My Corrado: Pounds Per Horsepower Comparison

The new turbo and the talk of the HP numbers got me thinking about the gains I’m about to get in the performance of my Corrado. Although buying the turbo kit was pretty much an impulse buy, I have been thinking about how cars today are getting faster while my Corrado is just sitting still. The horsepower numbers of cars straight from the factory today are steadily increasing. I mean cars are getting bigger and heavier due to more safety restrictions, but the increase in horsepower is increasing faster than the cars are getting heavier. Thus cars are getting faster every day and my Corrado is comparatively getting slower and slower. I’ve been thinking for awhile now that I need to do something to keep pace. Hence, the turbo kit.

I believe that a good indicator of how well I can keep pace with the newer cars is in the weight-to-power ratio. How much weight does 1 HP have to put into motion? So I decided for fun to put together a chart as you see below. I’ve gathered most of my data from Road & Track’s Road Test Summary. For some of the older cars I used various other sources. I’ve gathered the Curb Weight (the manufacturer’s published weight of the car with all fluids minus the driver and passengers), Horsepower, 0-60 times, and calculated the Pounds Per HP Ratio (Curb Weight/Horsepower). I’ve included the torque and F/R/AWD drivetrain info for completeness’ sake. The dark green rows highlight my Corrado’s numbers (stock and theoretical numbers for the turbo kit). The light green rows are cars I’ve owned, and the yellow rows are some cars my friends own. I tried to put together competitors to the Corrado and also other more expensive sports cars for fun. Here are the results:

So my high school experiment shows that there is a direct correlation between Pounds Per HP and speed. The less weight 1 HP has to pull, the faster the car. Of course there are other factors involved, like the drivetrain which affects how well the cars launch and the gearing of each car. AWD cars generally launch better than RWD and RWD better than FWD. But as a reference these numbers tell alot.

What’s the conclusion? Well look at where my stock Corrado sits on the list. Near the bottom. And with the turbo kit it’s theoretically near the top against other stock opponents. That’s even thinking conservatively since the turbo kit is supposed to get 280 to 300 WHEEL horse power. So I would say that the turbo kit is WORTH THE DOUGH!

My Corrado Build: Kinetic Stage 2 Turbo

I never thought about getting a turbo for my Corrado but got this anyway! The VR6 in my Corrado was not designed for a turbo, but with the low boost (7 psi) I’ll be running I think and hope it should still be reliable. Here comes 280 front wheel horse power!

The last time I dyno’d my Corrado was in Sept 2004 at H2O in Ocean City, MD. I had just a Garrett Chip, ABD Intake, and Techtonics Tuning 2.5″ Exhaust and put down 166.0 hp and 171.6 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. There is a theoretical 17% drivetrain loss so at the crank I was running 194.2 hp and 200.8 lb-ft of torque. I will scan and post the dyno chart in an upcoming post. I’ve since added a Schrick Manifold, but that only really increases the low rpm torque. Now with the turbo I can sell the manifold and recoup some of the cost of the turbo kit.

I can’t wait to install this and see the new numbers. It’s going to take some cutting to fit the Front Mount Intercooler, but I’m ready for the challenge. Without an intercooler I’d be losing at least 30 hp. There are other items needed to ensure a good reliable install (Wide Band O2 Sensor, 3″ exhaust, all new gaskets) so if you’re thinking of getting a turbo for your car remember there’s more to buy than just the turbo kit!

Kit Features:
– Rotomaster 60Trim T3/T4 Turbocharger
– Kinetic Motorsport VR6 Manifold
– Precision 39mm Wastegate
– 3″ Stainless Steel Downpipe
– 3″ Stainless Steel Intake
– Stainless Steel Braided Oil Feed/Drain Lines and OEM Oil Pan with fittings
– AFE Re-useable Air Filter
– Kinetic Motorsport 4″ Black Anodized Aluminum MAF Housing
– Kinetic Motorsport Silicone Hoses and Stainless Steel Clamps
– 30# Injectors (Distributor)
– C2 Motorsports 30# Chip Software
– Kinetic Motorsport Aluminum Intercooler Core
– Stainless Steel Intercooler Tubing
– 4-Ply Silicone Hoses
– Stainless Steel T-Bolt Clamps

VW Corrado Successors: 2010 Audi Quattro Concept

If you haven’t noticed already, my favorite car is the VW Corrado. It ended its production in 1995 so it’s been over 15 years since the last Corrado rolled off the assembly line. There was never a new Corrado made by VW and no real spiritual successor. Corrado owners are always wondering if there will be another Corrado. Some argue there will never be, while others remain hopeful. I for one don’t think there will ever be another Corrado. And I’m happy about that. However, there will always be cars that have a similar hatchback coupe profile that remind people of the Corrado.

This list includes the Mercedes C-Coupe, BMW 318ti and the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe that I wrote about in an earlier post. Also on this list are the hatchback coupes with a movable spoiler like the Corrado. For example the Chrysler Crossfire and the VW gruppe’s own Audi TT. But the latest on this list is the Audi Quattro Concept introduced in late 2010. Although it is really inspired by the original Audi ur quattro, many see the concept’s design as a modern Corrado. I agree. However, if it’s produced, Audi says that it’s cost would be 6 figures. I hope that they make a VW version with a more affordable price tag! Check out autoblog’s impressions of the Audi Quattro Concept by clicking on its picture below:

Look at the similarities! (Thanks to Rento_VW for the side profile pic)

Random iPhone Snaps: Brooklyn Bridge

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from the NYC side I took this picture with my iPhone 4. What an impressive camera it has! This was my favorite pic because I think it captured the raw engineering of the bridge and the view from the bridge all at the same time. The Brooklyn Bridge has aged nicely!

WTD: Pre-Ordered iPhone 4!

As an Apple fan I think I can be pretty impressed with myself that I was able to wait until the 4th iteration of the popular iPhone. But I finally did it because with its new features and new design, it is Worth The Dough.

I pre-ordered the Apple iPhone 4 through AT&T’s website. I was originally going to pre-order from Radio Shack b/c they were offering a $20 gift card, but Apple mostly blocked third party retailers from early pre-ordering. Plus it’s easier to just order online through AT&T and get free shipping for it to arrive at my doorstep as soon as it is released on Thursday June 24, 2010.

Now why did I finally get one? Well the biggest reason is that Steve Jobs and Apple finally decided to put in a proper 5MP camera with LED flash. The Sony Ericsson W810i that I’ve had for over 2 years has an LED flash that can be used as a flashlight. I use it ALL the time. Such a small feature, but the most useful to me. It’s great to have a flashlight on you at all times. One time while hiking up in CT we didn’t plan ahead and got stuck trying to get back out of the trails after it got dark. Luckily, my phone’s flashlight helped lead the way. The ability to shoot HD video is also plus, although I don’t see myself using the feature all too often. The other new features such as the high quality Retina display, multi-tasking and FaceTime are great as well. But they just round out the package of the already amazing iPhone. Speaking of the Retina display, it sure makes me glad I was able to wait on the iPad as well b/c I’m sure the next iPad will have this feature.

So all in all, the iPhone 4 is definitely Worth The Dough!

WTD: Spare Tire Bike

What a brilliant idea by Volkswagen. An electric bike that folds up to fit into your spare tire compartment. It’s a great supplement to a spare tire.

This weekend I’m buying 4 17″ Oettinger RE1 wheels with tires for my Corrado from a guy upstate NY. They are a classic style rim at a perfect 17X8 et 35 size to fit my Corrado’s wheel wells pretty perfectly. I plan just have them for a couple years b/c 17’s look great on Corrado’s and I’ll be keeping my current 16″ DZ Exklusiv DZ1’s. So for a little while I’ll have the stock 15″ Speedlines, the 16″ DZ1’s and the 17″ RE1’s. Every size that works well on a Corrado! Here’s how they would look on a Corrado:

Last night I was wondering if they would all fit into my 1998 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. The seats fold down but it’s not a hatch so I’m worried about having enough room. Not to mention the fact that my car is lowered but that’s another matter. Anyway, there’s a full sized spare in the C43 so I was thinking of taking it out so that I would have an extra spot for one of the wheels I’m buying. But then I’d be without a spare tire. If I had this bike by VW I wouldn’t have to worry as much. I mean, if I get a flat it’d be better to change it with the spare wheel so I can change it and go rather than bike somewhere to get help. But at least with the bike I’d have a little piece of mind taking out the spare. Luckily, there will be other cars going with me so I think I can risk taking out the spare. Knock on wood!

Right now it’s just a concept but I think it’d be Worth The Dough for Volkswagen to make the Spare Tire Bike and for me to buy one! Check it out.

Must Read: Gizmodo’s Apple iPad Design Analysis

I don’t have anything to excerpt, except to tell you to read the entire article. Great article stating how “perfectly” Jonathan Ive designed the iPad. I agree 100%!

WTD: Zinio and International Magazines for iPad

Where have I been? Apparently Zinio features magazine subscriptions to be read on the computer and soon on the iPad. Although they’ve been around for over 10 years, for some reason they haven’t come up in my Google searches for internet magazine subscriptions. So I’m going to try and get the word out. In my last post I posted how the iPad needs magazine subscriptions before I would buy one. Zinio has them. And they have plenty of car mags to subscribe to, including Road & Track. I think my decision has been made now. Zinio makes the Apple iPad Worth The Dough.

It seems like the cost of the subscriptions are the same as or a couple bucks less than their paper counterparts. Or as some people call “dead tree versions.” For example the Road & Track subscription is $8 as opposed to $10 for the print version. The real savings however are in International magazine subscriptions.

British car magazines are widely known to be bigger and better than US car magazines. And since Europe is where Formula 1 is popular, their F1 publications, like F1 Racing, are amazing. The US simply does not have any dedicated F1 publications because F1 isn’t as big in the US. Subscriptions to these mags by a US subscriber are very expensive. I mean, these British publications are expensive for British subscribers too but with shipping fees and other fees it’s even worse for US subscribers. For example, a 1 year subscription to the print edition of F1 Racing is $66 for UK subscribers and $90 for US subscribers! So far Zinio only has the spanish version of F1 Racing, but a 1 year subscription is $43.39. Look at the cost savings! Cheaper for both UK and US subscribers. Here are some other prices for US subscriptions to other International publications.

Lastly, I’m going to go slightly off topic and mention that for those who like reading novels more than periodicals, it’s been said that Project Gutenberg books will work on the iPad. “The site has over 30,000 free ebooks, most of them classics whose copyrights have lapsed.”

So there it is. The Apple iPad is Worth The Dough and Zinio is a major reason why. If you like international magazines like I do, then it is WTD for you too!

WTD: Why Magazines Need to Be On the iPad Pronto!

Yesterday the Wi-Fi version of the Apple iPad became available for pre-order. I’ll eventually get an iPad, but I didn’t pre-order it. Why not? No, not because it doesn’t have flash or a webcam, but because the Apple iPad is not Worth the Dough for me unless there are magazines available for it! Without magazines on the iPad, not only does Apple not get my money, the magazine publications don’t get my money either because I won’t be subscribing to any until they have an iPad version.

I’m a big fan of magazines and throughout my life I’ve been a subscriber of magazines like Road & Track, Men’s Health and Wired. Well I’ve since slowed down with my subscriptions because the internet has replaced them as my avenue for consuming articles that are not only interesting to read, but also visually appealing with great photography. And that’s what magazines are all about. But I still like to flip through the glossy pages of a magazine and would rather do that than sit in front of an iMac or Macbook clicking through the internet with a Magic Mouse. And that’s what appeals to me the most about the iPad – The ability to feel like I’m flipping through a magazine while getting content like the internet. An internet magazine on my lap!

So I repeat. Magazine publications better create an iPad version and subscription model soon because they won’t have my business again until they do. So far only Conde Nast has revealed any plans to develop magazine apps. Wired says they’ll have one by the summer and it looks great. That’s probably about the time I’ll buy the iPad and my first magazine subscription in awhile. My Wired subscription just ended and I want to renew it b/c it is a great publication, but I’m going to wait until their iPad app comes out before I subscribe again.

I’m also hoping that one of the car publications will get their content onto an iPad. I hope Road & Track does because they are my favorite car publication. 0-60 Mag would be great too because they emphasize great photography. Edmunds’ Inside Line website on the internet would be a great template for an iPad automotive magazine application. It has great visual slideshows that can be seen full screen to go along with their articles. And that would be perfect for the iPad. Check out one of their articles. Just what the iPad was designed for. I really don’t know why Apple didn’t push to have magazines (and comic books for that matter) onto their iPad instead of just iBooks.

So my message to the magazine publications and Apple: Put magazines onto the iPad pronto! Magazine subscriptions and the iPad aren’t Worth the Dough to me until that happens.

2010 New York Mets and Jose Reyes

Should I be optimistic about the 2010 season for the NY Mets? This Sports Illustrated article hints what to expect this season.

I’m a genuine Mets fan, but much of my interest in watching them this year depends on whether my favorite player, Jose Reyes, is healthy and in the lineup. He’s my favorite player because I used to play baseball back in Little League and Reyes is the type of player I would’ve wanted to be if I miraculously made the Major Leagues. I did some leadoff hitting and loved to play shortstop. And I think the stolen base is so much fun to watch. Jose is one of the best and most exciting to watch. Good luck to him and the Mets this year!