Breaking The Sound Barrier - Muscle Car Speed Test

[Frank Brown]

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Muscle Cars Part One: Average Speed

 

Hello, everybody! Welcome to another installment of Breaking The Sound Barrier. Today I'll be testing out the various muscle cars found throughout San Andreas, eight in total. This test will only deal with average speed; acceleration, handling, and breaking will be tested later on down the road.

 

Enough with the introductions... Let's get started, shall we?

 

The Setup:

 

- Route 68 Race Track (Total Distance: 3.79 Miles/6.10 Kilometers)

- Clear Skies at Noon

- One Lap

- No Traffic

- No Wanted Level

- No Catchup

- Max Acceleration

- No Braking

- Stock Cars

- 100% Driving Skill

 

 

 

Disclaimer:

 

This event was purely to test the average speed of each car, handling, acceleration, and braking were not accounted for and will not be mentioned on an individual basis following this disclaimer. All data is rounded to the nearest hundredth.

 

No cars were hurt in the making of this post.

 

 

The Cars

Name: Albany Buccaneer
Description: The Albany Buccaneer is modeled after the 1965 Buick Riviera. It has appeared in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto IV, and of course, Grand Theft Auto V.
Time: 2:20:453
Average Speed: 97.14 MPH/156.33 km/h

 

Name: Vapid Dominator
Description: The Vapid Dominator is directly modeled after the Ford Mustang. This is the first time the Vapid Dominator has appeared in the Grand Theft Auto series and hopefully not the last. This is, by all accounts, my favorite muscle car in the game, it's the only one I own that I've modded to the max.
Time: 2:11:418
Average Speed: 103.82 MPH/167.08 km/h

 

Name: Bravado Gauntlet
Description: The Bravado Gauntlet's body shape is heavily influenced by the Dodge Challenger. It's tail lights slightly resemble those of a Chevrolet Camaro, while the rest of the car retains the signature Challenger look.
Time: 2:16:519
Average Speed: 99.94 MPH/160.84 km/h

 

Name: Imponte Phoenix
Description: The Imponte Phoenix is a mix of two famous automobiles; the Pontiac Firebird and the 3rd generation Chevrolet Camaro. It appears in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Grand Theft Auto V.
Time: 2:17:814
Average Speed: 99.01 MPH/159.34 km/h

 

Name: Cheval Picador
Description: A pickup truck in the muscle class? What? Now, I know what you're thinking, this truck is probably slow as hell and has no chance to compete with the other cars in it's class. And you know what? You're right. The Cheval Picador resembles a Holden HJ Kingswood Utility vehicle, a name most likely unknown to those outside of Kangaroo-land, however, these vehicles were manufactured by the American automobile manufacturer, General Motors.
Time: 2:34:993
Average Speed: 88.03 MPH/141.67 km/h
Author's Comments: Seriously, why is this even in the muscle class?

 

 

Name: Imponte Ruiner
Description: Like the other car manufactured by Imponte, the Ruiner appears to resemble the Firebird and the Chevrolet Camaro. The Ruiner retains the T-top roof that was seen in Grand Theft Auto IV. While this car may not be the most attractive, it's certainly holds it's own within the class.
Time: 2:12:208
Average Speed: 103.20 MPH/166.08 km/h

 

Name: Declasse Sabre Turbo
Description: The Sabre Turbu is modeled after many different vehicles, with the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass appearing to be the main influence. The car is easy on the eyes, however, it does not perform as well as other cars in it's class.
Time: 2:19:833
Average Speed: 97.58 MPH/157.04 km/h

 

Name: Declasse Vigero
Description: A mix of the 1971 Barracuda by Plymouth and the 1969 Camaro by Chevrolet, the Declasse Vigero was created with love and care, nearly tying the Sabre Turbo and Albany Buccaneer during my test run.
Time: 2:20:854
Average Speed: 96.87 MPH/155.90 km/h

The Rankings (Name/Average Speed) -

1. Vapid Dominator - 103.82 MPH/167.08 km/h
2. Imponte Ruiner - 103.20 MPH/166.08 km/h
3. Bravado Gauntlet - 99.94 MPH/160.84 km/h
4. Imponte Phoenix - 99.01 MPH/159.34 km/h
5. Declasse Sabre Turbo - 97.58 MPH/157.04 km/h
6. Albany Bucaneer - 97.14 MPH/156.33 km/h
7. Declasse Vigero - 96.87 MPH/155.90 km/h
8. Cheval Picador - 88.03 MPH/141.67 km/h

Vlynor's Advice -

Most of these vehicles cannot be purchased online and must be acquired by other means (see: theft). While the last test had a clear winner in terms of average speed, this one is extremely close. The Imponte Ruiner and the Vapid Dominator have only a .62 MPH (1 km/h) difference between them. Now keep in mind, these test were completed by me and while I'm not a professional driver, I attempted to keep on the same exact path with each vehicle in order to make the test as fair as possible. If you prefer the Ruiner over the Dominator, go for it, and vice versa. Just don't get the Picador, please. That shouldn't even be in the muscle class.

Requests: Have any requests? Want me to test a specific car before I release the full data for each class? Send me a private message and I'll respond with results ASAP.

Edited October 26, 2013 by Vlynor

[PZVNGI]

That is awesome. Good work!

[qop]

Wow, must of spent a lot of time into this, good thread. I love the idea. Perhaps can you do a Sedan or maybe Sports class?

[DillBagnr]

I'm not sure why you're talking negatively about the Picador. The El Camino was a beastly muscle car. That thing had an engine bigger than most anything else in its day--that's why it's a muscle car.

This game did make it a little on the slow end, but I still enjoy it.

I've also got to wonder about how the driving factored in. I have a ruiner, sabre, phoenix, and picador. I very rarely lose races in my phoenix to Dominators, though everybody picks them. I also have been unable to break my speed record (set in a phoenix) with my ruiner.

This seems to be a well done test, but I think it needs a little more.

Edited October 26, 2013 by DillBagnr

[Frank Brown]

Wow, must of spent a lot of time into this, good thread. I love the idea. Perhaps can you do a Sedan or maybe Sports class?

 

Definitely. I'll probably do one a day.

 

That is awesome. Good work!

 

Haha, thank you!

[Frank Brown]

I'm not sure why you're talking negatively about the Picador. The El Camino was a beastly muscle car. That thing had an engine bigger than most anything else in its day--that's why it's a muscle car.

 

This game did make it a little on the slow end, but I still enjoy it.

 

I've also got to wonder about how the driving factored in. I have a ruiner, sabre, phoenix, and picador. I very rarely lose races in my phoenix to Dominators, though everybody picks them. I also have been unable to break my speed record (set in a phoenix) with my ruiner.

 

This seems to be a well done test, but I think it needs a little more.

 

Of course, but I'm talking strictly in terms of speed tests; the thing is slow as hell. In races you have the ability to slip stream, your opponent can spin out, or you can be facing terrible drivers. These are isolated results, there is no slip stream or other opponents involved.

Edited October 26, 2013 by Vlynor

[crashhat69]

good work dude. you should do sports class next.

[Regulatron]

You forgot the Rat Loader

[Frank Brown]

You forgot the Rat Loader

 

I tested whatever cars are in the "Muscle" class during races. If I get my hands on a Rat Loader I'll test it and add it here.

[madmanaz]

Informative. The "Top Gear" of San Andreas and Los Santos. Keep up the good work. One question: how did you figure out the speeds? Am I just blind?

[Frank Brown]

Informative. The "Top Gear" of San Andreas and Los Santos. Keep up the good work. One question: how did you figure out the speeds? Am I just blind?

 

r = d/t

 

Where r is the rate, (d) is the distance (in this case, 3.79 miles) and (t) is the time.

Edited October 26, 2013 by Vlynor

[soggyinvert]

f*cking great read man, love it!

 

Proud to say I've always stuck by my trusty dominator, defs one of my fave cars in the game!

[madmanaz]

Oh you used math. Dang it. See, and I had myself convinced I would never need to use the alphabet in with my numbers. Just kidding, of course. But still, bravo.

 

I will be able to calculate my modified cars' speeds later.

[scrublord]

The Sabre is modeled after the Chevelle SS

 

Sucks to see it being one of the slowest. It's my favorite muscle car in the game and I love the way it handles once you drop its suspension.

Edited October 26, 2013 by Lagful

[Frank Brown]

The Sabre is modeled after the Chevelle SS

 

Sucks to see it being one of the slowest. It's my favorite muscle car in the game and I love the way it handles once you drop its suspension.

 

Thank you. I couldn't find it's counterpart but I saw the Wiki mentioned it was an Oldsmobile inspired car.

[abc50010]

The Sabre is modeled after the Chevelle SS

 

Definitely a mix between the Oldsmobile and Chevelle

Edited October 26, 2013 by abc50010

[K1NG CURT1S]

nice work. I'd like to see one of these done up with SUVS and/or offroad in mind,

[Frank Brown]

nice work. I'd like to see one of these done up with SUVS and/or offroad in mind,

 

Will do. I'm aiming to do each one, probably one class everyday.

[soggyinvert]

Would love to see it done on sports cars, I really think the coquette doesn't get the praise it deserves

[MrBlackwell]

They need to add a drag race. Would love to run some quarter mile times with my muscle cars!!

[Frank Brown]

Would love to see it done on sports cars, I really think the coquette doesn't get the praise it deserves

 

It will be, just give me a little bit.

 

They need to add a drag race. Would love to run some quarter mile times with my muscle cars!!

 

As would I.

[Frank Brown]

Hopefully this isn't against the rules, but I'm going to bump this. I want anyone who's interested in GTA's muscle cars to see it.

[GTALegion]

Very interesting read, well done.

But the Picador isn't a pickup truck. It's an El Camino. And it's definately a muscle car. Too bad it sucks in GTA V performance-wise.

[God-eater]

Thanks for this, Vlynor - confirmed my suspicions about my beloved Gauntlet. Still too attached to it to swap it out, but that's what Alts are for.

[zainzombie]

Nice topic OP. It would be awesome if you could do videos like Top Gear comparing 2 cars and doing a special challenge or something like it.

[standfree1987]

cool thread. Got a sabre turbo, considering getting a couple of other muscle cars, when I get a bigger garage, as I really enjoy driving muscle cars.

[bensons]

loving these speed demon treads

 

I have a dominator, green and subtle like the one from Bulllit and i loves it.

[Machinehead2332]

Glad to see the Ruiner perform so well. My favorite car in the game!

[soggyinvert]

 

 

Would love to see it done on sports cars, I really think the coquette doesn't get the praise it deserves

It will be, just give me a little bit.

 

They need to add a drag race. Would love to run some quarter mile times with my muscle cars!!

As would I.

Awesome, I shall be eagerly awaiting man!!

[SKaREO]

Nice thread! Good job.