Top speed run in SS/SC.

Nothing really special, just a guy from the Cobalt forums proving that the stock SS/SC isn't drag limited at 140-142. The end is kinda funny, watch his passenger seat.


http://www.ricermath.com/sspics/147mph.wmv

what a moron, over 140MPH, one had on the steering wheel, the other hand trying to film it. Someone tell that loser to get some friends so he doesnt have to risk his life and everyone elses so stupidly.

But none the the less thats about how fast i kinda figured they would go. Do they have an actual speed limiter?

Nah, no speed limiter.

At least he put the camera down to shift, heh. He was also on a very straight, flat road that had nothing on it. These cars also ride very nicely at those speeds, so driving with one hand isnt TOO bad. Although you are correct, it isnt the smartest thing to do. But nothing to get all worked up over Jayson. ;)

How do you know that the speedometer is accurate?

lol im not worked up

How do you know that the speedometer is accurate?
Most aren't after around 85-90 MPH. Who knows how far it 'could' be off.

I know I have seen 145 MPH in my Grand Am, but at other times, it won't go beyond 125 MPH. So who knows.

Interesting, i wouldn't have thought those would even be geared to go those speeds.

I've walked away from an Accord with my old SE-R, with my speedo reading just above 120, and supposedly his reading close to 140.

This is why the good mags test car's top-speeds with radar.

A stock Integra Type-R, for example, can show up to 150mph on its speedo, but was radar-tested to "only" 142mph.

Most aren't after around 85-90 MPH. Who knows how far it 'could' be off.
I agree most cars unless made for very highspeed or have awesome gauges really arn't worth anything past those speeds

I'm glad mine only goes up to 99mph. That way I can always bs and say I can go faster than any of my buddies. I'm pretty sure I hit the limiter at 198.3mph on the way to work this morning. This thing is super fast on the top end, especially with those 3.73 highway gears. :biggrin:

what?

I have no way of proving it, but the guy who is a trustworthy member says he has some law enforcement buddies that radared him on an open tarmac of sorts. I think he said he was doing 99 and the gun read 98.6.

I'm not sure if those are the exact numbers but I can look back through some posts and try to find them.

You'd think that with all the technology that's been implimented into vehicles these days, it wouldnt be too much of a stretch for auto manufacturers to install acurate speedos in what are supposed to be sport cars. Gotta cut corners somewhere I suppose. As for the Cobalt's speedo, I have no clue on how accurate it is at high speeds.

they make them inacurate for a reason

its like how your gas gauge reads inaccurately as well

for the illusion of speed...

seems faster than it really is.

for the illusion of speed...

seems faster than it really is.
My car would be a perfect example.

Use RPM vs gearing vs tire size.

What kind of grand am?

what?

My speedo only reads to 99, therefore I can just bs anyone in the truck and make up a speed I want. I get asked alot by the local "advance auto sponsored corolla" drivers how fast my truck will top out at(as if I care to even go that fast in a brick on wheels). They honestly believe my 170mph claims, so I get away with anything they let me. :screwy:

You're a cruel bastard...

but that's ok, we still like you. :D

hmmm I didn't know that the speedo was inaccurate past a certain speed...It seems kinda pointless for most cars to even have a speedo

even still thats pretty fast, especially with one hand...props to the SS

yeah i would definitly say use a gear ratio calculator. basically it calculates mph based on the circumference of your tires and gear ratios and rpm. so just look at the specs for that car and look at the rpm, then get the size of the stock tires down, then increase that by a little to account for the tire expanding under alot of rpm. then you can get your actual speed, you know what, i'll just look for it for you.


the actual speed of that cobalt SS after constantly pausing to see the engine rpm, it shows around 5500rpm, but i used 5400 rpm just in case. with the tire diameter growing by .5 inches so the total tire diameter = 26 inches. with a 5th gear ratio of .7:1 and the final drive of 4.1:1.

the actual speed @ 5400rpm is 145mph. so that speedo is pretty damn accurate.

yeah i would definitly say use a gear ratio calculator. basically it calculates mph based on the circumference of your tires and gear ratios and rpm. so just look at the specs for that car and look at the rpm, then get the size of the stock tires down, then increase that by a little to account for the tire expanding under alot of rpm. then you can get your actual speed, you know what, i'll just look for it for you.


the actual speed of that cobalt SS after constantly pausing to see the engine rpm, it shows around 5500rpm, but i used 5400 rpm just in case. with the tire diameter growing by .5 inches so the total tire diameter = 26 inches. with a 5th gear ratio of .7:1 and the final drive of 4.1:1.

the actual speed @ 5400rpm is 145mph. so that speedo is pretty damn accurate.
slick ass thinking tat!

I like that idea and I agree seems they have quite a good speedo on them :smile:

yeah i would definitly say use a gear ratio calculator. basically it calculates mph based on the circumference of your tires and gear ratios and rpm. so just look at the specs for that car and look at the rpm, then get the size of the stock tires down, then increase that by a little to account for the tire expanding under alot of rpm. then you can get your actual speed, you know what, i'll just look for it for you.


the actual speed of that cobalt SS after constantly pausing to see the engine rpm, it shows around 5500rpm, but i used 5400 rpm just in case. with the tire diameter growing by .5 inches so the total tire diameter = 26 inches. with a 5th gear ratio of .7:1 and the final drive of 4.1:1.

the actual speed @ 5400rpm is 145mph. so that speedo is pretty damn accurate.

Thanks tat!

Why is it that Tat isn't a mod? F'ing genius if you asking me...

:grinyes:

uhh tat didnt take into consideration the fact of wind resistance. Yes with his calculations the car should be at 145MPH @ 5400 RPMS, but thats with no wind resistance.

Jayson, he was calculating to prove that car could hit 145....apparently it can, there's a video... That just proves the speedo is right.

i can't take all the credit, casue this calculation was done with the gear ratio calculator that i found online. i do know the actuall formula but its pointless to go thru all those numbers when they have a website that does all that for me.

here is the site that i used http://www.csgnetwork.com/rearendgearcalc.html

also jayson, windresistence does affect top speed, but its not required in the formula. since i'm personally going to show you how the number was derived here it is.

warning formula ahead:

the way the formula works is that a mile has 5280ft. so based off that number of feet, you get the circumference of a tire. so lets say since the cobalts tire is 26 inches in diameter after it expands, the circumference is 81.68 inches. so you divid that by 12 and you get 6.8067 ft. so each time the tire rotates once it will cover 6.8067 ft. now you have the gear ratio. the gear ratio in 5th gear is .7:1 and the final drive is 4.1:1 ratio. so the total ratio is 2.87:1 so the engine at 5400 rpm is spinning the wheel at 1881.53 times a minute. so it will cover 1881.53x6.8067 ft = 12807.189ft per minute. you times that by 60 to get how many feet traveled in an hour so thats 768431.373805 ft per hour so you divid that by 5280ft = ta da 145.53mph.

plug those numbers into that website and it will give you 145.53mph as well. you can also double check my math with a graphic calculator if you want. wind has nothing to do with the amount of times the engine turns to tranny which in turn, turns the wheel which in turn covers distance. this has nothing to do with wind. wind resistance only affects how much horse power is needed to over come it. and the cobalt SS obviously has enough power to overcome the wind until 145mph.

ehh whatever, if it goes that fast cool, if not okay.

Owned by Science.

:lol:

who knew physics was actually worth paying attention to back in 12th grade... :dunno: Teachers need to tell you these things.

damn... u guys are making me wonder what my car tops out at since i went faster than 135 on my speedo...... but it sux since i dont know the gear ratio on my car... :'(

my speedo's digital :D

Haha. Funny stuff tat. Good call.

The guy also said his car still had more room to pull, but had to shut it down from lack of "runway." How true that is I don't know.

i got analog. :) but i cant seem to find my gear ratios stuff even online. i looked in the manual, not their either.....

My car would be a perfect example.
:grinno:

CHILL

So he proved he has no buddies, and can hit 2mph over the supposed drag limit. I'm sure there are no factors to why he could pick up a tremendous gain like 2 mph!? :uhoh:

If he would have hit 150mph in a reasonable amount of time then he would have made his point, but 2mph? :thumbsdow