Poll: What is the best indicator of performance? (vote!)

[GasX]

If you had to look at one number to compare cars, what would it be?

0-60
1/4 mile
peak horsepower
skid pad
top speed
0-100
0-100-0
sticker price
engine displacement
peak torque
specific output
power to weight ratio

 

[syzygy]

the 0-100-0 stat is always wicked. that tells you the kind of power the
engine and braking system has over a couple thousand pounds of metal,
peeling rubber and coming to a complete stop in a span of 15 or 20 seconds.

 

[Shmorq]

0-60 seems to be the real life test as opposed to the other stuff like HP and Torque.

 

[GasX]

I think it is Car and Driver that swears by 0-100-0 as the test for a sports car. They routinely run a comparison of top sports cars using this test.

1/4 mile is good for red light to red light racers.

specific output (HP/L) is good for comparing 4 bangers.

 

[Cyberian]

I'm with syzygy on this one!
Skid pad would be next.

As for:
peak horserower
sticker price
engine displacement
peak torque
..... these are just numbers which 'may' be indicatave of other things.

 

[Viper GTS]

0-100-0 followed by skidpad.

Viper GTS

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Depends on the car. Small sports cars (ie: Miata, Z3, and Elisa) should be measured in skid pad. Larger sports cars (ie: Corvette, Ferrari F355, Porsche 911) should be 0-100-0. Muscle cars 1/4 mile easy (that's what they do). Trucks, peak torque. Economy cars, sticker price. Supercars, top speed. Family cars, 0-60.

Engine displacement and specific output are (IMO) poor measures of a car and rarely result in meaningful information. When an Integra loses a 1/4 mile race to a Camero is he gonna scream out his window "well my engine makes more HP/L"? (god, I hope not). Or conversely, when a Camero loses to a 911, is he gonna scream out his window "well my engine is bigger"?

Personally, I go for things that cannot be measured. Feel and chassis dynamics are a big thing for me. Under hard acceleration does the car have a nice "squat and launch" feel or a "tip toe" feel? On entry into a corner, does the front feel like it's planting down hard or trying to pull up? And what is the rear end doing during this? Does the engine suit me personally? All subjective with no conclusive right and wrong answers.

 

[GasX]

The ONLY problem with 0-100-0 is that you could strap on some beefy brakes to a 1960's Ford Galaxy and get a respectable time. Yet, if you get 1 number, that is it. combine it with skid pad and you separate the wheat from the chaff.

 

[geno]

Power -> Weight ratio. When that's good - the performance ##s always follow suit.

 

[Viper GTS]

The ONLY problem with 0-100-0 is that you could strap on some beefy brakes to a 1960's Ford Galaxy and get a respectable time.

Probably not, actually. Modern sports cars have superior brakes, huge rotors, ABS, & of course the advantage of 11" wide tires. They are also light weight, with very even weight distributions.

Viper GTS

 

[GasX]

<< Probably not, actually. Modern sports cars have superior brakes, huge rotors, ABS, &amp; of course the advantage of 11&quot; wide tires. They are also light weight, with very even weight distributions. >>


The carrera 4 is the prime example of what you are saying.

Maybe a galaxy is a bad example, but you get the point that there are no turns in the 0-100-0...

 

[natto fire]

the 0-100-0 is very important but it must be combined with skidpad and slalom speed too.

Hp/Torque are kind of important too, but suppose you have 600Hp and 550 ft-lb of torque, and you have a slippy two-speed automatic and a crappy differential that makes it one-wheel drive then obviously that car is going to waste that power.

 

[Viper GTS]

HP &amp; torque are virtually meaningless without the weight of the vehicle &amp; the gear ratios. There was a thread a while back that a guy posted his engine had 1500+ lb/ft of torque. And he wasn't kidding. But he would never win any drag races, unless there was a huge load tied on.

Or, another example... The 2001 Bentley Arnage. The upper trim level has 400 HP &amp; 619 lb/ft, but it also weighs 4000 lbs if I remember correctly.

Viper GTS

 

[gittyup]

Given the options, 0 - 60.

 

[GasX]

My Chevy Blazer in 4W Lo is AWESOME off the line!



not...

 

[TheAvenger]

another vote for 0-100-0

they can get there and stop in 15 secor less man that rulez

 

[GasX]

Interesting.

Posters seem to favor 0-100-0, but voters (in the poll) seem to favor 0-60...

 

[Rent]

0-100-0. Then skidpad.

 

[GasX]

WOW!

3 votes for price and power to weight ratio is making a surge

interesting.

 

[Sundog]

It all in your mind. I'd take towing torque coupled with mileage anyday over speed. But that is just my opinion.