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Cars For A 16 Year Old

2010-08-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

Getting your first car should be one of the best experiences of your life, ranked up there with having a baby and getting married. Sadly, it’s usually a fight between parent and child that rarely ends in a satisfactory compromise. For the lucky ones that get a new car, you’re in a lot better situation than your parents were. Subcompacts have come a long way in the last 20 or so years, with big additions in standard features and finish quality.

For this comparison I put three major rules in place. First, the cars must have an MSRP under $15,000. There are many great new cars under this price point, and most parents will be looking at an entry level car, so this is a fair place to start. The second rule is the car must have four doors. As much as a kid may beg their parents for a coupe, they will thank them later when they have room for their friends and their stuff. Added benefits include lower insurance for a sedan compared to a coupe, and with the extra few seats the family can use the car as a runabout when the kid inevitably gets grounded. The last rule I had is that the car must be a hatchback. Hatchbacks have been huge in Europe for many years mainly because of their versatility. They have ample room in the back for cargo, and they have an ingrained fun-to-drive nature about them that quickly makes them part of the family.

The six cars that fit my rules were the Honda Fit base model, the Nissan Versa 1.8S, the Toyota Yaris 5-door, the Chevrolet Aveo5, the Mazda 2 Sport, and the Kia Soul base. These cars are very similar in price, standard features, and overall construction, but don’t be fooled; there are two very distinct groups among the six. The first three we’re going to look at are the Honda Fit, the Nissan Versa, and the Kia Soul.

Click table to enlarge

If you were to compare these cars you’d only be able to find minor similarities in looks, but on the spec sheet is where they start to match up. The Fit has a 1.5 liter 117 horsepower engine, while the Soul has a 1.6 liter with 122 horsepower and the Versa a 1.8 liter providing 122 horsepower. They all yield similar MPG ratings, as you can see in the table. Also, they all have about the same safety features and ratings. Even the prices are somewhat close.

Honda Fit Interior

Where this comparison points to the winner is in the interiors. The space in the back of the Honda Fit is massive when compared to the Soul and Versa. The Soul provides a maximum 53.4 Cu Ft of cargo room, the Versa 50.4 Cu Ft, and the Fit a dramatic 57.3 Cu Ft. Even if your child has a penchant for collecting tubas, they will be taken care of with the Fit. And don’t think that the second row passengers have to suffer; full sized adults will have no problem sitting in the back for long trips.

Interior quality was best in the Versa, but I see the Honda having no problem holding up long-term. The Kia’s interior quality was rather worrisome. I had the opportunity to look at a used model with less than 15,000 miles on the clock, and the interior had already begun peeling away from the shell. Scuffs were easily seen, the plastics are very low quality fit and finish, and the seats had a very thin covering on them. I have no doubt that a toddler could completely destroy the inside of the Soul with little more than a blunt key.

In this group of three I have no problem saying the Honda Fit is the best choice. Standard features include air conditioning, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD player with an auxiliary audio input jack for your MP3 player, power windows and power door locks. Also included is a vehicle immobilizer system that keeps the car safe even when it’s parked in the more questionable parts of town. A potential downside to the Fit is the $14,900 MSRP is for the manual only; the automatic will set you back another $800.

The last three cars in this comparison, the Mazda 2, the Chevrolet Aveo5, and the Toyota Yaris, are on the smaller side of subcompacts. Power comes from similarly small 1.5 or 1.6 liter engines, but the power is not as high. The Mazda has a 1.5 liter 100 horsepower engine, the Chevrolet has a 1.6 liter 108 horsepower engine, and the Toyota has a 1.5 liter 106 horsepower engine. These cars are not slow however. These smaller three are on average 200 lbs lighter than the Fit, Versa, and Soul. In effect, the Aveo, Mazda 2, and Yaris trade bigger size for driving response and increased maneuverability.

Mazda 2 Interior

Once again it goes to the interior to decide the winner. The Mazda’s interior quality is truly superb. Everything from seats to door materials are solid and well put together. The space in front and back is much more than you would expect when looking from the outside. Also, everything a teen driver may need comes as standard including dynamic stability control, anti-lock brakes, and traction control. Mazda takes safety one step further by providing you with these capable preventative devices. Lightweight and quirky styling make this car as fun to drive as a go-kart.

The Yaris does come in a close second in this group but there are a few things that have held it back. The low price tag of $12,905 is rather difficult to achieve being as almost all creature comforts are an option. The automatic transmission is more expensive than the manual, so if you want that it brings base MSRP up to $13,705 right at the start. The manual transmissions on the 5-door are a first in the United States this year, and finding one is proving difficult for many. Also, with the numerous recalls Toyota has had lately, it may be wise to steer clear of the 2010 and 2011 model years.

My top two cars in the comparison are the Honda Fit and the Mazda 2. Both cars are fun to drive, safe, and well made, providing parents and children with a sense of compromise. These cars will provide considerable gas mileage, and the space inside is easily changed to fit the task at hand. Making the decision between them will come down to price and/or overall storage space.

There are quite a few little cubby holes for storage, but the Mazda 2 just isn’t quite as large as the Fit. Both cars use the overall dimensions to their fullest with a diverse selection of cup holders and compartments. In fact, the Honda Fit has under seat storage for the second row. Little bins are built right into the bottom of the seat in case you run out of room, or you wanted to hide some gifts for later.

The Honda Fit base and Mazda 2 sport are both very good cars, and would both be more than adequate entry-level cruisers. The Fit starts at $14,900, and is the bigger of the two. For those that can do without the extra space, save yourself $1000 and buy a Mazda 2.

Value For Money

2010-07-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

Land Rover is one of the top runners when it comes to recognizable car names. It ranks up almost with Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche in being the best car your money can net you. Their legendary off-road prowess and beautifully designed interiors have always pushed them to the front of the SUV pack. The problem I have always had with them is the price. Fair enough, you may say, if what you’re buying is indeed the best you can get. Well, that may no longer be true.

Jeep has long possessed a strong off-road ability but lacked when it came to luxury. Not surprising, considering they were initially built for military use. As the years went on and we crept steadily closer to the turn of the century their bland interiors and poor fit and finish really couldn’t compete with the design teams at Land Rover. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee though, could be a very big turning point for the company.

The quietly powerful exterior melds seamlessly into a well put together interior. For the unknowing the Grand Cherokee could almost be placed coldly alongside the numerous other partly-capable four-wheel drive vehicles. But this sleeper still has the adventurous bloodline of its grandfather. All the clever off-road technology is still in there, with a new luxurious candy crust. The Quadra-Lift air suspension is constantly adapting to the driving conditions, not only off-road but also in the typical freeway commute. The Grand Cherokee features a hill decent assistance feature, as well as an optional split range gearbox. Everything you’d expect in a competent off-roader. The interior space is ample and quality is impressive. Even the engine choices, while not the most fuel efficient, have loads of grunt for any situation.

Why then would someone still choose a Land Rover? The new Grand Cherokee has more rear seat leg and shoulder room and still manages to have almost 10 cubic feet more cargo space than a Land Rover LR2. So if it’s not cargo space or off-road ability what else could it be? I have to conclude that people are willing to spend thousands of dollars for a badge. Land Rover has always been a little rarer, a little cooler than the normal supermarket SUV. They definitely have a presence and can attract some attention. If anyone can compete with that letterman jacket charm though, it’s Jeep. Jeep has never been one to sell out a loyal following purely to make money (See Toyota). So I believe Jeep can gain that allure with time.

The standard features and optional powerhouse make the 2011 Grand Cherokee a great option in the world of mid-size SUVs. You would be hard-pressed to find a situation that it will not excel in. This vehicle is hopefully a glimpse of what we can expect from Jeep from now on; a tight package with a leather-wrapped bow on top. Win for the Americans—finally there is competition for the British giant.

Getaway Cars

2010-06-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

In hopes of sharing some usable real-life advice, today we’re going to talk about getaway cars. Depending upon your thieving technique and targeted treasure, you must take the transportation best suited to the task. You wouldn’t, after all, bring a Ford Transit van to a precious diamond heist in Monte Carlo. You must match the beautiful scenery with an equally beautiful set of wheels.

In the case of the aforementioned diamond job, I think transportation of the Italian breed is a must. The gem is a very small thing to carry around so an excessively large boot just spoils the drive and potential for outright speed by adding extra weight. Also, while France has not had a huge amount of success with building cars, or winning wars, they do have a sense of style that is hard to match. The gorgeous and elegant shapes of almost all Italian cars will keep you incognito with local fashion.

Choosing which company to take is the real challenge. You want the car to be fast enough to make the obligatory chase interesting, but you don’t necessarily need a supercar. Alfa Romeo seems to fit the bill rather nicely. After all, what’s good enough for James Bond is no doubt good enough for a part-time diamond thief. But which model is best?

Alfa has a narrow line-up of cars, most of which are small hatchbacks and city cars. The easiest way to eliminate a lot of these cars is whether or not they have a convertible option. If you’re going to travel to a Mediterranean coast city you have to have a car that allows you to partake in the warm breezes as well as the gorgeous women. And what better to attract some lonely European girls than a winning smile and some top-down action.

So this leaves us with the equally rewarding choice of an Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, or an Alfa Romeo Brera Spider. Both of these sharp roadsters pack a respectable punch, and while they both will most likely get you pinched, it will be one hell of a drive before that. The 8C has loads of power, and is one of the best looking cars ever, but it is quite expensive. The Brera has some smaller engine choices and weighs quite a bit, but it is significantly cheaper than the 8C.

Your choices are really not how you’d like to look while handily escaping the angry drug baron you just stole from, it’s instead, how you’d like to die. Because the Brera is so slow, and either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, it will get you caught at which point you’ll get your arms cut off, or it will understeer wildly off the road into a tree. The 8C on the other hand will allow you to do some elegant power-sliding before you oversteer off the road into a tree and die.

My choice, even though I’d probably be losing most of the hard-earned diamond money, would be the 8C. The sensible and yet still stylish and classy choice would be the Brera Spider. So if your hero is the Joker and you have recently taken a liking to painkillers…wait, that’s not quite right. If your hero is the Joker and you enjoy nicking things that aren’t yours, then the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is the perfect car for the job.

New Camaro

2010-05-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

Am I a bad person? More specifically, am I a bad car enthusiast? I keep seeing the new retro Chevy Camaro and I love the look of it. The aggressive stance and the angry grill have me giddy like a schoolgirl. The problem is I’m not 75 years old, I don’t have dentures, and I don’t know anyone that died in ‘nam. I realize it’s not just the old farts that have a deep love of American muscle, but Vancouver, WA is not as cow-poke as people like to think either.

So how could I, a city boy with perfect suspension geometry constantly on the brain, possibly give the time to day to a straight-line warrior; a car with the sole purpose of walking loud and quarter mile times? It would seem that I’m having a taboo love affair with a muscle car.

Just today I went to the dealership to take one of these out for a drive. Getting ready to leave I found myself asking “How can I look like the typical Camaro driver?” After much fuss and time I decided I don’t have enough chest hair or any pomade, so I went ahead and shaved off the little man-child beard I was sporting and left.

Sitting in the Camaro, it is easy to see the body shape was designed purely to be pleasing from the outside. Being in the driver’s seat is almost like Space Mountain at Disney World; you are surrounded by crappy plastic surfaces, you can’t see anything, and you are just hoping the six year old behind you doesn’t throw up cotton candy all over your neck. There is so much life and personality lacking from an interior that is supposed to have a lineage. On the top-of-the-line SS, the plastics throughout look like they are from a base Scion. “Oh you can get them in different colors,” the man says. I almost wanted to ask if I could get them in a more respectable material. (Although, this doesn’t surprise me that much, considering what the Corvette is made from.)

Yes, the 6.3 liter V8 in the SS has 426 horsepower, but you’d need it just to get this behemoth moving. The 2010 Camaro weighs in at nearly 3800 lbs. A huge car that weighs almost two tons and has typical numb muscle-car steering, it’s like piloting a frigate. I’d like to say Chevy gave this car a lick and a promise with the intention of coming back and fixing the problems later, but somehow I don’t think that’s true.

Then of course you could look at the gas mileage. I hate adding this into my reviews of sports cars because their purpose isn’t to get great MPG. I usually rationalize it by quoting some impressive 0-60 times and move on, but that doesn’t really work here. That power can be achieved other, more efficient ways, and the MPG would go up. Or, better yet, they could lower the power and drop a few hundred pounds. Is it necessary to put a V8 in a car just to brag that it has one?

It is safe to say my stint with the Camaro has ended. Maybe it’s because I didn’t grow up in the sixties, or maybe because I don’t have a tractor. Either way, I don’t see myself ever considering dropping hard-earned cash on this car. I could just never get comfortable behind the wheel. I really have to love my cars to want to drive them everyday, and this just doesn’t do it for me. If you were considering buying one of these, save yourself some money and just get a penis pump.

Mitsubishi

2010-03-14T23:58:00.000-07:00

With news of Ralliart closing their doors it seems like the right time to discuss whether or not Mitsubishi has a snowball’s chance in hell in staying alive in the US. If I think back to what Mitsubishi first represented for me, it is really sad that they have dwindled. They used to be fun, and that was really all they had in the way of marketability. Now that the ‘fun’ factor has diminished, I don’t know if they’re going to be around much longer.

In 2005, after some time of declining sales, Mitsubishi dropped all unprofitable models from the line. Then, in 2007, the next generation of the Lancer was introduced helping to temporarily boost sales. Ever since, it seems that the company’s demand has really began to stagnate, and when you look at their line-up there’s not really any doubt as to why.

The Lancer Evolution X, the newest Evolution, has really grown up. It has become a big, heavy saloon car. In 2003 when the Evolution VIII came to the states, it gave hope to all young dads that having a family car didn’t mean you had to be boring and fat. The Evo VIII gave the benefits of a roomy four-door, but also packed the punch of a 280 horsepower engine and all-wheel drive. The Evo IX was more of the same, but when the time came to unveil the X it didn’t make tuners jump out of their seats anymore.

The complaint most people had with the Evolution, as compared to the Subaru WRX STI, was that it was a little hardcore for daily driving; a little uncompromising. But that was exactly the reason, prior to 2007, that a lot of tuners were choosing it over the STI. People looking for the performance of a Lamborghini Gallardo, with the usability of a normal four-door saloon would not be disappointed. The problem with the Evolution X is that Mitsubishi listened to the complaining menopausal women; they made the X civilized.

Now after packing on 300 pounds and expanding on all its dimensions, the Lancer Evolution is just not as responsive as it used to be; they pulled the fun out of a car that used to be a circus on wheels. It’s sad to see this happen to such an icon, but for most companies there is a fall back. There’s some other car that can pick up the slack when a line icon goes flat. In the case of Mitsubishi, they really have nothing. They are due for a change.

The Evolution has shifted and for now I don’t see them going back. This breaks my heart, but that was the decision they made. The first place I think Mitsubishi should go from here is to bring back a turbo all-wheel drive version of the Eclipse. I’d seriously like to find someone that could give me a single reason to consider buying one of the new ones. I really don’t think you could find a single one. They are heavy, big and yet unusable, hideous, and overpriced.

I’m completely fine with the idea of a 2+2. When you buy one you know coming into it that the back seats will not be habitable. They are there for insurance purposes, and also to give you somewhere to throw your backpack and coat. So, knowing this, why is the Eclipse so bloody huge? 3600 lbs? Did they forget to take the deer out of the trunk? The 1995-1999 Eclipse was perfect. It was small and light. So what if it wasn’t very powerful in base trim? It was still quick because it was light, and also got great gas mileage.

One option for Mitsubishi is to go back to this early image of an Eclipse. Make it smaller again, and put a baby four-cylinder in it to provide good gas mileage. Then, for the enthusiasts, drop the 4B11 and all-wheel drive in it from the Lancer Evolution. An MSRP of $21,000 would be good for something like that, but charging that for the current Eclipse is a smack in the face.

The next step is to make over the Galant. $22,000 for a car with very little power, front-wheel drive, and flat looks. It is really time to take a hint from Subaru. Their Legacy is cheaper, more powerful and comes standard with all-wheel drive. The Legacy is also a very well-finished auto. The interior is svelte, and the exterior is comparable to cars twice its price. Last up, and possibly the easiest addition to the United States line, would be to bring over the Colt. The Toyota Yaris was a success and the Colt would be a decent competitor. Someone looking for a cheap little people mover could always use more options.

I don’t like to see a company that has had a lot of good ideas in the past pack it in like Mitsubishi is doing. Even Toyota, as boring as they have been the last few years, is beginning to catch on to what people want. These few additions could really help put Mitsubishi back into the public eye, and give them the money to keep Ralliart in business.

Cyclical Consumption

2010-02-03T23:05:00.000-08:00

The automotive industry has really stepped in a big steaming pile that they just cannot shake clean. Back in the 60’s and 70’s Americans were getting cars that were fun to drive. The market was providing examples like the Mustang, Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, Road Runner, etc. Yes these were huge things that got weak in the knees every time a curve was thrown their way, but they were still entertaining day-to-day. Whether they were purchased for the big V8 engines or just for the bright paint schemes and mile-high spoilers, they made you smile.

The 80’s really was a flat decade. The Mustang for instance was starved and given smaller engines with dwindling amounts of power. It still was unable to handle properly and, as far as I can tell, was modeled after a shoe box. Suffice to say that the market was looking bleak. If what was one of the best selling cars ever was now a gutless, aesthetically displeasing lump, what hope did the rest of the automobile industry have?

By the middle of the 90’s the manufacturers were listening again. A new group had emerged and was out to regain people’s attention. The difference was that this time around, it wasn’t the United States’ companies getting our money, it was Japan.

The MR2, Supra, and 300zx were the type of autos the public was hungry for. The second variation of Toyota’s mid-engine bargain coupe came back with a redesign, and a potent turbo 4-cylinder engine. Much like the earlier supercharged MR2 option, this lightweight turbo sports car bridged the gap to people unable to afford a Mid-engine exotic. Along with the Supra, RX7, and S2000, the market was now on a steady diet of powerful and great handling choices.

This brings us rather sadly to where we are today. The eco-craze has gotten into what were fine companies and has left them anemic and boring. (See Toyota) From the Toyota Prius to the new Chevy Volt, this quest for maximum MPG (while simultaneously saving the whales) is killing the enthusiast crowd. The Tesla is a fine example on why batteries don’t work in a sporty car.

Make a list in your head real quick on why people buy a sports car…ok, ready? People are willing to put middle-class home money on a roadster because number one, they are nice to look at. Does any hybrid you know of meet this criterion? Besides the design Tesla stole from Lotus, that’s a no. Number two, their engines notes can be compared to things such as the Sistine chapel for its beauty and lasting presence. The way simple beats of combustion gas can crescendo into a screaming symphony of unrivaled brutality begs for you to reflect on its grandeur. No fabricated noise production could ever match the beating pulse that lives in that block. Number three, something about driving at the limit touches you like your girlfriend does after you buy her something shiny. The pure, adrenaline rush you can receive from a drive will leave some speechless. With the ever increasing amount of safety features being required by the government, added battery weight with further diminish the nature of a fun chuckable road car.

Your rich girlfriend decides this year for your birthday she is going to buy you a Ferrari F430. First of all, she is a keeper; not only did she pick a great car, but she also threw in the optional carbon ceramic brakes. I call that love. The catch is she says its angelic 4.3 V8 has been ripped out and replaced by batteries, and the outside has been converted to look like a 1993 Geo Storm. That just doesn’t sound so appetizing anymore.

So where does this leave us? Well we can hope that the market will once more cleanse itself of these transgressions, pull its head of the proverbial poo-chute and give us something entertaining. Of course who do we leave the job of rejuvenating the line-ups to? Surely it couldn’t be Toyota; being the designer of one of the best selling hybrids, why would they waste their time?

It may surprise some of you that it could in fact be Toyota breathing life back into the community. Still a concept, the Toyota FT-86 may be the first movement the more conservative companies were waiting for. First shown at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the FT-86 is a small (imagine a Honda S2000 hardtop), RWD sports car with the heart from Subaru’s Impreza. The FT is said to be released with a base model EJ20 naturally aspirated engine with as much as 200 HP. While that number isn’t mind-blowing, Toyota claim they are shooting for a weight close to 2800 lbs, and that TRD may also have a go at it.

The times of the muscle car have given way to crap. That crap was then the precursor to some good autos. While Toyota may have fallen off the enthusiast wagon, they could very well jump right back into things. As the Chief Engineer of the FT project said, “Everyone thinks sports cars won't sell but there is a huge demand.” They have heard the begging, now let’s see the results.

Pocket Rockets

2009-12-24T18:44:00.000-08:00

If you’re at all like me and would like the benefits of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 or 9 without paying 20 grand, you may need mental help. Really if you see any part of me in things you do I’d be worried the truck to Bedlam is parked outside. While you wait, let’s talk a little bit about the group that the Evos reside in; I like to call them “pocket rockets”.

Under my definition, pocket rockets have two very important pieces: a strong factory turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine, and AWD. If you’ve ever been part of the tuner crowd, or if you like to go to autocross events, you would know immediately which engine and drivetrains are the best. The 4G63 from Mitsubishi is a strong design that loves to run on high boost. Along with its typical AWD configuration we are given the Eagle Talon TSI AWD (1st and 2nd generations), Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (1st and 2nd generations), and a few older generations of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (5th and 6th generations). For the sake of this discussion I’m just going to cover cars that I believe can be purchased and/or built for under $20k; this of course being the average price of a typical Evolution 8 in today’s market.

The next engine choice suitable for this comparison is the 3SGTE. Just like the 4G63, it has a robust cast iron block that loves boost. The Toyota Celica GT-Four, or Celica All-Trac in the States, was lucky enough to get this engine for its 5th and 6th generations. The last platform is the most versatile of the group. Even though insurance companies aren’t too partial to this car, the Subaru Impreza is a great competitor.

The 5th and 6th generation Impreza WRX STI’s are high revving beasts that unfortunately America was never blessed with. They have a two liter turbocharged engine that put up with a lot of abuse as it blew through world rally. The US didn’t get this generation of WRX, but from 1998-2001 we did get the 2.5RS. While it didn’t get the two liter turbo powerplant, it did get an adequate 2.5 liter egg, AWD, and the WRX variants good looks.

Now that you can see the grid of cars, it’s time to axe a few. The Eclipse and Talon first generation cars, along with the 5th generation Celica GT-Four are the cheapest of the pack by a huge amount and it’s easy to see why. These three rockets are now 15-20 years old. They are hard to find with a low mileage, and because the car was not built with the gusto of some old American steel creations, their plastic parts will definitely be showing their age. Typically, not wanting to deal with the stains, smells, and broken parts, the quick-witted would have thrown the older cars out from the beginning, but there is a problem with that.

While most people wouldn’t cut their arm off for one of these shells, the heart arthritically beating below is still your best option when it comes to non-evolution 4G63’s. The 1990-1994 variant of the 4G63 is known as a ‘6-bolt’. (Because of its flywheel pattern) It is better than the 1995-1999 versions because those ‘7-bolt’ engines had a manufacturing error than led to “crankwalk.” (a severely damaging problem with the engine’s internals) Though what good is an engine without a shell to put it in? Just hold on a moment, we’ll get there.

Two rockets down, we still haven’t eliminated the ones illegal in the United States. If you’re one of the lucky individuals that doesn’t have to put up with Uncle Sam’s rules and regulations you can keep the 6th generation GT-Four, 5th and 6th generation Lancer Evolutions, and the 5th and 6th generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI’s. If you do live in the US, sorry, but those aren’t a cheaper or feasible option anymore. I’d like to tell you there is a way around the US licensing rules to get those cars in, but there just isn’t. So unless you want to move, here are the ones I could see getting.

According to the handy grid I provided (See? You know you’re beginning to like me) the only cars left are the 2nd generation Eagle Talon and the 2nd generation Mitsubishi Eclipse. This would be despair worthy, but if you remember earlier I mentioned something about a Subaru Impreza 2.5RS. It’s time for a little swapping my friend.

The powerplants in the 2nd generation Eclipse and Talon are exactly the same and, as we’ve gone over, a pretty good one. Yes it had its faults, but it’s got one very important thing in common with its older brother; it’s exactly the same size. So I present the first hybrid pocket rocket option: A 2nd generation Talon/Eclipse shell with a 6-bolt engine and transmission swapped into it. There are a plethora of parts available for this engine because of its strong following, so you can really tune until your horsepower bug is satisfied. The 4G63 is able to provide amazing amounts of torque even being such a small engine, so it would be a nice daily driver in that respect. The main reason people would look elsewhere would be that these cars aren’t the best handling cars ever built. In fact, the work required to make a great handling Eclipse/Talon is almost laughable.

If you’re still with me I applaud you, and recommend that you start stretching your legs; the men in white coats are pretty quick and they really think you need help. I know I wouldn’t look good in a straight jacket, but maybe you think it’s fashionable. What do I know?

So your first option is the swapped Eclipse/Talon. It can make some serious power, but its agility falls short of being a quick winner. As I pointed out, while the US didn’t get the WRX or its STI big brother until 2002, we did get a little Subaru 2.5RS. It was sold as a hot version to the Subaru Impreza L. The 2.5RS came with a single overhead cam 2.5 liter engine that wasn’t the most impressive powerhouse out-of-the-box. However, what was impressive was this AWD was a featherweight; weighing an average 200 lbs less than all of the competitors from earlier.

You’re saying, “Yes, that’s great that it doesn’t weigh very much, but I’m not driving a hamster of an engine from ten years ago!” Enter hybrid swap number two: take the shell of a 1998-2001 Impreza 2.5RS and you can either put an EJ255 or EJ257 in it. An EJ255 would need to be harvested from a 2006-present Impreza WRX, and an EJ257 is found in 2004-present Impreza WRX STI’s. The Ej255 is a 2.5 liter single turbo flat-4. It puts out a respectable 230-265 horsepower. While the EJ series engines have a disgusting amount of turbo-lag, they still are little torque monsters. But if you have an addiction to speed, or your package was never fully developed, you’re probably going to want the 300-305 horsepower EJ257.

Tossing 300 horsepower and 300 lbs-ft of torque in a 2800 lb AWD car is a recipe for bone-chilling performance. It would be the best option for day-to-day things with the extra torque for passing situations and the light weight means you can take it to a curvy bit of road on the weekends for some fun. The EJ257 has a 6-speed transmission that makes it that much more fun to row. The suspension takes very well to any modifications done to it, having that rally heritage in the design. And the stock engine numbers being more than enough as a daily driver means you won’t have to do a ton of modifications. I think I’ve found the winner.

The swapped 2.5RS will not be as cheap or as easy to find as almost all of the other cars we went over, but aren’t you willing to work for something great? (This is where the 35 year old bachelors leave) With the swap and initial purchasing price of the car, you may be over ten thousand dollars in before everything is bolted in. As far as a competitor to the Evolution 8/9, the swapped 2.5RS is your best bet. It’s cool enough to impress, and refined enough for even a safe drive in the snow. That sounded believable right? I’m trying to help you out with explaining a 300 horsepower monster to your wife. On a positive note, you can get it in 2 or 4 doors!

Torque

2009-12-21T18:25:00.000-08:00

In the game of automotive marketing, horsepower rules the roost and takes home the best women. Everything from billboards to TV and radio commercials tell you how much horsepower a car has, and blatantly leave out the other very important figure: torque. It may be the fact that people don’t really know what the terms means, so without getting too James May on you I’ll try and help you understand.

Torque is the “push back in your seat” feeling you get under hard acceleration. If you have two cars with the same torque, no matter what their horsepower figures are, you will receive the same amount of push. Horsepower tells you how long you will receive that push. This is why trucks in particular are made to have more torque; when hauling around heavy objects you need the extra punch to get the wheels moving.

Now you may be wondering which is more important. If you are buying a car to be a weekend toy this is the decision you need to make. What part of the driving experience is enjoyable to you, and what feeling do you want to get when you take the garage-queen out on the weekend? An example of a higher horsepower, lower torque car is a Honda Integra Type-R. (Or Acura Integra in the US) In 2000 this car made about 200 horsepower and a measly 130 lbs-ft of torque. From what we’ve learned above, it’s safe to say this car didn’t kick you in the back of the head with its tiny amount of torque, but the horsepower says, if can keep it in the right RPM range, it will still be a pretty quick car. So while this car won’t give you that body flattening jolt, it will go 145 MPH.

On the other side of the spectrum would be a new Subaru Impreza 2.5i. This car has a solid 170 horsepower and 170 lbs-ft of torque. These car’s figures aren’t catastrophically different, but they differ enough for the comparison. The higher torque numbers mean you will get a higher rating from the butt-dyno even though the car has less overall horsepower. To some people this greater feeling of urgency may be more pleasurable than being able to go 150 MPH.

If you are one of the lucky ones that have some extra money to throw around, especially in 200-400 thousand dollar range, your choices are beginning to look a little better. Ignoring everything about the cars except horsepower and torque numbers, let’s take a look at the 2010 Ferrari 428 Italia and the 2010 Nobel M600. The Ferrari puts out 570 horsepower and 400 lbs-ft or torque, and the Nobel is able to give you 650 horsepower and 604 lbs-ft of torque. When you look at the Nobel’s performance numbers its easy to see where the extra torque comes into play. Mid-range performance tests (40-60 MPH, 60-100 MPH, etc) show that the monumental amount of torque can motivate the lightweight car from just about any RPM or speed.

For the average person more torque is going to provide a better driving experience. In daily traffic the extra torque allows you to pass people in any gear with ease, and elevation changes don’t require downshifting. I would even say in daily life a car like the Impreza 2.5i would be faster than an Integra Type-R. The next time you are buying a car keep in mind torque and horsepower you have to live with everyday, while saving the seals you don’t.

McLaren

2009-12-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

Since when was McLaren interested in just meeting the status quo? They have gathered up hundreds of racing wins, and at the same time put out one of the best and most notable street cars in history. The McLaren F1’s performance was matched by very few cars since the 1993 release and can quite simply be put on the shelf of fame without question.

So now after a 17 year wait you’d expect their second ever production car to be made of moon rock and run on ground-up fairies, but you would be sadly mistaken. Looking at the spec sheet it seems almost docile for such a prolific heir. The 600 horsepower and 440 lbs-ft of torque are 30 less than its dad in both categories. Then you think, well it must weigh less than to make up for the loss in power. The new MP4-12C has gained over 225kg. How can a car with 4 less cylinders be so much heavier?

The answer to this question is the same as the one to the many other questions you will inevitably get if you looked at this car further. The big V12 was dropped for the more green twin-turbo V8, numerous structural changes have been made to put the car in a lower price bracket, electronics and amenities added for comfort, etc etc. No, I won’t ignore the fact that this car does have many new technologies and ideas, but falling in near the F430 in price, I feel like it could have been better. McLaren’s mission statement for this car says it all. They purely wanted to ‘challenge’ other sports car manufacturers. Challenge?! When the F1 came out it obliterated every car out at that time, and up until a few years ago it was still the fastest production auto.

Looking at the exterior styling of the new 12C it was almost as if they were trying to make a direct challenge of these other brands. Hints of this design can now be found in the F430, F360, and every Ascari model minus the Ecosse; it’s beginning to turn into the same issue as the Lotus model group. Why didn’t they just rebadge a KZ1? With such strong racing background McLaren needs to be a driving force in sports and super car innovation. Instead of starting from the ground up with everything and putting their name on the line, they decided to play it safe; basic shape put on a basic chassis, with basic electronic garbage.

I respect McLaren hugely, but this is not a proper follow-up to the F1. The old seating position as compared to the new is analogous to the driver control in both models. Driving the F1 was an unrestricted, uncompromised feeling of one-ness with the car. While the 12C may be an excellent drive it will still want to bring you from point A to point B. When I used to think McLaren I used to think Lotus on steroids, but now they are just going to be lumped in with everyone else.

The Palette

2009-12-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

I love the new Suzuki Palette SW. The first time you look at it you just label it another pocket-sized Japanese creation for a reunion of the lollipop guild, and forget about it. It has little in the way of fun, but if you write it off like that you’re missing the point.

If you’ve ever gone to the country this micro-mover is hailing from you may have a better understanding of why smaller is sometimes better. In some countries you have to crawl over your brother to get out of your mother’s womb; the streets are always covered in people, and there really is nowhere to park your transport. The typical American won’t understand why this van is so brilliant because they don’t have to deal with over crowding on a daily basis.

The new Palette SW is not going to be the best driving car ever made, nor will it be the best made car, but it will however serve its purpose. The style of the car has been update slightly to entice a larger demographic, but the overall idea stays the same. When it was initially designed it was shaped to provide the most passenger space whilst taking up a very small area overall.

Giving the Palette taller dimensions allows the passengers to sit higher up and in turn gives them more area to move about. Then, when you need to park, you can squeeze it in the smallest of spaces. This auto was built for efficiency; it didn’t set out to be a track-star or a Van Gogh. Along the way it picked up a lovable anime grin as it tries to find its niche, and in a country with 337 people per square kilometer it shouldn’t have a problem.

While I pity Suzuki if they ever try to market this in the states, this little bug has high potential in its native land. A Paco house with wheels.

New

2009-12-21T17:53:00.000-08:00

Without trying to sound too over-the-hill, I recently caught myself thinking about the 'good old days.' While my journey down memory lane doesn't include an 8 track or shag pile, it does cover the stoner-in-their-buddies-van topic of "fighting the man."

Back in the '90's there were very few restrictions on automobiles. We'd been forced to wear our full lap and shoulder seatbelts for a while but the government had yet to force the automakers to protect the driver from every foreseeable (and some unforeseeable) dangers. With the newest set of regulations put in place all vehicles must protect its occupants from front crashes, rear crashes, side crashes, rollovers, minor bumps, its own airbags, the measles, gonorrhea, falling asleep, steering too hard, braking too hard, bad hair, the list goes on and on, and these aren't even including the protections being put in place just in case some twat walks in front of you and you hit him. Normally, I'd see this as a great innovation of the day but its side effects are really starting to get under my skin.

Besides the fact that someday we'll all just look like a bunch of nutters bouncing around in our government mandated safety bubbles, as of now, new cars are getting too heavy to be enjoyable. With all of the airbags, body strengthening beams, roll bars, and harnesses, things are starting to get a bit overweight. Most people would say that's the American way, slam another Big Mac and Coke and pass out on the couch watching football in their underwear, but that's just what the men in the suits want you to do; why don't you follow me into the past?

Remember the cassette tape? Well, before today I don't even remember the last time I had heard one. About a week ago a friend of mine gave me an old Jazz tape to listen to. I was a little hesitant to listen to it at first because I knew it was going to sound like that movie everyone had to watch in elementary school about the Oregon Trail.

Once a year the teacher would knock the dust off of that old VHS tape and put it in for the class. As soon as it started you could hear the sound going up and down in pitch, like it was struggling to remember what it sounded like in the first place. That wandering of the pitch is common in audio cassettes too, naturally. I decided I wanted to try it out anyway so I gave it a listen, and 15 minutes in I felt like I was in an old black and white film. The trumpet lines soared not only from the players embouchure but also from the old form of audio playback I was using. And even though I could have probably whistled a cleaner rendition, I ate up every note coming out of the speakers. It was because it gave you a sense of atmosphere, that little tape. Its debilities were part of the grander scheme of the musical performance. The same can be true about old automobiles. Sure they have their little quirks and problems, but at the end of the day they will probably put a bigger smile on your face then a new econobox could ever dream of doing.

The English show Top Gear talks about owning Alfa Romeos. They say you can never be a true petrol-head until you've had one. Alfa Romeos are some of the most unreliable, toxic-fume-emitting cars you will ever come across, but that's not the point. They have a heritage, a lineage dating back decades that you can't get in most cars today. So what if they don't have passenger-footwell-pet cat-sniffle reducing airbags, they weigh next to nothing and they give you a real feeling that you are one with the car. I can guarantee you that old rust-bucket will become a loved part of the family.

The next time you're given the birdie by someone in a '90's Lancia while you putter along in you smart car conspicuously doing secret work for the environment, don't wonder why.

RWD Funs

2009-12-21T15:15:00.000-08:00

167 thousand miles in and it seems that the life of my ’96 DSM is coming to an end. Prolonging its life is beginning to seem like a futile act now with its engine’s creator having recently tanked. Losing a car is always a bittersweet day for any petrol-blooded person; gaining a new canvas is a wonderful experience, but having to lose a dependable friend is hard to do.

Knowing that my beloved second generation Talon is on the way out, I’m beginning to look into picking up another car. While I have lists of project cars that I’d someday love to start, I’m drawn to the idea of a tossable RWD car. The idea of finally ridding myself of torque-steer and seemingly endless, steaming piles of understeer seems like a nice direction to go.

After a little web searching I’ve decide that I want something newer and preferably with an untapped source of cheap power (i.e. a turbo). Sadly, I’ve come to realize that there isn’t really that perfect car on the market. My best possible option as we speak is an early model S2000.

Honda did indeed make a masterpiece with this car. Its perfect 50/50 weight distribution and super light weight make the handling portion I want but its engine does leave you wanting more. While I know many people are going to be pissed at me having made that last statement, I’m going to add that I’m not the biggest fan of all-motor builds.

For the few readers that haven’t just closed the window, I can say I found a solution to Honda’s problem. A few years back Greddy came out with a carb legal bolt-on turbo kit for the AP1 and AP2. With the extremely high compression ratios the F20C and F22C engines get from the factory the kits are forced to run low turbo pressures, but the numbers are still quite respectable.

Now I have a beautifully handling car with a good amount of daily driving punch for 20-25k. This is almost exactly what I was looking for, minus the convertible top, and lack of upper power potential without huge internal modification. Almost as soon as all of this information computes, Subaru and Toyota’s newest creation pops into my head.

The codenamed ‘086A’ has had a rough first coupe months with the global economic downturn doing its best to strike a finishing blow. Week after week the Toyobaru was on, and then it was off. Back-and-forth rumors were being thrown until a statement was released saying that the car is making its paces towards production readiness.

Specifications about everything from length to engine size are being posted, all of which look promising. If, or hopefully when, this car is released it will be the S2000’s most adequate competition for my money. If Subaru gives us an STI model with 250 turbocharged horsepowers, a LSD as standard, and six speed transmission channeling the power through the back wheels, I will be one of the first to lead an assault on the dealership vultures.