Calgary Car Talk

[floobie]

Originally Posted by CorporateWhore

Yeah, I'm not a big guy (5'10 on a good day) and I prefer small cars with glove-like cockpits, but even I felt a little weird sitting in a Miata. It's a common complaint of the car, and a lot of bigger guys can't even consider driving it.

I'm also 6'1" and fit fine with no visibility issues... but I am mostly legs.

The S2000 is a wonderful car. It's a damn shame they haven't replaced it with something worthy (ditto the NSX). Honda and Acura are in a weird place right now. They've basically turned into Toyota. Nothing really exciting or interesting. The new Civic Si is a giant step down from the old one, the new Civic in general is a giant step down from the old one, the S2000 has been discontinued for a few years, no Prelude, Integra, RSX... just a bunch of sensible, boring daily drivers. And no, the CR-Z doesn't count as exciting.

Used VAG products... I get the feeling that the horror stories are overblown. My parents have owned nothing but Audis for years now. My dad used to own a B5 S4, and held onto it for about 5 years. That thing was supposed to be a giant horror story... blown turbos and all. But, his was every bit as reliable as my old Civic. The same can be said for his B7 S4, which he owned for 5 years. Or the 2008 TT, 2004 A4 1.8T, 1998 A4 2.8...

The mk IV Golfs and Jettas and the B5 and B5.5 Passat were definitely a low point, but things have been better for years now. The only German brand that I'd avoid would be Mercedes (based on personal experience).

Personally, what I find irksome about all the S4s I've driven (B5, B7, B8) is their weight. The current one weighs over 4000 pounds! It manages to perform exceptionally, but you still feel the weight. The insane rubber, fancy differential, and quattro get you around corners at ridiculous speeds, but you can still tell that all those elements are fighting against the sheer weight of the vehicle. It's a sort of "stoic" driving experience. You never doubt the car's capability, but you just don't have the puppy-like enthusiasm of the likes of my mom's TT or my GTI.

[Wigs]

birth of a Kia Optima
• Video Link

[Innersoul1]

Hey lads, so I am putting some consideration into the purchase of a 2011-2012 Subarau WRX possibly an STI. Wondering if any of you have experience with tis vehicle. It's a terrific bang for buck.

[Jimby]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Hey lads, so I am putting some consideration into the purchase of a 2011-2012 Subarau WRX possibly an STI. Wondering if any of you have experience with tis vehicle. It's a terrific bang for buck.

Have you checked out what the insurance costs? That is the only downside I can think of.

[LFRENCH]

Originally Posted by Jimby

Have you checked out what the insurance costs? That is the only downside I can think of.

dont mind me but leaky valve seals in a boxer kinda suck.. other than that solid vehicle.
keep in mind awd vehicles require tires to be same tread pattern and similar tread depth..this means if you get a sidewall puncture in one with 6/32nds of tread depth you have to replace all back to 12 or 10 32nds of tread depth depending on tire that you select. As a tire man, I would suggest you jot down the tire requirements and look at the cost of tire replacements. I imagine they are going to be 18' low pro's with a w or y speed requirement.

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Hey lads, so I am putting some consideration into the purchase of a 2011-2012 Subarau WRX possibly an STI. Wondering if any of you have experience with tis vehicle. It's a terrific bang for buck.

Have you driven one? I haven't tried the newer version, but briefly had a 2007... It was a wicked little car, but had possibly the worst ride of any car I've ever driven. It had it's moments, say, under hard driving and cornering, but anytime you're not into pushing the car, it'll beat you up. Again, cool little car that's a lot of bang for the buck (and great resale), but I'd drive one first.

[suburbia]

What has the crowd's experience been of newer cars with seemingly good mileage for their performance / weight?

Reason I ask is, while my prior cars all could easily hit the rated efficiencies, my FX has never been able to really get close. Even when on the highway and pegging exactly at 110km/hr (with or without cruise control on a flat road), over the course of the trip it doesn't hit the expected gas mileage. When I look at the performance on the system computer, it is clear that any very mild touch on the gas whips the gas mileage way down. With that being said, it seems the gas mileage taped on the window in the show room is not the best indicator.

I asked the Inifiniti service consultant and he said I was getting what most customers get, adding that the numbers achieved in the testing loop are very hard to replicate. He also added the bit about being above sea level (which is valid, but not to the extent that I'm noting). Overall the answer was fluff.

To be honest, I didn't get my vehicle for mileage, and in the grand scheme of things, I'm not overly pre-occupied with this, but it does raise some general industry-level questions.

[GTING]

Originally Posted by suburbia

What has the crowd's experience been of newer cars with seemingly good mileage for their performance / weight?

To be honest, I didn't get my vehicle for mileage, and in the grand scheme of things, I'm not overly pre-occupied with this, but it does raise some general industry-level questions.

That is an interesting question. Let me share/brag what my car gets for mileage:

Listed on VW website for a 2013 GTI is 9.9L/100km City and 6.7L/100km Highway.

My 2010 GTI: City? (I never really count the mileage in the city because driving is so inconsistent) but my guess would be 10 to 11L/100km.
Highway at 100km/h (national park speed) 5.9L/100km and at regular highway speed 120km/h 6.7L/100km

My car is turbo charged so that does take the sea-level effect out of the equation as far as I know. (Pilots in my family have told me this is true). Another thing that I have noticed is that generally it is downhill to a lot of places (Edmonton) and that has about a 0.1-0.2 mileage difference.

It would be very very unpopular but I would be in favor of lowering the speed limit on highways to 90 so we can all save 10% on fuel consumption

[DoubleK]

I am getting pretty much bang on to a bit better with my Acura TL on the highway and 4 mpg better in the city.

I don't have a heavy right foot at all, but do like to step on it now and then.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by GTING

That is an interesting question. Let me share/brag what my car gets for mileage:

Listed on VW website for a 2013 GTI is 9.9L/100km City and 6.7L/100km Highway.

My 2010 GTI: City? (I never really count the mileage in the city because driving is so inconsistent) but my guess would be 10 to 11L/100km.
Highway at 100km/h (national park speed) 5.9L/100km and at regular highway speed 120km/h 6.7L/100km

My car is turbo charged so that does take the sea-level effect out of the equation as far as I know. (Pilots in my family have told me this is true). Another thing that I have noticed is that generally it is downhill to a lot of places (Edmonton) and that has about a 0.1-0.2 mileage difference.

It would be very very unpopular but I would be in favor of lowering the speed limit on highways to 90 so we can all save 10% on fuel consumption

I'm not one to start bragging about my vehicle's fuel efficiency, because I'd lose.

My sense on my vehicle is that the mileage changes drastically with modest fluctuations, whereas in my prior "less finessed" vehicles, the numbers didn't go downhill as fast when outside of ideal.

I should point out over 300+hp, 7 speed tranny, 5.85s on a 4,200+ lb vehicle, hence my comment that the power-train is finessed for performance.

(mind you, numbers aren't as impressive as they used to be - at some point in history, sub 6s 60mph was pretty rare for a heavy SUV, but now there are a few "real vehicle" competitors)

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I am getting pretty much bang on to a bit better with my Acura TL on the highway and 4 mpg better in the city.

I don't have a heavy right foot at all, but do like to step on it now and then.

Maybe I should take the dealer up on the suggestion for an "emissions service", which supposedly can improve fuel efficiency. (most of their "recommended" optional items are cash grabs though, so skeptical).

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by GTING

That is an interesting question. Let me share/brag what my car gets for mileage:

Listed on VW website for a 2013 GTI is 9.9L/100km City and 6.7L/100km Highway.

My 2010 GTI: City? (I never really count the mileage in the city because driving is so inconsistent) but my guess would be 10 to 11L/100km.
Highway at 100km/h (national park speed) 5.9L/100km and at regular highway speed 120km/h 6.7L/100km

My car is turbo charged so that does take the sea-level effect out of the equation as far as I know. (Pilots in my family have told me this is true). Another thing that I have noticed is that generally it is downhill to a lot of places (Edmonton) and that has about a 0.1-0.2 mileage difference.

It would be very very unpopular but I would be in favor of lowering the speed limit on highways to 90 so we can all save 10% on fuel consumption

Turbos on cars are generally set up differently than a plane turbo, on a plane they are set to maintain a sea level pressure at the inlet (14.7 psi) on a car you are going for boost above sea level generally. That said, I would imagine that you do gain a bit of mileage because of the increased pressure at the inlet and resulting power increase (i.e. less need to put our foot into it).

I've found that that generally the better the power to weight ratio the better the fuel economy (to a point and given a certain relatively tame driving style) and the more likely your going to meet the rated mileage. As an example, my parents have found that they get closer to the rated mileage on their Ford Explorer with a V8 that others do with a V6 in the same vehicle.

[Innersoul1]

Thanks to everyone for your responses.

Originally Posted by Jimby

Have you checked out what the insurance costs? That is the only downside I can think of.

I haven't looked into insurance. That is the next step.

Originally Posted by LFRENCH

dont mind me but leaky valve seals in a boxer kinda suck.. other than that solid vehicle.
keep in mind awd vehicles require tires to be same tread pattern and similar tread depth..this means if you get a sidewall puncture in one with 6/32nds of tread depth you have to replace all back to 12 or 10 32nds of tread depth depending on tire that you select. As a tire man, I would suggest you jot down the tire requirements and look at the cost of tire replacements. I imagine they are going to be 18' low pro's with a w or y speed requirement.

LFrench, can you fill me in a bit more on what you know about the leaky valve seals?
This would be my 2nd AWD car so I am familiar with the idea of having to replace all of the tires. You are indeed correct that they would be 18' low pros. I have already sussed out the price of Nitto Motivos.

Originally Posted by Me&You

Have you driven one? I haven't tried the newer version, but briefly had a 2007... It was a wicked little car, but had possibly the worst ride of any car I've ever driven. It had it's moments, say, under hard driving and cornering, but anytime you're not into pushing the car, it'll beat you up. Again, cool little car that's a lot of bang for the buck (and great resale), but I'd drive one first.

You make a very valid point about ride comfort. I too have driven the 2007 model year. Not the best ride at all. You certainly feel all the bumps and humps in the road. I have driven the 2011 WRX and STi. Both benefit from much better ride comfort but it is definitely not a soft ride. Also with that wicked tuned exhaust it tends to be quite loud.

[LFRENCH]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

LFrench, can you fill me in a bit more on what you know about the leaky valve seals?
This would be my 2nd AWD car so I am familiar with the idea of having to replace all of the tires. You are indeed correct that they would be 18' low pros. I have already sussed out the price of Nitto Motivos.

its not really that big of a deal, more one of the more common things in a decent vehicle. essentially the tube seals like to leak and you end up burning oil, leaking oil, fouling the plugs or all the above in any combo.

tube seals keep oil from entering the spark plug cavity, as the spark plug is recessed into the heads.

[Calgarian]

There is a gorgeous Maserati MC12 that has been modified by ZR Auto parked outside the Marriott Hotel right now, absolutely gorgeous car!

[Coldrsx]

The orange one?

Took this from my condo a while back.


(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/new%20misc/photo_zpsae67680a.jpg)

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

The orange one?

Took this from my condo a while back.


(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x164/coldrsx/new%20misc/photo_zpsae67680a.jpg)

That's the one! They're just on the way back from Supercar Weekend in Vancouver.

Usually, I prefer rare and exotic cars to remain stock, but in this case, the car was a good candidate. Not 100% sold on some of the mods, but really uber cool still! Best part is the owner is even cooler than the car.

[Calgarian]

Yeah that's definitely it. There was a heavily modified lotus Exige in front of the Grain Exchange building too, was wondering if there was a car show somewhere.

[Coldrsx]

^1/12 in the world apparently.

[Calgarian]

That should be worth a few mil then. Edo Competition (the people who actually tuned this thing) are responsible for the Ferrari FXX that ZR put in the ocean during Targa Nfld as well I believe.

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Yeah that's definitely it. There was a heavily modified lotus Exige in front of the Grain Exchange building too, was wondering if there was a car show somewhere.

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

^1/12 in the world apparently.

Originally Posted by Calgarian

That should be worth a few mil then. Edo Competition (the people who actually tuned this thing) are responsible for the Ferrari FXX that ZR put in the ocean during Targa Nfld as well I believe.

Nope, nope and nope.

The owner's of the Exige and MC12 are friends, but it's more a case of car-guys enjoying the great fall weather... no formal car show.

Maserati built a limited run of 12 MC12 Corsa, but this is a "regular" MC12, 1 of 50 world wide (and three in Canada).

True that Edo built it, but the value is way off for a number of reasons...