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#1
06-26-2012, 01:38 AM
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Beyond that... You're correct if your definition of an, "engineering marvel", is a car that requires a $5k+ engine out service every 15k miles or 3 years. Admittedly I'm not up on the newer ones so they may be a little better but, still, there's not much engineering marvel in them. They are simply race engines and suspensions with a crappy car wrapped around them. Admittedly the 328 and older are smokin' hot to look at (the newer ones are really bland IMO), but, that's about it. GM's stock 2 liter turbo Ecotec engine has as much torque as a 3.5 liter Ferrari 355 engine. The difference is the Ecotec produces it at 2600 rpm while the Ferrari needs 6000 rpm. With a $600 ECM reflash that does not void the factory warranty the Ecotec will produce 290 bhp and 340 ft-lbs of torque (as much torque as a Ferrari 430 at less RPM). My turbo Ecotec has 35k miles on it with no issues (although I have replaced the tires already). Anyone can make a race engine that's design life is one race (or 15k miles at 500 miles/month) and slap it into a car with ridiculous maintenance requirements An engineering marvel is a solid engine that lasts. Now don't get me wrong, my next toy car will probably be a Ferrari, but, they are not, "engineering marvels", by any stretch of the imagination. And just for the record, a Laguna Seca Mustang handles at 1.03g (as compared to the 1.02g of a 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia). --Outlaw. 
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#2
06-26-2012, 01:46 AM
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A little more on topic...
My old man had a Jaguar roadster (late '50s model I think) that was just awful. It required constant attention and maintenance. IIRC, carb. and valve adjustments were frequent issues and, of course, overheating here in the hot and humid southern US. He did love it though until he got hauled to jail for speeding. Evidently 50mph over the speed limit was a ticket straight to jail. My grandfather on my mother's side (DETECTIVE grandfather that is) had to bail him out. The Jag was sold shortly thereafter. If he had kept it, I would have a different mother! --Outlaw. P.S. Yes, he regrets pulling over but, he was afraid of breaking the car if he tried to run.
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#3
06-26-2012, 09:26 AM
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#4
06-26-2012, 09:56 AM
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lol Bliss, you're doing exactly what I was talking about, you're measuring your driving skills on how long your list of tools is or how fast your car goes (allegedly...). That still doesn't make you a better driver than me. And to be honest I'm not in for a race with you man, my point was that your sort of addiction (as you defined it yourself) is just a translation of your small penis syndrome into having something that goes faster than people that can afford better cars than yours.
Some words about my experience: I don't have an alleged racing pedigree as you do, but my family has always been one of petrolheads. We regularly had Porsches, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, BMW and Mercs in our garages, plus the odd British Morgan or Mini, and we all liked doing bit of tinkering with them. My uncle worked for Snap-On and that meant we always had a lot of quality tools around, nothing too fancy (I think the biggest piece of technology we had was a lathe!), but enough to do our own maintenance/experimenting etc... I did some racing in my younger years, but it was amateur stuff really, done for the fun of it on mono-brand championship (where you measure the driver's skill, so the winner is not the team with more money, but the one with the good driver, all in all it's a sport), and boy did it teach me a lot! At the moment I'm driving an Alfa Romeo Brera (had another one and swapped it for a 3.2 V6). It's 320hp (stock setup is 265), AWD and a pure joy to drive (and looks fantastic!). Then (and that hopefully shows that I am a real all rounder) I'm about to acquire a '68 Mustang with a stock V8, because I can also appreciate American classic cars for their beauty. If I want to race I just go see a couple of friends of mine down at a place called Silverstone (I'm sure you might have heard of it..) where I can try the latest performance cars that they have available at their club and thrash mine around (talking of which, I just bought and installed a new set of brakes, pads and hoses for it, EBC Red Stuff is amazing! But I'm sure you'll tell me you probably forge your own discs right?). So I think of myself as an all rounder, that can sit on a performance car or factory spec saloon and know how to drive it properly. Learning about stuff like the quirks of slip-diff or performance driving (the aforementioned heel-and-toe which you probably never used..) is what makes a good driver; wobbling your steering wheel left and right trying to keep straight a car that was not designed to put down all that power ("the thrill of being killed", seriously??) is just stupid and irresponsible, because I'm sure you do your fair share of racing mainly on roads.. So the crass, puerile, irresponsible driving of your kind is something I will never understand. You drive a fugly piece of trailer park junk with a ridiculous bonnet and feel like the new Andretti, and you know what, good for you, we normally laugh at your delusional kind, but don't come around trying to teach me what makes a good driver, cos you certainly ain't one, especially cos you don't seem to understand that 1) it's not all about going on a straight line. 2) it's not about winning, it's about having fun. You sound like the Charlie Sheen of automotive delusion.
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#5
06-26-2012, 10:12 AM
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A drivers car
I appreciate any car that is done right, however I would love to see a car such as 2500hp Mustang registered?? Definately not here in Australia, I would be waiting with defect book in hand! wink..wink..
A lovely car nonetheless, this is a real drivers car Datsun 1600/510, I am currently doing one up from a rusty old wreck, 100k on tools?? I can manage on about 3k? Biggest wallet, if I had a unlimited budget I would just go buy new Nissan GTR and just drive it, not talk about how good I am when I drive it. Any car is good, just drive it!
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#6
06-26-2012, 10:55 AM
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It's also a matter of what exactly you want to do, for changing oil and tires 3k should easily do... (If I were Bliss I'd keep the shop a tad cleaner and tidier tho, lol)
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#7
06-26-2012, 12:00 PM
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I am a qualified marine mechanic and fitter and turner/welder.100k on tools is crazy! If Bliss owns a shop I can appreciate the need for tools and quality, tools dont make the tradesman though! Bliss this is by no means a go at you, If I had access to all that I would be in heaven! Some more pics of what 3k (give or take) of tools and know how can achieve! That was not my datto earlier, this is mine here in these pics, got a long way to go yet.
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#8
06-26-2012, 12:48 PM
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you can tell a pro from how tidy his garage is. Well done there man
 What's the engine config on that?
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#9
06-26-2012, 11:12 AM
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Six or so years ago The WA Charger Club went down to the Collie power house sprint track, One of the guys took his Dado down and put her around the track as a bit of fun. Unfortunately he hit the gravel and rolled it and it turned out to be the beasts last trip! It's good to see one looking so nice!
Last edited by Skoshi Tiger; 06-26-2012 at 11:14 AM.
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#10
06-26-2012, 01:37 PM
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I bought a vandenplas the year prior to Ford buying Jaguar. The car was a money pit.
The motor kept burning up. I replaced 3 motors at over 9,000 USD before I found a man that explained the problem. I took it to a guy that had about 40 years experience with Jaguar. He took me into a back room about 12 x 12 feet square. In the room were six cylinder Jaguar crankshafts standing on end. There were so many of them they filled the room. He said, "The rear main cap was cast iron and held so much heat the motor had to burn up". He said, "Put a small block chevrolet engine in the car and get on with my life". I told him I bought a Jaguar and I wouldn't change that. He advised I should then repair by align bore crank and replace bearings. Then I should drive as little as possible and give it a selling. I paid 5,800 USD for align bore and rebuild. I traded to a dealership that got the bargain of a lifetime. LOL The worst part of this... the guy told me Jaguar knew about the rear main problem all the time. He said they had used the same motor since WW2 and it was common knowledge among Jaguar enthusiasts. To this day... I'll never own another Jaguar. If I were given one today by a well meaning friend I would sell it immediately. I can't say enough bad things about Jaguar. I spent over $40,000 repairing that expensive piece of junk in 4 years I owned it. I wouldn't have any idea of what I would be saying if I had bought it used. British pride took a beating with that dog that wouldn't hunt ... IMO. It was the most beautiful car imaginable with the wire wheels and all. Sure was pretty sitting in my drive waiting for the tow truck to come pick it up about every 2 weeks. -------------- I should also add: I wouldn't trust any magazine or quality pronouncements about any car company, especially Jaguar. The proof of quality can only be determined over time with a car. I certainly wouldn't trust anything about Jaguar on a short term basis. ----------------- Pssst... I woudn't have a Porshe either, since all they are now just plastic cars. Anything newer than 87 is just trouble... the Boxster is a prime example. Last edited by nearmiss; 06-26-2012 at 01:49 PM.
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