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Best Hot Hatch - SVT, Civic Si, GTI, RSX, Mini, Beetle...

894 messages,  Last post on Nov 12, 2008 at 7:09 PM

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What is this discussion about? Acura RSX, Honda Civic, MINI Cooper, Volkswagen New Beetle, Ford Focus, Volkswagen GTI, Coupe, Hatchback

Messages Page 88 of 90

#865 of 894 MM by huntzinger

Jul 12, 2004 (7:06 am)

For example, Resistance Mash Seam Welding...
 
Is there any data for us to compare?
 
Not that I'm immediately aware of. I first heard about it from the ASME professional journal Mechanical Engineering probably 5+ years ago. From what I recall, it was a less costly way to make a structural element that would absorb both more energy and do so in a more linear fashion, which improves survivability by reducing the peak acceleration force.
 
And yet, the Miata has among the lowest death/accident rates of any vehicle.
 
We have to be really careful when using the NHSTA accident statistics, because the vehicle and driver are intimately entwined within the data and generally inseparable.
 
It is for this reason that we find station wagons appearing safer than their sedan counterparts, despite their designs generally being identical to their sedan counterparts from the B column forward. BYOGOS (Bring Your Own Grain Of Salt
 
My personal threshhold starts at $20, for that's where those aftermarket exhaust tips start. There's a lot of bolt-on snake oil junk...
 
I agree with the chip. But as far as the rest goes, not so much. An air intake can significantly increase engine noise, as can a header and exhaust. I don't feel that these elements in any way reduce reliability, but they do increase power, and noise. I can see why the factory wouldn't include them, my car has an annoying drone on the freeway.
 
There's always going to be trade-offs. For example with exhausts, manufacturers who want to sell their product in Europe have to pass the Switzerland sound regulations, so that will limit what they can legally do in trading off backpressure for noise.
 
Even so, my point here was more that in the past this might have been an area where an enthusiast could refit and get a +10% gain, but because the manufacturers are paying more attention to this design area (for various reasons), today, we may only get perhaps +5%. Hence, my less "easy" horsepower comment.
 
And we also need to make sure that the "tests" are valid. For example, K&N air filters ran into an embarrassing problem a few years ago when it was found that their aftermarket systems actually reduced horsepower on the street - - it turns out that Dyno testing of the day was done with a fan over the hood, and didn't let the air flow through the vehicle's radiator where it got preheated (IIRC, K&N compensated with a ducting kit). Even so, there's the factor that manufacturers are also trying to get more power out of the same engine blocks, so supply-side flow restrictions are also being worked on, so there's less "easy" power to be gained through such efforts. And it is this sum of work by the manufacturers on the front end and back that is part of the reason why chipping has become such a popular power enhancement technique today: it offers more HP per dollar invested.
 
-hh

#866 of 894 huntzinger by muffin_man

Jul 12, 2004 (3:55 pm)

For example, Resistance Mash Seam Welding...
Is there any data for us to compare?
 
Not that I'm immediately aware of. I first heard about it from the ASME professional journal Mechanical Engineering probably 5+ years ago. From what I recall, it was a less costly way to make a structural element that would absorb both more energy and do so in a more linear fashion, which improves survivability by reducing the peak acceleration force.
 
http://www.a-sp.org/database/custom/twbmanual/printsection.asp?hi- d=9
 
Not too much info on google, but the above is interesting.
 
Even so, my point here was more that in the past this might have been an area where an enthusiast could refit and get a +10% gain, but because the manufacturers are paying more attention to this design area (for various reasons), today, we may only get perhaps +5%. Hence, my less "easy" horsepower comment.
 
I agree, with some reservations. Many cars can still get an easy 10% gain from bolt ons - but probably less than before. I can't decide on a generalization right now.

#867 of 894 Talk to the Press by Sylvia

Jul 12, 2004 (7:12 pm)

A newspaper reporter is hoping to interview a recent buyer who looked at a Honda but then opted for another make. Please send your brief comments about your decision along with your daytime contact info to jfallonedmunds.com no later than Friday, July 16, 2004.
 
Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
PR Director
Edmunds.com

#868 of 894 Hottest Hatch, has to be VW Golf R32 by db6

Aug 25, 2004 (7:35 pm)

I drove one for a day,un-real performance,I was about to buy it when my girlfriend blocked it.Guess she didnt see a $31000 Rabbit in the same way I did.
I tell you what tho, it has the best exhaust note of any car I,ve driven,it really is a great car,if you get a chance try one, tell me if i,m wrong.

#869 of 894 THE BEST DECISION.... by colorado1974

Oct 10, 2004 (8:32 pm)

IS TO STAY AWAY FROM ANY VW CAR!
 
OF THE FIRST 45 DAYS MY WIFES VW BEETLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 34 OF THEM.
 
READ ALL OF THE PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE ONLINE AND STAY AWAY FROM VW!

#870 of 894 Re: THE BEST DECISION.... [colorado1974] by Sylvia

Oct 11, 2004 (6:40 am)

Replying to: colorado1974 (Oct 10, 2004 8:32 pm)
Please do not post in ALL CAPS - there is no need to yell.

#871 of 894 by billmchale

Oct 11, 2004 (7:23 am)

Well while it is true that VW is having some problems of late, I think the truely awful cars, the real horror stories are the exception. Online posts are great, but they tend to be self selecting; people with extreme experiences tend to post far more often than those who have had few if any problems.
 
Case in point, I have a 1998 VW Jetta that I have put 125,000 miles on. I did have a leaky sunroof when I got the car, but that was fixed under warrenty (no big deal), and other than that I never had an issue with the car until I hit 115,000 miles when both the battery and the starter motor both died within about 3 weeks of each other. Since they were replaced the car continues to soldier on as dependable as ever. By the time my last car had hit 120,000 mile I was taking it into the shop every other month to have something fixed (At which point I made the decision to replace it).
 
Of course at 125,000 miles I am starting to get a little nervous, cause there are an awful lot of original items on that car that I expect to start wearing out soon like the alternator, clutch...
 
--
Bill

#872 of 894 VW by blueiedgod

Oct 11, 2004 (10:15 am)

I had a VW once, it was fine until it hit 100,000 miles. Then everything started failing. Water pump, power steering pump, A/C (who wires a/c clutch in series to the light in the switch?) temp sensors, injectors, ball joint, control arm, the list goes on and on. At the same time I had a Civic which lasted 250,000 miles on original clutch and mostly original parts.

#873 of 894 Re: THE BEST DECISION.... [colorado1974] by fish8

Oct 18, 2004 (12:29 pm)

Replying to: colorado1974 (Oct 10, 2004 8:32 pm)
Colorado: We completely understand that you are NOT happy with your NB Conv. Please don't post the same message in all threads under the New Beetle topic. Reading the same message over and over is a waste of time.
 
Please let us know how your Lemon law status comes along!!

#874 of 894 Reliability - of Relibility Reviews by nemo

Dec 09, 2004 (2:34 pm)

I got an 02 SI, i don't like how the sunroof operates (stops halfway??), compared to the twist dial i see in the vw - and frankly it could use a 6th gear like the rsx and a more adjustable driver's seat/telescopic wheel. But it was in the buget and likely to last. Though I'd like to hear about serious new lemons in the honda family if any has this experiance. that's what pushed me away from the golf and mini - comparing equal numbers of reviews for the three cars.

Messages Page 88 of 90

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