Prelude Vtec vs. Sentra SE-R

[Yellwaznboy]

Which one would win a 1/4 mile race between a Prelude Vtec and a Sentra SER? And how bad would one lose?

[rubix777]

I'd think the prelude VTEC because I looked at my friend's SE-R Spec-V cluster and it redlined like at 6? however, it has a lot of torque from that 2.5L engine.

[SRV BOY]

Vtec prelude would smoke the se-r anyday anytime any driver anywhere!

[AcesHigh]

Prelude VTEC will wipe the floor with the Sentra's ass. Try Si against SE-R.

[rubix777]

the Spec-V weighs 2750lbs and has 180 torque though.

I'll race my friend's SE-R and let you know if I win or not.

[SRV BOY]

Just take a look at the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times for both cars, the prelude will outdo the sentra in both categories

[AcesHigh]

Let me try to clarify some things between the relationship between horsepower and torque. Let's take a closer look at this. A Honda Prelude makes 158lbs-ft of torque at 5500rpm. The 2004 Spec V Nissan Sentra's peak torque is 180lbs-ft at 4800rpm.

How can a car with less horsepower make more torque than one with more? It's simple. (Torque x RPM)/5252 = Horsepower. Because peak torque in any given car is at a constant, the only variable we can change here to increase horsepower is RPM. So there you have it, increasing RPM's on a lower torque car will cause it to create more power than a higher torque car with a lower redline.

But what does this mean? Well, from a launch, the Sentra has a clear advantage. It's got much more torque. The Prelude VTEC falls behind until the Sentra reaches that 4000rpm peak torque mark. Now, while the Sentra has reached peak torque doesn't mean it's reached redline. It will continue going until 6000rpm before the driver shifts, because of that same (Torque x RPM)/5252 = Horsepower. Power can still be 'created' even if the car has reached its peak torque, by means of greater revolutions per minute.

At the Sentra's 4000rpm mark, the Prelude begins to accumulate torque faster than the Sentra. By the time the Sentra is forced to shift to second at 6000rpms (thereby LOSING its torque multiplication factor for speed), the Prelude is still going strong. It still has until 6800rpms before it has to shift, and despite its lower peak torque, power is *greatly* multiplied by the fact that its going at a higher RPM.

The two will be roughly equal when the Sentra is midway to its powerband again, the Sentra goes slightly ahead when it finally reaches it. By the time the Prelude reaches that point again, it's all over for the Sentra.

This RPM dynamic is the reason why Honda Civics feel incredibly weak when compared to a car of even less horsepower. Key word here is feel. Torque is what you feel, and it's what pins you to your seat when you floor it. Horsepower has nothing to do with that.

It's the magic of high revs that makes Hondas shine, and how a 2.0L S2000 can be throwing around 240 ponies. It reaches 8300rpms.

And excuse my Si comment back there, I was referring to the 91-94 Sentra SE-R.

(On a side note, 500th post, rawr.)

[rubix777]

do you think he's talking about the 03 SE-R?

so I'll probably lose to the 04 SE-R w/o VTEC huh?

[SRV BOY]

without vtec, prolly unless u mod it of course

[AcesHigh]

On a long enough line, it shouldn't be too far off.

You can take the Sentra on a course, though.

[Yellwaznboy]

Originally Posted by rubix777

do you think he's talking about the 03 SE-R?

so I'll probably lose to the 04 SE-R w/o VTEC huh?

Yes I was talking about the '03 SER, sorry I didn't clearify that. Cuz I've heard a lot of different comments. Some say they'll end up really close, almost nose to nose at the finish line, some say the prelude will wipe the floors with hte SER making it sound like the Prelude will finish before the SER even reaches half way. So I'm just trying to learn some stuff, not trying to say "oh look I beat you" or anything, just trying to do some research is all.

[Yellwaznboy]

I also have another question. Honda has VTEC and on the SE-R's they have the CVTC, what's the difference between them?

[AcesHigh]

It's the same principle, with a different name.

[rubix777]

VTEC(Variable Valve Timing Electronic Lift Control)
in simple terms, going into VTEC, you will feel a jerk as the engine moves from normal driving cams to racing cams. The racing cams have higher lift.

CVTC(Continuously Variable Timing Control)
This only modifies the timing, does not modify the height of lift of the valves. So change in timing, but uses same cams.

so the difference, VTEC changes both timing and lift

CVTC only changes only timing

So which one is superior?
VTEC

look here
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question229.htm
http://www.billzilla.org/vvtvtec.htm

[SRV BOY]

vtec is superior