Zero to Sixty - WTF?

[OK-944]

So what's the huge deal about zero to 60 times? Seems to be the primary criteria these days...for both gas and electric cars. Like, cutting two tenths off of 2.6 seconds is a big enough deal to add 75K to a price point? I just don't get this!

On a related note...and pardon my complete lack of knowledge here - but for the electrics...why can't somewhat less powerful motors be used - get those zero to sixty times back out to around six or so seconds. Heck, get a manual (or auto) tranny back in there too! Stands to reason that this would increase range quite a bit, and/or facilitate quicker charging. Make sense?

In the meantime...I'll continue to be happily/nimbly carving up the twisties in my humble 944!

[ZOO]

That 0 to 60 has been a benchmark for a long, long time. No idea where it came from -- other than being a "mile a minute". There was a weird period when the national speed limit was 55 in the US where 0 to 50 times were published.

[cabmandone]

It's the new horsepower race. I was reading about the electric F150 and it mentioned zero to 60 (SMH)

[flatbutt]

I've been told it's based on being able to accelerate to highway speeds when entering the roadway.

[Baz]

Pablo Cruise.....Zero to Sixty in Five..............

[flatbutt]

I can't imagine the feeling of that drop in from a big one! I've never surfed bigger than 6 feet.

[Rusty Heap]

Wasn't it a AC Cobra or GT40 that set the record for 0-100-0 mph?

[1990C4S]

60 to zero is more likely to matter long term.

If you want better range from an EV drive it gently. Putting a smaller motor on will not make a significant range difference.

[Rapewta]

The AC Cobra held the 0-100-0 record for years. I think it was a tad less than 14 seconds.
It is not the record any more and I am pretty sure it was Ken Miles that set the record.
You'd have to google it. The weight to HP ratio was crazy and the massive breaking ability was the key to it.

[pksystems]

Because top speed is useless on public roads. When I built my turbo car, I opted for an undersized turbo (less HP), so I could have as fast as possible (zero lag) acceleration. As soon as you touch the gas pedal, that car is making boost.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by OK-944

So what's the huge deal about zero to 60 times? Seems to be the primary criteria these days...for both gas and electric cars. Like, cutting two tenths off of 2.6 seconds is a big enough deal to add 75K to a price point? I just don't get this!

In the meantime...I'll continue to be happily/nimbly carving up the twisties in my humble 944!

sounds like 0-60 envy.

[Nickshu]

I drove a 1988 944 TurboS yesterday. I have driven modern cars for so long now I forgot how slow cars were back in the day, and how much work they were to drive. We have come along way.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by cabmando

It's the new horsepower race. I was reading about the electric F150 and it mentioned zero to 60 (SMH)

HP in factory produced offerings today have crossed the point where it is about the ability to put it down rather than the HP on tap.
When you can break traction at 60MPH from a roll it is about controll.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I drove a 1988 944 TurboS yesterday. I have driven modern cars for so long now I forgot how slow cars were back in the day, and how much work they were to drive. We have come along way.

Definitely. The OP is only an LS or Audi turbo 4 or 5 cyl swap away from having both great 0-60 time and handling!

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Rapewta

The AC Cobra held the 0-100-0 record for years. I think it was a tad less than 14 seconds.
It is not the record any more and I am pretty sure it was Ken Miles that set the record.
You'd have to google it. The weight to HP ratio was crazy and the massive breaking ability was the key to it.

When the 993tt was introduced, it smashed that record with its AWD, massive brakes and tires, (for the time), and good old Stuttgart engineering. Every subsequent 911 turbo variant has improved on the record.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

60 to zero is more likely to matter long term.

If you want better range from an EV drive it gently. Putting a smaller motor on will not make a significant range difference.

I agree on both counts. The most impressive thing on a new Porsche GT car, by far, is the braking ability. And the handling and acceleration are damn impressive as well. The better your brakes are, the faster you can drive.

And I recently took a short skiing trip in a new Tesla Model S, up to Mammoth from L.A. My friend who drove also has a couple of gasoline cars that we could have taken but he really wanted to test the range with superchargers along the way, sort of a test flight for future road trips.

The car did pretty well and there are plenty of fast charging stations along the way but he could never seem to get what the display said in terms of range after charging. The reason, of course, is that he has a lead foot and was doing 90mph+ most of the time.

I drove the car back to L.A. and along with the obvious advantage of it being downhill all the way, I managed to beat the display by sort of "hypermiling" it...a light foot even while going plenty fast. It's actually no different from an ICE car in that way, energy is energy.

[brp914]

People actually do drive like they need these 0-60 times. And all sorts of cars have dual clutch boxes because those precious 1/10s count. My 'ol Box S is reasonably quick, but cars are passing me left and right to be able to arrive first at the next stop light. When I'm on my liter bike I can tell people are flogging their poor cars. Odd, given how anti-car these modern power poles are.

[David]

0-60 has always been the most important measure for me followed by skid pad.

As a kid before the internet and other time wasting activities, I’d spend tons of time reading car magazines and memorizing 0-60 times and other data for all the cars. Pretty amazing that cars over 5 seconds are considered slow now.

[brp914]

Originally Posted by David

0-60 has always been the most important measure for me followed by skid pad.

As a kid before the internet and other time wasting activities, I’d spend tons of time reading car magazines and memorizing 0-60 times and other data for all the cars. Pretty amazing that cars over 5 seconds are considered slow now.

Maybe get a liter bike and be done with it. Even if you can get a cage with a comfy seat as fast as a bike, there's no comparison to wrapping yourself around a rocket engine and holding on for dear mercy.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by brp914

Maybe get a liter bike and be done with it. Even if you can get a cage with a comfy seat as fast as a bike, there's no comparison to wrapping yourself around a rocket engine and holding on for dear mercy.

I just noticed the bikes in your signature, the Aprilia definitely qualifies as a pocket rocket. Love that bike.