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Power:Weight ratio

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Old Jan 17, 2003
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Power:Weight ratio

I got bored and made list of some random '02-'03 cars HP : LBS


Mustang V6 3066 190 16.14
Neon R/T 2590 150 17.27
Celica GT 2425 140 17.32
Impreza RS 2965 165 17.97
Echo 2dr 2035 108 18.84
Eclipse 4cyl 2855 147 19.42
Focus ZX3 2551 130 19.62
Civic EX 2564 127 20.19
Sentra XE 2548 126 20.22
Protege 2634 130 20.26
Tiburon 4cyl 2940 140 21.00
Civic DX 2421 115 21.05
Grand AM 4cyl 3066 140 21.90
Lancer 2646 120 22.05
Cavalier 2617 115 22.76
Golf GL 2772 115 24.10

Most of the info is from Consumer Reports, curb weights of base models so don't blame me if you don't agree that an Echo has a better ratio than an Eclipse..... anyway other things like torque and gear rations affect performance....
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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I think your list may be off...the EX has more power (127) and less weight (2564) than the cavilier at 115 and 2617....[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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2564/127= 20.19

2617/115=22.76

What's the trouble?
Lower the number the better.

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Old Jan 17, 2003
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That is the base Cavalier, yes.... less power and more weight than the Civic. (That is why it is so cheeep). Then there is the LS Sport with 140 hp ecotec, and GM now has superchargers available for Cav. and Sunfire... I think making 190hp?
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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[hr]Originally posted by: Friedrice
That is the base Cavalier, yes.... less power and more weight than the Civic. (That is why it is so cheeep). Then there is the LS Sport with 140 hp ecotec, and GM now has superchargers available for Cav. and Sunfire... I think making 190hp?[hr]
Actually all the new cavalier from the basic coupe to the LS come with the 2.2 Ecotec (140HP). And yes GM is now offering Superchargers for the 2.4 enginees in the z24 (2000-2002) I believe. I'm not sure about the 2.2 Ecotec with a supercharger last I heard they would be coming with a turbo.
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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[hr]Originally posted by: Boilermaker1
2564/127= 20.19

2617/115=22.76

What's the trouble?
Lower the number the better.[hr]

Tru Dat!
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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Ok... I've been trying to think of a better way to explain this, but I don't feel like crunching all the physics at the moment.
The Power to Weight Ratio is basically the weight that 1 HP is required to push. So take the Civic EX for example....
1 HP must push 20.19 lbs to move the car.

Then take say... a Corvette
350 HP and 3197 lbs

3197/350 = 9.13
So each HP only has to push 9.13 lbs of the cars weight.
If you mess around with enough equations (you must get the HP converted into instantaneous force (Power is work over time, work is force * distance)) you'll eventually get to a form of F=MA.
Since you're ending up with the inverse of it when you get Acceleration
A=F/M which will give you faster acceleration. Thus... Corvette kills Civic.
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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and also Thus... Echo kills Eclipse... hahhaha. gotta get the v6[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-puke.gif[/IMG]
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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Who care's
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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the power and weight ratio doesn't determines the acceleration 0-60, 0 to quarter mile of a car.

it gives some comparison, but PLEASE dont just assume thats the only factor.

peak crank hp and the weight doesn't mean a lot.

other things that factors into a car's overall acceleration:

the torque curve, the hp curve in the given powercurve (ie: how much hp it pumps out in the low end, high end, etc)

the gear ratio of the car (how aggressive is the gearing, how short, how long... at what rpm does it keep the engine at in what gear...)

the tires the cars are on...

the road condition...

the altitude where the vehicle is located...

the drag coefficiency...

the driver...

so remember, dont throw power to weight ratio when you're arguing about which car is faster. in fact dont even argue. I know none of u guys are but.. I've seen it thrown around a lot before. and its simply not the only factor.
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Old Jan 17, 2003
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[hr]Originally posted by: CapYoda
the power and weight ratio doesn't determines the acceleration 0-60, 0 to quarter mile of a car.

it gives some comparison, but PLEASE dont just assume thats the only factor.

peak crank hp and the weight doesn't mean a lot.

other things that factors into a car's overall acceleration:

the torque curve, the hp curve in the given powercurve (ie: how much hp it pumps out in the low end, high end, etc)

the gear ratio of the car (how aggressive is the gearing, how short, how long... at what rpm does it keep the engine at in what gear...)

the tires the cars are on...

the road condition...

the altitude where the vehicle is located...

the drag coefficiency...

the driver...

so remember, dont throw power to weight ratio when you're arguing about which car is faster. in fact dont even argue. I know none of u guys are but.. I've seen it thrown around a lot before. and its simply not the only factor.[hr]

Well... ya beat me back to it... so yeah. This is true. Power to weight is almost as useless as HP/Liter. Ratios don't mean much by themselves. Obviously, the ratios being compared get far enough apart... you can make the assumption, but as far as something like the Eclipse vs. Echo... You're gonna have to look at some of the other stuff that is listed above.
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