I use 0-60 times when comparing cars, though it's clearly not the end-all be-all statistic. I do have some personal criteria though.
- try to stick with the same source for times. Mags will run a car over and over in various ways until they get THE fastest time they can eke out of a run. That's the number they use. It might not be a practical number for most of us that don't drag. Every source runs differently and with different numbers. But as long as you're measuring with the same test, you can do some valid comparisons. (test road, test driver(s), conditions, altitude, stockness...)
- mag times aren't going to be times that I experience on the road. But it still does demonstrate straight line speed in a test. *shrug*
- It's not a "stupid" statistic.
It's not the only statistic, but it's not a stupid one.
- I don't "race" my car, so it's not like I have firsthand times on hand, just like a large majority of drivers. I'll let someone else "race" the car and come back with times. Just because that happens, doesn't make the statistic "stupid."