0-100 VS 1/4 mile - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

JEM · 11-07-2001, 03:52

Just a simple question for us to have a chat about....

What would you prefer to be the better time (compared to the opposition), a faster 0-100 time, or 1/4 mile time???

Ofcourse we would want both to be quicker, but we know it doesn't always pan out that way.

0-100 for me...

Cobra · 11-07-2001, 03:56

definatly 0-100. I reckon on twisty roads its about handling and also accleration. And on normal stret roads and drags at lights you cant (legally) go over 100 or 110 kay anyway. It's nice to say you car does a better quarter but beside's conrod straight where are you gunna get to prove your superiority? 0-100 for me thanks.

MrPlow2 · 11-07-2001, 04:03

0-100 for me

1/4 mile is fine for the drag strip, but in real life it's 0-100. i always look at the 0-100 figures rather than 1/4 mile because it has more relevance to me.

Martin · 11-07-2001, 04:53

1/4 mile time is a better representation of how much grunt a car has (the trap speed is even a better indication)

But with 0-100kmh is more dependant on traction

I personally am more interested in the 1/4mile Trap speed than anything else....

anakha · 11-07-2001, 05:40

Hear hear - what Martin said.

I find the 1/4 mile my preferred performance measurement as it gives a better overall evaluation of a car's potential. Combined with 60ft times, trap speed (and 1/8 mile times if you can get them) I can get a pretty good view of how one car will perform against another in a straight line. Throw in slalom speed and 100-0 braking times like the yank mags Motor Trend and Car Craft give you and you've got just about all bases covered.

Problem with 0-100kph times is that 100kph is a very arbitrary figure to take a reading at and if looked at out of context can be misleading. Case in point was a XR8/Commo SS comparo Motor or Wheels did some time back. The XR8 was way fast up to 90kph but the 2-3 upshift was required at that point and it allowed the SS to nudge it out at 100 (which was still in 2nd due to different gearing). Other problem is that comparable 0-100 times are normally only available for new cars by the mags but when I want to test my car I go to Easter Creek and therefore get 1/4 mile times.

XR8chic · 11-07-2001, 06:15

I prefer 1/4 mile times to 0 - 100.

Mainly, cos in a 1/4 mile, it shows how quick, and the speed.

If your car cant go over 120kph then a 0 - 100 wont show that... but a 1/4 mile will.

(and dont say that some cars wont go over 120 - I have a hi lux outside that will not go faster than that!!.. seriously.... and if you go uphill.... wont go over 90. And no its not old - its like 3 years old with 25k on it.)

ayman · 11-07-2001, 06:46

Problem with 0-100kph times is that 100kph is a very arbitrary figure to take a reading at and if looked at out of context can be misleading. Case in point was a XR8/Commo SS comparo Motor or Wheels did some time back. The XR8 was way fast up to 90kph but the 2-3 upshift was required at that point and it allowed the SS to nudge it out at 100 (which was still in 2nd due to different gearing). Other problem is that comparable 0-100 times are normally only available for new cars by the mags but when I want to test my car I go to Easter Creek and therefore get 1/4 mile times.

yeah,well said. I've read that yesterday as well at autospeed( not so popular in the forum the last few days) and it explained abit why did the xr lagged a whole sec from 90 to 100 km/hr.

0-400 or better,0-200, is the actual day performance,when u want to move your car past this "tree or whatever" before the enemy,if u can reach that first,ur the quickest. And I disagree about the terminal speed of the 0-400 as I think, if two cars finish the 0-400 about the same time,the one which reach at a low speed means that it kicked the other car arse in the first 200 or 300 m. You rarely,i think, reach speeds like 150 or 160km/hr in a 60 k zones in sydney,if u want to go to work the next day in your car.

HSE2 · 11-07-2001, 10:45

0-100 for me because it is the one element of performance I am most likely to use to shut up my HSV owning mates.

As above the 1/4 mile time is also important as the yard stick, for shuting everyone else up.

Difference. Most people can be told, HSV owners have to be shown:s6:

FM · 11-07-2001, 12:17

I like both.. The one figure I'm interested in is the 70kph to 120kph time. That's when you need the grunt in everyday life so that's what I look for.

IPhido · 11-07-2001, 15:05

0-100 there are so many factors involved that every magazine gets a diffrent time.

So many cars are clustered around the 6-7 second marks its impossible to tell them apart.

0-120 or 60-120 would be more useful.

The problem with 1/4 miles is how often do you have a flat 1/4 mile which you can go flat out at? Also the time can vary alot on how you launch it, where at the terminal speed is userally a good indication..

Magazines like EVO often do ingear and rolling acceleration test. TED tests are really good.

The ultimate test for supercars is the standing km and the nuremburg times. Many cars of today are much more powerful than supercars of yesteryears.