In addition, they are coming out with an Infiniti G25 with a twin turbo. A pic of the engine compartment would be awesome!
re my VW discussions, finally picked it up last week - 2010 Jetta TDI Trendline (no chrome, shittier wheels, worse stereo, four grand less than the next model whcih is full of stuff i dont want or need) Tints are 35 front 25 rear: (images hotlinked because they are very large) <a class="postlink" href="http://riwork.ca/lola/1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://riwork.ca/lola/1.jpg</a> <a class="postlink" href="http://riwork.ca/lola/2.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://riwork.ca/lola/2.jpg</a> <a class="postlink" href="http://riwork.ca/lola/3.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://riwork.ca/lola/3.jpg</a> <a class="postlink" href="http://riwork.ca/lola/4.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://riwork.ca/lola/4.jpg</a> <a class="postlink" href="http://riwork.ca/lola/5.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://riwork.ca/lola/5.jpg</a> No hubcaps due to snow tires + spare set of wheels for that. I want to do something with it to make it stand out a bit visually that doesn't just reach out and say "ricer moron" or similar. I plan on swapping the wheels that came with it for the all seasons (it only came with 16" steelies) but beyond that I'm not sure where to start. I find that most VW sites are too congested with 19 year olds with GTIs and GLIs to get aesthetic changes that don't make me look like im trying way too hard or are dubiously legal. Any tips?
I have no idea about the VW crowd but the Japenese have started to develop a subtle taste in modifications. May look around for "Executive" style modifications, or if you want a little more glitz, check out "VIP".
Motorsport Auto is one of the biggest suppliers of Z car parts and sells everything you need to drop a small block Chevy into a 240/260/280 Z car. Also HynridZ forums is a great source of information.
Infiniti didn't have a booth this year. Here is my photo album. I was using my Blackberry as a computer, camera and notepad, so my battery died quite early on. I also had a number of meetings to attend and had to get in touch with people. I'm sorry my plan to take pictures by request didn't work, but here's my photo album. I have to say that the show this year was very austere and subdued. Everything was "hybrid" this or "environment" that. Consider the new 5.0 Mustang, which would have had a major debut only a few years ago, didn't even have a press conference. They did a preview for the enthusiast press a few weeks ago, but were so afraid that the MSM would crucify Ford for debuting an evil V8 muscle car during this economy and while Nancy Pelosi was in attendance. There was also a dearth of full size pickups. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37300&id=1658040012&l=e2cfaa8b06
Did you make it over to the MGM Grand hotel? I understand there were a dozen or so "supercars" on display for 3 days there.
I did go to the MGM Grand but it was for a dinner with some other journalists - we only really see each other a couple times a year at the shows, so it was more important for me to catch up with old friends. They bring the usual F-cars, Lambos, Maseratis etc to Toronto without fail every year, so no big deal to see them in Detroit. I did see them unloading a Morgan, which was fucking unreal. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37300&id=1658040012&l=e2cfaa8b06[/quote]
Re: The Automotive Thread/ Gool old American Muscle I have always wanted a classic car. I am getting close to actually being able to buy one but for one reason or another the car's I have been interested in have shot up in value. The increase since 05' is just ridiculous. I had always wanted a 69-70 Chevelle SS, 69-71 Pontiac GTO- (judge) or a 69 Camaro. I just love the body style of these car's. I wanted the PRO touring options (power break, steering ect...) I want it modified so I can drive it, I don't care as much about restoring it. In the case of the Chevelle the 404 or 396 is fine I don't need the 454 engine. Problem is these car's are increasing in value faster than I can save!! I have about 15k, when I started saving for this dream I thought 15-20k would be just about what I needed. I can do cosmetic work and simple upgrades, but I can't wrench it so I'd need a pretty complete car when I buy it. I have been getting awfully discouraged, when I first started looking in the classic trader mags, you could find a gorgeous GTO Judge for 20-25k, now they can go for twice that! My question is should I maybe downgrade my choice of car, then get the one I really wanted later in life? I really do not want to take a loan out for the remainder of the monies needed. I was looking at Old's 442's and Gran Torino's, I could get one of these and they would be pretty close to perfect condition. Maybe I should just wait and hope the value's come down a little, it just doesn't look like that is going to happen anytime soon. Thoughts??? Advice?
Re: The Automotive Thread/ Gool old American Muscle I would suggest looking at Impalas, Cougars, Dusters, Demons,etc...At the moment they will give you the biggest bang for the buck. As far as Camaros and such go, I bought a '68 RS/SS convertible in '96 for $15K, that damn thing would sell for $45K easily now which is just silly. Case in point: I sold this car last summer for $6000 with 78K original miles
Re: The Automotive Thread/ Gool old American Muscle If you're not really concerned with keeping original, I would try to find a 6-cyl Chevelle and make an SS clone or get a LeMans and make a GTO clone. You'll be able to find those for significantly less money and use what you've got left over to make upgrades. Even if you don't do the work, simple stuff like an engine swap and brake upgrade won't be too expensive to have someone else do. edit: I would avoid Mopars altogether, they're just too expensive at this point.
The spend-it-while-we-got it happy company I work for loosened the purse strings a little for a few of us to get new company cars. When the leases were up the last time we were asked to drive our personal vehicles and expense the miles (which I think was probably more expensive but I digress). While it isn't the oh so sweet STS-V I was given a few years back it is a pretty fun ride as far as company vehicles go. Unfortunately I have to wait 2 weeks for mine to come in since all they had at the stealership was a cream colored one. Mine is the same as shown except with different wheels. 2010 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost. Everyone else is getting Ford Edge or Fusions... muahahahaha.
Re: The Automotive Thread/ Gool old American Muscle In my Feb. Classic car autotrader classic magazine they had the following info: The low, average, high, prices of the classics since 2005. The increase is discouraging, here are a couple. 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Low Average High 2005 13,875 24,500 42000 2006 19,100 35,225 75600 2007 26,500 48,850 124,750 2008 29,200 51,800 134,700 2009 30,250 53,750 138,250 1969 Plymouth Road Runner 440 ** Low Average High 2005 13,850 32,300 60,200 2006 17,900 40,900 84,900 2007 20,600 46000 98,100 2008 19,200 35,500 71,800 2009 19,100 36,400 64,800 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Low Average High 2005 9,600*** 20,800 35,600 2006 11,900 25,200 44,800 2007 13,700 28,300 51,800 2008 19,500 27,300 45,000 2009 22,440 30,480 42,480 I'm not sure why the classics have jumped like they have. There are theories that it has to do with the babyboomer's retiring and have extra cash, also that they are a sound investment in a poor economy. I have no clue except that it is screwing up my chances!! Thanks for the advice guys. ** an actual decline?? Too bad I'm not a huge fan of the body style, love the power though. *** this makes me weep. Lastly if you guys have some photo's of some good muscle car's or any decent ride post them!! If girls can got some rep points for boobs we can get one for a 69 Camaro! Or a Porsche 911. Or of course an 82 Pinto.
You've got a hell of a nice ride there. FoMoCo is putting out some of the best vehicles on the market at the moment. Almost as if they saw the economic downturn as a challenge. No one is missing out on the fun with Fusion or Edge, great vehicles. Congrats on your (obviously privileged job).
Recently purchased a Troy-Bilt 2550PSI pressure washer to clean off nasty salts from the road. Did a test run today but found out that after it dries, there's still a film of residue left. This got me thinking of purchasing a detergent to mix in, any recommendations? Are there environmentally safe solutions? Rather not have harsh chemicals go into the water table.
Simple Green is a great cleaner. For use with the pressure washer you'll probably have to dilute it in a bucket, and throw the detergent hose in that.
FYI, Simple Green IS a great cleaner... we use it to take rubber/tar/bugs/etc off of our race cars. That being said, it'll eat through any wax/protectant you have in a heartbeat, and can seriously fuck up your paint in short order. We have 2 guys who's jobs are to do nothing but wax the shit out of the cars when they're not doing anything else. That, more than anything, helps to keep the car clean (it's easier to clean crap off of a good wax), as well as protect it from abrasives and chemicals. (On a similar note, the reason touchless car washes work so "well" is that they use incredibly harsh chemicals to clean, and can seriously fuck up the finish on your car). Personally, I have a brush attachment on my hose that I use to clean shit off (along with simple dish washing soap), and then I just add an additive that reduces the surface tension of the water (like Optimum No Rinse) to my sprayer when I rinse it off. It breaks down the surface tension, which reduces the stickiness of the dirt/grime/shit to the car, and allows it to be rinsed off easier. A lot of the film/whatever left over can also be attributed to the minerals/etc in the water... how hard/soft is your water? I'm lucky enough that I have a water treatment system at my place (joys of having a well that has very hard water), so my water won't spot anywhere near as easily or noticeably as it would otherwise.
Uhhh...dish soap will eat wax off quicker then shit. A good Zymol wax will last about 2 washings with dish soap before you have to wax the car again . I always thought it was bullshit but I finally figured out that those stupid car wash solutions they sell in auto stores is the way to go. Dish soap is formulated to remove grease (And presumably wax) and it does a damn good job of it.