Power to Cost Ratio

[Kirwan]

Here's another almost meaningless statistic... How much power do you get for your dollar?

Starting with new cars, MSRP and factory numbers...
I can't even begin to do the 'exotics'... like they say, "if you have to ask..."
Acura NSX $307/hp
Porsche Boxster $202/hp
BMW Z4 $182
Viper $162
S2000 $137
Corvette Z06 $128
Celica GTS $122
Civic Si $118
Eclipse GTS $117
Acura RSX $115
GTI 1.8T $107
RX-8 $105
350Z $94
Neon SRT-4 $88
Mustang Cobra $87
WRX $82
Mustang GT $77

[Joseph1082]

Camaro LS1 $97/hp
Ferrari Enzo about $1000/hp

[crayzayjay]

It's not about power per dollar. It's power-to-weight per dollar

[Joseph1082]

Well, the real factor in determining how fast a car is power/weight ratio correct! Is this an absolute, or can a car with a lower pwr/wght ration beat a higher? So he is right that the true measure of performance for your buck is then pwr/wght/dollar!

[Kirwan]

Ok, I admit it... my real point was that HP/$ is a meaningless number. Just like HP/Liter is meaningless. It's an interesting curiosity, but doesn't mean squat on race day.

HP/Weight at least has some relevance, but that's only a start.
- You gotta get the hp to the ground; high power front wheel drive cars are terrible at dragracing, for example.
- You gotta get around the course; Big block muscle cars don't have a good weight balance, and don't handle all that well.
- You gotta control it; history is rife with examples of rich guys buying high power, high performance exotics, then wrapping them around the first tree they find.

But I like curiousities... I'll go back and add hp/weight to the above list and see how it shakes out. My gut feeling is that it won't change all that much.

[Joseph1082]

Well, isn't Wheel Power to weight ratio the true measure of how fast a car is?

[Neutrino]

Originally Posted by Joseph1082

Well, isn't Wheel Power to weight ratio the true measure of how fast a car is?

nope since the powerband and gearing will play a major role too

[Kirwan]

Ok, here it is. Horsepower per 1000 pounds weight:

Corvette Z06: 130
Porsche 911: 128
Mustang Cobra: 118
Corvette 112
Subaru WRX 101
Mustang GT 94
NSX 92
350Z 90
Neon SRT-4 89
Boxster 89
S2000 85
RX-8 79
BMW Z-4 77
Celica GTS 74
RSX 74
Eclipse GTS 72
GTI VR6 72
Civic Si 65
GTI 1.8T 65
Miata 60

This is all based on 'factory data' from consumerguide.com
I found it interesting that they were pretty much all right around 3000 pounds, plus or minus 200. Except for a couple; Miata, Celica, Civic and Neon are in the 2500 range. Also of note is that the Civic hatchback is 300 pounds heavier than the sedan.

[Joseph1082]

The cars are more or less in proper order of speed as well