Torque curves - which do you prefer?

gary_jules

You're confusing power and torque. S2000, celica 190, rx8, NSX, NA M3 etc. all have generally flat torque curves but their peak POWER is higher up in the rev range

RichardD1970

gary_jules wrote: »

Go on any enthusiast car forum like M3 cutters or GT86 post and it won't be hard to find M3 owners gloating about their traffic light races or races against other cars on the motorway.

And that is all you need to know about the mentality of these idiots.

I don't need a fast/flash car as I have a 9 inch penis (or is it 9cm? I always get my metric and imperial mixed up )

Retrogamer

I prefer diesel myself.

I've a MK4 Ibiza FR TDi just now with a Cupra cold air feed and 2.5 turbo back exhaust and it goes well for an old coal burner.
Hits full boost around 1800rpm so nice for motorway overtakes and windy country roads as usually no need to change down a gear.

Hopefully it'll be a lot better when the EGR valve is removed, the intake is cleaned out and remap done.

bigjl

Diesels are pretty easy to drive these days. Less gearchanges etc.

But if driving on a demanding A Road a petrol engine feels more enjoyable.

To be honest roads are so congested that you can't really drive any vehicle for enjoyment.

At least in the South East.

almillar

You're actually quite wrong. s2000 and RX8 both actually have very flat torque curves- as with the 190 celica.
You're confusing power and torque. S2000, celica 190, rx8, NSX, NA M3 etc. all have generally flat torque curves but their peak POWER is higher up in the rev range

OK, I said 'not much torque down low'. What I meant was 'not much torque'.

movilogo

I prefer electric motor - constant torque at any RPM

dannyrst

FlamaBlanca wrote: »

Totally agree with that

England just isn't an enjoyable place to drive, too many people with too many cars wedged on to too few roads

Maybe that is the case in some areas but I've had plenty of enjoyable car journeys around the Yorkshire Dales.

Johnnytwostep

I prefer the imaginary torque curves. The kind of ones you get on an imaginary Lexus, or Audi S-line.

I like toy torque curves, like the ones you get on toy cars.

bigjl

dannyrst wrote: »

Maybe that is the case in some areas but I've had plenty of enjoyable car journeys around the Yorkshire Dales.

There are enjoyable roads not far from the large Cities aswell they are just rarer.

Motorways and dual carriageways are all about getting from A to B quickly and efficiently.

Part of the enjoyment of travelling has gone as a result.

When going to Scotland I have started going M1/A1/A66 instead of the usual M1/M6 etc.

It's nice to see a bit of the UK rather than the rear of another vehicle.

Richard53

I've had diesel cars for the last 20 years or so (if you exclude the 4.6 Rangie, which had torque everywhere), and I love the power delivery. The Mondeo can sit at the legal limit in 6th gear, revs barely above idle, and has plenty of power on tap instantly if needed. I have got totally used to slugging about on the slab of torque between 1200 and 2000 revs. When I got the MX-5 (petrol, 1800 cc, supposedly 140 bhp compared to 130 in the Ford), I was disappointed at how slow it felt compared to the Mondeo. Then a friend said that all the power lives above 6000 revs, and uttered the magic words 'drive it like you stole it!' I had to re-learn the whole thing but it has been worth it. You don't have to work to get power out of a turbodiesel, so it tends to make you lazy. Getting the Mazda to perform takes a bit of commitment, but it's ultimately far more involving.


As I said above, I love the way diesels do their stuff, but my next 'main' car is going to be a petrol or an older N/A diesel, simple as a brick and just as robust. I've had it with EGRs and DPFs and DMFs and all the alphabet soup that is deemed necessary to make a modern diesel acceptable to polite society.