12-13-2006, 09:26 PM
Thirdgen89GTA Wrote:I disagree, HP is ONE of the the determining factors in top speed. The 3 main factors are Power, Aerodynamics and gearing. All 3 are important for without 1 of them you can't hit a specified speed.
Lets take the Nissan Maxima. It has 260hp, and can do about 150mph.
Dodge SRT-4, 250hp, it does 150+.
My TransAm came stock with 235hp in 1989. It can do 150mph+
Honda Accord with 244hp, is capable of 150mph.
Basically if its decently aerodynamic, a sedan, and has 230+ then its going to reach 140mph without difficulty.
One of the notable exceptions is the new Civic-R, it tops out at 135mph or so, but its limited by gearing, not power. And its under 200hp.
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Common misconception, Weight is not a substantial factor in top speed. It is in acceleration, but not top speed. More weight simply means free down force. Ask the bonneville salt flat racers. They add weight for stability.
If a car has a terminal speed of 200mph, and you drop 500lbs off of it, then its going to hit that 200mph faster, but it will still top out at 200mph. It may achieve 201mph, but the gains will be so small as to be unmeasurable. However, take that same car and remove the side mirrors, and you'll gain speed more easily because of the decrease in the Coefficient of drag.
First of all those are advertised horsepowers(just to clear things up!!!) Horsepower and torque determine how fast you get up to speed. Gearing and aerodynamics determine the rest!!!! In drag racing you are not trying to get to top speed you are only trying to go as fast as possible in the shortest amount of time. Therefore they want as much horespower and torque as possible. A 67 VW beetle could possibly do 200 mph with a stock motor as long as the trans allowed it and the length of the straight. Salt flat cars are a good example here, they NEED all of the space they can get to reach top speed because of the gearing(jet cars are excluded from this completely different system lol) horsepower has something to do with it yes but not nearly as much as gearing.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PAIN; THE INK AND THE JEWELRY ARE JUST SOUVENIERS