[Closed] "Modern cars are too powerful for UK roads"

Or vastly too powerful according to some. This is something I've seen repeated on this forum with some regularity over the last few weeks. Every time I read this I wonder where this comes from as it's not really got any basis in fact. I can't help but wonder if people are knee jerking to stories like [url= http://www.****/news/article-2243362/Audi-unveils-RS6-Avant-worlds-fastest-estate-car-speeds-190mph.html ]this[/url] in the Daily Mail (of course), which neglects to mention how incredibly rare this millionaires toy actually is.

Anyway, I did some googling of some typical cars to see.

1974 MK1 Golf 1.3. 59bhp. 790kg = 75 bhp per tonne.
2013 MK6 Golf 1.4. 84bhp. 1229kg = 68 bhp per tonne.

1982 E30 BMW 316i 1.6 89bhp. 1070kg = 83.18 bhp per tonne.
2014 E90 BMW 316i 1.6. 114bhp. 1440kg = 83.5 bhp per tonne.

So in real terms, where it actually counts, ie power to weight ratio there's often no increase in the average car. Sometimes a decrease as cars get safer and more luxurious. With an increased emphasis on efficiency engines are getting smaller, not more powerful, and cars are coming with more and more features as standard adding weight. Even if you compare "high performance" models ......

1975 Golf GTI has 148 bhp per tonne. The current mk7 Golf GTI has 173.6 bhp per tonne. 1985 E30 M3 206.1 bhp per tonne. 2013 E90 M3 240 bhp per tonne.

So even at the most extreme end of the performance scale for what could be described as average cars which represent a tiny fraction of models sold, you might have an increase of 15-30% over 30+ years. And in that time there have been huge advances in tyres, brake and overall safety.

So will people stop saying modern cars are too powerful?