How Much Horsepower Do You Need To Have A Really Good Time?

Thanks to models like the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat, getting a car with huge horsepower is more affordable than ever. While having 707 HP at the disposal of your right foot sounds amazing (and a little scary), something with less power is probably better for daily use.

I spent a little bit of time in a Charger SRT Hellcat and, while it was insanely fun, it was too much. The noise that the 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 made was addictive and the way the machine pinned you back into your seat never got old. But the noise meant that police officers could hear you from a mile away – and getting up to illegal speeds didn’t take much, so you were always risking your driving license.

When I drove the sedan a while ago, it was a nice warm day, but I still had trouble finding traction on Detroit’s horrendous roads. I can’t even imagine how much of a handful the Hellcat twins are on a rainy day.

On the other hand, I was the proud owner of a ’92 Mazda Miata for a year. The little sports car made just 116 hp when new. Unlike the Charger Hellcat, the Miata was fun nearly everywhere except for on a highway. The little four-cylinder had trouble getting up to highway speeds and passing was laughably impossible.

Still, there’s something enjoyable about whipping a slow car quickly down a road. And the fact that you’re not traveling at speeds that will have you regretting the rest of your life or spending a few nights in jail is also reassuring.

I recently attended a trip to drive some Subarus on ice (that article is still a work in progress) and found the WRX and WRX STI sedans to have just the right amount of power.

It wasn’t too long ago when 300 HP was actually a lot for a road car. But now, rental cars and entry-level sports cars have more. Still, anything in that neighborhood is more than enough for the road.

It’s a good amount of power to ensure that you don’t get stuck behind a minivan in the fast lane, but not too much to make you leave it at home when weather conditions get bad. Cars with that output are accessible in all weather conditions, are easy to drive, and don’t get boring quickly. But, in the end, it also depends on you, the driver, and how much you mush the right pedal, too, as three hundred ponies are more than enough to get you into trouble.

What do you guys think? Is 300 HP the sweet spot to have fun or is there no such thing as too much horsepower?