Author Topic: Rice Burners.....heh. (Read 2220 times)

funkedup · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2001, 11:55:00 AM »

PS I think 4WD is the best, but it has weight and friction penalties. As for the WRX, it is ugly, but it is quick. If I can fit into one (I have headroom trouble in small cars), I'll give a full test report as soon as I can get the loan approved.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:07:00 PM »

Dowding, if indeed the WRX is 260 HP, then t's not even in the same classification as the 300 series,(We would measure BMW M3 in that HP class if indeed,)

Even the BMW 330iT, the all-wheel drive model (40% front, 60% rear) loses time because of penalites funked stated above.

[ 08-23-2001: Message edited by: Ripsnort ]

Ripsnort · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:22:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding:
Ripsnort - if Funked means the Subaru Impreza WRX, then it blows the stuffing out of your old-fashioned, stuck-in-the-mud, old man about town, long in the tooth BMW crap. It's also four wheel drive, not FWD.

The standard British edition (Turbo 2000) is four wheel drive BTW, mainly because it has 280 BHP under the bonnet (err...sorry I mean 'hood'). And that's 280 BHP on a very light car.

The WRX is available as a grey import from Japan over here (same as the US I'm guessing).

You'll also find that many European sports saloon racing series involve cars that are solely FWD.

BTW, most Japanese sports saloons are four wheel drive - mainly because of the brute force.

Nissan Skyline GTR anyone?

The american version of it is 227 HP, just compared it next to my 330 which is 225 HP. Numbers show that the 330 is a hair faster, at 6.3 seconds in 0-60, than the WRX...tell 'em to lose that AWD and they'd go a bit faster! Incidently, BMW 330 max speed is 155, I'll race ya long course!

[ 08-23-2001: Message edited by: Ripsnort ]

mrfish · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:29:00 PM »

what rip said.

the novelty period doesn't wear off with a bmw. it's been a few years here and i still look for reasons to go out.

funkedup · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:38:00 PM »

Actually the last 330 test I saw showed that the top speed was electronically limited to less than 130 mph. Hell my bone-stock 30 mpg Civic is faster than that.

WRX numbers are more like 5.6 sec 0-60, low 14 sec 1/4 miles, 130 mph top speed. Pretty similar to the BMW, but $15k less.

[ 08-23-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

Ripsnort · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:43:00 PM »

Well, I did not want to buy a BMW at first, I was trying to find a ride that matched the ride of it, so I tried :
Volvo's
Mercedes (too much $$!)
Honda's
Audi's
Lexus
Didn't try Subaru's, they look like very nice cars.

Test drove the 330 last...had I not driven the 330 and if the 330 had FWD, I think Honda TL type S might have been the car I bought, drove a TL (they didn't have the type S in yet) and was a great car. Just something about hitting 2nd gear and smoking the back tires of the car around the corner made it feel better, but then again, I'm reliving my teenage years (62' Ford Falcon with 302 Boss and Hearst in-line shifter, flat 13.0's at the track)

funkedup · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:44:00 PM »

Rip are you getting an auto or a stick?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:45:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by funkedup:
Actually the last 330 test I saw showed that the top speed was electronically limited to less than 130 mph. Hell my bone-stock 30 mpg Civic is faster than that.

[ 08-23-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

Dinan sells a software download to remove the governer set at 128 mph, which I have an appointment set up to have them do this (allows 155 mph).

Still looking for 0-60 numbers on the net, so far for WRX it only lists "Low 6" for numbers, still searching...yes, the price is significantly lower!

funkedup · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:47:00 PM »

PS I don't mean to compare the WRX to the BMW. They have a lot of differences beyond performance and price. Other than the performance I would say the BMW is a lot more car, and certainly much better looking.

I don't think the Honda Accords or any of the Acura sedans are that great. Honda engineers are best at small, light cars. I wish they would stick to that instead of trying to cater to America's thirst for luxobarges and Suburbanites' Useless Vehicles.

[ 08-23-2001: Message edited by: funkedup ]

funkedup · « **Reply #24 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:51:00 PM »

0-60 numbers from Road & Track, Car and Driver, Motor Trend were all under 6 sec. For some reason Subaru only claims 6.1 or something like that. I guess they have conservative engineers.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #25 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:52:00 PM »

What amazes me is how they managed to get 227 HP out of a 4 cyl. engine! Gawd!

Ripsnort · « **Reply #26 on:** August 23, 2001, 01:56:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by funkedup:
0-60 numbers from Road & Track, Car and Driver, Motor Trend were all under 6 sec. For some reason Subaru only claims 6.1 or something like that. I guess they have conservative engineers.

Ah, rgr that, BMW claims 6.3 for the 330, but C&D had it at 5.9...I noticed that Suburu is about 900 lbs lighter too! (Rip starts ripping out leather interior, Walrus hide dashboard, 12 speakers....)

funkedup · « **Reply #27 on:** August 23, 2001, 02:01:00 PM »

Number of cylinders doesn't mean all that much. But the displacement is only 2.0 liters and 227 hp from that is very good.

The main thing that makes that possible is the turbo and intercooler. It's got WEP basically.

Honda and Ferrari build some engines that get more than 100 hp / liter without a turbo, but they both use high revs and variable valve timing to pull that off.

Also remember that these are peak HP numbers. The power curve is usually pretty peaky. At low RPMs a larger displacement engine will probably have more power, even if it can't match the peak figure. So these engines need close gear ratios and a good driver to keep the engine in the optimal rpm range. Even better is a 6-speed transmission which is becoming more common.

The most amazing thing about these 100 hp/l engines is that they don't blow up. 100 hp/l has been possible in racing for 35 years or so, but those engines only had to last a few hours. The new engines can go 100,000 miles without a tune up. Scary!

funkedup · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2001, 02:02:00 PM »

Not sure about that weight thing. I thought they were both around 3200 lb?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #29 on:** August 23, 2001, 02:03:00 PM »

Answer me this: I have a 'direct drive 1:1 5th gear"...ie, no overdrive, but a direct 1:1 gear, what does that buy me?

MPG is 29 in city, 21 around town, reports from others is they avg. about 27 mpg overall.