Carrera 3.2 top speed?

[Gunter]

A stock 3.2 Carrera with a factory chip should be able to do 135 M/pH with a tail-wind on a down-hill stretch?


Any thoughts?

Hopefully, not too many fairy tales about speeds obtained once upon a time.

[twistoffat]

The say speedos are not quite accurate but I suppose it depends on alot of things. Last week my garmin registered 231km/144mph on the autobahn. I´ve an 87 model Targa with 217 bhp. The Euro version has 231 but I have a weltmesitercihip(The cars going on a Dyno next year).

[white85carrera]

I thought the manufacture spec shows 150mph? Never had enough track (or road) to prove it out. Back in the stock engine configuration days of my 85 3.2 128mph at the bus stop at the Glen consistent (by GPS).
different gears and 135 would easy on a stock engine.

[88-diamondblue]

I had my Carrera to 140 with an Autothority chip in the car, with cat and stock exhaust. The indicated speed was 145 but my speedo has proven to register 5 mph fast. I would have gone faster just ran out of road. Later that day my rubber centered clutch let loose.
Those telephone poles go by really fast at 140

[ShakinJoe]

135 should be pretty easy

[Wavey]

I've had mine to +/- 145 indicated and confirmed by an RPM/gear ratio calculation. Theoretical top speed would be whatever 5th gear at redline works out to, but I *think* they're electronically limited to 149 (Turbos to 157).

Edit: that was without the spoiler or wing, and the car was a bit scary at that speed. Since spoiler and wing were added, I've hit +/- 135. It was resisting more due to added drag but it sure felt stable!

[dailyATX82sc]

How about an 3.0 SC??

any ideas

[Gunter]

dailyATX,

Convert to a SS 3.2, 9.8 CR, 964-cams, SSI's etc.........and you'll be able to keep up with a Carrera 3.2.

[mmn710]

I got mine up to 140mph on a pretty nice long strip, but sadly didn't seem like it wanted or was going to do much more than that. Maybe i could of squeezed 10 more outta her but that's it

[gregwils]

It depends on how the speed is measured. Car speedometer = 150+ easy. GPS device = 135 would take a LOT of runway.

Seriously, the Autobahn adds a different dimension to the question. I just know, based on the rate of acceleration above 110 - 120, that it would take .5 to 1 mile of uninterrupted acceleration to reach the car's true potential assuming a rolling start (60 mph). At 120, you'll cover a mile in 30 seconds. At 140, it will take about 25 seconds, so .5 miles at 140 is 12 seconds. I do believe the factory rated top speed above 140 for a Carrera, but it would be no small feat. In factory trim, the motor would have to be above 6k in 5th gear.

[JeremyD]

149 for the US version 152 for the Euro version.

Before I had my speedo recalibrated I used to see close to 140 on the back stretch at Sebring. If I really nail bishops bend and 16 I'm good to get to 130 before the braking cones...

[dw1]

'87 3.2 with SW (93 octane) chip, fabspeed Euro premuffler, Dansk 1-in-2-out, and Euro ride height.
OEM 16 inch tire sizes (205-55-16, 225/50-16) and OEM F & R spoilers.

I don't know the real speed, but I do know my speedo is 2.5% to 3% optimistic and the indicated was just above 145, and I wasn't quite at redline.

Man, the car is LOUD at that speed, between wind noise & exhaust noise (and the loud pounding of my heart). And the last 15 mph took what seemed like a LONG time.

Car & Driver claimed a top speed of 149 in their review of the 3.2 in February 1984, but they also claimed that car did a 5.3 second 0-60 and 13.9 sec/100 mph 1/4 mile.

C/D also had the top speed of an SC at 130 (8/80 issue).

Bottom line: If you are only seeing 135 with a 3.2 something is wrong. That sounds like SC top speed.

But, as was previously and very correctly stated, you need a lot of time & distance to really get close to top speed.

When I first got my car, it still had the original catalytic converter, and the throttle linkage was not allowing full range of motion. When I took off the cat and shook it, it sounded like a very large maraca, so it was probably seriously clogged. Fixing these made a big difference, but of course the mods listed above did too.

[mikehinton]

I'm not sure what the actual road speed was, but I saw 6100 rpm in 5th in Colorado this spring. Engine is stock 3.2, no tail, but front spoiler and lower ride height. You do catch up with traffic quickly at that speed!

[WolfeMacleod]

Gunter, is your question aimed at me and my car? I'm tellin ya, my speedo is accurate according to GPS units up to 100/120 and side-of-the-road radar speed signs @ 35/45/50

If so, how about a little background on my car. Let these guys give thier input.
1985. According to John Walker, some of the best compression/leakdown he's ever seen when the car was bought two and a half years ago. Less than 50,000 miles. Regularly dyno's at 202rwhp, and very consistent about it.
Car is STOCK. No chip, no engine mods. 93 octane was used during the run in the pic.

Gunter and I have had some friendly banter about whether or not I reached 140 several weeks ago...Gunter sez no way
Here's a recent pic. Wish the tach had been shown fully. I was still accelerating (although slowly) when I lifted.

[kodioneill]

I see your oil level is high for 6100 rpm!

[Daveinclarkston]

Interesting topic. Related question I have is how stable does your car feel at higher speeds? I have seen an indicated 130 mph on a two lane (no cross winds at the time) and the car was a major handful! Car is an 87 with new Bilsteins, Turbo Tie rods, newer tires, std ride height and no spoilers. No issues a speeds below 100 but above things start to feel unstable.

[Gunter]

Hey Lupus, what took you so long?

Yeah, that oil level at 6k can't be right.

With the oil level gauge and the clock not working, I wouldn't trust the Speedo either.

And no chip?

How does DME map without a chip?

Down-hill with a tail wind plus exuberance can add 10-20 M/pH.

I think gregwils and mmn710 render a candid and realistic version; Euros on the Autobahn would do a bit more.

Theoretically, what are the penalties in WA and OR for doing 140 ? Or even 100 ?

[Gunter]

Originally Posted by Daveinclarkston

Interesting topic. Related question I have is how stable does your car feel at higher speeds? I have seen an indicated 130 mph on a two lane (no cross winds at the time) and the car was a major handful! Car is an 87 with new Bilsteins, Turbo Tie rods, newer tires, std ride height and no spoilers. No issues a speeds below 100 but above things start to feel unstable.

Very true.

Spoiler in front and rear will break up the lift created by going over 90.

Think of the 911 profile as a wing on an airplane, ergo lift at higher speeds and the rear becomes unstable.

[jorian]

I've seen 145 +- indicated in 5th near red line. Front and rear spoilers, lowered ride height, very stiff suspension, 7's & 8's with R compounds, SSI's, Dansk 2 to 1, SW chip.....

Ran out of road. Those school zones are short

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by Gunter

Hey Lupus, what took you so long?

Yeah, that oil level at 6k can't be right.

With the oil level gauge and the clock not working, I wouldn't trust the Speedo either.

And no chip?

What makes you think my clock doesn't work? It works perfeclty.

Originally Posted by kodioneill

I see your oil level is high for 6100 rpm!

You AND Gunter seem to have forgotten where 6k lies on the tach. I've taken the liberty of takign a new picture of my dash at a slightly different angle...



Now according to the owner's manual, 130mph = 5500rpm or just a hair under according to the graph. Anyone want to superimpose my new tack pic over the original pic and take a guesstimate to wherer I'm at? Cause it wasn't 6k. 6K lies just a hair over the neddle's centerline. My needle is clearly not horizontal.

As for the oil pressure... beats me. Fresh oil change. Brad Penn 20/50. I've always had very good oi pressure, and rarely get much over the temp mark I'm sitting at. Car does not run hot.