Originally posted by Steve Bassen:
An engine's tq figures are largely irrelevant. They simply describe how large the motor is for the most part and how it should be geared. Power is the operator and tells you how much and how efficiently gas and air are being burned and converted into mechanical work per unit time.
Steve, I disagree. I am not an engineer so feel free to correct me but isn't torque what gets you away from the lights, helps you overtake a slow truck on a hill after you've been stuck behind it, etc ?? A powerful but low torque engine is a lot less flexible to drive compared to a torquey engine that can "pull" at a wide range of revs.
Think of Vtec's, plenty of power but they need to be kept running high in the rev range to make the most of the engine. Something such as a Duratec generates a good deal of power itself but also a good deal of torque, therefore making them more flexible for day to day driving. On a twisty, undulating back road, a Vtec will need plenty of gear changes to keep it at it's peak power output compared to a Duratec.
I didn't intend this to be a big deal of a poll, it's just that diesel engines which are inherently torquey are becoming increasingly more refined and popular (even Alpina have made a diesel) and I just wanted to see what people's opinion's here in the US are regarding hp vs tq.
If none of the above makes sense, forgive me, I'm going on 27 hours awake....
