Which of these cars would win a race?

Depends on who the driver is. V8 engine is A LOT faster than the 4 cylinder though.

The Saab. The eclipse might take you off the line because the 2.4 will rev quicker. After a very short distance the HP and TQ of the 5.2 liter will become obvious. Therre is no replacement for displacement. In short the Saab motor can do more work over time and delivers more power to the drive wheels...you'd kick his/her rear end. The eclipse by end of the 1/4 mile would be looking at the Saab's tailights and glowing exhaust pipes.

Well that's easy. Your FRIENDS car would win. You don't want to break any laws, but I'm betting your friend would. So, he wins, no matter WHAT he's driving. His car is faster than yours because he's probably willing to GO faster. The Saab WILL go faster. But not with YOU driving. You can pull the performance stats off the internet for both cars, and the Saab will have better stats. But if you're gonna race, you gotta go FAST. Fast cars are only fast when they GO fast. Yeah baby!! He wins. Sorry. It's a guy thing. ZOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM

The Saab would win, unless the Saab's transmission is poorly designed or not in decent running condition. I mean, the horse- power that the Saab has virtually the same power as the top en- gine size and power of (I don't know how you can fit an engine of that size in a Saab's engine compartment, but...), which would be about that of a Lincoln Navigator SUV, and the Eclipse would still get beat by the huge and heavy SUV. _ _ _ _ _

the eclipse would win in quarter mile but then it is the saabs turn in the top end

If the Eclipse had the v6 then it could win--- the eclipse given it's weight and drag ratio would be about equal at 2700 pounds of weight. but the eclipse weighs about 3300 pounds vs the 4800 of the Saab. with almost half the horsepower and torque the equal match would be 2400 lbs 150 hp and 165 ftlb of torque. given the higher wind resistance on the Saab you could give another 300 lbs to the Eclipse. Now this is on a highway!!!!!!!. In a track like Laguna Sega, or a close turning road course--the Eclipse would win because that it has a lower center of gravity, closer gear ratio, and better g-force holding .

Lets go with a 2005 Saab, since those specs are the same as your description, power to weight is the strongest factor, so in this case 15.55 to one. The 2003 Mitsubishi has a little worse 15.75. So that's not a lot of difference. Looks like it's down to traction and drivers. Best case is that the driver with the most practice is going to win. If the friend is ready to put up or shut up, then have some 3rd person you both trust and respect as a good racer to take both of them down the local dragstrip on grudge night on two passes. Total cost... Pizza: 20 bucks Soda: 10 bucks Dragstrip fees: 40-60 bucks. So for around 50 apiece this will be someones bragging rights. My money is on the vehicle with the automatic and the owner sly enough to get their car tuned up before the race. Fame is great but the one who loses a bragging rights competition will never live it down. Best wishes. Drive safe and sober. Now get out there and whip his butt.

where ya gonna race --1/4 mile torque and hp will win curvy road eclipse will hang tight -and depends on a driver too

The Mitsu vs. the Saab? Sorry mitsu. you lose.