# What is the difference between horsepower and torque? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 17, 2002, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291 "2002-12-17T08:12:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/21 "2002-12-18T09:17:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dead0man \* > \*\*It will take you longer to get to your to speed because of extra weight, but its not going to slow you down any. \*\* To nitpick a nitpick: weight does slow you down indirectly. Given the same tires, rolling resistance is roughly proportional to weight. ---
**Author:** ![mrcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/22 "2002-12-18T09:20:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Somnambulist \* > \*\*Excellent post Zwede \*\* +1 spot on yours sincerely PLAN/33000 or 2Pi.NT/550 (uses rpm)etc. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/23 "2002-12-18T13:48:59Z")
ZWEDE– Thanks for finally clearing this up, sorry it took so long. Things just weren`t adding up in the noggin`. Now when I go to buy a new car I have one more bargaining point to use. Dealer - “This nice car here has 117 horsepowers and will blast you from 0 - 50 in a zippy 14 seconds.” Me - “Yeah, but that is SAE Net horsepower and the actual useable wheel horsepower is probably less than 100, no thanks.” I`ll keep driving the Javelin which can do the quarter in 14 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/24 "2002-12-18T13:54:45Z")
ZWEDE – What exactly is your 1971 automobile? ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/25 "2002-12-18T15:53:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whuckfistle \* > \*\*ZWEDE – > What exactly is your 1971 automobile? \*\* Corvette Coupe with a 454. Factory 4-speed and AC. I’ve played around with it some and it is now fuel injected, 17" rims, etc. Have some info here: [http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/zwede](http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/zwede) /Markus ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/26 "2002-12-18T16:08:28Z")
you want torque (optimal timing) at high RPM’s to take advantage of gearing. a hummer has lots of torque but at low RPM so it’s ability to do work quickly (such as use that torque to cover a lot of ground at say 100mph) is hampered. hitting the gas at peak torque will give you the biggest force in your back. hitting the gas at peak HP will cover the most ground given a certain amount of time and gear, but will NOT give you as much of a force in your back. you want to pull hard for a long time, not just pull hard. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/27 "2002-12-18T16:27:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dead0man \* > Not to nit pick (always said right before a nit pick) but, **av8rmike** you are right about all the things you mentioned limiting top speed EXCEPT weight. It will take you longer to get to your to speed because of extra weight, but its not going to slow you down any. It may actually make you have a higher top speed because the car is lower to the ground. This was all discussed here a year or so ago. S’OK, I’m used to getting nit-picked around here… 🙂 However, if you’re using extra weight to get your chassis closer to the ground to reduce drag, I’d think that the amount of weight you’d have to add would reduce your performance too much. I’m no racer, but there’s better ways to reduce drag and rolling resistance. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/28 "2002-12-18T16:33:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zwede \* > \*\*Corvette Coupe with a 454. Factory 4-speed and AC. I’ve played around with it some and it is now fuel injected, 17" rims, etc. Have some info here: [http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/zwede](http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/zwede) > > /Markus \*\* Sweet car. Nothing like a ratty big block. I have to settle for the 401 in the AMX, but she still moves out. Pretty much built to the 1.25 HP/CI specs. Heads could use more work. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/29 "2002-12-18T16:43:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by av8rmike \* > \*\*S’OK, I’m used to getting nit-picked around here… 🙂 > > However, if you’re using extra weight to get your chassis closer to the ground to reduce drag, I’d think that the amount of weight you’d have to add would reduce your performance too much. I’m no racer, but there’s better ways to reduce drag and rolling resistance. \*\* If I understand correctly, More weight may slow down the accelleration but the engine will still wind out to it`s potential. In other words a 3500 pound car will take 20 seconds to top out whereas a 4000 pound car may take 25 seconds. The 4000 pound car with the same chasis as the 3500 pound car may be slightly closer to the ground making the car slightly more aero. I think in the long run both would attain the same speed (top end), the 4000 pound car having more friction and the 3500 pound car having less aero, sounds like a coin toss. Does that make sense? ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/30 "2002-12-19T05:41:19Z")
zwede: So the Japanese, Americans, and Euros have slightly different standards. Is the standard used that of the country of manufacture or the destination? I assume that the standard would be that of the country where the vehicle is being sold. My car was manufactured in South Korea, but, if I am correct, the hp ratings would be measured using the American standard, correct? ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/31 "2002-12-19T08:33:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number Six \* > \*\*zwede: So the Japanese, Americans, and Euros have slightly different standards. Is the standard used that of the country of manufacture or the destination? I assume that the standard would be that of the country where the vehicle is being sold. My car was manufactured in South Korea, but, if I am correct, the hp ratings would be measured using the American standard, correct? \*\* You are correct. The car will be rated in the country it is sold. A Korean car sold in Europe will be rated according to DIN and the same car sold in the US will be rated in SAE Net. /Markus ---
**Author:** ![zwede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ac91a4/32.png) [@zwede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwede)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291/32 "2002-12-19T08:35:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whuckfistle \* > \*\*Sweet car. Nothing like a ratty big block. I have to settle for the 401 in the AMX, but she still moves out. Pretty much built to the 1.25 HP/CI specs. Heads could use more work. \*\* Nice. Always had a soft spot for the AMX and Javelin. Especially the first body style until '70. The '71-up looks a little funky, but still OK. /Markus [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-horsepower-and-torque/143291.md?page=1)