Drag between a first gen SL2 and SC2 is minimial (i think C(d) .310 (coupe)
and .318 Sedan. Same story for 2nd gen. Also, the SL2s are supposed to have
a speed limiter of 110mph, while 1st gen SC2's (dunno about 97+) are at 124.
My car easily sees 110, but i never push it further. And this is only late
night sprints on the highway. But i'll cruise around 90. Very comfortable,
puts it at 4,000 rpm, in the meat of the torque band, which is pretty damn
flat on a DOHC Saturn. Of course... my mods dont hurt!
-Ryan92SC/DSP
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 03 Nov 2000 06:22:02 -0600
From: Loren Williams <Loren@kscable.com>
Subject: Re: Max speed for an SL2
Steve said:
> Seeing Alex's email and comment about speed made me think. Just out of
> curiosity... has anybody gone more than around 110mph in an SL2? And that
> is an honest 110 on a flat, no counting going downhill! I had mine (a '96)
> flat out at the track on a long straightaway and about 108 - 112 is all it
> had to give, I can just hit the redline in 4th gear and when I shift to
> fifth it just doesn't have the guts to keep me going. Is this about as fast
> as a basically stock motor DOHC will go? Of course, the car does have all
> 240 lbs of me in there as ballast, so that may make a difference!
I've hit the speed limiter on my car on one or two occasions (right about
125/126). I used to chicken out around 110 when the car was closer to
stock. Now I comfortably get to 120 before I look down and realize it's
time to slow down! (no, I don't make a habit of this, there's exactly one
place that I do this regularly and it's a section of winding separated
interstate about 2 miles long that I might go to every other month... it's
tradition with those of us who drive from Wichita to Salina for a Solo, we
call it the Salinabahn)
That's with an older SC2 and just me in the car (170 lbs). It could be
that the inherent extra weight of the SL2 (100 lbs?) and your own weight
might be enough to limit the top speed. Aerodynamic drag could have
something to do with it. Having (or not having) a fairly open intake and
exhaust could have something to do with it.
- --
Loren Williams | Loren@kscable.com
'94 Saturn SC2 | Wichita Region SCCA - http://www2.southwind.net/~scca
|