What's your "benchmark" car?

"55Buick, Oversteer Scientist" (55Buick) 01/11/2014 at 00:39 • Filed to: M3

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I don't know about you guys, but I use the E92 M3 as a performance benchmark (numbers-wise.) It is reasonably quick, but not too insanely fast. When I see numbers for a new car, I always think, "oh, that's xxxx faster/slower than the M3” or "That has xxxx more/less horsepower than the M3.” Do you guys have a "performance benchmark?"

PowderHound > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 00:42

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My 03 wrx. granted it is turbo and tuned, but with 265 torques and 245 horses on top of having drove my 165hp yadayada torque 99 legacy 2.5gt wagon, I feel like I can have some sort of comprehension of power.

Basically anything beyond 400hp/tq is insane unless in a heavy mother

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:04

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1997 monte carlo. My benchmark isn't a number, nor a feel, it's personality. For as bad as that car is, it had a certain amount of guts and anger available deep within that let it do some mind blowing shit. Nothing makes jaws drop quite like looking at the AutoX timesheet and seeing a 1997 monte carlo beating BMW 3-series, mustangs, and srt-4s. Doubly so when it is on all-seasons and "mods" are just a ghetto cold air intake and a less restrictive exhaust.

My Audi 200? It has similar levels of fortitude and inner courage. My jetta? Not quite. My old Riviera? Well it had it on Woodward but it explicitly told me it did NOT want to do sharp turns at speed. It wanted to cruise around quietly and then do 15mph rolling launches to torque-dump all over saturns and hondas on woodward.

Harrycarry250 > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:15

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My benchmark would be a Mercedes C63

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:18

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The CTS-V (of any variant)...fast, affordable, stylish, came in coupe/sedan/wagon. I mean, the GT-R is still my personal halo vehicle, but the CTS-V was the kind of car that made you say 'well, I could buy XXXXX, or I could get a V and just really enjoy myself'.

Justino6969 > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:25

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My current car. 2001 Jetta 1.8T Wolfsburg. I mostly compare hp/tq figures and 0-60 sprints. I think my car is reasonably quick (compared to most on the road) so anything faster is good in my opinion and a consideration for my next vehicle.

twinturbobmw > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:30

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I usually use either a 911 or 328i.

Frank Grimes > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:31

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A C5 Corvette ZO6. And I done know why I guess 405HP and a 12.3 1/4 time always impressed me and seems like a quick and good amount of HP that isnt insane for a street car. To be honest I havent been in a fast car for a long time so anything that can match a relatively tame a 4th gen Camaro Z28 will feel amazingly mind blowingly fast.

Leadbull > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:31

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http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/…

"Oh, so 'X' car has 'X' amount of these under the hood."

twinturbobmw > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 01:31

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Also, I love that M3 in the picture. ZCP in Alpine White with carbon bumper accents. Looks great!

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/11/2014 at 01:40

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That's an interesting perspective. I suppose it is more important to judge a car based on how it feels, rather than a number. It can put down the best numbers in the world, but if it feels cold and numb, it just doesn't work.

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > Justino6969 01/11/2014 at 01:42

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I've got a car with that exact motor (1997 Audi A4 1.8T.) They feel like proper sports cars, both off the line and around the twisties. They're great all-around cars.

55Buick, Oversteer Scientist > twinturbobmw 01/11/2014 at 01:45

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Y'know, even though I use the E92 as a benchmark, I hardly know anything about them. I'm glad you do! I just GIS'd E92 M3 and used one of the first pictures.

Spasoje > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 04:19

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This, when it comes to performance cars. 4.7 (ish) seconds to 60 for less than $40k new...

When more sanity is involved, my benchmark is my own Jetta 1.8T. :)

toadterror > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 04:57

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Really interesting question. Has made me really consider what I consider a benchmark. I mean, my mind jumps straight to 'performance-benchmark' - which means - GTR..

But I don't want to own a GTR. And that's the thing that got me thinking. You see, we use benchmarks because they are a point for us to hinge our thoughts and experiences on.

Ok, the GTR's fast, and when ever i see one, the want is strong, but no thanks, i'll take something else.. Eg:M5

BUT

I will think about it - as you say - in the benchmark way. It's X slower than the GTR to Xmph etc etc

So. The point of my rambling is thus - A benchmark is the car that comes closest to the car you want in the category/categories that you choose.

And

You can't beat a Miata..

toadterror > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/11/2014 at 05:02

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"Inner-courage" - ah awesome. Feel like this needs to a question of the day - "What cars have the most inner-courage?"

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 07:01

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I do this quite a lot, but more for my prospective build ideas.

-For my Spitfire 6, the benchmark car is a 911 Carrera 2.7 RS (170bhp and 750kg vs 207bhp and 1075kg)

-For my Jaguar XJ40, the benchmark car is a BMW E34 535i (221bhp and 1770kg vs 208bhp and 1525kg)

-For an Alfa 6 3.5l, the benchmark car is an E28 M5

-For an Alfa GTV6 3.5l, the benchamrk car is an E24 M635i

-For a Triumph Stag 32v, the benchmark car is an E9 3.0 CSL

-For a Triumph TR6 3.0l, the benchmark car is a 911 3.0 Carrera

-For a Triumph GT6 2.0l revving to 7-8k, the benchmark car is a Hakosuka GT-R

-For an MGB GT V8, the benchamrk car is a 911 2.7 Carrera RS

-For a Maserati BiTurbo, the benchmark car is an E30 M3 Evo 2

-For a Rover SD1, the benchmark car is an E28 M5

-For a Rover P6 3500, the benchmark car is an E12 M535CSi

There's so much potential, but during the 70s and 80s the Italians and Brits didn't have as much freedom to play with it as the Germans (mostly their own fault).

That's something I can fix.

BKRM3 > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 07:45

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Yes, I use the E90 M3...because I own this one =D

f86sabre > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 08:34

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My 2003 Evo VIII.

3200 lb - cars should not weigh more unless they are limos
0-60 in 4.8 sec - if you have more power and can't get within .2 sec then you are a looser
0.9 G on the skid pad - I can do that with my four door family hauler, can you?
271 hp from 2 liters - not making 120+ hp/liter? You are just being lazy. Why isn't the 6.2L Vette making 722 HP?

JACU - I've got bonifides. > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 09:39

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I measure a car's desirability based upon smiles-per-mile. A Subaru STi does it for me. May not ultimately be the fastest or best handling, but I prefer my fun being available regardless of the weather.

turbokitten > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 12:44

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You mean like this?

Because Fast > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 13:55

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I always seem to use 2002 Trans Am. Because biggest bang for your $ and low end of moderate handling makes great comparisons. Can I beat it in a straight line? Will it beat me in the curves? Depending on the answers, I then ask how many Trans Ams does it cost? I have found lots of cars can do one or the other but for both it costs 2 or 3 of my cars at min.

dicksmoke > f86sabre 01/11/2014 at 14:22

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Yea your Evo will definitely smoke the new vette. Be sure to videotape that for us, mighty god of hp/L.

:)

f86sabre > dicksmoke 01/11/2014 at 18:57

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I think you missunderstand. I was commenting on efficiency and how we really could be doing some amazing things. Is there a reason why Vette motor couldn't be doing more? Not really. If my 10 year old rice rocket had 135 hp/liter then you would hope the cutting edge car for any car maker today should match or exceed that.

So, I never said the Evo would beat a new Vette in a race, I understand the power/weight equation here, but the Corvette should beat it by much more. So,:) Right back at you.

quarterlifecrisis > 55Buick, Oversteer Scientist 01/11/2014 at 23:46

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I use relative numbers, and an 05 Corvette. Namely because I can translate the numbers cars produce into ones that my butt dyno knows. It all kind of depends on what things are being compared to too.

dicksmoke > f86sabre 01/12/2014 at 13:44

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I agree with most of your points, but still believe the only way a car manufacturer will come close to the hp/L of high compression/turbo 4 cylinders is with a 4 cylinder built using newer technologies, a la Ecoboost.

A giant 6.2L NA V8 is never going to match efficiency of a turbo 2.0L 4 cylinder, but it would be cool if it did ;)

I'm being pedantic, just felt like typing it out.