In reply to:
Whoever stays in the part of the curve with more area under it for longer will do better. The WRX has the added advantage of an intercooler, whereas the SVT has heat soak issues in hotter weather (there is no air movement underhood, even at speed).
I'm not defending anyone, but all three statements here are incorrect or non-specific.
* In the first one you don't specify whether you mean the power curve or the torque curve. Second, horsepower to weight ratio will determine which vehicle will do better. Gear ratios and gear spacing w/regards to rpm range will also determine the better car. Your statements are too general and vague... This information can only be determined by testing the cars, or estimated if there are VERY gross differences in numbers, i.e. a 5 HP motor in an average weight car vs a 500HP motor in an average weight car.
* comparing a turbo/intercooler to a N/A car based solely on the presence of an intercooler is like comparing apples and rocks. Do you think that compressed air can be cooled below the temperature of the cooling medium? What I mean is do you think that the hotter compressed air will cool below the temperature of the outside air, considering it is the outside air that cools the air to air intercooler? That one is simple thermodynamics and you can do the math on it. That example also assumes 100% efficiency...which AINT happening in the real world, you'd be lucky to get 70%...therefore the compressed air will not be cooled back down to ambient and WILL be hotter going into the engine than the air going into a naturally aspirated car given the same ambient temperature for both. This puts you back to comparing the power output of the motor, NOT how each engine achieved that number.
*Heat Soak!!! You think a turbo'd car doesn't have heat soak just because it has an intercooler? Where does the heat go that is taken out of the compressed incoming air? I'll tell you, back into the engine bay as it 'SOAKS' into the cooling system since most air to air systems are in front of or next to the radiator; or into the engine itself as the now 'hotter' air flows through the engine bay. Lets not forget that hot-azzed turbo and housing sitting in the engine bay acting as a giant heat sink, soaking all that exhaust heat instead of sending it quickly out the exhaust pipe like a less restricted exhaust.
And for the record there is plenty of air circulation even in a contour engine bay (as with all cars) when the car is moving above 30mph. Ask anyone doing temp measurements with their air temp sensor with an open air intake.
So those are my arguments, and I hope you understand that it is nothing personal. I just couldn't stay silent when I read something that I strongly felt would be misleading to many readers. I also hope to provide you with some food for thought.
Remember, turbos, superchargers, and N/A engines all have advantages/disadvantages as compared to each other. If one was 'the best' then all manufacturers would be using just that one.
warmonger
