Random question about listed HP from a marketing perspective...
 

Is there a reason manufacturers give cars (ill use my old 2006 G35 AT as an example) 297 HP as opposed to 300 or more? seems to me from a marketing perspective would be better for them to sell the car with 3 or 4 HP more to surpass the 300 mark!?

Just something i always asked myself....

Why are things for sale for say $1.99 or $989.99? Marketing mysteries?

Well thats because something for sale at 1.99 seems cheaper than $2.00 and has been proven to generate more sales even if only a one cent difference....

but with HP, the more the better right?

Lawyers, engineering vs cost, etc.

In the muscle car era, HP ratings were conservative. Engines such as the Z28 302 -290HP, Chevy 427 - 435HP and Chrysler 426 hemi - 425HP to name a few, put out a lot more HP but were rated less to keep insurance rates down or so the story goes.

each engine a company makes has to go under inspection from this organization i forget the name but they do test's on an engine to make sure the manufactures give the correct HP numbers so they cant just lie to make it sound better they have to go with what the car really has

SAE testing...

yeah that haha

Also, some of the power that reaches the tires is lost along the way, so "300hp" ain't exactly what you're getting, anyway. Where do the car manufacturers draw the line, old buddy? Especially true with the younger generation, who seems to lack the self-control in city driving, putting human lives at risk. If you analyze it objectively, it's scary to put so much power in the hands of an adolescent, an emotionally unstable or irresponsible person.