Lets talk HorsePower!

[Allaidback]

Ok guys...new to this high HP talk after purchasing a AWE stage3 S4. It just seems at local car meets, all people can talk about is HP numbers. Now I know these S4's are fast, but what makes them that way? How do they line up to other higher hp cars? How would you compare a 400hp audi to lets say a 600hp nissan? or a turbo car to NA one? I don't really know how to back up the fact that these cars are fast without racing. I'm just sick of that fact that a good portion of people think that just because another car has 100hp on you, your car is slower. Thanks for the help...and I already know WEIGHT plays a huge roll in this!

[DEB5S4]

IBTL

[exorcet]

more important numbers are average torque and average hp. the S4 can take 'higher horsepower' cars because the average torque is fairly insane.

but there are so many independant variables - weight, transmission gear ratios, etc. HP/TQ are irrelevant when comparing different cars, obviously 0-60, quarter mile, etc. are better indicators.

[RedRocketS4]

^^^ +1... and quattro helps put the power to the ground. 4 wheels are better than 2, especially from a dig.

[OldYella]

AWD = more Drivetrain loss than fwd or rwd.

Auto vs manual also plays a role where manual means less loss of power at the wheels.

[2ndEngineS4]

Torque. Area under the curve. Read about it.

[Videlov]

Don't mind the horsepower so much, always look at the torque. Torque are the real numbers of the car. And AWD is only better from the dig, from rolls there's drivetrain loss as OldYella said.

[1997gtx]

Well, you can look at the HP because street cars typically have similar HP and TQ numbers -- or, are at least proportional.

A 600hp Supra will undoubtedly be faster than a 400hp S4, as there is no such thing as a 400hp S4 with 1000tq.
--Adam

[audimeister]

Everybody who talks about horsepower lies.

[JMTx86]

As far as im concerned HP means nothing. The only thing dynos are good for is tunning. Your car is only going to do what you make it do. If you can't drive then your car can have all the hp in the world its not going to help.

This thread is worthless.

[2ndEngineS4]

. . . as there is no such thing as a 400hp S4 with 1000tq.
--Adam

But there is a HST shelby cobra. . .

300 hp

1000 lb-ft torque

http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/HST+Shelby+Cobra+427/

and yeah, I know it's not the same, but it's still cool.

[2ndEngineS4]

This thread is worthless.

And silly threads about getting your car sideways with no bumper are priceless. . .

[JMTx86]

And silly threads about getting your car sideways with no bumper are priceless. . .

Yea i enjoy my cars what can i say. Sideways in the car, wheelies on the bike, I suppose street racing is no good either. Sounds like you should keep your car stock. I enjoy the toys I have, how I enjoy it and what you think is "priceless" is your own opinion but id be willing to bet ive had more fun in one day then you'll have in 20 years.

[saucys4]

But there is a HST shelby cobra. . .

300 hp

1000 lb-ft torque

http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/HST+Shelby+Cobra+427/

and yeah, I know it's not the same, but it's still cool.

How the hell do they get 1000 lb-ft out of 300hp?

[Blake260]

^^^electric motors

[HOFFY11]

AWD = more Drivetrain loss than fwd or rwd.

Auto vs manual also plays a role where manual means less loss of power at the wheels.

manual means less torque to the wheels..automatic= torque converter..more torque

[2ndEngineS4]

Yea i enjoy my cars what can i say. Sideways in the car, wheelies on the bike, I suppose street racing is no good either. Sounds like you should keep your car stock. I enjoy the toys I have, how I enjoy it and what you think is "priceless" is your own opinion but id be willing to bet ive had more fun in one day then you'll have in 20 years.

Yeah, keep it up, Sport, one day those wheelies will be in a wheelchair. It will catch up to you sooner or later.

You sir, are a clown, and your rhetoric, like most of your posts, is played out.

As for me, I'm JHM stage III, ho, come see 'bout me. I don't need to advertise my shit.

Laterz.

[Justin:NorCal]

Think about torque as the force being applied to the rod (lever). The horsepower is the ability to continue doing that work. So torque is the force exerted. More force = more pull

[JMTx86]

Yeah, keep it up, Sport, one day those wheelies will be in a wheelchair. It will catch up to you sooner or later.

You sir, are a clown, and your rhetoric, like most of your posts, is played out.

As for me, I'm JHM stage III, ho, come see 'bout me. I don't need to advertise my shit.

Laterz.

Well im glad you pay attention to my posts b/c ive never seen your name before. As far as "come see about me" you better stick with not advertising your shit because we all know stage 3 s4's are played out.

if you want to continue this PM me.

[SourDieselS4]

How the hell do they get 1000 lb-ft out of 300hp?

Electric motors make max tq at 0 rpm's too IIRC

[Dimcorner]

I think weight plays a very large role in it.
My 2800 lbs RX7 had 330whp and 300Tq. I remember running Supras with 100hp over me (wheel) and I was able to pull on them. I also saw a 400hp civc rip a new one into a 600hp Supra (for a short sprint).

I honestly don't know how a 300-400 whp S4 would feel like, but I don't think it would be faster than something 800lbs lighter with similar hp.
Then again, most cars out there are in the 3600lbs range. Unless you run into civic's, sentras, miatas or RX7/8 the weight will be similar to an S4.

[1997gtx]

While HP doesn't mean "anything" it is still a great indicator of how fast a car "can be" ... no matter the dyno, a 500hp car (on a dyno) will still be quick.

It the world of logical reasoning, HP makes perfect sense. If you are getting down to bench racing, then of course it's different.

But when I pull up to the drag strip and an EVO says "I dyno'd at 500awhp," I know i'm in trouble with a stage 1 s4 ... I doubt any of you would say "Horsepower doesn't matter, fool!"
--Adam

[Dimcorner]

While HP doesn't mean "anything" it is still a great indicator of how fast a car "can be" ... no matter the dyno, a 500hp car (on a dyno) will still be quick.

It the world of logical reasoning, HP makes perfect sense. If you are getting down to bench racing, then of course it's different.

But when I pull up to the drag strip and an EVO says "I dyno'd at 500awhp," I know i'm in trouble with a stage 1 s4 ... I doubt any of you would say "Horsepower doesn't matter, fool!"
--Adam

Totally agree. It's a pretty good way to guesstimate performance, but in real life there are more factors that need to be considered in order to accurately gauge how a car will do.

[nateS4]

As far as im concerned HP means nothing. The only thing dynos are good for is tunning. Your car is only going to do what you make it do. If you can't drive then your car can have all the hp in the world its not going to help.

This thread is worthless.

Take your car to a test in tune at a track, run as many times as you can. It's just you vs the clock, no time lost in reaction. There you will what your car can do. My stage II S4 did 13.45 @ 104mp 1/4 78 degree with a horrible 60ft time of 1.9 because my stock clutch has 125k on it and it just cant hold a good turbo start..

[JMTx86]

But when I pull up to the drag strip and an EVO says "I dyno'd at 500awhp," I know i'm in trouble with a stage 1 s4 ... I doubt any of you would say "Horsepower doesn't matter, fool!"
--Adam

It does matter but its s symbiotic relationship between the driver and the car. Ive run into plenty of people who have dyno'd high numbers but when it comes to down making pulls the car doesn't show the power.

Last weekend I went to the races and a TT 350 was getting walked by b20 boosted civic, the b20 was making around 300 whp and 350 tq, im sure the 350z was making a lot more power, he just had no traction and no control over his car.

[Das General]

Stage III was so 2006

[1997gtx]

I does matter but its s symbiotic relationship between the driver and the car. Ive run into plenty of people who have dyno'd high numbers but when it comes to down making pull the car doesn't show the power.

Last weekend I went to the races and a TT 350 was getting walked by b20 boosted civic, the b20 was making around 300 whp and 350 tq, im sure the 350z was making a lot more power, he just had no traction and no control over his car.

Yeah, but you're talking about something different. People are saying HP 'doesnt matter, only torque does' ... What you're describing is bad drivers, etc ... i'm not saying that an EVO that 'says' he dyno'd 500awhp is going to run 11's, but if it runs a stock time, you'd be surpised.
--Adam

[FrimmelNoJerz]

IBTL

you got that right.
big +1

[team_soy]

Bench racing at its best...

Ibtl

[1997gtx]

No need to lock. A discussion between Horse Power and Torque is fine.
--Adam