Ever Feel Like You're Missing Out on Power?

"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind) 02/28/2016 at 05:34 • Filed to: Elevation

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I live in Albuquerque, NM. In less than an hour of driving, the elevation changes from 5,000ft in ABQ to 7,000ft in Santa Fe, NM. Assuming crank horsepower most say:

Horsepower Loss = (Elevation/1000) * 0.03 * Horsepower@sealevel

I’m sure it’s far more complex than that, but that’s what I’m using for these upcoming numbers.

The Jeep’s 360hp becomes 306hp in ABQ and drops to 285hp @ the crank by the time I make it to Santa Fe. So the 6.4L HEMI in Santa Fe would perform slightly better than the 5.7L HEMI at sea level.

The 200hp Amanti becomes 170hp @ 5,000ft and 158hp @ 7,000ft

My old 110hp Rio would be 93hp @ 5,000ft and 87hp @ 7,000ft

I hear that forced induced engines would be:

Horsepower Loss = (Elevation/1000) * 0.015 * Horsepower@sealevel

A 333hp Audi S5 would be 308hp in Albuquerque and 298hp in Santa Fe. Always a slight edge over what I’m used to in the Jeep (power wise) even though the claim is nearly 10% down.

Seems as if I am always missing out since all the paper stats are pretty far off up here. It’s like you need the next engine up to experience the engine below it. I would say my city runs right on the average for everything financially. So V8 Mustangs and Camaros are very aspirational buys, and it’s weird to think that there is a world of performance I can’t live in that others get to experience daily to the point where it’s considered nothing special. Know what I mean?

Nice thing is that everyone is impacted by this, so performance you have relative to others around you is the same experience at any elevation. I just think it would be neat to actually experience the sub-6 second Camrys and Accords people point out, but they are in the low to mid 7 second range depending out here. Still quick relatively out here, but to feel sub-6 second acceleration, I would need something set up sportier or with enough power that it’s rated in the sub-5 second range.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 05:43

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Not really, my car has no power anywhere. 80% of nothing is still nothing.

bob and john > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 02/28/2016 at 06:00

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bob and john > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 06:00

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more boost is the answer here.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > bob and john 02/28/2016 at 06:16

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As a dedicated twingbro I must relate everything to my tiny French car somehow.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 02/28/2016 at 06:21

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My French car is both tinier and weaker... So HAH! I win!

Leon711 > KirkyV 02/28/2016 at 06:28

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I dunno, power wise you two must be close.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 02/28/2016 at 06:56

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NEMESIS

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Leon711 02/28/2016 at 07:00

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5hp in it I believe. 60 for me 55 for him, his car is lighter though so wont be much difference.

KirkyV > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 02/28/2016 at 07:00

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But, like, way slower.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > KirkyV 02/28/2016 at 07:02

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Haha that’s what I was thinking of when I wrote that. The maniacal laugh at the end gets me every time
.

KirkyV > Leon711 02/28/2016 at 07:06

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I just checked the figures, and if he has the Twingo I think he does, we’re exactly even. Which technically means I have better power-to-weight, I suppose.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > bob and john 02/28/2016 at 07:26

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I believe this is always the answer everywhere! And also more lightness

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 07:30

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Yes. I moved from Florida to PA in the Slowrunner a couple of years ago. It went from feeling slow as shit to dying when I arrived. It seriously wouldn’t hold 50 mph going up a hill if you had 4 passengers in it.

LongbowMkII > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 07:43

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I drive a cvt often. I feel like that's like driving a normal car at 10,000 feet.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 08:08

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Dude, didn’t realize you lived in the Duke City. I lived in Santa Fe and worked in Abq for 09-14 and loved every minute of it. Probably drove by your neighborhood every day and admired the Jeep.

That being said, I always felt like my turbo Subaru was faster (at least 0-30mph) at altitude because turbo that it feels where I live now. I haven’t been able to match the butt dyno (or gas mileage, for that matter) since I moved to sea level.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 10:18

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I always feel like I’m missing power.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 10:43

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So in Santa Fe I have a 3500lb car with 150hp. Nice.

DoYouEvenShift > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 10:55

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I recently went from 4k feet and 90 octane gas, to sea level and 93 octane. Best mod ever! First time I went WOT to pass a row of cars I had the biggest smile on my face.

DoYouEvenShift > bob and john 02/28/2016 at 10:57

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Or more electrons!

TheOnelectronic > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 12:13

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I just moved from Santa Fe to essentially sea level in PA.

My Very Fast motorcycle became TERRIFYING.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 12:30

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From what I’ve experienced your math is reasonable. I had a ‘97 Cavalier when I was going to school in Wyoming, at 7,165 ft. Claimed at 120hp from the factory when new. Dynoed at 77hp at the wheels at 130,000 miles.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > Wobbles the Mind 02/28/2016 at 13:11

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WHAT IS THAT CAR IN THE COVER PHOTO!!!!!!!!!!!????????????

Wobbles the Mind > Somethin' 'bout a truck 02/28/2016 at 13:23

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Equus Bass770. Have fun!

http://www.equus-automotive.com/en_US/build-yo…