Is it my imagination, or does the TL-S seem to take off significantly faster when there is no passenger(s) in the car?

OK, I know the car is 200lbs lighter, and that affects the acceleration, but it seems like this particular car is affected by the extra 200 or so pounds of weight more than other cars I've owned, including my 99TL.

When I am by myself, the car seems to "leap" onto the highway, and with a passenger, it still cranks, but it does not "feel" the same.

Anyone else notice this?

:-jon

 

yea i notcied this.... I havent done a 0-60 time yet while i was alone in the car. But me and my friend did a 0-60 time just by a stop watch but he was in the car with me. So me weighing 190 and him weighing 210, i took off.... we got 0-60 in 7.1 seconds.. which SUCKS! I also had a half tank of gas. SO im guessing there is a big differnce with extra weight in the car.

 

from my experience with my 00TL, and i assume the TL-S would be very similiar(but with headers i dont feel it ), when i had a passenger in the car, i would not be able to lose a car i was racing by more than a one carlength, where as normally i would beat that same car by two or more. so the weight of one extra person considerably slows u down expecially at higher speeds.

 

This is crazy - it is just your impression. The general rule of thumb is that every 100 pounds added weight is the equivalent cut of about 10 HP.

It is just a power/weight ratio thing - why this car would be more susceptible is pretty far out there.

Are we running out of things to post, gang?

 

ah, but we're more concerned with torque than HP :p and a body in the car does make a difference. even according to 100/10hp 200lbs would be 20hp and thats quite a large number. how much would u pay to add 20hp across the band to ur car

 

Comment:

I can feel the difference in pickup between a full tank of gas and a near empty tank, and that is only 100 lbs. My wife who is very light at near 100 lbs, doesn't make too much of a difference.

But if I put by buddy in, who weighs about 200 lbs, I notice big time.

And whoever mentioned the power-to-weight mentioned the key to figuring out how acceleration is going to be impacted!

Just for fun, I have enclosed a link to the NHRA 1/4 mile page -- it will figure out an estimated ET from front wheel HP and weight. Try moving the weight around for fun...

http://www.prestage.com/carmath/calc_ETMPH.asp

 

I havent noticed to much of a difference with an added body in the car.. however I can see where the "power to weight" ratio does, and will come into play.. One thing I can say is; all the passengers Ive taken for ride all come out with the same expression... its fast for a V6... real fast.. ....

 

I only notice it loses power if I have more than 7 people in it!

 

No, I agree. Adding passengers in the TL-S really hinders its performance. I especially notice weaker acceleration when someone is in the back.

 

You would prefer a post about

1) everyone's age
2) everyone's color (the car, not the driver)
3) is the nav worth it
4) is the bra worth it
5) the cupholder


etc, etc, etc.............

 

The fact is that every car is effected when you add weight to it.

How much depends on how much HP/Torque a car produces. The less it has the more the performance is impacted. The more it has the less it's impacted.

So a TLS will be less impacted by an extra 200lbs than say a BMW 318i. For example say the TLS' 0-60 times might be cut by 3 ths while the BMW's are cut by 5 ths.

Please . . . this is just a hypothetical example, but this gives you an idea.

RUF

 

One day I had a 5 people in my car 300lbs , 230, 200, 140 and myself 190. I kind of thought it was cool, because I love the sound of the VTEC monster. With the extra baggage I could hear it longer. I actually stopped and ran it to redline at least 5 times with them in it. I was explaining to my passengers what VTEC was. It was very obvious when VTEC kicked in. My passengers were impressed.

 

I would think the car would accelerate slower. Not just the Type S....but any car. With the same set up and engine on the car...any car with extra passengers have to support the more weight and baggage using the same amount of power.

 

ah...the diff between a 6 cylinder and a 8...

hey, since we have 10+ response on this topic, let's go the other way...
have you notice the extra stopping distance with people in car? :p

 

Whoever has posted that the TL-S will not be affected by a 200lb (+/- 20lbs) passenger is due for a visit to the G-Force doctor. (Lonny, I'm sorry, but your perception of change in G-force is leaving you, my friend).

All the posts I've read are very insightful, I'd like to add. Most of what you're talking about, a change in acceleration, and, more specifically, a DECREASE in acceleration -- can be attributed to two variables: 1) an increase in weight, 2) a decrease in torque (and/or at what rpm PEAK torque is available at).

The TL-S produces 232lb-ft. throughout the 3500-5300 rpm range, however, it's only putting 198-202lb-ft. down to the wheels (and only 200hp to the wheels at 6100 rpm). Essentially, you have to wait 'till 3500 rpms (in first gear after a launch) to actually get to your powerband, and it's only 200lb-ft, not the 232 that (if we actually achieved this) would REALLY negate the extra person's weight. I've felt the difference between having a 180lbs buddy in the car vs. no one in the car vs. empty tank, vs. full tank w/ one person vs. full tank w/ no one. There is a noticeable difference, no doubt.

As for the BMW 330Ci (manual) feeling the weight of another person MORE than the TL-S, I disagree. The BMW's VERY brrrroooaaaad, F--L--A--T powerband blows the "Black Diamond" Sloped TL-S powercurve outta the water. That engine (the BMW) will put down 188 hp - 194hp and comparable torque down to the REAR WHEELS anyday. And guess what, it cranks at 225hp and 214lb-ft. .. not too bad, only about a 10% loss in each department. I'll be a passenger in the 330Ci manual anyday when drag racing, we'll win more races (on average) if my driver knows how to shift like Schumacher.

Further, our gears aren't nearly as short as the first three in the BMW -- hence, w/ added baggage, the blessed VTEC thrill-ride will suffer even more. I think we're 2.5:1 in first, and the 330Ci is something like 3.1:1. I remember posting this topic on the CL-Board way back in March when I took my first passenger for a spin the day after I took delivery of my car -- I couldn't believe it, it was almost a let down, and then I sat down and logically thought about it, and I arrived at much of the same conclusions all of you people have.

By the way -- this is a GREAT discussion. To the person who said we're running out of good topics -- Deal with it. You just may learn something more that you can tell your friends than, "Dude, I have 260hp in my car..."

Thanks,

Pete

 

Make sure you all input the hp to the front wheels, which is 200hp, and no more. Add 200lbs to 3553, and I'm not quite sure if you need to add another 80lbs for fuel, but hell, try it w/ and w/o. It's fairly accurate.

 

Pete.
You know some schit!!!!! At the track every 100lbs equalls .10 of a second. This has been tested on different cars with different HP ratings and different drivers. For you guy's who have the "Race Version TL-S" you can remove Door panels - noise dampening material - stereo - AC - carpet - rear and passenger seats and you'll be race ready!! Hell you may even want to go on a diet. The driver shedding 50lbs will make you .05 quicker....