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pvtnum11 OMG NO NOSECONES from Kerbin low orbit Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
OMG NO NOSECONES
#601: May 25th 2011 at 11:20:44 AM

MOAR awesome cars? Sure.

1986 or 1987 Buick Regal Turbo-T, also known as a Grand National (a trim level of the Regal), and in 1987, a GNX.

Lord Vader, your car is ready.

Very similiar 3.8-liter engine that graces the Turbo Trans Am (the TTA has different cylinder heads and a few minor differences). Due to the boxy G-body styling (it's a BRICK), the cars had to be ECM-limited to 110-something miles an hour, or the rear end woudl start to do voodoo things and lift, leading to loss of control. Not particularly nimble, but more than adequate.

Good for going fast with class. I almost traded my TTA for a 1986 Turbo-T in midnight blue, even had some mods tossed onto it. Near-mint condition.

The story of turbocharged cars (in America anyway) is due to the 1970's gas crisis. We Americans have a love for POWER and TORQUE, but with the inability of factory V8's of the time to deliver good fuel economy and adequate crowd-pleasing torque, they started to look towards turbo or super-charging V6 engines (and even four-bager engines, like Ford did with the Mustang SVO and Thunderbird) in an effort to provide puttering-around-town V6 economy and V8 torque in one single package.

It worked. True, the Buick V6 engine was essentially little more than a V8 block with the last two cylinders chopped off so it was rougher than a corn cob, but it got the job done.

Alas, the Big Three killed the turbocharged cars off pretty much by 1991 - they're maintenance intensive and pretty much require you to use nothing but premium gas and high-grade engine oil. Buick continued to make supercharged (and naturally-aspirated) 3.8-liter engines until recently, when GM axed the Buick engine plant.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#602: May 25th 2011 at 11:27:05 AM

As a non-driver, I cannot comment on the awesome cars <Cries in his little corner>

pvtnum11 OMG NO NOSECONES from Kerbin low orbit Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
OMG NO NOSECONES
#603: May 25th 2011 at 11:46:51 AM

Eh, don't need to be a driver to appreciate a car. There might be some aesthetic that catches your eye time and time again, or a patricular engine sound that resonates with you. Not being a driver doesn't change that.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
Catfish42 Bloody Fossil from world´s favourite country. Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Bloody Fossil
#604: May 25th 2011 at 12:02:11 PM

Cool cars? The chase scene in Bullitt, either car would be fine, and half of the background traffic wouldn't be too shabby either.

A different shape every step I take A different mind every step of the line
pvtnum11 OMG NO NOSECONES from Kerbin low orbit Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
OMG NO NOSECONES
#605: May 25th 2011 at 12:15:18 PM

I am ashamed that I haven't seen that one. But I get the general idea.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
Catfish42 Bloody Fossil from world´s favourite country. Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Bloody Fossil
#606: May 25th 2011 at 12:58:49 PM

The movie itself is pretty good, but it's mostly that scene that sells it, largely because it was pretty much all filmed like, real cars on real (closed-off) roads.

Even if the Charger looses a good sixteen hubcaps and the Mustang shifts up about a dozen times and down about never. And disappears for a split second after crashing into the camera.

edited 25th May '11 12:59:04 PM by Catfish42

A different shape every step I take A different mind every step of the line
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#607: May 25th 2011 at 1:11:12 PM

@Tomu: You dont have to be a driver to like cars. I haven't even got my learner's permit and appreciate cars.

edited 25th May '11 1:11:19 PM by Erock

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#608: May 25th 2011 at 1:16:52 PM

The only car I like is the Rolls-Royce. Any model, any year.

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
HungryJoe Gristknife from Under the Tree Since: Dec, 2009
Gristknife
#609: May 25th 2011 at 1:20:40 PM

And if you're a driver you don't have to apreciate them!

I only caught like 2/3rds of what pvtnum was talking about (although what I did understand was pretty awesome). I really wish I knew more about mechanics. Maybe I'll get my dad to teach me about the diesal on our boat.

Heh, reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend. We were talking about what car we'd get if we had infinite money.

"A Prius," she said.

"What?" us guys responded and than exchanged glances.

"That's the car I want," she looked at us askance.

"Why...really, a Prius? But..."

"It's eco-friendly!"

"You could get a Tesla Roadster instead, it's entirely electric, a sports car, a convertable and about a thousand times cooler."

"Sounds expensive..."

"You literally have infinity dollars. If you put it in a bank you'd cause the world economy to collapse. Saving up is not only not an option its not a concern."

"I still want a Prius."

"That's the only car you know anything about, isn't it?"

"...Yeah."

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.
Catfish42 Bloody Fossil from world´s favourite country. Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Bloody Fossil
#610: May 25th 2011 at 1:22:34 PM

[up][up] A Rolls is nice too, but with half of them, I'd prefer to have a driver.

[up] That... is a bit sad, actually.

A different shape every step I take A different mind every step of the line
HungryJoe Gristknife from Under the Tree Since: Dec, 2009
Gristknife
#611: May 25th 2011 at 1:23:40 PM

You have no idea.

She still doesn't know a blessed thing about cars.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.
pvtnum11 OMG NO NOSECONES from Kerbin low orbit Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
OMG NO NOSECONES
#612: May 25th 2011 at 1:24:07 PM

They do have rather nice lines. I like the styling cues that have morphed and changed over the decades, but are still recognizable.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#613: May 25th 2011 at 1:25:29 PM

Pfft... women and cars.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
HungryJoe Gristknife from Under the Tree Since: Dec, 2009
Gristknife
#614: May 25th 2011 at 1:26:06 PM

I have a '92 Regal and it's got slightly different lines.

And a protective shell made out of pollen.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#615: May 25th 2011 at 1:29:10 PM

My dad drives a Volvo V70.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
SabresEdge Show an affirming flame from a defense-in-depth Since: Oct, 2010
Show an affirming flame
#616: May 25th 2011 at 1:31:09 PM

On the rare occasions that I do drive I've got the old family car, a '95 Honda Civic with more dents than the Millennium Falcon and a partially jammed passenger door. On the other hand, it's reliable.

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#617: May 25th 2011 at 1:34:02 PM

I would never drive a Civic. I hate most Asian design, though Mazda makes some nice cars.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
HungryJoe Gristknife from Under the Tree Since: Dec, 2009
Gristknife
#618: May 25th 2011 at 1:35:19 PM

My locks can't decide if they work or not.

The AC, on the other hand, has made up it's mind.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.
Catfish42 Bloody Fossil from world´s favourite country. Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Bloody Fossil
#619: May 25th 2011 at 1:35:56 PM

I've only ever driven four different cars... two horrible Opels, a Renault Twingo and a VW van. Which, to me, was the coolest and most fun to drive.

[up] I guess it went for "I won't work"?

edited 25th May '11 1:36:54 PM by Catfish42

A different shape every step I take A different mind every step of the line
HungryJoe Gristknife from Under the Tree Since: Dec, 2009
Gristknife
#620: May 25th 2011 at 1:36:30 PM

French cars are a rare sight hereabouts.

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.
SabresEdge Show an affirming flame from a defense-in-depth Since: Oct, 2010
Show an affirming flame
#621: May 25th 2011 at 1:39:45 PM

The nice thing about '90 to '95 Civics is that they're supposed to be very reliable, and I believe it. The 2000 Camry on the other hand is always throwing hissy-fits. However, it handles like a car at least. The Civic has the rough steering of a water buffalo.

Besides, my personal philosophy is roughly "Two wheels good, four wheels bad!" Let's see your fancy car cut through the woods and the fields on a regular basis...

Charlie Stross's cheerful, optimistic predictions for 2017, part one of three.
HungryJoe Gristknife from Under the Tree Since: Dec, 2009
Gristknife
#622: May 25th 2011 at 1:41:24 PM

"Cutting" would happen, that's for sure...

Charlie Tunoku is a lover and a fighter.
Catfish42 Bloody Fossil from world´s favourite country. Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: I'm just high on the world
Bloody Fossil
#623: May 25th 2011 at 1:41:55 PM

I've got two words for you Sabre: Land Rover.

A different shape every step I take A different mind every step of the line
pvtnum11 OMG NO NOSECONES from Kerbin low orbit Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
OMG NO NOSECONES
#624: May 25th 2011 at 2:39:27 PM

The Buick Regal changed from a RWD brick-like G-body platform to a smoother FWD W-body platform in 1988. I had owned two Pontiac Grand Prix's; both were W-bodies - intermediate FWD cars that had transverse-mounted I4's or more commonly, V6 powerplants (The Tech-4 engine was able to put out some good power, even if you had to rev it to the moon). The Buicks got the larger 3800-series V6, while the other (Chevy Lumina, Oldmobile Cutlass Supreme, Pontiac Grand Prix) had to do with the 3100-series V6 until 1997. The 3100's had this annoying tendency to crap out their intake manifold gaskets (FREAKING DEX-COOL I HATE YOUR WORTHLESS GUTS) and would piss coolant internally all over the camshaft and down into the crankcase. A redesign of the gaskets (or ditching Dex-Cool) usually staved that off.

I was actually looking for a mid-90's Regal for use as a work car, provided that it came with a 3800-series engine. Took a Park Avenue instead. Whaaaaa, not an Ultra, no supercharger. sad

Women and cars:

My wife knows how to change a flat, change oil, has helped me turn wrenches on my TTA and even install an exhaust on my older Trans Am (that I got rid of, dang it) and is banned from the TTA due to having more of a speeding problem than I do. Generally speaking she's mechanically inclined.

edited 25th May '11 2:44:20 PM by pvtnum11

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
NickDaManWithDaCan Making Da Funt1mes Fun Since: May, 2011
Making Da Funt1mes Fun
#625: May 25th 2011 at 3:04:58 PM

So does anyone have any crushes at the moment?

"Like a lover in the sunset, the sky falls down." -A line from my current novel.

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