Handling vs. Horsepower: What to Empty Your Wallet on

By Nathan Bagster

For most of us car junkies, the quest to unlock our vehicle's full potential is an ongoing plight, marked by countless monetary decisions, busted knuckles, and late nights in the garage. But an ever-present shadow on this path is a choice that we all have to face when buying our next upgrade or planning for the ultimate build - should I invest in handling or horsepower?

On the one hand, the allure of raw unkept horsepower is undeniable and quite often pulls the wool over our eyes when we can’t keep the car straight enough to cross the finish. On the other, the pursuit of a ride that handles on rails offers a chance to outmaneuver the other guy in the curves but leaves us seeing taillights in the straightaway.

To further the dilemma, there is an ongoing discourse throughout the speed community that brings this Coke or Pepsi debate anywhere there is gasoline and rubber to burn. Follow along as we discuss the implications of each upgrade path and the critical balance between power and control.

With Power Comes Temptation

Few sensations rival the rush of commanding a drag machine with unbridled power down straight away. From blistering burnouts to straight-line acceleration, high-performance engines embody everything we love about the sports associated with this hobby.

For those who crave adrenaline-fueled thrills, tossing a few hundred dollars in power upgrades represents an irresistible temptation—an opportunity to transform the mundane commuter into a pulse-pounding experience.

However, that pursuit of power comes with its own set of challenges and limitations.

While horsepower numbers may bring thrills, the fundamental dynamics of vehicle control and stability cannot be ignored. With great power comes great responsibility and without the proper enhancements to complement the increase in power, folks run the risk of encountering a host of handling issues —from traction loss during acceleration to instability at high speeds.

Anyone who has experienced a muscle car in the rain will know what I mean, and those who don’t may find themselves in a perilous game of diminishing returns, costly repairs, and potentially, hospital bills.

Insert Mustang and crowd joke here

Left in Suspense(ion)

In contrast to that brute force, the significance of handling can and should not be overstated. While much of your driving experience can be left to your own experience and skill, a properly tuned suspension can help keep you off the guardrail and out of the ditch.

Responsive steering, stiff body roll, and balanced chassis dynamics can lay the foundation for a well-handled automobile. By investing in simple upgrades—such as wider tires, adjustable shocks, and upgraded sway bars —drivers can begin to harness the full potential of their ride.

An Example

If you’ve followed us for a bit of time, you may have seen my daily – a 2006 Subaru Forester. While it doesn’t have much in the way of power, over the past 2 years I’ve managed to turn it from a swaying boat in the water to a fairly nice little curve cutter using some simple suspension upgrades.

And I did it on the cheap!

With an initial $135 investment into some junkyard Impreza struts, I was able to bring the car roughly 2 inches closer to the ground – essentially lowering its center of gravity and accounting for the top-heavy nature of the model. Crazily enough, this alone made the car handle dramatically better around corners.

Next came a used 20mm solid rear sway bar I found on FB marketplace for $50 to replace the stock 17mm hollow bar. It helped immensely with the heavy body roll that the Forester was suffering from and even decreased some oversteer.

Lastly, I added a rear strut tower bar I found for $15, which boxes the struts and strengthens the chassis. This addition virtually decreased oversteer and in snowy conditions, almost encouraged understeer, simulating a rear-wheel-drive car – which I’m used to.

Before, I wasn’t able to comfortably corner the car at anything over 35-40mph without feeling like it would roll or skip off the road. Now though, I can hit a solid curve at 50+ without much thought outside of speed limits.  The best part is that, while I didn’t necessarily increase any power, I increased the conditions in which I can push my little grocery-getter.

All for around $200.

Striking a Balance

While the loudest voices may say that the dilemma between power and handling can only go one way, the ideal approach lies in striking a delicate balance between the two.

Without the ability to effectively manage the increased power, drivers may find themselves grappling with a litany of handling deficiencies—from understeer and oversteer to unpredictable weight transfer dynamics.

Rather than viewing them as mutually exclusive pursuits, savvy wrenchers recognize the symbiotic relationship between going fast and controlling. Otherwise, the consequences of neglecting even the most basic handling upgrades more than likely won’t go in your favor.

By marrying horsepower and handling, Joe Rocket can transform even the slowest jalopy into a machine capable of conquering the open road with confidence and finesse.

But hey it’s your money and your build – who am I to tell you what to do?