Randall Young wrote:
>
> On Friday, September 17, 1999 6:39 PM, Michael D. Porter
> [SMTP:mporter@zianet.com] wrote:
> >
> > If it's priced close to the Miata, I wonder how much of Miata sales
> > it will take?
>
> Motor Trend estimated it's price at $34K, which may be a bit steep for the
> Miata crowd. (Most of the Miata owners I know find even the $22K for a new
> Miata on the high side.) I'd say BMW M3 ($43K) and Porsche Boxster ($46K)
> have a lot more to worry about, especially if the S2000 really makes that
> much power (2hp/ci !) and meets LEV emission standards.
The output is considerable--any time one starts pumping out 100
bhp/liter or more--but at a price. Redline is 9000, and power doesn't
begin to come on until about 6K, from one test I read. It's going to be
a peaky and pushy car to drive. They seem to be getting the power they
are, in part, by really pushing the torque peak up the rpm range. That's
probably why it's equipped with a six-speed. Haven't seen gear ratios on
it, but I'll bet the first two are really, really short.
> Frankly, I rather like the looks of the S800. It's cute, in a 60's
> Japanese-ish way. However after seeing the prices on service parts ($366AU
> for a head gasket !?), I think I'll pass on owning one <g>
Still, seems a bit garish to me--after all, Datsun did reasonably well
with the Fairlady and the 1600 and 2000, and Toyota, around the same
time, was producing (admittedly, in _very_ small numbers--I only saw one
in an importer's front window in Honolulu) the 2000GT, which was quite
an automobile for the time, given the relative immaturity of Toyota in
the mid-late `60s.
>
> On Friday, September 17, 1999 4:59 PM, Kai M. Radicke
> [SMTP:kradick1@ic3.ithaca.edu] wrote:
> >
> > Hmm, my TR6 makes just as much torque as the S2000.
>
> Here's a perfect chance to settle the hp vs torque debate once and for all
> ! Someone set up a 'stop light drag' between a S2000 and a "just as much
> torque" TR6.
> My prediction : The TR6 will still be winding out in 2nd (wishing 3rd
> wasn't so far away) while the S2000 will be sitting waiting for the next
> light to change <g>
>
> Equal torque they may have, but 240hp puts the S2000 in a whole 'nother
> class ...
This is very true. It's a difficult concept for some to gather, but
maximum torque is the force which can be applied when the engine is at
the point of peak BMEP, but power is a rate at which force is applied.
Torque is a force, power is work done in a given time. Higher horsepower
means that the crank turns more quickly, and acceleration is quicker.
Cheers.
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