Need some advice

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 05:18 PM

I'd still take the RX-7. Better weight distribution

Yeh, I know that you can stroke the vette to be 7l, but then you'd have too much torque (is there even such a thing

)
I guess I learned the limits of my car when I had bald tires. I was on a 4 way stop, I floored it to around 30 and did a sharp 90º turn. I got the rear end out, and then managed to keep it from fishtailing a lot. After that, I knew what I couldn't do with the car, and I now "feel" the car a bit better. Our cars are wide, and when I orignially got the car, I used to basically stop on small surface streets not to hit the mirrors on my car, the oncoming car, or a parked car.

Too bad your corvette is a ragtop. I give the hardtop ones more respect

So, how many miles you got on the vette?

Originally Posted by scott_fx

Now since you said that "I think it is funny that Americans go on about how they use RWD cos it handles so much better yada yada yada but American cars are like marshmallows to drive and handle **** anyway." I assume that you are talking to me because i am the big American dope with the big gas gussiling v8. I will tell you this; having driven two worthy representative for American engineering and Japanese engineering at their best, That i would take either one of them any day of the week. Neither car outshines the other. True, I don't exploit the potential of my car because i work so freakin' much and still haven't had the chance to learn the limits of my car (and still am learning how to drive something with gobs of torque). But when life was a little less busy (i had the RX at that time) I used to push it to it's limits every other weekend up in the canyons.

a little background on the two cars i've owned:

1999 Corvette, stock suspension. rebuilt engine: Head/cams package, machined block, forged pistons, long tube headers, high-flow cats, borla exhuast, l/w flywheel, fat *** tires, high perf/lightweight 3-pc rims.

1993 Mazda Rx-7 R1 Twin Turbo- sport springs, upgraded adjustable anti-sway bars, street ported engine, high flow cat, down-pipe (no precat), trust exhaust (not the 'fart can' or apexi n1 exhaust), Reprogrammed ecu, 15 lbs of boost.

I think these two machines are worthy competitors for a import vs. domestic comparison. The rx-7 does handle better, and the vette is faster but stock for stock they aren't very far off.

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by scott_fx

oh...i forgot...0l33l...SCREW!

(note...this is light hearted ball busting... not bashing)

My car still has a lot of catching up to do.

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 05:32 PM

We use Ford Crown Victorias for taxis. Its the same car that the police use. ARCHIVER has one

I agree with you about the most people comment. My mom, grandma, and grandpa don't give a rat's *** which drivetrain they have. I do. They just use their cars for commuting.
In my grandma's sentra (FWD) (nissan sunny IIRC) I could take 90º turns at 35mph. I'm afraid of taking the same turn with my car going 30mph

Why? Because I don't feel that the rear fender needs work

But in my car, I get much finer and more precise turns. Granted, I can't take all of them fast, but I feel that its a great tradeoff. Plus with my new tires, I bet I could take the turn at 35mph, but I don't have a need to

I never said that FWD is utter bollox. FWD may be more economical, have faster acceleration, etc, but it will never be a true sports car.

You said that FWD is safer. Mind backing that up?

Yeh, RWD is more dangerous. Don't do stupid ****

I don't go around racing my car at 80mph. Fastest my car's gone is 90mph. You have to enter turns going slower, but then you can accelerate. Etc...

BTW: my car is nible. Much more so than any FWD car I've driven (except for a 99' 5sp accord, who's quickness I attribute to the lack of a slushbox).

Originally Posted by Scouse Monkey

Scott, i aint talking abotu your corvette, i am talking about these big wallowing saloons we see in movies and the everyday cars that i have seen in america. Liek the things you use for taxis!

I will take the stick out of my *** when boris stops talking ****e and acting as if his car is the best thing ever made! A marority of people will never fully appreciate the handling of there cars and for someone to state that their car is better than someone elses just because it is RWD as opposed to FWD is complete and utter bollox and shows they do not have a clue what theya re talking about!

The knowledge that goes into car design these days is so far ahead of 10 years ago and for 90% (or more) of the population FWD is more practical, safer and cheaper and therefore 'better'!

If i am going to build a sports car then sure it is going to be RWD because of the way they handle but RWD is more dangerous in some peoples hands - i would rather some idiot ****ed it up in a FWD than a RWD one.

and as for the comment about the twisties - absolutely - they were built for different things - i had that in mind when i wrote it but if someone keeps saying their RWD barge of a car is fun to drive they want to try someing nimble - much more enjoyable to drive and at a lot less cost!

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Scouse Monkey

I formally invite Boris over to the UK and i will take him out on someof my favourite lanes in a civic type R - i will scare him ****less and he will have so much fun he will kiss the front driveshafts and thank them for the pleasure they have jsut given him!

I've driven a few FWD cars (95' Mitsu Galant, 98' Sentra, 02' Sentra). All three sucked at handleing on Laurel Canyon. As I said, there is a need to jerck the wheel at the last moment to stay in the center of the lane.

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Dexter

Wow, LOL, it exploded with replies. Well I guess I'm too "poor" for AWD. I dunno, i figured this board would be exempt from comments like those, we should just be interested in our carputers and such, I really don't wanna come here and hear how my car sucks because its FWD (but I do have an LSD...) and how im too poor to buy AWD. Im not like ****ed or anything, its just kinda disheartening. We all have different cars and why put each other down?

scott, nice rx7! *drool*

Well, you're in the OT section

I thought that the car in his avatar was a corvette. When I saw him I asked were his gold wheels were. He laughed and said that its his rx-7 pictured

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by scott_fx

heh...my first car was an m-edition miata with 17's, dual exhaust...and oh yeah, a turbo kit. i had dumped a crap load of money into body work and what not...flared fenders, side skirts, perfect paint...even won a few first place trophies when i was into the whole car show scene. soo see, I'm a mazda guy over here on the dark side

There's a big difference between a FWD mazda and a RWD mazda

I like the RWD mazdas. I originally wanted to get a RX-7 as a beater, but decided that the insurance would be too much

**Dexter** · 04-08-2005, 06:00 PM

RX-7 as a beater? Thats kinda throwing away the potential of an awesome car, just a bit. (Well, I mean, I guess you could, but then I'm pretty sure you go straight to hell).

If you're a good driver you can make any car go fast in any condition. Ever see any of those Best Motoring videos? They take "sux" FWD cars like Preludes and Accords (and I'm not even a Honda guy, but at least I can show a little respect...) and throw them through curves faster than you could in your SC300, RWD or not.

RWD does not automatically make you a better driver, or even make your car any safer in turns.

Frankly, the RWD/FWD discussion is totally asinine. People need to grow up and realize its just a damn drivetrain. Theres tons of FWD cars that could kick many an ***, but just because you fail to realize this doesn't mean they dont exist.

I'm done.

**Scouse Monkey** · 04-08-2005, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by 0l33l

I get much finer and more precise turns.

arghhhhhh i hate comments like that!!!! stop acting like you get a stiffy when you talk about your car!!!

As for the safety of FWD:

it is a reason why FWD become so popular over here. FWD understeers when you go to fast into a bend. RWD generally oversteers. Understeer IS safer than oversteer in the hands of most people as when losing control most people will hit the breaks and slit off the road into something - hopefully slowly. If your backend suddenly breaks away then you are going backwards into the scenery and you will be competely out of control and are likely to have shed less speed by the time your car gets close and personal with your surroundings!

Rear wheel drive is undoubtedly more stable and is the only way for anything really high powered (i believe the common rule is onything over 200 but i would say 240ish with modern technology and tyres) but giving the masses a car which is less exciting but goes out of controlled in a more predicatble fashion is the car industies way to reduce accidents.

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 07:29 PM

Not the FD RX-7. The boxy one (before 92 IIRC)

Well, those FWD cars are modified. My drivetrain is 100% stock. Not really a fair comparison

I never said that my car is safer in turns or make me a better driver. I said that RWD is better in turns. If you know the rigth time to jerck the wheel then good for you.

Drivetrain matters. RWD is great for summer. FWD is good for snow. AWD is great in snow.

Originally Posted by Dexter

RX-7 as a beater? Thats kinda throwing away the potential of an awesome car, just a bit. (Well, I mean, I guess you could, but then I'm pretty sure you go straight to hell).

If you're a good driver you can make any car go fast in any condition. Ever see any of those Best Motoring videos? They take "sux" FWD cars like Preludes and Accords (and I'm not even a Honda guy, but at least I can show a little respect...) and throw them through curves faster than you could in your SC300, RWD or not.

RWD does not automatically make you a better driver, or even make your car any safer in turns.

Frankly, the RWD/FWD discussion is totally asinine. People need to grow up and realize its just a damn drivetrain. Theres tons of FWD cars that could kick many an ***, but just because you fail to realize this doesn't mean they dont exist.

I'm done.

**0l33l** · 04-08-2005, 07:32 PM

Yeh, ok. My car does have oversteer. That's why I don't take the 90º turns over 35mph

You hit the nail on the head. RWD is more stable at higher speeds. The car feels much smoother and livelier at higher speeds.
My car only puts out 225 at the crank

That's like 180is at the wheels. Some have gotten 160ish at the wheels

Originally Posted by Scouse Monkey

arghhhhhh i hate comments like that!!!! stop acting like you get a stiffy when you talk about your car!!!

As for the safety of FWD:

it is a reason why FWD become so popular over here. FWD understeers when you go to fast into a bend. RWD generally oversteers. Understeer IS safer than oversteer in the hands of most people as when losing control most people will hit the breaks and slit off the road into something - hopefully slowly. If your backend suddenly breaks away then you are going backwards into the scenery and you will be competely out of control and are likely to have shed less speed by the time your car gets close and personal with your surroundings!

Rear wheel drive is undoubtedly more stable and is the only way for anything really high powered (i believe the common rule is onything over 200 but i would say 240ish with modern technology and tyres) but giving the masses a car which is less exciting but goes out of controlled in a more predicatble fashion is the car industies way to reduce accidents.