TXRLU
01-12-2006, 04:20 PM
Magazine Racing Don't look!!!
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Ok I told ya not to look, now ya can't bitch about "Oh that's just magazine racing" :p: I was looking at my latest edition of Car and Driver, "POWER CRAZY, 3000-hp, $1 million super car test". The main players in this test were the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari F430, Ford GT, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, and the Aston Martin DB9. As I was reading this article on some of the most powerful, and beautiful works of modern automotive art, I noticed the track where the cars were tested on, Streets of Willow, a 1.6 mile track in California. I thought to myself, "Why does that sound familiar?" It later dawned on me that I had seen a comparison test of this somewhere else, but where? I scanned through some of my older magazines when I made the discovery, THAT'S WHERE MOTOR TREND DID COBALT SS Vs. SRT-4! So I scrounged around a bit until I came upon the article I was looking for, below are some pretty scary numbers..........
Car and Driver Testing
Ford GT--------------------------------------------1:32.61
Ferrari F430---------------------------------------1:32.68
Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG-----------------------1:34.95
Porsche 911 Turbo S-----------------------------1:34.97
Aston Martin DB9---------------------------------1:35.64
Motor Trend Testing
Cobalt SS (Sister to Red Line of Course)-------1:37.17
SRT-4----------------------------------------------1:37.37
Yes I know these are 2 different magazine companies testing with different drivers on different days with more than likely different driving conditions, I'm aware of ALL the variables out there (I'm even sure that some will post some variables that I'm NOT aware of-----"Motor Trend drivers are in better shape than Car and Driver Drivers thus the comparison can't be made.....blah blah blah). The thing that astounds me is that there is only roughly a FIVE SECOND DIFFERENCE between the Ford GT (the fastest of the uber-group) and the SS/SRT-4, and a TWO SECOND difference between the DB9 (slowest of the uber-group) and the SS/SRT-4 in lap times for a 1.6 mile track. I think regardless of what variables may have played in adding a second or two to either test group, we can look at these numbers with a bit of pride and marvel at what $20,000 (yes I know $15,000 in some cases) can buy from 2 of the big 3 :lol:
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Ok I told ya not to look, now ya can't bitch about "Oh that's just magazine racing" :p: I was looking at my latest edition of Car and Driver, "POWER CRAZY, 3000-hp, $1 million super car test". The main players in this test were the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari F430, Ford GT, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, and the Aston Martin DB9. As I was reading this article on some of the most powerful, and beautiful works of modern automotive art, I noticed the track where the cars were tested on, Streets of Willow, a 1.6 mile track in California. I thought to myself, "Why does that sound familiar?" It later dawned on me that I had seen a comparison test of this somewhere else, but where? I scanned through some of my older magazines when I made the discovery, THAT'S WHERE MOTOR TREND DID COBALT SS Vs. SRT-4! So I scrounged around a bit until I came upon the article I was looking for, below are some pretty scary numbers..........
Car and Driver Testing
Ford GT--------------------------------------------1:32.61
Ferrari F430---------------------------------------1:32.68
Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG-----------------------1:34.95
Porsche 911 Turbo S-----------------------------1:34.97
Aston Martin DB9---------------------------------1:35.64
Motor Trend Testing
Cobalt SS (Sister to Red Line of Course)-------1:37.17
SRT-4----------------------------------------------1:37.37
Yes I know these are 2 different magazine companies testing with different drivers on different days with more than likely different driving conditions, I'm aware of ALL the variables out there (I'm even sure that some will post some variables that I'm NOT aware of-----"Motor Trend drivers are in better shape than Car and Driver Drivers thus the comparison can't be made.....blah blah blah). The thing that astounds me is that there is only roughly a FIVE SECOND DIFFERENCE between the Ford GT (the fastest of the uber-group) and the SS/SRT-4, and a TWO SECOND difference between the DB9 (slowest of the uber-group) and the SS/SRT-4 in lap times for a 1.6 mile track. I think regardless of what variables may have played in adding a second or two to either test group, we can look at these numbers with a bit of pride and marvel at what $20,000 (yes I know $15,000 in some cases) can buy from 2 of the big 3 :lol: