Stock Yaris as fast as stock 1982 Z28 Camaro/Trans Am!!

[GeneW]

Originally Posted by 427chev

The weight-to-power ratio would have to be about the same in order for performance to be about the same.

No, not quite, at least as how I see it.

Hp/Weight will give you a basis of comparison, but sometimes you have to dig a bit deeper for the details.

As one of the younger folk here proved to me, an AWD configuration does do a better job of transferring power to the street. Saw that when a Subaru with less HP but AWD matched a new Vette that had more HP but RW.

They finished the quarter in the same time, but the Subaru's top speed was markedly slower. The Subaru simply did a better job of transferring the HP to the road than the Vette or maybe the acceleration curves were different. I'd have to measure it all.

The Yaris probably has a lot lower coefficient of drag than those older boxier Camaros. Less loss of power during the acceleration phase.

The real test is to drag race them.

Originally Posted by 427chev

The Z28 Camaro in that road test was fitted with the optional "crossfire injection" engine that was rated @ 165 SAE Net HP - but could only be had with a power sapping automatic.

The base engine cars were rates @ 145 HP, but could be had with the 5 speed manual trans, which also reduced weight a bit.

I'm sure once the warranty ran out and the owners were not expected to submit to emissions checks that some folks put a five speed into their Camaros. Others bought those "chips" which they put into the ECUs.

I recall the computer in my 82 Regal. It was pretty primitive. Don't know if it was the same or a similar ECU to the Camaros. Probably they were pretty close.

Originally Posted by 427chev

I just think it's interesting that a 1.5 liter economy car (Yaris) that some people might label as "slow" is actually every bit as quick as some 5.0 liter V8 performance cars from the early 1980s.

I'm old enough to have driven those Z28 Camaros back when they were new, and did in fact drive MANY of them. My Yaris is certainly every bit as quick, though the my Yaris has stronger brakes. Of course, the Z28's high speed stability was vastly superior to that of my TRD suspended Yaris, but that's another story.

Yeah, I've noticed that my Yaris gets a bit squirrelly above about 90 miles per hour. I have soft winter tires so I don't push my luck for very long at higher speeds and at warmer temps.

I too have driven some of the performance cars and the "butt dyno" is stronger than a Yaris.

Do you have ABS? I do not but the Yaris brakes are pretty responsive.

Gene