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I was bored at work during the holidays and was looking at 0-60 videos of probably close to 50+ cars.
Most 0-60 times are not realistic, as NO ONE gets to a stop light or while driving, right before they plan to pass, tells all the passengers to exit the car, decides to shift to Sport mode, turn off the traction control, turn off the AC and Torque brakes to get the best acceleration.
The auto magazines now make 0-60 such a important thing now, many people will pick a car over another based on that and say a car is slow if it does 0-60 in 7-8 seconds when we said that was very fast just 10 years ago. If a car can make it to 60 in under 8 seconds, it is not slow, as slow is 9-10 second range. Most cars when you simply press the gas and go fall into the 7-8 second range and are not hitting 6-6.5 seconds when driving the way you would from a stop.
When it comes to real world driving 0-45 is more realistic, as many streets have a 35-55mph speed limit and midrange passing once the car is up to speed, and you can see by most of these 0-60 videos that most cars will meet that 0-45 need. Its the 45mph and onwards where some of these heavy cars carrying a 4cyl or a poorly geared 6cyl becomes a dog when pressed for midrange or expressway passing even actual passengers are in the car. An Impala 2.5 or Camry 2.5 or Fusion 1.5 and other 4cyl's will meets its purpose in the city and make you think twice about passing when you have passengers with you at higher speeds.
With all being said, dont let 0-60 be a main factor of your car purchase, as manufacturers gear their cars specifically for that when you look at alot of these videos and the car is a complete downer to drive in most other situations since they are geared for fuel economy now. IF you can comfortably get up to speed or pass without cursing and praying, the car will meet your needs since 90% of your driving is 2-4K rpm and not 5000-7500rpm.
While I enjoy sensation that a sub 5 second 0-60 car provides, I do agree with OP. 0-60 times are overrated. I would rather have a car that handled extremely well but had a slower 0-60 than a car that had a fast 0-60 time but handled poorly.
Just like reliability ratings. They have nothing to do with how reliable your particular will or is likely to be. It just gives you some measure to compare models.
0 - 60 times have a closer resemblance to reality with automatic transmissions. You might have a chance at getting to the time the professionals get. How many people really wind the engine way out and drop the clutch at a light?
To me, 30-100 times are more interesting. That is the range I find more fun and more useful (passing). Spinning your tires at a light is just embarrassing, plus you will fishtail and might hit neighboring cars.
Handling is often overrated. In the USA, most of our roads are straight and essentially flat. You do slalom a bit in my state due to potholes, so that can matter I guess. However pretty much every car I have driven has been able to handle dodging potholes.
I agree 100%. They’re selling a dream. The unrealistic closed-track commercials allow our imaginations to run wild for 30 seconds or so. If/when we actually buy the car, it is used to get milk and Pampers and go to work and out to eat. Occasionally we get to ogle it in the driveway as we wash it.
Just like reliability ratings. They have nothing to do with how reliable your particular will or is likely to be. It just gives you some measure to compare models.
0 - 60 times have a closer resemblance to reality with automatic transmissions. You might have a chance at getting to the time the professionals get. How many people really wind the engine way out and drop the clutch at a light?
To me, 30-100 times are more interesting. That is the range I find more fun and more useful (passing). Spinning your tires at a light is just embarrassing, plus you will fishtail and might hit neighboring cars.
Handling is often overrated. In the USA, most of our roads are straight and essentially flat. You do slalom a bit in my state due to potholes, so that can matter I guess. However pretty much every car I have driven has been able to handle dodging potholes.
30 - SUPER SPEEDER TICKET times lol. 1 day I will hit 100, I somehow backed off at 95 and 99mph the 2 times I tried it on a G6 GXP and Impala LTZ.
Agreed on handling as well, as most dont go through the mountains and twisties to get to QuickTrip or Kroger.
Just like reliability ratings. They have nothing to do with how reliable your particular will or is likely to be. It just gives you some measure to compare models.
0 - 60 times have a closer resemblance to reality with automatic transmissions. You might have a chance at getting to the time the professionals get. How many people really wind the engine way out and drop the clutch at a light?
To me, 30-100 times are more interesting. That is the range I find more fun and more useful (passing). Spinning your tires at a light is just embarrassing, plus you will fishtail and might hit neighboring cars.
Handling is often overrated. In the USA, most of our roads are straight and essentially flat. You do slalom a bit in my state due to potholes, so that can matter I guess. However pretty much every car I have driven has been able to handle dodging potholes.
^^this^^ in the end ALL road tests are just an avenue of comparison between different models, and different brands. and it gives the automakers the chance to boast about their particular models in their ads.
unless you are a professional driver, or even have some serious racing under your belt, you will NEVER use the ultimate capabilities of any vehicle you driver. you will reach your own driving limits long before you reach the vehicles limits.
I think a 30 - 60 would mean more to me. The ability to pass a slow moving vehicle on two lane roads in the rural environment is often overlooked. Jack Rabbit starts are fuel wasteful and stressful.
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