- #372 of 411
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Awful fate for an upscale car...
by lemko
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May 20, 2009 (10:23 am)
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...spotted an early '90s Lexus SC400 painted a garish purplish blue with a ridiculous spoiler and tacky chrome wheels with tires that stuck out about 2" from the lip of the wheel openings. It probably was once finished a tasteful silver gray. It was even more ridiculous-looking than the circa 1996 white Toyota Avalon with purple flames painted on the sides.
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- #373 of 411
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Re: Here is a nice example [andre1969]
by euphonium
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May 20, 2009 (10:32 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (May 19, 2009 3:30 pm)
Have you considered a Pertronix ignition system? No butchering involved.
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- #374 of 411
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Re: Here is a nice example [euphonium]
by andre1969
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May 20, 2009 (10:40 am)
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Replying to: euphonium (May 20, 2009 10:32 am)
Have you considered a Pertronix ignition system? No butchering involved.
I dunno much about Pertronix. I've heard of them being used for converting the old points-and-condenser type ignition to electronic ignition, but would one of them work in place of a Mopar Lean Burn, which is electronic ignition?
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- #375 of 411
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Re: Here is a nice example [andre1969]
by texases
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May 20, 2009 (10:58 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (May 20, 2009 10:40 am)
Doesnt' that Lean Burn include carb controls? The Pertronix parts wouldn't replace those, I think. I imagine you could replace the whole thing with an EFI setup ($$$$).
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- #376 of 411
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Re: Here is a nice example [texases]
by andre1969
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May 20, 2009 (11:06 am)
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Replying to: texases (May 20, 2009 10:58 am)
Yeah, the Lean burn messes with the carb, as well as the distributor. It has a crude, probably Atari-2600 quality computer in it. I've heard that with Lean burn the way to go is get an electronic ignition kit from Mopar Performance. It includes a new distributor and ECU box, and wiring. I think you do have to make a few wiring mods, though. And you also have to drill a hole in the intake manifold for the distributor's vacuum advance, as the advance in the stock distributor is controlled by the Lean Burn.
One thing I guess I could try, is to swap the ECU box off my other New Yorker. That car has never given me any troubles (well, at least no random stalling/hard to start troubles). Then, I guess if the blue one starts running fine, but the other one develops fits, I'll know what the trouble was!
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- #377 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [bumpy]
by lemmer
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May 20, 2009 (11:46 am)
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Replying to: bumpy (May 20, 2009 8:25 am)
I've tried the IS300. Although it ranks pretty high on the handling meter, the engine is kind of a dud and the interior is economy car level (other than the great seats). If I was to drop down a class to a less luxurious but "zippier" car, I'd much rather have an Acura TSX. The TSX manages to better the IS in almost every possible way (despite its front wheel drive layout).
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- #378 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [lemmer]
by hpmctorque
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May 20, 2009 (1:09 pm)
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Replying to: lemmer (May 20, 2009 5:41 am)
I think the previous generation Acura TL ('04-08) would come closer to a BMW 3 and 5-Series than the Lexus ES300, and you wouldn't have to modify it. It's also more refined than the Infiniti G35, although the G35 is rear wheel drive, while the TL isn't.
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- #379 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [fintail]
by hpmctorque
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May 20, 2009 (1:16 pm)
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Replying to: fintail (May 19, 2009 7:27 pm)
All true. Too bad, though.
One way around the image issue might be to offer decontented models for one year only, to satisfy the demand. Then, return to the fully optioned business model they've been following for a few years and, if it worked well the first time, repeat the exercise.
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- #380 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [lemko]
by hpmctorque
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May 20, 2009 (1:24 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (May 20, 2009 10:18 am)
I agree with your first sentence. As for your second sentence, I wouldn't worry about the dependability or durability of either a Buick or a decontented Mercedes.
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- #381 of 411
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Re: #325 of 360 Why? by hpmctorque [hpmctorque]
by fintail
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May 20, 2009 (1:31 pm)
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Replying to: hpmctorque (May 20, 2009 1:16 pm)
I like to think if the models were made special order, aimed at real enthusiasts, no harm would be done. Marketing costs would be negligible and volumes would be low, as not to impact overall image. But what do I know...
A manual diesel C or E class with a tex interior and no airmatic or COMAND etc would be interesting.
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