0-60 and 1/4-mile are bad comparison metrics.
Sorry, your fast car is probably slower than you think.
www.roadandtrack.com
5-60 mph times compiled:
0 to 150 to 0 is a better metric but still flawed due to launch control.
Hitting 150 mph is tough. Stopping from 150 mph is even more punishing. Which is why we decided to do both, back to back.
www.caranddriver.com
View attachment 23023
Tapout made a 1000+ RWHP 8-second ATS-V, but would I trade my stock ATS-V for it? Absolutely not, because in order to achieve those numbers they had to compromise the characteristics that made the car attractive in the first place. As an engineer, I get the attraction of the "one number to rule them all" especially from a tuning house, but there has to be a more rounded metric that we can come up with that doesn't require everyone to live in driving distance of the Nurburgring. Absolutely not shitting on Tapout--they're in the business of making power and it's our job to decide how much we're willing to spend or compromise to get it. Just think the focus on 1/4 mile time is too much.
I think it depends on what you intend to do with the car.
You don't use a hammer for a screw. 1/4 Mile times are the staple for Drag Racing metrics. If looking at Track performance, I'd agree with you wholeheartedly.
LMP for example is Drag-Racing oriented. They're building their 5BW for Drag Racing, thus the 1/4 Mile time is their most valuable metric.
As for compromise, it's universally known that you sacrifice when seeking power. A simple CAI, Exhaust, and Tune will greatly improve performance without sacrificing any core characteristics of the car.
If you want to keep the characteristics that made the car desirable in the first place, it's entirely possible, but there will be limits to how much can be gained. You are absolute correct that we are responsible for deciding what we want to pay/compromise for what we get. That's why we have "Stages" for tuning and mod packages.
However; I do agree that using different metrics as a basis for performance can be helpful, but it depends on what you're building the car for. If we are building a track car, 0-150-0 is beneficial. But for Drag Racing, the 1/4 Mile time and 60-ft remain the gold standard as they are the most important metrics in the sport.
In my case, I wouldn't want to do a max-effort build. I want power and a choppy cam, but I do not want to go as far as changing the Torque Converter, gutting the interior, etc. As you said, we all have to find our middle ground and decide what sacrifices we want to make.
