hu@sdcsvax.UUCP (04/23/84)
<Don't even think about truncating this article.> I think the real reason that auto makers are posting 0-50 times instead of 0-60 times is that the new, high-tech, turbo-charged, electronically-fuel injected, *microprocessor controlled*, 4 cylinder (50 milliliter displacement) engines generate so much power that posting 0-50 times is necessary to avoid embarrassment. I mean, cars have an accleration curve that levels off as speed increases. Therefore, a 0-30 time is much less than half of a 0-60 time. My awesome VW Diesel Dasher (52hp at 4800 rpm), for example, takes about 11 seconds on a 0-50 and about 20 seconds on a 0-60. Since the *real* muscle cars of pre-OPEC days got 0-60 times of under 6 or 5 or 3 or whatever number of seconds, most people would puke if they heard an add proudly proclaiming that the new aerodynamic SEX-7000 with the 27 speaker sound system and a digital speedometer did 0-60 in 15 minutes. So instead, the car company advertises that the car does 0-20 (or 50 or whatever) in 3.141592653589 seconds and hopes that people don't notice the "2" (or the "5") in place of the traditionaly "6". Apparently, a lot of people don't notice. --Alan Hu sdcsvax!hu P.S. I hope that I didn't have to lace this article with a bunch of :-)s. I assume that you guys can tell when I'm being sarcastic and when I'm not. I do think the car manufacturers are advertising 0-50 times because they sound better.