What is the most underpowered vehicle found in large numbers on the roads today?

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted by emg
Originally Posted by nthach
Any Subaru with the 2.0/2.5L N/A engine


Back in the real world, my Forester is usually the first away from the lights without even pushing the gas pedal very far. And while it's no Ferrari, it's as fast as any other car I've owned, particularly once you hit 4k rpm.

I do agree about the 2.0 Impreza, though. The one we test-drove was a bit slow for modern driving.


What's the gearing? I drove an early (2.2) Outback...it wasn't bad around town, but the tradeoff was 3300RPM on the highway.

 

[emg]

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle
What's the gearing? I drove an early (2.2) Outback...it wasn't bad around town, but the tradeoff was 3300RPM on the highway.


It's a CVT, so the ratio range is pretty wide. I think the manual Forester is still around 3500rpm on the highway, but this one rarely goes above 2000 there.

 

[Oil_Whisperer]

My 1st gen RAV4 isn't the slowest, but it's pretty slow. I use it a lot off road and it's great for that. You wouldn't believe the mud I have been through with it.

 

[Brons2]

We had an 81 Pontiac T1000, it was the Pontiac version of the Chevette. I don't know how many HP it was, but it wasn't many. I grew up in Oregon, but we used to drive to California 2-3 times a year. I remember going over the mountain passes like Siskiyou Summit on I-5, 40-45 was about all it could do loaded with the 4 of us and our bags.

 

[Brons2]

Originally Posted by Rhymingmechanic
Originally Posted by brages
There was an era (the 1980's) when almost every car made was very slow by modern standards and some were outrageously underpowered.


I can vividly remember passing some of those cars that were pinging so badly I could hear it as I drove by. This thread reminds me that it hasn't happened in a long time.


Drop a turbo LS in it, problem solved

As seen on Sloppy Mechanics

[edit] eh I was responding to one of the Fairmont posts. You can drop an LS into a 80s Fairmont with Fox body parts.

 

[MNgopher]

This thread reminds me of how good we generally have it these days. Compared to the cars of my youth, we are spoiled.

In terms of modern stuff, I couldn't say.

Going back, my favorites were:

My '89 Chevy Cavalier. 96hp and a 3 speed auto. That was at sea level - it was a lot less when I drove it in Colorado! Everything was a momentum game. Push harder on the accelerator and it made a bunch more noise, but didn't go any faster. Good times!

Wife had a late 70's Ford Fairmont. And I had thought my car was underpowered...

Had a friend with a Toyota Land Cruiser J40. Loved the bumper sticker. 0-60mph... Same Day!!!!

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle


What's the gearing? I drove an early (2.2) Outback...it wasn't bad around town, but the tradeoff was 3300RPM on the highway.

It just seems like Subarus are geared in a way for low-gear grunt at the expense of keeping the engine at a reasonable speed on the highway. New ones have aggressive DBW programming to give the impression of fluid acceleration. I've driven a friend's Forester many times, it's adequate but to get it to climb up long grades I would need to shift it into manual 2/3 and even so, that engine is screaming between 4000-5500RPM. I would expect that behavior in a Honda.

 

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Delta
Originally Posted by brages
You don't see many NA diesel Jettas or air-cooled VW buses out there on the highways anymore, but there are still 4-cyl Rangers and S10s plugging along.

So... what do you think is the slowest vehicle that is still pretty common on the roads today? Is it the Ranger?


Nah, 2.2 S10 is definitely slower

Mines especially slow with 3.42 rear gear... I've gotten passed by loaded semi's going up the 10% grade mountain...

I had the same 2.2 in my Cavalier and it felt terribly slow. The 4-cylinder Camry I replaced it with feels quite peppy in comparison. I can't imagine that engine in a truck.

There are some people today that would call the 260 horses in my Mustang underpowered...

 

[CR94]

Originally Posted by MNgopher
This thread reminds me of how good we generally have it these days. Compared to the cars of my youth, we are spoiled.
... Loved the bumper sticker. 0-60mph... Same Day!!!!
My cousin inherited a '36 Chevy from her grandfather on the other side. She attached a bumper sticker that said "Don't Honk! I'm pedaling as fast as I can!"

 

[MNgopher]

Family had an 82 Ford Escort station wagon, with a 70 hp 1.6l engine and three speed auto. We affectionately called it the "Fred Flinstonemobile" and called out for everyone start pedaling when it was time to accelerate.

Reminds me of the blues brothers line "Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration don't fail me now!"

 

[PandaBear]

Ford Aspire count? What about Geo Metro?

Prius is nothing in comparison.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
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.


That thing is not a car, it is a scooter slapped onto a student project and rushed out the door for regulation. I got a gift card to test drive that thing and as soon as I open the door I know this thing is bad, but when I test drive it I realized I want to end it asap. That e-pedal, man, what in the world were they thinking. That suicide rear door, Why don't they make it a coupe instead? That skinny tall tire, they are probably in such a low volume you need to order online or reserve a couple days ahead of time locally.

That is the car that makes a Prius look like a Lexus.

 

[Rmay635703]

Originally Posted by oil_film_movies
Originally Posted by OVERKILL
I'd wager there isn't much that is slower than the 1st gen Smart forTWO with the 0.8L diesel. It had 45HP and a 0-60 time of 19.2 seconds.

You're coming in 2nd place. I win for the BMW i3's 34 hp when in Rex-mode. I like to brag, its my thing. .... Most of the other posts don't count since they are not commonly-seen current cars on the road like the OP asked for.


Funny thing is the Irex is perfectly capable in Europe since you get a full size tank and can engage hold mode at any time, which leaves you with 165+ horsepower in a small car instead of 35.

Here in the US though government mandates require a small gas tank and don't allow the driver to engage hold mode making for a dangerous car.

Gotta thank government legislators for making a small but roomy car with excellent visibility
into a dangerous one for no real reason.

 

[aquariuscsm]

The slowest cars I've ever driven had to be either my friend's Maverick or my sister's Mustang II.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Older minivans. Probably up until the mid-2000s. They all seem like they could barely get out of their own way.

 

[9050lx]

Originally Posted by Linctex
Y'all complaining...... PFFFFFFTTTTTTTT!!

Try a 1980 Ford Fairmont Station wagon with a 3.3 liter (200 cube) straight six and
a C4 auto trans, wheezing through a tiny 1-bbl carb - - with the A/C on
and a whole 71 net HP
with 2 adults and 4 kids (and 2 dogs) piled inside

MOST of Y'all have NO CLUE what a TRULY underpowered vehicle is!!!

it would probably be fun to put a 5.0 liter V8, an 8.8 inch rear end and a T-5 transmission in one of those.Not to mention all the fox body goodies that would help it go down the road.Maybe a torque arm and some subframe supports.

 

[9050lx]

Originally Posted by s2krunner
My 4cyl Ranger isnt too bad for daily. Slow but maintenance are cheap and easy. Sad but i have to sell it. Enjoy it once you buy it!

Supposedly you can loosen the (2) 8mm bolts on the crank sensor to advance the timing a few degrees (2.3 l mazda/Ford). Don't know if the computer readjusts, but mine seemed to run better after the mod.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted by 9050lx
Originally Posted by Linctex
Y'all complaining...... PFFFFFFTTTTTTTT!!

Try a 1980 Ford Fairmont Station wagon with a 3.3 liter (200 cube) straight six and
a C4 auto trans, wheezing through a tiny 1-bbl carb - - with the A/C on
and a whole 71 net HP
with 2 adults and 4 kids (and 2 dogs) piled inside

MOST of Y'all have NO CLUE what a TRULY underpowered vehicle is!!!

it would probably be fun to put a 5.0 liter V8, an 8.8 inch rear end and a T-5 transmission in one of those.Not to mention all the fox body goodies that would help it go down the road.Maybe a torque arm and some subframe supports.


It's been done a few times

You can get a 351W in there too. A 408 stroker would really motivate it

 

[9050lx]

Originally Posted by OVERKILL
Originally Posted by 9050lx
Originally Posted by Linctex
Y'all complaining...... PFFFFFFTTTTTTTT!!

Try a 1980 Ford Fairmont Station wagon with a 3.3 liter (200 cube) straight six and
a C4 auto trans, wheezing through a tiny 1-bbl carb - - with the A/C on
and a whole 71 net HP
with 2 adults and 4 kids (and 2 dogs) piled inside

MOST of Y'all have NO CLUE what a TRULY underpowered vehicle is!!!

it would probably be fun to put a 5.0 liter V8, an 8.8 inch rear end and a T-5 transmission in one of those.Not to mention all the fox body goodies that would help it go down the road.Maybe a torque arm and some subframe supports.

Wifey is sure to have a say in it.I better stick to the Mustang lest I get served papers! I could argue the need for the 408 then settle for a little 347!
It's been done a few times

You can get a 351W in there too. A 408 stroker would really motivate it

 

[littlehulkster]

Originally Posted by PandaBear
Ford Aspire count? What about Geo Metro?

Prius is nothing in comparison.


I don't know, I find it kind of hard to rag on the Metro/Aspire/Festiva because fundamentally, those were cars that were never built to go fast. They were city cars, designed for the streets of densley populated cities where space is at a premium and the fastest you'll ever go is 45. In that context, they were all fine, really. Great MPG, reliable, cheap to run and own, and you could park them anywhere. Surprisingly space efficient for such a small car, too. They weren't much good on the interstate, but that was never the point.

They were very good for what they were, it's just what they were was not really something Americans like.