Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

It's kind of ridiculous that that's all you had to do to make that much of a difference in the corners. I figured some decent coilovers would be a must. Makes you wonder why Ford wouldn't just do it like that out of the factory.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

It's kind of ridiculous that that's all you had to do to make that much of a difference in the corners. I figured some decent coilovers would be a must. Makes you wonder why Ford wouldn't just do it like that out of the factory.

The springs were only $350 for the set so if they didn't do the trick, I was going to go coilover. It was worth the gamble. It is absolutely amazing though, what a 1-2% drop with a quality progressive rate spring does to handling on anything.

And Ford really want's to sell you their Performance pack, so that's why they don't lol.

The only thing I miss having are the Brembo's in the PP, but that's a trade-off. They are awesome on the track, awesome if you are driving like an a-hole, but for everyday use.... man they are harsh, and a fortune to replace when the time comes.

I bought this thing as my Sunday night "Let's go to Dairy Queen." car, and it'll never see a track, so I can live with it. It's not like the stock brakes are awful lol. They just ain't Brembo's.

[81MC]

I’m still blown away at the hp/ci these days. An easy 450hp from a 5L. I seriously remember when a 350/350 combo would have been considered pretty damn stout. Now my SBC toy will be outpaced by almost everything.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by 81MC

I’m still blown away at the hp/ci these days. An easy 450hp from a 5L. I seriously remember when a 350/350 combo would have been considered pretty damn stout. Now my SBC toy will be outpaced by almost everything.

I drive tons of cars for a living, and if it helps you any, once you hit the 400 HP range, your in law of diminishing returns territory. 400 I find is that sweet spot where anything more is just bragging rights, and getting pretty damn dangerous to an inexperienced driver. 95% of people will be equally blown away by 400HP as they will by 500HP.

That being said, I'm still Supercharging my Mustang. I just want a total Gonzo sleeper. Because the only thing that has to change on the car... remove the strut tower brace, and if you're smart swap out the half shaft's....that is if you like your diff.

[8sPOT]

All I needed was a push from CP. Essentially traded my 2018 in for a 2012 today. The main end goal was no car payment, and mission accomplished. Feels good man

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by pylon

Jeep

St Mary Lakes Rd?

Originally Posted by pylon

Mustang

I imagine it sounds hostile, and it looks great, albeit the reps.

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

It's a unique situation, because it's literally the only manual transmission, naturally aspirated V8 wagon you can realistically buy. That's the club we're talking about here. There's the CTS-V I guess, but then you're spending big bucks (at least 60k, probably more like 70k now) for an old cadillac, if you can actually find one in manual.

E61, & 550 could be had too, unicorns like the Vagon though.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The E61 actually could get a V10 in the wagon but only in Europe... not sure if it had a manual though?

I've never seen an M550 manual wagon. It sounds like a mythical beast.

[nik-]

Naturally aspirated is overrated, jam some ####ing turbos in there.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by nik-

Naturally aspirated is overrated, jam some ####ing turbos in there.

Unfortunately at our altitude this is somewhat true.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by pylon

In 5 years of being a used car manager I can tell you, that with good maintenance, most cars, with proper maintenance will get you 200k easy. This is where the problem lies......

To have a mint, top mechanical condition say.... Ford Escape for example, at 220,000 kms, would cost you VASTLY more, than any future value on it. A Super nice, 14 Escape with 220,000 kms would be worth $7-8000, a beat to hell one, would be worth $3-4000.

To keep that vehicle absolutely perfect, and fix everything along the way, would in most cases, cost you far more than the spread. You might get lucky, but odds are, you are replacing one high ticket item along the way, that will cost thousands.

The worst examples of this (sorry guys), are old German Cars. A mint condition 200,000 km 2008 Honda CR-V, will appraise for more money, than a 2008 A6, S Class, & 5 series, Land Rover......etc. The costs of repairing those old German/Euro Cars, is no different than it was in 2008. I sell 12 + year old X5s at the Auction for $1000-1500 on the regular. More than one warning light, usually means they are just parts.

My worst one was a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover. It got called for a supercharger, a rear main leak and the sway bar was leaking as well. Well this thing had some new fangly, way more complicated than required sway bar setup that was pressurized, and did all this crazy stuff. The part alone was $14,000. It also needed tires and brakes. Bear in mind, this vehicle was 10/10 cosmetically, and had 82,000 kms on it. The estimate to pass a safety through my shop..... $34,600. I paid $26000 for the truck, and it was a $31,900 retail piece in the best case scenario. The repairs exceeded the retail value. Land Rover gave me an estimate as well, $37,000. Auctioned it full disclosure for $18,000 and had to lick my wounds.

Certiguard aint gonna be able to get your self levelling Xenon headlight for $80 bucks like the you can for the Halogen on the CR-V. Rear main seal leak on your 535.... $5000 minimum. Where Toyota, Honda, VW, Domestics etc do it right, is they have econo parts programs, where it can actually be cost effective to keep the old girl running.

There are a few exceptions to the rule with Audi S4's, BMW M cars, some AMG Benz's, but even those I am seeing getting binned because they have accumulated so many problems, the only reason you are fixing it, is simply for enthusiast/sentimental purposes.

Then I am the luckiest MoFo around.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by nik-

Naturally aspirated is overrated, jam some ####ing turbos in there.

As a former TT V8 owner, I disagree.

Yes, turbos are great given our altitude, since both naturally aspirated and supercharged motors will experience power losses due to elevation. Yes, it is amazing to put your foot down and have an ungodly amount of torque in an instant.

But going back to a naturally aspirated engine with a linear powerband has been an absolute joy. You can power out of a corner without fear of a sudden surge of torque from the turbochargers breaking the ass-end loose and putting you into a hedge (or worse). While an NA motor will pull all the way to redline, turbo motors feel like they start to run out of steam as you get closer to redline.

This isn't to say there's no merit to turbocharged engines, but rather that naturally aspirated engines are absolutely not overrated. In fact, I think as more manufacturers move to turbochargers on the way to ultimately switching to electric, high peformance NA motors will see a resurgence in desirability and collectability.

[Table 5]

Performance aside, I'll always be an NA fan for the sounds alone...they add a sense of drama and occasion. Turbos sound like wheezy asthmatics in comparison, and dull a lot the sensory experience, which to me is half the point of a fun car.

[Fuzz]

Those dudebro turbo pickups always sound hilarious, just wheezing away. And they hammer it off the line every time.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Performance aside, I'll always be an NA fan for the sounds alone...they add a sense of drama and occasion. Turbos sound like wheezy asthmatics in comparison, and dull a lot the sensory experience, which to me is half the point of a fun car.

I love the whining of my supercharger at 4K rpm also.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I love the whining of my supercharger at 4K rpm also.

I've a supercharged I4, supercharged V6, a NA V8, a turbo 5 cylinder, NA I-6, a couple NA I-4s, and a flat 4.

By far my favourite power curves were the supercharged engines and the V8. They just steadily built power right to the redline.

The turbo kick in the butt is a fun feeling, but the "running out of breath" just kills it for me.

I'm actually not a big fan of the sound of a supercharger, but absolutely love the instant power and driving dynamics of it.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Those dudebro turbo pickups always sound hilarious, just wheezing away. And they hammer it off the line every time.

I drove my boss’s once to tow a trailer a few hours. Actually drove me insane. I wouldn’t take one for free. I can’t stand that sound.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I've a supercharged I4, supercharged V6, a NA V8, a turbo 5 cylinder, NA I-6, a couple NA I-4s, and a flat 4.

By far my favourite power curves were the supercharged engines and the V8. They just steadily built power right to the redline.

The turbo kick in the butt is a fun feeling, but the "running out of breath" just kills it for me.

I'm actually not a big fan of the sound of a supercharger, but absolutely love the instant power and driving dynamics of it.

I have an S58 powered vehicle and it pulls hard to redline akin to running an aftermarket big turbo. Almost unnvervingly fast as the the kick in the but feeling doesn't end until redline where you have hit obscene speeds. The upcoming M3/M4 may not look great (most people seem to hate the new grilles) but they are going to be pretty fun to drive.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Performance aside, I'll always be an NA fan for the sounds alone...they add a sense of drama and occasion. Turbos sound like wheezy asthmatics in comparison, and dull a lot the sensory experience, which to me is half the point of a fun car.

I don't care who you are, or what kind of cars are your flavor, there is nobody, who gets behind the wheel or a front engine, rear drive, manual transmission V8 muscle/pony car, and doesn't for at least a minute think "My god, this is awesome! And it's only $XXXXX!" Jeremy Clarkson has even caught the bug in quite a few Top Gear episodes.

My dream car of all dream cars would be a Singer 911. Next would be a 993 Turbo. Then there's a whole list of other Stuttgart cars in there that could fill the gaps.

But for fun on the cheap, nothing does it better than the pony cars. I don't care if it's a 190 HP 1985 Trans Am, or 526 HP 2020 GT350, these cars have this neurotic sketchiness, and feeling of out of controlness, that just makes you smile. It just makes me giggle when you are sitting there idling at a light, and you feel that motor throbbing.... blub blub blub blub.... the shifter is shaking back and forth, and when you hammer it you unleash guttural howl that feels dangerous, the front end of the car lifts like a motorboat and the car feels like it's in control of you, not the other way around.

It's sad we are going to lose this experience sooner than later with the electric movement. But they have their place, and there's a reason they were best sellers for decades. They are just such stupid fun.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I have an S58 powered vehicle and it pulls hard to redline akin to running an aftermarket big turbo. Almost unnvervingly fast as the the kick in the but feeling doesn't end until redline where you have hit obscene speeds. The upcoming M3/M4 may not look great (most people seem to hate the new grilles) but they are going to be pretty fun to drive.

That's a good point. I haven't driven many older turbo cars (before they started aggressively going with the smallest possible turbo) or anything running a big turbo.

I did get some seat time in a 992 Targa GTS, and that did feel much more like a NA power curve to me.

[FCAV]

While there's some talk about wagons, what's everyone's thought on the Subaru Outback with the Turbo engine? 260ish HP, all-wheel drive, wagon. Something I've got pegged as the next vehicle, I think.