torque or horsepower

[downforce22]

People always debate this which is better. Is it torque or is it horsepower. Which would you rather have?

discuss :hitler:

[FlexdXJ]

I'd rather have torque. I AutoX and wheel Jeeps. Torque is much better suited for those applications than Horsepower, IMO.

[Gary Horneck]

I agree with FlexdXJ. Torque.

[mr2peak]

I don't care. I just want proper gearing for the application.

[88Alpine]

For daily driving and weekend mountain passes, torqueeee.

[Ether-D]

Torque. I don't want my motor screaming, I want it growling.

[Bullwings]

horsepower

For track driving, you ring it out and keep it at the top of the power band with the gear box.

Torque is nice for DD, though.

That said, i'd rather have a high strung motor that sings at the top.

[Raxe]

Fuel economy.

[mulletman]

I don't care. I just want proper gearing for the application.

This.



Torque and horsepower do the same thing. The difference is how much time you spend in certain areas of the RPM range. Horsepower wins races. Torque beats the minivan at the stoplight.

[Hooffenstein HD]

I didn't realise the two were mutually exclusive.

Is HP not a calculation of torque x rpm / 5252?

[einhander]

Who gives a shit?

Most E30s have neither, but they're still tons of fun.

[mulletman]

Who gives a shit?

Most E30s have neither, but they're still tons of fun.

This is the real answer.

[Dakotademon7]

Who gives a shit?

Most E30s have neither, but they're still tons of fun.

What? My stock 325es spanks turbo Hondas all day. Lol.

[jlevie]

I didn't realise the two were mutually exclusive.

Is HP not a calculation of torque x rpm / 5252?

This!

What matters is the the shape and the area under the torque curve in relation to how you want to use the car.

[downforce22]

Good points. The e60 m5 makes 500 horsepower, but only 384 ft-lb of torque!!

Thats a helluva car, what about that?