Show us your Cars

[Mikig]

anyway if I ever had to splurge on a US car, but it takes a lot of money, Duesenberg SJ...canriolet, roadster, torpedo...one more beautiful than the other...among my automotive dreams!!

 

[Mr. Widget]

That's my feelings on the C3, when they came out in 1968 I thought YUCK, what were they thinking?
And IMHO they were the best looking of the C3s with the steel bumpers.
But in so many ways the C4 redeemed them for me.

For vintage cars there is a nostalgia component.

I wonder how much of our appreciation for this type of thing has to do with our age when we first saw them or if there is an intrinsic aesthetic appreciation that we each bring to the table. I personally love the early C3 with the chrome bumpers and positively dislike most other corvettes with the exception of the '56-'62 C1 and the current C8.

 

[Helicopter]

Actually at the time the fastest Porsche was a couple seconds slower.

I certainly shredded two new Porsches last month at the track. Hopefully I can do it again on Tuesday. I forget their models, but one was the entry level and the other was a really expensive one.

I don't really care about the stats when I am not the one who has to point to pass.

I am sure the guy with the 4 door Cadillac and the one in the C6 Corvette who are way faster than me don't care much either.

 

[Helicopter]

Bad Ass !
IMHO the 5th and 6th gen Camaros were the best looking ever.
If you wanted a American sportscar and couldn't afford a Vette, this is the one to have
I've been drooling in the dealers a number of times and almost pulled the trigger on one
Biggest issue for me with my back and hip issues they were just a SOB to enter and exit.
Guess I'll have to stay with my big pickups.

There was a guy at my local track recently who just got a C8 with the track package for $74k out the door. You probably can too.

Fun fact about current generation Camaros: The side windows are so short that a typical helmet cannot fit through them, meaning a driver wearing a helmet cannot be readily extracted from the car in case of emergency. This is due to the insane height of the door sills. High performance driving schools are beginning to exclude Camaros due to this safety issue.

I am glad they are allowed at my track. I did know the helmet doesn't fit through the window, but I'm not going through it either way.

If you like windows, that new Wagoneer has some big ones. I rented one last week and could hardly believe it.

 

[Helicopter]

Call it whatever you like (it's good) but its still not as capable as a Porsche

I have been on the track with Porsches. I am way faster. Maybe it's just that Porsche owners aren't as good as me though. I don't really care whether it's the car that's better.

 

[Mikig]

Per le auto d'epoca c'è una componente nostalgica.

yes, but not absolutely. I have seen very few great stylistic masterpieces in recent years... there have been periods where coachbuilders and designers have been truly inspired and have created truly timeless lines and concepts. It is no coincidence that nowadays if you want to make an interesting car you have to go fishing in the basket of memories or insist on the inevitable and now banal restomod of cars from other eras... modern cars are often ungainly tablets with 20-inch rims and double exhausts, shamefully fake,... too often, not always but they increasingly resemble expensive household appliances...

 

[Helicopter]

yes, but not absolutely. I have seen very few great stylistic masterpieces in recent years... there have been periods where coachbuilders and designers have been truly inspired and have created truly timeless lines and concepts. It is no coincidence that nowadays if you want to make an interesting car you have to go fishing in the basket of memories or insist on the inevitable and now banal restomod of cars from other eras... modern cars are often ungainly tablets with 20-inch rims and double exhausts, shamefully fake,... too often, not always but they increasingly resemble expensive household appliances...

The worst thing is the design convergence we see where everything is the same crossover. Ferrari Purosangue looks the same as a Mazda CX-9.

 

[Mikig]

The worst thing is the design convergence we see where everything is the same crossover. Ferrari Purosangue looks the same as a Mazda CX-9.

unfortunately the SUVization of the entire market has done great damage in terms of line, originality and above all choice.
Take note: the spiders have disappeared from the price lists, the coupés are few and the sedans have not arrived....
when I was younger I gained experience with a Z4, because for that age I could not wish for anything else.... young people today want an SUV..... well....
I have to use them at almost 50 years old because I have a family and I need versatility for work....
but a 25 year old who wants an SUV and does not dream of a spider.... gives you something to think about....

in addition to this, I add the sense of the modern car…. I'll just say one thing, a random example…..don't be offended by my BMW-loving friends….the new M5 weighs 2510 kilograms!!!!!! I think there's nothing to add…..

 

[Sal1950]

I'll just say one thing, a random example…..don't be offended by my BMW-loving friends….the new M5 weighs 2510 kilograms!!!!!! I think there's nothing to add…..

A "lead sled" in any mans language. LOL

 

[Chromatischism]

The worst thing is the design convergence we see where everything is the same crossover. Ferrari Purosangue looks the same as a Mazda CX-9.

*CX-30

 

[Sal1950]

I have to use them at almost 50 years old because I have a family and I need versatility for work....
but a 25 year old who wants an SUV and does not dream of a spider.... gives you something to think about....

I did forget to mention, do the 25 yo "want" and SUV or is it that he has little options?
Maybe he does dream of a Spider but how can he even begin to afford one unless the family is wealthy?
I don't know, they just haven't grown up in the "car culture" we did so way back then.
A shame really.

 

[Mikig]

I did forget to mention, do the 25 yo "want" and SUV or is it that he has little options?
Maybe he does dream of a Spider but how can he even begin to afford one unless the family is wealthy?
I don't know, they just haven't grown up in the "car culture" we did so way back then.
A shame really.

yes, you are absolutely right, the economic context is absolutely important….

but you can take home a used Mazda MX5/Miata for 5000 euros!!! a good exhaust, maybe a little bit of setup and if you are passionate about cars on Sunday you go to some rallies or track days…
.I happen to hear children of friends who call themselves car enthusiasts and only talk about 1000 horsepower, cars worth millions and then they go at 20! and more years with a Diesel SUV….
this is not a passion for engines but perhaps more for a status….if you don't indulge yourself at that age of cars to "drive" when will you do it???

 

[Helicopter]

yes, you are absolutely right, the economic context is absolutely important….

but you can take home a used Mazda MX5/Miata for 5000 euros!!! a good exhaust, maybe a little bit of setup and if you are passionate about cars on Sunday you go to some rallies or track days…
.I happen to hear children of friends who call themselves car enthusiasts and only talk about 1000 horsepower, cars worth millions and then they go at 20! and more years with a Diesel SUV….
this is not a passion for engines but perhaps more for a status….if you don't indulge yourself at that age of cars to "drive" when will you do it???

A miata is a great car for the road course track.

 

[Mikig]

A miata is a great car for the road course track.

a friend bought one, used, a few years ago, to indulge in the whim of having a car to “drive”…
I found it truly excellent. Balanced, light, easy to handle, fun, that very short gear lever, truly a brilliant product. Without unnecessary frills, a car designed for real driving….

 

[EJ3]

a friend bought one, used, a few years ago, to indulge in the whim of having a car to “drive”…
I found it truly excellent. Balanced, light, easy to handle, fun, that very short gear lever, truly a brilliant product. Without unnecessary frills, a car designed for real driving….

If driven a few of them. Add 2/3 more power & it'll transition from a fun little car to FUN! Regardless.

 

[Mikig]

If driven a few of them. Add 2/3 more power & it'll transition from a fun little car to FUN! Regardless.

yes, you are right, but if you add power then you have to: put bigger wheels, stiffen the body, put bigger brakes, use more electronics, because then it becomes more difficult to drive.... I think that some products are "right" as they are... it would inevitably become a heavier and bigger car nowadays.... it would lose its original balance between size, mass and performance...

 

[Sal1950]

If driven a few of them. Add 2/3 more power & it'll transition from a fun little car to FUN! Regardless.

That's all? Carol Shelby did it right. First he put a Ford 289 in it, but then he got really serious with big block 427 in the wimpy little AC Ace
From this,

To this,,
Mash the throttle for a true "Come to Jesus" moment. LOL

 

[Count Arthur]

To this:

 

[EJ3]

yes, you are right, but if you add power then you have to: put bigger wheels, stiffen the body, put bigger brakes, use more electronics, because then it becomes more difficult to drive.... I think that some products are "right" as they are... it would inevitably become a heavier and bigger car nowadays.... it would lose its original balance between size, mass and performance...

It handles well, with 1/3 more power you would not need many of the extras you mention (I would upgrade the wheels, tires & brakes before I drove it anywhere outside of 10 miles or so.
The body is stiff enough unless you DOUBLE the power. I do not know what things you use BUT I usually end up with a lighter or very close to the original weight car when I start my modding High performance hot rodding.
I ordered a 2024 Subaru CrossTrek with exactly the options that I wanted on the Touring edition in March.
It arrived in May. It now has 5000 miles on it & I changed the oil & filter (NEVER CHANGE OIL WITHOUT CHANGING THE FILTER) at 100 miles (sent it out for oil analysis and cut the filter in half to check it's job & there were [as expected on any newly assembled engine, many particles of various metals {completely normal}) Also in the oil that the filter did not catch. Changed again at 500 miles, sent out for oil analysis (same but less of them) & at 1500 miles (same but less of them), changed at 4000 mile (same but even less). I expect that on the 6000 mile change that it will be the same as this one.
You may thing that I am wasting oil: but ever since I implemented this procedure of oil analysis & cutting the filter in half, I can start the normal (heavy duty use) length oil changes & I have not had any car engine last less than 300K. The used oil gets finely filtered & is then used by the electric company.
I have also raised the vehicle 2"s, added an air/oil separator to the PVC system and added a set of blocks onto the intake below the injectors along with a Typhoon K&N intake system. This has increase the torque to the wheels by 23 ft/lbs & the HP by 18, while making drivability better, increasing fuel economy (very slightly) and actually reducing emissions (very, very slightly, also).
There will be more mods before it gets to 10,000 miles (although not engine performance ones, as the stress on the transmission & final drives needs to be compensated for first).
More electronics? Not until after you get to quite a high level of hardware mods. (at least on this car).

 

[EJ3]

To this:

View attachment 392695

Yep, even though the 1966 the Shelby Daytona's came in 1, 2, & 3 at the 24 Hours of Leman's, Mr. Ford hired Shelby away from his own cars (that were dropped like a hot potato). To along with McLaren (and many others) straighten out Fords screw ups with what eventually became this. Because Mr. Ford wanted it to be HIS cars that beat the Ferrari's (which Shelby had already accomplished).