Give me some feedback on these cars?

[VaSteve]

Ok, I'm looking at a few non-P-cars. I have the specs here, but I would like some help analyzing these #s. I have renamed the cars to keep any personal biases out of them (no guessing!! - or PM me). Also, what the hell does a tourque # with a range of rpms mean? I tried to use a torque conversion formua I found on howstuffworks.com and it didn't really work out. These will be daily driver/non-track cars, but I'm hoping for a little more performance than my current ride.

Oh, a bit more information. These are all 4 door AWD sedans. I noted the comment on the weight and thought I'd throw that in there. Don't compare them to a Porsche, compare them to eech other. Thanks!

Anyway, here's the data:

Car A:
hp: 208 @ 5000
torque: 236 @ 1500 (edited per website)
weight: 3571

Car B:
hp: 215 @ 5700
torque: 221 @ 3000 - 4600
weight: 3450

Car C:
hp: 184 @ 6000
torque: 175 @ 3500
weight: 3461

[pwd72s]

Car C looks like it would be a blast to drive, car B also. Car A doesn't have a torque curve, rather a torque line. I'd consider all to be nearing porker range, weight wise...

[concentric]

Originally posted by VaSteve

Car C:
hp: 184 @ 6000
torque: 175 @ 3500
weight: 3461

Can't compare this car to an SC, never having driven one, but it makes roughly the same HP/Torque at the same RPMs as my '96 Jetta VR6, which is actually kind of a fun car to drive. It's really quick at freeway speeds and is quite agile and stable. The Jetta weighs about 400 lbs less though.

Jason

[VaSteve]

I made some edits, hopefully providing more information to help me out!

[pwd72s]

Sorry Steve, your edit didn't change my opinion much...

[Tim Walsh]

In terms of a daily driver A or B would work great for a daily driver. There's lots of toque there, great for nasty bumper to bumper traffic up there in NOVA.

But for me the revs are part of the fun, Since I got my 911 I can't seem to keep my revs under 2,500.

My opinion would be to drop car C off your list, drive the two others and see what your impression is. Suspension can make a HUGE difference.

[nostatic]

that's enough info to determine wt/hp ratio, but that is only part of the equation. Without more info it is meaningless.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by nostatic
that's enough info to determine wt/hp ratio, but that is only part of the equation. Without more info it is meaningless.

Nostatic:
What other information should be considered? This is a car to drive my wife around in. She picked the last one for her. I do most of the driving so since we wanted an AWD, we (I) are reassessing the options.

[Victor]

Buy the WRX.

[bell]

those are all heavy cars..........buy an omni glhs

[Dantilla]

A Jeep Wrangler with a good hp/weight ratio is still a pig to drive.

I think that's what Nostatic is alluding to.

[osidak]

Just going on figures I would go with car "A" as I like a lot of torque down low

My TDI has spoiled me in that department. Although when I am in the SC I really like to wind her out.

My two cars while both fast (TDI has been chipped) are like night an day and that keeps them both fun.

[dd74]

Car A since maximum torque can be achieved lower in the RPMs. That'll be good for street driving.

If she (and you) are more performance driven people, I'd go with Car C because of the higher revs.

BTW: Car C reads sort of BMW-ish, which is always fun.

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by VaSteve


Anyway, here's the data:

Car A:
hp: 208 @ 5000
torque: 236 @ 1500 (edited per website)
weight: 3571

Car B:
hp: 215 @ 5700
torque: 221 @ 3000 - 4600
weight: 3450

Car C:
hp: 184 @ 6000
torque: 175 @ 3500
weight: 3461

OK, I drove 2 others:

Car D:
hp: 220 @ 6300
torque: 221 @ 3200
weight: 3627 ( )

Car E:
hp: 190 @ ???
torque: 206 @ ???
Weight: unavailable (similar to car D)

Ok, maybe one more day of feedback and then I'll tell you what they are and you can rip them up by name.

[VaSteve]

OK, so I got no further feedback... Here's what the cars were, I'd like to see your thought/opinions on them by name:
A: Volvo S60 AWD 2.5 Turbo
B: Mercedes C320 4Matic
C: BMW 325xi
D: Audi A4 Quattro 3.0
E: VW Passat 4mtion 2.8

[dd74]

Hey, I guessed right about C! A BMW!

With that said, I'd get the BMW. The Audi would run 2nd place for me.

[nostatic]

D

[exc911ence]

I like the Jeep Wrangler idea...

[BlueSkyJaunte]

My WRX's weight is 3085lbs.

If you can spare the scratch go with a C32 AMG.