Oh you’d be surprised how much difference those extra revs can make. As you probably know I used to drive a 1995 Nissan Maxima QX with the 2.0L VQ20DE engine, 1995cc V6 with 24 valves and 140hp. Earlier this year before I fucked everything up I test drove a 1998 Lancia Kappa sedan with the 5.20 VIS engine, a 1998cc Inline 5, 20 Valves and 155hp. The power difference is negligible due to the 100 additional kg the Lancia has. But the Nissan engine hits peak power at 6400rpm and will let you rev to a maximum of 6900rpm, it also becomes increasingly unwilling to rev after about 5800rpm. The Lancia engine meanwhile produces peak power at 6500rpm, yet that engine is much more willing to rev all the way up to 7500rpm, which results in a far different character and more enjoyable drive despite both being theoretically identical in many ways. Both cars also have very similar short gear ratios in their 5-speed manual gearboxes, yet the Nissans unwillingness to rev results in a meager 201kph top speed. The taller Lancia can hit 218kph on flat ground (Note that I once got the Nissan up to fuel cutoff in 5th, at precisely 225kph).
I know this has quickly turned into an advertisement for a 20 year old Fiat but this was a perfect opporunity to explain my point why 500 unnecessary revs sometimes do make an important difference. After all most of us would prefer to buy a car on subjective terms.
