FOH Car Fanatics

[PirelliCndms]

TLDR. Buy a manual NA RWD car  

[Shakey]

7 hours ago, TYS said:

TLDR. Buy a manual NA RWD car  

Pretty much. Porsche said their NA motors do not meet Euro 7 emissions standards and from 2026 on all regular production 911s will be turbo or hybrid. 

Smoke 'em while you got ‘em. 

[GVan]

You guys are awesome, love all the suggestions. And trust me; I get the NA draw. One of my all time favorite cars was --  for a brief time I had a 1972 Jaguar XJ12 5.3 liter with the 4 side draft Zenith-Stromberg carburetors. She was a proper Jag in British racing green with the brown leather interior and the two fuel tanks in the back with those cool chromed pop-up lids. Found her at the infamous old lady's garage, up on blocks and purchased her for the very high sum of $4.4K. Only needed air in the tires and a new battery and I drove her home. After a good wash, wax, new tires and getting the carburetors timing correct she became my daily driver. I thought she was beautiful and the wife thought it was not a very practical purchase (imagine that)!

She took a while to get going because she was heavy but when the second set of carbs kicked-in and the 12 cylinders got up to a proper rpm -- it was pretty cool! I eventually sold her because the local Jag dealer wanted $85/ hour to work on her and we couldn't afford to have her break-down.

[PirelliCndms]

19 hours ago, GVan said:

She took a while to get going because she was heavy but when the second set of carbs kicked-in and the 12 cylinders got up to a proper rpm -- it was pretty cool!

Have you made any decisions on what direction you want to go?


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[HoyoFan]

I’m curious why the need for AWD? Snow?

[GVan]

On 11/4/2024 at 3:09 AM, HoyoFan said:

I’m curious why the need for AWD? Snow?

Nope, no snow her in Southern Florida, just the occasional rain storms that drop 6" to 12" of water in less than an hour and floods the roads.  I just really like the performance and safety of AWD systems for high horsepower vehicles.  I became sold on AWD years ago when the below happened.....

I was with a good friend, driving the Bentley GTC that has the Audi quatro system and the 586 hp W-12.  We had just finished golf and were pulling out of the course onto a 4-lane divided highway.  The car was still relatively new to me.  I looked both ways, saw cars approaching from both sides but still miles away.  I pulled out crossing to the middle, paved section of the divided highway and had just began to turn into the left-hand lane when my friend yelled out "hit it".  Of course, I thought I was about to be hit by a car I missed and floored it.  I had never floored the car before.  Amazingly, all 4 tires smoked and the GTC started sliding sideways down the road.  I knew that I couldn't let off the gas or the car would "snap".  So, I kept on the gas with the tires spinning until we naturally straightened and then slowly let off the pedal.  By this time we were blocks down the road and probably doing 90+ mph.  When I looked in the rear-view and then stated yelling back at my friend because all the cars were miles behind us he just said he wasn't used to being in a car that accelerated that fast.

I've had similar situations where something unexpected happened and always liked how the AWD pulled me through the situation.  Now that's all I buy.  If I'm going to buy another high hp car (see next post) I'd prefer it have AWD to help put that power down to the ground and help get me out of situations like the above story.

[GVan]

On 11/3/2024 at 9:00 AM, PirelliCndms said:

Have you made any decisions on what direction you want to go?


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I'm really grateful for all of the advice and comments given by @KCCubano, @BrightonCorgi, @01Vert, @ShaazK and your help as well.  I seriously started looking at the Porsche 997's on the market because they met all of my criteria, were very cool and would most likely keep appreciating in value.  

As luck would have it, I have a friend at my golf club that races Porsche's as a "retirement hobby".  After becoming infatuated with the 997 turbo, I gave him a call and asked him what I could expect from the car - performance, value, cost and pure enjoyment.  Of course he's a real enthusiast and performance guy.  The conversations started spanning the last few weeks with of course my wife over-hearing some of the calls.  If money was no object, it would definitely be a 997 turbo.   My problem is I never do anything half-way and my friend convinced me that for what I was looking to do it would be 3 to 4x my original plan.  On the plus side, I'd have an amazing machine that would likely hold its value very well (even though I rarely sell anything).

Fate however, intervened!

During this time I kept searching for the Subaru WRX STI and just bought one last week.  There's a young guy (compared to me) near Tampa that has his own shop that specializes in Subaru's, RX-7's, GTR's .... with the typical group of car enthusiasts that "sing his praises".   I stopped by the shop for a full day to see the project cars that he has underway, met some of his customers and then did a bunch of searches on-line to verify his reputation.  All very impressive.  He let me know of a friend / customer (an older guy like me) that was building out his 2017 STI and had recently been diagnosed with cancer.  The car was 98% complete, had a new AIG 1000+ hp long-block that had never been raced and only had about a 1000 miles on the new engine.  He had all the receipts for $110K that he'd put into the car (not including the original donor car).  Most of the upgrades were exactly what I would have done and a few were nicer than I would have done.  It's currently pro-tuned for 750 wheel hp.

Anyway after 2 test drives, I bought it for $49K.  I'm having the shop add new dual fuel injection.  He had Injector Dynamics 2600's in the upgraded fuel system but for smoother starts and driving I'm going with the 1300's backed by the 2600's.  I'm pricing out a custom titanium dual exhaust to tone-down the Tomei Competition single exhaust he had on the car (not sure the neighbors would appreciate the competition exhaust).  My wife thinks I'm crazy but she's happy that I'm back to the original planned spend since all of this is coming out of my retirement accounts.  What's nice is there is very little that I'll end up doing to the car other than continuing cosmetic upgrades, new sound system and some increased sound insulation.

Should have her home in about a month!

[BrightonCorgi]

4 hours ago, GVan said:

Fate however, intervened!

During this time I kept searching for the Subaru WRX STI and just bought one last week...

Sounds like a ton of car for the money. If all fails, you can part it out and get your money back lol.  Engine looks like it was a labor of love.

We've had several Subaru's in our family. A couple of Forrester's, Legacy GT wagon, and a bug eye WRX wagon.

 

[PirelliCndms]

4 hours ago, GVan said:

I'm really grateful for all of the advice and comments given by @KCCubano, @BrightonCorgi, @01Vert, @ShaazK and your help as well.  I seriously started looking at the Porsche 997's on the market because they met all of my criteria, were very cool and would most likely keep appreciating in value.  

As luck would have it, I have a friend at my golf club that races Porsche's as a "retirement hobby".  After becoming infatuated with the 997 turbo, I gave him a call and asked him what I could expect from the car - performance, value, cost and pure enjoyment.  Of course he's a real enthusiast and performance guy.  The conversations started spanning the last few weeks with of course my wife over-hearing some of the calls.  If money was no object, it would definitely be a 997 turbo.   My problem is I never do anything half-way and my friend convinced me that for what I was looking to do it would be 3 to 4x my original plan.  On the plus side, I'd have an amazing machine that would likely hold its value very well (even though I rarely sell anything).

Fate however, intervened!

During this time I kept searching for the Subaru WRX STI and just bought one last week.  There's a young guy (compared to me) near Tampa that has his own shop that specializes in Subaru's, RX-7's, GTR's .... with the typical group of car enthusiasts that "sing his praises".   I stopped by the shop for a full day to see the project cars that he has underway, met some of his customers and then did a bunch of searches on-line to verify his reputation.  All very impressive.  He let me know of a friend / customer (an older guy like me) that was building out his 2017 STI and had recently been diagnosed with cancer.  The car was 98% complete, had a new AIG 1000+ hp long-block that had never been raced and only had about a 1000 miles on the new engine.  He had all the receipts for $110K that he'd put into the car (not including the original donor car).  Most of the upgrades were exactly what I would have done and a few were nicer than I would have done.  It's currently pro-tuned for 750 wheel hp.

Anyway after 2 test drives, I bought it for $49K.  I'm having the shop add new dual fuel injection.  He had Injector Dynamics 2600's in the upgraded fuel system but for smoother starts and driving I'm going with the 1300's backed by the 2600's.  I'm pricing out a custom titanium dual exhaust to tone-down the Tomei Competition single exhaust he had on the car (not sure the neighbors would appreciate the competition exhaust).  My wife thinks I'm crazy but she's happy that I'm back to the original planned spend since all of this is coming out of my retirement accounts.  What's nice is there is very little that I'll end up doing to the car other than continuing cosmetic upgrades, new sound system and some increased sound insulation.

Should have her home in about a month!

Wow, this seems like a really stout build. Any transfer case / gearbox / axle / driveshaft upgrades? I know these parts are generally really stout, until they're not .

I was not expecting a 1000whp Subaru, This thing will probably be more reliable than a stock one! It's insane that you can blow these up with bolt-ons in their stock form. 

Congrats on the purchase, I think we need some pull videos with some data overlay!

[GVan]

10 hours ago, PirelliCndms said:

Wow, this seems like a really stout build. Any transfer case / gearbox / axle / driveshaft upgrades? I know these parts are generally really stout, until they're not .

I was not expecting a 1000whp Subaru, This thing will probably be more reliable than a stock one! It's insane that you can blow these up with bolt-ons in their stock form. 

Congrats on the purchase, I think we need some pull videos with some data overlay!

Agreed, it seems a good deal and a good build but only time and driving will tell.  As for the drivetrain, it has the standard STI transmission which is significantly stouter than the standard Subaru transmission.  Upgraded Torque solutions motor, differential  and transmission mounts.   A triple disk Compettiion clutch with a carbon fiber driveshaft from the Driveshaft Shop.  To me the coolest upgrade is the Moltec M150 ECU and Wideband software upgrade that lets me control the boost limiter from the internal Subaru Intelligent Drive switch on the shift console.  Which really means I can select three preprogrammed horsepower levels from inside the car.

With the new dual injectors and exhaust changes she'll be going back to the Dyno and tuner.  When I get the Dyno tune maps and video I'll post.  Should be somewhere within the next 30 days or so....

[Chitmo]

On 10/23/2024 at 11:50 PM, SigmundChurchill said:

I currently drive a 2024 Panamera 4. I'm loving it. I can raise and lower the car at will. In regular mode, it drives like a luxury car, and in sport mode or sport plus mode, it's like driving a completely different car.  I have been driving SUVs for the last 10 years, so this is a nice change. I'm begrudgingly "allowed" to get a 911 after my youngest kid goes off to college in 3 years, but I've got to say, I am loving the options this car gives me that the 911 won't. I may just end up getting the Turbo S E-Hybrid Panamera instead.

Wagons are awesome, I’d take a wagon over a little sports car any day of the week. If I didn’t have 3 kids and 2 dogs I’d be driving a RS6 instead of my Q7. 

[SigmundChurchill]

6 hours ago, Chitmo said:

Wagons are awesome, I’d take a wagon over a little sports car any day of the week. If I didn’t have 3 kids and 2 dogs I’d be driving a RS6 instead of my Q7. 

I loved my G-Wagon when I bought it in 2018.  But one of the many things I loved about it was that it was unique.  You didnt see them very often back then. Now, I see them everywhere around here, which made it a little easier to make the switch to a sports car.

Who knows, maybe I will get another one some day. I see myself getting an SUV of some sort as a winter car and keeping a sports car for the other seasons.

[BrightonCorgi]

6 hours ago, Chitmo said:

Wagons are awesome, I’d take a wagon over a little sports car any day of the week. If I didn’t have 3 kids and 2 dogs I’d be driving a RS6 instead of my Q7. 

My wife has a Volvo V60 CC. New England is Volvo country, especially Cape Cod.

[Chibearsv]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

My wife has a Volvo V60 CC. New England is Volvo country, especially Cape Cod.

This was true for my brief stint in Connecticut in the late 80s too. But I think Volvo drivers were all teachers or professors, and male Volvo drivers were required to smoke a pipe. 😁

[RDB]

On 11/7/2024 at 3:23 PM, GVan said:

I'm really grateful for all of the advice and comments given by @KCCubano, @BrightonCorgi, @01Vert, @ShaazK and your help as well.  I seriously started looking at the Porsche 997's on the market because they met all of my criteria, were very cool and would most likely keep appreciating in value.  

As luck would have it, I have a friend at my golf club that races Porsche's as a "retirement hobby".  After becoming infatuated with the 997 turbo, I gave him a call and asked him what I could expect from the car - performance, value, cost and pure enjoyment.  Of course he's a real enthusiast and performance guy.  The conversations started spanning the last few weeks with of course my wife over-hearing some of the calls.  If money was no object, it would definitely be a 997 turbo.   My problem is I never do anything half-way and my friend convinced me that for what I was looking to do it would be 3 to 4x my original plan.  On the plus side, I'd have an amazing machine that would likely hold its value very well (even though I rarely sell anything).

Fate however, intervened!

During this time I kept searching for the Subaru WRX STI and just bought one last week.  There's a young guy (compared to me) near Tampa that has his own shop that specializes in Subaru's, RX-7's, GTR's .... with the typical group of car enthusiasts that "sing his praises".   I stopped by the shop for a full day to see the project cars that he has underway, met some of his customers and then did a bunch of searches on-line to verify his reputation.  All very impressive.  He let me know of a friend / customer (an older guy like me) that was building out his 2017 STI and had recently been diagnosed with cancer.  The car was 98% complete, had a new AIG 1000+ hp long-block that had never been raced and only had about a 1000 miles on the new engine.  He had all the receipts for $110K that he'd put into the car (not including the original donor car).  Most of the upgrades were exactly what I would have done and a few were nicer than I would have done.  It's currently pro-tuned for 750 wheel hp.

Anyway after 2 test drives, I bought it for $49K.  I'm having the shop add new dual fuel injection.  He had Injector Dynamics 2600's in the upgraded fuel system but for smoother starts and driving I'm going with the 1300's backed by the 2600's.  I'm pricing out a custom titanium dual exhaust to tone-down the Tomei Competition single exhaust he had on the car (not sure the neighbors would appreciate the competition exhaust).  My wife thinks I'm crazy but she's happy that I'm back to the original planned spend since all of this is coming out of my retirement accounts.  What's nice is there is very little that I'll end up doing to the car other than continuing cosmetic upgrades, new sound system and some increased sound insulation.

Should have her home in about a month!

That is a crazy looking ride. Have fun… but you know, not too much fun.

[looseleaf]

Recent, random, and evocative of something good

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCFRs-Xze-H/?igsh=MXB4bjlrajI5YXhrMw%3D%3D&img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBZGH_IvH0N/?igsh=N2d1ZXZ6eTFyMnJs

And a shooting brake

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_YpXivoDmd/?igsh=MWZ0dWhraXpqbmIyMA%3D%3D

Maybe the last word

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3sTox3iMa6/?igsh=a2Y2cGp1aDl1M2Mx 

[KCCubano]

Just now, Williemon said:

American iron here. 1963 Ford Galaxy 500 convertible. Big tank of a car. 352 V8 with three speed automatic transmission. All original with repaint of original color and original interior. I also have a project that has been wanting to get started. 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix. It’s a blank canvas so can become what ever ground pounder I can create. Would also like to own a 1969 Chevy Camaro one day. 

Friend of mine in High School had a 69 Camaro. We had a lot of fun in that ride!

[chasy]

Well after much consternation (procrastination) we went with the XC 90. Wife decided we needed a 3rd row, which eliminated the X5 (my favorite). The X7 was deemed too big to drive around the city and the Q7 was preferred but salespeople were very annoying / hard to work with.

I hope we can do something cooler down the road but a growing family probably doesn’t make cool cars a priority.

[BrightonCorgi]

16 hours ago, chasy said:

Well after much consternation (procrastination) we went with the XC 90. Wife decided we needed a 3rd row, which eliminated the X5 (my favorite). The X7 was deemed too big to drive around the city and the Q7 was preferred but salespeople were very annoying / hard to work with.

I hope we can do something cooler down the road but a growing family probably doesn’t make cool cars a priority.

Which iteration of the XC90 did you get? We had an XC60 T6 Inscription before our V60. T6 was too much power for the car IMO. Would've rather had the T5 and get air suspension and/or B&W stereo instead.

[Lamboinee]

Thought this thread could use some pictures of this jalop.

 

 

[Lamboinee]

21 hours ago, chasy said:

X7 was deemed too big

I suppose 9" longer and 1" shorter is excessively large. Lol. 

Sales people ruin a lot of car deals.

Glad you got a new ride! Make sure and tell your wife "I told you so" a lot when you don't use the 3rd row. Lol.

[Lamboinee]

On 11/7/2024 at 10:23 AM, GVan said:

750 wheel hp.

Good lord! That's like 4-5 lbs per HP I think! 

I hope it has the standard cvt instead that pesky stick lol. 

Congrats! Let's go for a drive!

[ShaazK]

20 hours ago, Lamboinee said:

Thought this thread could use some pictures of this jalop.

Oh damn this is beautiful


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[chasy]

Much less cool than an old Corvette. The new family whip.

[Lamboinee]

4 hours ago, chasy said:

The new family whip.

Is still a stylish ride. Love dem Volvo lines right now. It may be 9" shorter than a x7, buts it 9" more stylish. 

How much was the kayak option? $60k...but it comes with free SUV?