Originally posted by JonnySVT:
The speedo may go to 160, but it's off. 20 more hp will not net you a 15 mph increase in top speed, just doesn't add up.

Yeah, about that JGTSC..... I guess we'll see if I'm able to go... It's getting closer and I need to buy Christmas presents....we'll see though.



We'll account for the following.

#1: His tire size is .6% smaller than stock
#2: Stock speedo is off by about 2% to begin with.
#3: He has the Zetec final drive, which bumps his top speed before hitting rev limiter to about 163.

Factoring #1 nets us at 159.1mph
Factoring #2 nets us at 155.9mph

Factory speed limit for BMW's is 155mph.

The drag coefficient of his vehicle is slightly less than stock. The SVT Contour has a lower drag efficient than a Cougar, which has a drag coefficient which limits the car to 143mph @ 170hp

A stock SVT Contour is limited to around 148-150mph due to the rev limiter more than the drag itself. It has more power than the Cougar by 30hp which is enough to break the 143mph drag limit.

A non-stock SVT Contour, lowered and adding a splitter will more than make up for a measly 5mph over a stock SVT @ 200hp at the fly.

Makes sense to me. So with 40-50 more HP than a Cougar (at LEAST, since we're talking a hybrid here and not just a straight 200hp 3L swap) and a taller gear with his final drive, I don't see why there's all this hullabaloo that he managed to go a measly 13-15 miles per hour faster than a Cougar which has a HIGHER drag coefficient and LESS horsepower.

I've hit 143 in my Cougar before, and it was stock.

Also keep in mind, if he was ahead of the Bimmer and the Bimmer couldn't catch up, he was at least going 155 or more, since the Bimmer speed governor tops them out at 155.

Let's not fight over stupid simple logical equations, people.

2001 ATX V6 Dark Shadow Grey Merc Cougar(Sport Pkg, ABS, traction control and sunroof )