WDWFreak53, car discussion

[garyhoov]

Nice! I like the new headlights. The front fascia has a more aggressive look to it too.

I want to see the back end...it looks like the shape changed a tad.

I'm thinking (as I speculated a while back) they took a few inches off the longitudinal frame rails behind the driver's seat. That should pull the back end up toward the driver and give it more of a classic coupe (long front, short rear) profile than it has now.

. . . more like the original 240Z hopefully.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I'm thinking (as I speculated a while back) they took a few inches off the longitudinal frame rails behind the driver's seat. That should pull the back end up toward the driver and give it more of a classic coupe (long front, short rear) profile than it has now.

. . . more like the original 240Z hopefully.

Doesn't that mean less trunk space? Great...now you can only fit ONE golf bag! :lol:

 

[flynnibus]

The new C pillar screams GT-R

They say its going to be shown in November at the LA Show

 

[garyhoov]

The new C pillar screams GT-R

They say its going to be shown in November at the LA Show

My first thought was GT-R, my second thought was 240Z. Pretty cool how they could bring two such different yet iconic ideas together.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

The only aesthetic thing I didn't like about mine were the rear taillights. I never liked the triangular lens covers.

I did like how it hugged the curves...but maybe if it was just a horizontal band that wrapped the curves it would've been better.

This is the reason why I'm looking forward to seeing the rear end. (Also, why did they never have a foglamp option???)

I understand the reasoning behind the lack of sunroof...but I hope they design the structure of the coupe so it can be an option.

EDIT: I'd like the new Z to have a rear similar to this. I like the "abrupt end" to the car.

 

[garyhoov]

Now that's a nice looking Ford.

Wasn't that going to be the successor to the GT-40? Whatever happened to that? And Chrysler had something similar (can't remember what it was called) that looked like it would have been a nice replacement for the Viper.

Other than GM (with the new ZR-1) are domestic makers giving up on the exotic market? I guess they've got more important things to worry about a the moment.

Getting back to the 350Z, I never liked the tail end much. It was just too shapeless for me. While I'm not a fan of fins, I thought the Nismo was a bit improvement in looks. The rear wing along with more sharply pointed front really gave it a more aggressive - less egg shaped - look.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Now that's a nice looking Ford.

Wasn't that going to be the successor to the GT-40? Whatever happened to that? And Chrysler had something similar (can't remember what it was called) that looked like it would have been a nice replacement for the Viper.

Other than GM (with the new ZR-1) are domestic makers giving up on the exotic market? I guess they've got more important things to worry about a the moment.

Getting back to the 350Z, I never liked the tail end much. It was just too shapeless for me. While I'm not a fan of fins, I thought the Nismo was a bit improvement in looks. The rear wing along with more sharply pointed front really gave it a more aggressive - less egg shaped - look.

I thought Dodge had the Sidewinder or something like that. (Copperhead?) :shrug:

That is the Shelby GR-1. I'm not sure what stage (if any) it is in right now. The concept came out around the same time the concept Cobra came out (Not the Mustang, the roadster).

I prefer the small lip over the Nismo tail...but I do like the front fascia of the Nismo body kit over the stock. (I don't like the rear fascia of the Nismo kit though...it adds a weird line/shape to the bottom of the car and makes it look plasticky)

This one has the lip I like

(BTW, those are awesome rims for that car)

EDIT: Gary, I could talk cars with you all day :lol:

 

[garyhoov]

Curiousity got the better of me, so I ran a search. The one I was thinking of was the Firepower:

But comparing that to the GR-1 you posted, I think I prefer the Ford (though I could do without the shiny (stainless?) body).

In trying to find the Firepower, I also found this one that I had forgotten about, the ME-12:

That's one I'd really like to see go into production.

And I like that 350Z with the subtle spoiler - just something to break things up a little bit. Otherwise the back end all flows together and loses any sense of shape.

 

[flynnibus]

I don't get the ZR-1... its gotta be the ugliest corvette I can even remember. They took the C6 which is pretty slick looking and made it hideous.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I don't get the ZR-1... its gotta be the ugliest corvette I can even remember. They took the C6 which is pretty slick looking and made it hideous.

You and I think alike. I'm not a fan of it either. I prefer the Z06 over the ZR-1.

(If I remember correctly...doesn't the ZR-1 have a spoiler? No Corvette should have a spoiler)

Also...it's way too "busy" now. The C6 has nice clean lines that all flow together...the ZR-1 reminds me of the last model year Firebird/Firehawk. :hurl:

 

[garyhoov]

Sorry, but I think you're both crazy.:shrug:

I don't love the ZR-1 compared to some other cars on the road, but I'd say it's the best looking Corvette in a long time.

 

[DMC-12]

Vette = small wang.

That is all I have to add to this Vette conversation.


:lol::lookaroun

 

[garyhoov]

You and I think alike. I'm not a fan of it either. I prefer the Z06 over the ZR-1.

(If I remember correctly...doesn't the ZR-1 have a spoiler? No Corvette should have a spoiler)

Also...it's way too "busy" now. The C6 has nice clean lines that all flow together...the ZR-1 reminds me of the last model year Firebird/Firehawk. :hurl:

I can see your point, but I think the difference is the Corvette has the performance to back it up and the aero body work, vents etc. on the ZR-1 are there for performance rather than show.

I think if the Firehawk had some real performance, it wouldn't have been so bad. It was the idea that they just slapped a bunch of overdone bodywork on a fairly crappy car that bothered me.

It's like the difference between a bright yellow Lamborghini and a bright yellow Mustang to me.

The Lamborghini has earned the right to be obnoxious.:lol:

 

[mkt]

I saw a new GT-R with manufacturer plates today

 

[ann0d]

I thoght we should move our car discussion out of there before we got yelled at :lol:

Kevin had a 1970 Chevelle Super Sport when I first met him. Now he has a PT Cruiser :lol: How do you go from a Chevelle to a PT Cruiser??

Old age, it happened to me too!

 

[flynnibus]

Sorry, but I think you're both crazy.:shrug:

I think its gaudy. The hood and clear panel look atrocious. The sides look hacked up.

It really looks Frankenstein.

Practical elements do not need to look like after thoughts. That's the difference between elegance and something designed by an engineer. The practical car will work, but look like crap. The elegant car will work well and look good doing it.

 

[garyhoov]

I think its gaudy. The hood and clear panel look atrocious. The sides look hacked up.

It really looks Frankenstein.

Practical elements do not need to look like after thoughts. That's the difference between elegance and something designed by an engineer. The practical car will work, but look like crap. The elegant car will work well and look good doing it.

I believe in the aesthetics of function and I'll take an ugly car that works over a beautiful car that doesn't work any day.

Based only on looks, I'd say the GT-R is a dog, but it works and that makes it look okay.

The trap you fall into by worrying too much about looks is you're dealing with subjective qualities and the best designers in the world can create something that's ugly. If the engineering works . . . it works, and the numbers won't appear different to every person reading them.

You and Brian don't like the Vette . . . I do. It's a low volume car, so they don't have to sell to all three of us. As long as I like it enough to buy it, it looks good enough.

I once spent TWO-HOURS sitting at a conference table in Italy waiting for "styling" back in the states to decide which of three different - but very similar - shades of silver to use on a motorcycle frame.:brick:

We had real work to do. We needed to get the prototype frame painted and coated and we needed to work out the production details all on a tight schedule before I was scheduled to fly back and they wasted TWO-HOURS trying to decide which silver to use. That's the kind of thing "styling" does, so I guess they had to pretend it was work.

 

[garyhoov]

. . . and as an example, here's what happens when you give a designer too long of a leash:

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/05/09/nucleus-alternative-fuel-concept-motorcycle/

 

[flynnibus]

it's a balence - no questioning that. But the ZR-1's function doesn't outweigh it's form for me.

It's a super-sizing that wasn't needed and is just a paper war of 'see we can hit 200mph'.

I think it's wasted effort. The types that want performance in a vette at any cost are going to be buying racing varients. The types that want performance at any cost (not necessarily a vette) are not going to be buying vettes

 

[garyhoov]

A bit of news on the motorcycle racing front.

It has been approximately 40 years since an American production motorcycle has raced at the top level (Superbike).

Today, Steve Crevier was racing in Canadian Superbike aboard a Buell 1125R against the Suzuki GSX-R1000's, Kawasaki ZX10's, Yamaha R1's, Honda CBR1000RR's etc.

Basically the fastest production bikes in the World. The Buell has never been raced at this level and was basically stock. As the season progresses, Crevier will be making some engine modifications etc. to make the bike more competitive, but it really wasn't ready for this sort of intense racing yet.

The competition is putting out approximately 185 HP, and Crevier's nearly stock Buell was at about 140, so while the racing experience is great, he really has no chance of winning. Just looking for maybe a top ten finish.

. . . he came in 3rd which is AMAZING and huge for the future of American motorcycle racing.:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy: