Another way to look at it ....

If your car can break the laws before you can shift out of 2nd... you aren't going to be able to stretch your engine on a daily basis?

I like a car that shifts into 3rd and uses 70% of that gear before you leave safe driving speed. Around here its 70mph +15mph fudge factor so I'm looking for the right amount of HP to be at 90mph at 70% of 3rd gear.

I know....I'm probably a engineer's nightmare, but that's how us simple folks try to frame this debate

90mph in 2nd gear, means I'm not getting to shift into 3rd very often? LOL

My guess? 275HP would be a lot of fun for a small sports car