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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 463
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Originally posted by JVT:
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There comes a point in your life where the "my car is faster than your car attitude" just doesn't cut it any more. Now that I'm a "little" older, my priorities have changed.
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very relevant quote. that's the very reason why you see a "dreaded" SUV in my sig and not the lowered import or CSVT that preceded it. i've hit that point where needs outweighed wants - with regard to performance and whatnot - so i got something that can carry me onto jobsites, carry my bikes with ease, jump curbs when tailgating at auburn football games in the fall, etc. however, i still want the performance - and i'm about to buy a 2nd car myself that will give me something fun to drive.
on topic of the original selections, my thoughts on them:
G35 - my top choice. simply gorgeous lines - there are two 6MT G35c's at my local dealer, one red, one silver w/ aero - and i spent a good 15 minutes late last night just standing by them, walking around them, and admiring their looks. the performance is certainly adequate - RWD, good chassis, decent power; nothing mind-blowing, but it's a well-rounded car that still has all the comforts and conveniences that some of us appreciate, along w/ the cachet of a luxury nameplate and, more importantly, the better dealer service and warranty that (usually) come with it.
RX8 - saw one in my mazda dealer's showroom last night; looks nice, though it doesn't really do too much for me. the idea of lightweight agility and nimble handling is certainly appealing; not sure if i'm a rotary fan or not, though.
cobra - the sound is amazing, but the cockpit is pretty cramped and outdated, imho. a friend of mine just recently bought one after waffling between it and the G35c for months - he bought it solely b/c of the engine, much as car and driver praised the car primarily b/c of the engine. there's even less room in the backseat of a cobra than a G35c, fwiw (in my experience, anyway). it's the sledgehammer approach vs. finesse. definitely will get all the boyracers and mullet-heads around you revving on you, that's for sure.
350Z - i prefer the looks, additional room, better warranty, better service, and everything else that comes w/ the G35. my .02.
STi - just when the old look was growing on me, they change the look of the front - and imho, ruined it. too amorphic and shapeless now...i respect the car but wouldn't buy one.
EVO - contrary to most, i actually like the look of it - but the boy-racer aspect of it is a bit over the top. i probably couldn't buy one just b/c i'd have a hard time paying over $30k for a car based on an econo-class subcompact, even knowing that the two are functionally so different (twice the welds in the chassis for stiffness, drivetrain, etc.). i like how it looks and performs, but i'd spend my $30k elsewhere.
SRT-4 - i totally respect its capabilities and can even overlook its neon roots, but for a daily driver, i'd have to have a car from a class or two above it. i think it would be a fun 2nd car just b/c of its performance, but on a day to day basis i think it might get old. then again, i'm getting old(er) myself, so that may have something to do with it (the comment from the owner above notwithstanding).
so, i'd get the G35c 6mt, probably pearl white w/ aero and premium packages. i actually like the spoiler on it. 
blake
--former CSVT owner--
MINE: 2002 jeep grand cherokee limited 4x4 - stone white/taupe
HERS: 2005 acura TL 5AT non-navi - satin silver/quartz
GARAGE ORNAMENT: 1962 chevy C10 fleetside pickup - tan/rust
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Hard-core CEG'er
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1 thing ive noticed, those who are putting down the neon srt-4 always refer to it as a "Neon" while the owners of one refer to it as a "SRT-4". im thinking the owners may be embarassed of the neon name. do i like the car, not really, but its fast ass hell and i respect that. and its not that bad. a basic neon looks like ass, cavaliers look like ass, and are more common than herpes on a prostitute.
Russell
Oval Port 3L Nearly Done
MTX75 w/ Homebrew Zetec FD and Torsen Complete
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,970
Hard-core CEG'er
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Wow, is the Mustang really THAT bad on space for the taller guys? My old car was an Eclipse GSX and I thought that was bad because I'm 6' 4" and 215, and in all my days of testdriving GT's and Cobra's out of bordem made me think they weren't THAT bad. But they could have some changes in '03 as I haven't had the chance to drive one yet.
Edit: "definitely will get all the boyracers and mullet-heads around you revving on you, that's for sure." 
That is one real bad down side to the Cobra I never thought about!
Last edited by Swazo; 05/23/03 06:00 PM.
2005 Ford F150 SuperCab FX4
1964 Chevrolet Impala SS
1998 CSVT: 354HP/328TQ @ 10 psi, now gone 
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Joined: Mar 2003
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For $35k you might consider a 3.0 X-Type. VERY sexy + not a common sight on the road = attention getter wetter.  Not strictly a performance car obviously, but a most respectable small sedan. If you guys have a different opinion, feel free to keep it to yourself. 
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: Mar 2003
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It just hit me !!! The ULTIMATE road car - power to weight ratio better than a Viper, skidpad near 1G with proper tires, near perfect wieght distribution - monster & sexy... A second gen RX-7 w/ a V-8 !!  Get an RX-7 then buy a 5.0 Ford or 350 Chevy swap kit from Ganny's Speed Shop.com !! You'll have it all for less than $20k !! What'ya think guys !!
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Are you serious? Putting a V8 in an RX-7?
That's just crazy. Why drop such a heavy inefficient lumnp into that car. I would stick with the 13B and build it up with a Turbo. THAT would be an awesome car!
What your suggesting is like telling a Hot Rodder to pull out his 427 from his Nova and drop in a RB26DETT instead!
2000 SVT Turbo 295hp/269ftlb@12psi
#1 for Bendix Brakes Kits!
Knuckles rebuilt w/new bearings $55
AUSSIE ENDLINKS $70
Gutted pre-cats $80/set
A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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Cold Air INtake for the Mustang. Densecharger Adds about 23 RWHP to a stock 03 Cobra. --Matt
2003 Sonic Blue SVT Cobra Coupe
2003 RedFire SVT Cobra Convertable
2005 Dark Toreador Red F150 XLT 4x4
2000 Black SVT Contour - Beater
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Joined: Mar 2003
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According to the info I have, NOT SO. The 5.0 H.O. Ford engine adds less that 100 pounds to the total weight of the car. Easily handled by the suspension. The conversion kit also sets the V-8 as far back in the engine bay as possible to retain the vehicle balance. Check out grannysspeedshop.com for yourself & see some of the pictures. The V-8 actually looks kinda SMALL in the engine bay. 
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: May 2002
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Originally posted by Russell:
1 thing ive noticed, those who are putting down the neon srt-4 always refer to it as a "Neon" while the owners of one refer to it as a "SRT-4". im thinking the owners may be embarassed of the neon name.
The factory actually calls it an SRT-4, on the website, promotional materials, and on the window sticker.
Its built on a neon platform, with a neon body, but technically considered a different model.
They want nothing to do with the neon name either!!
Diesel owns you
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 66
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Posts: 66 |
Originally posted by Swazo:
Materialisum at it's best. You need something that makes you feel more important when you go to dinner I guess. My point is that you should make who you are. If you need a car or any other status symbol to accomplish this for you, that says a lot.
BUT, if you are truely refined to the point where you are looking for what the BMW or the like can give you....that's a different story all together.
Like it or not, the SRT4 is like an CSVT in many ways. It's based on a commuter car, but built for a performance crowd.
That's not where I was going. My point is that a Neon, or my SVT for that matter is NOT a four person car.(Four small peolpe maybe) Yes I have had three friends and myself and four sets of golf clubs in it, but it wasn't comfy . And I actually like the SRT4, it's an awesome bang for the buck car, and if the SRT4 was out when I bought the SVT five years ago, it would have been an option. But for my next car (or whatever), I want to get something that I can use to take four people out to dinner, pick up crap at Home Depot, get to work in the snow,etc. I guess that's why I test drove a Murano today .....and there was a really nice 2000 A6 2.7T in Carmax today too
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