taurus 3.5 vs crown vic police 4.6 horsepower vs torque?

[chevyguy45]

This is kind of random but me and the family are taking a trip to colorado and my brother and his family are going to. He thinks because his taurus has 280hp vs the crown vics 250hp that i will "struggle" to get up the mountains. I told him i never had trouble in my 4cylinder altima. And i let him know if anything i will have more off the line grunt because the v8 has 30-40 more ft-pounds of torque and a shorter rear axle. He started going on about how torque is only for towing and horsepower is what gets you off the line. So anyhow do you think the v8 will feel more peppy once were loaded up and going up steep grades from standstills. To me it feels more powerful even around here. Oh well hes lucky i dont take the truck then he would get his feelings hurt.

[Spurshot]

I think you're misunderstanding what makes a vehicle move a given distance in a given time.

 

There is no "horsepower vs. torque". Torque is a component of horsepower.

 

Torque in itself, won't move anything. It is simply a measurement of force. Think of a "torque wrench". You can put 100 lbs/ft on that fastener and it doesn't have to move to get there.

 

When a large engine pulls harder off the line or up a hill, than a smaller one, it's because it's making more horsepower at whatever rpm each is operating at, at that time.

 

If a 350 ci is making 100 hp at say 2500 rpm, and a 122 ci is making 100 hp at 5500 rpm, both will do the same work at those repective rpm.

 

If I gear down that 122 ci engine to where it has an output shaft rpm of 2500 rpm while the crankshaft is turning 5500 rpm, the measured torque on the gear reduced output shaft will be the same torque as the 350 ci engine running at 2500 rpm.

[chevyguy45]

So I'm making more power at a lower rpm even though he has more peak power?

[Spurshot]

So I'm making more power at a lower rpm even though he has more peak power?

 

I don't know without seeing a dyno run of each. Some small engines (especially with supercharging or turbo) will make more horsepower than larger engines at the same rpm.

[02suburbanZ71]

Is the 3.5 the ecoboost with twin turbo? If not the crown vic should beat it up a mountain. They are geared so high its frustrating

[chevyguy45]

No it's not the ecoboost it's the regular 3.5.

[chevyguy45]

Yea the Taurus seems to get most of its power higher in the power band while the vic seems to stomp it in the low to mid range. The Taurus also seems to fall on its face after it shifts and then builds all the way back up again.

[02suburbanZ71]

I cant stop on my 4.6 grand marquis with 69,000 miles because it cant hook up, even with brand new Michelins

[kstruckcountry]

I would hope the newer vehicle could climb better... But you never know. I guess you can find out.

 

Just FYI, there are some new snow tire laws: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=StatePatrol-Main%2FCBONLayout&cid=1251594537897&pagename=CBONWrapper

 

I check opensnow.com for snow conditions usually, he's pretty accurate. Usually has a solid idea of what the conditions will be about 5 days in advance. Last time I went, I crossed Berthoud 4 times and it was snowing every time.

[chevyguy45]

There both the same year 2010. I'm guessing the vic will out do it based on seat of the pants and how his car doesn't make a lot of power down low. I Will find out Tuesday.

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

I've always understood that TQ is what puts the power to the ground.

[Spurshot]

Acceleration is a game of horsepower to weight ratio. Same with a hill climb. If that Taurus is a lot lighter than the Crown Vic, and has more horsepower, it may be a runaway for the Taurus, assuming it's geared well and has good transmission gearing.

[chevyguy45]

Believe it or not they weigh about the same. The crown vic has 40 to 50 more pounds foot of torque and has a shorter rear axle ratio.

[chevyguy45]

The Taurus is also awd and car and driver said it comes in a little over 4000 pounds which is similar. It's geared very high much taller than the p71. I'll see how it goes most of it will be from a dead stop up huge inclines.

[MikeNH]

A non-police Crown Vic will be a dog from a stop but it should pull okay. The Taurus having VVT may help in high elevations some though.