Zo6 Top Speed

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Drag Limited? I'm not and expert by any means. Drag limited, the way I've interppreted it was that the vehicle was not governed, and the actual drag on the vehicle limited it from going any faster due to its physical shape, gearing and horsepower would allow. With a lower drag coefficient, the same vehicle would see a positive in relation to speed. I'm probably wrong, but that is the way I figured it meant.

 

[Mr Cowl Hood]

Drag Limited? I'm not and expert by any means. Drag limited, the way I've interppreted it was that the vehicle was not governed, and the actual drag on the vehicle limited it from going any faster due to its physical shape, gearing and horsepower would allow. With a lower drag coefficient, the same vehicle would see a positive in relation to speed. I'm probably wrong, but that is the way I figured it meant.

Basically, yes, but in referrence to the rear of the vehicle. I believe aeronautical spec's may differ, but we're talking cars here, right?

 

[vettered91]

Drag Limited? I'm not and expert by any means. Drag limited, the way I've interppreted it was that the vehicle was not governed, and the actual drag on the vehicle limited it from going any faster due to its physical shape, gearing and horsepower would allow. With a lower drag coefficient, the same vehicle would see a positive in relation to speed. I'm probably wrong, but that is the way I figured it meant.

That's right Todd, and the whole shape of the car, plane, bullet, etc. affects the drag coefficient (the lower the better) BUT what affects it most is the front shape. If I remember the 91-96 C4s have a drag coefficient of somewhere around.32, the C5s (coupe) .29 and the new C6 .28

 

[Mr Cowl Hood]

That's right Todd, and the whole shape of the car, plane, bullet, etc. affects the drag coefficient (the lower the better) BUT what affects it most is the front shape. If I remember the 91-96 C4s have a drag coefficient of somewhere around.32, the C5s (coupe) .29 and the new C6 .28

You're confusing it's air resistance to what "Drag" actually refers to. Drag is limited to air force effects located at the rear of the car. What the car pulls through air. The nose plays a part in it's inefficiency to move through air, but technically has little to do with the real meaning of drag.

 

[DRTH VTR]

This discussion about the meaning of 'drag' is a matter of context. The correct technical definition of drag may well be exactly what Mr Cowl Hood says. The use of the word in a general usage, non-technical context is what others have suggested.

I propose a couple of other uses for the word 'drag'. It is when something becomes tiresome, as in "It's a drag, man". Or it is when a man impersonates a woman, as in "He's in drag".

 

[Mr Cowl Hood]

This discussion about the meaning of 'drag' is a matter of context. The correct technical definition of drag may well be exactly what Mr Cowl Hood says. The use of the word in a general usage, non-technical context is what others have suggested.

I propose a couple of other uses for the word 'drag'. It is when something becomes tiresome, as in "It's a drag, man". Or it is when a man impersonates a woman, as in "He's in drag".

LOL:L That is just hilarious. I guess I am just a pureist when it comes to technical data, but I can see your use of vernacular. Good times.:cool

 

[Edmond]

This discussion about the meaning of 'drag' is a matter of context. The correct technical definition of drag may well be exactly what Mr Cowl Hood says. The use of the word in a general usage, non-technical context is what others have suggested.

I propose a couple of other uses for the word 'drag'. It is when something becomes tiresome, as in "It's a drag, man". Or it is when a man impersonates a woman, as in "He's in drag".

:L:L:L

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Drag coefficient: Measure of how much an object resists being moved through the air. The higher the coefficient, the more resistance the object has. Here is the terminology right from the dictionary. Personally, I've never seen drag in reference to auto's planes, rockets etc. represented any other way.?? Here is a response about drag limited. This is not by me what follows.

I think that you are missing the point. If you add more power you will add more top speed, that is correct up to a certain point. This is because top speed is almost always limited by drag. As you go faster the drag from the air you are hitting becomes greater and greater until the power in the car can no longer overcome it and you hit your top speed. If you give the car more power, the car can push a little harder and overcome the drag for a period of time until eventually the drag overcomes the power of the car. You can keep doing this until you hit the mechanical limits of the engine (i.e. your top speed is eventually the rpm limit in your highest gear). At that point you are held back by the limit of the engine. You do have to remember as you try to overcome this drag it starts becoming exponential. It doesn't take much power to change the top speed of a car from 90-100mph. Maybe only a few hp. But to change th top speed of a car from 190mph-200mph may take 200 or more hp depending on the aerodynamics of the car. This answers the power question, but not the original question you asked.

If all the mechanics of the car are the same (i.e. tire size, final drive ratios, gear ratios..) then no matter how much more power a car has, it will always be going the same speed at the same RPM. If you have a JCW and a standard Cooper S with the same tire size, they will be going the exact same speed at 3,000 rpm in second gear, or any other speed you choose. This is because the speed is not dependent on the power, but on the rotation of the engine. If the engine is rotating 3,000 times a minute, then it is going to turn the wheels at the same speed regardless of whether it was capable of 200 mph or 100mph.

I hope this explains it. If not I can go into more detail. I just didn't think that I needed to post equations or get into detailed specifics.

 

[Greg@NASA]

Drag coefficient: Measure of how much an object resists being moved through the air. The higher the coefficient, the more resistance the object has. Here is the terminology right from the dictionary. Personally, I've never seen drag in reference to auto's planes, rockets etc. represented any other way.??

True Todd, but there is also "induced drag", "Parasitic drag", etc.
For instance....a F1 racer's ground effects create so much drag that the deceleration just with throttle off is equal to a Z-06 under full braking.The drag at the rear of a Z-06 vette is the major contributing factor to the drag penalty.


Greg

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

The drag on an F1 car is usually on purpose, looking for downforce. There is a compromise somewhere where less downforce is made for less straight line drag. You need balance Danielson .

 

[vettered91]

Drag coefficient:

(CD), a measure of resistance to a body's movement through a fluid; the lower the CD, the less power needed to move the body. For example, fluid air resists the movement of a car with drag forces that increase with the square of the car speed; the drag coefficient for wheeled vehicles is not expected to go lower than 0.15 under ideal circumstances.

Just my 2 cents. (Actually not mine: Britannica Student Encyclopedia)

 

[Hib Halverson]

GM advertised a Zo6 to go top speed of 171. I don't believe this, I think the car can go alot faster then they advertised can it without mods?

Well...it can't.
The Z06 transmission ratios are selected for acceleration. The fifth gear has the car hitting the rev limiter at around 172 or so. If you shift to sixth the engine doesn't have enough power and the car will actually slow down.

And the stock C6 has been stated to have a top speed of "over 180 mph."

186 to be exact.

 

[Edmond]

Well...it can't.
The Z06 transmission ratios are selected for acceleration. The fifth gear has the car hitting the rev limiter at around 172 or so. If you shift to sixth the engine doesn't have enough power and the car will actually slow down.



186 to be exact.

I never thought I'd hear the words "doesn't have enough power" and "Z06" in the same sentence! :L

 

[theblackvette]

GM advertised a Zo6 to go top speed of 171. I don't believe this, I think the car can go alot faster then they advertised can it without mods?

You got me curious!
Maybe I'll take out my Z06 for a spin and she what she tops at!
Will you bail me out if I get busted?

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Hey Blackvette, we will all bail you out if anything happens. Bring the video camera with you so we can check out your run afterwards. Remember to get the speed on tape from the HUD, alot easier for us to read. Be careful and don't get caught!

 

[theblackvette]

Hey Blackvette, we will all bail you out if anything happens. Bring the video camera with you so we can check out your run afterwards. Remember to get the speed on tape from the HUD, alot easier for us to read. Be careful and don't get caught!

Take a look at this! I think I can go faster!!!! LOL

http://groups.msn.com/BlackvettesCorvetteGallery/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=18

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

That is a real good pic. I believe you can go plenty faster than that, in fact I went faster than that tonight on my way home, on my favorite stretch of highway, which is short, and secure nobody around, plus a cruiser cannot hide there. A beautiful piece of road, that took me years to find with all the right variables. Usually there is some traffic, but when there isn't, pedal to the metal for a nice burst for 10 full seconds or so.

 

[theblackvette]

That is a real good pic. I believe you can go plenty faster than that, in fact I went faster than that tonight on my way home, on my favorite stretch of highway, which is short, and secure nobody around, plus a cruiser cannot hide there. A beautiful piece of road, that took me years to find with all the right variables. Usually there is some traffic, but when there isn't, pedal to the metal for a nice burst for 10 full seconds or so.

Thanks! you motivated me to get a better picture!!!!!!!

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Go get it brother!

 

[theblackvette]

I plan on it!!!!!!!!!!!

Go get it brother!