wthalliii

How come 5-60 MPH times are slower than 0-60 MPH times? For instance, from the latest issue of Car and Driver:

Mazdaspeed 3 Grand Touring: 0-60 5.4 sec; 5-60 6.0 sec.
Mini Cooper S: 0-60 6.2 sec; 5-60 6.6 sec
Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V: 0-60 6.4; 5-60 6.9 sec.
Subaru Impreza WRX TR: 0-60 5.3 sec; 5-60 6.5 sec
Volkswagen GTI: 0-60 6.2 sec.; 5-60 6.7 sec

I mean, you have to go 0-5 MPH as a part of 0-60. I would think that the 0-60 time would be the 0-5 time plus the 5-60 time. It seems to me that the 5-60 time should be shorter than the 0-60 time. What's the deal?

BTW, those times were from an article called Power Toys, subtitled Five Low-Buck Choices for Hightailing It. They did not include Mustangs. I guess that's because the base price of all those cars is less than $25K, while a GT is more than that. A V6 is in the same price range and performance range as those cars, though.

howarmat

Discussed before, I think CrazyAl answered it. PM him and you will get the correct answer.

Ford_Dude

someone asked this sometime back
its because 0-60 is launched
and 5-60 is rolling start so it can't be launched

Speedyejl

Its basically because the engine isn't at peak power like when you launch. The engine is at RPMs and its much more bogged down.

Whereas in a perfect launch ideally the engine is kept at peak power while you slip the clutch at the verge of wheel traction.

Our cars actually do pretty good at rolling starts with our big torque. I love the WRX's numbers haha

wthalliii

Okay, that explains it. And, yeah, the WRX numbers are impressive, as are the Mazdaspeed 3. All five of those cars were on my short list when I was deciding what to buy after my car was totaled last November. But when I realized I could buy a GT, all of them suddenly seemed second best.

Speedyejl

I was actually making fun of the WRX lol. Its 5-60 sucks, over a full second slower. Proof that a turbo 4cyl has some major draw backs.

wthalliii

Oh.[sm=headbang.gif] Well, at least I didn't buy one, LOL. Actually, the front runner on my list was the Eclipse until I realized I could have a Mustang. Then I threw away the list and never looked back.

billyjo

i read in car and driver is that the reason for the slower time is the 0 to 60 is basicly running the car as fast as it can regardless of the damage it might cause. the 5 to 60 times is not as aggressive and more repersents what a normal driver would achieve.

howarmat

Physics laws apply, potential energy or something. Cant remember.

Burnsy

0-60 is launched, car is revved, then takes off, but that causes damage to the car, and most drivers wouldnt do that, rolling start 5 mph-60, is easily replicated by a normal driver and causes no damage to the car