it was a joke, but at the same time, if it reads 240 hp and our cars weigh as little as it does, it means something substantial.

 

Do we really need a hp meter for ALL ground-trembling 240 of our horses?

 

Substantial? Our cars are basically 2,850lbs. That's not THAT light. Our power to weight ratio is nothing to brag about nowadays.

I am satisfied with my S2000's acceleration, but I know for a fact that it's not that fast. I had a modded C5 beforehand and it was much, much faster. The S2000 is a blast to drive, but not because of it's acceleration.

 

TRue that....but you know some people are still all about HP !

 

A HP meter is gay and probably inaccurate. What if your engine isn't running right? Is it still going to spit out the same HP readings based on RPM?

To have a truely functional meter, you'd need an onboard dyno, which would add weight/complexity, take a lot of space, and create a lot of drag.

 

The one on the Veyron is completely accurate.

 

I know you're just foolin' around, and I find the idea of a "horsepower meter" a bit comical, but I do depend on measurements when I evaluate changes. How do you feel about measuring thrust with a three axis accelerometer and deriving WHP from the trust, measured test weight, and an appropriate correction factor?

I started out my career working on inertial navigation systems that use a "stable table" and three axis accelerometers, way back in the 60's, and even then accelerometer data was far more accurate than any dyno, so I put a lot of faith in my thrust measurements. If a flat test area is available accurate measurements can be made with only one accelerometer, as long as HP is all one wants to measure. The advantage of using accelerometers over a dyno is that in the long term it's a lot cheaper, and it provides a lot more information (because it also measures cornering forces, breaking forces, impacts, and so on). Butt dyno only works when you are blind, deaf, numb, and don't know that changes have been made, and even then, it's questionable.

My butt dyno says that my car is making at least 400 WHP, but only in first gear.

 

funny stuff

 

I remember when some people thought vacuum gauges were absolutely vital.

 

At least a vacuum gauge measures something that isn't already being measured by other gauges, but "vital?" I think vacuum gauges were popular because along with the amp meter and oil pressure meter, they were the cheapest gauges, and the easiest to install.