Post your worst Power-to-Weight Ratio car that you enjoy | FerrariChat

Post your worst Power-to-Weight Ratio car that you enjoy

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by toggie, Mar 28, 2015.

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  1. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
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    Nov 30, 2003
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    #1 toggie, Mar 28, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I figured this would be an interesting thread to offset the horsepower thread discussions.

    Post your favorite car to drive that has a low Power-to-Weight Ratio.
    That is, the horsepower divided by the curb weight.

    I'll start the thread with my 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.
    I love this car. It is a snow tank.
    It gets lots of attention wherever it goes.
    It is Hydro Blue which is an electric blue type of color.

    Horsepower is 285 from a 3.6 liter V6 PentaStar engine.
    Curb weight is 4340 lbs.
    Power to weight ratio is 0.0657.

    For comparison purposes, a Ferrari 488 GTB has 661 hp and weighs 3252 lbs with a power-to-weight ratio of 0.2033.
    That is 309% better than the Jeep Rubicon's power-to-weight ratio. Yes, that's a LOT!
    .
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  2. opencollector

    opencollector Formula Junior

    Feb 1, 2005
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    Thomas
    #2 opencollector, Mar 28, 2015
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  3. INTMD8

    INTMD8 F1 Veteran
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    Jun 10, 2007
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    #3 INTMD8, Mar 28, 2015
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  4. Auraraptor

    Auraraptor F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Sep 25, 2002
    13,197
    MO
    4,817 lb for my E38 @ 322 hp: 0.0668 (Still love driving her! With the correct gearing its very peppy.)
    or 3042 lb for my daily prelude @ 200 hp: 0.0657
     
  5. bluedog111

    bluedog111 Karting

    May 5, 2009
    80
    GTA
    2011 GL 350 Bluetec with the sport package. It has the same wheels, trim and suspension as the gl550.

    5500 lbs and 210 hp. It's slow off the line but the 400 pounds of torque pulls like a turbine at speed.

    .0381
     
  6. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #6 GrigioGuy, Mar 29, 2015
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  7. mulo rampante

    mulo rampante Formula Junior

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    #7 mulo rampante, Mar 29, 2015
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  8. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

    Mar 24, 2008
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    My old F250 6.8 V10.

    Outside the states these cars are quite rare, especially with the V10. Way too big, bad mileage, pretty loud with a different exhaust. Fantastic.

    I moved from Africa so it's gone now, but want another one. Or Excursion V10.
     
  9. TheMayor

    TheMayor Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 11, 2008
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    Vegas baby
    #9 TheMayor, Mar 29, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    (these are not photos of my real cars but they were the same model, year, and colors)

    Probably my 1991 Alfa Spider. 2500 lbs (well, so said Alfa but you know how that goes), 110 HP.

    Ratio of 0.044 (at best). But it was a lot of fun to drive.

    2nd place a 1978 Fiat X 1/9. Weight about 2,000 lbs, 75 hp (really Fiat?) making a ratio of 0.038. You treated the gas pedal like an on/ off switch. There was no point to anything else. :)
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  10. Jeffg11

    Jeffg11 Formula Junior
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    May 31, 2004
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    I truly learned to appreciate the value of momentum racing a 1.6L Miata. On its best day it put down 114 hp at 2300 lbs

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  11. zudnic

    zudnic Formula 3

    Nov 13, 2014
    1,896
    Vancouver
    I picked up a 71 karmann ghia coupe, don't know how much it weighed, barely had more then 65 hp. Maybe not super fun to drive. But it did get the most attention for a non exotic I've owned. Girls loved this car.
     
  12. Hawkeye

    Hawkeye F1 Veteran
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    Sep 20, 2009
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    #12 Hawkeye, Mar 29, 2015
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  13. Attitude928

    Attitude928 Formula Junior

    Nov 1, 2003
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    #13 Attitude928, Mar 29, 2015
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  14. kevfla

    kevfla Formula 3

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    gone 4 good
    Instead of dividing the horsepower by the weight and ending-up with a fraction of 1, why not divide the weight by the horsepower and end up with numbers more useful for comparison?

    Using Ron's Jeep stats and my suggestion, each "horse" pushes 15.22 pounds.

    My Shadow weighs approx 4800 pounds and it's 6.25L engine puts out something like 220 hp.
    That calculates to 21.81 pounds per horsepower.

    Chad's Defender 110 is even worse, pushing 26.64 pounds per HP.

    Isn't this a lot easier to compare numbers than comparing fractions of one??

    KevFla
     
  15. boxerman

    boxerman F1 World Champ
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  16. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    So figured that way, 32.5 lbs/horse for the Metro, if in perfect tune and empty.
     
  17. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

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    1995 Ford Escort @ 18.5 lbs/hp: twas my first car & a gift to myself for a major work promotion! Reliable for 180K miles & 18 yrs; donated it to a local charity....T
     
  18. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
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    My 1989 Range Rover, owned since 1992.

    Power: not much
    Weight: a lot
    Torque: sufficient

    :)
     
  19. nathandarby67

    nathandarby67 F1 Veteran
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    #19 nathandarby67, Mar 30, 2015
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  20. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
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    Power/weight = .040

    Lbs/hp = 24.56
     
  21. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
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    2011 Porsche Boxster S. Mt

    3300 lbs
    300 hp

    0-60 5.0 secs

    Lbs/hp = 11

    Hp/lbs = .09

    Fun to drive in the twisties with the top down.
     
  22. Isobel

    Isobel F1 World Champ

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    #22 Isobel, Mar 30, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I can't remember the horsepower rating however it felt 25 % less than advertised in every one of them. Difficult to remember the weight also as it was constantly dieting (typical French rustproofing), but what a delightful way to experience low power to weight. 'Owned' three of them, can't wait for my fourth one day..;). Enjoyed Leno's take on his, spot on comments.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzW_ERSgFRY
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  23. Nurburgringer

    Nurburgringer F1 World Champ

    Jan 3, 2009
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    #23 Nurburgringer, Mar 31, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I like my cars to feel like toys and get more thrills whipping around curves with tires squealing than getting pinned back in the seat so this thread was made for me.
    favs:

    Smart Roadster Coupe 1800lbs, 82hp. In another 12 years when these can be imported to the US I'd love to ship a couple over. Terrific fun on the 'ring.

    Beetle cabrio diesel 2800lbs, 105hp. Even more fun on the 'ring, but in a different way

    now back in the states a '86 CRX Si (2000lbs, 95hp) gives me smiles.

    BTW why'd you calculate hp per pound? Pounds per hp is much easier to visualize/compare.
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  24. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    You should add 600-800 pounds for four guys in that Beetle...

    Agree. do Pounds / HP like most do.
     
  25. Nurburgringer

    Nurburgringer F1 World Champ

    Jan 3, 2009
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    For most of the laps one passenger was a semi-lightweight girl :)

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVAK6-275XA[/ame]

    Unfortunately we didn't meet Clarkson on track (same weekend as his sub-10 minute Jag challenge), but the 911 driver we passed between Aremburg and Fuchsrohre might still be in therapy :/
     

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