Re: Cars vs. Big Trucks - Cubic Inches

Posted by Andy on June 29, 2002 at 19:23:29 from (65.24.143.7):

In Reply to: Cars vs. Big Trucks - Cubic Inches posted by AGEN on June 29, 2002 at 16:17:23:

Very simple really. The cars you describe are built in excess. No one in there right mind needs that much power for anything on the street. (not that it stops us from WANTING it)
Plus, you need to see more than just H/P figures to get the whole picture.
You have horse power, and you have torque. I'll try put into laymans terms.
Torque is the grunt you feel when you hit the gas from a stand still. It is the working force that gets you moving.
Horse Power is the higher RPM stuff that is fun when you reach the upper numbers on your tachometer.
If a truck is ment to work, carrying heavy loads, and towing even bigger loads, you don't need upper end power, you need low end grunt power. (normally you trade one for the other...high end horse power...no low end torque. Lots of low end torque...not much in the upper RPMs)
Next time you are in traffic at a light, (in the industrial part of town) watch and listen to a rig when he takes off from a stand still. They do it from an idle. (about 400 - 600 RPM depending on make and model) some drivers rev it up a little, but they go through clutches alot.
Now, get into your little Honda or other small car. Try to just let your foot off the clutch without giving it any gas. You'll either stall it, or it'll take so long to get it moving, you would have everyone behind you honking and loading there guns.
The rig has gobs of low end torque, but absolutly no upper RPM power. They are actually governed around 2500 RPM. The Honda isn't even awake untill you hit 3000 on the tach. But once you are up there it feels like a bottle rocket. (well, maybe not THAT much power)
Basicly, the torque is what gets you moving, and the horse power is what makes it fun on the open road.
There has been much written about this, and you can even get more into it with horse power curves verses torque curves, and area under the curve....ect. But this should give you enough information to answer your Q.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Re: Cars vs. Big Trucks - Cubic Inches WELL Said Andy, TP from Central PA 19:37:49 06/29/02 (0)

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