[pandaman]

You don't need a powerful engine to speed: even Kia Sorento can still drive 100+ mph. Powerful engine gives better acceleration, which provides comfort and safety not just for yourself but other drivers. For example you don't create a hazard while doing a left turn, merging from a ramp, passing on the oncoming lane, doing a right turn from a secondary street into a high speed road etc. And, unless it's a DIY mod, a car with a powerful engine also comes with suspension and brakes to match so it's safer overall.

[asdff]

In all the situations you described, a powerful engine just makes the maneuver more risky. Sure you can turn right and get up to speed on a 50mph road instantly, but you having a faster car doesn't make the person coming up the road behind you have a faster reaction time, so they will still end up slamming on the brakes and causing traffic when they see you pull out and cut them off. All these other maneuvers aren't hazardous if you do them legally and wait your turn. If you are driving safely and legally, there is no reason that you need improved brakes designed to stop you from 100mph or suspension designed to take a sharp turn at 80mph.

Believe me, I see these fast cars zipping on and off freeways and roads all day in my city, and they absolutely do not make the situation any more safe for anyone at all. They just create more chaos and uncertainty accelerating and decelerating so fast and jerking around the car so much, and a lot more noise on the street since even classy cars like Mercedes Benzes have this obnoxious throaty exhaust now as it seems, at least for the fast models.

[pandaman]

I am not sure I understand you. I am not going to cut off anybody, not everyone driving an expensive car is a douche you pictured. I can safely turn right in a much shorter gap than a budget SUV with underpowered engine could without cutting off anyone. All other maneuvers are not getting safer if performed at half speed.

And sure, technically you can take all the time you want doing the left turn even when the light turned red, it will be of a little consolation when a distracted driver t-bones you.

As far as suspension and brakes go - there is no constant need of course but in the extreme situations it can be life and death. Stuff can happen: animals jumping in front of you, stuff falling from trucks, your tires cut or blowing out for whatever reason, other cars not driving legally and safely etc. etc.

Also, I believe you, you notice bad drivers in expensive cars and have the class hatred for them. So do I, when I see stoners in the beater civics driving like maniacs, yet I figure that it's not the Honda problem, somehow.