OPPO's random car facts: Are they even true...... bro?

"EL_ULY" (uly)
09/19/2014 at 13:40 • Filed to: None

Tell us some random automotive factoids you've told people or keep in your mind that you've heard somewhere, think it's true, but not 100% sure. Examples after the jump.

1. When the NSX came out, sales were not that good because the Camaro was offered in the exact same red by the next year. People waited for that instead.

2. At one point, the RT/10 Dodge Viper was illegal to sell in the US.

3. Top Fuel Dragsters pretty much diesel 3/4's of the way down the track because the plugs only last during the launch.

I've always kept those and a couple more random factoids in my mind but I don' think they are true.

DISCUSSION (40)

CB > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 13:43

My number one automotive fact that Jalopnik Gold gives you direct access to Ray Wert's secret tailpipe collection, and all members have matching jackets.

Other than that, my boss says you shouldn't immediately drive a car in cold weather since the heat will cause the block to crack, and instead you should leave it for a period of time so that it gradually heats up.

Sweet Trav > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 13:43

I'm pretty sure number 3 is closer to true than false. I seem to remember hearing about the density of the fuel air mix being near near hydraulic lock at the time of spark.

mcseanerson > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 13:43

Kinja'd!!!

One time I had my wife convinced for about a half a day that in order to get those antique plates for your car one part of the law stated you had to have a pair of fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror. Went so far as she called her mom to see if she knew about this.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 13:50

Is there a reason for #2. And here goes my contribution: the Lotus Omega speed run where it topped 180 miles per hour happened by accident. It's also said the car was packed with four people plus photographic material in the boot.

YSI-what can brown do for you > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 13:53

The Group B Metro 6R4 90 degree V6, is actually based on a Cosworth DFV V8 but has the last two cylinder lopped off. Same heads, crank, and so on. . . just missing two cylinders. I read it in a magazine somewhere, but haven't been able to dig up facts about it on the internet.

PatBateman > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 13:53

My wife's boss swears by this:

Changing your transmission oil causes your transmission to fail.

EL_ULY > PatBateman
09/19/2014 at 13:57

LOL We NEVER recommend anyone changing it on 200's Volvo's. Dude they start messing up soon after hand to heart. I've seen it way too many times. But maybe that is just for those dumb cars.

EL_ULY > mcseanerson
09/19/2014 at 13:57

lol awesome!

EL_ULY > CB
09/19/2014 at 13:59

Today's cars only need a couple second to a minute after start up and then they are good to go.

As for Ray.... sooo true :]

Boxer_4 > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 14:00

Kinja'd!!!

The Volkswagen 2.5L 5 Cylinder is half of a Lamborghini V10, or at least shares a fair bit of design details from the Lamborghini V10

EL_ULY > YSI-what can brown do for you
09/19/2014 at 14:00

I've always doubted all those saying about "it's just this motor with ___ cylinders removed" or "It's the ___ motor just glued together)

EL_ULY > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
09/19/2014 at 14:01

I remember my source (can;t remember) saying it was the drive shaft.

EL_ULY > Sweet Trav
09/19/2014 at 14:01

yeah, i'm leaning that way also

EL_ULY > Boxer_4
09/19/2014 at 14:03

See YSI said something like that and I highly doubt it. There is so many variables and parts added

Sweet Trav > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 14:04

http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_0… - Reliable source

http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/art… - needs fact checking.

YSI-what can brown do for you > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 14:06

I mean they didn't just take two cylinders off and throw it in the car. But it was heavily based on the DFV V8, if you get what I am saying. . . although now that I think about it, the crank had 90 degree angle between pins instead of 180 like in the DFV V8. I have to look more into this though, cause I read it one magazine years ago, and still haven't found a for sure answer.

Boxer_4 > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 14:18

The one odd thing is that if you look up the specs for both the VW 2.5L 5 cylinder and the Lamborghini 5.0L V10, the bore, stroke, and CC per cylinder are the same. It's probably a coincidence, but it does seem weird.

ACESandEIGHTS > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 14:22

Porsche started the 924/928/944 series to replace an obviously antiquated rear-engine design. Truth?

I always thought the 80s was a time to convince people to blow money on what was more a luxury model than a sports car.

They're doing it again with the Cayenne and the Macan and maybe the Panamera.

macanamera > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 14:23

3 is true, but not because the plugs dont last. I think the pressures are just so high the fuel can ignite.

macanamera > PatBateman
09/19/2014 at 14:25

Ive heard this often.

HMMMA > Boxer_4
09/19/2014 at 14:31

I would imagine its the other way round as the basics of that 5 cylinder have been around for ages (Audi quattro group B)

HMMMA > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 14:43

When people say that about engines its not to be taken in a literal sense but fundamentally its true, instead of developing an engine from scratch most manufacturers will take an existing engine or engine architecture and heavily modify it which is why theres such a hullabaloo when a completely new performance engine comes about.

RallyWrench > PatBateman
09/19/2014 at 15:00

Actually, that can be true, if the trans has an underlying problem. Nice, fresh, properly viscous fluid doesn't mask possible latent pressure problems like hammered, friction material-saturated fluid.

RallyWrench > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 15:02

Wow, you've actually seen an old Aisin fail? I've had those things towed in with the pans punctured or run out of fluid, with no drive, and just topped them up & off they go.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > mcseanerson
09/19/2014 at 15:07

man you got in some deep shit for that one didnt you lol

(worth it)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 15:10

GM's 4.3L V6 was originally just that. a 350 minus 2 cylinders.

It's obviously not just dropped in though, that's only the block, they have to mimic that on everything, heads cam, crank, manifolds, wiring, etc.

(And I had 2 of them. Even the pulleys were in identical spots when I worked on a 350 after working on my 4.3L)

mcseanerson > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/19/2014 at 15:12

Nah, she just trusts me a little less. Little less every day.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 17:25

The current Jag V6 is pretty close to being literally the V8 with 2 cylinders left out - they haven't even bothered with lopping off. The block's one cylinder too long for the head, so they can keep the sump, ancillaries, mounting system, and crash structure the same.

Kinja'd!!!

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > EL_ULY
09/19/2014 at 17:35

Some factoids from when I used to work at Landrover back in the 90s - no idea if they're true or not, they just got quoted by the sales-y types:

75% of all Landrovers built are still in service

For over 50% of the world's population, the first vehicle they ever saw is a Landrover (probably not true nowadays, but it may well have been at some point in the 50s or 60s, when large chunks of Africa, India, and Asia were still pre-industrial and Landcruisers hadn't yet become the expedition vehicle of choice)

The embankments on British motorways are designed to be just less than the tipover angle of a Landrover.

Saf1 > EL_ULY
09/22/2014 at 06:39

#1 is certainly false, that is the last reason someone wouldn't buy an NSX. NSX vs Camaro, really?

Saf1 > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
09/22/2014 at 06:39

3rd point is probably the other way around, since the embankments probably predate the earliest Land Rovers

EL_ULY > Saf1
09/22/2014 at 09:16

may not seem that way now but at that time it was just another meh car from boring Acura and a huge! redesign of the Camaro. People were psyched. But yes now there is no comparison

EL_ULY > HMMMA
09/22/2014 at 11:25

true true

EL_ULY > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/22/2014 at 11:26

similar characteristics for sure, but not one minus the other. Still true I think in a sense

EL_ULY > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
09/22/2014 at 11:28

cool factoids!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > EL_ULY
09/22/2014 at 11:28

Well there's always going to be slight changes, but the overall architecture was definitely mini-350

EL_ULY > ACESandEIGHTS
09/22/2014 at 11:29

That sounds like it could of been their intention. I'd like to share with OPPO to see if there is some truth to this from the Porsche experts

EL_ULY > macanamera
09/22/2014 at 11:29

True true, makes sense

Saf1 > EL_ULY
09/22/2014 at 16:29

People considered the NSX boring because of the badge? It...well it's probably what happened as you seem to know what you're saying but it's not like this was a Phaeton which to people casting their first gaze upon it and encountering a VW badge took it to be a glorified Passat, the NSX was an incredibly unique design even today so compared to the Phaeton analogy it's hard to believe!

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Saf1
09/23/2014 at 02:10

Probably not standardised motorway ones. The UK motorway system d ates from the late 50s , well after series 1 Landies were ubiquitous.