"jdrgoat - Ponticrack?" (jdrgoat) 08/05/2016 at 00:13 • Filed to: None

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Went on a little cruise tonight... this thing continues to grow on me. I still need to get around to updating the suspension. But it also seems to prefer to be driven, rather than just cruise gently. MR platforms certainly like corners. Even exiting a corner with a recommended speed of 30 at ... well, 65... it felt like it just wanted more.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 00:18

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I feel the same way. I always feel like my MR2 wants to turn, whereas my previous 300ZX had so much inertia. It’s great stuff.

wafflesnfalafel > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 00:19

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That’s because you have a mid engined exotic! (Nice looking Fiero.)

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/05/2016 at 00:25

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It kind of makes me feel like I’ve been doing it wrong by treating it so “nicely.” I know that an MR2 loves to rev more than a Fiero (I’m not even going to pretend that’s not the case), but the V6 certainly doesn’t like to be babied, either!

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > wafflesnfalafel 08/05/2016 at 00:28

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More than you can afford, pal. Ferrari. ;)

All seriousness, thanks!

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 03:18

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A V6 in such a little car has to be awesome, revvy or not.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 04:49

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That’s a stunning looking Fiero :) I’ve always liked how they look.

Also, I get what you mean with the mid-engined thing. My little MG F is a little monster in turns.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 05:01

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It’s all fun and games right up to the moment you’re suddenly backwards in a ditch. ;)

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/05/2016 at 10:43

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I guess I should clarify a tiny bit. It loves to “rev,” just not very high. It feels enthusiastic right up until it runs out of breath slightly past 5000rpm. But 3500-5000, it’s an enthusiastic little chipmunk.

I’d love to drive an MR2 (is yours an AW11?) just to compare sometime.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 08/05/2016 at 10:45

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Ah, snap-oversteer. It’s there to make you feel alive... like Russian Roulette. And it’s why my new wheels/tires are staggered as much as they are, planning ahead for the rear sway bar that I have yet to install.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 08/05/2016 at 10:47

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I’m beginning to understand why I always have to add the qualifier, “for a girl her size,” when talking about how well my GTO enjoys corners.

Thanks. :D

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 10:49

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Hah :) I like that. Shall start using it to describe my Jag XJ40s handling capabilities :)

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 11:01

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I see, that’s fair. What engine is it?

Mine’s an SW20. I’d love to drive a Fiero, I’ve never even seen one. I may never see one! If you’re ever in Australia I’ll let you have a go. Promise.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 11:21

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What sizes have you got front/rear?

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 08/05/2016 at 12:55

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215/45/17 and 255/35/18. I wanted a 205/245 stagger, but they had too low of a load rating. Now my 140hp car has wider rear tires than my ~420hp car.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/05/2016 at 12:58

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It’s Chevy’s 2.8L 60° V6. 140hp, 6000rpm redline. Pretty good for the mid-80's, but lackluster in today’s world.

I haven’t driven any MR2, and I think the only one I’ve ridden in was a Spyder with a 2ZZ swap (with an awesome driver, made for a very enjoyable ride on the track!). I do plan on visiting Aus sometime! In fact, I’m wearing an Australia shirt right now that my cousin got while studying abroad, haha!

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 13:00

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Wow, that’s meaty. I’m running 195/45/16 and 215/40/17 for the same amount of horses.

shop-teacher > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 13:05

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That’s a pretty sweet Fiero you’ve got there.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 08/05/2016 at 14:19

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I was caught in a little bit of a conundrum. The tires on it when I bought it were great, but too short (205/50/15), so my speedo read way high. And then there are no good tires in 15" for the diameter than I need... One thing lead to another, and I think it’s great looking overkill, haha. Hard to find good wheels in 5x100 these days.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 14:29

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Haha, that’s similar to the process I went through. Great looking overkill indeed!

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Out, but with a W - has found the answer 08/05/2016 at 15:06

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And you had the added benefit of not making your brakes look itty bitty. ;)

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > shop-teacher 08/05/2016 at 15:47

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Thanks much!

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/05/2016 at 19:58

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I’m fairly sure my 3S-GE puts out around the same power, from less cylinders and displacement and with a higher redline. I guess it’s a product of the (very) late 80s, but still!

One of those with decent power would be a laugh I’m sure. They get a bad rap, but they’re so small! They’ve got to be a bit of fun.

Haha! It’s a nice place. I’m down Victoria way, but it’s cold as balls and I can’t really recommend you join us. At least until the warmer months hit.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/06/2016 at 16:30

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A quick wiki look up tells me that your 2.0L makes a little over 160hp. Not surprised, but I’ll bet my 170 ft*lb wins. (Googles that, yup. You have about 140 ft*lb). Funny, they have the same ratings just with the hp & torque swapped! That’s a perfect example of the difference between US and Japanese engine thinking in the 80's. Lazy with meaty mid-range torque, or revvy with high rpm power. Nowadays things have really leveled out in that regard.

I always remember the time zone difference going to Aus, but the seasons for some reason usually slip my mind. I’m in Minnesota, so the cold is probably familiar to me. Are you near the 45th south parallel? Also, I think my friend in Australia lives in the same state (territory?) as you.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/06/2016 at 20:52

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You’re dead on there, with your assessement of the different between American and Japanese engines. I thought it was really a V8 thing - to rev low but deliver strong in the mid-range. I guess you can make a 6 have the same characteristics as well.

I did have a Japanese V6 from the mid-80s once. A Z31 300ZX with a VG30E. It revved high and made about 170hp, and I bet it was the same situation with the torque.

The more I read about Americans on Oppo, the more it seems their automotive landscape was built almost entirely around the idea of the motorway.

People say we have these blisteringly hot Summers. Melbourne/Victoria is so far south, they’re not so bad. But the Winters are cold. That said, it never snows and rarely dips below 0 so I guess it could be worse.

I suppose we are near the parallel. It looks like it runs through Tasmania (the island), I’m in the state just North of Tassie.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/06/2016 at 23:50

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Yep, it’s amazing how long our engines were / have been / are(?) influenced by the roadways and driving habits of the 60's. Short on-ramps (some still exist near me), slow speed limits, even non-lock-up torque converters that wouldn’t have behaved well with a contemporary Japanese engine. But Aussies like our V8s! I have a Holden (GTO) in my garage... It also makes it fun to point out exclusions to that rule like the Olds Quad4 that did 7500rpm and made nearly 200hp n/a from a 2.3L I4 in the early 90's.

I’ve got some friends with Z31s. I guess now I want to drive them to compare to my American V6...

Wait. Below 0° C or F? Being so close to the ocean shelters you from a lot. On this side, the 45th parallel means that winters go to -40° (same in celsius and fahrenheit, isn’t that neat!) pretty regularly. Not to mention 100°F usually a couple times per year...

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/07/2016 at 00:48

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Australians like similar cars but for different reasons. We have less of a culture around motorways, it’s more that the country is so damn big and everything is so far away.

Every rule has exclusions doens’t it :P

Friends with Z31s!? Who are these friends!? They’re fantastically rare here, I haven’t seen one on the road in 6 months or more. I really like them though.

Below 0 Celsius. Sorry, lol. -40 is damn cold , that seriously happens!? Jesus. It’s not nearly that cold here but our houses aren’t built for the cold, so we still feel it. We certainly get into the 100s in Summer.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/07/2016 at 23:18

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I would say there are a lot of parallels in liking similar cars. Yes, there’s a lot to do, and commute around, in the middle of the US (unless you ask someone from a coast, in which case the midwest must all be cornfields, I guess) compared to the Outback (I presume). But they’re still the same in that you at least have the opportunity to go for a drive for a few hours, and still not be to your destination. I once drove solo for 15 hours, 950 miles, one way, to visit my brother for a week. And, well, I did it in my Australian car. Perfect for the task.

It’s very rare for me to see a Z31 on the road, also. Z32s are almost that uncommon. But, what can I say, one of them is a Nissan guy, and the other guy needed a cheap car to learn autox... Some people just like what they like.

The coldest on record in MN was -60°F. (They officially rounded it down from -59.5°F.) It’s funny. Once the weather starts getting a little bit above freezing in the spring, it feels so good to cruise with the windows down again.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/08/2016 at 00:20

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Do you mean you actually own a Pontiac GTO/Holden Monaro? That’s cool :D I really wish they’d continued with that car.

Yeah you’re right. Unlike America which is generally inhabited throughout the middle, our middle is very sparsely populated.

But yes, if you want to drive all day and see nothing, either country is good. That’s an amazing trip by yourself! I don’t know how you did it. I’ve done 10 hours in a day to see family, but that was with my girlfriend. I also did 19 hours once with 3 other people. Sounds easy, but in a finnicky turbocharged Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart with no cruise control that makes peak boost at highway speeds and doesn’t want to stay there, it was a bit of an adventure.

I know what you mean. I get the same thing about a nice Winter’s day. Except the temperatures aren’t nearly as extreme and the whole thing is less psychotic, lol. You make our chilly 13C days look balmy!

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/08/2016 at 12:28

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I’ve had her since 2008. ;) I always say it’s my favorite car I’ve owned so far. And it shows, in that I’ve done over 100k miles in that time, which is far, far more than I’ve put on any other car I’ve owned. I wish that they weren’t stopping Aussie production! That’s what really bums me out!

I grew up with roadtrips, often to the coasts to see family, too. Also, as a group of four friends, I’ve driven to Vegas. 24 hours, and in a 2003ish Subaru Outback... which it turns out is actually a pretty small car for that task with four guys and their stuff in it. And the fuel economy is just, “meh” at best. But I’ve never had to deal with short-geared turbo rally car problems. :P

I’m trying to do more write-ups on here of random car stuff... looks like you’ve got a good example to follow. Oh, and as far as Fieros in your part of the world... I just found out that there’s at least one in New Zealand. Not sure how likely it is you’ll ever see that, though.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/09/2016 at 00:22

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It is a real bummer. I’m sure the cars that replace our fair Commodore won’t be that bad. But they won’t be tailored to our country in quite the same way. And unless we start getting some American stuff like the latest Mustang, the V8 RWD muscle sedan could disappear from our roads entirely.

If the Outback seems small, spare a thought for us in our little hatch!

My write-ups? I dunno, I’m sure they’re mostly rubbish. But it’s the weird car-based interests that keep Oppo alive I think.

I’d say there’s one of just about everything in NZ, their import rules are such that you can do pretty much whatever you like AFAIK. If I ever see it I’ll let you know, don’t worry.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/09/2016 at 20:21

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Holy cow. The only reference I had for the Colt nameplate was the captive import Dodge Colt of the 80's era... I guess that I didn’t know they never grew bigger than they used to be since we haven’t had them locally since before I even knew cars. That is ... tiny.

Every time that a manufacturer announced they would stop producing in Aussieland, I grimaced a bit. I was hoping that it wouldn’t go all the way, but as soon as the tower started to tumble, the cost:benefit just took over. The Australian market really was awesomely unique. Now where am I going to be able to get a Ute?

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/09/2016 at 22:53

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Haha! Mitsubishi seem to alternate between Colt and Mirage nameplates for their hatch. There was the 80s Colt, then the Lancer-based Mirage of the 90s. Then they went back upmarket with the Colt I’m talking about, and now the cheap Mirage is back.

The ute is the real victim here! I think we’ll just migrate to pickups, and the garish American trucks that are starting to make their way over. The writing has been on the wall for a long time, but I hoped it wouldn’t happen as well.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/11/2016 at 10:23

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I suppose it would be a little bit ironic if you were to import an El Camino, eh? I’ll trade you an El Camino for a Ute... just don’t tell the gov’t.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/11/2016 at 19:55

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I have seen an El Camino over here. And a Ranchero.

And vice-versa - there are a couple of utes in the US from what I’ve seen. Madness!

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/11/2016 at 20:22

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http://lefthandutes.com

How do the prices compare to in their homeland? I’ve been curious. I’m sure it’s a big increase in price, with all the work and labor to get them US legal.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/11/2016 at 21:01

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They’re quite cheap here, but I think cars in general are cheaper in the US. Have a look at prices on carsales.com.au if you’re curious. Does that site have prices?

I would think converting a current Chev SS would be the best option. Since it’s already in the country and LHD.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/11/2016 at 22:48

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I didn’t realize before posting the link that they changed their site since I was last there. I think they’re usually about $65k USD. They do start with a LHD US car, which is how they’re able to make it work. They keep the firewall and the VIN. The rest has to come over from Aus, with the engine separate from the chassis. Cut the car up, use the LHD US firewall, put it all back together. For a VY/VZ, start with a GTO. VE, start with a G8. I don’t think they’ve done a VF (that would get expensive fast ), but that would start with an SS.

I remember that I have looked at Aus car prices before. I eventually figured that if I moved there, I would have a manual, green, VZ ute... with the V6. Any of the V8 utes had ridiculous prices.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/11/2016 at 23:01

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Oh that sounds very logical. Good on them for making it work and making a business out of it!

The green is very nice, particularly on the VY but I assume the VZ got the same shade.

Really? I don’t think the 8s here are a lot more expensive. No more than you’d expect.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/11/2016 at 23:11

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I guess it’s been a few years since I’ve researched them. I remember them being, “I just moved here, I can’t afford that!” prices. I think the VY and VZ both were Hothouse Green? I like the VZ interior more (it’s like my GTO), but if I had to settle when in Aus... I totally could live with that.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/11/2016 at 23:17

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Yeah I think that was the hero color for the VY, very nice. I think you’d like Aus ;)

My brother has a VF, I’ve posted about it here before. It’s quite nice.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nauraushaun 08/11/2016 at 23:39

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I’ve sat in the VF before (auto show and showfloors), and been extremely impressed. I’ve driven VEs before, only in parking lot type situations, and been extremely impressed. Why was it that the G8 had such better steering in a parking lot than my GTO, or any Zeta (very related platform) Camaro? If the VF was the improvement over the VE that they say it is... then damn, we’re seriously messing up by getting rid of Aus production.

I didn’t realize it was the hero color... I tend to like the less common colors with the exception of my Fiero. Doesn’t matter, I want green.

Nauraushaun > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 08/12/2016 at 02:47

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I think there’s a good reason for that. The VE/G8 was a new platform at the time, they spent a lot of money getting that right. The VF was their chance to add polish to the existing platform, so from what I’ve heard things like the interior quality and probably driving dynamics increased a lot.

I like less common colors because these days what’s common is silver and black. Screw that lol. Green is nice, stick to your guns