Re: ipd

[Steve Powers <spowers@spdg.COM>]

Eliot comes through with:
>
> On Mon, 26 Aug 1996, Steve Powers wrote:
> 
> > These cars were 850s. Turbocharged, 5 cylinder models. Claimed a sub
> > 6 second time for the sedan after the mods (0 - 60 mph). I'd be
> > awfully skeptical of this.
> 
> i wouldn't say that it's not possible.  i guess the limiting factor
> will be fwd traction and it would probably take a skilled driver
> to pull it off.  and forget about wet road performance.

I seem to remember a discussion sometime last year on this. In summary,
I think the weight transfer would hinder FWD performance while not
really bothering AWD performance - at least as far as straight line
launches.

I surfed a bit and found some specs on the 850 R (T5-R) which gave the
weight at 3387 pounds for the wagon with the 240 ponies. The S6 wagon
weighs in at 3600 I think. Thirteen more ponies and a couple of hundred
pounds. Could be pretty close I'd think.

Engine performance was comparable. The Volvo had less than 6% more
horsepower at the expense of torque. It had more than 14% less torque.
Audi: 227 bhp/258 lb-ft  vs. Volvo 240 bhp/221 lb-ft. Torque gets
you off the line, horsepower gives you top speed.

Performance figures I found were for 0-100 kph: Audi 5.9/Volvo 6.7 sec.
Both figures were attributed to the respective manufacturer. The Volvo
figure was for a wagon, but the S6 figure was for the sedan.

I also found this gem which I will share with you exactly as it appears
on Edmund's web site. Their (Volvo' or Edmund's) words, not mine...
  
'This year all Volvo 850s are equiped with front-seat side-impact
airbags, optional traction control (TRACS), and an "Accidental Loss of
Life" policy that will pay $250,000 to anyone who loses his or her life
in the Volvo as the result of an accident.'

Be careful out there folks. They're now paying ovloV drivers to have
accidents.
-- 
steve powers                         stratos product development group
spowers@spdg.com                     seattle, washington