I guess my question is kinda simple, im really really new to cars, what is torque? what are the benifits of losing/gaining torque? thanks in advance guys

 

From http://www.howstuffworks.com:

Torque is a force that tends to rotate or turn things. You generate a torque any time you apply a force using a wrench. Tightening the lug nuts on your wheels is a good example. When you use a wrench, you apply a force to the handle. This force creates a torque on the lug nut, which tends to turn the lug nut.

 

couldn't say it any better

 

hp = torque x rpm / 5250

Torque is everything

 

"People want torque, but they pay for horsepower." This is speaking of the general automotive consumer, not people who actual buy a car for a specific reason such as racing.

 

Not necessarily. Generally speaking, torque can be viewed as governing acceleration and horsepower governing top speed.

 

exactly, i always thought of torque as what makes you accelerate faster from 0-60 and HP mostly helps out with high rpm top end speed like on the highway.

thats why a mustang v6(3.8 liter) will take most of us off the line since it makes a lot of low end torque and a much lower rpm but then it will get owned after 30+ mph since hondas are made for higher rpm hp and power.

 

its pretty much the same.... torque is a measure of force, and HP is measure of the amount of work done.

And being owned after 30mph+ probably has more to do w/ gearing, weight, aerodynamics, and other factors than just torque/HP.