707 replies to this topic

[Accelerated]

I just love cars, and I am sure there are many among you with a similar passion (notably Sip ). European cars are expensive here, but the Japanese are among the cheapest in the world (Japan is Australias 1st trading partner hence favourable trading conditions). We also have right-hand drive (same as Japan) making importing exotic cars that arnt officially sold possible.

Notably the Toyota Supra (Twin-Turbo 'sex-on-wheels' escpessially the sports-roof version), and the Nissan Skyline GT-R (for its price arguably the most value-for-money sportscar). Both have very reliable engines that can be easilly modified to produce even more power.

I dont really like American muscle cars, too big, sllopy and heavy. The engines (in most cases also belong in another era). European cars are the best of course, my favourite makers being BMW and of course Ferrari. BMW have a great car in the M3 but it costs a whopping AUS$140,000 here (approx AUS$1 = US$0.55)

My car of choice as you might have guessed is currently the Subaru Imreza WRX Sti (Sti stands for Subaru Technica International is the same to Subaru as the 'M' division is to BMW). I am hoping to get one in a couple of years (I know, I know YEARS), but its the earliest, there is no way I can afford one now at AUS$55,000, am only a student. But this car is light and powerful and you dont have to pay extra for gimmicky retro exterior and interior (a la Nissan Z and Audi TT).

0-100km/h in Porshe 911 equalling 5.45 sec
quarter mile in mid 13 seconds
4WD with limited-slip-diffrentials at the front and rear, this car will beat ANY OTHER production car on a loose surface (eg. gravel) except arguably the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. But the Mitsu is not a good everyday drive proposition.

Considering the most suburban roads are very different to the tarmac on a race-track, the Subaru and the Mitsu are the fastest cars from point-to-point, thats right better than any Ferrari or Porche.

Latelly I have also become interested in 4WD's largelly because of those photoes posted on Seapans site . I love the 'go-anywhere' attitude, not having to go around round-abouts LOL, just go over. But I dont think its for me, I am quite the lazy type and packing and checking the car for an arduous 4WD trip is not my cup of tea, maybe Seaphan can convince me otherwise. .

Thats all I have time for right now, please post your oppinions and comments and we can get something going. If you can be bothered include your answers for the stuff below:

Current drive: Family 1994 Toyota Camry, work 2000 Toyota HiLux (utility)

Will to drive within next couple of years :Subaru Impreza WRX Sti YEAH!

Dream car to drive: Ferrari Formula One .

[Sip]

Ha ha ha ... you need more convincing? Ok, how's this for convincing?





Oh, and what better way to watch the world cup final than this:


I don't know if I told you before or not but my cousin's friend has a fairly new WRX here which is just freaking awesome. They recently installed a blow-off valve on the turbo so when he drives the car goes ... vrrrrroooom ptshhhhhhhh ... vrrrrrroooom ptshhhhhhhh ... it's the sweetest sound!!!! The acceleration on those are just insane.

I would LOVE to be able to drive this guy one day:
WRX pic 1
WRX pic 2

By the way, glad somebody other than me also enjoys those pics!!!! I keep going through them at least twice a day.

[ July 17, 2002, 02:19 AM: Message edited by: Sip ]

[THOTH]

Well Accelerated - I will second your love of (fast/nimble) cars - even if I think that your politics/social attitudes suck.

I may be purchasng a WRX STi as soon as it is available here in the states (this fall?). A relative of mine already owns a standard WRX that he has tricked out a bit and it is awesome - still some very severe Turbo Lag.

I love the Supra Twin Turbo - for many years my car of choice (an intended buy) - but it is no longer sold here (is it still made over in Japan? exported to...where was it that you live - some little Island in the South Sea somewhere...?)). The Skyline has never been available here - though I once saw one on the road. Nissan didn't want it to eclipse its Nissan Turbo Z (new version of that car is out now - nice - but a bit tame IMO). Another vehical that I get off on (besisde, agree/of course - the M - latest one in particular) is the Audi S4. Its just hard to justify ($15K) price difference) with the WRX around (of course the STi will be a bit more $ - but I don't think too bad - under $30k I think). Looking foreward to what Audi will do with the new S4. Anyone know when it will be comming out?

Currently I own 4 cars. The out & out quickest is probably a Supercharged Toyota MR2 - with which - believe it or not - I have dusted many a Mustang GT and Corvette (to their great surprise). I run semi-slicks on it and its cornering (in dry) is practically unbeatable. Of course much of the former is attributable to the driver (me). Its particularly great on curvy mountain roads and such and I have driven it all over the country - through the Rocky Mountains - up and down the appalacians (Blue Ridge parkway) etc etc - all the while dogfighting with the motorcyclists ("You shall not pass!" * Gandalf - LoTRs). Spent 2 weeks driving around out in our great west several years ago - put over 5,000 miles on the car (mostly small wilderness roads in Colorado and Utah) - great adventure. (ended it with a 26 hour straight run - (no stops other then gas) - from Boulder Colorado to home - here near DC (T-tops down all the way). And I also own a 64 1/2 Mustang Convertable 4 barrel V8 - mint/show (original) condition - with less then 50,000 miles on it. Enough said.

My daily drive is a Mazda Millenia - Supercharged - also a much hotter car then you might imagine (for a family sedan). In fact it is a 3 time road rally race winner - up against BMWs (incl an M3), Mustang GTs, Volvo Turbos, Volkswagon Gtis and an asundry of other vehicals. And in fact this year (this weekend actually) my team is sponsoring the very same rally event (sponsorship shifts every year with first offer going to previous years race winner.

As for 4 wheeling - it looks like great fun - but for me speed is the thing. In the past I have done faux 4 wheeling (with various 2 wheeler) - again you might be surprised - certainly I could never do the ground clearence olympics or the verticals (but to the cars limit) - and again I surprised lots of folks. I can remember once out in California (north of the Mojave Desert a bit - (Red Rocks canyon I believe) I surprised a rail car driver by tailing him at 60mph in a wash (sand) in my Toyata Starlet! Those were the days...

[Azat]

I too love the pictures from Sip site. I think only because I dream of someday being able to be free from life and work and everything else to drive around in the middle of no where.

However I do not get why people fall in love with their cars. I buy cars only out of need. I own two cars 2001 Volvo S60 and 1996 Nissan Maxima. They both are great cars(I think) but not as much fun. I am looking to sell the Maxima in the next year and buy a BMW 540 or if there is a God and my company stock price goes up a little I will get the M5.

[MosJan]

Cars Cars Cars EhHhhhhhh

I do not like sport cars my self - > Any More <- even tough I do drive fast at times. now days I’m more in to Family cars 4 doors - something you can fit a car seat in it.

i do enjoy 4willing - and driving 4x4 cars -
one of this days I will get hold of a 40's U.S. Army Jeep Willys-M class and see if i can make a monster or a 70's toyota Land Cruiser

I have made up my mind wan I grow up I will be like Seaphan : He h a

[THOTH]

Well what can I say - you just have to be a driver I guess. Think of how much time you spend in a car (as most of us do) - better it joy time then drugery - eh? I love to drive - and I love to drive different/special cars - and I purchase cars that exite me. (again you spend alot of cash - you should get something more then just transporation - IMO). The M5 is hot - but I don't understand that you would spend for something like that if you think of cars only as transportation. (or chick magnet?) Often I think great cars are wasted on the rich.

A guy I know is a driving instructor at a local track and he has stories of all of these Ferrari, Porshe, BMW & the like owners who come to these driving clinics and full blown courses to teach them how to properly drive their cars. He says less then one in ten has a clue how to properly drive their cars - or even wishes to really (many are out and out frightened to push their cars even near to what they can do). They buy these super fast - super capable cars - and for what? Status? Its requirred for admission to the country club? Such a waste I say.

Once I met this French fellow - a friend of a friends - who was visiting here in the states - actually he would come here and buy used Corvettes to sell back in France - doubles his money or more on every one....anyway, he told me that he owned & drove several corvettes and BMWs (big & small) and loved to drive very fast etc. I said "oh really" and took him out for a spin in my MR2. Within minutes he was screaming for me to slow down/stop and squeezing so hard on the dashboard I thought his fingers would sink through. Anyway (after) he said he only liked going fast on straightaways! LOL. He also said he wanted to go out now and buy a Supercharged MR2 for himself because it was way more fun & fast in the curves then he could every imagine. (Of course this is very driver dependent). (So do French people always pee their pants and scream alot when they get exited?) Anyway - I'm better then an e-ticket ride at Disney. If its not tied down it flies out the window - literally. LOL...well I digress...Funny how he never accepted another ride from me (but, eh - that list is a long one...LOL)

[Azat]

Tooth, I like good cars. However I have never fallen in love with any car. I don't enjoy driving as much as I use to. I drive 17 miles to work each way everyday and it takes me 1:15 each way. So I just become a zombie when I get in the car and kick in the autopilot and get home.

As to the M5. I have never owned a good car until I got the Max followed by the Volvo. I didn't really want the Volvo, but did not have the money to get a 5 series.

As to the M5. Well, I think it is a great car(My best friends father has one) and I want one after driving it for 5 minutes.

[THOTH]

Perhaps why I fall in love with my cars (and cars in general) is that I have such great memories made (of really good times) when I am in them. Even in my old beat up toyotas from college days...though many of those memories concern actions/interactions with female passengers...

I'll have to tell you all about my nearly flying off of Hwy 1 and into the ocean as I was driving with my g/f (with her, em...head on my lap) (after a major spin out) between Malibu & Oxnard (don't rightly remember wewre on the stretch it occured - just that it was while going around a big sweeping curve with a rather large drop off on the ocean side) - and I guess my attention was somewhat diverted from the road...(some here may remember my telling of this story on another Armenian web site a few years back...). And of course its even possible to enjoy the vehical when stationary (the car that is - except perhaps some rocking to & fro)....

[Sip]

Wow Thoth, never imagined you as a sports-car, fast-drivin kinda guy

Talking of "chick magnets", my first car ever was a beat up, burgandy colored, 1982 Chevy Malibu station wagon. The interior was also supposedly burgendy but sometimes you couldn't tell since it was so dirty. I drove that hunk-o-junk for a couple of years ... When I would show up to school with that (highschool), everyone (especially the girls) would run in the opposite direction and hide.

Well, one morning, I drove it to school, parked it as usual, got out to notice the entire street and parkinglot was filled with white smoke and everyone laughing ... I think it had busted the head gasket or something and water somehow ended up in the engine, making a nice steam cloud over and around the school area That was the end of that car ...

But I still LOVED it. I enjoyed every minute of driving that car. I would actually (and still do), sometimes take the longer way to get from point A to B

As far as speed, my current car can certainly do 0-60. I am sure of it. However, I have never really been able to figure it out since by the time I approach 60MPH, I am already close to the desitnation and have to start slowing down

.

[ July 17, 2002, 12:47 PM: Message edited by: Sip ]

[THOTH]

I understand. However its not so far (perhaps) that you could consider biking to work or taking alternative transportation. I did this when in LA (and I avoided freeways regardless [during rush hour] - always able to find my way around better on the surface streets. I used to bike to work from Hollywood (Grifith Park area ...I used to live right on Normandy near Franklin) to Downtown LA (6-8 miles each way). I could get to work faster then if I was driving). Then for a while hear (near DC) I biked to work 24 miles each way (even in the winter). There were no shower facilities at work however so it was tough in the summer particualrly. I'd be biking again if it weren't for the obligations to be home to pick up kids from school & such - and I carpool with my wife now....etc

Oh and if you don't have the cash for a 540 (a rather large car in my book anyway...but thats just me)....you should look at the Audi A6 2.7T - a great car. I talked my brother in law into getting one (as opposed to the Lexus or Volvos etc he was looking at) and another friend of mine has one that he has tricked out to 360 hourspower. (for real) - awsome machine (even in base form).

[THOTH]

Well I'm not such an old fart as I might seem.

I guess my equivilant was my old 1981 Toyota Starlet - I did everything in that car (including railroad tracks and moterbike trails!) - At one point (after 3 accidents - none even remotly caused by me) - I refused to wash the car (for several years) - its dirt was practically a 1/4 inch coating. Once when I was parked in La Joija (near San Diago...rich area) - someone actually washed the car while I was away from it....I was crushed...

I can practically reach 60 by the end of my drivway (in reverse). Any day that I don't at least hit 100mph once must have been a day where I didn't drive. (well the last statement is perhaps stretching it a bit...but less then you might imagine).

Of course my Mustang is my pride & joy - and I often just do the slow cruise...but sometimes I just cant help myself and must get those carbs blowing....it still lays down rubeer in first and second gear. Nothing like the sound (& feel) of that "chirp" when your driving along and can still lay a patch...(just did a nice one last night as a matter of fact).

[ July 17, 2002, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: THOTH ]

[Azat]

Oh I know. My best friend has one and we droove that car to vegas couple of months ago. It was fun. It is not much cheaper than 540. I think he paid close to 42K for that.

[Azat]

By the way I use to live 2 houses down from Franklin on Winona. One block west of Normandy. You have to see how trendy that area has become now. there are so many cool little places to eat there. Vermont and Hillhurst between Hollywood and Los Feliz as very happening young places to go now.

[Azat]

Tooth now I really know why you love your cars. It is the experience in the car.

Oh, I forgot to tell you about my first car. It was my dads old car. A 1976 Olds Delta 88. That thing was SO huge. At the end the back doors would not open from inside and all the windows except the driver window would not roll down. So it was a great chick trap. The only way I could get women not to run out of my car. Except I had a hard time figuring out how to get them in the car at the first place.

From that car, I went to a Toyota Corolla SR5(small 2 door) and I drove that thing to the Florida Keys with 2 other friends for a scuba trip. 3 days each way with 3 guys and 3 scuba gear and a hot summer trip. Need I say more. But it was still alot of fun.

I am starting to wonder if I love cars as well. hmmmmm...

[THOTH]

Azzat - perhaps we were neighbors - eh. I lived there from 1982 to 1987 - like you 2 door down from Franklin. The Los Filiz area was always nice and the Vermont corridor in particular has nice eats & such. Palermo Pizza! etc - do they still serve free wine while you wait for a pizza? Once I carried out a pizza with 2 or 3 wine cups on top of my box for the walk home - immediatly ran into 2 cops on their way to the restaurant - they saw the wine and laughed - wishing me a nice walk.

Of course you know Panos pastry! (It moved after the Northridge quake I think (I was still there for the Whittier quake (right before I moved) and suffered a good deal of damage.

Do you know if a restaurant called Ara's is still on Hollywood? (next to where Panao used to be). Best chicken kebabs in the world. I really loved that neighborhood. All of the Armenian grocery owners knew me and even if i didn't have money on me would just write an IOU & such. Lets see what else - Zankou chicken, Falafel Arax...ahh great food memories.

I remember when the cleaned up the neighborhood in '84 before the Olympics. Chased all the whores over to Santa Monica Blvd or such - shame really - they kind of spiced up the area a bit. (though I once had to bail a friend out of jail for such....)

I try to visit when I'm in town - but thats been a few years now. My impression was that it was getting more run down...perhaps it has changed - always had potential.

BTW - Hollywood Toyota had banned me from test driving their cars! LOL. I just remembered that (and it keeps this post on topic!)

[MosJan]

m5 ?

it's a nice car but not for me can not do any 4willing
I was #7 on the list at our BMW dealer / yes it was fast and the salesman laughed at me wan I told him that this is not for me / I can not use this for 4willing.

the new one that i like other then the new h2 is the MBZ G-Vegan "Rabiz-Vagen" I do not know way but I love this car it's cool

[ July 17, 2002, 04:43 PM: Message edited by: MosJan ]

[Accelerated]

Wow, I was expecting enthusiasm, but not this much... the thread has taken off...

There are few sweeter engine notes in this world than the warble of a boxer. Add blow-off valve for aural ensemble!

I am not sure when, but I am pretty sure the US market will be getting it. Mind you, the previous WRX was better, both in Sti trim and standard, mainly because it was some 150kg lighter. Australia was the ONLY country in the world to officially get the previous Sti (400 were imported). My friend got one, I drove it , a few months later he crashed it into a pole at over 120km/h. The car was a ride-off and so would have been a front-passenger. The insurance refused to pay because they argued he was speeding. Also, it might be worth waiting a year if you dont like the exterior styling of the Rex (WRX nickname here). Because the famous stylist of the current Alfa Romeo (I forget his name) range has been hired by Subaru to restyle the Impreza, and the facelifted version will be available (in Japan) at the end of this year

Thats part of the fun!

No, they discontinued in 1998, hopefully there will be a replacement coming soon, but no word on it yet

The Skyline doesnt look much, but it has a fearsome reputation everywhere its been. the 2.6L Twin Turbo engine can be souped up to 1000bhp.

I dont like the 'retro' looks

I am not a big fan of Audis, they look great, but their chassis is a let-down.

The M5 is a fast limo, too heavy. Save yourself a handful of money and get an M3 instead.

Probabaly because you'd have to be over 50 to fall in love with a Volvo!

Guys, I cant believe you can afford such expensive cars. I mean the M5 here costs almost AUS$200,000 and the Volvo S60 in the vacinity of AUS$100,000. Are prices less in the US or do you guys just get paid obcene wages?

[Sip]

Wait wait wait ... are you telling me you don't get that bi-weekely check with all the zeros on it from Hyeforum (sigend by Mosjan) just for being a member?

[Accelerated]

No, I dont get anything! Mos better fix me up soon or he might find me on his doorstep one day with a sledgehammer.

[Sip]

The Benzo G wagon?

You mean this one?


(from this year's LA autoshow) ...

I really like that too. The suspension is just sweet but probably not too easy to lift and expensive as hell. I can't imagine too many of those hitting the trails out here ... I have seen a few of them rolling around in brentwood, westwood, and beverly hills recently ... many of them driven by women

Yah, if I had a $100K to spare, I'd buy one and fix it up. For now, Chevy it is for me.

By the way, the new Hummer H2 ... :barf:

I don't like it at all... it 'looks' ok but I think GM really screwed it up :cry: The old hummer had so much clearance with those planetary gears at the wheels ... now it's just a normal IFS (independent front) truck ... just like the normal GM trucks. And its so big, it'll be pretty useless offroad.

Here are side-by-side comparision pics that I took of the H2 and H1 (click for biggger) to see what I mean:



And here are the rears of the H2 and H1:



The clearance on the H1 is just amazing. Oh and note how the shaft goes above the center-line of the wheel on the H1. It's because of those extra gears they have at the wheels. I love that design.