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Wont someone buy me one

http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/images/2003/02/04/04sub1.jpg

 

quote:
Subaru's WRC2003 world rally car will be on display at the Brisbane International Motor Show, which opens on Friday. It will be the Australian debut for the car Subaru hopes will be a front-runner in this year's championship.

The car is the result of a collaborative design process between the UK company Prodrive and the Subaru factory in Japan.

 

Subaru says that the all-wheel-drive Impreza WRC2003 (pictured, above) features revisions to the engine, roll-cage, body panels and aerodynamics package. The body shell has been lightened and stiffened. Surface area on the raked front end has been reduced to lessen wind resistance and improve air collection into the engine.

 

The Subaru World Rally Team this year features drivers Petter Solberg and former World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen. Makinen (39), won four consecutive world rally championships, from 1997- 2000. He won one race in 2002 and finished eighth in the championship.

 

Round two of the 14 round WRC2003 season will be run in Sweden from the 6th-9th of Febuary. Round one was held last month in Monte Carlo, where Citroen drivers achieved a spectacular 1-2-3 finish.

 

The race was won by Frenchman Sebastien Loeb. He shared the podium (pictured, below) with his team-mates, Scot Colin McCrae and Spaniard Carlos Sainz. McCrae won the WRC in 1995, Sainz in 1990 and 1992.

 

It was a first up trifecta for the French car manufacturer, in its debut season as a fully fledged WRC team.

 

The Brisbane International Motor Show is being held at the city's Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7-16 February. Subaru Rally Team Australia will also feature at the Subaru stand.

 

Team drivers Possum Bourne, Cody Crocker and Dean Herridge will attend the show in the afternoon of Saturday 15th February. They will meet fans and promote the 2003 Australian Rally Championship -- due to start in March. Bourne is the reigning ARC drivers champion, having secured his record breaking seventh consecutive title last year.


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Yes Sip - wee see that (looks like fun BTW - you'll have to see me drive (in LA) sometime - such thrills are not possible out on the slickrock - I'll guarantee that...

 

As for WRX being gay/being marketed to gays - etc etc...whats the big deal? Gays are human justr like everyone else - I don't see them as a seperate specieis (or even as a "them" ...even though I am not one of "them" etc) - but no problem - I've been mistaken as "gay" before - I used to live in Hollywood BTW - and I don't dress to other's conventions - but as I wish to... And I wasn't really wearing anything kinky - well at least not that time - just colorful...how am I supposed to know that purple & yellow are "gay" colors? etc LOL...It was a convertable full of gals that started calling me all sorts of names too - and I chased them down (I was on foot) and offered to proove their allegations untrue...another time I was in the same area of Hollywood (also on foot) and needed to pee real bad...so I stepped into this bar...(most of the rest is blocked from my memory...only that there was no physical contact - LOL)...anyway...

 

Accel - we are planning to test drive a WRX this weekend BTW. No Sti - too bad - just the standard. I've been trying to convince/sell the wife on the safety of the car. (There is supposed to be snow on the ground...!)

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quote:
Accel - we are planning to test drive a WRX this weekend BTW. No Sti - too bad - just the standard. I've been trying to convince/sell the wife on the safety of the car. (There is supposed to be snow on the ground...!)
Well, thats too bad (LOL - safety of the car), maybe you should give the Subaru dealer a visit earlier and explain your situation, I suspect a car salesman might do a better job of convicing your wife on this safety issue (thats assuming they would rather sell an Sti)
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We test drove the WRX this weekend - and the wife loved it! (It did drive great). Now she wants one....but not the STi of course...LOL - She can't see why anyone would want any more power! and she is afraid about what I would do in such a car (and thinks it will be a bad example for the kids! - they already urge me on - "can't you go any faster dad?" "Well - yes - but not with you in the car..."). And of course - like me - she prefers the styling of the wagon (not offered in the STi)...but we shall see. Probably won't be buying right away...and I just might put a deposit on an STi anyway (can always get it back...). Afterall she did say that to her she couldn't care about the extra power etc of the STi... We did talk safety BTW - and while I made the points she wasn't fully buying it. The dealer guy actually pushed the regular WRX to a point - wanted to sell one now - and the STi's will all get sold - no problem...though he was very enthused about the STI - almost too much so - making the wife suspicious/warry about buying a "race car" etc...LOL - can't win I guess.

 

I would be very happy with the WRX - it is reasonably fast - handles extremely well - and I likely could make a deal on it...however I would always be thinking what could have been - for a measly few thou more...anyway - we shall see (at least she is very positive about the WRX - and no more thoughts of a Jetta wagon or some such...LOL!)

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quote:
- and the STi's will all get sold - no problem...
Yes, I suspect so, at least the first year will be a sell out

 

quote:
the kids! - they already urge me on - "can't you go any faster dad?" "Well - yes - but not with you in the car..."
LOL

 

quote:
however I would always be thinking what could have been - for a measly few thou more...anyway - we shall see
Yes, for sure that would be too bad, escpessially after you see the 18 year old punk in an Sti beat you from the traffic lights....
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Congrats Nairi!

 

I know you worked hard for this. For all our talk of driving fast/crazy etc - I don't want to give you the wrong impression. Driving is a very serious responsibility. Its one of the only activities that you normally engage in where you could actually kill or seriously hurt people including yourself. Any lapse or safety failure could screw up your life and that of others. You always have to be aware of this when driving on the road. Its truly serious business. Don't think that I am not aware of this whenever I get behind the wheel. I do what I do because I have gained the skills by a serious approach and I urge you to always be aware of and maintain such a perspective. Sorry to be so serious - as driving can be great fun and a great freedom. I absolutly love to drive. Once you get a little experience I suggest getting together with some friends and doing a road trip! It can be a very fun and very memorable experience.

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Congrats Nairi,

 

Driving really is IMO one of the greatest pleasures of this world, but it shouldnt be taken for granted because there are too many idiots sharing the roads with us. As long as you drive within your limits (ability to control car at speed) and keep an eye out for the idiots you will be fine .

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Thanks you guys. I will definitely keep your advice in mind as I kept your last advice in mind when I took up lessons again. Thanks again for everything. And yes Thoth, I had to work (very!) hard for it. Mind you, I didn't even drive that well this time, but at least I didn't almost run over two bicyclists!

 

Cheers,

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I got some really great news guys! My Camrys engine being on its last legs, we ended up gettin a brand new car, none other than the very sexy Mazda 6. It was either that or the new Camry, the Mazda was a little more expensive but was better equiped and drove VERY nicelly. The interior is also super! It wont beat a Rex (WRX) off the lights, but its 10 times more stylish and corners very well, very flat. The gearbox we got was a 4-speed auto (so my mum can drive too), BUT sequential auto. If I had the money though, I would get a manual WRX of course, but this was a compromise Im happy with. Were takin delivery this Thursday. Check out some picks of the Mazda 6

 

http://www.mazda.com.au/articles/images/mazda6_sedan_lrg.jpg

 

http://www.mazda.com.au/articles/images/mazda6_hatch_lrg.jpg

 

http://www.mazda.com.au/articles/images/mazda6_interior_lrg.jpg

 

http://www.mazda.com.au/articles/images/mazda6_dash_lrg.jpg

 

This will certainly keep me happy, untill I graduate and get an Sti (a couple of years). Wont have to accomodate the needs of my mother then

 

I also test drove a modified Mitsubishi FTO (my friends is stock), VERY VERY FAST, also sequential auto, the engine sound was orgasmic from than 4-inch muffler...it had arrived from Japan the day before.

 

ZOOM - ZOOM - ZOOM

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quote:
Originally posted by Accelerated:

Ford? Dont tell me this beauty is badged as a 'Ford' in the States?

 

PS. I do know Ford owns Mazda


By the way, I was just kidding bud! It looks SWEEET ... Congrats!!! Oh and when you get it, send me the pics ... I'll post them for ya.
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quote:
It looks SWEEET ... Congrats!!! Oh and when you get it, send me the pics ... I'll post them for ya.
Thanks bro, and will do....with the pics. In fact I am going to become a Godfather this saturday (LOL they dont know what i get up to Thurs-Sat nights), and that will be an occasion to dress up and get a few photoes taken .

 

Unfortunatelly, no good comes without bad. Just one day before putting the Camry in the paper for sale (ie. today), the engine head got cracked (again) as it was being cleaned (degreased). Cant take out the add out of the paper, its too late, and its gonna cost us at least US$500 to fix.

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darn those Camrys

 

my dad's old camry (90) broke down a month ago. engine gaskets. i can't even sell that thing for $1000 now.

someone offered $300 the other day. lol

 

but i got new camry (01) and gave my old buick (91) to my dad.

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Camrys are good (reliable, cheap to maintain etc.) cars, but the 4-cyl engine is too small for that car, so everyone has problems with heads and gaskets after 100K killometres. Hope your O1 Camry is a V6, otherwise should sell it just before 100K.

 

[ February 18, 2003, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: Accelerated ]

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Would have gotten this one, if my mum could drive manual

 

quote:
Lightweight, 'optimum' M3 for Oz

By Chris. Gable

Wednesday February 19 2003

 

BMW here has managed to grab 20 of the 265kW, limited production "optimised" CSL M3s for Australia. And, if your pocket can stand to be lightened by $210,000-plus, you too could own the lightweight hottest ticket in town.

The handbuilt car which started life as a concept that wasn't going to be built should be here later this year. Right-hand-drive production starts mid-year, and BMW says it expects to have cars here in the third quarter.

 

Price for the ultra-exclusive super M3 is indicative at this stage, although BMW is quoting "in excess of $210,000", and says the real price will be set closer to the arrival date.

 

BMW is calling the CSL "the 110 percent car" and the "optimised M3" -- and both epithets appear, on paper at least, to be right on the mark.

 

With carbon-fibre and aluminium practically wherever it's possible to use the stuff, 19-inch wheels and race car power-to-weight ratio, the CSL was a concept-only when it first appeared at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show.

 

Obviously, BMW management changed its tune.

 

The limited production car sheds 100kg from the M3's kerb weight, achieved mostly through the use of the lightweight materials but also considerably helped by the deletion of leather seats (it gets high-tech sports seats instead) together with the sunroof, onboard monitor and audio system.

 

Transmission is the paddle-shift controlled SMGII, and the car's centre of gravity has been lowered to help generate even more roadholding than the already-impressive M3.


http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/images/2003/02/19/19csl.jpg

 

http://drive.fairfax.com.au/content-new/images/2003/02/19/19csl1.jpg

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quote:
Originally posted by Accelerated:

Camrys are good (reliable, cheap to maintain etc.) cars, but the 4-cyl engine is too small for that car, so everyone has problems with heads and gaskets after 100K killometres. Hope your O1 Camry is a V6, otherwise should sell it just before 100K.


lol

actually, the old one, the one with problem, IS V6, and is a bit over 100k.

the new one is 4-cyl. but i'll live with it.

you know... i have dreams and they don't include me driving camry in 2-3 years from now. lol

 

hmmm. i've used 'lol' more than i had since i joined the forum. something's gotta be wrong. or maybe right.

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