fredjones

It was a dark and stormy night....just kidding. Here goes. I was driving back from New Orleans on Interstate 10 going towards Slidell. Nice straight two lane that runs through swamp and crosses some water also. Traffic is light. I'm cruising at around 80mph taking it easy because I was tired after a long flight in to New Orleans when from behind me comes a BMW 325i and passes me pretty fast. I guess he was doing around 90mph. At first I just let him by because he had gotten too far ahead. However, he got caught up it traffic behing two cars side by side and I saw an opportunity. I dropped it into D4 and caught up to him before he could break in between the cars. Sure enough as soon as he could he punched that Bimmer. I dont know what he had but it appeared stock. By the way my TL type S is as stock as they come. I dont think Bimmer boy knew what he was against and I punched it too. We started out around 75 or 80. My auto dropped into third gear and stayed there up until 100mph I imagine, I dont really know cause I was watching him. I probably pulled on him a little until, you guessed it, the shift to fourth gear. After that we just stayed even until he backed off around 120mph.
I learned a few lessons from this encounter. First, the type S has outstanding 0-60 figures, but this is only one aspect of a vehicles performance. Second, the type S performance after 100mph drops off. Third, I need modifications!!!
My Comptech headers go on tomorrow, I only wish I had had them on today. After that probably exhaust or CAI. Any other suggestions?

thephantom

Nice kill, let us know if the Comptech Headers helps. Also, are you installing them yourself or someone else? How much for the labor?

More racing stories here:
http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/001206.html

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Those who know, don't talk.

sboje

Could you tell if he had a manual transmission? I think you would have beaten an automatic without much problem at all. I think a 330 auto would have pulled away from you... especially at higher speeds.

I think BMW designs their cars with the autobahn in mind, and therefore they accelerate and handle exceptionally well at higher speeds. I'm sure Honda's gearing has more to do with fuel efficiency.

SL1200MK4

Man, out TL got no chance after 3rd gear. I am surprised by the fact that you can still hang with him in 4th. Because our 4th gear is OD.

fredjones

Someone else is installing my headers for me. Says the labor will be around $150 for two or three hours work. He wants me to have new gaskets for the header to engine connection rather that use the old ones. I guess I will appease him so I went ahead and ordered some from my Acura dealer today. Should be here in a few days. The waiting is killing me.

thephantom

The lowest quote I got so far is for $500 for the header install. You got a great deal!

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Those who know, don't talk.

RX-72ATL-S

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't 325s have under 200hp. I think the 330 has 225hp. How can a TL-S NOT walk away from a 325?

91M5

Gearing. Also, don't rate BMW's buy their hp ratings as they are usually quicker than that. The 328i, even the previous generation, was a sub 7 second car to 60mph if equipped with a manual. With their quick gearing they aren't slow. Can't you guys force your car to stay in a lower gear?

happy

Here are the gearing info I pull off the web. I can't quite make sense out of these numbers... How are they calculated? Can someone please explain?

Our TL (type S same as TL???)
Ratios (:1)
1st - 2.563
2nd - 1.551
3rd - 1.021
4th - 0.653
5th - 0.470
Reverse - 1.846
Final Drive - 4.428

BMW 325
Manual gear ratios
1 - 4.23, 2 - 2.52, 3 - 1.66, 4- 1.22, 5 - 1.00, R - 4.04
Final drive ratio (:1)
3.15

Automatic gear ratios
1 - 3.67, 2- 2.00, 3- 1.41, 4- 1.00, 5 - 0.74, R - 4.10, Final (:1) 3.46

BMW 330
Standard gear ratios (:1)
1- 4.21, 2- 2.49, 3 - 1.66, 4- 1.24, 5 - 1.00, R - 3.85
Final drive ratio :1
2.93

Automatic gear ratios (:1)
1 - 3.67, 2 - 2.00, 3 - 1.41, 4 - 1.00, 5 - .74, R - 4.10
Final drive ratio :1
3.38

Steveb

Strange since I've read two reviews that stated the 5 speed 330 was ever so slightly faster from 0 to 60 MPH than the TL-S. However, TL-S was faster 0 to 100 MPH in both reviews. Considering it was only a 325(has about 40 HP less than the 330) you should have blown him away.

I've noticed at times when I floor it on the interstate I don't have quite the get up as other times. Maybe it has something to do with transmission that learns from your driving stlye?

lonny

What a lot of people fail to realize is that it is not just the car that determines the victor - it is also the driver. On paper, there are a lot of cars that should beat the TL-S, but on the track I can beat most of those cars that are supposedly 1-2 seconds faster because of my reaction time. I have been racing for over 30 years. Mind you, I am talking about racing on a track using a X-mas tree to start. Most people either go too soon and fault or go too late and get left behind. Unfortunately, Lyons and OCIR are just faded memories. Are there still any racing 1/4 mile tracks left anywhere?

RX-72ATL-S

I know you can't rate BMWs by their HP, but if we are talking about an auto "4 spd" 325 the gearing can't be any "quicker" than an auto "5 spd" TL-S.


Exactly!!
The 325 is proven to be slower period!
My previous honda was my wifes car first. When I took it over, it was extremely slow in the get up an go area, but by the time I got rid of it you could just breath on the gas pedal and it was wide open.

fredjones

I will indeed claim inexperience during this encounter. He obviously got a jump on me in darting in between these two cars. And like I say, don't know the specifics about what exactly the type of 325i he had, mods?,auto or manual? I will tell you this, 99.9% of my driving is in other types of situations that are well below 100mph. I really hesitate to go over 100 because the cops like to take away the drivers licenses of people who go over 100. This makes my cars performance in this area less relevant, but noteworthy. I would still choose my TL type S over many of the other types of vehicles discussed in this forum, more bang for the buck.

BLUBYU

I agree the driver is always the most important variable in a race.My family and I are into the good old fashioned drag racing you speak of. Although not in my S-TYPE. There is nothing like lifting your front wheels a couple of feet off the ground and ripping off the quarter in around 9 seconds! Quarter mile and eighth mile racing is alive and well, check out the NMCA, NHRA etc. they hold events throughout America. But all in all it doesnt matter what style of racing, you do as long as your racing!!

sboje

I think the gearing, good low end torque, weight, and manual tranny help the BMWs post better than expected numbers. Look at the WRX... it doesn't have the HP of the Acura, but it weighs less. Weight is a big deal.

The 325 isn't a bad performer with a 5 speed. It is relatively close in 0-60 times to your car, so a half second reaction on your part may cost you the race.

RUF87

BUDDY!!!

I mean I know exactly what you are talking about. Been there done that.

Why just in another post about the fastest cars that anyone has raced I'm finding out that some of these folks don't understand this and therefor can't understand how it was possible that I managed to beat a M Roadster.

It nice to know that there is someone out there that understand drag racing and how to apply those skills to a street race kill.

Take care.



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RUF87

BTW - I'm about 50 minutes from the Texas Motorplex. Used to go there every year for the Chief, then Revell Nationals. My ex-boss sponsored a top fueler and was driven by his daughter, Kristin. He was also sponsored for a time by the Kallitas.

I also used to drive my car down there, get into the quick 16 for Competition Eliminator and then drive it back home.

Sigh, those were the days.