OT: Vehicle Pics

[Dave B]

Many of you have other hobbies and interests besides cycling as do I. Some of you have great experiences in cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, etc.

I have tried with no success to get Jack to take pics of his Titan for me, so I figure if we begin a thread where we post up pics of our cool vehicles, old sports cars, new sports cars, crazy jacked up trucks or lowered VW rabbits, sport bikes, Harleys, anything that would get an ohh or ahh from the peanut gallery.

Awhile back I had hopes of getting a sports car and while the desire is there, Liz and I have a little boy on the way so it was back to an SUV for me. Not unhappy about that, but would love to see fun stuff.

I am planning on learning how to ride a motorcycle this coming spring after the wee baby is born. Most likely be selling my bikes as I dont' ride much any more (last time was July 18th) so I would love to see the other wonderful motorized hobbies you guys are into.

Pics, descriptions, anything you want to share. I think it would be cool to see Dave K's cars and hear his stories. I know Sandy has had some cool ones now and in the past.

Jack, would you pretty please post up the Titan. Love those things when they are modified.

If this is lame then by all means mods delete it. i just think some of us are into other cool stuff and I would love to see the results of the passion we have for toys.

[gone]

Cool vehicles and motorcycles, here 'ya go:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p170/ghsmith54/scan0022.jpg

After I took this, I turned it into a track only race bike and raced it at Sears Point for a while (strictly amateur). That old saying about racing being the fastest way to turn a large fortune into a small one was certainly true. Loved it though.

And here's another one (still have this one):

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p170/ghsmith54/scan0484.jpg

Edited to add one of the four wheel variety:

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p170/ghsmith54/scan0125.jpg

[AngryScientist]

Pres -

First off, why the lack of riding and seeming interest in Bikes?? Just a phase or something more serious?

Here's a pic of my (now departed) older beater truck and my Serotta, ahh the good times i had with this thing.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G1oR-gUji-Q/Tjv5DQRbHSI/AAAAAAAAADg/8FX3SS1igGo/s1600/Smithfield-20110804-00096.jpg

[FastVegan]

.

[FastVegan]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36779852@N03/

I have some good shots from the ALMS race at road america this past summer. I will post some more car pics today.

[Nooch]

nothing spells rice like dual dtm tips on an S10! Well played, Nick.

Attached, my old love.

[AngryScientist]

Attached, my old love.

and mine...

http://i52.tinypic.com/16jni9h.jpg

[Spicoli]

I can appreciate other peoples speed hobbies...no doubt! Just last night while at work I came across a place I pass by a million times everynight but last night I had to go inside. The place is commercially signed as a wholesale equipment supply with no street facing windows or doors. But in reality it is a speed shop for dragsters, race cars, and shifter karts! Custom motors everywhere, race cars, classic muscle cars, a pristine Studabaker(sp?) old 1950's dragsters and modern ones! Full on testing bays with dynos and other cool lab type stuff. I walked around with my jaw on the floor. Like a little kid and I am not into cars at all but this stuff was so cool, suppose I made the connection that racing is racing no matter what your driving.

BTW the building has been family owned for 70+ years and the local town wont let them re-zone it (it's zoned commercial) so the place became this families garage since part of the zoning include "manufacture/repair"?

[Fixed]

like the norton
cheers

[David Kirk]

My one great indulgence - a 2005 Supercharged Lotus Elise. Wild fires west of here made for some wild sunsets a few weeks back.

Dave

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6115864721_b54fcef9b5_b.jpg

[bigflax925]

My 2011 Odyssey Touring Elite.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/2011%20Odyssey/d87766db.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/2011%20Odyssey/4fd654a3.jpg

[FlashUNC]

Just to increase the possible VW overload, my 2010 GTI:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6155/6194951905_7763f86891_z.jpg

[Keith A]

Nooch & AngryScientist -- Nice VW's. I have both a 2nd gen ('91 16V 2.0L) and 4th gen (1.8T) GTi , but I need to snap some pictures. On a related note, I bought a '93 Nissan truck from an elderly uncle a couple years ago that had only $35K miles on it...great little truck!

[crownjewelwl]

997.1 c4 in back...997.2 turbo in front

[rice rocket]

Boeser Jolf!

I have one of these in my garage (not my photo, but same color), waiting for me to get off my damn bike so I can get her running.

http://www.driftsession.com/drifting_cars/fd3s_mazda_rx7/fd3s_mazda_rx7_05.jpg

I leased this for a while:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-58EpQNo2Fws/SIAJ9ZzL1oI/AAAAAAAABds/kAEvpYUyWPc/s800/DSC_0003.jpg

And I built this as a student:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/2939818238_26407e66e2_z.jpg

[rwsaunders]

My 2011 Odyssey Touring Elite.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/2011%20Odyssey/d87766db.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/2011%20Odyssey/4fd654a3.jpg

A true chick magnet...we just sold our 2000 with 200K on it and picked up a 2011...nice ride. :cool:

[Nooch]

Some of my other dubs past (and the Jetta, which is current, and the rear of the Jolf)

[Keith A]

Nooch -- Love the MK2...mine is black too...got any more pictures?

[AngryScientist]

jetta!


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lug0SSuBPw/TkukKCtRp6I/AAAAAAAAAEM/n20AzJHsGxY/s1600/Nutley-20110816-00140.jpg

[bigflax925]

Gone, but not forgotten...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Miata/DSC_6777.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Miata/DSC_6776.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Miata/DSC_6780.jpg

[Nooch]

Nooch -- Love the MK2...mine is black too...got any more pictures?

That's the only picture I have of her... Funny story about that car -- See, the car belonged to my former roommate (who had it when the pic was snapped -- he was a cyclist long before i was!) who sold it to this other kid in CT. At the time I had the Blue Anthricite Jolf and a 95 Jetta that was built for auto-x, but that I blew the engine in. The kid that bought my roomies GTI actually traded it back to me for the '95 Jetta (non-running).

I only owned it for a few months before I moved and had nowhere to stash it. Had some issues, and some rot in the floor panels, so it sold for a song (like $900) that I used to then buy the Bronze rims in the first picture of the Jolf.

So.. Fun times.

[Keith A]

Found some pictures of the MKIV GTi...
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q194/indy82799/GTI/0065.jpg

More can be seen here...
http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q194/indy82799/GTI/

[William]

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h420/SodaFuel/FJ60%20Landcruiser/IMG_8558.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h420/SodaFuel/FJ60%20Landcruiser/IMG_8552.jpg

[oliver1850]

I bought this car from Eddie Garcia in Riverside in 1982, when I was out there crewing the CanAm race. Eddie worked in a body shop at a dealer, and had painted this a Porsche color, with a very subtle pearl. Beautiful in the sun.

Drove it up to Laguna Seca for the next race, where the team I was working for clinched the 2 litre championship. I was miserable the whole week with a cold, and the October weather in Monterrey didn't help. Then drove the car home on I-80 with no heater. A night in a Nebraska rest area with snow blowing was the coldest of my whole life. I restored the interior, dropped in a 425, redid the A/C system (and heater), and had a pretty nice old muscle car. Stupidly sold it to some idiot who drove it in the salt and ruined it. Still have the original 330 engine in the barn. Would be the correct engine for a 442, if anyone needs one.

[David Kirk]

Gone, but not forgotten...

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Miata/DSC_6777.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Miata/DSC_6776.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e332/bigflax925/Miata/DSC_6780.jpg

Milk Chocolate! I love it. What a great car. Have you read about the next generation Miata. It give me the urge to write a bad check to get one.

dave

[rphetteplace]

My one great indulgence - a 2005 Supercharged Lotus Elise. Wild fires west of here made for some wild sunsets a few weeks back.

Dave

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6115864721_b54fcef9b5_b.jpg

Hey Dave......ON YOUR LEFT!!!!!! :)

[cmg]

if you watch the show "Cafe Racer" on speed TV the Norton commando is one of the popular bikes for the conversion. Who ever is building Nortons these days has also taken notice and offers up the 961 (yellow bike). very hot rod.......

[johnnymossville]

Here's my toy. Molteni Orange of course.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185853_158246087563591_100001346034509_309361_3317 425_n.jpg

[Seott-e]

Here's my toy. Molteni Orange of course.

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185853_158246087563591_100001346034509_309361_3317 425_n.jpg


I like it !

[David Kirk]

Hey Dave......ON YOUR LEFT!!!!!! :)

Very nice - what track?

Dave

[572cv]

Driving the little green wonder on the left is as close as you get to cycling in a car....

[William]

When the sun is shining and I don't feel like driving my Landcruiser I pull the old Koenigsegg CCXR out of the barn and burn the old carbon out. :D

http://www.carsbase.com/photo/Koenigsegg-CCXR_mp144_pic_58690.jpg







William

[pjmsj21]

My other pursuit is sailing and this is my latest acquistion, a one off, Stornoway 16, commissioned by the original owner and builder. It is a traditional wooden boat, with very contemporary performance levels.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . but I happen to have it on good authority that THIS is your OTHER car!

BBD

[xjoex]

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h420/SodaFuel/FJ60%20Landcruiser/IMG_8558.jpg

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h420/SodaFuel/FJ60%20Landcruiser/IMG_8552.jpg

I have a man crush on your cruiser.

-Joe

[xjoex]

My mini cooper.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/boulderjoe/mini/IMG_2445.jpg
And in winter mode:
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h85/boulderjoe/mini/IMG_3322.jpg

My old Italjet Velocifero. I really want a Stella, but no powered two wheeled rides for me.
http://robonza.com/italjet/photo-1/slideImg0.jpg

-Joe

[rphetteplace]

Very nice - what track?

Dave

Blackhawk Farms Raceway about 15 minutes south of me.

[choke]

This often keeps me off the bicycle...

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv148/BlackHills1/6-2011/DSCN2437.jpg

[fourflys]

some of my previous projects...

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cars/1999-Mazda-Miata/DSCN1607/184340273_PJCre-L.jpg

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Cars/1999-Mazda-Miata/DSCN1541/175525153_MRJ7J-L.jpg

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/1988-K100RS/DSC03295/40603424_uSWh3-L.jpg

http://threeflys.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/2006-Kawasaki-Concours/DSCN1008/69424741_YhA9d-L.jpg

[fourflys]

I have a man crush on your cruiser.

-Joe

+100!

[edl]

My first love:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1273/665460819_b79c2d0f84_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/665460819/)
mkiv supra (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/665460819/) by eddymundy (http://www.flickr.com/people/edlouie/), on Flickr

The mistress:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3193959468_85e79aed24_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/3193959468/)
the shoe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/3193959468/) by eddymundy (http://www.flickr.com/people/edlouie/), on Flickr

A one night stand:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/5743593626_f3595baf5d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/5743593626/)
2006 Mitsubishi Evolution 9 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/5743593626/) by eddymundy (http://www.flickr.com/people/edlouie/), on Flickr

And the wife:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/5722990865_73e1e9fb93_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/5722990865/)
Porsche 996 Turbo (http://www.flickr.com/photos/edlouie/5722990865/) by eddymundy (http://www.flickr.com/people/edlouie/), on Flickr

[edl]

I have a man crush on your cruiser.

-Joe

+ 1,000,000! Always wanted one. Almost bought an 80 once but the wife veto'd it...

[fatallightning]

i probably do more miles on the bicycle then anything with motors, at least commuting-wise.

my first car, bought when i was 17. 11 years in my stewardship, still got it. started as a bone stock na 91. ended up with, well, stuff. 93 jdm swap, water injection, footwork, etc. ricey a bit, but come on, i bought this in high school.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/sept19/DSC_3842.jpg

drive this now. 99 c5. heads, cam, intake, lts, zo6 suspension, hotchkiss sways, baer eradispeeds, etc etc. bike fits in the hatch with the front wheel off! first domestic. had it for a year, to be honest, almost too fast to be fun. much more fun to drive a slow car fast then vice versa, i think an 03 boxster s is in my future.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/DSC_4434-1.jpg

just sold this, i loved this hoopty. so honest. simple intake and exhaust, suspension bits and wide ass low offset wheels. fun fun fun.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/39118_562847332734_46300388_32788345_6023332_n.jpg

also, 2 wheels. pretty much stock k8 cb750. has clubmans, de mirrored and solo saddle now. otherwise, i ride it cafe to cafe.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/FxCam_1306966999171.jpg

[Steve in SLO]

Some nice pics and great vehicles here.
Here are a few of mine. Some still with me, some likely being thrashed about in by others:

[dancinkozmo]

This often keeps me off the bicycle...

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv148/BlackHills1/6-2011/DSCN2437.jpg

nice !
imho best sounding motorcycle on the planet !
i had a 96 900ss sp i stupidly sold last year....it was burning oil so it needed a valvejob and/or rings...in hindsight shouldve done the work and kept it :crap:
modding these bikes is a blast ! theyre so simple !!
you have FCR's on that ??

[maunahaole]

If a ducati has FCR's what makes more noise the clutch or the carbs?

[choke]

nice !
imho best sounding motorcycle on the planet !
i had a 96 900ss sp i stupidly sold last year....it was burning oil so it needed a valvejob and/or rings...in hindsight shouldve done the work and kept it :crap:
modding these bikes is a blast ! theyre so simple !!
you have FCR's on that ??Thanks, mine is a '95. The Arrows do make for a great sound. I still have the stock carbs on her though I've opened the airbox and rejetted it. If a ducati has FCR's what makes more noise the clutch or the carbs? Loud clutches save lives. :D

[Elefantino]

http://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=65135&stc=1

A leftover downtube sticker thanks to Pete. Schwag stickers thanks to lots of folks.

128K.

The tag refers to lives.

[rounder]

I bought this car from Eddie Garcia in Riverside in 1982, when I was out there crewing the CanAm race. Eddie worked in a body shop at a dealer, and had painted this a Porsche color, with a very subtle pearl. Beautiful in the sun.

Drove it up to Laguna Seca for the next race, where the team I was working for clinched the 2 litre championship. I was miserable the whole week with a cold, and the October weather in Monterrey didn't help. Then drove the car home on I-80 with no heater. A night in a Nebraska rest area with snow blowing was the coldest of my whole life. I restored the interior, dropped in a 425, redid the A/C system (and heater), and had a pretty nice old muscle car. Stupidly sold it to some idiot who drove it in the salt and ruined it. Still have the original 330 engine in the barn. Would be the correct engine for a 442, if anyone needs one.

Cool car, Mark.

I was in Florida at a car musem last week. I had forgotten how big the 1960's cars were. There was a Bonneviile with a Continental kit on the back that had fuel injection and looked huge by todays's standards. Anyway, there were a lot of cool cars there including Paul McCartney's MiniCooper. But when i was there last year there was also a #6 GT40 car in team KB colors that was not there this year. I asked them about it and they said that...well we never had such a car. How could they forget that that they had a car like that. Anyway, i sent them an e-mail with pictures, but never heard back.

[buldogge]

Here are a few of my motorized toys...

'00 BMW MCoupe (metric mechanic big cam motor, euro 6 speed, yada, yada)
'74 Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 Export
'92 Honda NSR250
'80 Vespa P225 (watercooled race motor, front disc, etc.)

-Mark in St. Louis

[SpeedyChix]

Pres, great thread idea.
Love the Land Cruiser. There are some sweet driver/riders here. I no longer ride motorcycles (and most of that was done off road).
To add to VW mix I'll include a favorite shot of my daily driver paired with some FMBs.

[maunahaole]

Speedy, that pic is illegal in at least 28 states.

[buldogge]

My SCCA ITS race car, '92 BMW 325is...haven't raced in a season and a 1/2 though...

-Mark in St. Louis

[SpeedyChix]

Speedy, that pic is illegal in at least 28 states.
Hummm, hope it's legal here :)

[DHallerman]

And I love my 2011 GTI too.

And it's also easy to get a bike inside, with the wheels still attached.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24440195/vw_gti_damascus_01.jpg

Just to increase the possible VW overload, my 2010 GTI:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6155/6194951905_7763f86891_z.jpg

[buldogge]

Putting the above race Vespa to work at Gateway a few years back...

-Mark in St. Louis

[slowandsteady]

jetta!


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lug0SSuBPw/TkukKCtRp6I/AAAAAAAAAEM/n20AzJHsGxY/s1600/Nutley-20110816-00140.jpg

What bars are those on the Kona?

[rice rocket]

FSA Omega Compact.

[kestrel]

Why is it that regardless of what we drive, we lust after all the other poster's rides????

Here's mine, while I drool over all the others!

Turbo Subie:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/DSC_0005-1.jpg

'67 BJ8:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/leftnaturallight2.jpg

FJ40:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/fj40driverside.jpg

'03 Z06
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e19/serotta/WBSMrightsidecopy.jpg

[fourflys]

^^^ LOVE that FJ40!

[kestrel]

^^^ LOVE that FJ40!
Me too, but alas too many vehicles. A buddy of mine owns it now. He just put new Michelins on it and told me yesterday he was going to list it for sale soon. He has two FJ60's, one of which is restore to daily driver and the other is about to undergo a rear main seal replacement among other things. He also just bought a beautifully cared for Mercedes SL 500.

[choke]

'92 Honda NSR250Very cool and definitely something you don't see every day. :beer: The Mini is nice too.

[oliver1850]

Cool car, Mark.

I was in Florida at a car musem last week. I had forgotten how big the 1960's cars were. There was a Bonneviile with a Continental kit on the back that had fuel injection and looked huge by todays's standards. Anyway, there were a lot of cool cars there including Paul McCartney's MiniCooper. But when i was there last year there was also a #6 GT40 car in team KB colors that was not there this year. I asked them about it and they said that...well we never had such a car. How could they forget that that they had a car like that. Anyway, i sent them an e-mail with pictures, but never heard back.


Sounds like they are forgetting for a reason, but I have no idea why. I bet if you do enough searching you can find where it is now. I love the 60s cars, especially GMs. My dad and mom drove their '64 Catalina to Mexico in the summer of '66 I think. No A/C, and my mom had one of those B-52s hair-dos. For some reason she doesn't look too happy in the pics from that trip. I had 2 of them, one was a '62 Bonneville with a tri-power 389, and the other was a '64 Catalina with a 389 and 3 speed. It was really a stripped down car, but had the 8 lug rims with the giant finned aluminum drum brakes.

A couple of comments on bulldogge's pics: (1) That Vespa pic is great. (2) I really like the thank you to the corner workers on the race car, so typical of you. I've never understood why those people aren't paid, especially for pro events. (3) Is your shop an old gas station? Any history on it? The building looks really cool. (4) I want a ride in the Mini

[Louis]

Since this is the racer-boy thread, and I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to engine performance, this sounds like a good place for me to ask this question:

Let's say you're comparing the performance of two cars of approximately the same weight but with different engines, and all you know is the max HP and max torque of each, can someone please explain to me under what conditions does higher HP become evident, and under what conditions does the higher torque become evident? (Assume we are not talking about truck stuff like towing a boat up Mt Washington.)

In a related question, let's say what one is most concerned about is launching from a very low speed at the bottom of an on-ramp to say, 60 mph at the top of the ramp, what's more important, HP or torque?

TIA
Louis

[Steve in SLO]

In general with all other factors being equal:
more torque=faster acceleration
more HP=higher top speed

[tele]

more Dubness 2010 Vw Sportwagen Tdi
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6195450605_7be83aa0ea_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62538017@N07/6195450605/)

[bicycletricycle]

this is my sweet ass truck after my cross country move. A custom plywood camper shell extension and a roof rack over the cab with 6 bikes on it let me cram everything i own into and on it. Google street view snapped a pretty sweet pic of it for me.

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae236/bicycletricycle/Picture1.png

[edl]

let's say what one is most concerned about is launching from a very low speed at the bottom of an on-ramp to say, 60 mph at the top of the ramp, what's more important, HP or torque?

TIA
Louis

Two main factors will determine how fast you get to the top of the ramp:

1. Power (HP & TQ) "under the curve" - peak power is not as important as the shape of the power curve and the amount of area under it. For example, a small displacement forced induction engine that makes 500 hp at 7000 rpm but only 200 hp at 4000 rpm will not accelerate as fast as a high displacement engine that makes 450hp at 7000 rpm but 350 hp at 4000 rpm, for example. You can google "power under the curve" for more discussion.

2. Gearing - Shorter gears will aid acceleration but hamper top speed. Longer gears will increase top speed but may slow acceleration. Think like a bicycle, if you're going 5 mph and you want to sprint to 30 mph, what gear do you start in? How many times do you shift? Same idea here.

Don't forget traction - from low speeds like 5 mph, there is significant initial acceleration so traction is important. If you're doing a freeway roll, like 60 to 120, you can get away with less tire.

[vsefiream]

Ahh my other passion... I am a bit of a Firebird fan. I have had a few in my day. I currently am working on a 78 Formula 400 four speed that's undergoing a conversion to an SCCA CP class race car/street car. It's a 70's tuner car called a Fire Am by VSE (hence my screen name).:
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr273/vsefiream/My%20Fire%20Am/100_3131.jpg
It's more of a garage hermit right now rather than a garage queen. It will be sporting a 461ci, 5 speed trans, fiberglass fenders hood and quarters. It's photo history is here:Photos (http://s491.photobucket.com/albums/rr273/vsefiream/My%20Fire%20Am/) Completion date is some time in 2014. I have owned a 77 Formula 400 4spd, a 74 Formula 400 4spd and a 70 Ram Air III Formula 400 4spd.
My daily is an old Dakota:
http://i491.photobucket.com/albums/rr273/vsefiream/IMG00097.jpg

[buldogge]

Hey Louis... If we're talking about the Integra then I would look at positive displacement superchargers (Whipple, Lysholm, etc.) or a smallish turbo. As already mentioned make sure you have a limited slip front end...for the street, a Quaiffe would be fine.

Again, already pointed out, you want a fat flat curve for what you're after...power under the curve...from say 2k rpm. 1.1L PD or maybe GT28 size turbo (don't really know Turbo stuff)...???

-Mark in St. Louis


Since this is the racer-boy thread, and I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to engine performance, this sounds like a good place for me to ask this question:

Let's say you're comparing the performance of two cars of approximately the same weight but with different engines, and all you know is the max HP and max torque of each, can someone please explain to me under what conditions does higher HP become evident, and under what conditions does the higher torque become evident? (Assume we are not talking about truck stuff like towing a boat up Mt Washington.)

In a related question, let's say what one is most concerned about is launching from a very low speed at the bottom of an on-ramp to say, 60 mph at the top of the ramp, what's more important, HP or torque?

TIA
Louis

[buldogge]

That pic is sooo Providence to me.

-Mark in St. Louis

this is my sweet ass truck after my cross country move. A custom plywood camper shell extension and a roof rack over the cab with 6 bikes on it let me cram everything i own into and on it. Google street view snapped a pretty sweet pic of it for me.

http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae236/bicycletricycle/Picture1.png

[bking]

One other hobby of mine: the road trip.
Highway One in oregon:
http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/IMG0147z/41283467_8zdEX-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/907661_QDDZ6c#41283467_8zdEX-A-LB)
MonumentValley:
http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/IMG2552z/41283508_ma49w-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/907661_QDDZ6c#41283508_ma49w-A-LB)
Mississipi River:http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/KC-to-Memphis-04/IMG0545z/40188659_Pkfcs-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/KC-to-Memphis-04/887495_RMDJgn#40188659_Pkfcs-A-LB)
Colorado, Ouray:
http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Colorado05/IMG2413x/58225765_aiJgm-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Colorado05/1242456_4rW8bQ#58225765_aiJgm-A-LB)
Tetons:http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Yellowstone0905/IMG2106x/39987984_HaYZK-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Yellowstone0905/883544_z9fND6#39987984_HaYZK-A-LB)

Just a few

[buldogge]

Hey Mark... Thanx.

Your comment about the workers really applies to most any endeavor/business/organization...something we often forget...nothing happens without the workers...end of story.

My shop was a small gas station (single tank/pump) built in the '20's, Standard I believe...it was added to with a service bay a little later and an additional 2k sq.' concrete block addition was added in the 50's. It was later a body shop in the 70's and finally a body shop supply company (who I bought it from) in the 80's and 90's. About 3800 sq' total.

You're welcome to drive the Mini anytime you make it down to the STL. Heck, by the time you make it down, I might even have my '62 Skylark back on the road (doubtful)!

-Mark

A couple of comments on bulldogge's pics: (1) That Vespa pic is great. (2) I really like the thank you to the corner workers on the race car, so typical of you. I've never understood why those people aren't paid, especially for pro events. (3) Is your shop an old gas station? Any history on it? The building looks really cool. (4) I want a ride in the Mini

[buldogge]

Great road trip pics...

I really need to make it up to Oregon (PNW in general) next year...

-Mark in St. Louis

One other hobby of mine: the road trip.
Highway One in oregon:
http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/IMG0147z/41283467_8zdEX-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/907661_QDDZ6c#41283467_8zdEX-A-LB)
MonumentValley:
http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/IMG2552z/41283508_ma49w-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/RoadTrip/907661_QDDZ6c#41283508_ma49w-A-LB)
Mississipi River:http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/KC-to-Memphis-04/IMG0545z/40188659_Pkfcs-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/KC-to-Memphis-04/887495_RMDJgn#40188659_Pkfcs-A-LB)
Colorado, Ouray:
http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Colorado05/IMG2413x/58225765_aiJgm-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Colorado05/1242456_4rW8bQ#58225765_aiJgm-A-LB)
Tetons:http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Yellowstone0905/IMG2106x/39987984_HaYZK-L.jpg (http://bking.smugmug.com/Travel/Yellowstone0905/883544_z9fND6#39987984_HaYZK-A-LB)

Just a few

[EDS]

drive this now. 99 c5. heads, cam, intake, lts, zo6 suspension, hotchkiss sways, baer eradispeeds, etc etc. bike fits in the hatch with the front wheel off! first domestic. had it for a year, to be honest, almost too fast to be fun. much more fun to drive a slow car fast then vice versa, i think an 03 boxster s is in my future.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/DSC_4434-1.jpg



Do you do Alpine repeats in the corvette?

[Nooch]

Do you do Alpine repeats in the corvette?

Knowing Fatal, i'd venture it's Bear Mountain or somewhere around there :beer:

[Dave B]

Love the Vette! some day!

[Dave B]

if you watch the show "Cafe Racer" on speed TV the Norton commando is one of the popular bikes for the conversion. Who ever is building Nortons these days has also taken notice and offers up the 961 (yellow bike). very hot rod.......

I have started watching that show to try and learn some stuff. I like the idea and look of the cafe racer bikes, but the only guy I know who knows motorcycles says they are the most uncomfortable thing to ride as a dialy driver.

I am still learning about motorcycles, but figure something simple and reliable to jet to work and back. I have heard from quite a few folks that rinding alone kind of takes its toll on the rider. None of the "boys" live where I do, but trying to talk some of the neighbor guys into it. We can have our cul-da-sac bike gang! :)

[pjm]

My '08 328i. Mildly modded. BBS wheels, Conti (non run-flat) summer tires, BMW performance intake and exhaust, Blackline taillights, etc. Fun to drive, the bike fits in it, and 25 mpg!
(I apologize for the mismatched tires on the Atlanta, I had to make a last minute change before my ride last night.)

[oliver1850]

Here's what I get groceries in when I can't muster the energy to go on the bike. I was at TrueSports in Columbus in 1986. One of the guys in the shop had a friend from SoCal that was headed home to the Atlantic coast of Canada, giving up on California I guess. By the time he got to Ohio he was sick of driving, and sold the car for a few hundred bucks, and caught a flight the rest of the way. I've been driving it since 1986, stripped and repainted it in in about 1990. It needs it again now. It's almost totally stock, 330 2 bbl, but oddly has a factory installed M-21 close ratio 4 speed. The trans is worth more than I paid for the car in 1986. I put a clutch in it about 10 years ago, that's the only mechanical work I can remember, except tuneups.

[brockd15]

Here's my '06 Chevy...

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww54/brockd15/2006%20Silverado/IMG_0815.jpg

[BlackTiBob]

Yamaha Nytro mod sled, turbocharged and significantly lightened.
330 HP
480 lbs
Aftermarket lightweight tunnel, rear suspension, front suspension.
MCXpress turbo with tunnel dump exhaust.




http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/MinnBobber/421913-R1-016-6A_008.jpg

[JDtwowheels]

Another VW.

2010 Jetta TDI Sportwagon with 70K miles

Leaving for a short weekend tour in an hour!

[jh_on_the_cape]

this is my sweet ass truck after my cross country move. A custom plywood camper shell extension and a roof rack over the cab with 6 bikes on it let me cram everything i own into and on it. Google street view snapped a pretty sweet pic of it for me.



DIdn't you show up at my house in a mini cooper to pick up some wheels once? maybe i am confusing you with someone else?

[dnades]

Lets see......330HP + 480lbs :eek: I guess you don't go from bar to bar on that sled. Top speed? baby must melt the snow.

Yamaha Nytro mod sled, turbocharged and significantly lightened.
330 HP
480 lbs
Aftermarket lightweight tunnel, rear suspension, front suspension.
MCXpress turbo with tunnel dump exhaust.




http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/MinnBobber/421913-R1-016-6A_008.jpg

[jh_on_the_cape]

You all have some crazy vehicles!
I have a 1994 Volvo 850 wagon that should be replaced soon. Lots of little things wrong that are not worth fixing.

So I go vehicle shopping and cannot find a front wheel drive manual transmission nice sport wagon that is as big as the 850! I like european sport wagons.

The jetta wagons are a little small ( i have 3 little kids).

Audi A6 only comes in auto.

V70 no longer imported.

BMW and Merc are a little pricey for me and I just cannot see myself driving around in one.

I have been looking at used cars to find the manual transmission but it's a pain. No toyota or honda station wagons!

I though maybe someone could suggest a car... I would love something like my friend's acura TL 6 speed, but a wagon.

[maunahaole]

Cadillac CTS-V wagon comes in a stick. A little spendy at sticker, pump and insurance, I'd gather, though.

You all have some crazy vehicles!
I have a 1994 Volvo 850 wagon that should be replaced soon. Lots of little things wrong that are not worth fixing.

So I go vehicle shopping and cannot find a front wheel drive manual transmission nice sport wagon that is as big as the 850! I like european sport wagons.

The jetta wagons are a little small ( i have 3 little kids).

Audi A6 only comes in auto.

V70 no longer imported.

BMW and Merc are a little pricey for me and I just cannot see myself driving around in one.

I have been looking at used cars to find the manual transmission but it's a pain. No toyota or honda station wagons!

I though maybe someone could suggest a car... I would love something like my friend's acura TL 6 speed, but a wagon.

[johnnymossville]

Here's what I get groceries in when I can't muster the energy to go on the bike. I was at TrueSports in Columbus in 1986. One of the guys in the shop had a friend from SoCal that was headed home to the Atlantic coast of Canada, giving up on California I guess. By the time he got to Ohio he was sick of driving, and sold the car for a few hundred bucks, and caught a flight the rest of the way. I've been driving it since 1986, stripped and repainted it in in about 1990. It needs it again now. It's almost totally stock, 330 2 bbl, but oddly has a factory installed M-21 close ratio 4 speed. The trans is worth more than I paid for the car in 1986. I put a clutch in it about 10 years ago, that's the only mechanical work I can remember, except tuneups.

Sweeet!

[4Rings6Stars]

All you dentists and no Audis??!?!

Turbo Legacy for me (well, us) and a Yamaha FZR600 but when I'm done school and have money (someday) it will be a turbo diesel Audi wagon....RS6 methinks.

[rice rocket]

Only Audi worth buying is an R8. The rest, BMW makes the better car in that segment, whatever the segment.

[edl]

My daily driver is a 2008 BMW 535xi wagon. It's chipped, so it has ~380hp, goes 0-60 around 5 seconds and gets 23mpg. Super comfy, very stealth - I like it. They are available in stick, but I'd estimate there are less than 200 of these in the USA from 2008-2010 model years. I understand the attraction of manuals, but if you have a good automatic like the BMW's it offers better performance.

Maybe you can find a Subaru Outback or Legacy wagon with stick. Passat wagons also come in stick but I would rather buy the DSG version. I also think they discontinued AWD Passat wagons in recent years once they realized they're infringing on Audi's market share.

Speaking of which, you could buy an Audi A4 wagon. New body style is more of a fastback than a wagon though. I had the older bodystyle, 2008. Good gas mileage, comfortable enough but a bit too small so I switched to the 535 which is better in every category.


You all have some crazy vehicles!
I have a 1994 Volvo 850 wagon that should be replaced soon. Lots of little things wrong that are not worth fixing.

So I go vehicle shopping and cannot find a front wheel drive manual transmission nice sport wagon that is as big as the 850! I like european sport wagons.

The jetta wagons are a little small ( i have 3 little kids).

Audi A6 only comes in auto.

V70 no longer imported.

BMW and Merc are a little pricey for me and I just cannot see myself driving around in one.

I have been looking at used cars to find the manual transmission but it's a pain. No toyota or honda station wagons!

I though maybe someone could suggest a car... I would love something like my friend's acura TL 6 speed, but a wagon.

[edl]

Here's a photo of my old A4 wagon, so we stay on topic...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ABLMDJqRYRw/TYlt2UK9p1I/AAAAAAAAFFA/xexnLkEmTyE/s800/untitled-4288.jpg

[bike22]

no cars or other motor vehicles.
used to own a small 15' motorboat but sold that a few years ago.

[dnades]

You all have some crazy vehicles!
I have a 1994 Volvo 850 wagon that should be replaced soon. Lots of little things wrong that are not worth fixing.

So I go vehicle shopping and cannot find a front wheel drive manual transmission nice sport wagon that is as big as the 850! I like european sport wagons.

The jetta wagons are a little small ( i have 3 little kids).

Audi A6 only comes in auto.

V70 no longer imported.

BMW and Merc are a little pricey for me and I just cannot see myself driving around in one.

I have been looking at used cars to find the manual transmission but it's a pain. No toyota or honda station wagons!

I though maybe someone could suggest a car... I would love something like my friend's acura TL 6 speed, but a wagon.


I've got a 2004 saab 9-5 arc wagon. No manual stick but it has paddle shifters and gets 25mpg around town and 31mpg on highway. IF you can deal with the fact that saab may be out of business (they keep getting resurrected though) it is a great car to own. Huge inside(78 cubic feet? something like that) and comfortable. Safer than Volvos (although I think this is because there are less saabs in the US than Volvos). No AWD although it does have its own traction control program and a "winter mode" button that changes the gearing(as well as a 'sport' mode button which makes the car scoot really fast when needed). Saab is supposedly coming out with a new wagon this year but any of the older wagons are decent buys. 04 was the last year that Saab made the 9-5 without GM interference (value engineering they call it) so if you are looking for used you might want to keep that in mind. Their CPO progam was really good when I bought mine (6yr warranty from inservice date / or 100,000 miles). Not sure what it is now. I believe 04 was the 10th year of that cars production so most if not all design flaws had been ironed out. I don't know what issues plague the newer cars if there are any. I don't care for the interiors of the newer cars but this seems to be endemic in all new car interiors. There seems to be alot more plastic involved nowadays that smell really bad.

You are right about wagons though. Not too many choices. I just had a friend purchase the last Passat wagon recently(2010 model) which he is very happy with (wife +2 kids). Another friend keeps looking for a used Volvo V70 in awd. Has had no luck finding one in NE that isn't either trashed or uber expensive. He owned a 2wd version which he loved except in winter when there were times he couldn't get up the hill near his house in the country. It fit everything(wife + 2 kids and gear) which is what he misses now.

Good luck on the hunt.

[BumbleBeeDave]

LOVE this car. Fits up to three bikes if you stack them inside, great mileage, goes like STINK and uber fun to drive. 65 more horses than a GTI . . . wind it up a little before you go out to pass somebody, then stomp on it and it takes off like a bullet. God knows what it would do if I put some modification dollars into it.

BBD

[Keith A]

Nice one BBDave :)

[Dlevy05]

.....well, only because you've asked....

[buldogge]

I had a GTV6 rotting in my parking lot for a few years until recently...

My buddy had that and a Alfetta sitting here...he plans to mate the two. We eventually cut the GTV6 into little(r) pieces and scrapped it...some (most) of the drivetrain is still in my garage. :crap:

-Mark in St. Louis

.....well, only because you've asked....

[Louis]

Cool. How many Alfa's do you have?

(I use to have a Spider, but sold it years ago.)

Edit: I doubt I'll ever own one, but I think the older GTV's are just about the neatest cars out there.

(ignore the "uglifications" on this one)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/SMlL9MZDENI/AAAAAAAA47A/IrW9gRMFr-A/s1600/Alfa-GTV-V8-11.jpg

[Dlevy05]

Only Audi worth buying is an R8. The rest, BMW makes the better car in that segment, whatever the segment.


I think this was the case from the 80's all the way up to around '99 when Chris Bangle walked in the door. In my eyes the years of the e46, e38, 39, etc. marked the end of an era for BMW.

Audi's ergonomics and attention to detail with their design are second to none, and have surpassed BMW's.

However, I will agree as was mentioned before, that I too am turned off by the lack of a manual options on many cars - especially the S series...6, 8, etc..

[rice rocket]

The E60 is the only Bangle-inspired design that I like. The F10, bleh. E90, eh. I do like the second gen Z4 though.

That said, the BMW will drive better than the Audi, 100% of the time; I'm one of those people who is almost entirely focused on the drive qualities of a car. AWD shouldn't be on "sports" cars in my opinion, nor automatics.

[Dlevy05]

Mark in St. Louis:

I'm partial to the GTV6's, as they have slightly more aggressive styling and the iconic V6. That said, the Alfetta is a very pretty car in it's own right.

These were revolutionary cars, too. I've never personally seen a drivetrain in it's entirety, but I can only imagine it to be a wonderful introspective history lesson. From the torsion bars, De-Dion suspension, to the 5 speed transaxle and inboard brakes, .... you see where I'm going with this...

Louis:

The four you see, are the four there are. I assume your spider was an S2 or S3, from the mid- seventies, to late 80's? Those are great cars, and the green '91 isn't much different aside from power steering and another facelift.

I also assume you've spotted the blue GTV behind the Aprilia. The GTV is a very special car, though, and given the chance, you should drive one, if you haven't yet. Although they share the same chain driven inline four as the spider, they're much more nimble and sporty. The added rigidity in the chassis (from the hardtop) does wonders, too - compared to the spider...

[jh_on_the_cape]

5 series BMW wagon is my dream car but not really in the professor budget. Unless it has a ton of miles then I worry about repair bills. Wife wants an A6 wagon and I am fine with that. I like Saab wagons and almost bought a used 9-5 Aero wagon with a manual transmission but it sold.

Does anyone know why no wagons from Toyota honda ford etc?

My daily driver is a 2008 BMW 535xi wagon. It's chipped, so it has ~380hp, goes 0-60 around 5 seconds and gets 23mpg. Super comfy, very stealth - I like it. They are available in stick, but I'd estimate there are less than 200 of these in the USA from 2008-2010 model years. I understand the attraction of manuals, but if you have a good automatic like the BMW's it offers better performance.

Maybe you can find a Subaru Outback or Legacy wagon with stick. Passat wagons also come in stick but I would rather buy the DSG version. I also think they discontinued AWD Passat wagons in recent years once they realized they're infringing on Audi's market share.

Speaking of which, you could buy an Audi A4 wagon. New body style is more of a fastback than a wagon though. I had the older bodystyle, 2008. Good gas mileage, comfortable enough but a bit too small so I switched to the 535 which is better in every category.

[Elefantino]

LOVE this car. Fits up to three bikes if you stack them inside, great mileage, goes like STINK and uber fun to drive. 65 more horses than a GTI . . . wind it up a little before you go out to pass somebody, then stomp on it and it takes off like a bullet. God knows what it would do if I put some modification dollars into it.

BBD
Wow.

That's a really nice-looking ... hat!

[edl]

Audi's ergonomics and attention to detail with their design are second to none, and have surpassed BMW's.



No comparison in technology though - Audi's RNS-E system is pathetic.

Audi is only competitive because they have nicely styled exteriors and well finished interiors. They've been rehashing old technology forever. How else can you mount suspension components from a B5 A4 onto a B7 A4? It's pretty much the same platform and same driving experience. I've owned all three.


5 series BMW wagon is my dream car but not really in the professor budget. Unless it has a ton of miles then I worry about repair bills. Wife wants an A6 wagon and I am fine with that. I like Saab wagons and almost bought a used 9-5 Aero wagon with a manual transmission but it sold.

Does anyone know why no wagons from Toyota honda ford etc?


An A6 wagon and 5 series wagon will have comparable repair costs. In the used market they should be similar in price - wholesale a 2008 535xit is about $28k with 46k miles, an Audi A6 would fetch ~$26k with similar mileage.

No wagons in general because they don't have much market share these days. Everyone wants SUV's. Wagons sell very well in other markets, just not here.

Me, I'd be jazzed to buy a diesel Toyota Hi-Ace...but they don't import it.

[Skrawny]

This has been my dream car since I first drove the previous iteration of the M3 about 10 years ago. I have had it about 1.5 years, and it is one of the best purchases I have ever made. Every highway onramp puts a smile on my face, every twisty road leaves me thrilled.

It is not modded. Manual transmission. Sunroof instead of CF roof (looked better in white, and I like to see sky sometimes.

I have posted about this car in the past on this forum, but incase you haven't met: gentlepeople, I give you "The Stig"

[Louis]

Mine was an '87. Great fun, but I just didn't drive it enough to justify keeping it.

For much of the time I had it, I also had a '70 Impala and a '73 Charger. Neither of those was anything to write home about, but the contrast when going from one of the American cars to the Alfa was neat. However, I could put my 61cm ST bike in the Impala's trunk without taking a wheel off. Can't say that about many cars out there today...

I assume your spider was an S2 or S3, from the mid- seventies, to late 80's? Those are great cars, and the green '91 isn't much different aside from power steering and another facelift.

[SpeedyChix]

LOVE this car. Fits up to three bikes if you stack them inside, great mileage, goes like STINK and uber fun to drive. 65 more horses than a GTI . . . wind it up a little before you go out to pass somebody, then stomp on it and it takes off like a bullet. God knows what it would do if I put some modification dollars into it.

BBD

Love those!!

[dancinkozmo]

LOVE this car. Fits up to three bikes if you stack them inside, great mileage, goes like STINK and uber fun to drive. 65 more horses than a GTI . . . wind it up a little before you go out to pass somebody, then stomp on it and it takes off like a bullet. God knows what it would do if I put some modification dollars into it.

BBD

nice !
thinking of getting one of these....could two 75 lb dogs fit comfortably in back with the rear seats folded down ??