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***HDi fun*** · 19-02-2008, 07:38 PM

Basically the torque starts to lessen above its peak rev point. It's when the torque curve starts to drop steeply that max power is achieved. Top speed is also a function of gearing. Over geared cars often reach their top speeds in one gear down from the (overdriven) top gear. Quite often this was the case in early 1980's BL cars. Fourth was just about capable of 100mph if you could stand the racket (and the wait to get there). 5th, by contrast was only good for about 90 and gave glacial acceleration.

The industry has grown up now and you usually get 5 or 6 useable gears. I still favour modern automatics over manuals but there's still a lot of slushy 3.5 speed autos out there.

19-02-2008, 07:38 PM	#23 (permalink)
*HDi fun* Moderator Torque Junkie Car: Peugeot 406 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: SOUTH EAST Posts: 2,586	Re: Do you talk power or drive torque? Basically the torque starts to lessen above its peak rev point. It's when the torque curve starts to drop steeply that max power is achieved. Top speed is also a function of gearing. Over geared cars often reach their top speeds in one gear down from the (overdriven) top gear. Quite often this was the case in early 1980's BL cars. Fourth was just about capable of 100mph if you could stand the racket (and the wait to get there). 5th, by contrast was only good for about 90 and gave glacial acceleration. The industry has grown up now and you usually get 5 or 6 useable gears. I still favour modern automatics over manuals but there's still a lot of slushy 3.5 speed autos out there.