Why do old cars with low hp feel faster than new cars with higher hp and torque?

Desii wrote: ↑ My uncle drove a 1985 Camaro Z28 which has a 5.0L which put out approx 150hp and 245lb of torque. According to him, that car was much faster than the following cars (cars he has driven that we have within the family) :

Infiniti Q50
BMW 535I
AUDI A5

He claims the camaro accelerated much faster and overall felt much more powerful. On paper it seems like the camaro would not stand a chance against any of the cars mentioned before. Is my uncle just crazy or am I missing something?

koffey wrote: ↑ Thanks to the Smokey & the Bandit I grew up believing the greatest performance car possible was the Pontiac Trans-Am.

Then, one day, I got to strap one on. 6.6 liters of thundering American fury, delivering literally tens of horsepower to a chassis set up to outmatch the finest riding lawnmowers Albania could produce.

I could feel it rusting around me as I stomped the throttle, the three-speed tranny lurching me forward until the glacier I was racing caught me and ruined my traction.

booblehead wrote: ↑ It could be the rust has eaten thru the sheet metal of the camaro, thus car is much lighter than the newer cars

koffey wrote: ↑ Thanks to the Smokey & the Bandit I grew up believing the greatest performance car possible was the Pontiac Trans-Am.

Then, one day, I got to strap one on. 6.6 liters of thundering American fury, delivering literally tens of horsepower to a chassis set up to outmatch the finest riding lawnmowers Albania could produce.

I could feel it rusting around me as I stomped the throttle, the three-speed tranny lurching me forward until the glacier I was racing caught me and ruined my traction.

Desii wrote: ↑ My uncle drove a 1985 Camaro Z28 which has a 5.0L which put out approx 150hp and 245lb of torque. According to him, that car was much faster than the following cars (cars he has driven that we have within the family) :

Infiniti Q50
BMW 535I
AUDI A5

He claims the camaro accelerated much faster and overall felt much more powerful. On paper it seems like the camaro would not stand a chance against any of the cars mentioned before. Is my uncle just crazy or am I missing something?

rkjredflag wrote: ↑ My dad just bought a 1999 Pontiac Trans AM WS6. The car does the quarter mile in the mid 13s with 320 HP and 345 ft.lb.

I drove it right after he brought it home. While On paper, that HP number does not look all that impressive, compared to many modern cars, it certainly does feel fast. Driving around responsibly, it just felt like an average car from 1999, with a loud exhaust. But, when you put the skinny pedal down, it feels like you are awakening a big angry beast.

On some modern cars, especially those with auto transmissions, it can sometimes feel like the computer takes your input, thinks about it, and then delivers the amount of down shifts and power it thinks you need, while trying to keep you safe. Older vehicles tend to have a more direct feel. There is no "torque management," traction control, and stability control trying to limit you from driving at the edge of control.