JPS

I'm seeing ads these days for crap like "270 HP Nissan Altima"...are we going to get dusted by a freakin' 4 door soon, or does 270 not always =270? (Gears, etc. aside)...? <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Mr Michael B

JS,

I personally think that yes... We are going to get dusted by 4 doors soon (M5 or Big Benz or XJR or a chipped Audi S4 = NOW actually). Heck Acura has a coupe S that is smok'n fast now too.

Today's HP ratings are all "net" (the good old days were "gross" HP, like a 400 HP Chevelle was really MUCH less). The Jaguar S-Type supercharged sedan is the only HP over-rated engine I can think of anymore. I think they claim 400 but all the manufactures have scoffed at that figure.

270 from Nissan is in fact 270. The cars are heavy though, and some send the power through auto transmissions. That works to our advantage for now. But 270 HP Nissans today, will be 320 HP Nissans the next model year right?

Get ready. The hot sedans are here & more are coming. BTW... Watch out for those boosted Subaru WRX machines. Ouch.

Kristoffer

Don't forget that you need to factor in Power to weight , torqe & gear ratio.I had a van that had 220 hp the same as my camaro when I was a kid but I can assure you that van would not be able to have keep up with it.

PeanutinCA

I'm working out at Nissan now and the new Z is quoting 0-60 at 5.4 secs. That's on par with (most) 993's N/A versus Turbo though. Sound pretty sweet too but, it's no Porsche. Being a Porsche is good for 12hp (sorry, to many products quoting hp gains, just a bad habit to quote hp gains these days).

Hold onto that Porsche as long as possible!!

Cheers,
Dylan.

JPS

Yikes! Sad days ahead.

However, remember the crest on the hood, vs. whatever the hell they have, and realize we'll leave them after the first turn... <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Greg Fishman

Michael summed it up pretty well. Fast cars from a decade or so ago are mid packers or worse at this point.
I remember my dad buying a Ford Taurus SHO and I took it with me to college while he was on his tour of duty during the Gulf War. I loved that car as it was a real sleeper and I out ran lots of sports cars, including Mustangs and Camaro's.
Saw one at a DE event a few years ago and couldn't believe how slow the car looked, even on the straights.
I later bought a '92 5spd-Maxima with 200hp or so and it was quick 0-60 in like 6.6 secs. Faster than the N/A 300zx

Nowadays if your sedan doesn't do 0-60 in less than 7 secs you are underpowered. If a two door sports car it better be in the low 5's or you will be called a poser.

BMW supposedly has a V-10 M5 on the way with close to 500hp. It may not handle the curves like a 911 but I wouldn't challenge one on the straights or at the stoplights.

996FLT6

You don't even have to think about the new v-10 M5, the current one is a darn beast and on the straights it's a killer. I've driven my patient's M5-talk about gobs of trq whatever gear your in. What's sickening I'm talking unmodded. I think it's one of the best sedans out there and its a manny. Regards. Mike

KMR3

Hello all,

I currently drive a 2000 M Coupe and I have driven many 993's and hoping to get one myself. My car also has gobs of torque and lots of fun to drive. However the 993 is a different beast, the driver really feel part of the car as if it were one. One must really test drive a 993 to get the whole picture. The car that I fell in love with was a C4S and the day of the test drive was a day I will never forget.

All these other cars I believe can't match the Porsche, like the slogan says. Porsche there is no substitute.

pig4bill

M5 has to get pumped up to compete with the new Audi RS6 (450hp turbo v8).

Nissan 350z seems slow to me at 5.4 sec 0-60. That's no better than the previous generation M3 or the current Subie WRX that costs $25k.