How much is too much

[cowboyjoedesign]

If I want a daily driver 2g that I can take out of town and drive daily, what should be my max goal HP wise to the wheels? I want to be able to enjoy the car all the time.

 

[TheFlashDSM]

350hp

 

[eSpyder407]

Fast
Cheap
Reliable

...Pick 2

 

[pauleyman]

You're asking an unaswerable question. Hp alone isn't the question. Health of every system of the car is in question. Quantify that some more. On a bone stock drivetrain car that doesn't have a million miles I personally would be comfortable with about 350 to 400. Drive it like an idiot and it will break whether you are bone stock or 1000hp. Modify the car and you will need to address worn parts. Number one complaint I hear is "trans are junk" in a dsm. No. They get old. If I discern any play during a clutch change I take the trans apart. I have changed dozens of clutches for people and tell them they have 50 thou play in the input shaft and they ignore me. Those same people complain when the trans breaks.

 

[GSTampa]

I was making 320hp on my 2g gst with simple bolt ons 16g, fmic, exhaust, link, etc and daily drove the car for 2 years. Car was a blast to drive and enough power to run with most everything you'll encounter on the streets.

 

[miliman13]

I feel that if you have to ask this, you may not yet be ready to deal with anything above a stock oem car.

I don't intent to be pretentious, but many years ago i too thought like this and i can tell you from experience that there may be more to learn before you have to decide between power and longevity.

 

[Dapperz]

I asked the same question when I began my research. It really will depend on what all you do to the car and the shape of existing parts. 350 ish will be a solid number to have for a lot of fun in my opinion.

 

[cowboyjoedesign]

I asked the same question when I began my research. It really will depend on what all you do to the car and the shape of existing parts. 350 ish will be a solid number to have for a lot of fun in my opinion.

This was the original number that I had in mind as well. I think anything beyond that and it becomes a handful to take on vacation and what not.