Did GM's Retro look kill top speed?
#31
I think something worth noting here, is that along with a higher top speed, good aerodynamics also means better fuel economy at high way speeds. And also remember that when you mention drag coefficients, that is independent of the frontal area of the car. Which is why a deville with close to the same drag coefficient of the vette still has much more drag due to it's larger frontal area.
#33
Tru'dat, another one that makes me laugh is when the IRS guys start pitching the earth shattering and life saving performance offered by an IRS vs SRA, Yeah I'll admit IRS is better, but the true benefit is in ride comfort and space packaging. Otherwise like top speed, you aren't going to be able to realize the ultimate performance potential of the setup.
The car looked pretty aero dynamic in the wind tunnel and its a fast back and has a rounded tail. Im always shocked when I see a funny car in competition with a plastic body of a 57 Chevy or so that looks like it has all the aero dynamics of a brick and they get it into the 300mph or so.
Last edited by 5thgen69camaro; 03-23-2007 at 12:38 AM.
#34
I just get a kick out of IRS guys, and the bold claims they make - the best one that I've heard tell was extensive driving in an SRA equipped vehicle will cause spinal damage or is so tiring that it effectively renders a car like the current mustang essentially useless for anything but short trips of a few hours at best, or that unless roads are glass smooth then any irregularity will completely upset an SRA equipped car, leading to some sort of white knuckle experience, or how even lowly passenger cars fitted with an IRS offers superior performance to an SRA equipped car like a mustang.
I'm saying yeah, I can agree that IRS is a better rig, but at the speeds most people fool around with and the distances they do it in, the increase in performance is marginal unless the road is really that crappy. like a bonzai run, its more or less a bench racing topic along with things like more cams and valves the better, or oversquare vs square vs undersquare or long rod vs short road, and so on.
I'm saying yeah, I can agree that IRS is a better rig, but at the speeds most people fool around with and the distances they do it in, the increase in performance is marginal unless the road is really that crappy. like a bonzai run, its more or less a bench racing topic along with things like more cams and valves the better, or oversquare vs square vs undersquare or long rod vs short road, and so on.
#35
Well, I think I could get used to having an IRS equipped car. This is PA, and the roads around here are pretty horrible. There have been more times than I can recall where I have been flying down an bending onramp and hit a section of crappy road that came out of nowhere, and had the tail kick out on me pretty fiercely.
Perhaps the full benefits of IRS might not be realized off of the track, but around here it would be noticeable.
Perhaps the full benefits of IRS might not be realized off of the track, but around here it would be noticeable.
#36
Unless its gunna have a top speed of 180mph. I really dont want it!!!
#37
You can always just leave it off then.....
#39
Originally Posted by guionM
...
Small road irregularities that's normal on public interstates become unnerving at 150+, and after actually running over 155 & experiencing the length of road that it takes to build up that speed (at 150 mph you're going a mile every 15 seconds, and it's going to take at least a couple of miles to get that last 10 mph not to mention the time it took you to get to 150!), and with most roads outside of the western and prarie states with far higher concentration of other vehicles, curves, hills, and hiding places for police, I know most claims of top speed runs on public roads I hear from people are pure BS or exaggerations.
Having a car with a 160 or 170 top end is nothing more than bragging rights.
Small road irregularities that's normal on public interstates become unnerving at 150+, and after actually running over 155 & experiencing the length of road that it takes to build up that speed (at 150 mph you're going a mile every 15 seconds, and it's going to take at least a couple of miles to get that last 10 mph not to mention the time it took you to get to 150!), and with most roads outside of the western and prarie states with far higher concentration of other vehicles, curves, hills, and hiding places for police, I know most claims of top speed runs on public roads I hear from people are pure BS or exaggerations.
Having a car with a 160 or 170 top end is nothing more than bragging rights.
#40
Actually, I heard the original stealth bomber looks like that, with so many flat surfaces and such, was because the tools at the time didn't have the necessary complexity and power to calculate curved surfaces effectively.
If thats true or not, I don't know..
But IMO, believable, since they managed to make the F22 stealth without making it look extremely odd.
If thats true or not, I don't know..
But IMO, believable, since they managed to make the F22 stealth without making it look extremely odd.
#41
Correct...they knew that a plane with angled sides could reflect radar signals outwards and away from the the source. It was designed in the mid to early 70's.
The B-2 was designed in the 80's with much more advanced computers, and actually has a lower radar signature then the smaller F-117A.
The F/A-22 was designed in the mid 90's with MUCH more advanced computers, and uses all sorts of technology to lower its RCS.
The B-2 was designed in the 80's with much more advanced computers, and actually has a lower radar signature then the smaller F-117A.
The F/A-22 was designed in the mid 90's with MUCH more advanced computers, and uses all sorts of technology to lower its RCS.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
canbaufo
Cars For Sale
0
02-24-2015 10:27 AM
CARiD
Supporting Vendor Group Purchases and Sales
0
01-14-2015 04:00 AM
NewsBot
2010 - 2015 Camaro News, Sightings, Pictures, and Multimedia
0
01-11-2015 06:10 PM
mark0006
Automotive News / Industry / Future Vehicle Discussion
3
12-25-2014 09:50 PM