"MonkeePuzzle" (monkeypuzzle)
06/24/2020 at 17:10 • Filed to: None | 2 | 37 |
I’ve been re- watching old episodes, perfect background TV for the WFH days. Turns out essentially my Accord/TSX was tested in Season 1.
1min 44sec. Not too shabby.
They tested the ~2002 version
Mine got the Acura make-over for sale in the USA, and in ~2006 there were some slight engine changes that gave it a slight boost in power. But I think we can assume it’s not going to drop the lap time enough to warrant a second less. to the 1:44 shall stand :D
I’ll throw some prettier pics in for this post though, as mine is black, and deserves that rear trunk lip thank you. And some wheels... MUST. NOT. SPEND. MONEY. ON. THE. DAILY!
So then, has your car been round the track?
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Or have you a Top Gear episode to recommend I watch? I started my re-watch by finding all the cheap car challenges first, and now I’m just watching through from S01E01
Poor_Sh
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:15 | 1 |
Not my generation but the original generation did a 1:26.7
RPM esq.
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:17 | 1 |
Sort o
f—in Black Series
form the W204 C63 AMG
did 1:21, and the W205
did it in 1:22.6. As the less-nimble E63 and S63 were both in the 1:24 range, I think
1:22-1:23
is a reasonable estimate for a W204 C63 507.
Tripper
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:20 | 1 |
1:31:8 for the E46 M3
P5guy now GTIguy
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:24 | 3 |
1: 28.6 for the mk7 GTI
Beefchips
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:25 | 5 |
Wrx in 1:39. Though I have the US spec not euro spec.
My favorite were always the travel episodes... The namibian one I think had probably the best scenery. Also I think they did one in the Amazon which was pretty funny because of how miserable Hammond was with camping
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:27 | 2 |
Series 11, Episode 6, they tested a Daewoo Lac etti, which is the Cruze in its original form. 1:45.8. I’m sho cked its so close to the TSX.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:29 | 1 |
Fiesta ST came in at 1 minute and 32.7 seconds
MonkeePuzzle
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/24/2020 at 17:30 | 1 |
I’ve rented the Cruze several times, and I felt it was a pretty impressive revolution in basic cars. It was right around the time of small turbos making a reappearance to lower fuel use while keeping the zip up. It’s a good car, and didnt feel slow.
MonkeePuzzle
> RPM esq.
06/24/2020 at 17:30 | 0 |
thats a big car to get such a time. Impressive.
MonkeePuzzle
> P5guy now GTIguy
06/24/2020 at 17:31 | 1 |
Its a good track for something nippy like the GTI.
MonkeePuzzle
> Beefchips
06/24/2020 at 17:32 | 1 |
Just watched the episode with the original bugeye WRX, which was slower on their track, but he then went out and about to test it against the faster (aroudn their track) Focus RS. The film ends with him ditching the Focus for the “slower” WRX becuase it’s just better in the real world.
I guess just to highlight that track times arent the end of car quality decisions.
My X-type is too a real Jaguar
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:41 | 1 |
The Polar Special, that is my favorite, just for the Gin and Tonic and James with the s
hot gun while Jezza uses the Bumper Dumper.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/24/2020 at 17:45 | 0 |
Wow, I can barely believe that. It is not at all a fast car. It is in fact quite a slow car. I’d have expected something more like a 1:50 time. I suppose it does handle well enough to make some time in the corners.
Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 17:45 | 1 |
I don’t think they ever did the S-Type R, though it was featured on the program several times. I know they didn’t put the C30 or C30 Polestar around. T he Saab, Discovery, and Alfa were before “New Top Gear”.
MonkeePuzzle
> My X-type is too a real Jaguar
06/24/2020 at 17:49 | 1 |
and the hampster has a little cry for no reason because he’s emotionally and physically worn out.
a darn fine episode
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 18:07 | 2 |
I think I can say with confidence no car I’ve ever owned has been around the test track. Although I have seen a Series landy on the Nurburgring in a picture, because someone was actually balls-out certifiably crazy.
RPM esq.
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 18:10 | 1 |
The fact that the S63
was 1:24.9 blows me a
way....now
that
is a big car.
Edgyhal94
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/24/2020 at 18:56 | 0 |
I wonder if they actually saved that, or is that the final moments of some poor sod getting flattened into jam by a rolling Series II?
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 19:47 | 1 |
I was initially pleased as punch with mine. As you said, it’s a nice little car (especially for GM) and I feel like they did a great job balancing the small engine + turbo formula. One question I have is what engine their car used - I think in certain markets they offered a 1.6L Turbo that made 160 HP. In the US market the best spec was 1.4L with 140 HP. I put a tune on mine that bumped it up to about 180 HP and 200 ft-lbs and that really, really woke that car up.
I had to look this up, because you mentioned the Accord, but I didn’t realize the TSX was based on the Japanese accord, which is smaller than the US Accord. I always had it in my mind that the TSX was basically a 4 door RSX and the TL was the Accord equivalent. Now I know that to be half true - the TL is the (US) Accord. My folks have an 06 RSX-S and that thing would blow the doors off my Cruze stock, and even with the tune it would out pace it. Hence my shock that the TSX isn’t way faster.
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/24/2020 at 19:48 | 0 |
Multiple time WTCC and BTCC championship winner, baby!
Also, in some markets you could get a 1.6L turbo that made 160 HP that was never offered in the US. As someone who used to have their 1.4L Cruze tuned to 180 HP, that extra power really makes a difference, and I’m sure the extra raw torque from the extra displacement also helps. If they were using the 1.6L car, that is.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/24/2020 at 19:53 | 1 |
136 horsepower NA 1.8 just means it moves out of its own way up until about 50 mph and then you really notice the lack of power. 180 hp in the car would be amazing. I think the Cruze really should have had a performance variant. Even 160 hp would make a massive difference to the character of the car.
Touring Car Cruze is best Cruze.
Though wait a minute. I like the blue livery but. . .
That is one good looking livery.
TrickJos
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 20:00 | 0 |
Both of mine have been around the test track. 1:27.9 for the 5th gen Camaro SS and 1:28.6 for the MkVII GTI.
The character of these two cars couldn’t be more different. They are two very different formulas which result in similar levels of fast.
Longtime Lurker
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 21:04 | 1 |
They had E30s in the 4 seat convertible cheap car challenge 1.48-1.55. My coupe is lighter but has less horsepower.
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/24/2020 at 21:49 | 1 |
Wow, I don't think I've ever seen the DHL livery but my god... where has it been all my life? That is a fine looking Cruze!
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
06/24/2020 at 21:52 | 0 |
Yes, it is just so well proportioned!
I love the way the red and yellow separate from the hood shut line along the headlights. The crease it runs down in the front is also logical and attractive. So great!
MonkeePuzzle
> Longtime Lurker
06/24/2020 at 22:51 | 1 |
i know they had it planned, but it was a genuine surprise when they all showed up with the same car.
ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
> MonkeePuzzle
06/24/2020 at 23:46 | 1 |
A JCW Mini did a 1.34, I believe it was a 1st gen like mine. With the mods I have my Mini is essentially a JCW now (with smaller brakes tho)
A base C6 vette did 1.26 which is similar to my C5Z
i86hotdogs
> MonkeePuzzle
06/25/2020 at 07:45 | 0 |
No, but it should be
MonkeePuzzle
> i86hotdogs
06/25/2020 at 09:13 | 0 |
I think their test of the Skoda Yeti may be as close as they came
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Edgyhal94
06/25/2020 at 09:18 | 2 |
Well, the wheels are the right direction for coming back down, and the rear axle check strap is doing its job. Probably salvaged this one after “some poo came out”. Soft top and no bar
, though - better them than me.
i86hotdogs
> MonkeePuzzle
06/25/2020 at 09:18 | 1 |
Not close enough!
MonkeePuzzle
> Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/25/2020 at 09:33 | 1 |
touring car any car is best car
MonkeePuzzle
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/25/2020 at 09:34 | 0 |
I dunno, my mate would do some crazy things with his landy, and afterwards would be alarmingly cool and say things like “well, that happened”
there’s a good chance the fellow you have pictured landed it then adjusted the was on his mustache tips whilst chuckling slightl
y as he recalled an amusing
thing he once saw the Queen’s corgis do
MonkeePuzzle
> Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
06/25/2020 at 09:36 | 1 |
good point, old Top Gear certainly touched a few of my other cars, but old Top Gear was so buyer focused (as was the first season of new top gear) that it wasnt really about how fun the cars were.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> P5guy now GTIguy
06/25/2020 at 09:53 | 0 |
Nice!
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> MonkeePuzzle
06/25/2020 at 10:15 | 0 |
The wild card is that it has the look of an ex (?) NATO military Landy with LHD. So, it could be a German, it could be a Dutchman... who knows? I can’t tell from the plate.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> MonkeePuzzle
06/25/2020 at 10:16 | 0 |
Yes, indeed. T he Cruze dominated the touring car championship for years, even after the manufacturer backing stopped AND looked good doing it.
Curbs are dangerous. That Acurohonda better watch out.