.
In Europe you could have gotten the Golf or Vento with the 1.4L engine, Opel Astra with 1.2L and many other compacts with 1.4L engines. But they were not handicapped by slushboxes.
The 2.0 they were dropping in the Jetta for a few years was pretty pathetic. Think it was like 115 hp, 8 valve rig. Closest modern car you'll probably find that's close to 1980's slow.
In Europe you could have gotten the Golf or Vento with the 1.4L engine, Opel Astra with 1.2L and many other compacts with 1.4L engines. But they were not handicapped by slushboxes.
Originally Posted by dishdude
The 2.0 they were dropping in the Jetta for a few years was pretty pathetic. Think it was like 115 hp, 8 valve rig. Closest modern car you'll probably find that's close to 1980's slow.
They are perfectly fine with stick shift. They are developed with stick shift in mind.
The 2.0 they were dropping in the Jetta for a few years was pretty pathetic. Think it was like 115 hp, 8 valve rig. Closest modern car you'll probably find that's close to 1980's slow.
They are perfectly fine with stick shift. They are developed with stick shift in mind.
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