I got my old RX-7 back!!!

[Marcus Telcontar]

After 10 years, the Series II RX-7 I used to race and rally is back in my garage! Okay, that aint big news to others, but it's got me excited. Sitting int he old beast was liek being in a time machine, from days of serious speeding and midnight runs at so far past 200kph, the speedo broke. Listenign to the rev buzzer scream in fifth gear. Airborne for 50 meters at 140kph. It dont look quite as godo as as when i had it.. but.... wow. It's back.

For the car nuts, it s a Series II with Black Flash competition pads and hardened rotors (four wheel disc), a 4.4 competition diff, stainless steel exhaust with 60 cm primary extractors, mild port with a soon to be fuel injection (runs a modded Nikki carby ATM, with a Carter Hi-flo pump), 30% upped springs, Nolatane bushes, 2 cm lowered, Koni adustible rear skock absorbers, Bilstein front inserts, Castor / Camer kit to give -2 deg camber and +4 castor, with Group C Class 1 front air dam and rear spoiler. It will get a 4.9 Racing Beat rear diff plus a different motor. Tossing up on the practical (200 hp 12A mild turbo), the ridiculous (320 hp peripheral port 13B) or the utterly stupid (400hp 13B turbo).

In a car that weighs 1000kg, that much hp would be a true yeehah. If it gets traction. Or the gearbox doesnt implode.

Oh well, there's still the mommy mobile that beats up such slow cars as an M3 or WRX'es or Moraro's... or exocet missiles.....

[Khendon Sevon]

Mazda speed :) Zoom Zoom.

[Morgan Evanar]

I love Sevens. What's wrong with it right now?

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by Morgan Evanar
I love Sevens. What's wrong with it right now?

Right now, just a bitch to start in the morning and it's rough looks wise. We want to put a new motor in it not because the one in it right now is dying - far from it - or that it's got no power - we scored 4th outright with this motor in a rally - it is a case of.... why not?

(Actually, we're thinking of getting this thing into the drifting scene. We'lll need some big hp for that)

[March Kalas]

I like the RX-7's alot better than the RX-8's.

Oh and by the way, you should check out Toyota Supras. Some have 1200 horsepower. Crazy right? Well get this, most can still handle crazy unlike most thousand horsepower American Muscle cars (I don't like American cars except Corvettes period, even though I'm an American. The Trans-Am has 350 horsepower and a WRX Sti can still leave it in its dust trail with 300 hp).

Also, if you want a crazy handling car, check out the Honda S2000. It doesn't have the 350Z 0-60 time, but it easily beats its lap time.

The reason you can beat WRX's is probably because the WRX your racing is probably stock.

Oh, an incredibly fast car (tuned up of course) is a 1994 Honda Civic DX (that's basically the base model civic that doesn't even have power steering). Your probably laughing right now, but just listen. Replace the original engine with a B18 or an H22 with a good racing transmission. Don't forget the wheels and tires, or else the old ones might fall off. No I'm serious. Just doing this will give you a fast car (mainly because these things are so darn light. My brother has a stock DX and it can probably already beat a normal FORD Mustang just because it is a stick shift (this does make cars faster because it transfers power better) and is probably lighter than your RX-7. I'm serious. Then tweak the exhaust system and put turbo on and you have a mean car. I've even heard of a Civic fixed up this way that with NOS can reach 800 hp. Your probably still laughing but it's true.

[Morgan Evanar]

What do Supras with 600, 700 and 800 HP have in common?

They all run 11s.



Oh, an incredibly fast car (tuned up of course) is a 1994 Honda Civic DX (that's basically the base model civic that doesn't even have power steering). Your probably laughing right now, but just listen. Replace the original engine with a B18 or an H22 with a good racing transmission. Don't forget the wheels and tires, or else the old ones might fall off. No I'm serious. Just doing this will give you a fast car (mainly because these things are so darn light. My brother has a stock DX and it can probably already beat a normal FORD Mustang just because it is a stick shift (this does make cars faster because it transfers power better) and is probably lighter than your RX-7. I'm serious. Then tweak the exhaust system and put turbo on and you have a mean car. I've even heard of a Civic fixed up this way that with NOS can reach 800 hp. Your probably still laughing but it's tru Yeah, and no one cares, because at the end of the day, its still a Civic with Wrong Wheel Drive.

"Normal" Ford Mustangs are slow, but people like them because the engine has tremendous potential. Further, a stock Civic DX isn't a match for a stock 90s V8 Mustang in anything but autocross. In a line, the DX is staring at tail lights the entire time.



Also, if you want a crazy handling car, check out the Honda S2000. It doesn't have the 350Z 0-60 time, but it easily beats its lap time.

The reason you can beat WRX's is probably because the WRX your racing is probably stock. Thanks, we didn't know anything about these cars.

[Sejah Haversh]

Heh, March, pallie, you know jack about Marcus's "Mommy-Mobile."

That thing is nothing to lagh at, and looking at the specs, I'm hard pressed to find many cars it can't beat.

Aaaand for my next trick, I'm going to go and dissassemble my Falcon's distributor cap and rebuild it.

And, a '94 Civic probably does not weigh less than an RX-7, and your claims at a Civic on NOS reaching 800 HP are nothing amazing. I've seen Civic s, Skylines and Supras with upwards of 1,400 HP. And you know what, you can't handle the thing on a regular street, so they are 100% worthless unless you are racing them, in which case the extra 300 pounds of rice on them is a total waste.

[Marcus Telcontar]

The reason you can beat WRX's is probably because the WRX your racing is probably stock.

QUICK! Name me another wagon that beats a WRX with a driver with a clue.

I add, well driven, because a AWD turbo is NOT, despite legend, easy things to get off the line. Nor are they particularly easy to steer. Which is why so many young people get into them, think they are heros and prompty kill themselves in huge accidents.


Your probably laughing right now

Yes, your right. I am. The only Civic I've seen worth a damn came out of MRT, their Sanyo sponsored Group A V-TEC rally machine. They spent 100 G's turning what in all truth is a heap of crap apart from a fairly golden motor to a true weapon. It's about the only one. I wouldnt waste my time, not when RX-7's can blow the living hell out of any Civic for quarter of the money.

Wrong wheel drive.... !!!! :lol :lol :lol

[March Kalas]

I didn't say your car was not fast, and I do like RX-7's. I wanted to say something other than "hey awsome car" like everyone else.

About the Civic: my main point was that you could get it that fast while barely spending more than a 94 300ZX would cost. I basically like just about all Japanese cars (except for Mitsibishi) and I think just about all American cars are worthless when you can get a Japanese car. The older muscle cars are Ok (yeah you can make them crazy fast), but I just don't like American cars.

I don't know what it is with me and Hondas, but I just love Hondas. Honda easily makes the most efficient engines around.

[Morgan Evanar]

I basically like just about all Japanese cars (except for Mitsibishi) and I think just about all American cars are worthless when you can get a Japanese car. Do the letters D, S and M mean anything to you? How about, ah, LS1? LT1?


Honda easily makes the most efficient engines around.
http://sw-fans.net/photopost/data/504/1156rollbarf.gif

GO TORQUELESS WONDERS, GO!

[March Kalas]

I don't just mean normal street cars. They make the best Indy Car engines too. They're V8 engines are just as fast and better than all the other V12 engines. Actually, it's mainly how good the technicians are but my point is that Honda V8s are just as fast and good as everyone else's V12s.

Also the S2000 has the most power per liter of any Normally aspirated stock car. They're also the most reliable sports cars in the market (similar to all Honda cars).

About Honda having no torque. If you've driven a Honda you notice that it has great top-end speed, but it's not that great off the line. This may not be the greatest attribute for quarter-mile races, but REAL racing is where the Honda's top (I actually mean circuit racing and yes there is circuit racing you can participate in without having a racecar).

Also the reason Supras get 11's is because they're slow off the line. Yeah, maybe they're not the greatest for quarter miles, but there are other more practical uses of speed, and the Supra wins here.

I guess everything revolves around quarter miles these days though, because quarter mile speed is the most practical speed in dangerous situations (as in wrecks ussually when your already going highway speed), if your a really bad person, when you need to out run the cops (even though your already moving, so off the line accelerating doesn't count), and when you have to get somewhere really fast and you need to accelerate faster from higher speeds. Yeah, I guess quarter miles are the most important aspects of cars these days.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Also the S2000 has the most power per liter of any Normally aspirated stock car. They're also the most reliable sports cars in the market (similar to all Honda cars).

BZZZT. E30 M3's were pulling more power per litre before the S2000 before you were out of nappies. The RX-8 is in fact of a real capacity of 1.3 litres and it's doing 175 Kw. And even better, the E30's were not top end screamers. The S2000 has nothing down low. It may have a high specific power per litre, but that's all it has. A motor is not just defined by kw, it's also defined by torque, something Hondas know nothing about.

More reliable than an MX-5? I think not!


Also the reason Supras get 11's is because they're slow off the line.

No. They get 11's because they are HEAVY. I've seen great reaction times from Supras. They are however, big, heavy luxury cruisers that need to be stripped and made road illegal before dropping into 9's and 10's.


I basically like just about all Japanese cars (except for Mitsibishi)

Take a ride in my Mitsubitsi Galant. It'lll cure your Honda addiction quicksmart.


but REAL racing is where the Honda's top (I actually mean circuit racing and yes there is circuit racing you can participate in without having a racecar).


I have a CAMS R3 licence. That's Aust Rally National. I have at last count 50 trophies in my cabinet. I've been racing since 1990.

I can tell you from experience that it's not just top end that works on a track. Big fat lazy torque curves is where it's at as well, to help punch out of corners. They only exception to that rule is the rotary, because they are in fact a two stroke with an insnae redline and linear power delivery, once the porting starts to work.

Rotaries, come to think of it, are just simply in a class of their own. Mmmmm. 10,000 rpm. Bridge Port. Fuel injection. Drooooool

[March Kalas]

well excuse me for trying to actually put a little thought and effort into my reply. excuse me for trying to not be like everyone else and saying "hey, I like the car, I don't really care, I'm just trying to increase my post count."

I don't think there would have been any conflict here had my input not been totally rejected. It would have been nice for someone to say, "Hey, you probably don't know as much about cars as us, so it might be a good idea for you to not say stuff," and then calmly explain stuff about my post.

You know, I used to love cars and was basically obsessed with them for a while (when I was too young to even drive one), but a couple years ago, a realized that I don't think I'll be racing anytime soon much less ever in my life, so I realized that I would never need the best performance and stuff. So that's probably why I like Hondas so much, they're extremely reliable (this is why I don't like Mitsubishi. In reliability, they're not much better than American cars), have good gas efficiency, and alot of them are fun to drive.

And I've had a ride in much better cars than a Gallant. Ever heard of Masaratti (the guy who owns it was actually thinking about getting a porshe 911 instead, but now he wishes he had gotten the porshe. Dang) or Audi A4. How about 300ZX or BMW M3. I'm sure you have all ridden in and even drove better cars than I, but I think that I've had much better experiences than a Mitsubishi Gallant.

Maybe I should go find somewhere to talk about tacking to windward or sailing on broad reach or something. Maybe I should just forget about cars and go talk about maritime history or something. It seems clear enough to me that I'm not welcome here.

[Sejah Haversh]

Comparing a Mitsubishi Galant to a Masarati anythign is flat out dumb.

Of course the Maserati is going to be nicer, it COSTS FIVE TIMES AS MUCH, MINIMUM!

You can't mention Porche and Audi along with Honda and Mistubishi, both of which are jsut as reliable as the other, and you forget the Mistubishi 3000GT Twin Turbo that was AWD and a freaking rocket capable of destroying any and all Hondas it faced.

If you're going to compare cars, at least compare them by class. There is no comparisto if you were to, say, pit a Civic against a Maclaren, after all.

It's not that you're not welcome here, but you jsut happened to say a few thigns that weren't quite right, and we car guys don't usually like that. Just like Maritime things might be your hobby, cars are ours, and so we'll naturally try and set the record straight if we see somethign that isn't accurate. Just like you might correct us if we said that the Egyptians invented the Clipper ship.

[Dan the Man]

Hobbyists usually defend their trade by means of hyperbole anyways. Doesn't matter where you go.

I'm sure if you posted on this forum saying "DEAGLE .50 OMG wherez da clip for my gat" I'd light your tail on fire for it. It comes with the territory. These guys are car nerds. I'm a gun nerd. This is what nerds do.

[March Kalas]

My point was that I could have been set straight in a much more friendly way. Also, I wasn't just saying, "nice car man. cool see you later" like everyone else. You could have at least have a little respect that I would actually take extra time to put a little extra input in on something that seemed interesting to me. Maybe I said some things that weren't straight, but everyone started jumping on me. I wish that some one had said, "March, you don't seem to be as well informed as us on this matter, so now I'll try to explain why some of the things you said weren't quite right..." Instead let's all jump on him and make him feel really stupid and in turn anger him, and then, as is natural for humans, make him get stubbourn and want to have totally nothing to do with anybody in this topic.

I know I probably do this to others sometimes too, but it really angers me when I take a little time and effort to say something besides, "hey, I like RX-7s (however, I don't really care enough to actually think about it much or say anything much about it besides this)."

I remember once on another RPG site based on medieval times, I had commented on someone using a No-Dachi (a huge Japanese sword) in Middle age Europe, and you know what his reponse was? He explained the reason he was using this weapon in Europe and even thanked me for taking the time to comment on it and you know what? I ended up having a good opinion of this guy and that's the kind of person people like.

Through snickering at me and rejecting my input instead of accepting it and correcting it, you've lowered my opinion of all of you and you've "scared" me away from you. Thanks for your receptiveness and your kind help.

[Dan the Man]

Welcome to the Internet.

[Sejah Haversh]

Forget the internet, welcome to life, period.

We can't be friendly and nice to every single person who comes in here, and we aren't even always nice to each other. Marcus and I have had less-than-kindly debates over muscle cars, and we're friends. That's just how it is with car guys, even IRL. Every car guy I've talked to won't hesitate to be defensive or argumentative when ti comes to their opinions, and we all get along well. That is the way of the car guy, prettymuch no matter where you are, or online.

We all take that for granted, and I'm sorry you had so find out so bluntly. Sadly, I really am not affected by the part where you said your opinions of us have been lowered, because you came into a car discussion with some odd comparisons, and some cars that really aren't up to snuff, and we called you on it. We call ourselves on it, too. Heck, it's happened to me plenty of times. So don't feel special.

[Marcus Telcontar]

If you claim to know something about cars here, you will be challenged . Swifty and with evidence.


And now for somethign a bit different.... RX-7!

Warnign - 56K DEATH

http://www.thegjo.com/marcus/Copy-of-FOTO2.jpg

[Morgan Evanar]

http://panicked.org/SA/240/1-7-04/small/PICT0001.jpg

http://panicked.org/SA/240/1-7-04/small/PICT0006.jpg

http://panicked.org/SA/240/1-7-04/small/PICT0004.jpg

Yar.

[Marcus Telcontar]

<img src=http://www.thegjo.com/marcus/aav1.jpg>

[Marcus Telcontar]

Your honour, I wish to tender evidence that Mitsubitsi's dont all suck.

Exhibit 1.....

<img src=http://www.thegjo.com/marcus/diapo_421a.jpg>

[March Kalas]

I didn't mean they couldn't perform, just that they weren't reliable enough for me.

I've kind of realized that it's useless to be mad or anything, but I do have a question or two.

I've never really quite understood the concept of torque. I know that it means how much weight it can move for how far, but what exactly sets it apart from hp and what is on the engine that gives it torque?

[Dan the Man]

Originally posted by March Kalas
I've never really quite understood the concept of torque. I know that it means how much weight it can move for how far, but what exactly sets it apart from hp and what is on the engine that gives it torque?

Torque is a measure of power, same as horsepower. There are conversion factors and other such measures to interchange the two. Generally, Torque is the measure used on the low end of the acceleration totem pole, and horsepower on the high end. I don't know why. I'm not a car nerd.

Here's crap for you to read:

<a href=http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/reading/horsepower-torque.htm>blah</a>

[Marcus Telcontar]

I didn't mean they couldn't perform, just that they weren't reliable enough for me.

Then you dont know Mitsubitsi. They have some of the toughest gearboxes and strongest drivelines / motors going, far stronger than other manufactuers with 4 cyl performance models. Unlike most 4 cylinders, they have been known to push past 600 hp and do it reliably for 15 - 20 years, in more than just drag racing. In rallying, the Galants are legendary for their toughness and having the abilty to take more abuse than any other car.

[March Kalas]

I don't mean that kind of reliablity. I mean practical driving around town reliability. Check out Consumer Reports, ask people at used car dealerships. I'm not referring to toughness. I don't doubt that Evos are tough, I mainly like cars that are reliable around town, and Toyota, Honda, and Nissan deliver in this better than any other car manafacturer. Maybe they're not quite as fast or tough or quick as some others, but they're good ol' reliable cars.

[Morgan Evanar]

Consumer Reports is utterly worthless.

The Eagle Talon TSi was rated to be less reliable than Mitsubishi Eclipse. With the exception of a few body pannels and badging, they're the exact same car, made in the exact same factory.

[March Kalas]

The eagle talon has more features than the eclipse right? Can't really remember, but if it does, a car with more features has more things that can go wrong with it, so it probably does have worse reliability, but I don't know much about the Mitsubishi cars.

Even if Consumer reports is worthless, ask used car dealers and they'll tell you that Mitsubishi has unreliable transmissions (I don't mean that they aren't good or though, I mean not reliable in normal driving). They told my family that if you want a good car to use as TRANSPORTATION, get a Nissian, Honda, or Toyota. I'm not talking about racing or driving fast, I'm talking about driving normal. If you drive a car really hard, of course it won't be that reliable or long-lasting, even the most reliable Honda or Toyota wouldn't be reliable anymore after being raced around a lot.

I know a guy who fixed up an old Camaro (it was the one American car that I liked besides Corvettes). The Camaro was jet black and it was sweet; it was like the Darth Vader to cars, but the problem was, it didn't work anymore, so when I saw it, it was on jacks in his garage. He said that the he had to constantly get a new transmission for it, and now he had to take it to his Uncle's garage and strip it down and see if he could get it to work. Believe me, this car was fast too. You could see where he had gone so fast that the wind caught his ram air hood and popped it out of place. So I guess any car you drive hard isn't very reliable anyway.

I would like to know if you think Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissians are reliable. And could someone answer my question about torque in more depth please?

[Khendon Sevon]

I'd assume dealers will often say certain things to "help you along" with your choice of car.

Now, I really have to add my two cents:

Why are you going off on American cars! They might not produce the best stripped down racer, but I have to say I enjoy our luxury cars. The Cadillac CTS is one of my favorite cars—my brother has one. The Lincoln LS is also a nice sporty/luxury sedan. Of course, there’s always the (German) BMW 5 series, but I like the curves of the CTS (American) more. Also, Cadillac has the V-series (A CTS-like car with a 5.7L V8 putting out 400 HP and 395 LB-FT of Torque). It does 0-60 in 4.6 seconds—not too shabby for an American luxury car, eh?.

I can’t really say about Ford, Dodge, etc because of the limited number of cars I’ve driven.

Now, as for the RX-8: I love that little sucker! My RX-8 is fun and handles like a dream. Who cares if it only throws out 197 HP, it has better pickup and can probably crush my brother’s 255 HP CTS. It’s lightweight, well balanced, the interior is amazing, and its priced to sell.

Honestly, I don’t see a problem with the RX-8. You can argue it’s not like the RX-7, but, who cares? It’s a great car. Test drive one some time! And remember to rev the engine!

A link that I found on WTFMan.com: http://www.wtfman.com/lolo/


Edit:

I can feel the potential reverberating off the RX-7 pictures.

[Marcus Telcontar]

The eagle talon has more features than the eclipse right? Can't really remember, but if it does, a car with more features has more things that can go wrong with it, so it probably does have worse reliability, but I don't know much about the Mitsubishi cars.

Even if Consumer reports is worthless, ask used car dealers and they'll tell you that Mitsubishi has unreliable transmissions (I don't mean that they aren't good or though, I mean not reliable in normal driving). They told my family that if you want a good car to use as TRANSPORTATION, get a Nissian, Honda, or Toyota. I'm not talking about racing or driving fast, I'm talking about driving normal. If you drive a car really hard, of course it won't be that reliable or long-lasting, even the most reliable Honda or Toyota wouldn't be reliable anymore after being raced around a lot.

* Sigh *

this is where I see you lack real, in depth car knowledge. Your knowledge is superficial and you dont really understand reliability or why it means a lot to racing for the base model to be highly reliable.

1) Dealer are by and by full of crap. Do not listen to them.

2) Consumer magazine are full of crap. True enthusists magazine are variable in quality, but one hell of a lot better than Consumer ones.

3) Racing is also about relaibilty. If you dont finish, you dont win, end of story. You can have a early Liberty turbo, which is a smaller, lighter car than a Galant, but their gearboxes are straw. Unless you utterly rebuild the car using custom made parts and wriing, the first pointer to a car's finishing potential is it's base road going model's reliabilty. If it falls apart on the road, it'll self destruct much faster on the track.

This is why I run a Galant. Reliability They are well known for it.

The RX-7 pictured has had 15 years of true abuse. It's only blown one gearbox, lunched one diff and had two motors, neither of them a forced changed. It's had genuinely little go wrong, when it's been flogged to hell and back. That's genuine reliabilty.

That type of ability to cop abuse translate directly to the road. If a car copes with racign well, it will cope with the road - because a track or a rally puts a car under so much more stress, if there is anythign worng with it, it will fail.

Torque the twisting force a motor has and Kilowatts is a function of revs and torque. The more torque at a given RPM, the more Kilowatts.

http://www.off-road.com/hummer/tech/power.html

Bikes often has huge Kw, but low torque. That is becuase of the revs a bike pulls, the Nm x RPM multiplier effect is rreally seen. However, atruck may have huge Nm, but low Kw, but it's motor is not designed for RPM, it's designed to haul.

The best motors (Normally large capacity V8's 10 and 12's), have relatively large torque outputs, with ability to rev. High torque gets you off the line and boots you out of corners. You want a big fat reaching high in to the rev range. This gives you Kw. V-TEC does nto do this - a VTEC motor effectively is a 'screamer' - low torque race motor with little or nothing down low, that needs high valve lift and almost no overlapping with a lot of revs to multiply it's torque into usable Kw.

The actual VTEC principle involves either a third lobe on the cam or an entirely new third cam that the motor switches to at high revs. This new 'cam' has the more aggressive valve opening and timing that is undrivable on the street. The normal cams or lobes are low lift and high overlap for emissions and low down torque purposes. The high lift cam is optimised for high rev breathing and maybe passive supercharging (aka pulse or ram flo)

And of course, VTEC sucks in comparision to the aural orgasm of http://www.ducati.com/bikes/techcafe.jhtml?artID=2&detail=article&part=technical

Desmodromic Ducatis. Arooooooooo!

[March Kalas]

I'm not talking about racing. I've never raced, so I've only payed attention to practical day by day reliability of normal driving. My family doesn't really drive cars that fast (well not fast for Dallas TX. It's not uncommon for everyone to be going 60 in a 40 mph zone), so we've always trusted Honda's reliability. Any cars we get are either Toyota, Honda, or Nissian because they're the most reliable cars for practical driving around as practical transportation (and they last incredibly long).

Listen, you look for tough cars that'll take a beating through whatever dirt trail you have to race through. Me? I look for cars that'll get me around without having to fix it every year while having good gas mileage so I don't have to spend alot of money for it. I like fast cars and everything, but I really don't have any use for them because I don't race, and that's that.

As for why I don't like American cars. They're not reliable, it takes Americans a V8 to do what some Japanese 4 cylinders can do, and as before, I don't have any use for them. The advantages of owning an American car don't apply to me.

I don't like RX-8s, but they're still good cars. For some reason, I just don't like them. Maybe it's the foor doors (I know it's convenient, but it's weird. I guess you get used something like that, but it is weird to me). I don't know what exactly it is, but I just don't like them for some odd reason.

[Marcus Telcontar]

You just dont grok reliabilty, do you?

A reliable car in the heat, dust, fumes, stress of racing is goign to be a reliable car on the road because if a car can survive a tortuere test of a track, it's going to have utterly no problem on the road being driven by Joe sixpack.... and inversly, cars that fail on a track will be unreliable on the road.

Do you not understand that heat, vibration and harshness puts not only mechanical components, but electricals to a severe test? That reliabilty is a function of loads and time - ie the more load over time that a component can take, the more reliable it is?

That racing exposes flaws in how a car's built like no other process?????????

No?

Well, I guess that doesnt surprise me at all. Stick with your Hondas, Nissans and Toyotas then. I'd rather have an car over a basic transportation appliance anyday.

[Khendon Sevon]

Wha? a 4 cylinder putting out 400hp w/ 395 LB-FT of torque? Which car is that? The Lotus Elise has a 4 putting out 190 HP… what’re you looking at?

By the way, it’s 2 full doors and 2 suicide doors :) on the RX-8. Maybe you haven’t seen one on the road, that usually makes a big difference. I thought the car was “alright” until I went to the dealer and noticed my tongue was trailing five feet behind me.

Honda may be reliable, but a Honda is still a Honda. *shrug* Everyone has their own preference.

[Sejah Haversh]

I still want the Mad Max '76 XC Falcon Cobra GT.

It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine. And then my Ford will kick your Honda's butt. Even Marcus would agree with me on that black beauty/beastie.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by Sejah Haversh
I still want the Mad Max '76 XC Falcon Cobra GT.

It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine. And then my Ford will kick your Honda's butt. Even Marcus would agree with me on that black beauty/beastie.

Worship the Last Interceptor. 600 hp Supercharged and s-u-u-ucks nitro man. The XC with that dirty big 'charger out of the bonnet screams street cred, which is one thing a Honda never will have.


Wha? a 4 cylinder putting out 400hp w/ 395 LB-FT of torque? Which car is that?

Nothing street drivable, that's for sure. Big numbers dont always make good cars, if anything a predisposition to a dyno leaves the rest of the car a POS.... wait a sec, 521 Nm out of a non turbo 4 cyl???? I call BS. No non turbo 4 cyl gets close to that mark. You need a turbo to get near the hp of a decent V8. And in fact, the only people gettign that kind of Nm out of a 4 cyl are in rally, where the rules stipulate a 300hp head limit. So they tune the turbos for somethign like 600 - 700 Nm of torque.

http://p081.ezboard.com/fsoccertalk55132frm74.showMessage?topicID=185.topi c

Mitsubitsi WRC 2004 - Nm of 550. And it's short of the Puegot 307 by some margin

[Sejah Haversh]

Nm = Newton/meters for the Metric impaired.

And, this is too good not to share. http://www.nehantish.com/Dodge.Caravan.vs.Chevrolet.Camaro.mpg

Ten second '90 Dodge Caravan.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Correction - WRC ars get UP TO 600Nm. Not in between. However, for a 2.0 litre that has to live for at least three days of racing, that's superb, real big block torque. That's also with a FIA mandated 34 mm intake restrictor, so what a unrestricted WRC motor would get is anyone's guess.

Not as much as the Lancia S4 Group B of 20 years ago - 650 hp with a supercharged AND turbocharged 2 litre. The fastest race cars of all time.

[Marcus Telcontar]

http://www.supercars.net/cars/1993@$Chevrolet@$Corvette%20Coupe%20ZR1g.html

Your honour, evidence American alloy dont suck. The ZR1 Corvette. One of the most godly quick cars, not just in a straight line, but around corners.

[Morgan Evanar]

The Z 0 6 (http://www.supercars.net/cars/2004@$Chevrolet@$Corvette%20Z06%20Commemorative%20 Editiong.html) Helloooo LS1.

[Marcus Telcontar]

How about the new GTO? That aint full of suck either

[Sejah Haversh]

Well, it isn't full of suck, but it isn't very full of awesome by us Americans, though.

It's heavy, the interior looks horrid, and it leans way too much in a turn. Every review I've seen of it has been sub-par, especially compared to the original GTOs.

[Charley]

The GTO is just a Holden Monaro under new management.

[Marcus Telcontar]

OI! Charley, I was going to trap our ricer in a knowledge trap!! Spoil my fun :mad

Grrr!

No, the Monaro does handle - if it dont in the USA, blame Pontiac engineers for screwing suspension settings. Dont worry GTO drivers, give HSV a call and the Pontiac stupidity can be undone in a blink.

Still.... Ford Falcon Typhoon. Mmmmmmmmm. Gimmme. NOW.

[March Kalas]

Your honour, evidence American alloy dont suck. The ZR1 Corvette. One of the most godly quick cars, not just in a straight line, but around corners.

I said I liked Corvettes. There are alot of cars that are really fast and can handle good and all, but I just don't like them. As Kendon said earlier, everyone has their own preferences. I just don't like certain cars, and sometimes it kind of puzzles me why, but they just kind of don't attract like some do.

When I said that what it took to get out of an American V8 a Japanese 4 cylinder could achieve, I wasn't talking about numbers. If it is true that an RX-8 only has like 197 hp and can still beat a 240 hp S2000 in a straight line, this should be proof to you (however, the S2000 does get a better lap time. At least the 2004 S2000 does. And I have seen plenty of RX-8s on the road. In fact one of my friends has one. They're just one those cars that I don't really seem to give a flip about for no apparent reason). You also have to realize that when it takes other car manufacturers a V12 to push an Indy car as fast as they go and a Honda engine does the same thing with a V8, don't you think that's pretty good? Of course it really doesn't take much engineering skill to beat everybody elses' V12 with a V8 right?(most of the top drivers drive Honda. At least they have as long I've watched Indy racing).

The reason I've mentioned Honda, Toyota, and Nissian as being my favorites is because out of all the reliable Japanese cars, they're the most reliable. I wouldn't mind having a Protege, an MX-3, or an MX-5 for driving around, but Honda, Toyota, and Nissian have more reliable cars than anyone else.

I don't think they sell Monaros in the USA. I was watching a program on the new GTO and it said that it was based off of a car in Australia called the Manaro, so I don't think it is sold in the USA.


The Lotus Elise has a 4 putting out 190 HP

It can also get a 4.8 0-60 (of course because it's so light).

[Morgan Evanar]

I don't think they sell Monaros in the USA. I was watching a program on the new GTO and it said that it was based off of a car in Australia called the Manaro, so I don't think it is sold in the USA. It IS the Monaro, with left hand drive and squisher suspension. It is made in Australia. Same car, wheel on the other side, mildly different suspension tune.

Nissian is spelled Nissan. :x
The reason I've mentioned Honda, Toyota, and Nissian as being my favorites is because out of all the reliable Japanese cars, they're the most reliable. I wouldn't mind having a Protege, an MX-3, or an MX-5 for driving around, but Honda, Toyota, and Nissian have more reliable cars than anyone else. It really depends. Mazda makes bullet-proof engines, turbo rotaries excepted. The MX-5 engine is based on the 323GTX, which is/was essentially a rally car. It is incredibly overbuilt in stock trim.

Nissan's build quality can be spotty sometimes. This is from a Nissan fanboy. The Mexican built Sentras just fall apart for some people, and sometimes they don't.

Ok, you like Corvettes. Here is something else that is done right.
The Caddy CTS-V (http://www.supercars.net/cars/2004@$Cadillac@$CTS-Vg.html)

[Khendon Sevon]

Yup, I pointed out the V-series in meh post affirming that America can put out quality cars :) I know one person with one so far and another guy who's thinking about getting one.

They're crazy. Now, I just have to convince my bro to buy one! Muuhuhhahahaha!

[Marcus Telcontar]

You also have to realize that when it takes other car manufacturers a V12 to push an Indy car as fast as they go and a Honda engine does the same thing with a V8, don't you think that's pretty good? Of course it really doesn't take much engineering skill to beat everybody elses' V12 with a V8 right?(most of the top drivers drive Honda. At least they have as long I've watched Indy racing).

Will you PLEASE stop posting on what you dont know about???? Cylinders != power. Capacity = power. Indy cars have all the same capacity. Cylinders for a given capacity derive the torque charateristics for a motor

A V12 allows for more revs via a shorter conrod, which makes up for it's torque deficiency. A V8 has higher torque, but lower revs. If the V8 is quicker, it probably has more to do with the way it delivers power, not it's peak - there's less moving parts too, so they tend to be easier to engineer and also more reliable.

Much like in F1, where V10's rule - V12 is too peaky, while V8's reciprocating mass is too big, thence this leads to a V10.

[Sejah Haversh]

Originally posted by Marcus TelcontarStill.... Ford Falcon Typhoon. Mmmmmmmmm. Gimmme. NOW.

This I must see. More powerful than the GT-P's? Link me, pallie, you know the Falcon is still my favorite car.

Here it is. Suck this, Japan. http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.437#

I will hook a chain to Australia and pull the whole continent over to this coast with my own strength if I have to to get one of those.

EDIT- Heh, looks like Mark and I posted the link at the same time.

[imported_Marcus]

http://www.fpv.com.au/index.asp?link_id=2.437#

Extreme Ricer bitchslap coming up. Typhoon. The only car I'd trade the Forester in for. Not only seriously quick in a straight line, but mauls the twisties like hardly anything else this side of a MX-5. This is the reason Hondas are laughed at here - they just do not have anything like even the base model Falcon, let alone the turbos or quad cam V8's.

Some of the most frightening foor doors are right here in Aust. Can you believe a wagon with a Gen III.... just for soccer mums? As Sejah said... suck on it Japan. Good handling, huge hp V8 sedans and wagons standard.

Oh, I might add, the Falcon turbo has a 550Kw kit availible - street legal. 10.6 on it's first and only run so far

[March Kalas]

The huge tarrifs that America has also probably kind of limits the kind of cars that can be sold over here. The main reason the Skyline wasn't sold over here was because it was a V8, and the American tarrifs were originally based on the amount of Cylinders a car had (with some other factors too). So I guess we don't really get all the car benifits that Australia does maybe. Oh well, why should I complain when I can buy a sweet little sunfish for like $300 and take it to the lake for hours of enjoyment. I can't wait untill I get sailing on Lake Ray Hubbard. Maybe I can't race cars (mainly because of money and I don't really care), but once I get good enough on a sunfish, I'll be able to do some serious boat racing. Nobody probably cares though.

[Morgan Evanar]

Originally posted by March Kalas
The huge tarrifs that America has also probably kind of limits the kind of cars that can be sold over here. The main reason the Skyline wasn't sold over here was because it was a V8, and the American tarrifs were originally based on the amount of Cylinders a car had (with some other factors too). So I guess we don't really get all the car benifits that Australia does maybe. Oh well, why should I complain when I can buy a sweet little sunfish for like $300 and take it to the lake for hours of enjoyment. I can't wait untill I get sailing on Lake Ray Hubbard. Maybe I can't race cars (mainly because of money and I don't really care), but once I get good enough on a sunfish, I'll be able to do some serious boat racing. Nobody probably cares though. o_o you're completely wrong. Please, stop posting about cars. You also know didly squat about import rules and why the US didn't get certain models.

The Skyline has only had either an inline 4, V6 or an inline six. Most recently, the RB20DET, RB25DE(T) or RB26DETT and, the VQ35DE found in the G35, JDM Skyline and 350Z. They were not imported because of the US's moronic emissions standards. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A V8 IN THE SKYLINE. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT THE NEXT US SPEC WILL HAVE A TURBO V8. SPECULATION.

The major reasons the US doesn't get certain cars are because companies either think they won't be popular, or they don't meet emissions.

I work for a broker, there are not "huge tarrifs".

[Dan the Man]

Originally posted by March Kalas
huge tarrifs

laffo

[March Kalas]

fine. sheesh. I guess everyone in Dallas is wrong again. Well, I hope everyone doesn't think I'm an idiot because I don't know as much about cars, but hey it's good to learn about them sometimes even if it's by arguing about them. So anyway, see everyone later and I hope it's alot friendlier next time.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Originally posted by March Kalas
fine. sheesh. I guess everyone in Dallas is wrong again. Well, I hope everyone doesn't think I'm an idiot because I don't know as much about cars, but hey it's good to learn about them sometimes even if it's by arguing about them. So anyway, see everyone later and I hope it's alot friendlier next time.

Almost every SINGLE thing you have posted in this thread has been wrong.

It's your fault for posting again and again such absurd and above all, wrong information. If you posted even just a few truths and facts, we wont be coming with pitchforks and torches. But as you just posted pure nonsense...... what the hell do you expect? For the revheads to coddle up to that nonsense?

(Still stunned by Skyline comment. That's a doozy 0_0 )

[Slayn Cloak]

No one mentioned the cosmo... Come on marc, I'll never get to see the thing... :: cries ::

And have you ever seen a 3rd gen ( 94 touring (AT) u.s. ver) Compleatly short out when getting a jump? Cables where hooked up corectly, then exploded. seems to have fried the electrical, can't get it to roll over, all kinds of relays went crazy. It was actually an interesting sight.

[imported_Marcus]

Cosmo. 20B. Twin turbo

:: drool ::

[Shanaria Fabool]

I don't know anything about cars. I'll say that now. But this thread has gotten me to understand a little more than nothing, so at least you can't sat that all the things that March Kalas was saying wasa waste, since it got you to explane things and allow the car dummies like me to learn a few things.

On another note and a slight change of topic, My best friend and myself are planning on saving up for the next 6 years in order to buy a car that's main purpose is to make all the car loving bullies from my graduating class green with envy when we go to our 10 year class reunion. Can any of you give subjestions on what kind of models would be good for this purpose, but still be good for use in most commuting situations? (gas consumption is not a consern at this point in time.)

I know alot will change in 6 years, but it doesn't hurt to ask, so I can get an Idea of what to look for when the time comes to buy.

[Jak Prent]

How much are you looking to spend?

[Rasha Vill]

Right now we are just setting our Finacial goals, so I guess what ever it will cost to make them the most jellouse of us. We will set that as the goal and see how close we can get to it.

[Morgan Evanar]

Ermmmmm how many people do you want to seat? I'm leaning to a BMW M5 without knowing anything.

[Rasha Vill]

At least two people, wouldn't complain if it could seet more.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

Lotus Exige. That's what I would get.

http://www.lotuscars.com/

Or well, any Lotus would do, for that matter.

[Marcus Telcontar]

M5 is good, yes.

I've always had this mad desire to work the tits out of a Porsche 928 S4 - supercharge it, ink black, 18" Simmons gold rims, quad exhaust, as dark as possible tint. The motor in them is an utter gem and they are underrated - still horribly quick, tho with a 'charger and the paint and the rims, it would just have attitude. A Koeing flared body kit and it's .... yum.

The other is AMG Mercedes, say a 190E Group A homogation. Black again, gold rims, stick a great big dirty Merc V8 into it. Supercharge that and it's OMG MY BRAIN IS SUCKED OUT MY EARS!!! type velocity, attitude and looks.

Then, there's a R33/R34 Godzilla (GTR). Std Marcus look, black, gold rims, tinted, lowered, 700 hp motor kit..... Nismo flare and wing kit.

You notice tho, I go for looks, substance, handling, brakes and OMG type power. That aint cheap.

[Slayn Cloak]

Not into those looks, but i'm hearing everything els.

[Rasha Vill]

About what kind of price ranges are theses cars So I know what kind of Goal to set in order to get one of these cars?

[imported_Marcus]

Lots to shed loads. Modding cars for looks AND real huge hp is expensive. If you DIY, it's okay but you need real knowledge and skill.

Back on topic - RX-7

Drove the thing tonight. Good grief, what a rotten thing to start, though the tiny temp battery was probably one cause. Fuel mix was probably out too. There's no choke, which is not good on a carburettor. Still, once warm it idled okay, tho a bit grumpy and smokey.

Given a bit of a blat through the back streets, it's no where as quick in a straight line as the horridly warp speed Forester, but the corners it rules. Brakes need rebedding. Handles well on dirt. does mad burnouts. Has a water leak.

That's bad.

The good is the surgeon scalpel handling, even on old rally tyres. The Scooby might be a utter straight line rocket, but it's handling is a bit how's yer going, due to inappropriate tyres. Gotta fix the crash bump in the front strut tho.