Re: [DML] okay...what are the actual figures...

[Dick Ryan <deloreanbiker@xxxx>]

Performance equals $$$$. This is an age old equation
that is almost infallible. 

First liar doesn't stand a chance. This is an equally
infallible statement.

MOST people with turbos are running under 7 lbs. of
boost and they are getting about a 40-50% increase in
horsepower over stock. Thus it would appear that they
are producing somewhere between 180-200 hp. (I would
lean towards the lower number.) Some are running much
higher boost. However, some of them have also reduced
compression and/or spark advance to reduce pinging. 
That works, but a price is paid in performance.

There was a French "custom" sports car a few years
back that had the PRV6 engine as it's basic building
block. When they were done with the mods it produced
675 hp. 

Top Speed? Not 1 in 1000 car owners know what their
top speed is because they have never had the
opportunity to test it. So, they rely on advertised
claims. Not all of those claims can be verified. 
Production specs said 130 mph (but you'd better have a
looooong road to get up to it). The original turbo
kits hinted at 140 mph. Now with product liability
and the like, no such claims are usually made.

Nobody in their right mind expects to take a 20 year
old car of under 3 liters and drag with a Mustang 5.0
or race a Porsche GTR across the salt flats. My grand
Cherokee has more hp than my D, but it doesn't go as
fast. My VW Type III has practically NO hp and yet it
is fully as fun to drive and gets lots of looks. 
Given that, I always wonder why the fascination with
raw numbers. We don't need performance numbers to
brag about our cars. They get looks, compliments,
ooooh's and aaah's just as they are.

Sorry - just hit a sore point and thought I'd give my
2¢ worth.

Dick Ryan
VIN 16867
Twin Turbos - don't know the hp or the torque but sure
know it is FUN to drive.