[alfa] Re: alfa-digest V9 #783

[Zak McGregor <zak@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 01:22:53 +0000
George Graves wrote:

>  Forget my last post. it's definitely a case engaging keyboard before 
>  engaging brain. I've done a little research, and I have found the 
>  following. The Montreal at 2892 lbs curb weight IS heavier than the 
>  GTV-V8 which is 2866 lbs, and are both heavier than the GTV-6 which was 
>  2668. Power to weight ratios of the GTV-V8 vs the Montreal are almost 
>  identical at 151.54 hp/ton as opposed to 152.44 hp/ton respectively. 
>  The GTV-6, OTOH is at a bit of a disadvantage here with but 130.58 
>  hp/ton. ALL three cars have a 4.10 rear-end. The GTV-6 and the Montreal 
>  have identical advertised top speeds of 132 mph, and the GTV-V8 is 
>  supposedly 137 (!). Now the part that doesn't jibe. The 0-60 times for 
>  all three cars are given as 7.6 for the Montreal, 9.3 (!) for the 
>  GTV-V8, and 8.8 for the GTV-6 (but I used to regularly get 8.1s with my 
>  stock 2.5 GTV-6). There is no way that I can see that the GTV-V8 with 
>  almost the identical p/w as the Montreal and the same rear-end ratio 
>  could be 2 seconds slower to 60. Somebody's specifications aren't 
>  right. Any one care to theorize?

Well there are a few explanations for these abnormalities. 

Firstly, the Montreal figures come from more than one source. The source I can
get my hands on right now is Motor's road test of the Montreal. Their 0-60mph
time is slightly less spectacular than that I have listed, with 8.1s. Which
proves nothing but that figures can vary considerably accoring to driver &
conditions, everything else being equal.

The next point is that the 9.3 seconds for the GTV V8 is for 0-100km/h, not
0-60mph. Generally, there is about a 0.2-0.4 seconds difference between the two,
100km/h being 62.1 mph. 

Also, the road test (by Auto Zeitung - scans available if anyone wants 'em) of
the V8 says the following:
"Kavalierstarts verhindert die (noch) etwas schwache Kupplung. Dass aber
immerhin Beschleunigungzeiten von 9,3 Sekunden fur den Sprint von 0 auf 100 km/h
moglich sind, zeigt, wie energisch der Motor in diesem Auto zur Sache geht."
which the Fish (http://babelfish.altavista.com) seems to think means:
"(still) somewhat the weak clutch prevents "jackrabbit"starts. The fact that
acceleration times of 9.3 seconds are moglich however nevertheless fur the
Sprint of 0 to 100 km/h shows, how energetically the engine goes in this car to
the thing" - which doesn't mean much to me at all, except that there was
possibly some drivetrain weaknes that prevented the testers from wringing the
utmost from it.

In any event, I suspect that under optimal conditions the V8 could probably do a
lot better.

I'm not sure about the 8.8 seconds for the GTV6 - I unfortunately added it long
before I started keeping references per car. I do know that I do not have an
actual road test of one anywhere, so the figures are probably from an Autocar
Road Test Results summary page. I will check when time allows. However, as a
GTV6 owner myself, I know that the gearchange (esp. on early cars) is bad,
especially if you're giving it the heavy right foot treatment. The rear axle
ratio also changed fairly soon into the model's lifespan, which may account for
better acceleration on later models too.

Hope that sheds some light on things. 

Ciao

Zak
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