Is this normal, or am I really that sick?

[cruiser]

I need a tie breaker from my MoBros and MoSis' here. Last week I was at a meeting of my local Mopar club. While discussing the virtues of the stock slant six engine while simultaneously consuming a slice of pizza, another club guy challenged my assertion that driving an underpowered, underperforming car could be a lot of fun. His Mopar ride was a 440 GTX with a nitrous bottle, which gave him no end of driving entertainment. I on the other hand said that I just love driving my bone stock 1974 slant six Duster. Here's my take: My previous ride was a 440 powered '69 Charger R/T that had no problem pulling stumps out of the ground. But I also love driving the opposite end of the spectrum in a reliably underpowered car. Underpowered as in pulling 79 actual rear wheel horsepower on the chassis dyno. The Duster is an exercise in energy management - as in getting up to and staying at 70 on the interstate. I actually like that, and I don't know why. I just like it. We've all driven underpowered things - mini-bikes, tricycles, pony carts, etc. I maintain that a well rounded driver can enjoy everything in the full driving spectrum if you simply respect it for what it is. He thought this was complete BS, of course. So who is right here? I welcome all opinions here, and if you think I'm a complete nut job that's okay by me. Any tie breakers out there? Or worse, are there any other guys out there who actually enjoy driving underpowered cars and their energy management challenges? (PS: Attached are before and after photos of my Duster engine during its rebuild).

 

[66Valiant528]

I have a dual quad 440 4 spd 410 geared B body but I enjoy driving my wife's 64 Dart 225 almost as much. The car is a joy to drive to the point that sometimes Id rather drive that, underpowered and all! No you're not nuts. Beautiful car btw!

 

[Professor Fate]

You're not crazy.
I'm past the point of needing to have the fastest or quickest car around, there's always going to be someone faster anyhow.
I've become more appreciative of a car I can actually drive and enjoy- something that starts, idles in traffic, and can take on extended trips without worrying about finding decent premium at the next stop. I enjoy cruising down the highway with the window down and my arm on the sill, listening to the steady thrum of the engine and sound of the road under my wheels.
Anyone who doesn't understand that there are more facets to the hobby than straight-line neck snapping acceleration is being a bit narrow-minded.
Sure, I can appreciate a blown Hemi Dart, but I am equally intrigued by the bone-stock 1924 Dodge Brothers 116 Touring car parked next to it.
There's room for all of us in this hobby.

 

[Charrlie_S]

I have had several "under powered" vehicles. Enjoyed most of them. 65 Valiant 170/904/7.25. Y/sa stock eliminator car. could run under the national record, and a "killer' in brackets.
86 Toyota pu. 22RE 4 cly/5 sp/4.30 rear. Towed my racecar all over the east coast. One trip from Florida to Maryland. Hit the scales at just under 5 tons gross weight.
84 D-100, 225/833od/ 3.91 8.75. Tows my racecar just fine. Many other "low" powered vehicles over 50 plus years.
Also had several quicker cars, including a 440 powered, altered wheelbase FX type car, a 383/4sp/8.75 68 GTS, and a front motor dragster.
Actually had more fun with the "low powered" vehicles, and they were more affordable.

 

[SpeedThrills]

There's room for all of us in this hobby.

Exactly. I don't believe either of you is wrong or right.

 

[340six]

It's more Fun to Drive a Slow Car Fast, than to Drive a Fast Car Slow.

 

[toolmanmike]

I need a tie breaker from my MoBros and MoSis' here. Last week I was at a meeting of my local Mopar club. While discussing the virtues of the stock slant six engine while simultaneously consuming a slice of pizza, another club guy challenged my assertion that driving an underpowered, underperforming car could be a lot of fun. His Mopar ride was a 440 GTX with a nitrous bottle, which gave him no end of driving entertainment. I on the other hand said that I just love driving my bone stock 1974 slant six Duster. Here's my take: My previous ride was a 440 powered '69 Charger R/T that had no problem pulling stumps out of the ground. But I also love driving the opposite end of the spectrum in a reliably underpowered car. Underpowered as in pulling 79 actual rear wheel horsepower on the chassis dyno. The Duster is an exercise in energy management - as in getting up to and staying at 70 on the interstate. I actually like that, and I don't know why. I just like it. We've all driven underpowered things - mini-bikes, tricycles, pony carts, etc. I maintain that a well rounded driver can enjoy everything in the full driving spectrum if you simply respect it for what it is. He thought this was complete BS, of course. So who is right here? I welcome all opinions here, and if you think I'm a complete nut job that's okay by me. Any tie breakers out there? Or worse, are there any other guys out there who actually enjoy driving underpowered cars and their energy management challenges? (PS: Attached are before and after photos of my Duster engine during its rebuild).

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That's a beauty and nothing wrong with a slant 6 powered car. You can enjoy yours as much or more than the 440 powered laughing gas machine.

 

[wawarnick]

One of my favorite rides was a beater 64 Dodge Dart GT Convertible 225 six with a 4 speed. I have also had a 66 Dart Convertible 273, 68 Baracuda Forumal S 340 4 speed, 67 Charger 383 4 speed and now a 67 Dart Convertible 340. They are/were all fun to drive.

 

[mopar head]

I used to own a 44 hp. R-8 Loved that pos. lol

 

[Murray]

One of my rides is a '71 F250, 4WD, 4.11 gears. Top end on the freeway is 55mph- but fun for what it is.

 

[Lefty71]

You are not crazy. When i raced dirt bikes in the woods back in the day, i was young and literally always a sucker for big bore POWER..... you know, the kind that rips your arms off and keeps you so tired you can barely finish the race. But it can climb any hill and rocket out of any ditch. I was eternally jealous of the (many) older guys riding two and four hour scrambles on a 200cc or even 125cc bike that could whip my tired a$$ with FINESSE!!! You do you, thats all that matters in this life.

 

[pauly]

Doesn’t matter how fast your car is…..somebody always has a faster one. Build what you want and enjoy it.

 

[HemiSSDart]

I love driving my 75 Dart SE crew cab with the slant six and factory A/C! But you better be up to speed when you switch that A/C on! I agree with what you say, I laugh at all the Beemers and Lexi that I cruise by with their uuuuge car payments...

 

[MadScientistMat]

Different cars are different sorts of fun. With my Dart, I've been trying to see how much power I can squeeze out of an engine that was never meant to make big power. I haven't dynoed my current build yet, but my previous version put 120 up to the wheels before losing a rod bearing.

At one time, I had a completely gutless 2.3 powered Ranger with a five speed. You could keep your foot to the floor and frantically row the gears to hold the engine at peak power - and barely keep up with traffic. But it felt like I was driving like a complete maniac.

I've also had cars that I would need to have stepped up my driving skills a lot to really get the most out of. There was a C4 Corvette that I autocrossed a few times and usually ended up with at least one run where I left the course tail-first. Fun car, but I couldn't push it anywhere near its limits on public roads.