When a car advertises a 14 second quarter mile, it is probably because it is extremely fast. A 10 second car would be a high-end performance car, and it would mean the car could complete a quarter mile in less than ten seconds. However, that standard is not realistic for a street-legal car – the speed limit for a Model T varies by state, but it will never exceed 45 MPH. Driving a Model T over this speed is foolish and dangerous.
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Typical 14 second cars
What is a “typical” 14 second car? For this benchmark, a car must complete the quarter mile in a period of ten seconds, or four hundred meters. That’s a very high standard, but that is the standard for custom drag racing vehicles. To give an example, a Ford Model T will never run in the fourteen second bracket on the quarter mile, because its street legal speed is no lower than 45 mph. Driving it faster would be dangerous and foolish.
The top-of-the-range cars are Mustangs, Tuned Port Injected ‘Vettes, and F-bodies. 1970’s 4-speed T/As, and automatics with axle-ratio change transmissions are also typical 14-second cars. Some of the entry-level muscle cars are also available, such as 340 Dusters, 389 GTOs, and 396 Chevelles.
Typical 13/high 12 second cars
When looking for a car to run under 14 seconds, a high 12 or low 13 second car is an acceptable choice. While a 10 was considered “BEAST” years ago, today, you’re better off with a low 13/high 12 second car for non-racing purposes. Here are a few options:
Typical 9 second cars
Most people think that a 9 second car means that it takes a full nine seconds to reach 60 mph. The reality is much different. These cars need to have 550-600rwhp to do the same thing. The highest-performance cars are in the seven to eight-second range, and the ones below that mark require drag radials or slick tires. A typical 9 second car has enough power to hit 200 mph on the right tires.
The ten-second term is often used to describe a car that does the quarter-mile in ten seconds. While this is a very high standard, few unmodified road cars can reach this speed. In fact, only cars that have undergone thorough modifications can meet this time. Regardless, it is still a reasonable target for serious car tuners. A 10 second car is a member of the exclusive set of road legal drag racing vehicles.
Typical 10 second cars
Typical 10 second cars for a fourteen second quarter mile are anything from 5.0 Mustangs to Tuned Port Injected ‘Vettes. They can even be an automatic with an axle-ratio change. This group also includes entry-level classic muscle such as the 340 Dusters, 389 GTOs, and Chevelles. Regardless of engine power, these cars are fast.
What is a 10-second car? It is a highly modified race car that can complete a quarter-mile in less than ten seconds. For example, the 2019 Bugatti Chiron has a quarter-mile time of 9.9 seconds, while a 2014 McLaren P1 has a nine-second quarter-mile time. Regardless of the manufacturer, these cars are the gold standard in drag racing.
Typical 10 second cars’ 0-60 mph times
When you hear the term “10 second car,” what comes to your mind? Typically, you think of a high-performance race car or highly modified dragster. While these cars may be fast, they don’t necessarily need to run 0-60 in under seven seconds. In fact, a good fast car should reach over 120 mph and be able to maintain that speed.
The 0-60 mph times of cars vary significantly, depending on make, model, and price point. In general, a midsized sedan is capable of reaching 60 mph in less than eight seconds, and a V6 car can reach that mark in just six. Likewise, a compact vehicle can go from zero to 60 in nine seconds. However, compact cars and SUVs are generally not that fast. Even the latest Civic does so in only 7.5 seconds. A Mazda3 with a 2.0L engine can reach 60 mph in nine seconds.
Typical 10 second cars’ 0 to 100 mph times
Unlike in the real world where you drive a car for ten seconds and have a kilometer to go, these official 0-to-100 mph times are not based on performance. They are calculated by using doppler radar guns, which operate in synchronization with other timing instruments. To compare the 0 to 100 mph times of different cars, you will need to categorize them by type, year, and age. This way, you will get the most accurate picture of their expected performance.
The average car can do 0-60 mph in eight seconds, and V6 versions of midsize sedans can do it in six seconds. Compact cars are not fast, but they can go 0-60 in nine seconds. Some examples of these cars include the 2007 Honda Civic, the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, and the 2017 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack. There are other cars that can go under 10 seconds.
