Question of the Day: Should Car Reviews Mention 0 – 60 Time?

Jonny Lieberman
by Jonny Lieberman

I don’t even know where the 0-60 mph metric came from. Sounds like it was something Brock Yates would’va dreamed up after the Federal double knickle went into effect. But, it’s older than that. Anyhow, I bring this up because I relied on that chestnut pretty heavily for my WRX review. Why? Well, if I had to encapsulate the 2009 WRX into a single sentence it would go like this, “Everything’s worse than the 2005-2007 WRX, except that it’s so damn fast I love it.” But you know, when Farago says 800 words, he means 800 words. But I want you to understand my point. The good thing about the WRX is how freakishly it accelerates. No one records 0-75 mph times. But, we have an endless supply of 0-60 mph data for every car ever built ever (basically). So my choice was to either compare it to other fast cars you’re (hopefully) familiar with, or dig into the old metaphor bucket (Faster than Marion Jones on fresh dope. Faster than a speed freak on a roller coaster where both the speed freak and the roller coaster are on speed.). I chose the former, and man are y’all hammering me! And I can take it. Thick skin, broad shoulders, decent bench press at one point, etc. In fact, the barbs provide fodder for my QOTD, so I thank you. And so yeah, that’s my question. Is 0-60 mph a useful metric when reviewing cars. I say yes because who the hell gets to ever run a car flat out for a quarter of a mile? On public roads? But up to 60 mph? No prob. You?

Jonny Lieberman
Jonny Lieberman

Cleanup driver for Team Black Metal V8olvo.

More by Jonny Lieberman

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 56 comments
  • T2 T2 on Jan 10, 2009

    What about the numbers ? It should be noted that the the 0 to sixty is the auto equivalent of a 110 meter sprint. In a lot of cars that can be accomplished in 2nd gear alone. It tests the engine but not the transmission. More than that it is probable that manufacturerers select gears for that metric and tune gear ratios accordingly. Sixty mph can be accomplished by holding 2nd gear until 7100rpm in a 1.8L Corolla XRS. It sure looks like the 2nd gear of 1.88 with 4.7 final was chosen to meet this benchmark. The average buyer is probably satisfied with a 0 to sixty time of 8 seconds which at a linear accel rate covers 352 feet. However the performance driver will want to see a little more power, speed and some clutch action factored in. For that there's the 1/4 mile. The 1/4 mile of 1320 feet should predict a terminal speed for the XRS around 120mph with the same acceleration but for the torque dilution of 3rd and 4th gear even with 164Hp under the hood. This of course is where the really powerful cars can differentiate themselves with the 1/4 mile metric since they will probably be able to top out in third gear.

  • Vassilis Vassilis on Jan 10, 2009

    dougjp: I agree everyone's priorities are different. But, R&D is influenced by market(ing)demand. In Europe, you just cannot e.g. sell a new hot-hatch without 0-60 in the sub-8 second area. It is a selling point - even if it means compromising the rest of the gearing. Another point: With most modern diesel cars you can drive around town all day with 3rd gear engaged with all that torque. What metric to use for that? I know, you are right, it is (0-60) the established standard and almost impossible to change. It is just so limited. And depending on so many factors: Try to "confirm" the official figure for a Honda S2000 with worn out tires.

  • Ricky Spanish Ricky Spanish on Jan 12, 2009

    trap speed trap speed trap speed this tells me what the car is actually capable of 0-60 tells me what Billy can do when he takes his mom's car out to cruise stoplight to stoplight.

  • Z4eva Z4eva on Jul 27, 2009

    Yes, but since 0-60 time in a review is more important for discerning the car's feel than for predicting racing success, the review should also qualify the 0-60 time with questions such as: 1) How much wear and tear was imposed on the car/tires to get that time? 2) What would the 0-60 time be if you drove the car like you owned it (and not like you stole it)? This could be the same as 5-60 time. 3) How many shifts were required? Does the car test especially fast because it's geared to get to 60 just before the shift to 3rd? 4) 0-30 time vs 30-60 time? Does it punch you in the chest and then let off (muscle car), or does it really pick up once the revs are up (Honda VTEC)? And, btw, I think you'd be hard-pressed to buy a new car that truly has trouble merging onto the freeway.

Next