If you take a 300 hp Lexus GS400 and bring it up to 5000ft it now only has 249 hp at 60 degrees.

If you do the same to a Maxima, it now has 184hp at 5000ft.

If you figure there is a difference of 78hp between our two cars at sea level, we only have a difference of 65hp at 5000ft. This makes cars with less hp loose less hp at altitude making the Maxima a closer match to the GS400 than the same race at sea level.

Any comments about this?

Mark

 

well.. i still say the gs400 will spank the max about the same carlengths at 5000ft as sea level

 

It works both ways. All the neons, sunfires, proteges, etc get closer to the Maxima at 5000 feet also.

 

I would think that all cars would lose the same percentage of their hp at a given altitude. Thus, the car with more hp will lose more hp. But it would probably be the same percentage across the board.

 

That is right, percentage of horsepower. 3% of 300 is more than 3% of 222. Which narrows the gap.

Mark

 

The hp loss may be greater in absolute terms, but in relative terms it will be the same.
As a results the hp per lb will be less for each car but less by an amount that is relatively (not absolutely) the same.
This is all that matters here.
Accordingly the more powerful car will lose none of its advantage.

Fred