Any - Do you check your car's performance?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
View Threaded
Mon 30 Nov 2015 13:14
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - craig-pd130

Ever since I got my first car, I've checked my the performance of every one I've owned against magazine road-test data, just to see how mine compares.

Not the standing-start 0-60 / quarter mile acceleration figures, which are harsh on the car and not appropriate on public roads, but in-gear acceleration increments (40-60mph in 4th, 50-70 in 5th). This is easy to do on a stretch of quiet, open, flat road with a stopwatch, and averaging the data over 3 or 4 runs.

All my recent cars (Mondeo, V40, Passat, V60 etc) have been very close to magazine road test data - certainly to within a couple of tenths either way.

Anyone else do this?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 13:28
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - skidpan

Cannot honestly see the point. What would you do if the car was not as fast as you had read? You would hardly be likely to get a refund based on magazine test figures.

Provided it performs in a manner that you were happy with on a test drive that is all that matters. If you had not been happy with it surely you would have walked away.

But if you like to boast in the pub or on forums carrying out such tests is vital. On the Seat Leon Forum there were several owners a few months ago with chipped Cupras trying to be the first with a sub 5 second 0 - 60 time. When asked about the damage they were potentially doing to the DSG box etc their unanimous reply was simple, we sell them before the warranty expires, then its the new owners problem.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 13:44
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - RobJP

Cannot honestly see the point. What would you do if the car was not as fast as you had read? You would hardly be likely to get a refund based on magazine test figures.

Provided it performs in a manner that you were happy with on a test drive that is all that matters. If you had not been happy with it surely you would have walked away.

But if you like to boast in the pub or on forums carrying out such tests is vital. On the Seat Leon Forum there were several owners a few months ago with chipped Cupras trying to be the first with a sub 5 second 0 - 60 time. When asked about the damage they were potentially doing to the DSG box etc their unanimous reply was simple, we sell them before the warranty expires, then its the new owners problem.

You get exactly the same thing on BMW F30 series forums. 335d owners getting them chipped, and going for (a frankly ridiculous) sub 4 second 0-60. Which is simply insane for a diesel car. Notably all those cars are PCP jobs though, and they're only owning them while under warranty.

In terms of my 325d estate, no, I've never bothered seeing just how quick it really is. I'll just say that performance is 'adequate for my needs', and leave it at that !

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 13:53
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - RT

Impossible to do accurately without calibrating the speedometer first.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 14:25
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - craig-pd130

Cannot honestly see the point. What would you do if the car was not as fast as you had read?

Just me, then :)

I do it purely out of curiosity, not for any bragging rights.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 15:00
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - gordonbennet

I think its not a bad guide, the two top gears 40 to 80 mph time but taken singly, not necessarily to compare with road testers figures, but an interesting test before and after a remap or other work, can't remember the figures now but a considerable reduction in that was gained.

Certainly wouldn't hurt to do a couple of runs if your car is running well and keep a note somewhere, if it appears not to be as lively as it once was you've got a benchmark figure when all was well

I dislike the 0-60 times, they have never given any idea what a car might pull like in the sort of revs i use, so from stall revs up hence i prefer torquey larger engines with or wihout compressed intake, i dislike thrashing engines and boxes for no reason and cannot see the point in abusing clutches or gearboxes like road testers.

Interesting posts above though, i wasn't likely to consider anything as diabolical or wallat emptying as a DSG before, and those posts have done nothing to alter that..:-)

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 15:28
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - craig-pd130

I dislike the 0-60 times, they have never given any idea what a car might pull like in the sort of revs i use, so from stall revs up hence i prefer torquey larger engines with or wihout compressed intake, i dislike thrashing engines and boxes for no reason and cannot see the point in abusing clutches or gearboxes like road testers.

Agreed, having once read an article in Car Magazine about the techniques they use for standing-start times in cars with manual gearboxes: rev to 4,000 or so, side-step the clutch, then flat-change at just shy of the redline.

Makes me wince in mechanical sympathy just typing it.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 16:26
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - RT

I dislike the 0-60 times, they have never given any idea what a car might pull like in the sort of revs i use, so from stall revs up hence i prefer torquey larger engines with or wihout compressed intake, i dislike thrashing engines and boxes for no reason and cannot see the point in abusing clutches or gearboxes like road testers.

Agreed, having once read an article in Car Magazine about the techniques they use for standing-start times in cars with manual gearboxes: rev to 4,000 or so, side-step the clutch, then flat-change at just shy of the redline.

Makes me wince in mechanical sympathy just typing it.

You both need to test drive a Subaru, not the boy-racer WRX but the sedate Outback - they thrive on rpm without ever feeling "thrashed" - I'm told some Honda's are similar.

That said, an engine with huge bottom end torque is very relaxing to drive, but in a totally uninvolved way.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 16:41
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - gordonbennet

RT we've got an H6 Outy on a 52 plate so one of the last of that model, yes its a very free revver.

Sedate is one thing i wouldn't call it, especially in the hands of she who must be obeyed.

The Toyota has a relatively small 3.4 V6 NA petrol lump and it as all Landcruisers will pull effortlessly from tickover, its rather more involving than it ought to be, that V6 gentle rumble turns into a howl that you can feel right through the body when the valve in the centre exhaust box opens up under pressure and the exhaust goes more or less straight through, as a result it gets driven somewhat differently to what you might imagine as my fuel bills will testify.

Edited by gordonbennet on 30/11/2015 at 16:42

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 16:59
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - Avant

I agree GB: I can see RT's point but maybe it depends on the sort of driver you are. Some people prefer rev-happy engines (no disrespect at all) but you can have both involvement and great torque, as my Octavia vRS proves. So, clearly, does a Landcruiser which is perhaps a pleasant surprise!

The BMW straight-six that I had in my Z3 was another fine example of low-down pull: does anyone know whether the petrol fours are as good? I have my eye on the 2-series Active Tourer, but you can't get a six with it so it would be a 220i.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 30 Nov 2015 17:57
Any - Do you check your car's performance? - craig-pd130

You both need to test drive a Subaru, not the boy-racer WRX but the sedate Outback - they thrive on rpm without ever feeling "thrashed" - I'm told some Honda's are similar.

That said, an engine with huge bottom end torque is very relaxing to drive, but in a totally uninvolved way.

I don't object to revving engines, it's the gearbox abuse that is involved in getting standing-start acceleration that bothers me!

I like high-revving engines - I ride motorbikes too - but I would say the second point depends on the car and engine. A weekend last year in a Jensen Interceptor was the drive of my life :)

Reply | Report as offensive | Link