tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post5197062907421461324..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: Another Golden Age about to end?Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-71638863386727797232009-11-26T08:40:59.915-05:002009-11-26T08:40:59.915-05:00Well, me too.
Just like my '84 LG4-engined Tr...Well, me too.<br /><br />Just like my '84 LG4-engined Trans Am was a lot slower than a Camry, but nobody ever drove a Camry back and forth behind the local grocery store a few times just to hear the exhaust echo off the walls.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-33696699792373514232009-11-25T21:46:38.598-05:002009-11-25T21:46:38.598-05:00I'll take a smog motor Corvett over any of the...I'll take a smog motor Corvett over any of the soul-less Mazda/Toyota/Honda jellybeans any day of the week, thank you.<br /><br />To the guy who asks "how much horsepower do you really need?" Dude, seriously? On an RKBA blog, no less?Gewehr98https://www.blogger.com/profile/14440119702457734221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-18309881649745777502009-11-23T14:50:55.554-05:002009-11-23T14:50:55.554-05:00"kick sand in the face of a smog motor Corvet...<i>"kick sand in the face of a smog motor Corvette"</i><br /><br />Ouch. There are, however, very few "cool" points in driving a Camry.Ride Fasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01665658134264970252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-58393063889250561812009-11-23T14:32:56.929-05:002009-11-23T14:32:56.929-05:00I don't need much horsepower. Torque on the o...I don't need much horsepower. Torque on the other hand, oh boy do I need a lot of torque.Bramnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-50259742987741510032009-11-23T11:33:28.733-05:002009-11-23T11:33:28.733-05:00"if that is what gets you through the night, ..."if that is what gets you through the night, then I am sure I can oblige. Please write me a check for $19.99 + s/h. (Gosh, at least one of us ought to be getting rich off of mindless insults!)"<br /><br />As opposed to a feeling of superiority over the benighted?OAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-37190402116642034672009-11-23T10:48:24.263-05:002009-11-23T10:48:24.263-05:00NV 375 the last time, actually. :)
And sorry for...NV 375 the last time, actually. :)<br /><br />And sorry for the knee-jerk, Jake. Most of the time when people ask "how much horsepower do you really need ...?" they then go on to declare that the answer is "not much", and that the feds should step in to make it so.perlhaqrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920117742664645165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-82872812087545028782009-11-23T09:20:39.486-05:002009-11-23T09:20:39.486-05:00It's not the EPA, it's CARB (CA Air Resour...It's not the EPA, it's CARB (CA Air Resources Board or something like that). CA was not preempted in regards to regulating emissions when the feds started doing so, and they have consistently moves the goalposts for diesel emissions every time a car approaches it.<br /><br />Car manufacturers like to sell 50-state cars for mass-market vehicles; and so we have the situation we are in.<br /><br />My parents imported a Peugeot 504 station wagon under the 1-per exemption for complicated (foreign) tax reasons wen we moved back to the States from Morocco - that was hoot of a vehicle. 40 mpg was pretty low economy for it, and at the time diesel was cheaper than unleaded. Had to look around for decent diesel, of course...Ian Argenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03704336044732061128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-7465143118073970342009-11-23T09:13:21.646-05:002009-11-23T09:13:21.646-05:00Like perlhaqr said - diesel is the wave of the fut...Like perlhaqr said - diesel is the wave of the future - more power and better mileage. <br /><br />If, the EPA will let them in. Everyone who sells in Europe makes them but few have made it hear because our emmissions standards are so ridiculous. Hundyia, Honda, and Subaru many others have committed to selling diesels in the U.S. but failed to get them pass the beurocrats. <br /><br />BMW and Audi/VW have a few coming in but not nearly as many as they sell in Europe. <br /><br />I want a BMW 123d! 0-60 in 6.7 seconds, 147 mph top speed, and 54mpg.Bramnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-52684498543562986682009-11-23T07:23:39.520-05:002009-11-23T07:23:39.520-05:00Very true about the driving pattern. I have the op...Very true about the driving pattern. I have the option to take either a high-speed surface rd (speed limit 45 and it's a good idea as well; no traffic particularly) or an interstate (Speed Limit 65 and your doors get blown off at that speed). Due to traffic patterns getting off that highway, it's as fast for me to take the surface road home as to take the interstate (but it's still faster to take the insterstate to work).<br /><br />When I switched from using the interstate bidirectionally to going to work on the interstate and coming back via the surface rd, my gas mileage went from 35-36 to 38-40 (variation seems to be based on what I do on the weekends). I lose about 5-10 minutes on the way home, but I like the drive (it's a bit more picturesque) and it saves me a bit of dough.Ian Argenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03704336044732061128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-20846889890404890532009-11-23T03:04:00.894-05:002009-11-23T03:04:00.894-05:00in more seriousness ... who said anything about Th...in more seriousness ... who said anything about The Evils of Taxation? <br /><br />the reason I drive a car with the economic properties I have described is because, as a total economic package (between both legitimate and government-added expenses), it is the least costly option that allows me to get done what I have to get done.<br /><br />That is all.<br /><br />call it vehicular anhedonia, but I just do not get much of a thrill out of flooring it off the red lights. Not when - as Sendarius so acutely observed - a lot of efficiency is based on not what we drive, but how we drive. <br /><br />if you want to do 130mph ... well, more power to you. I recommend state route 140 in Nevada.Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646822667101579358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-58313232914290837302009-11-23T02:25:00.842-05:002009-11-23T02:25:00.842-05:00Wannabe Euro-weenie, will you next be telling us t...<i> Wannabe Euro-weenie, will you next be telling us that meat is murder? Or that demon rum will rot our loins?</i><br /><br />if that is what gets you through the night, then I am sure I can oblige. Please write me a check for $19.99 + s/h. (Gosh, at least one of us ought to be getting rich off of mindless insults!)Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17646822667101579358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-31615599950891399302009-11-23T02:22:41.659-05:002009-11-23T02:22:41.659-05:00So much of fuel economy is HOW you drive, not WHAT...So much of fuel economy is HOW you drive, not WHAT you drive.<br /><br />I recently drove 600 kms (~400 miles) and used 76 litres (~19 US gallons) of fuel - mainly because I was - errr - "in a hurry".<br /><br />When I drove the reverse route I set the cruise control to the speed limt plus 10%, and let the car run - I used 50 litres of fuel for the same distance.<br /><br />I calculate that to be ~32 mpg on the highway - from a 5 litre V8.Sendariushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286039362709773644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-46149866763844619642009-11-22T19:36:01.936-05:002009-11-22T19:36:01.936-05:00"Smart Car. Hayabusa engine.
Zoom."
Th..."Smart Car. Hayabusa engine.<br /><br />Zoom."<br /><br />That's one of my unfulfillable lusts, yeah... (Not that the stock one I have isn't fun to drive, but it's a bit anemic in the 0-60 dept)<br /><br />The other car is an '02 base-model Taurus. It replaced a '90 Buick Century and (eventually) a '92 Ranger 4-banger. The speedo goes to 120 (IIRC), and I've had it up to 100 without noticeable issues. The last interaction I had with the speed enforcers consisted of being pulled over just after cresting a long hill, and the cop asking me why I was doing 82 in a 65 in the middle of the afternoon... (To which my internal voice said LOLWHUT, and my external one said, politely, "Passing a truck". I got off with a warning).Ian Argenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03704336044732061128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-13807266358531388062009-11-22T19:08:23.366-05:002009-11-22T19:08:23.366-05:00The Smart Car is the iPhone of the automotive worl...The Smart Car is the iPhone of the automotive world. You can have all the reasons in the world for owning one, but you're still gonna look like a douche when you whip it out in public. <br /><br />I like my little Focus ZX3; it hauls pretty good for a four-cylinder engine, and it gets 30 mpg on the highway. I could do better, sure, but I could also do a lot worse. I'm also going to drive it 'til the wheels fall off. Prior to that point you'll have to hold a gun to my head if you want me in a weaker car.Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952078709114872197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15799963686233054552009-11-22T18:26:28.665-05:002009-11-22T18:26:28.665-05:00As a speed freak of the 50's I had fun. 50 yea...As a speed freak of the 50's I had fun. 50 years later I just look fast driving my 64 vette convert down the highway doing the speed limit. But ah the memories.<br /><br />See YaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-88981055838106802712009-11-22T17:13:45.078-05:002009-11-22T17:13:45.078-05:00Wannabe Euro-weenie, will you next be telling us t...Wannabe Euro-weenie, will you next be telling us that meat is murder? Or that demon rum will rot our loins? <br /><br />Frickin' automotive puritans...OAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-4592749669622989892009-11-22T16:33:00.365-05:002009-11-22T16:33:00.365-05:00I noticed that. My 2006 Suzuki 650cc V-Strom is ab...I noticed that. My 2006 Suzuki 650cc V-Strom is about the equal of most sedans between 45 and 70 now. They have the drag advantage over 70 and I have a big torque/weight advantage in the stoplights.<br /><br />Even the big production Hemi's they're rolling off the line nowadays can hang pretty close to my old 1984 Honda VF1100S. 25 years ago nothing could even stay in sight of it.<br /><br />Of course, that thing needs a good carb cleaning before it'll run a 10.9s quarter again though.Adrian Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05966665618865037355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-13588048356743886982009-11-22T16:04:22.008-05:002009-11-22T16:04:22.008-05:00This is the last golden age. The cars that fedgov...This is the last golden age. The cars that fedgov will mandate from it's wholly-owned subsidiaries in detroit will be similar to the cars in the movie "Brazil". Oh, and Ford, the Riceburners and Nazi's will be blocked from making cars at a profit, since it would inhibit the government motor companies.Flight-ER-Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13956977254878159037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-14936896707252016502009-11-22T14:58:32.608-05:002009-11-22T14:58:32.608-05:00Smart Car. Hayabusa engine.
Zoom.Smart Car. Hayabusa engine.<br /><br />Zoom.Cargosquidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15109858929179841075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15545130310739366092009-11-22T14:57:25.958-05:002009-11-22T14:57:25.958-05:00Jake: Yippie for you. Buy what you like and leave...Jake: Yippie for you. Buy what you like and leave others alone to do the same.<br /><br />After my '04 Jetta was annihilated by some stupid drunk last Friday, I'll be picking up a '10 Jetta with the new 2.0l diesel that gets 45 mpg <b>and</b> does 130 on the top end.<br /><br />Put that in your pipe and smoke it.perlhaqrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920117742664645165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-51015382493796955812009-11-22T14:12:44.664-05:002009-11-22T14:12:44.664-05:00The bikes didn't get off untouched. Anything w...The bikes didn't get off untouched. Anything with a carb usually had such lean jetting they had horrendous flat spots, were hard starting, and so-so acceleration. They normally had to be re-jetted to run properly.<br />'71 was the last year of real muscle car performance. Nader and the insurance companies also had a hand in the de-performing of engines, in addition to the EPA and Kalifornia. My '71 'stang had a 20% insurance surcharge, and that's without them knowing about Ford's sandbagging the HP numbers of their hot engines (the big three all did it to some extent). What's annoying about the EPA crap is my '65 'stang got 30 mpg with a two barrel small block (rated about 175 hp, IIRC). EPA cut that mileage in half in the seventies. Never understood how killing the mileage gave cleaner exhaust.Willnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-6705727001508581732009-11-22T14:01:54.661-05:002009-11-22T14:01:54.661-05:00Fedco will probably increase CAFE to the point whe...Fedco will probably increase CAFE to the point where it would be faster to pedal somewhere in their haste to destroy American capitalism.<br /><br />"bedlamite said...Borepatch, how about $32.40 and a handy website"<br /><br />My thanks, I do all the work on my '94 Tbird and that tool will pay itself off the first time I use it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-47829593950107784922009-11-22T13:44:20.492-05:002009-11-22T13:44:20.492-05:00"I wonder what the government will do to end ...<i>"I wonder what the government will do to end this Golden Age?"</i><br /><br />They're already doing it; max of 70 on the interstate and every traffic stop I see looks like a search for the Lindbergh baby.rickn8ornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-28977134764730841082009-11-22T13:29:22.359-05:002009-11-22T13:29:22.359-05:00I am somewhat amused by the fact that my car, whic...I am somewhat amused by the fact that my car, which was advertised at the time it was new (ten years ago, it's a 2000 model) as the most powerful in its class, is now easily outrun by models two or three classes downmarket.<br /><br />Actually, I don't think we're due for a revival of Cartermobiles; the science is moving too quickly. More likely, the Feds will tighten the gas-guzzler tax, and buyers will shrug.CGHillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03789097361138861462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-51910489434638557772009-11-22T12:20:47.315-05:002009-11-22T12:20:47.315-05:00That's easy. Soon we're all going to be dr...That's easy. Soon we're all going to be driving anemic powered electric cars with pedals for when the batteries get a little low. <br /><br />Unless you are Pelosi, then you're going to be flying overhead in a custom built Gulfstream, because, well you know, she needs it.Douglas L. Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464336475343873739noreply@blogger.com