Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 20:08:05 +0200 From: Robert Brown <rjbnopsamnet.se.nospam> Subject: HP/torque on Saab vs. Audi - Was Re: Winter vs all season tires on 900SE???
Nutmegger wrote: > -----8<-----cutting all the tyre stuff ------8<---- > >> > >> How do you like your Audi? > > > >I like it very much. -----8<----- cut a bit -----8<----- > Engine is less > >powerful - I have the 1,8 Ts which gives 180 hp / 235 Nm, as compared with my wife's 1999 > >9-3 whose engine has 200 hp / 283 Nm. > > What's 20hp? Interesting question. For me it's not the lack of 20 hp that matters. I don't run the engine close to the red line often, and that's where horsepower issues often start to creep in. At least for people who do their driving on racetracks. I'm definitely not one of them! The difference in this case is the torque deficit of 50 Nm. On both cars max torque is reached somewhere around 3000 - 4500 rpm, which is the range in which I accelerate, so I notice it. Despite the longer spool-up times for the heavier turbine on the Saab, it outperforms the Audi dramatically on acceleration. And it's due to that extra torque (cars weigh about the same, somewhere around 1450 kg. Someone with the 9-3 turbo diesel (approx 125 hp) will surely vouch for the fact that that car has heaps of acceleration, almost as quick as the 2 we're talking about here. Someone have the torque figures for it? Someone once said that horsepower sells cars, but torque wins races. But I still prefer my Audi, even if my wife - in her 9-3 - leaves me for dead at the lights every time. And it sure is hell ain't my starting technique that's at fault . . . > > > >My shortlist was the 9-3 Aero (not dramatically better than the regular 9-3), the 9-5 > >Aero (very nice solid chassis but car was too expensive), the Peugeot 406 combi (good > >cheap alternative with heaps of payload space), the BMW 330i (not so performant when > >considering the purchase price), and of course the Audi. > > > >I would have chosen the 9-3 if we hadn't had one already ;-) > > Peugeot? > I haven't seen one around for years here. Have a look at the 406 3,0 V6 on the web. Lively handling, great engine (210 hp, don't know the torqure, good performer for much less money, but not quite as solid a build as either the Saab or the Audi. Robert, Gothenburg
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