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The Test Drive That Shattered Your Dream - READ ONLY

55 messages,  Last post on Sep 11, 2008 at 4:58 AM

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Messages Page 4 of 6

#26 of 55 Re: The Test Drive That Shattered Your Dream [jipster] by lemmer

Aug 19, 2008 (12:53 pm)

Replying to: jipster (Aug 19, 2008 12:50 pm)
That'll teach you not to dream about minivans, I hope.

#27 of 55 G20 and EVO by ajvdh

Aug 19, 2008 (3:15 pm)

We considered an Infiniti G20 when it first came out. On paper it looked good: Everyone raved about the handling and build quality, it got good gas mileage, the dealer experience was great, yada*3. Then we drove it: That the dealer practically threw the keys at us and said, "take it for the weekend," should have been a warning sign. The 4 banger was smooth for a 4 banger, but it was pretty gutless, even with the 5-speed. We wanted something with at least as much interior room as my fox chassis T-bird, and the G20 didn't quite qualify. Wound up with a Maxima, which gave up a little in handling, but it rode better, had far more guts and decent interior room. And it was cheaper.
 
The EVO story, which happened to a friend, is even worse in that he wrote the check before having his dream shattered. He's a long time DSM (Diamond Star Motors - google if you need to) fan. The kind of guy who owned an AWD Eclipse that ran high 12s here in CO. So when it was announced that the EVO was coming to the US, he was about the first on on the waiting list. He put down his deposit and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally got the car, and at first it was everything he thought it would be. He took me for a ride, and I was impressed. There was one thing I found off-putting: At the time I owned an E36 M3 set up for track and auto-x, which translates to a suspension that would allow me to run over a quarter and tell whether it was heads or tails. Compared to the EVO, it was cushy. He wasn't too bothered, it was part of owning a hot car. His only objection was that the seats had too much lumbar.
 
Then he and his wife went for a 3 hour drive in the mountains. When they got home, between the seats and the punishing ride, his back hurt so much his wife had to help him out of the car and drag him into the house. But he so loved the car, he spent weeks trying to figure out how to adapt it to him, or vice versa. He looked at replacing the seats with adjustable Recaros, but couldn't justify the eye-watering cost.
 
So, he sold it. Naturally he'd owned it long enough that the initial feeding frenzy had abated, so he got normal used car money for it, instead of getting his money back as he might have done if he'd discovered the problem right off the bat.

#28 of 55 Re: The Test Drive That Shattered Your Dream [jakeinswitz] by explorerx4

Aug 19, 2008 (4:25 pm)

Replying to: jakeinswitz (Aug 19, 2008 9:43 am)
maybe you should have put some ladder bars and better tires on your old stang.

#29 of 55 Re: The Test Drive That Shattered Your Dream [jakeinswitz] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Aug 19, 2008 (4:38 pm)

Replying to: jakeinswitz (Aug 19, 2008 9:43 am)
You know what would work for you? Get yourself one of the better quality AC Cobra kit cars. They are really fun "like in the old days".
 
After driving a VW bug, you could put wheels on a rain barrel and feel like you upgraded
 
EVO -- fabulous car, but it can beat you up. Same with the STi Subaru. These cars are fast, great handlers, real bargains but boy are they crude compared to an M3.

#30 of 55 Re: The Test Drive That Shattered Your Dream [jakeinswitz] by oldcem

Aug 19, 2008 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: jakeinswitz (Aug 19, 2008 9:43 am)
Know what you mean - What's missing is all that low end torque the muscle cars had. I once had a 69 Olds 442 - 400/325 HP that was a blast to drive. Now I drive a 3 liter European car that's probably just as fast to 60, and, has about 30 MPH more top end than the Olds did. When you romp it - it feels like a gas turbine spooling up. You just don't get much sensation of accerleration, but, you glance down at the speedo and you're well over 100 mph.
 
Regards:
Oldengineer

#31 of 55 Acura NSX by huyracing

Aug 19, 2008 (10:13 pm)

My dream car for sooo long, especially because its so expensive and couldn't afford it... but then the time came when I could afford one, so I test drove a brand new 2002 Acura NSX in Pearl Yellow. So pretty! Sat in the car and my head hair was touching the top... so I removed the Targa top with the help of my friend. Then proceeded to drive... next thing i know I'm stepping on my own feet. Wide feet plus narrow wheel wells is not a good thing. So dream shattered. Fun car, good power, well handling... but i just don't fit! Maybe an automatic would work, but wheres the fun in that?!

#32 of 55 Re: Acura NSX [huyracing] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Aug 20, 2008 (8:43 am)

Replying to: huyracing (Aug 19, 2008 10:13 pm)
I had a similar experience with the NSX. It was a GREAT handling car...I think anybody with a shred of competence could run it up to 160 mph with confidence.
 
But you know, it sounded and felt like an Acura. It was, in a sense, too civilized for its own good. When I drove a similar year Ferrari, the engine noises vibrated through my whole body. I felt like I was attached to the camshaft---LOL!
 
But in the NSX, I could have driven one handed with the stereo on and carried on a conversation at 130 mph.
 
There simply was no magic in this othewise fabulous supercar. It would be like having a Superhero called "ACCOUNTANT MAN" .

#33 of 55 Re: Acura NSX [Mr_Shiftright] by ajvdh

Aug 20, 2008 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Aug 20, 2008 8:43 am)
Ah yes. I remember the first time I saw an NSX with the hood (or whatever you call the bit that covers the powerplant on a mid-engine car) open. I thought, "Hey, this looks like a Legend engine in a mirror." As opposed to Ferraris, where the mechanical bits look either race-car purposeful if they're old, or high-tech sexy if they're new.

#34 of 55 New mustang by madmanmoo

Aug 23, 2008 (7:38 am)

Was in love with the new bodystyle. Drove a brand new one that a Ford salesman drove over to me. Hopped in, was underwhelmed by the interior. Drove it. Felt like the rear end wasn't aware that we might be going around corners once in awhile. That vehicle was a major let down for me.

#35 of 55 Re: New mustang [madmanmoo] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Aug 23, 2008 (8:00 am)

Replying to: madmanmoo (Aug 23, 2008 7:38 am)
I had a similar experience. I remember thinking that the last generation Camaro handled better. You hit a rough patch on a turn and the Mustang liked to pogo-stick.
 
But you know, for what you pay you can't expect world-class handling. That's not really fair.

Messages Page 4 of 6

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