What is it with people and their damn pride? (car thread)

[desertdweller]

I've been a technician for a while, I've worked at Japanese and
American dealerships. I drive a 82 Chevrolet Blazer and I my wife
drives a 98 Dodge Stratus. (the Blazer is my toy) We have yet to have a problem with the Stratus because we take care of it. One thing I've noticed is there is a clear difference in the type of people that buy
those different cars. The people that bought Japanese were far better
about keeping the maintenance up than the American buyers. I do think
the Jap cars are generally better, but after working at Honda I found
that the Hondas life expectancy was about the same if it wasn't taken
care of. Anyway, just my two cents.


DD

 

[warcleric]

Stallion: cool, I have a 65 442.

 

[geno]

Supergroove, that's the car he was trying to pimp off on me (The Viggen). 40k for FWD and 230HP??? No thanks, I'll stick with my FWD Mopars...

 

[wyvrn]

warcleric,

Compare apples to apples. Honda is not a Mercedes/Jaguar, et all. Those are luxury cars, the honda is an everyday layman's car. The fact that Hondas even last that long is a tribute to their quality. Hondas and Toyotas are the most reliable mid-priced cars.

If you want to compare, compare an Infinit, Lexus, or Acura with the Mercedes and I think you will see the Japanese cars are better buys for the money.

 

[Eug]

<< Oh, almost forgot, this is a $40k German car that's a Turbo and it's FWD. Nothing wrong with the turbo, but for 40k why couldn't there be a 6 under the hood? And as for the FWD? Bwhahaah, cmon, how are you gonna pay 40 grand for a FWD &quot;sports&quot; car??? >>


My IDEAL car is a sporty luxury sedan with FWD (or AWD) and a 4-banger engine. And I'd pay US$30K for it. The extra money is not warranted for a 6 cylinder IMHO.

Ie. I'd rather spend the same money for a tarted up 4-cylinder than a stripped down 6-cylinder. Just like computers, it's the parts and build quality that matters, not the actual engine power (CPU speed) so much, unless you're hauling around heavy equipment or something.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

For me, the engine is more important than the options. I'm a die hard torquer who gets a thrill from launching machinery from 0-whatever. I've driven nimble little cars as well as massive hulks. I perfer the massive hulks.

But that's just my opinion. Yours may vary

 

[Emos]

Eug, sounds like an Audi A4 would be right up your alley! The 1.8 liter turbo (1.8T) that Audi/Volkswagon manufactures is one of the best four-bangers on the market IMHO....and it's also a tuners dream! I'm currently getting 207hp/245 ft/lb torque out of this engine and there are some serious gearheads that are squeezing 300+ hp :Q out of the 1.8T

 

[warcleric]

Wyvrn: I still disagree, I have owned both Lexus' and Mercedes, a Lexus still does not have the solid feel that a Mercedes has, it still feels like an econo-box wrapped in leather. I am not saying that Honda doesnt make a good car, I am just saying that euro cars are far better built. For the money a Honda is probably a decent buy. But they arent as cheap as they used to be, a loaded Accord can come damn close to $40k

 

[Eug]

Emos,

Yeah, I looked at that A4 - nice. But I'm gonna buy a US$22000 car - I just bought a house.

Demon-Xanth,

To each his own, but after driving my sister's Lexus, an 8-cylinder old-school Dodge simply feels to me like a piece of sheet metal wrapped around a monster engine. I'm not really talking about options so much as build quality. I don't want things like leather wrapped steering wheel or cruise control, but I want the thing to &quot;feel&quot; like it's well-made. It's sort of like wearing a custom-tailored Italian suit vs. off the rack at your local dept. store. Big difference, but I can understand how many people don't think the huge price increase is justified.

 

[Boogak]

Emos:

Do you have a 2001 A4 with an APR chip? Sounds like it. How long have you had it and how's it feel? I will be chipping my 01 after my 5k mile service.

 

[Emos]

Boogak...yes I have the 2001 A4 1.8T and I had it APR'd after my 5K service. The difference in performance is NOTICEABLE to say the very least! I can really feel the turbo kick in at 2300rpm or so...puts you back into your seat! I'm fortunate that I have a 'chip' friendly dealer...the supervisor is also a performance buff.
After getting your A4 chipped, consider getting a Valentine One for extra insurance

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Eug: heh, try driving a '78 GMC 4x4 pickup, it's a few pieces of sheetmetal tacked onto a couple train rails with a drivetrain nested between them. Definately not for everybody (I still miss that ol' truck)

 

[LordMaul]

Yet another car thread. :disgust::|

 

[RobCom]

are u talkin about the dodge shadow CSX??? they are another rare and fine piece of machinery made by carrol shelby... i am currently looking for one cheap that needs restoration.... i love dodge rare FWD cars... i currently own a '91 Dodge Spirit R/T that can do the quarter mile in a little under 14 secs (13.8 @ 105.6MPH to be exact) and i love this carand its still stock!!!! this will kill any new 4 door sports sedan on the market in the US!!!!

MOPAR or no CAR!!!!

RobCom

 

[Soybomb]

RobCom are you on the FMPML or SDML or any other turbo/shelby dodge mailing list? If not contact me and I'll send you links as I'm a bit of a Daytona collector

 

[warcleric]

I have a rare one for you, 1987 Dodge Mini-Ram Van CS, this is a Carroll Shelby Dodge Minivan <made for half a year right before the introduction of the Caravan> with the 2.2L Turbo that are in most of the CS Chargers.

 

[Soybomb]

Sorry war there is no such thing as a shelby van, although turbo vans existed, you most likely just got stickers on it from someone else.

www.shelbydodge.org has some nice reads for ya sadly it looks like its being worked on right now. Also feel free to hit www.sdml.org and join the shelby-dodge mailing list

 

[geno]

Eug, FWD and AWD are very different necks of the woods. FWD is ideal for economy cars and inexpensive sports cars. The greater sports cars in the world use either RWD or AWD. By comparison, RWD handles much better than FWD in the corners (not as much understeer). Why Saab would opt to put FWD in a $40,000 car is beyond me, but to each his own. And the reason I said a 6 would be better is for power, 230 is laughable for that car. I could go out and get the same car as RobCom for less than 5k, and only be pushing 5 less HP. Sure, build quality is a big factor, which is why you should put that $40k to a BMW or an Audi.

And RobCom, yes, that's the Shelby CSX (89). Sounds like you got a sweet ride too, are you a part of any mailing lists/groups??

 

[geno]

<< <made for half a year right before the introduction of the Caravan> >>


The Plymouth/Dodge Mini's were intrduced in '83...

 

[warcleric]

Soy, It is a 1984, my bad, and yes it is legit, have the signed certificate that came with the vehicle. Has Carrol Shelby's signature embroidered into the seats and a Carrol Shelby signature emblem on the dash.....there were <100 produced for half a year in 1984. I have the van in storage at home <1000 miles away> and havent seen it in about 7 years. But I guarantee you it is legit.

 

[OS]

<< The difference in performance is NOTICEABLE to say the very least >>



Typical turbo car? Changing the ECUs on turbo cars seems to consistently give a worthwhile performance boost.



<< AMD processors suck because Intel makes the best processors >>



LOL, what elegant logic and reasoning at work.

 

[geno]

warcleric, forgive me if I seem mistrusting, but I've never heard so much as a rumor about this &quot;CS Van&quot;. Do you have any pics/other forms of proof?

 

[warcleric]

geno: I will get some taken and post them, it even has the CS wheels and valve cover. Granted wven with the 2.2L Turbo it is still a sled, I mean it weight 4000Lbs or so.

 

[RobCom]

geno i am on the sdml...
well... i have to be honest the R/t is my dads car...but we both drive it on those nice funs days when we can bring it out... only 56k on it so its only a car we drive on dry sundays... he told me if i don't find a csx he would give me the r/t since hes getting outta that sport collector car mode and wants to relax and not have to worry about the parts issue/reliablity of these cars... he told me though if they were to build one today just like the spirit r/t he would buy it in an instant for an easy 25k... his daily driver is now a 2000 dodge ram... my daily driver is a 91 dodge spirit ES...not no where as fast as the r/t but it has the 3.0 V6 mitsu engine that has alot of potential... i am on the Chrysler3litreV6 List as well as EEK... i have done many mods to it such as 58mm TB and ram air intake, eibach springs w/kyb's and lots of other stuff but i donno if i wanna keep it since it has over 175k on the odemeter(not bad for 2000bux, ahe?) i am pondering whether i want to get a shadow 3.0 5sdp as my daily driver...currently a car-lot in philly is selling a nice duster for 3900 only 60k on it 3.0 v6 and stick... very nice since the 3.0 is pretty quick and damn torque with an auto so the stick should be lots of fun..... and this motor has the potential to beet the 5.blows and the like that roam the road...all it takes is a little modifications..the 3.0 list is workin on it

enough rambling...
Robcom

 

[geno]

If you're thinking about a Shadow, I say you'll have a lot of fun with it. The 3.0/5sp is a rare combo in the Shadows, but I've seen them around. I was looking around for a 3.0 Shadow, but I wanted a Turbo, personally. The advantage is you can find a '94 with a 3.0, as opposed to the newest Turbo (were only made until '92). Let us know if you end up getting it, Shadow's are fun little cars!