[SS 1LE]

A GM engineer at the Chevrolet Performace tour told me specifically that the 0-60 timer is a quote "fun tool, but not meant to be a perfectly accurate assessment of acceleration". He said it can be effected by even slight wheel spin, clutch movement, etc. It also is not using GPS satellites for spot on times like the magazines use. Also remember the magazines will do multiple runs and usually use a mean average and correction factors for a more accurate and accessible number...sorry to say but your 3.6 isn't all that accurate. That's a few tenths quicker then real world tests, which would equate to about twice that in the 1/4 mile. And lets face it, your basically stock car isn't going to miraculously run 11.70/11.80. Not looking to burst your bubble, just stating some facts. Either way, you seem to be good at launching your car, you need to hit a drag strip asap!

[SpookShow'84]

Holy shit dude, you have to go watch the fuel cars at Pomona. They will host the finals there at the end of the season. At an NHRA race you can go to the pits and stand 15' from an 8-10k h.p. car, meet the drivers, can't do that at other pro events, sports or racing. The Force women are worth seeing for sure.

Bring glasses and ear plugs and make sure you're there when they seat the clutch on a fuel car. It is physically impossible to stand still when they blip the throttle closer than 20'.

[vtirocz]

Originally Posted by ender2664

Are magazine drivers subpar on purpose?
I'm a good driver but by no means in the class of what I consider professional and magazine drivers are pulling 4.0+ in a SS while my best is 3.6. So my question is why?
Are they just not good? Do they not try very hard to get to know the car? Do they purposely keep their skill in check to give a number that is more representative of what the average driver will pull off?

3.6s is impressive (if it's real!), but couple comments/thoughts on your questions:

- Their equipment is absolutely more accurate than the on car timer since it's GPS based and not wheel speed based (w/ variation on diameter due to tread,inflation,etc)
- At what point does the on car timer start? From one of your videos, it looked like the speedometer was in the 4-5mph range and the timer still said 0.0.
- If there's ANY spin on the 1-2 shift that causes the speedometer to read higher than it really is (ie. blip the mph reading above 60 due to wheelspin at that time), then the time isn't valid. Have a 2nd look at the videos you posted since in at least one of them it looked to me like this was happening.
- They would also have a limited time with the car to do the instrumented testing. Their #s are typically SAE corrected values (although sounds like your ambient conditions aren't the greatest)
- I would run at a 1/4 mile track to validate how your car's time/mph compare to the magazines, but again keep in mind their #s are corrected so you'd need to do the same to yours to have an apples to apples comparison.
- I believe the magazines would start instrumented testing with a full tank of fuel, so there could be ~100 lb diff if you were running closer to empty.

[ender2664]

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

A GM engineer at the Chevrolet Performace tour told me specifically that the 0-60 timer is a quote "fun tool, but not meant to be a perfectly accurate assessment of acceleration". He said it can be effected by even slight wheel spin, clutch movement, etc. It also is not using GPS satellites for spot on times like the magazines use. Also remember the magazines will do multiple runs and usually use a mean average and correction factors for a more accurate and accessible number...sorry to say but your 3.6 isn't all that accurate. That's a few tenths quicker then real world tests, which would equate to about twice that in the 1/4 mile. And lets face it, your basically stock car isn't going to miraculously run 11.70/11.80. Not looking to burst your bubble, just stating some facts. Either way, you seem to be good at launching your car, you need to hit a drag strip asap!

I don't consider it bursting my bubble. I prefer the truth to lala land.

A couple points
1- anyone with a manual transmission that has used the timer will vouch it starts at even the slightest movement regardless of if you even have your foot on the gas.
2- you are very right that if you shift hard and get a lot of wheel spin you will trick the car into thinking it is going faster than it is. If you spin hard in 1St u can shift early into second and get low 3s.
But as you can see in the videos there is not enough spin for that to happen and the car is fully engage in second before the timer stops.
3- in one video you see me move a little and then reset because I didn't have the timer set.

[ender2664]

Originally Posted by vtirocz

3.6s is impressive (if it's real!), but couple comments/thoughts on your questions:

- They would also have a limited time with the car to do the instrumented testing. Their #s are typically SAE corrected values (although sounds like your ambient conditions aren't the greatest)
- keep in mind their #s are corrected so you'd need to do the same to yours to have an apples to apples comparison.
- I believe the magazines would start instrumented testing with a full tank of fuel, so there could be ~100 lb diff if you were running closer to empty.

Solid points

[SpookShow'84]

GPS is good for an apples to apples comparison. It will not be the most accurate way to time a true 0-60 run. Laser would probably be the most accurate but the variation would be in the hundredths of a second.

[ULTRAZLS1]

Originally Posted by ender2664

I've made a few posts on this topic and everyone that has tried and replied to the thread said the timer is dead on.

No such timer has ever been or will ever be dead on. Its just common sense. Just think about all the variables for a second. And you are talking in tenths of a second.

[ULTRAZLS1]

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

A GM engineer at the Chevrolet Performace tour told me specifically that the 0-60 timer is a quote "fun tool, but not meant to be a perfectly accurate assessment of acceleration". He said it can be effected by even slight wheel spin, clutch movement, etc. It also is not using GPS satellites for spot on times like the magazines use. Also remember the magazines will do multiple runs and usually use a mean average and correction factors for a more accurate and accessible number...sorry to say but your 3.6 isn't all that accurate. That's a few tenths quicker then real world tests, which would equate to about twice that in the 1/4 mile. And lets face it, your basically stock car isn't going to miraculously run 11.70/11.80. Not looking to burst your bubble, just stating some facts. Either way, you seem to be good at launching your car, you need to hit a drag strip asap!

Pretty much what I thought was common knowledge. If you want to know for certain go to the strip.

[TenSeven]

Originally Posted by SpookShow'84

Holy shit dude, you have to go watch the fuel cars at Pomona. They will host the finals there at the end of the season. At an NHRA race you can go to the pits and stand 15' from an 8-10k h.p. car, meet the drivers, can't do that at other pro events, sports or racing. The Force women are worth seeing for sure.

Bring glasses and ear plugs and make sure you're there when they seat the clutch on a fuel car. It is physically impossible to stand still when they blip the throttle closer than 20'.

Been there, done that. It is indeed a fantastic experience!

Also, try to be as near the finish line as possible when the Top Fuel cars are running. 15,000+ horsepower going past you at WOT is a bone shaking experience. It is awesome.

[ender2664]

Originally Posted by ULTRAZLS1

No such timer has ever been or will ever be dead on. Its just common sense. Just think about all the variables for a second. And you are talking in tenths of a second.

I am talking tenths.

[Richard0nee]

You guys are are questioning the timer because he did better than the magazines. Here are a few best in the past for me..

2013 Mustang GT - 4.9 averaging 5.4
2015 Mustang Ecoboost - 5.9 averaging 6.1
Co-workers 2015 Mustang GT - 5.2- 5.6 (Tried it only 3-4 times)
2016 SS - 4.6 and 4.4 (Only tried it a few times since I'm still at 500 miles
All cars are bone stock, M6.

once I put more miles on her then I'll play around with the launches.. the timer is exactly the same as the one on the mustang and doesn't start until you move.

Go look at Mustang6G for 0-60 and no one really gets any hero times. With that said, the SS is THAT MUCH more powerful than the GT so 3.6 - 4.3 is not impossible. If you look at his videos, he BARELY has any wheel spin and that's key.

Granted I'm not the best driver but with enough practice, I'm sure I can pull 4.0 flat.. Under that? Maybe, maybe not..

My point is from my experience and others, people struggle more with the timer to get close to the magazine numbers in general.

So with the 16 SS, the torque is INSANE so those numbers are possible..

[rod4]

i do believe you're very good at launching your car. I do believe you can row some gears much better than the average.

I don't believe your 3.6 achievement(s) was/are accurate.

maybe the timers off or you're somehow throwing it off with wheel spin or maybe your driving down hill to achieve it idk.. but I'd bet money if the M6 could accurately pull 3.6 Chevy would not have it rated at what it is.

low psi in your tires or the 315s whatever. I doubt your getting to 60 faster that ats-v's and hellcats accurately OR stingrays

[Richard0nee]

Originally Posted by rod4

i do believe you're very good at launching your car. I do believe you can row some gears much better than the average.

I don't believe your 3.6 achievement(s) was/are accurate.

maybe the timers off or you're somehow throwing it off with wheel spin or maybe your driving down hill to achieve it idk.. but I'd bet money if the M6 could accurately pull 3.6 Chevy would not have it rated at what it is.

low psi in your tires or the 315s whatever. I doubt your getting to 60 faster that ats-v's and hellcats accurately OR stingrays

Stingrays can get 3.6.. Co-worker got 4.0 flat with just a few tries.

Before you doubt the timer.. my question to you is have you drove a 16 SS??

Many folks who have not driven the car has a lot of doubts. I know, I was one of them when people posted 3.9 secs. At the time, I didn't have my SS and really didn't believe it.

My first try ever was a 4.6 with slight wheel spin. A good launch, under 4 secs flat isn't impossible with these cars.

[Marine Corps]

Originally Posted by vtirocz

3.6s is impressive (if it's real!), but couple comments/thoughts on your questions:

- Their equipment is absolutely more accurate than the on car timer since it's GPS based and not wheel speed based (w/ variation on diameter due to tread,inflation,etc)
- At what point does the on car timer start? From one of your videos, it looked like the speedometer was in the 4-5mph range and the timer still said 0.0.
- If there's ANY spin on the 1-2 shift that causes the speedometer to read higher than it really is (ie. blip the mph reading above 60 due to wheelspin at that time), then the time isn't valid. Have a 2nd look at the videos you posted since in at least one of them it looked to me like this was happening.
- They would also have a limited time with the car to do the instrumented testing. Their #s are typically SAE corrected values (although sounds like your ambient conditions aren't the greatest)
- I would run at a 1/4 mile track to validate how your car's time/mph compare to the magazines, but again keep in mind their #s are corrected so you'd need to do the same to yours to have an apples to apples comparison.
- I believe the magazines would start instrumented testing with a full tank of fuel, so there could be ~100 lb diff if you were running closer to empty.

Totally agree. Professional drivers and equipment vs not so professional driver and equipment.