First Drive: 2004 Ferrari Challenge Stradale

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
I'm just :Q that they're getting 425HP out of a 3.6L N/A engine

But look at how much money that engine costs. It makes a lot of power because they made it produce its torque so high in the powerband... max power comes at 8500 rpm.

Formula 1 uses 3 liter engines, and they make 800 hp. They do this by making it rev higher, about 18,000 rpm. They still only have around 270 lbs of torque though.

Just so you know, the differential ratio is about 5:1, sometimes 6:1 in a typical F1 car... so its kind of irrelevant how much "torque" they make (because its multiplied by the differential ratio). Look at the torque at the wheels versus the speed of the wheels (the only "real" measurement of torque")... and I guarantee you, you'll see a tremendous difference from a street car. :-D

As far as the Ferrari... they're gorgeous. They're relatively fast. They definitely get the attention. THIS is why people buy them--not really to drive like a bat-out-of-hell. If you wanted that, a Z06 would be almost as fast.... at, oh, $125K less? 🙂

Oh, and my 1996 Civic EX coupe... if I stuck on an Eibach sticker and Koni sticker in the side window... and then a big NOS sticker on the other side.... and then cut the springs 2"... and put on an exhaust big enough to house a Butterball turkey... I could ROAST any Ferrari up to 200mph. yeah. 🙂