Should it do what is says on the tin??

[davidd]

Morning, I've been pondering this one for some time, and my recent investigations in Cerberas have furthered my ponderings to the point where I thought I'd ask you lot for some input.
BHP, my Griffith is supposedly 340, I am very happy with the way it goes and have never had it on a rolling road or dyno, however I suspect if I did I'd see somewhere between 250 and 270bhp. 4.5 Cerberas, according to the factory..420bhp, but as the rolling road shootout showed that is not the case.
Now as I said, in real work driving I'm very, very happy with the performance of my car but if I had the engine out, stuck on a dyno and it came out at 260bhp would I have a case to go back to TVR and ask them for the other 80bhp?
After all if I bought a case of beers which said there were 24 inside and got home to find there was only 18 I'd be very upset and would do something about it.
Any experts on the sale of goods act care to comment?

[davidd]

quote:
Speed 6 engines normaly produce what they say I gather - 360bhp

Indeed, as does the 4.2 Speed 8

[davidd]

quote:
When they test on a rolling road, sometimes you get the horse power produced at the back wheels and not what the engine produces. This will allways be considerably less than the power of the engine, so be sure they give you the right figure, some, or most of you will of course be allready aware that this is the case.

gadgit.

Indeed, which is why I'd like a dyno test instead of a rolling road one. However most rolling roads will try to work out power losses for you (not sure how I think they take readings when the car is freewheeling) to then try to provide a more accurate end figure (if you see what I mean).

David

[davidd]

Yes a dyno test does involve taking the engine out, and yes if I'm paying for 420 horses I do want them.
TVR should come clean on it, if they are not putting out the power they are supposed to be then fair enough, change the specification sheets.

[davidd]

quote:

Anyway, what does it matter so long as the performance is as advertised? (Which it appears to be)

Indeed a very fair point, but just think what it would be with all the horses.