Originally Posted by Vadim 
Also make sure to compare same drivetrains, you guys are probably thinking FWD which will have much less drivetrain loss then his S13...
I was waiting for someone to bring up this taboo, and rarely understood concept. Perhaps I should delve and try to find another article that is still around, easy to read, and helpful to folks that would like a bit of insight.
Attempting to apply a "blanket" number to a chassis based upon the location of the power train components is an oversimplification of something that is not necessarily complicated, but simply a far less understood concept. A relationship can be expected and drawn out in theory but nothing concrete because of all the different ways the power train systems are created and applied. They differ from one model to the other, and even from one manufacturer to the next.
Example: A Subaru AWD system greatly differs than the Honda CR-V AWD system. Therefore, the two will have much different drivetrain losses yet they are front engined, all-wheel drive chassis'.
Example: Two Front engine, rear-wheel drive cars. One is stock. The other car is of the same model but has drivetrain components with increased strength, lighter weight, reduced inertia, and heftier price tag
. Let's say the transmission gear stacks were removed and replaced with lighter and stronger parts. The drive shaft, rear differential, and rear half-shafts have been replaced with all new lighter and stronger parts. The driveline losses are going to be vastly different and these quick examples can hopefully begin to illustrate the differences.While I will say that between a front engine, front drive car and a front engine, rear drive car. The losses are more prevalent because the torque is transferred through a right angle whereas the FR (Front engine, Front drive) and MR (Mid engine, Rear drive) is almost passed in a linear path from engine to wheels. Therefore, the front engine, front drive car should not have as much as a drivetrain loss than the front engine, rear drive car but that is not always true and that should be kept in mind.
Even more importantly, the dyno is a more tool used by the owner of the car. The idea of sharing all the cool numbers in the world is neat, but those tools should be used for tuning or comparative reasons between the same car at the same dyno machine.
To summarize, I have no comment on the output of the car, @gomba certainly hit a spot that resonated on my mind simply because that is widely ignored when I see the turbo folks discuss numbers. What goes in must go out, that is what I always thought.
Last edited by Kyle
on 2014-10-28
at 14-18-59.
Reason: replaced are with is for agreement
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