Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Torque or Horsepower : Your Preference ??

All other things being equal in a car, what would your preference be; more torque which is more useful on a day to day driving basis or more horsepower which is advantageous for spirited driving ???

Example : SVT with 200HP&300lb/ft or SVT with 300HP&200lb/ft

Even split

Too complicated of a question to be a poll. Depends on how much of one I'm giving up for how much of the other, depends on how each is distributed amongst the powerband (I'd give up some peak for a level powerband), depends on the gearing and other parts of the car.

Can't answer that one, but if the swing was 100 each way, I'd look for an engineer that can split the difference 250/250, for example.

Isn't that kinda like asking voltage or wattage, your preference?

(wattage (power) is voltage times current, as horse *power* is torque x rpm divded by 5250, IIRC)

Generally speaking, though, an engine that makes lots of torque (but not so much horsepower) is probably a larger displacement engine that can usually be modified rather easily for lots of horsepower (because it's volumetric efficiency at higher RPMs is poor, increase VE and you have more torque at higher RPMs, hence more horsepower)

An engine that makes lots of horsepower (compared to it's displacement) is obviously running a very good VE at higher RPMs and increasing that will typically require more drastic modifications (nitrous or forced induction).

volumetric efficiency=how much air the cylinders are filled with at wide-open-throttle at a given speed. Typically given as a percentage.

I'm sure if I'm wrong about any of this or unclear someone will offer corrections/clarifications

Brian

I'd rather have more torque, since that would mean a larger-displacement engine and hence could be modified for more horsepower rather easily.

Brian

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.

I would like the best "area under the curve" in the relevent rev range, HP or tourque - no difference.

Another way to phrase your question is: do you prefer tourque that peaks early & falls off (yielding lower peak power but improved off the line & low RPM driveability) OR a flat tourque curve with a lower "plateau" (more than peak) but that is maintained higher into the rev range (yielding higher peak power)? The latter gives the feeling of "revabilty" which I like so that is my pick..Also, I think it is more appropriate to FWD cars which suffer from torque steer with too much torque (which corrupts steering feel) and difficulty getting big low RPM torque effectively to the pavement. RWD/AWD much better for big tourque. A minimum of low RPM tourque is nice for around town improved driveabilty/avoid excessive shifting in town - a problem with many small 4-bangers of a certain brand..

I think same displacement was assumed in the question. Basically it was "if all other things are equal, which would you take?"

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....

I do mostly city driving and prefer that kick-in-the-butt feel that torque delivers off the line.

So...why do i own a CSVT? Good question!!! lol