Quote: One thing the OP should consider, a 4 banger needs to be reved to get the power. They have lots of HP, not too much torque. To get the power, you have to shift a lot.
Not if you hang a turbo or supercharger on them. For an example take VW's 2 liter turbo 4 banger. 200 HP from 5100 to 6000 RPM and 207 lb/ft torque from 1800 to 5000 RPM.
Personally, in the bracket mentioned by the OP I would also be looking hard at the VW GTI as well as the Speed and WRX. Maybe not as flat out quick as those two but as an all round package, tough to beat, an interior second to none in that class and if you like trick transmissions, you can't do better than the DSG at any price.
Both 5th Gear and Top Gear in the UK picked it as their favourite hot hatch over the Honda Civic Type R even though it is heavier and isn't quite as quick around a track.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC
Wish I had a pic of this one..... QUOTE ANDREW THOMSON: It has been a few years but I remember driving several 1960's tow cars back when they were common tow vehicles.
The most memoriable for me was a Hemi Cuda towing a 27' Airstream. QUOTE:
A quarter-mile sprint on Mr. Turbo's ZX-11 pumps a lifetime of adrenaline through a rider's body. First gear is practically useless, second no much better and third will flash through 120 mph without ever touching the front tire to tarmac. Punch fourth gear and hang on as the bike slams past 150 mph in a slow weave as the rear tire searches for traction in a headlong dash that would culminate in speeds far above 200 mph if you had enough road and guts.
Your point?
Turbo bike vs turbo GN is no contest.
There are plenty of 10 and 9-second GN's out there. Heck, there were 8-second GN's fifteen years ago.
And like I said, I talked to a guy on the Power Tour last year who Long Hauled in a legit 9-second daily driver (it's his only car). He drove it to Cleveland, ran the entire thing, then drove it home (Florida) from Little Rock, A/C going and without a hiccup. The car ran mid-9's on drag radials.
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body
A bunch of other vehicles
3 nutty cats (Maya, Vierna, Briza)
One lazy dog (Marmaduke)
One wife (Liz)
"A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age"
-Jim Steinman
Quote: Of course, resale value could be a reason to buy a slightly used Balt, getting an excellent car for a bargain.
A slightly-used Cobalt SS (or Neon SRT4, or STi, or Evolution) will probably have been beaten like a rented mule.
Quote: I have always been a huge fan of the GN's. I took my first ride in one that belonged to one of my dad's friend's back in 1987. I swore that day I would own one. Flash forward 21 years....I have owned 2. They are definitely quick....rockets in their hay day. To be honest though, they were high 13 second cars stock. For very little money (less than $1000) they can easily dip into the 11's. To get into low 10's - 9's, you are talking huge money.....you are looking mostly at race only or stage 2 cars. Not all, just most.
Big money? Yes, like most 10-second cars: Stage II stroker V6, Art Carr transmission, full rollcage (steel, unfortunately, and one reason the car is 2 tons), 9" rear axle. But that's over more than ten years (she bought it a stock and really thrashed theft recovery)...the car was running high 10's with a stock 3.8 short-block and a GM Corporate axle (which got a boot off the track for having C-clip axles, and resulting in the 9").
However, it's a driver, and likely gives up 3-4 tenths in the quarter because of it. It's never trailered, she commutes in it regularly...it's a totally docile car, perfectly happy to idle in traffic with the A/C on, comfortable on a long drive. Other than having to hop over the door bars getting in and out (much easier for her than me), the only thing a bit peculiar around town is the loose converter. She's hoping to Power Tour in it.
I'd bet I have more in my Caddy (and I'm SURE I have more in my Magnum).
Jarlaxle wrote: Big money? Yes, like most 10-second cars: Stage II stroker V6, Art Carr transmission, full rollcage (steel, unfortunately, and one reason the car is 2 tons), 9" rear axle. But that's over more than ten years (she bought it a stock and really thrashed theft recovery)...the car was running high 10's with a stock 3.8 short-block and a GM Corporate axle (which got a boot off the track for having C-clip axles, and resulting in the 9").
However, it's a driver, and likely gives up 3-4 tenths in the quarter because of it. It's never trailered, she commutes in it regularly...it's a totally docile car, perfectly happy to idle in traffic with the A/C on, comfortable on a long drive. Other than having to hop over the door bars getting in and out (much easier for her than me), the only thing a bit peculiar around town is the loose converter. She's hoping to Power Tour in it.
I'd bet I have more in my Caddy (and I'm SURE I have more in my Magnum).
That sounds like a pretty sweet ride. I have never riden in a really fast GN. Both of my GN's were trailer queens. I bought my first in 1998 and it had 6,000 miles. I got sick of just looking at it and I put it in the Auto Trader. Dennis Kirban ended up buying the car for my asking price. When I bought my second I swore I would drive it like a daily driver. After looking at a dozen or so cars, I ended up with a mint astroroof car with 4,300 miles (I paid 19k). Although I tried to force myself to drive it, I was scared to death someone would screw it up.....it spent the majority of it's life in my garage also. By the time I went to sell, the prices went through the roof....I got $23k for it.
I might buy another one day, but it will most likely be a Turbo T.....way cheaper for the same damn car. White with blue interior with all of the motor work already done.
8.1 Van wrote: Turbo bike vs turbo GN is no contest.
Did you look at the second link? An 8.89 is a little faster than a 9.55, and more impressive from a car weighing over 3K lbs vs a 500lb bike. Turbo cars are just nasty when they are tuned right and docile enough to be street driven, quite frequently. lol
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