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Author Topic: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)  (Read 158892 times)

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Anaxilus.

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #960 on: July 09, 2013, 08:01:57 AM »

Just make a matrix of your wants, desires in a car/cars and make a realistic practical determination/cost-benefit analysis that suits you.  I'm pretty unusual having 4-5 cars of my own for specific uses (trying to get down to 3-4) so I can have more of a focused approach than someone looking for just one car.  I also look at the most basic physics of a chassis and available options and possibilities for enhancement that I know I can manage on my own (Oe priorities: weight>suspension/chassis>transmission>brakes>personal practical needs/fit>power-least important and easiest to make/fix).  I'd have no problem w/ the next Golf GTI/GTD if I could only manage one econo hatch for everything and was fine w/ FWD.  Though I'd rpefer to try to find a Renault Megane Trophy to bring over somehow instead if possible.  I just crossed that FWD threshold long ago and won't ever spend money on it ever again when AWD is an option.  I still have an old 2001 family beater Prius I can chuck around for front end plow fun.  I'd probably also wait to see Subaru come out w/ a new 2/4 door STI hatch.  A Fiesta is probably the fourth Ford product I'd even consider from it's family portfolio.  Just doesn't do it for me in any way.

Based on my matrix, I can tell you my MR-S and Legacy are just temporary parts of my stable.  So is the FR-S in all likelihood.  So far, only the XJS V-12 is permanent.  The MR-S replacement will be permanent which is coming in a year or two so I'll be selling the MR-S.  The Legacy will have a few more years after that still while the alternative energy market sorts itself out.  The FR-S will be the last to be replaced if at all probably in another 5 years or perhaps sooner if I get what I want.  At that point, my collection should be pretty permanent and cover all my bases.



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planx

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #961 on: July 09, 2013, 05:58:08 PM »

Hmm sure. It's just difficult for me to set out my priorities as it's constantly changing pretty much weekly. I love the idea of an affordable RWD daily driver with the occasional track tires+rims for sunday blasting so the BRZ has me intrigued.

After driving a few FWD vehicles (my mom's Camry Hybrid, brother's Acura CSX, and Mazdaspeed3 along with other testdrives), I can conclude that I prefer to stay away from understeering pigs. Just like how Top Gear explains, with oversteer you can't see what's about to kill you compared to understeer where you have full view of what's about to kill you.

After driving a proper AWD vehicle myself, AWD is simply brilliant... In very limited cases. Unfortunately, it doesn't snow here in Vancouver as much as one might think so I find it rather useless most of the year. Sure, it's nice having that added grip everywhere I go, but I often find my LGT to be understeery and a little nose heavy/unresponsive. It goes from predictable understeer, then out of nowhere, power-out oversteer kicks in.

I guess I'll just wait until the price of the BRZ drops, if it ever does... Hey, who knows? Maybe the revised version will have more torque and a lower price tag.

Ah, I just want a fun car  :)p18
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DaveBSC

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #962 on: July 09, 2013, 06:56:57 PM »

Unfortunately the MS3 is just comically bad. Across the pond they have the Renault Sport Clio and Megane, Peugot 208 GTi, and the Opel Astra VXR. The VW GTI is the safe, mature choice. We don't get any of those aside from the VW which is why there are so many Focus ST vs. MS3 comparisons. Outside of NA and Japan, no one cares about the MS3 or MazdaSpeed in general.
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planx

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #963 on: July 09, 2013, 07:33:23 PM »

It's true, the MS3 is quite awful in many ways, specifically with the third pedal... I'm not an amazing driver, but I am no noob when it comes to manual (my only car is a manual) but my word the MS3 was quite a hard one to master. It's literally an on-off switch, but somehow more unpleasant. No matter how hard I was trying not to stall and be as smooth as possible, within 1st-3rd, it was shaky at least once. The power was great though, plenty of mid-range oomph. I absolutely disgust the interior though, and I am no aesthetics nut... Terrible array of whatever the shit is there and the navi screen is the size of my iphone, but far away within my reach.

I never really liked Mazda's offerings, but the MS6 was a bit more interesting, even though the MS3 was the faster car.

I understand how the VW GTI is definitely a worthy choice, but with word going around how the base MSRP is going up (meaning it's going up even more here in Canada), I think it might be getting a little too expensive.
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Anaxilus.

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #964 on: July 09, 2013, 10:58:31 PM »

There should be significant news about the upcoming Miata/Alfa before or at the Tokyo motor show.  I'm waiting for this news myself as well as the BMW/FRS project.  As well as the future of power upgrades and weight shaving to the FRS/BRZ.  Sadly it looks like it won't be a Z4 like I hoped but a M8 replacement for around $150,000.  Frak!  I have those funds allocated for something more interesting and purposeful so no for me.  Maybe a future baby NSX (perhaps w/ AWD and hybrid) and Supra.

Just found out that places with snow have been getting even shittier rubber than the Prius Michelin HPs on the FRS.  Some sort of Bridgestone Turanza all-seasons that are rated some of the worst they have on Tire Rack.  People on the forums have been bitching about the stealth change. 
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Maxvla

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #965 on: July 19, 2013, 11:27:43 AM »

"While Volkswagen claimed to have had a business case for the car, it wasn’t quite a done deal for the 7th generation Golf. VW is on track to sell 100,000 TDI cars this year, and thinks that the $27,000 GTD could account for 5-10 percent of diesel Golf sales. The GTD will go on sale in the summer of 2014."

Odds now?  ;)
Can't do diesel. Drives are too short.
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shipsupt

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #966 on: July 19, 2013, 02:44:00 PM »

Full circle back to that "drive is too short" bullshit... still not buying it.

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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

xero404

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #967 on: July 22, 2013, 10:17:51 PM »

I love my 86!

I recently purchased my FR-S three months ago and it was my "upgrade" from my 2000 miata.



and of course my last car:


Car: 2000 Twilight Blue Mica with convenience package 
2000 NB Miata with convenience package
4.1 Torsen
Harddog HardTop Hardcore M2
Tein Flex with standard rates 7/6 kg
F1spec bucketseat
01+ projector style headlamps with HiDs
01+ Header
5zigen Border III exhaust
Big End Roders 15x8 +20 by Enkei Foundry wrapped in 205/50/15 Kumho XS

It's not the perfect car with the prius tires but its a real hoot to hoon around in and gets decent gas mileage. As soon as a got to my break in mileage at 1500mi i took it to a local drift event and had a blast. Definitely got the power bump i wanted that the miata never had and Just having a modern chassis this was the "miata" coupe i was looking for. I hope this car starts the new RWD car wars and hoping to see the new 240sx, RX-7 and of course a new miata. This car definitely is the target by those manufacturers and it'll be fun to see exciting cars coming from them.

I wanted to have a baseline with a stock car so the only thing I had on was 16x6.5 wrx wheels with some falken ziex as my drift spares in the back and the stockers on the front. Only adjustments made were whiteline camber bolts up front with an alignment of 1.5 and 1.7 on the passenger side trying to max them out. My buddy who did the alignment also gave a bit of toe out to prevent chunking of the stock tire.

My first drift impressions in this car are:

1. Donuts are much easier in this car than my previous NB miata. Power and throttle response was smooth.

2. Figure 8's just needed a touch of clutch kick and ebrake. Drift knob would've made the day much easier.

3. Big sweepers in 2nd gear were very snap oversteery with a bit of roll. 3rd gear needed alot more clutch to keep the revs up.

4. The steering feel was great for the donuts but the bigger drifts it was a bit floaty compared to the manual rack the miata had so counter steering needed getting used to. Needed smooth inputs to initiate but and rough counters to get the wheel at the right place.

5. Stock steering angle kinda sucks but it was the same way with the stock miata. I guess i was spoiled with the 240.

Power was great for donuts but i feel that the car needs that extra 50hp to keep the rear happier. But then again i was babying the car around the walls so it wasn't something a little more speed could fix once i get more confident.

Now my baseline is done the next event will see some suspension upgrades and some wider wheels.

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Anaxilus.

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #968 on: July 23, 2013, 07:56:23 PM »

Nice!  Is that Argento or Whiteout?  You referring to the Cusco e-brake button for the drift knob?  I'm getting ever closer to pulling the trigger on a 10 series FRS myself.  Eyeballing the Innovate Lysholm twin screw SC and perhaps a set of Ohlins coilovers.  That should get 250 crank easy w/ tons more flat torque, just waiting on CARB finalization.  Wish the Ohlins had both adjustable rebound and damping but should be fine for a daily beater.  Probably top them off w/ Swift springs.  Grab some TRD door stabilizers, JDM under panels, Seibon CF trunk w/ integrated duck tail spoiler, new wheels, rubber and brakes too.

Seems I was mistaken about the AT responsiveness also, VSC sport only was disabled w/o engaging the trans in sport as well.  Two different sport modes, ugh.  Forgot about this Subie feature as my Legacy is always in sport.
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planx

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Re: The New Car Saga (and general auto chat)
« Reply #969 on: July 24, 2013, 08:11:50 PM »

Awesome! Makes me want an 86 baddddd now.

Being a huge Subaru fan, I've always worried about the "Subaru-ness" of the 86. Stock, it sounds pretty far off from a typical Subaru boxer. It sounds more like an inline engine than a boxer which worries me a little. I've heard that UEL headers can solve this, but until I hear it for myself, I'll remain a little skeptical.
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