Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

stickguy

speaking of dealer incentives, I received my $100 visa card from Cadillac today. Not a bad ROR for a quick visit to the showroom and filling out a form.

breld

As much as I enjoy driving the civic si, I could see myself being attracted to the equivalent ILX, just for the more mature, and stealth, image.

A quick search on cars.com results in several used 2.4l models as low as $20,990. That's indeed about as much as some used 2013 civic si's. Hmmm...

nyccarguy

I know we have a lacrosse driver & a regal driver here (or is it SFTSF?). What's the deal with the Regal? What does it share a platform with? How do you like it?

Michaell

@nyccarguy said:
I know we have a lacrosse driver & a regal driver here (or is it SFTSF?). What's the deal with the Regal? What does it share a platform with? How do you like it?

I think the Regal is unique here in the states - it's based off the Opel / Vauxhall Insignia. Was originally meant to be the replacement for the Saturn Aura befor GM shuttered the division.

tifighter

The upcoming ILX refresh sounds like it's going to solve a fair amount of people's complaints. It's currently getting killed by the Verano, so they seem motivated.

ab348

@nyccarguy said:
I know we have a lacrosse driver & a regal driver here (or is it SFTSF?). What's the deal with the Regal? What does it share a platform with? How do you like it?

As was said, it's the Opel Insignia in Europe, and it is built on GM's Epsilon platform that they also use for the current Malibu. I like the design inside and out far better than the Malibu though (they do not share either bodies or interiors). I have had my 2011 Regal Turbo for 2 1/2 years now and I really like it. It feels very buttoned down and solid; handles very well but also has the quiet and feature load that you would expect from a Buick. It is a heavy beast though, so you need the turbo version of the engine to bring it alive. The biggest drawback is that rear seat room is a bit tight.

A friend has a 2012 GS and it is a rocket ship.

steine13

Speaking of the Ford Transit Connect, and in keeping with the triple names, how about the Chevy City Express? Sounds like a 90s actress... Sarah Jessica Parker anyone? I'll be thinking about that one the next time the General sends me $2k or $3k via my GM card... For those of us with the old, "blue" card, it's a semi-regular thing around Christmas.

The Chevy will be out this fall; the Nissan NV200 on which it is based is available now at commercial Nissan dealerships. I haven't even seen one yet, but it should be an interesting car for the kind of thing Stever does...

stever

Those "we need your trade" letters may start to taper off. The flood of lease returns should hit any day now (seems like we've been hearing that for a couple of years now though).

"Earlier this year, Edmunds.com forecast that used-car prices would slide 2% in 2014, and perhaps further down the road as a result of leasing trends. “Many car shoppers might not realize how much the new- and used-car markets feed off each other,” explained Edmunds.com Sr. Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed. “The boom in new car leases, for example, is leading to a higher number of lease returns, which adds to the growing inventory of used cars, forcing their prices down.”

Used Cars Are Going to Keep Getting Cheaper and Cheaper (Time)

Hope to hit a Toyota dealer today, maybe a Honda one too.

steine13

Punch.
I finally broke down and got the Outback I've been buying for the last 10 years.
Special-ordered a 2014 Premium 6MT in blue (I know) with light tan (I know) interior. It was high time, as the stick is going away with the 2015 redesign.

Thanks to ateixera and occking, I learned years ago that while the Subaru credit card has a $500/year limit per account... Chase forgot to limit the number of cards you can have. So I have two; one for me and one for the missus.
It turned out that Subaru limits the rebate per car to $2,000, but since they forgot to tell their customers that, and since my dealerhip's manager made a couple of calls, they wound up taking the whole $3,800 I'd saved up.
I used the "VIP Program" to get the discounted pricing, and total cost was $20,360 + TTL. There was a $450 dealer rebate that I didn't know about; they gave me that also, which was nice.

It is a... remarkable car. Yeah, that's it: Remarkable.

To me, it feels a decade behind the times. At least. Of the 30 cars I've owned, the one it reminds me of is my '07 Silverado V6. Very no-frills, kinda coarse, but in a pleasant way. The boxer engine takes some getting used to; it's not smooth, it's not rough, it's very different from an inline four. It has enough power, but no more. The shifter is... OK. Better than the Vibe, but that's not saying much. Clutch is good, take-up is fairly late. The whole car has a homespun feel to it. Perfect car for non-car people.
Perfect car for me, comes right down to it. I like the sight lines and the seating position. Finally a front seat that supports my thighs. Tons of back-seat room, large luggage compartment. The engine is noisy around town, but they're good noises in a John Deere sort of way. On the freeway, it's nice and quiet. The 17" wheels are a bit much, but there is still a lot of rubber, and it helps with the potholes around here.

As far as tech -- what tech? Even the basics are ten years behind the competition. Retained power? No. Express up/down windows? Driver only. Turn the car off, and the radio is off. There must be a tire pressure monitoring system somewhere -- that's the law -- but there ain't no readout. Apparently there's a warning light. Digital mph readout? Nope, use the needle. At least it's accurate.

It's a mystery to me how Subaru produces the sales growth it does given the product. There must be tons of people who just want a simple, competent car.
I better quit before I hit the character (or patience) limit.
"Out of the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks."

Cheers -Mathias

stever

Congrats.

And I know what you mean. We aren't even shopping them right now. Not yet anyway.

graphicguy

Mathias...I admire the deal and the outlook on what is really needed in a car. Admittedly, I'm the type of person who wants all the "stuff" that's modern and up-to-date from a tech point of view. But, there's beauty in simplicity. You found that beauty.

Congrats on the new wheels.

rayainsw

Mathias -

Congrats - and much happy motoring to ya!

• Ray

Agree on the unique sound of the Subaru boxer . . .

graphicguy

ILX...driven one a couple of times when my Acura was getting an oil change.

Really nice cars, but it starts out as one of the most popular cars on the planet (Civic), so that's explainable. While it's a size category I don't like, it drove quite nice and felt "premium".

But, for less than $30K, you can get a much nicer, bigger, Accord. Either move the ILX further upscale without changing the price, or drop it down in price.

Mr_Shiftright

Not these days, unless you want a set of scary tires and wheels made from old TV dinner trays.

By the time you buy and mount and balance a set of merely "decent" tires (let's say 17") and get a wheel alignment, you are in the hole for $700, and a set of wheels that won't bend on the first 3rd world pothole we seem to be growing here in the USA, you'll be well over $1,000 bucks.

@Michaell@Edmunds said:
And how much over the $3k asking price will it cost to replace the wheels and tires? Another grand?

qbrozen

I can do it for less, but I mount them myself. Should be right around $1k from tirerack, assuming ~$120 per wheel and ~$100 per tire plus shipping.

I also have 2 sets of wheels going unused right now, along with many tires. If the bolt pattern and offset happens to be the same as an MKV GTI, I'd be all set with the 17s I have on hand.

qbrozen

Nope. Just checked. Different bolt pattern. OH well. On the up side, tirerack has many options for under $100 ea. I'd probably opt for 16s, given the chance.

Michaell

Yesterday the wife was off, so we ran a few errands. In one of the parking lots was a BMW X1 - I asked her what she thought of it, as I believed it could be on the short list for an ultimate replacement for the CX-7.

Her response would probably cause the collective hearts of BMW designers everywhere to stop, or at least miss a beat or two: "It looks like a Focus".

Cross that off the list.

kyfdx

I'll agree that the X1 is not that attractive, but it's a nice drive, and a great alternative to most smaller crossovers... we get them for loaners, quite frequently.

I can't see what it looks like from inside, anyway... ;-)

xwesx

@steine13 said:
Punch.
I finally broke down and got the Outback I've been buying for the last 10 years.
Special-ordered a 2014 Premium 6MT in blue (I know) with light tan (I know) interior. It was high time, as the stick is going away with the 2015 redesign.

One thing that is very sad about the Outback, I think, is that it was such a fun driver's car through 2009. That all abruptly changed in 2010... and sales took off! When we decided to buy a new car in 2009, I didn't even consider the Outback simply because it was no longer a car I could enjoy driving (well, and I couldn't stand to look at it, either!). Happily, the Forester struck a decent medium in that it was quite attractive, drove pretty well, and had loads of passenger space compared to the 2009 Outback (of which there were still a few available here and there, so I could have found one had I really been set on it).

Since the G3 Foresters and G4 Outbacks, Subaru seems to be putting more effort into making their cars handle better and provide better driver feedback. But, I'm still not considering Subaru again at this time. The G4 Forester is now a better car than G3, but it's stunningly ugly. G5 Outback is (on paper, anyway), an improvement over G4, and looks a lot better, but now doesn't even offer the manual (which doesn't surprise me because G4 wasn't a driver's car, so I imagine manual uptake was abysmal).

Sigh.

Michaell

@kyfdx@Edmunds said:
I'll agree that the X1 is not that attractive, but it's a nice drive, and a great alternative to most smaller crossovers... we get them for loaners, quite frequently.

I can't see what it looks like from inside, anyway... ;-)

Yeah, I thought that if she ever test drove one, she'd like the driving dynamics. She's mentioned a couple of times that she'd like something smaller than the CX-7 next time around. She still wants a wagon or small CUV with AWD. No diesel, however.

Maybe a 3-series wagon? I've told her that the next time we look for a car for her, she's on her own, that I'm going to try my best not to influence her decision making process.

nyccarguy

@ab348‌

I actually saw one parked on the street here the other day in front of my store. I dig the styling and started poking around. It seems that there are quite a few brand new 2013s on dealer lots. It is mid April and they already have 0% financing on 2013s and 2014s. Depreciation doesn't seem to be the Regal's friend either. I might have to check these out. AWD is optional. Maybe a dealer demo for thousands under invoice, still under warranty. I'm glad to hear you are happy with it. Any issues with it? Does yours have AWD or does it wear snow shoes in the winter (FWD)?

nyccarguy

In fact, I think the base model Regal has everything I need:

AWD, 259 hp Turbo I-4, Hot Seats, Backup Camera, Leather, 6 Speed Automatic with an MSRP of $32,790 which GM speak for $26K during whatever labor day sell-a-thon, employee pricing bash they have going on? I'll put this on the short list to check out.

breld

The Regal does catch my eye whenever I see one. I'll be interested to hearing your impression. Lease end on the BMW is coming up quick!

Michaell

@breld said:
The Regal does catch my eye whenever I see one. I'll be interested to hearing your impression. Lease end on the BMW is coming up quick!

Hey, Breld?

You need to update your signature line to include the TT, my friend.

jayrider

@nyccarguy said:
In fact, I think the base model Regal has everything I need:

AWD, 259 hp Turbo I-4, Hot Seats, Backup Camera, Leather, 6 Speed Automatic with an MSRP of $32,790 which GM speak for $26K during whatever labor day sell-a-thon, employee pricing bash they have going on? I'll put this on the short list to check out.

Plus, you get 4 year / 50K warranty. Buick is really discounting most models. Of course, residual values are pretty dismal if you look to trade in 2-3 years.

brian125

@jayrider said;

Plus, you get 4 year / 50K warranty. Buick is really discounting most models. Of course, residual values are pretty dismal if you look to trade in 2-3 years.

NYCcarguy:

Buying this model on or after labor day will make up for its dismal residual value. If i was buying this vehicle I start labor day and hold out til probably Nov. hoping to score almost 20% of the msrp. Then if you sell 3 or 4 years later you are still recouping some the lost money with vehicles depreciation.

I drove a 2013 model let me tell you....... The Ride and Handling was a surprise. Inside the cabin was quite with little road noise. What I did not like was road visibility and front cabin is to tight inside for me. I am Assuming the 2013 and 2014 are a same model with minor changes.

This Regal is a good model to make a good score on.. Its not in demand.

Reach out to me around labor day if your still interested . I will see what deals I could swing for you..

ab348

@nyccarguy said:
ab348‌

Any issues with it? Does yours have AWD or does it wear snow shoes in the winter (FWD)?

Mine is a FWD Turbo so I have a set of winter rims with Michelin X-Ice tires. No real issues. My center console is creaky sometimes when I lean on it. Dealer replaced the rear brake pads, which had separation for some reason, and the sparkplugs, to correct a misfire. Other than that it has been great. It is without a doubt the best highway car I have ever owned. Just feels really planted at speed. The seats feel hard at first but like a lot of German cars, they really deliver on long drives. I got a great lease deal on it in Oct/2011. Probably will buy it out at lease end.

stever

@steine13, I had a Toyota dealer appraise my '97 Outback Ltd. today (95,500 miles).

$2,000. Not bad for the "wholesale/auction" price. I'd put it on craigslist and ask $4,000 but the Subbies really hold their value.

Had another good dealer experience between doc appointments. Went to the dealer after lunch and my wife drove a Prius V (we had margaritas with lunch and I polished off half of hers, so begged off driving. Hey, I needed reinforcement for hitting a second dealer in two days!).

Upshot of the noon test drive was that the Prius V is off the list. The mpg is appealing but the cargo setup just doesn't grab us. Not a high enough ceiling in back and too many gaps in the floor. Really liked the "hole" in the console though - my knees easily flopped out when I wanted a "wide stance" (that's an Idaho thing). Maybe the new V will get back on the list if we haven't purchased by this fall.

Next up was testing a Scion xB at the same dealer. Liked the setup a lot better. "Cheap" too. The console is a bit wide though.

Then on to the CR-V. I liked the front better than my wife and would like to put the front "clip" on the xB, and keep the rest of the xB. Can't believe they still don't have a passenger arm rest in the base model (I'd want at least an EX anyway, but jeeze). Hondas have never really grabbed my wife. Truth be told, she wants a Buick but Enclaves are $40 grand and we don't want to go that high.

After my eye doc appointment we went back to look at the Scion again. Fortunately I didn't have to get my eyes dilated so I actually felt safe driving it. Talked numbers a little bit. Salesguy was younger but knowledgeable, not pushy and the floor guy was okay too.

Got back in the '97 for the drive home and we decided for our driving style, the new cars don't really drive any better than our old ones.

Want to look at a Soul and Mazda5 but the xB is top dog today. We'd have to search but we could even get an xB with a 5 speed manual. And maybe I could remove the console and go for the industrial look.

nyccarguy

@jayrider‌

I saw that on the Buick website today. 4 year/50K warranty is definitely impressive.

@brian125‌

The lease is up on my BMW on 9/22/2014. I'm thinking I'll be able to score my best deal over Labor Day Weekend. I can't wait until November. Once the temps dip into the 30s, the Summer Performance tires on my Prelude turn into rocks. Plus if it snows, even a dusting, I'm screwed.

Thanks for the positive comments about its ride & handling. I'd appreciate any help!

@ab348‌

Good to know from a neighbor to the north that even the FWD with snow shoes drives well in the white stuff. I'm still most likely going to shoot for the AWD model. I might do the same thing, lease to buy. Fix my depreciation costs for the 1st 3 years in case we don't "love it."

nyccarguy

@steine13‌

Mazel-Tov & Congrats on the punch! 6MT Base model outback is a nice ride!

There is something to be said about "base" models. Back in 2007 we leased an X3 for my wife with the following options: 6 Speed Automatic (n/c), rear climate package (tinted windows), Heated Front Seats, & Metallic Paint (monetgo blue metallic). Now that was far from a "no frills" SUV as it had tons of standard features (pano roof, auto climate control, power seats…), but we loved it none the less.

When I replaced the X3 with the 2010 TSX in 2009, I got the Technology Package (Navigation, Backup Camera, Upgraded Stereo). Now once the TSX became my DD and I replaced it with my BMW, I "had" to have it equipped exactly as my Acura or I wasn't going to trade. It turns out the amount of 328xis out there that had Bi-Xenon Headlights & Navigation were few and far between. The dealer called me numerous times and said I have cars with Nav or cars with Bi-Xenon, but not both. Turns out he located one for me. I rarely use the Navigation. I won't pay for a "built in" in my next car.

My 2001 Prelude has all the power options (windows, door locks, moon roof), but not much else. And I still grin while merging onto the highway with the engine dreaming toward its 7000+ RPM redline.

I could see myself being perfectly happy driving a BMW X1 with Metallic Paint, Leatherette Seats, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, & Harmon Kardon radio upgrade with an MSRP of $36,650.

roadburner

@jayrider said:
Plus, you get 4 year / 50K warranty. Buick is really discounting most models. Of course, residual values are pretty dismal if you look to trade in 2-3 years.

Yep; my local Buick dealer has a couple of low mileage CPO 2012 Regal GS sedans-one with three pedals-on their lot for $25K...

roadburner

I should probably post this in "Chronic Car Modifiers Anonymous" but what the heck...
A buddy in the local Mazda club had to sell his Mazdaspeed 3 to meet the needs of a growing family so he sold me his Hypertech Sport Power Programmer for just $225(retail is $449).

It's really a dead simple mod. You update the programmer's firmware and software(if needed) and then it simply plugs into the car's OBDII port. You follow the directions on the screen and in less than 5 minutes you are done. It also allows you to adjust a few parameters such as the idle speed and the rev limiter, but all I did was increase the top speed limiter to match the speed rating of my summer tires- 186 mph(academic really, as I doubt it would break 165).

According to the Hypertech dyno charts, the motor should be pumping out close to 300 HP and over 320 Ft-Lbs of torque. In the very near future I plan to test in-gear acceleration times-exactly like I did when I installed the Mazdaspeed cold air intake-to quantify the real-world performance increase, but I can tell you that it certainly feels stronger. And as for the icing on the cake, fuel economy may have actually increased a bit. Today I drove it on a 210 mile round trip to a court assignment and I averaged 31 mpg at 70 mph.

nyccarguy

@roadburner‌

There was a time when I'd be salivating over a car like that (low miles, steep depreciation, 6 speed stick). I still think it is cool, but the AWD/Slushbox should be perfect for my needs nowadays:)

I'm glad you seem to still dig your Mazda. I know for a while there you were having lots of mega warranty issues and considered dumping it, but the car has proved to be quite durable and you enjoy driving it.

roadburner

@nyccarguy said:
roadburner‌

I'm glad you seem to still dig your Mazda. I know for a while there you were having lots of mega warranty issues and considered dumping it, but the car has proved to be quite durable and you enjoy driving it.

Yes, the Mazda's first 72K miles were pretty exasperating, but since then it's been virtually problem free. Over the subsequent 65K miles all I've only replaced the battery, a couple of suspension bushings, the rear brake pads, the serpentine accessory drive belt, and the thermostat.

One thing I REALLY I really like about the Mazdaspeed is that it is a true sleeper. A couple of weeks ago I was taking the ramp from I-65 to I-265; in front of me was a bright red 1968 Mustang with loud duals, wide rear tires, and bright yellow Lakewood traction bars. I was being a good boy- even though the 'stang was taking the ramp pretty slow I didn't tailgate it. However, once we were at the end of the ramp I checked to make sure no cars were in the left lane and I pulled around Mr. Blue Oval. He immediately nailed it. I was in third and, as the Brits would say, I left him for dead. Now admittedly, that car was pretty easy pickings, but I'll bet that guy is still trying to figure out how he got his clock cleaned by a "little rice burnin' station wagon"

graphicguy

Bradd...I see those Regals around here every once in a while. Nice looking vehicles. I think you're right. Typically GM kicks up the trunk money around August/Sept. You should do well if you're buying one then.

I was sort of smitten with the BMW X1 for awhile. Not the prettiest girl at the dance, but sort of fit what I was looking for before the Audi and Acura. It was more or less in the ballpark pricewise.....low $40K before any offer I would make. And, that was with the 3.0L turbo.

nyccarguy

@roadburner‌

I love sleeper cars. It is almost a lost art form today. Some of my favorite muscle cars are those COPO cars with the gigantic motors and half moon hubcaps:)

qbrozen

320 lb-ft through the front wheel? Hope you been working out!

@Stever - an outback limited with under 100k? Heck, I'd probably shoot for $4995 in that case and still make a quick sale of it.

stever

It's tempting to go for the sky. But pigs get fat, etc. And if I unloaded it on someone locally for a premium, the head gaskets would be sure to go the next day.

brian125

@roadburner said:

One thing I REALLY I really like about the Mazdaspeed is that it is a true sleeper. A couple of weeks ago I was taking the ramp from I-65 to I-265; in front of me was a bright red 1968 Mustang with loud duals, wide rear tires, and bright yellow Lakewood traction bars. I was being a good boy- even though the 'stang was taking the ramp pretty slow I didn't tailgate it. However, once we were at the end of the ramp I checked to make sure no cars were in the left lane and I pulled around Mr. Blue Oval. He immediately nailed it. I was in third and, as the Brits would say, I left him for dead. Now admittedly, that car was pretty easy pickings, but I'll bet that guy is still trying to figure out how he got his clock cleaned by a "little rice burnin' station wagon"

It would be safe to assume the 68' mustang had one of these 2 motors in it for you to blow by it without a fight.

V-8: 289 cubic inches; 195-230 horsepower or , V-8: 302 cubic inches; 230-250 horsepower

The 1967, and 68 Mustang bigger V-8 was the:

V-8: 427 cubic inches; 390 horsepower, OR

V-8: 428 cubic inches; 335-360 horsepower.

In 1968 Ford introduced its new 302 engine, which would eventually go on to replace the 289 version. The standard 302 V-8 was capable of producing 230 hp, which was 30 more ponies than the 289 engine. As for high performance offerings, 1968 was the year Ford unleashed their 428 Cobra Jet Mustang. The car’s engine was conceived from a 428 police-car short block engine, aluminum manifold, 427 low-riser cylinder heads, and a special camshaft. It also featured numerous suspension tweaks. No doubt, the car was a huge hit at the drag strip. So popular, in fact, that Ford released a 2008 tribute model,

graphicguy

Saw a new Taurus SHO on the road early this a.m. I had wondered what had happened to them. I know Ford really ballyhooed their return to the market, but then heard nothing more.

Looks like they're still making them. I know on paper, they look pretty good. But, that's on paper.

Michaell

@graphicguy said:
Saw a new Taurus SHO on the road early this a.m. I had wondered what had happened to them. I know Ford really ballyhooed their return to the market, but then heard nothing more.

Looks like they're still making them. I know on paper, they look pretty good. But, that's on paper.

375HP and FWD? Or is the SHO AWD?

graphicguy

Michaell...SHO is AWD.

Michaell

@graphicguy said:
Michaell...SHO is AWD.

Shew! But, still ... I can't imagine that there is a lot of clamoring for a 2 ton AWD large sedan with sporting pretenses.

It it meant to be a cut rate M5 competitor? I don't think so - I can't imagine a SHO and an M5 being cross-shopped.

Or, should we compare it to the Charger R/T with the Hemi and the Chevy SS? V6 not gonna cut it when compared to the V8's of the Dodge and the Chevy.

Looks like it falls into a no-man's land - unless Ford decides to drop the Coyote 5.0L V8 under the hood.

graphicguy

Micheall....I think you summed it up well.

IIRC, Ford had a series of videos/commercials pitting the SHO against an Audi A6 3.0 Quattro, which of course, the SHO bested.

I think your comparisons of competing against a Charger/300 Hemi, or the Chevy SS are more likely.

breld

@nyccarguy said:
roadburner‌

There was a time when I'd be salivating over a car like that (low miles, steep depreciation, 6 speed stick). I still think it is cool, but the AWD/Slushbox should be perfect for my needs nowadays:)

You and me both nyc. Used to be manual or nothing. But I'm finally accepting for the type of driving I do on a day-to-day basis, an automatic is just making sense. Sure makes looking for used cars tons easier - no longer trying to find the "unicorn" manual model.

Still would like an inexpensive fun car with a third pedal though. If I can ever find the time, I'm still wanting to check out that 62k mile Prelude I posted awhile back.

jayrider

You can get a 6 speed manual in the Regal ---AWD requires an automatic. Probably some great deals on sticks that have been sitting awhile.

qbrozen

I had no idea they were still making that SHO.

roadburner

@brian125‌

I know a litlle about Mustangs- my family owned a 19641/2. a 1967, and a 1970 Grande. FYI, the 390 was also available in 1968. I don't know what engine was in the 1968 that I annihilated, as I went past him too quick to read the fender badge.

As far as the 428 CJ goes, in November 1968 Car and Driver tested a 1969 428CJ Mach 1 automatic with the C6. While lack of traction was almost certainly an issue, the Mach 1 posted the following times:
0-60: 5.7 seconds
0-100: 14.3 seconds
1/4 mile: 14.3 seconds @100 mph.

Car and Driver tested a 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 in a May 2007 Comparison test(which it won).
0-60: 5.4 seconds
0-100: 13.6
1/4 mile: 14.0 seconds @‌101 mph

And I know not to mess with a Coyote 5.0 or a Shelby GT500- they are actually fast cars, unlike most of their predecessors.

roadburner

One of my fellow track instructors in the BMW Club gets a company car, but it has to be a Ford- so he ordered an SHO with the vaunted "Performance Package"(upgraded brakes, suspension, lower final drive ratio). He took it out on the track at Putnam Park and after just five laps he rolled into the pits with the brakes smoking so bad I thought that they were on fire.

brian125

@roadburner said:
brian125‌

I know a litlle about Mustangs- my family owned a 19641/2. a 1967, and a 1970 Grande. FYI, the 390 was also available in 1968. I don't know what engine was in the 1968 that I annihilated, as I went past him too quick to read the fender badge.

As far as the 428 CJ goes, in November 1968 Car and Driver tested a 1969 428CJ Mach 1 automatic with the C6. While lack of traction was almost certainly an issue, the Mach 1 posted the following times:
0-60: 5.7 seconds
0-100: 14.3 seconds
1/4 mile: 14.3 seconds 100 mph.

Car and Driver tested a 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 in a May 2007 Comparison test(which it won).
0-60: 5.4 seconds
0-100: 13.6
1/4 mile: 14.0 seconds @‌101 mph

And I know not to mess with a Coyote 5.0 or a Shelby GT500- they are actually fast cars, unlike most of their predecessors.

The smaller motors in cars have come along way in 40 years.

Your mazda is very fast/ fun to drive.. plus your curb weight in about 3100 makes it very fast.. My R-spec genesis has 430hp does the 60 in 4.3 sec. Alot of the young kids want to race when i have my R-spec out on the road. Only certain cars I might give a shot a beating me.

My golf buddy has a 13' BMW 650i. My R-spec held its own and was very close when we went at it one night in Myrtle beach . The 650i has 440hp. Dollar for dollar I'm very impressed with my 47k R-spec Genesis.

My first new car was a 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS. Blue with white racing stripes on the hood. Very sharp car at the time.. Cost me 4500 dollars.... Still miss that car. If you look at the spec's on the 450 hp motor in that car.............. 0 to 60 took over.............. 6 sec.