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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!hu
From: hu@sdcsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re:  0-50 times
Message-ID: <696@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 22-Apr-84 20:21:40 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.696
Posted: Sun Apr 22 20:21:40 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Apr-84 00:44:19 EST
Organization: EECS Dept., U.C. San Diego
Lines: 28

<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.