Otoh,
Trying to avoid sounding like an "anti-advancement/refinement"
trog, I wonder how much more "oomph" cars need, motor-wise?

My '02 will put ones' eyes back in their sockets and handles far
better than my eroding skills can push, esp. on our 2 lane black
top Mtn roads. It is no Turbo PCar or Ferrari or Viper, but it plain
hauls azz...this is with the wimpy small block 350 and maybe 350
hp.

Do I, or many of us, really need another 80-100 hp for driving
around, taking trips, cruising, etc.?

And, the rush to add gizmos and stuff, simply ratchets up the
glitch potential and cranks up the price...all the car mfg'rs are
guilty and caught up "in the race" for hot licks from the car mags
and bench racing bs gang, imo...I must be getting older, lol!