Which car is faster?

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
I am very new to the car techy world. I have been looking at different specs of different engines and I am very confused. First off, can you tell how strong or fast a car is just by how many liters it has? Or does other things come to play like acceleration and torque. What is faster, a Celica or an Eclipse? Also, my friend has a 89 Celica with a 2.2L engine (automatic) and my other friend has a 93 Accord with a 2.0L engine (Standard), I think that the Accord could out gun his celica, but he disagrees. Who is right? Also, would you call the 93 Eclipse with a 2.0L engine weak? I believe not, but everyone says so...
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Do you have any more info on the cars? It comes down to the HP/Torque and the Weight overall, then there's suspension setups (which the Eclipse and the Celica probably have more aggressive suspensions). The Accord has somewhere around 130HP if I'm not misaken and very low torque. I'm not familiar with the Celicas or the Eclipses though...anyone have some stats?
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
First of all an automatic transmission on a car (except for newer CVT on some cars) totally neuters the power - RAPES it. An automatic is significantly slower than a standard...

A car is not only litres - check out the F1 cars they have under 2.0 litre engines. Then you can get a mustang with a 5.0 and a lotus with a 4 cylinder to out-power it. I think you'r friend's accord would win - but really its impossible for us to say without knowing what that celica is...
 

Soulflare

Golden Member
Apr 16, 2000
1,801
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The engine size doesn't matter, it's the horsepower, torque, gear
ratios and vehicle weight that are the biggest contributing factors
to how fast a car is. A '89 turbocharged RX-7 with it's 1.3L-odd
engine was much faster than many 5.0L+ V-12 powered cars at the time.



<< What is faster, a Celica or an Eclipse? >>



It depends on whether the Eclipse's 2.0L engine is the turbocharged
version or not. The naturally aspirated version of the Eclipse's
engine only makes about 135hp and is a performance dog and would lose,
however the turbocharged version has around 200hp and would tear that
Celica a new a$$hole.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Don't forget about the Celica (GTS?), they come Turboed too in some cases - any idea what that gets for HP?
 

Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
2
81
Don't generalize now on that all automatics are bad. I know many race cars where the auto will turn in the lower ET because it shifts quicker! The automatic in the same car can actually help it be faster too because of the torque convertors load allowing the turbocharger to spool up before launch. Manual cars can't usually spool up a turbo ( I said usually, tehre are exceptions) without the aid of a special device like a &quot;boom box&quot; Drivenright thought I think the accord might beat out the celica.....why not head out to the track some night? :)
 

MustangSVT

Lifer
Oct 7, 2000
11,554
12
81
ask eia234(forgot his number) he knows hella lot about cars. But dont ask him anything else, he'll study your moves for weeks to find your weakness. ouch...
 

Buddha Bart

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
3,064
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0
racing auto's are faster, because they tear themselves apart, and get replaced all the time.
On some really high end cars, the auto is a bit faster.

But still, its as much about control as it is the bonus power.

bart
 

atom

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 1999
4,722
0
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A properly configured auto won't lose much performance to a manual. Problem is most automatics aren't configured for performance, they are configured for economy and seamless shifting.

And why can't manuals spool up a turbo? Won't pushing in the clutch and reving the engine cause the turbo to spool?
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I think you can spool it like that atom

When I said that automatics suck I was referring not to high-end cars or those with new and nicely tuned CVTs - but rather the vast majority of cars on the road...Take for example the PT cruiser. I believe that the standard gets 0-60 in about 8.5 seconds - the auto is a full 2 seconds slower. My mother's imprezza (145 horsepower) with an auto does 0-60 in 11 seconds. The 5-speed, 165 horsepower version does it in 8 seconds flat - and the extra 20 horsepower can only account for about a second there...so the auto added on a brutal 2 seconds.
 

MustangSVT

Lifer
Oct 7, 2000
11,554
12
81
There are few good automatic transmission on Porsche and Ferrari. They have settings u can change for performance or speed. but like skoorb said these are very very exotic car. and again wouldnt stick be more fun on these cars? then again those ppl that can afford those can careless if it's an auto..
 

StickHead

Senior member
Sep 28, 2000
512
0
0
I'm not trying to be mean, or start a flame, but you guys don't know jack about cars. At least not what you put in your post. Sorry.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,155
59
91
<<racing auto's are faster, because they tear themselves apart, and get replaced all the time.>>

Uh, no. The only reason racing automatics break, at least in drag racing, is because of the trans brake. This is, for those who don't know, a replacement valve body for automatics that allows the transmission to be engaged in a neutral state while staging, and then instantly pop into first gear when the button is let go. This is basically like putting the trans in neutral, revving it up, then jerking it into low. (but not quite as harsh)
Racing automatics are faster because: A: they are lighter than 4 or 5 speeds, B: only 1 gear to shift(almost all drag cars use Powerglide 2 speeds), and C: they are much more consistent, and not as hard on the rest of the drivetrain.
Stick shift cars are much more prone to break.
 

Bartman39

Elite Member | For Sale/Trade
Jul 4, 2000
8,867
51
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Sorry Pacfanweb but thats not how a transbrake works... With the transmission in 1st and on the line a button sends power to a solenoid on the transmission to engage reverse in effect locking the rear wheels... When the power is released via the button or a delay box the valve that the solenoid is holding (which is spring loaded) takes it out of reverse and with the transmission in 1st off you go... (very quickly I might add if you use a 2 or 3 step to stall the engine so as not to burn up the converter ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!!!) But your are right about Power glide transmissions they are meat and potatoes of the drag racing world... There are more aftermarket parts made for them than any other automatic...

BTW Top fuel dragsters use an automatic clutch of sorts a kind of dry automatic transmission they handle in excess of 6500 HP...

But the Lenco manual tranny`s that Nascar (Winston cup) uses do handle about 700-800 HP and are shifted without the clutch (high dollar strong stuff)

Also the reason I know a little about this topic is I ran a low 10 second drag car until someone wanted it more than me (stolen) but I am building a truck that should make the 11`s or high 10`s with spray...

As for the rice burners take em to the strip and find out and keep it off the street...
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
What is dual cam? My Eclpse can hit 0-60 in about 11 sec...and are you sure the celica would win, because it too has 135 HP.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
0-60 in elven seconds. Ouch! My SUV can do it in under 10.

BTW - DOHC engines generally are a little slower off the line. They get most of their HP at Higher RPMS. They make great highway racers but usally don't get you off the line incredibly quick.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
For 5k I could get a Spirit R/T and smoke all 3 of those cars ;)
2.2 Turbo Intercooled (225HP /w plenty of torque)....Mmmmmm
 

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71
a 6000...well, it starts, turns, stops.....somtimes

If a 6000 can beat Celica, then my Parisienne can beat a Vette!