Automotive magazines need help

A letter sent to Car & Driver magazine in response to the 1/09 issue.

Regarding the "Dirty Speed" comparison test, page 41 for the Cobalt SS.

The no-lift shift feature is a factory feature that should be included when conducting your performance tests. If it's engineered into the car, then it should be included. Not using a factory performance feature is a disservice to your readers, the manufacturer and a potential buyer reviewing the test results. You don't lift off the throttle when testing a DCT (dual-clutch transmission) equipped car, correct? This is absolutely along the same line of reasoning.

If you really want to provide an additional data point for your readers (and please, not online), you would reveal the difference in the test results between a lift-off of the throttle and the no-lift feature.

Additional Data Required:

C&D should make it a policy to publish the Road Test Review 6 times a year, perhaps on even-numbered months. Also, an online summary of all test results should be made available. There is a fast amount of information archived in hardcopy form, but it really should be made available online. C&D has always had great test procedures, it's time to make efforts from decades to present available.

Also, and I've requested this before, regarding the skidpad tests, please publish a table of the lateral acceleration measurement and how it translates to mph traveled. Also, what speed differential do you see when you sample the 1/4 mile speed of a car vs. the measured trap speed at a dragstrip (terminal velocity vs. a timed calculation of the last 60ft or so). These would be a great ways for readers to relate to the speed differential of various cars. These tables can be included in your Road Test Review listings.

Update 5/16/09: I thought of something else recently. Aerodynamics and the effect on mileage and performance. A value called a .cd or coefficient of drag is commonly given when describing the aerodynamic design of a car. A second and often ignored value is the frontal area. In other words, and I'm simplifying fluid dynamics hear, how much and how tall is the mass of the car going into the wind? What am I asking for? Supply a reference table showing the .cd x frontal area and how much of an effect it has on performance at various speeds. One idea is to show a table that displays how much horsepower is needed to match superior aerodynamics. And conversely, the mileage benefit.

If a 436hp Corvette and a 426hp Camaro SS is traveling at 150mph, how much do the aerodynamics effect each one? If a Prius could obtain 100mph (can it?) as well as the Tesla (it can), how much hp is needed for the Prius to maintain that speed vs. the Tesla in terms of the aerodynamic design of the car? It's the age of information, time to show it all.

Appealing to a wider audience:

More information is needed, perhaps a monthly guide, regarding dragstrip performance. For instance, you measure the 0-30mph time, but what about translating that to the 60ft time? How does tire inflation play a part in street tires? What does a Cold Air Induction (CAI) kit do for performance from both a standing launch and from a roll? Keep in mind this is a very common item offered by both OEMs AND the aftermarket. How about lowering kits in relation to skidpad and slalom performance? Handheld tuners vs. stock and various octanes used.

Although Car & Driver has been very good about reporting on racing for amateurs, mentioning the SCCA and NASA, the amount of participants in a 1 week time period in any given region at the dragstrip(s) far exceeds that of the SCCA and NASA in that given region. And these are mostly street-going, licensed cars. For example, Infineon Raceway (Sears Point), closes off the entrants at 300 cars for Wednesday night drags. Of the 14 or so staging lanes, at least 10 are for street cars. And many times for owners with the strip-only cars - they have street cars they take to the track for grins once in a while as well. There are 3 dragstrips within 100 miles of the Chicago area, I would be curious how many entrants they have over 7 days vs. the regional track events. Finally, most of the debates on the internet are regarding a cars straight-line performance as well.

I suggest polling the dragstrips to find out how many participants there are during the 7 day week. Additionally, polling the tire companies about their drag radial sales would be very interesting as well. This would lead to an interesting test comparing the 60fts, ETs and trap speeds