I am just getting into the whole import thing with my own car. I have always loved cars anyways, i recently bought a 91 toyota mr2 turbo. I love the car, t-tops leather stick shift, and it’s red.
Unfortunetly, though, I had a little run in with a gaurd rail. (gaurd rail won) I was traveling at um… about interstate speeds. When the suv in front of me jumped into the right lane, I saw this big orange barrel laying right in the middle of my lane. So i went to the left (there was a semi to my right) into the medians gravel (sideways) and was able get it back up on the pavement but still sideways couldn’t straighten up in time and slammed into the guard rail. Then spinning around as i slid down the rail and putting my left rear into the rail.
Sounds bad, but surprisingly the car is ok, my neck hurts, but the car is ok. I will need to replace the front and rear bumpers, rear left tail lamp, and the front and left quarter panels will need to be pulled out just a bit. $$ouch$$
Since I was going to put a body kit on the car anyways, I figure there is no better time than the present.
Yes, they have the Special Olympics too, for the handicapped.
I can tune a Crown Vic and whip a tuned civic.
This isn’t an anti import thing – I have a '74 BMW R75 motorcycle that’s been breathed on a little, and I love it. I just don’t understand the concept of a front wheel race car, whether American or Japanese, or whatever.
Racing a front wheel drive is like riding a horse backwards. I don’t get it, and I want someone to explain it to me.
That magazine wouldn’t happen to be named something like "Honda Tuner " or something like that? I bet you it is. And I bet you that magazine is as objective as Car and Driver back in the 60’s when they put a Pontiac GTO up against a Ferrari GTO and the Pontiac “won”? How 'bout a real test, a fair test.
Also, a type R is extremely rare, and no amount of tuning a civic with an unlimited amount of money is going to get you that performance… but any old rear wheel drive, including those they make for drifting in Japan, will whip a type R.
DoctorDec, Homeslice, et. al, it’s already been said - you want to argue about this, take it to the Pit. This thread isn’t for posturing about how American cars are better, or import cars are better, or how buying import is evil because it destroys the Great American Economy, etc. You want to fight about it, there’s a forum for that. Sheesh, can people just read the OP before jumping in?
I’d like to know, not even from a racing perspective, how realistic replacing an engine is in an older, say, Civic. Just to give you a scenario, the car is an older Civic that’s eating a quart of oil with every tank of gas. Assuming you can find an old heap (maybe $500) that has a decent engine through an auto magazine (and I’m curious as to what the outlook on that is) to replace it, which of these three option are most economically viable:
1: Don’t bother, keep driving the car until it dies. Keep in mind, it’s sucking down a quart of oil every week and a half or so.
2: Get the heap, swap out the old engine - assumes that the new engine isn’t burning much or any oil and run reliably. Again, how likely is that?
3: Just get a cheap used car. That Civic is a money pit anyway.
“Y’all can go to hell, I’m goin’ to Texas”
Is there a diff?
Are you talking street racing? ,or on the track? 1/4 mi or course? Are you a legit “import racer” (licensed) or just a street racer?
What is your opinion regarding racing stressed vs non-stressed power plants?
My old Topaz had a flux capacitor in it. There was an accident with a two-by-four that resulted in a big chunk out of the rear seat in the dead center. The standing joke about it was “If you hit 88 MPH in the car, you will go back in time.” The car would not do 88… excepting possibly downhill with a tailwind. If I recall correctly, we made it out of some tubing and an old Laser Tag target.
There are currently three domestics in potential consideration for being “better than imports”, that match in size and class.
The Ford Focus SVT
The Dodge Neon SRT-4
The Saturn Ion.
Why are they better? I don’t know. Are they better? I do know the Neon is the second fastest car Dodge has made, second only to the Viper. The Ion is not yet out, I don’t know if the SRT-4 is on sale, and the Focus is amazing, if a bit underpowered.
Oddly, my insurance company marks the SVT as $100 more for six months than the SRT-4 or WRX.
No I wasn’t referring to turbos or superchargers, if he’s “pretty versed” he’ll know what I’m talkin’ aboot.
BTW why do think forced induction is a waste of time?
Satrun ION? C&D called it “probably the most disapointing new American car in a decade”
Also, check out older Audis, especially older S4s (now called UrS4) and late model A4 1.8Ts
Either of those cars can be made much faster than most japanese front drivers for much less money, are much nicer looking and more luxurious, and the quattro system cannot be beat.
The tuner scene for Audis is quite vibrant as well, with many companies participating and the quality of the aftermarket parts is generally superior to what is available for japanese cars. (Being mainly German, the aftermarket parts are generally TUV certified)