Miscellaneous Stuff

[XHawkeye]

http://dailykanban.com/2014/12/machine-mimics-man-automakers-fight-car-obesity-weight-wins/

Scroll half way down the page for an interesting chart showing fleet average power/weight ratio of cars in the US from '75-'14

[thesameguy]

I'd really like to see a chart that shows the average weight of various components - ABS, SRS, side impact, etc. It'd be interesting to see how much cars themselves have gained in weight versus how much weights "systems" have added.

[MR2 Fan]

I'd really like to see a chart that shows the average weight of various components - ABS, SRS, side impact, etc. It'd be interesting to see how much cars themselves have gained in weight versus how much weights "systems" have added.

:up:

[TheBenior]

FWIW, early motorcycle ABS systems in (1990-1993, IIRC) BMW K100s and K75s were 11kg. They had a separate control module mounted either under the seat or the tail cowl, whereas later systems in 1994+ bikes integrated the control modules into the ABS modulators (I couldn't find a listed weight for these). Most people said that they were worth their weight in the wet, but they probably increased stopping distances in the dry and were also known for rather expensive failures.

The ca. 2008 ABS system on my 2013 Ducati Monster 696 is just under 2kg, which is pretty typical these days. The systems in the 2013-on Honda CB500 range add the same weight.

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZuZBZyV6Eg

[XHawkeye]

http://youtu.be/bl5jziS66Zk

Miniatur Wunderland experiments to add F1. Turn on CC and stop watching at the 10 minute mark.

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm4ajQxImhE

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TMgIkx40tI

[thesameguy]

I am in love.

[XHawkeye]

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/1973-Ford-Recreation-Vehicles-12-13.jpg

The pre SUV days: http://www.curbsideclassic.com/uncategorized/brochure-outtake-pulling-a-trailer-with-your-1973-ford/

[novicius]

:up: :up:

I wonder how many Mustangs were sold with the Trailer Towing Package? :assclown:

Also, the Torino front-end on that wagon looks The Business. :twisted:

[George]

Also, the Torino front-end on that wagon looks The Business. :twisted:

Strongly agreed, but it would be even mo' bettah with a Starsky & Hutch paintjob!

http://images.gatewayclassiccars.com/carpics/NDY/88/88d.jpg

[novicius]

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/attachments/homer-simpson-drooling-animated-gif_1-jpg.113230/

FUUUUUU--!!

George, you magnificent bastard! MARRY ME!!1!

[thesameguy]

I can't believe I'm going to put anything in front of a Starsky & Hutch Torino, but this is my personal preference:

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1055/699836759_80b178f540.jpg

Hidden headlights FTW!

[speedpimp]

The week before last it was announced that the old Hummer H2 plant in Mishawaka, IN is going to be producing cars again. Mercedes is contracting with AM General(the owners of the plant) to build the R-class for export to China.

[novicius]

How in THE world is that cheaper than building them in China itself, Southeast Asia or its plants in South Africa?? :twitch:

Great Odin's ravens, Indiana must just be air-dropping dump trucks from low-Earth orbit filled with "incentives" to M-B...

[speedpimp]

Fuck if I know, fuck if I care. Definitely won't be the last thing to be built there. Last I knew they were also building those MV-1 cabs. Don't think those went over too well either.

[speedpimp]

Turns out they were already being built in AL. Moving production up here will free up production space down there. Here (http://www.autonews.com/article/20150127/OEM01/150129822/mercedes-plans-to-move-r-class-production-to-am-general-in-indiana).

[The359]

I'd imagine the Chinese think the American-built ones are of better quality. You know how they love their Buicks.

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNf8V50Ja4

[Yw-slayer]

I'd imagine the Chinese think the American-built ones are of better quality.

And I think they would probably be right. The fit and finish on the Chinese-made A6s I've sat in certainly leaves something to be desired.

[XHawkeye]

Aston DB10 and Jaguar C-X75 Bond filming a chase scene in Rome. (http://blog.axisofoversteer.com/2015/02/aston-db10-and-jaguar-c-x75-bond.html)

[MR2 Fan]

Aston DB10 and Jaguar C-X75 Bond filming a chase scene in Rome. (http://blog.axisofoversteer.com/2015/02/aston-db10-and-jaguar-c-x75-bond.html)

Excuse me, I need to go change my pants now

[George]

Been there, done that.

Love,

Roger Moore

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab5i3fuGMvM

[Godson]

That gives me warm and fuzzy feelings...

[XHawkeye]

http://youtu.be/ckLEf-LhEc8

A Mario Muth interview of Karun Chandhok is one of only two Indians who made it to Formula 1 and currently races in Formula E with Mahindra Racing.

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tITpBM5SBm4

[speedpimp]

Rare '84 Mustang GT Turbo shows up in wrecking yard. (http://autoweek.com/article/junkyard-treasures/rare-footnote-mustang-history-appears-california-wrecking-yard-1984-gt?utm_source=DailyDrive20150302&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=headline-center&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive)

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_HRtlOVIAAs_RD.jpg:large

The first thing I see when I land in Geneva- Ford mocking Ferrari. Never saw that coming �� #thatdudeinblue #geneva

[XHawkeye]

http://youtu.be/Q7ns3XEkpsc

[XHawkeye]

http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2015/03/fourlinks_LSChevette_1000.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/RedRocketChevette

[HT] (http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/03/07/four-links-alaskan-highway-trucks-ls-chevette-amphibious-asteroid-fiberglass-mystery-car/)

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_q4KqdR1HY

The audio gets better after the first minute or so.

[XHawkeye]

http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2015/03/FL15_r0592_01-700x299.jpg

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/03/23/mid-engine-mid-year-corvette-sting-ray-to-cross-the-stage-in-fort-lauderdale/

[thesameguy]

$100k for a 1000hp car isn't such a bad deal, but that thing is hideous. All the traditional design elements that make FR cars look good have been mutilated to fit over MR mechanicals. That thing is half Mach V and half Corvair. If GM had built the Corvette into a mid-engined car back then, it would have looked far more like a CERV (and every other mid-engine car!) than that thing. Ick.

[Godson]

Who would spend 100k on a corvair?

[MR2 Fan]

the front overhang is waaaaay too short to be proportional to the rest of the car...other than that I think it looks ok

[XHawkeye]

http://www.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/MG_GT3-031-800x533.jpg

http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/03/thors-hammer-the-mg-gt3s-accelerated-evolution/

[Random]

Wonder if the guys at Dorkfest would be ok with this showing up? :D

[thesameguy]

I want to DD that.

My head is already spinning with how to translate that into a rat rod for Midnight Mass.

[speedpimp]

You've got plenty of starting points.

[thesameguy]

Unfortunately that I don't - it needs to be 1959 or older. Just not sure what that should be!

[speedpimp]

How about a '55 Packard? (http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4935413984.html)

[XHawkeye]

Photos and videos from another Kar Freitag (http://www.bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php/home/touristenfahrten/695-photos-and-videos-from-another-kar-freitag) at the 'ring

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoBYgzBXD5M

[speedpimp]

Nice pics. I can just imagine the mayhem.

[thesameguy]

How about a '55 Packard? (http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4935413984.html)

Coincidentally, a Clipper is exactly my number one choice of a car to fill that hole if I ever decide to! I just have to commit to offing the Falcon. I am not having a third really old car.

[George]

http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2015/03/FL15_r0592_01-700x299.jpg

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/03/23/mid-engine-mid-year-corvette-sting-ray-to-cross-the-stage-in-fort-lauderdale/

:eek:

I like it!

But, it doesn't say 1960s to me. It looks more like WWII era technology to me, minus the wheels, of course. It looks like some secret German weapon as seen in an Indiana Jones movie. A ME262 fighter, maybe, or a p-38 Lightning, perhaps? Either way, it looks fast and beautiful to my eye.

I would suggest steelies and dog-dish hubcaps, however. And exposed rivets on the fuselage!

[KillerB]

"2016 Packard Clipper"

*sigh* if only...

[MR2 Fan]

At work, new-ish BMW 3 series with hardtop convertible apparently stopped halfway through converting...its parked and they put a tarp over it 2 days ago...yesterday I saw a local BMW dealer's truck out there working on it...apparently still wasn't fixed because the tarp is back on it again the next day, car hasn't moved....sucks for them!

BMW's are nice, but I'm still wondering about electrical issues as they're notorious for.

[Godson]

And Chassis failures...

[XHawkeye]

The Real Deal: Stripped Down At Classic Team Lotus (http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/04/the-real-deal-stripped-down-at-classic-team-lotus)

http://www.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Classic_Team_Lotus-012-800x533.jpg

[TheBenior]

And Chassis failures...

And when it comes to motorcycles, a multi-decade tradition of final drive failures...

[KillerB]

I saw a VW Eos stuck like that once. Probably the least surprising failure ever.

[XHawkeye]

New Focus reveals sample text from (http://newfocusintl.com/exclusive-revealed-the-textbook-of-revolutionary-acts-of-respected-leader-kim-jong-un/) the teacher’s guide to the Textbook of Revolutionary Acts of Respected Leader Kim Jong Un, a handbook for schoolteachers to be used in ideology classes.

His dad shot a round of 38-under-par round but Kim Jong Un is a racer.

An excerpt:


One day, a famous and affluent foreign boat technician from visited our country.

This technician, who was the test driver and engineering expert in his company, was known to be most talented in the field of high-speed water vessels, and even arrived with a boat named “The Mountain”.

When our then-young Respected Leader Kim Jong Un learned of this, he proposed a contest, and boarded a train bound for Wonsan that very night.

Our Respected Leader met him at the wharf, and, after asking only a few questions about the mechanical engineering aspects of the boat, asked him to participate in a race. “After all, you do seem like a skilled technician.”

The technician, surprised, said, “This boat can reach a speed of 200 kilometres per hours. If you are sure that you can manage this, then race we shall, on a straight route.”

(Note for teachers: Ask students to calculate how many metres per second this is. Upon completion, ask them to imagine a high-speed boat travelling at 55.56 metres per second.)

Our Respected Leader said that racing on a straight route may determine the vessel’s performance, but would hardly amount to a real contest, and instead proposed a return trip, and two turning points were determined on the route a fair distance away from the wharf.

As the race began, the foreign boat technician, full of confidence, showed off, and began at an easy pace. However, the technician became alarmed upon viewing our Respected Leader, who travelled at the speed of lightning, and so picked up his speed and tried in vain to follow.

However, it was too late. The technician, who lost the race, exclaimed, “This cannot be!” and proposed a second round.

And so, the second race began. The technician, in an attempt to redeem his failure in the first round, set off from the wharf at the highest speed he could possibly manage. However, his weakness was revealed at the turning point, where he lost control of the speed of the boat and ended up travelling in a very large circle. Our Respected Leader, who had anticipated this, travelled around the turning points at a controlled and steady pace, turned beautifully like a figure skater, and advanced to first place in the race. In the end, the foreign boat technician lost the second round.

After the race, the technician expressed his awe at our Respected Leader’s knowledge of boats and driving technique. He was also shocked that a young child could drive a high-speed boat like “The Mountain”, and lauded him as a king of driving technique. He was also intrigued at his bold spirit, referring to his confident proposal, and commented that our Leader was positively out of the ordinary. He also requested another competition at his company in his hometown, expressing his delight that if that could be possible, the company would earn great fame and an excellent reputation.

[MR2 Fan]

I posted this to 9gag, am I the only one who somehow got a stormtrooper vibe when looking at the new Kia Soul?

http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/ap08Dv8_700b.jpg

[speedpimp]

Pretty much.

[speedpimp]

Studebaker Lark with a Porsche drivetrain. The car was built by Curtiss-Wright.
1191

[thesameguy]

That's neat!

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CD7IjL6UkAAw7uN.jpg:large

Lariat, King Ranch (https://twitter.com/mrlevine/status/594132740787830784) and Platinum models are 60% of 2015 F-150 retail sales cc: @johnkrafcik

=====

@mrlevine any color on why premium trim seems to be so popular?

=====

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CD7LWZfUUAEr-zk.jpg:large

@By_Jason_Cannon Customers love the segment exclusive features (e.g. 360 camera, adaptive cruise) and premium content

=====

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CD7dbv3UIAIvswR.jpg:large

everything you need (https://twitter.com/johndstoll/status/594155670494191616) to know about April auto sales can be summed up in this picture. http://on.wsj.com/1GC2SW1 @WSJ


Ford said the average price paid for F-series pickups in April was a record. The $42,600 average was “an incredible number…up more than $3,200” from a year ago, said Ford’s sales chief Mark LaNeve.


Edmunds.com senior auto analyst Jessica Caldwell said new car loans in April averaged 67.8 months—the longest average in history. In many cases, she said, buyers use the longer terms “to finance vehicles with higher transaction prices than they might otherwise choose.”

[novicius]

Insanity. :smh:

[speedpimp]

And when gas prices jump again like they did a decade ago these trucks and SUVs will be traded off pretty quick.

[tigeraid]

And yet no one seems to be clamoring for smaller trucks. I plan to be in the market for my first "somewhat new-ish-to-me" vehicle next year, and it's frustrating the lack of choice in a decent small truck.

Back in the 90s, every brand had a small truck, and it was pretty competitive. Now it's basically Tacoma or nothing, if I want a 2006+ vehicle. The Ranger is gone (though I may have to buy one just from a value standpoint), the Colorado's engines are suspect (but I may warm to the 4cyl), the Dakota is a joke, and I dunno enough about the Frontier, other than parts being quite difficult to get. And 5-8 year old Tacomas are pricey as fuck, which I'm starting to understand why.

The new Tacoma and Colorado are basically full-size fucking pickups, completely not what I want in a truck.

Why oh why can't I just have a 2010 Chevy S-10? Such a shame.

But I bet they'll be red hot again in about ten years.

[MR2 Fan]

I want this size again

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TkkYKwKRWX8/Uwl_fCU5pyI/AAAAAAAAIXg/Fw8XXgEfPiw/s1600/DSCN4787_zpsda8737b1.jpg

[tigeraid]

Only with an optional extended cab. Gotta have a back seat. It can be a shitty cramped rear seat, but gimme one. Otherwise, yes. :cool:

[Kchrpm]

The argument usually given is the chicken tax. You can't build them cheaply enough in the US, you can't build them outside the US without paying a large tax (25%) on them that eats up all the profit from an inexpensive vehicle.

http://www.wired.com/2014/12/subaru-brat/

[KillerB]

It's not the chicken tax. The Japanese got around this all the way back in the 70s by building the trucks, sans the pickup bed, in Japan. They built the beds in the US, and "assembled" them in the US, thus avoiding the tax.

It boils down to a few things:

- Small trucks don't cost much less than full size trucks. The engineering costs are basically the same, only really the material costs are less. This is even a smaller delta when you consider that, like people in this thread, customers mostly want extended cab or club cab pickups.
- Small trucks don't get much better gas mileage than full size trucks anymore. Compare the fuel numbers between the Colorado and the Silverado. The Colorado can get 27 mpg on the highway with the 2.5L I4. The Silverado can get 23 mpg with the 5.3L V8. This isn't really new - my B2600i struggles to exceed 20 mpg.

Don't get me wrong. I love small trucks. I own one. But when it comes to modern trucks, they just don't make sense. :(

[Godson]

And yet no one seems to be clamoring for smaller trucks. I plan to be in the market for my first "somewhat new-ish-to-me" vehicle next year, and it's frustrating the lack of choice in a decent small truck.

Back in the 90s, every brand had a small truck, and it was pretty competitive. Now it's basically Tacoma or nothing, if I want a 2006+ vehicle. The Ranger is gone (though I may have to buy one just from a value standpoint), the Colorado's engines are suspect (but I may warm to the 4cyl), the Dakota is a joke, and I dunno enough about the Frontier, other than parts being quite difficult to get. And 5-8 year old Tacomas are pricey as fuck, which I'm starting to understand why.

The new Tacoma and Colorado are basically full-size fucking pickups, completely not what I want in a truck.

Why oh why can't I just have a 2010 Chevy S-10? Such a shame.

But I bet they'll be red hot again in about ten years.

I take it you are looking at a 2008 or so model? I'd look for the V8 versions, the factory started doing that in 2009 IIRC.

[TheBenior]

It's not the chicken tax. The Japanese got around this all the way back in the 70s by building the trucks, sans the pickup bed, in Japan. They built the beds in the US, and "assembled" them in the US, thus avoiding the tax.

It boils down to a few things:

- Small trucks don't cost much less than full size trucks. The engineering costs are basically the same, only really the material costs are less. This is even a smaller delta when you consider that, like people in this thread, customers mostly want extended cab or club cab pickups.
- Small trucks don't get much better gas mileage than full size trucks anymore. Compare the fuel numbers between the Colorado and the Silverado. The Colorado can get 27 mpg on the highway with the 2.5L I4. The Silverado can get 23 mpg with the 5.3L V8. This isn't really new - my B2600i struggles to exceed 20 mpg.

Don't get me wrong. I love small trucks. I own one. But when it comes to modern trucks, they just don't make sense. :(

This times a million. The price spread could have been proportionally bigger in the heyday of small trucks, probably because engineering costs were lower, and feature content was lower for small and full-size pickups. With lower development and feature (some safety and emissions, some just what people expect standard these days) costs, the material costs could make up a larger percentage of the purchase price. I can't imagine that a V6 compact pickup costs more than a couple grand less than a V6 full-size pickup with an identical feature set. And for all the people who claim that they want stripped out small pickups, there aren't enough of them out there for automakers to bother with the thin profit margins.

[MR2 Fan]

President Reagan owned a Subaru Brat? :eek:

[JoshInKC]

Well, that's a new one. Went out with the wife after work yesterday to run some errands. On the way home, we're stopped at a light on a busy street and our car (07 vw Rabbit) dies. Literally, just dies. No idiot light/gauge warnings/CEL, nothin. I quickly get it restarted by pulling the key out and putting it back in, and it starts/runs completely normally. I pull off the big street and start to head towards my house (while figuring out a plan) via residential roads. Drive for about 2 minutes and it's running just fine at 30 mph when it dies again. Same thing- no cel, no warnings, nothing. Pull into a church parking lot, check oil, water, battery connections, etc. call roadside assistance and get it towed to the shop.
The complete lack of symptoms makes me assume it's some sort of weird computer/electrical problem, any guesses?

[thesameguy]

I would guess something like a bad battery cable, maybe the ground. But IIRC some similar-generation Audis had similar problems with a failing ignition switch.

[George]

I want this size again

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TkkYKwKRWX8/Uwl_fCU5pyI/AAAAAAAAIXg/Fw8XXgEfPiw/s1600/DSCN4787_zpsda8737b1.jpg

Yes! And even more so...


Only with an optional extended cab. Gotta have a back seat. It can be a shitty cramped rear seat, but gimme one.

Whatever happened to the Mahindra trucks that were supposedly going to be sold here?

[speedpimp]

The leasing company that my employer got its trucks from had a habit of using empty windshield solvent jugs to put fresh coolant and oil in, but they never marked the outside of the jugs as to what they put in them. The coolant is red, as are some brands of windshield solvent. After we left that leasing company all of the jugs were transferred to trucks from another leasing company. One of our other driver's needed to add windshield solvent and grabbed a jug filled with coolant and added it to the windshield solvent reservoir. So whenever you went to clean the windshield coolant came out of the wipers instead.
On top of that drivers have been getting pulled over for whatever reasons and either getting a ticket or a warning. Turns out that after so many tickets, warnings, accidents you get a number of points that puts you over a certain threshold that puts you on the DOTs radar and gives them the right to pull you over and inspect the truck at their leisure. As it turns out whenever we get pulled over we are supposed to notify the company, no matter if a ticket was given or just a warning, but some of the guys weren't doing that. On top of that a driver had an accident today(second this year for the company, first one was hit by a semi that blew a red light in very foggy weather). So even if the accident was the company driver's fault it still goes on the record.
Good thing is only half of trucks as of now have the name of the company on them, so that reduces the amount of potential targets for the DOT.

[thesameguy]

Wow, that's all crazy stuff. Commercial trucks are definitely a serious business!

[speedpimp]

As of right now the company's safety rating is "conditional", which is right in the middle. Satisfactory and unsatisfactory are the other two.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFc5yaNUkAIKHoC.jpg:large

@JeremyClarkson A friend in Dubai took (https://twitter.com/OllieDjMartin/status/601012615570182144) his 911 in for a prang repair, this is what Porsche did... BRILLIANT!

[MR2 Fan]

:lol:

[Freude am Fahren]

First I had to look up prange. Then I finally saw it. (that sounds like a clickbait headline)

[Kchrpm]

I took the same path.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFnu5zpWIAAYViA.png:large

This is awesome!!! If (https://twitter.com/conorjtwomey/status/601854716629385216) you think it's a few GoPros used to film #CarShare, think again! @BBC @peterkay_co_uk @FIAT_UK

[XHawkeye]

http://www.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Japan-Hobby-Show-86-800x533.jpg

Car Modeling On Another Level (http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/05/car-modeling-on-another-level/)

[Yw-slayer]

That R2 done up as a WRC car is incredible.

[speedpimp]

That whole thing is impressive.

[Freude am Fahren]

Those are incredible. 3D printing for modelling could be huge, something I hadn't thought of.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFonEV4W0AADRQf.jpg:large

This is just about (https://twitter.com/rawlimark/status/601836461823000576) the best street art I think I've seen.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CF5475tUgAA3VUU.jpg:large

Stupid people will have (https://twitter.com/A_A_Ron_Rodgers/status/603052374052118529/photo/1) an occasional victory after all. 😂😂😂 #TexasFlood

[Reynard]

Car Modeling On Another Level (http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/05/car-modeling-on-another-level/)

Some pretty cool stuff there for sure, I really like the Stratos diorama. A good friend of mine has a HUGE model collection amongst which is a Fred Suber F312 Ickx Ferrari. If you're not familiar with his work here's a recent Lotus 72 build of his.

http://www.miniwerks.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1786&whichpage=1

[MR2 Fan]

Honda S600 with CBR 1000 engine and nitrous....12,000 RPM redline


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsbfzmPCYX4

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELy8cCLtmUM

[XHawkeye]

Some pretty cool stuff there for sure, I really like the Stratos diorama. A good friend of mine has a HUGE model collection amongst which is a Fred Suber F312 Ickx Ferrari. If you're not familiar with his work here's a recent Lotus 72 build of his.

http://www.miniwerks.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1786&whichpage=1

Very nice, wish I had that level of craftsmanship.

[tigeraid]

So after the (hopeful) move, we're gonna take a year and save up for what will be my first new-ish car. And new-ish for me, that means made in the last 10 years. :rolleyes:


I'm jumping back and forth between small truck and small wagon. If we end up getting another 1/2-ton to use as a shop truck, I'll be leaning more toward small wagon. I've never owned a Subaru before, but a buddy of mine is a mechanic who's VERY into Subarus and knows them inside out. He's trying to prod be toward a Legacy or WRX Wagon, or maybe even and out Outback. Somewhere in the 2005-2009 range, budget is around $5000... Anyone else have some direct experience to lend to this? I know they're pretty mechanically reliable, but I'm looking for more thorough info than that.

[thesameguy]

In my limited experience, what you sign up for with Suburus of that vintage is primarily the failure of things that are not the engine & transmission. I think the headgasket and oil pump related failures had been cured by then, so it's things like AC and sunroofs not working right.

Regardless, I think having a knowledgeable friend who's willing to help out verbally or with tools is enough to sway the balance of any car-buying decision. Someone who can reliably say "Here's the problem, here's the fix" can turn any car into a wonderful ownership experience.

[George]

Somewhere in the 2005-2009 range, budget is around $5000

I have learned recently that the nice reliable $5000 car you are (and I am) looking for costs $7500 to $10,000 these days.

[tigeraid]

:(

Maybe I'll save more.

[JoshInKC]

Well, that's a new one. Went out with the wife after work yesterday to run some errands. On the way home, we're stopped at a light on a busy street and our car (07 vw Rabbit) dies. Literally, just dies. No idiot light/gauge warnings/CEL, nothin. I quickly get it restarted by pulling the key out and putting it back in, and it starts/runs completely normally. I pull off the big street and start to head towards my house (while figuring out a plan) via residential roads. Drive for about 2 minutes and it's running just fine at 30 mph when it dies again. Same thing- no cel, no warnings, nothing. Pull into a church parking lot, check oil, water, battery connections, etc. call roadside assistance and get it towed to the shop.
The complete lack of symptoms makes me assume it's some sort of weird computer/electrical problem, any guesses?
So this has gotten... interesting.
The shop diagnosed it as (exactly as TSG speculated) an ignition switch. They replaced it and everything worked fine. for three days. Then, my wife went out to meet someone for lunch on the Sunday before mem. day and when she tried to come home, it wouldn't start at all. So- towed back to shop. They try and figure it out until that thursday (the 28th), and then tell me "We think it's a communication problem between (some computer module) and (some other computer module), the only way to fix it is to take it to an actual VW dealership and get them to reprogram (one of the modules)." Pleasantly, they didn't charge me a dime for this visit, even though they went in and replaced the ign switch on the assumption it was a bad part.
So I make a service appt at a (reputedly very good) dealership for monday (yesterday) morning. Towed it over (Thank god for farm bureau's liberality with the concept of roadside assistance), I fill them in on the situation, give them the paperwork from my shop and say "Good luck." They call this afternoon and say "My tech has put 2.5 hours into trying to diagnose this thing and we cannot figure it out at all. We've been through every page of the manual, and all the TSBs, etc etc."
So that's where I'm at now. Also, we've decided that after 8 years of completely trouble free driving, it's time to demote the Rabbit to "second car" status and get something new, because I cannot screw around with something like this when I'm doing an 80 mile round trip commute every day.

[speedpimp]

Time for a TDI?

[thesameguy]

That's crazy. I feel like there is a tool you plug into the car and it tells what device sent what signal where, and then you decide where in the chain the signal broke. On VAGs of this generation, I believe the ignition switch is sort of the hub of that activity and signals from the various modules all pass through the key, since it's controlling power and security. It seems like a likely culprit for this failure. But it could be any of a few modules or the actual bus between them. That's way above my pay grade, but since no faults are being set it sure seems like it's a thing that does its job until it decides to not do its job, like a keyswitch or a module, rather than wiring or a connector which sure seems like it would introduce minor communication errors and not total, spontaneous failure.

Any chance it's something like the fuel pump or a fuel pressure sensor? Both of those could be intermittent and lead to a total spontaneous shutdown. PITA to diagnose unless you happen to catch it at a time when it's dead and won't restart.

[JoshInKC]

I guess I failed to mention that it no longer stops when running, that problem is as far as anyone can tell, fixed. Now, it (intermittently) won't start. Sometimes, when you put the key in and turn it, the gauges don't pop up, engine doesn't even try to turn, nothing.
As of this afternoon, the tech is apparently thinking that it's one of the modules, possibly somehow related to transmission, because I guess it thinks it's not in Park maybe?

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGfypZAXEAAPLXN.png:large

There's an #AstonMartin DB10 under there somewhere... #JamesBond #Spectre

[JoshInKC]

Time for a TDI?

Actually, you're both close to and a bit away from the mark. Updates soon.

[JoshInKC]

...And the rabbit is fixed. Apparently.
It ended up taking more 4 hours of pure diagnostics. The tech apparently went through a phone book's worth of flow charts checking electrical components and modules before he finally tracked it down to two $14 relays (Power Supply & Load Reduction) with intermittent faults. He said it was a nightmare. Seems to start up every time now though, and I'm glad to have it back.
Switching out for different loaners or rentals every few days was getting real annoying - The highlight was a MINI Paceman with AWD. Good power and handling, fairly comfortable. The lowpoint was a 2014 Mitsu Lancer which was frankly a worse and cheaper seeming drive than my old 1980 Corolla. No power, rattley, felt like it was made out of tin, and just plain uncomfortable seats and ergos.

[thesameguy]

Good to hear it's back together! Gotta love relay failures - both uncommon and tough to diagnose!

[JoshInKC]

Yeah. They gave me a damn good discount on the diagnostic labor as well. Really, it went about as well as it could have, given how difficult it was to even begin finding the problem.

[speedpimp]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=51&v=hFA9_1dYz9U

[thesameguy]

Now I want a Forward Control with an auger so I can drive around with it pointed directly backwards.

[JoshInKC]

Time for a TDI?


Actually, you're both close to and a bit away from the mark. Updates soon.

Follow-up here (http://gtxforums.net/showthread.php?1242-Josh-s-Coal-Rolling-Cruze).

[Drachen596]

Uh.. just an FYI.. i know where a Jeep Forward Control resides here in Fort Wayne it has a plow mount on the front.been right there since 2011 apparently.. (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.077866,-85.104088,3a,30y,34.81h,80.46t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sTBeXZA8sFVi1UiQoGHXOdg!2e0!6m1 !1e1)

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHOZB25VAAEBIZg.jpg:large

Spotted at #LeMans. Is this not the coolest chair you've ever seen!? #F1

[XHawkeye]

Top Gear returns in all but name (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/top-gear/live-show-returns-in-all-but-name/)


Love fills the air and it’s wedding season, which means opening the closet and pulling on some strides that once looked mint on the dance floor. But that was several years ago. A few Christmas turkeys have expanded your waistline and there’s a moment of truth when your buttocks tell the fabric “ye shall not pass”.

That’s how I felt two weeks ago. After receiving a mysterious phone call from a former Top Gear producer, I drove to Thruxton race circuit where I was invited to step into the familiar white Stig suit that I wore on the show for eight years. My feet went through fine, but then my behind got in the way.

The log-jam didn’t go unnoticed by the 12 or so original Top Gear crew members forming a semi-circle around me. “You’ve shrunk it”, I insisted. “Er, no, we haven’t.” This was the first time I had seen them all at the same time since I left the show in 2010, so I had hoped to make a good impression.

I checked the front zip was fully opened and clamped my buttocks tight enough to produce diamonds from coal, but to no avail. I pictured myself strangling my personal trainer. Then, Eureka: I noticed that some imbecile had tied the waist belt at the back and, once it was unfastened, the suit slipped on like a silk glove.

For legal reasons I should point out I that was not reappearing as The Stig. Well, not exactly. I was, however, making a film to promote the arena show “Clarkson, Hammond and May Live”, which was known as “Top Gear Live” until the boys split with the BBC. Yes, it’s all very confusing.
Clarkson, Hammond and May Live

In the parallel universe created for me by Top Gear’s former production team, I was lucky to have clothes at all. My home for the past four years had been garage 22 at Thruxton, where I’d slept rough with my shopping trolley and a case of special brew.

Clarkson was the first of the trio to arrive at the circuit. I hadn’t seen the big man since he called me something that you can’t print in a family newspaper, so I considered slipping on my gum shield just in case.

His tallness loped across, a little greyer, but essentially the same bloke who used to set fire to everything he touched. And while I don’t want to make too big a deal out of a civil handshake and a “top of the morning to ye” because the gesture had already been made, it felt great to be back, if only briefly. Building bridges is one of the most satisfying aspects of being human.

We were eventually joined by two other unemployed people. To be fair, James May has been making cooking videos for the interweb; let’s pray he finds work soon. Meanwhile, Hammond had clearly spent his spare time cultivating a space-age goatee.

I lay on a cardboard box in the fetal position, nursing a bottle of meths through some fingerless white gloves. Phil Churchward, former Top Gear series director, chortled through various takes of my beleaguered state, finally conceding that “this just looks like how you really live”.

Thankfully, there was more to my day than looking smelly. There was work to be done and cars to be thrashed, but we were all just laughing too hard to get around to it. It felt more like a birthday party. Or was it a Top Gear wake?

Either way, the sell-out audience that attended the live show in Sheffield at the weekend didn’t seem disappointed. And Rowland French, the show’s creative director, reckons it's the best show they've ever produced. There are stunts, supercars and explosions, and that’s just inside the VIP green room.
You might think that a live show would grow stale after a decade on the road, but stunt sequences invariably adapt and get slicker with each performance. The drivers learn the hot spots of every arena: when to look away from the blinding lights, when to push, and the places where concrete barriers jut out from behind the curtains.

This live tour appears to have given the presenters a new lease of life. The recent “fracas”, ironically, might be the best thing that could have happened to them. They seemed lighter than they did when I last saw them, revelling in the fresh air of not knowing what they will be doing with the next six months. I suspect that’s about to change. It looks like garage 22 might remain vacant for a little longer.

[Rikadyn]

https://41.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrgvf2Wpb51r37rcwo1_1280.jpg

Saw this, needed to be posted here someplace, so here it is

[Freude am Fahren]

It's like they're made for two different species.

[Random]

tsg has a picture somewhere of my Miata and the F eetwoo . It's hilarious. :D

[thesameguy]

... and sadly I apparently have no idea where it is. :(

[MR2 Fan]

http://www.classicink.biz/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Picture-40.png

[Random]

... and sadly I apparently have no idea where it is. :(

I thought you had it hosted on your Saab site?

[thesameguy]

I'm sure I do, but I have no idea what the file name is.

[Random]

Sort by date, pre-2011, post-purchase? I'm saying pre-2011 because I didn't find it in a scan of the early stages of your UFT at the Refuge, and I'm pretty sure we took it right after you got back? Not after the roof and paint were fixed?

[George]

I remember that picture, and I too think it was posted soon after TSG's return home from Coolerado. Was that really 2011? Wow. Time flies by.

[MR2 Fan]

Saw a JDM Honda Integra (90's era) yesterday...probably Type-R

It was black, had no markings, besides the Honda badge, the JDM headlights, oh, and RHD.

I'm not really sure why someone would go through the trouble since the ITR we had here was nearly the same one, unless he maybe lived overseas and brought it with him? It definitely wasn't stock, but cool that it was ACTUAL JDM and yet had no stickers on it :p

[Freude am Fahren]

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--u6SEkhME--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/1314263442936578479.png

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--e1OHT4wj--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/1314244755724560270.jpg

It is a bit hard to tell, but that is a 767, not a 787. Still a tragedy though.

[speedpimp]

No it's only a tragedy if the driver was killed/seriously injured.

[Alan P]

No it's only a tragedy if the driver was killed/seriously injured.

True. 'Things' can be repaired. People can too to an extent but better something inanimate is damaged.

[Freude am Fahren]

I didn't realize hyperbole was so frowned upon here.

[speedpimp]

Relax FaF. What's all the talk about hyper boils? Sounds like a real mess if it pops.:D

[XHawkeye]

I started remembering covers from 1978 on.

Car and Driver covers from the 70s (http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/the-us-decade-the-car-and-driver-covers-of-the-1970s)

Car and Driver covers from the 80s (http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/like-totally-rad-the-car-and-driver-covers-of-the-1980s)

Car and Driver covers from the 90s (http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/formula-cd-the-car-and-driver-covers-of-the-1990s)

Car and Driver covers from 2000+ (http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/going-millennial-the-car-and-driver-covers-of-the-2000s-and-2010s)

[speedpimp]

I've read C&D since 1983 and I love(d) it. Over the past few years the design has become really cluttered and clumsy.

[Godson]

After looking at a few of those, can say I am happy several concepts never made it into production....

[Freude am Fahren]

http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/this-65-million-supercar-collection-is-the-craziest-we-1716812845

Good God. Look at this collection. I want all of them.

[speedpimp]

A bunch of coupes from Americans car companies that we never got in the US. (http://autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/9-american-branded-coupes-america-never-got?utm_source=DailyDrive20150708&utm_medium=enewsletter&utm_term=headline-top&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive) My favorite is the Mexican market Chevy Century wearing Pontiac rims.

[XHawkeye]

Driving down 7th Ave and Broadway through Times Square / New York City

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/driving-down-7th-ave-and-broadway-through-times-stock-video-footage/98886322

[speedpimp]

:up::up:

[thesameguy]

Man, traffic was a lot more fluid then.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJ5XjjbUEAAiOQX.jpg:large

Kenneth Jensen traveled the globe in a Datsun 280ZX ("I had to fly the car to Colombia") http://on.wsj.com/1O3Qyms @WSJ

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozZ_UfSRYS4

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXHn8mYBV3I

[KillerB]

Nice!

I was looking at a Face Vega HK500 on BaT, and was thinking that if someone wanted to make a really unique car for the über-rich, they ought to revive the Facel marque, and build a modern Vega hardtop coupe with the drivetrain from the Hellcat. :D

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLovrD9WsAASMRf.jpg:large

JPS Aventador. Understeer never looked better! (https://twitter.com/harrismonkey/status/628867521572171776)!

[George]

Found elsewhere on the web. Pretty neat, methinks.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FbW_kVYcl0

[thesameguy]

Fun + dangerous. Looks like it'd complement a rocket bicycle perfectly.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKHz7wOjb9w

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfY_X0A3JlE

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMdLhTSUEAA_O_x.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMdLhTSVAAE5Hl1.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMdLhTqUcAAegZZ.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMdLhTvUcAEaGyy.jpg:large

@harrym_evo (https://twitter.com/harrym_evo) For example, here's how not to paint your Pagani Huayra..

[MR2 Fan]

This may be a worse vehicle than the Aztek


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr4Y838Lg1w

[Kchrpm]

Which is funny, because they have basically the exact opposite origin story.

The Aztek was the result of focus grouping to death. They asked tons of people what they would want in a vehicle, from functionality to styling elements, and sloppily combined all those things.

The CrossCabriolet was made, as the tale goes, because one executive's wife thought it was a good idea.

[thesameguy]

I think the Aztek's downfall wasn't the vehicle but the styling. Most of the criticism came because it was fugly. Tom "C7" Peters admitted the intent was to style in it a very polarizing way, "aggressive for the sake of aggressive" to break from years of ultra-conservative GM styling. Sort of GM's answer to Bangle, just executed even worse. I'd bet if it had looked like the Rendezvous, it would have sold well in spite of or because of its committee-sourced features.

The Cross Cab was just a weird idea, like Audi's diesel cabriolets. The thought process was clear and the approach obvious, but both were cars built for a single-digit demographic. :)

[Godson]

Re: single digit demographic.


Come to kcmo and try going a day without seeing them.

[Kchrpm]

Ah I thought the Aztek had a bunch of styling elements that people said they like all slapped together on the same vehicle, didn't know it was intentionally ridiculous just for the sake of it.

[MR2 Fan]

Re: single digit demographic.


Come to kcmo and try going a day without seeing them.

that's the saddest thing I've read all day

[Yw-slayer]

I actually think the Murano CC would be hilarious. Not to buy, own, or use on a daily basis, mind you.

As for the Audi diesel cabrios, I think they sell shitloads of them in Europe.

[JoshInKC]

Re: single digit demographic.


Come to kcmo and try going a day without seeing them.

Qft. They are all over the place, especially in some of the higher-end neighborhoods.

[Godson]

Qft. They are all over the place, especially in some of the higher-end neighborhoods.

Which is fucking annoying.

There are MUCH cooler vehicles on the road, and they drive that shit.

[Freude am Fahren]

I never understood why this was released (besides at all) as a Nissan instead of an Infiniti.

[XHawkeye]

Driver hired £210,000 Ferrari to go to a wedding but instead crashed it into a house and a taxi (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3201995/He-ll-struggle-deposit-Driver-hired-200-000-Ferrari-wedding-instead-crashed-house-taxi.html)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/08/18/11/2B75161300000578-3201995-image-a-12_1439892264245.jpg

[JoshInKC]

Popular Mechanics' list of the unofficial cars for every state in the US. (http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a16950/the-unofficial-state-cars-of-america/)
Kansas being the S6 is a bit surprising, though I do seem to see them down in Leawood semi regularly. The note about the 918 is also interesting, I'm sure I know where one of them lives (in a central KS warehouse along with a pile of other supercars), but really couldn't guess where the other(s) might be.

[Godson]

Come to midtown where all the posh dudes work. Fuckers are everywhere.


The caravan is a sad truth for MO

[JoshInKC]

Saw this wreck (http://imgur.com/a/zIdqn) yesterday afternoon and thought, "Damn, wish I could get a photo of that for the Open Road."
Fortunately, Reddit came through for me.

[Godson]

5$ says that was a cell phone incident

[JoshInKC]

Very possible, though I wouldn't discount the fact that it was the day before classes start at KU (the wreck was in Lawrence). Very possible that someone was getting some drinking in beforehand.

[Random]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNsjQCBPUe0

Sweet RX-3 on Leno's Garage.

*brapbrapbrapbrap*

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNVMXYWWcAA3BFZ.jpg:large

Oshkosh wins $6.75B army deal to replace Humvee. http://news.yahoo.com/oshkosh-build-humvee-replacement-u-military-sources-211430670--finance.html

[XHawkeye]

Advertising the 1950s (http://blog.caranddriver.com/advertising-the-1950s-these-60-year-old-car-ads-are-undeniably-cool/)



http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/195509-001-626x834.jpg

[KillerB]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNsjQCBPUe0

Sweet RX-3 on Leno's Garage.

*brapbrapbrapbrap*

*fapfapfap* :D

[MR2 Fan]

This may be a worse vehicle than the Aztek


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr4Y838Lg1w

Quoting myself because me and a certain Dicknose came across one of these last night, only the third one I've actually seen around here...he has a better opinion of it than I do

[21Kid]

I just saw one last week too. My kids asked me what it was, and when I tried to explain it to them they said "why?" :erm: ... I did not have an answer to that question.

[thesameguy]

I actually saw my first this morning. A black one driven by an Avon rep. I mean, I don't know she was an Avon rep, but she was. :lol:

[Godson]

Seriously? These things are like mosquitos here in the Midwest

[21Kid]

Opposed to my Midwest? :erm:
Maybe Ross sees them more in his neck of the woods. Closer to the city there are more Prii and Fits due to difficulty in finding parking spaces.

[Freude am Fahren]

I saw them quite a bit down here when they were new, not so much any more. They were probably all leases, then the newest Lexus came out and they got shipped off to a farm in the midwest.

[Godson]

Opposed to my Midwest? :erm:
Maybe Ross sees them more in his neck of the woods. Closer to the city there are more Prii and Fits due to difficulty in finding parking spaces.


You are in the north central... ;)

[speedpimp]

Oshkosh wins $6.75B army deal to replace Humvee. http://news.yahoo.com/oshkosh-build-humvee-replacement-u-military-sources-211430670--finance.html

One of the other finalists was AM General, the maker of the Humvee for those unaware. This leaves a plant with a workforce looking for something to build. Granted a lot of the 25-30+ year employees will probably choose to retire and ride off into the sunset with a decent pension. The MB R-Class is being built at an adjacent plant(originally the home of the H2, then the MV2 handicapped accessible cab(which seems to have vanished) and if demand was large enough production could probably be moved into the Humvee plant.

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JjLm-dUna4

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR2ndjTXS1Q

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CO2iTSuWIAEA_Pb.jpg:large

Is the Megane surprisingly big, or the 512 surprisingly small? (https://twitter.com/harrismonkey/status/643348813630054400)

[Yw-slayer]

I was in our S-Max the other day. I saw a Range Rover Mk 1 (round headlights and all) on the road, and it looked tiny.

[Godson]

Cars today are huge.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CO7We3JWUAAEkch.jpg:large

AVALANCHE!

[MR2 Fan]

:erm:

[speedpimp]

Range Rover turned into a Subaru Baja?

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLCEd8xk1BE

[thesameguy]

Honda must have the best catalog of ads amongst any automaker.

Man, if only their cars were as good as their ads.

[XHawkeye]

http://www.speedhunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/OC-Cars-Coffee-7-copy-800x533.jpg

http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/09/straight-outta-89-rx-7-meets-pickup/

[KillerB]

I wonder if Racing Beat still owns that truck or if someone bought it over the years. I would love to have it myself, but I'd be a dick, ruin the historicity of it, and swap in a manual transmission.

They failed to notice the RX-7 instrument cluster swapped in as well; probably because it matches perfectly.

Most annoying part to make work in something like that isn't the drivetrain, but the five-lug swap, from what I hear.

PS - very exciting to see Cars & Coffee return to Orange County - and just a few blocks from where I live!

[XHawkeye]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/198109-001-626x834.jpg

44 of the Most Bodacious Car Ads of the ’80s (http://blog.caranddriver.com/44-of-the-most-bodacious-car-ads-of-the-1980s/)

[MR2 Fan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC2D2hUuZ1U

[21Kid]

:eek:

GM tells owners not to use SUV wipers due to fire riskHow fast are those wipers going?!?

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6SsB3JYqQg

3D video so spin yourself around

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVFAfaXUEAAYS7G.jpg:large

Outback of Outback (https://twitter.com/PoguePhilosophy/status/671388728473100288) an Outback tows an Outback.

[speedpimp]

Insert Xzibit meme here.

[thesameguy]

Unbeatable.

[Freude am Fahren]

http://koenigsegg.com/blog/

Koenigsegg is doing a step by step journal on their blog of an Agera RS, and specifically the first one to go to the US. Just an intro and the first station, chassis construction up so far. First station blog was very detailed with lots of pics :up:

[XHawkeye]

Couple of old Bring-A-Trailer listings

http://vpstestbringatrailercom.c.presscdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/9127-620x414.jpg

The First V8 Conversion: Rod Simpson Raced 1966 Porsche 912 (http://bringatrailer.com/2015/12/10/the-first-v8-911-rod-simpson-raced-1966-porsche-912/)

http://vpstestbringatrailercom.c.presscdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Suzuki-GSXR600-Swapped-1974-Zagato-Zele-Elcar-for-sale-Three-Quarter.jpg

Suzuki GSX-R600 Swapped 1974 Zagato Zele (http://bringatrailer.com/2015/12/11/bad-idea-suzuki-gsx-r600-swapped-1974-zagato-zele/)

[Phil_SS]

Hopefully whoever bought that Porsche has a costume like this.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ueY45R2m--/19493zgp4lel2jpg.jpg

Nobody can touch us now J.J. .... No one!

[speedpimp]

The teenage boy in me loves that Porka to death.

[Godson]

Porsche sold for 42,600 USD.

[novicius]

The red Porchev above, right? Not your Porsche?

[MR2 Fan]

So I was talking to a good friend of mine who owns a 2013 V6 Camaro. He isn't a car expert and is more of a musician, but he asked me what kind of exhaust he can get that doesn't sound ricey.

I was about to explain that most larger engines won't sound ricey anyway, and then I had an epiphany (maybe), that a car engine is basically like a wind instrument. The larger the size, in general, the deeper it sounds.

Car engines are basically like trumpets or tubas in their most basic sense...air coming in and getting pushed out, and different cylinders in the middle.

Am I a sudden genius for thinking of this, or am I way too proud of myself?

[Godson]

Way too proud.


One of the first things they teach you in shop class when talking about engines, is the engine is just a giant air pump. ;)

[Godson]

The red Porchev above, right? Not your Porsche?

Yeah, the red PorChev

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CW2tYyZWEAAdIvE.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CW2tZlHWcAAdWLv.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CW2tadhWwAI05FF.jpg:large

A 27-litre Napier Deltic 2-stroke Diesel engine, two of which were in each Deltic locomotive #NapierAsInRailton (https://twitter.com/Stuart_Dent/status/679389790379331584)

[XHawkeye]

Early Dodge Tomahawk prototype

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CYS8TYQWMAI2jfA.jpg:large

Came across this epic photo today of this (https://twitter.com/megadeluxe/status/685880084448841733) unknown beast of a machine. Via stiffspeed. #holyshit #speed #motorcycle …

[speedpimp]

At least you'd be guaranteed to go out with a smile on your race.

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmLQRTvq2gg

Flat-out in a Lamborghini Aventador SV | evo DIARIES

[Phil_SS]

All it needs is the Cannonball Run theme.

[George]

Or some banjo-pickin' getaway music!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC6lY-5Hi9g

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTyDKl-IYVg

[XHawkeye]

Death Trap: Corvair Swapped 1957 BMW Isetta (http://bringatrailer.com/2016/01/18/death-trap-corvair-swapped-1957-bmw-isetta/)

http://13252-presscdn-0-94.pagely.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/s-l720-206-620x460.jpg

[Phil_SS]

That's probably the first time anything has said Corvair swapped......

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG7hnpAeja0

[MR2 Fan]

Badass


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-mfmWkoGk

[thesameguy]

Agreed - that thing is super! It's crazy how small small trucks used to be! Watching those guys peer into the engine bay it looks like a toy!

[MR2 Fan]

I've been watching the Barret-Jackson and Mecum collector car auctions on TV. Starting to see more Japanese cars hit the block now, which is cool. There was a '67 2000GT that was up to $750,000 but didn't sell (reserve not met, I've heard they're going for over $1 million), a Honda S600 that went for $30,000+, a '94 Supra Turbo that went for $30,000+ and a '78 Landcruiser that also went for $30,000+

I think this is good that they're getting respect and positive outlook from the collectors.

[Freude am Fahren]

Was the Supra Stock? Those can get big money. Stock Japanese imports are rare. Part of the reason I was hesitant to do anything to my BRZ, in case they decided to stop making them after a year or two, in 20 years a stock one would be pretty rare.

[MR2 Fan]

yep, it was stock, not sure how many miles were on it.

[novicius]

That would indicate either a drop in market value or more likely they're auctioning to the wrong crowd.

[Freude am Fahren]

Hey, YW! http://www.topgear.com/car-news/heres-proof-two-lambo-veneno-roadsters-are-better-one#3

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ4JV3_WQAAhLHG.jpg:large

And here it is at 09.22 on 29th January, the last of the current Defenders comes off the production line @ Solihull

------

STOP PRESS: Last Defender delayed leaving production line. Transfer 'box knackered and immobiliser 'has shat itself'. @harrismonkey (https://twitter.com/harrismonkey/status/693009149102313472)

[MR2 Fan]

:lol:

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Caf082-UsAAW9WV.jpg:large

What a beast! The Diavel based Ducati DraXter. Now I just want to see it in action... http://www.returnofthecaferacers.com/2016/01/ducatis-diavel-draxter.html …

[speedpimp]

Nice.

[Phil_SS]

That looks like something my 12 year old self would draw. I love it. :up:

[novicius]

Surprised Ducati is using a trellis-frame for such a powerful bike. Must not be as flexible in a straight line as in the twisties.

[Godson]

The trellis design is actually quite stiff. 848/1098/1198 are proof. The reason Ducati switched away from it is the packaging constraints.

[TheBenior]

A trellis frame (larger than what Ducati's using these days) doesn't seem to keep KTM from having the ur-naked 1290 Super Duke.

[Freude am Fahren]

Apparently the US spec M2 is only about 25lb lighter than an M4 :|

http://jalopnik.com/the-bmw-m2-is-only-25-pounds-lighter-than-the-bmw-m4-1759763699

As a commentor pointed out, the M4 uses more bespoke and uses more lightweight materials that cost money, but still...

However, performance figures stack up well. Same 0-60, 1ft better in 60-0, .01g better on skidpad, identical figure 8 to a manual M4, from MotorTrend testing. It falls behind on top end, losing .3 seconds in the quarter mile.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/2016-bmw-m2-first-test-review/

I think given $70k, I'd get an M2 and spend the rest on Carbon Fiber and engine tuning.

[TheBenior]

Eh, they're derived from the same platform, and most of the functional bits are the same apart from having a single turbo instead of twin turbos. A 4" shorter body structure can't really save all that much weight, especially if the bigger, more expensive platform has fancier lightweight materials.

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, pretty much. The 2 series is already a 'dense' car, even for BMW's. Still I really want one.

[Godson]

I've sworn off BMW.

[Freude am Fahren]

I know what you mean. They still make great engines, but the bodies and weight are just so disappointing. Especially late EXX series, but the F10 5 series isn't bad, and despite it's size, I like the current 3/4 series. The 2 series needs a diet obviously. It's like the engineering dept is still there, but the philosophy has lost its way to the all might Euro. That could be said about all of zee Germans though.

Disclaimer: The most recent BMW I've driven is an E46 330ix.

Also reminds me, I saw an E60 M5 the other day with some exhaust modifications (and maybe others). Holy crap was that an amazing sound.

[TheBenior]

Modern automotive design necessities and costs make a separate, lighter, 2-series platform highly unlikely. BMW simply doesn't sell enough 1/2 series to do so, even with luxury margins. If anything, conceding to enthusiasts and making it RWD probably makes it heavier by causing it to share a platform with the bigger 3/4 series for this generation.

Even with that in mind, the 2-Series really isn't all that heavy compared to other modern cars. A base 228i is 3295 lbs, which isn't much more than the FWD Focus ST at 3223 lbs. 70 lbs for RWD and the extra noise reduction that people expect out of a luxury car doesn't seem that unreasonable to me. Heck, my 2008 Mazdaspeed3 Grand Touring came in at something like 3183 lbs. The 228i isn't exactly a slouch either; 240 hp is probably a conservative power rating given the 5.0 second 0-60 and high 13 second quarter mile runs they pull off.

Everybody seems to think that the next-gen 1/2 series will be based on the UKL2 platform which is shared with Mini. There's talk that it can be adapted for FWD, AWD and RWD, but we'll see.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbcUOqqXIAAZC7d.jpg:large

Crikey, a rare spot in #Birmingham earlier today, a very brown @citroenuk CX TGD Safari Turbo, rather liked it. (https://twitter.com/Popbangcolour/status/700050515552555008)

[21Kid]

Why do we still base automotive engine output on the power of an animal? Horses don't put out the same power. 10 horsepower could vary by 40% or more depending on the age of the horse, the breed, size, etc...

We're updating lighting terminology from Watts to Lumens, as that is what really matters. Why not update automotive power ratings? Especially with the advent of electrical motors.

Yes, I know that HP has been standardized to equal a specific output. Which makes it even more ironic to call it horsepower. [/end rant]

[Kchrpm]

We could switch to kW and Nm, which is what Australia uses. It's really just convenience and marketing at this point. The switch would cause power numbers to all go down, and torque ratings to all go up.

But since all you're really trying to do is convey to potential customers performance relative to what they're used to, changing to a number that they have no understanding of will be tough. And why would we be doing it? Just so we're not talking about an old measurement anymore? Does it provide any benefit to the consumer other than that?

[21Kid]

That's what I was thinking... KW & NM

Who really understands what number a horsepower is? Besides some arbitrary guess based on how fast we assume cars go. Why does it have to benefit anyone if it's wrong? :p

We use to base engine power to the equivalent work of a horse, because that was what was used at the time. It would be like saying "eaglepower" for airplanes... except they base power on horses too, for some reason. :? How many horses does it take to make an airplane fly? :lol:
It just sounds weird is all. Especially when comparing the power output of a 2017 electric car to the work output of a horse.

Don't mind me, I was just thinking out loud... I didn't think anyone would respond, honestly. :lol:
Huh, interesting...

Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power (the rate at which work is done). There are many different standards and types of horsepower. The term was adopted in the late 18th century by Scottish engineer James Watt to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses. It was later expanded to include the output power of other types of piston engines, as well as turbines, electric motors and other machinery. The definition of the unit varied between geographical regions. Most countries now use the SI unit watt for measurement of power. With the implementation of the EU Directive 80/181/EEC on January 1, 2010, the use of horsepower in the EU is permitted only as a supplementary unit.

[Kchrpm]

Don't mind me, I was just thinking out loud... I didn't think anyone would respond, honestly. :lol:

My bad. Carry on :D

I will say, though, one benefit of HP and lbs*ft is that, for most engines, the values are pretty similar. You can get a good idea of the balance of a car's engine, whether it works best at high or low revs, by which value is higher and how big of a gap they have. The same isn't true of kW and N*m.

[thesameguy]

Yeah - the change from watts to lumens is all marketing - because telling someone output from an 8w LED is the same as a 60w incandescent is just too difficult. Better to provide an entire new unit of measurement so nobody walks away thinking the 60w bulb is better.

(FWIW, lumen is also an ineffective way of describing light bulbs, *especially* LEDs, since it does not take into account dispersion. Since LEDs are highly directional, using lumens creates an easy environment to sell misleading products... high lumen LEDs that do a crap job of illuminating a space. In order to properly label and purchase LED lights, you need a lot more information.)

[XHawkeye]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLNX_Q4NR84

RUF at Geneva 2016 | evo MOTOR SHOWS

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ccj8hbLWoAA-_l2.jpg:large

Had a bit of an accident while filming today. (https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson/status/705091025933627393)

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcszIqjWIAABtoD.jpg:large

Genius or insane? French guy builds a Maserati V8 engines bike! (https://twitter.com/CKRacingUK/status/705713991700619264)

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CcxuGo5WAAAF5uq.jpg:large

80 yrs today to Spitfires first flight Thank you Spits,and all that flew them!

[XHawkeye]

Really Long Haulin’: What It’s Like to Drive 200,000 Miles Per Year (http://blog.caranddriver.com/really-long-haulin-what-its-like-to-drive-200000-miles-per-year/)


As for maintenance, Mike lists the following as the annual toll:

• 6000 gallons of gasoline
• 26 oil changes and tire rotations
• 2 sets of tires
• 1 set of struts and shocks
• Timing belt and water pump (really every 9 months, Mike got the job down to four hours)

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cc1AHQdUkAANbO8.jpg:large

I love you, Los Angeles. Never change. (https://twitter.com/amellywood/status/706291221946216448/photo/1)

[21Kid]

Talk about durability...

An alleged drunken driver in Illinois crashed into a 15-foot-tall tree (http://abcnews.go.com/US/alleged-drunken-driver-hits-tree-takes/story?id=37487998), lifted it out of the ground and then continued driving around town with the trunk wedged into the grille of her Lincoln sedan, according to the Roselle Police Department.

[XHawkeye]

:eek: :lol: :eek:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdX_ozzW0AAZdg6.jpg:large

@rmsothebys Sold! Proving great things come in small packages, 1974 Peel P50 brings incredible $176k to wrap our #RMAmelia sale!

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdqNfpZXEAAesF8.jpg:large

1956 - #Ford sales executives get an outdoor lesson on the 'Three Graces' - the new MkII Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdqUSaQXIAAAINl.jpg:large

Celebrating 1500 Honda-powered Ariel's, we're honoured to renew our exclusive engine supply deal with @ArielMotorCo

[XHawkeye]

The weather might not have been optimal, but that didn’t stop hundreds of true-believers hitting the Nurburgring Nordschleife for the first day of public driving in 2016.

And (for those who don’t read BTG) they were in for a big surprise too, with a whole new one-way system in the car park, and some big changes to the Nordschleife’s layout.

Here are the changes in full, along with a (hopefully) a useful video to share with your friends.

http://www.bridgetogantry.com/2016-the-3-things-i-learnt-on-the-first-tf-day-of-the-year/

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeK0mgfW0AEMR0l.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeK0miwWoAA3_VH.jpg:large

@CarWaffle: (https://twitter.com/CarWaffle/status/712330266828742657) 887hp #Porsche 918 Spyder obliterated after just 92 miles goes to auction, current bid $114k (http://www.copart.com/us/Lot/16361536) http://bit.ly/1Rxz4Fn

[thesameguy]

Jeebus. Obliterated is right!

[pl8ster]

I bet Richard Rawlings is bidding on that sad thing.

[Kchrpm]

So he can immediately sell it to his rich guy friend that fronted the money in the first place.