Date: 29 Sep 1998 04:53:31 GMT From: "www.datsuns.com" <davelumnopsamuns.xcom> Subject: Re: Horsepower or Torque? Which is more significant?
They are BOTH needed. If you needed torque only, we'd be driving around in diesels with 400ft/lb of torque, and 100hp. More torque means it may FEEL the same. Torque is what pushes you back in your seat. The saying goes "Torque puts you ahead, horsepower keeps you there". Diesel trucks make a lot of torque, but little HP by comparison (A typical Semi makes over 1000ft/lbs of torque, but "only" 400hp - imagine a car with 200ft/lbs of torque but 80hp - you won't go very fast). Torque means you don't have to shift down, HP means you don't have to shift UP. All the torque in the world won't move you 60mph if it's a 200rpm. For a good article, hit this page at my site http://www.datsuns.com/torquehp.htm also peruse http://www.datsuns.com/techmenu.htm as it also covers gearing and other aspects of what makes cars fast and/or slow. The real kicker? Drive 'em both. It's the only way to know for sure if you'll be satisfied. -- Dave Lum '71 510 www.datsuns.com remove x in e-mail name to reply to me Douglas S. Arnson <dsa44nopsamnet> wrote in article <360fdabe.2138197nopsam2.ibm.net>... > I am soon to part with my 92 nissan maxima se with 3.0 v6 and 190 hp > and 202 ft/lb (I think) torque. > > I am considering the saab 9-5 with 178 hp v4 turbo with 207 torque at > 1800 rpm. (The v6 turbo is almost $3000 more!!) >
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