Automobiles

[sk_tle]

I think you guys took it badly while it wasn't meant to. It is not a critic but an observation. I don't mean it is better somewhere else.

Fact is since WWII cars have been specced in USA with more equipment as standard than in most other parts of the world. Some of it comes from obvious general wealth and strength of the local automotive industry, but I'm pretty sure another part comes from culture. Do you deny that in US culture the tendency is to rate life achievement and well being based on wealth ? In many countries the car has a long time been seen as a status symbol (this is less and less a reality but still). Given these parameters and the place cars takes in this country it is only obvious that this status symbol would be exacerbated in a place where money serves as the ultimate benchmark.

I'm not saying any us customer is stupid and will buy anything as long as it is bloated with unnecessary options. I'm just saying that in general cars will receive much larger equipment to meet the requirements of the majority.

And no I'm not afraid of you guys wanting to ride Tro Bro, I'm just surprised it appeals so much to you based on the comparable amount and diversity of dirt roads in both side of the pond. :-)

[sk_tle]

And yes, stereotypes have to apply when speaking of a national market context. It may hurt but it is true, in all countries, in all kind of goods.

In most european eastern countries, which also applies to part eastern germany, people have for a long time preferred sedans to hatchbacks. This is a trend that tend to disappear but part of it also came from a percieved higher status symbol of a sedan over an hatchback, which appealed to some cultures in poorer european countries.

[becomingblue]

After all it is the only culture I know where people actually congratulate someone about a purchase.

In your country when someone you know purchases something like a car, piece of furniture, smartphone, etc., what is the exchange? Is it noted or talked about at all?

[Too Tall]

In your country when someone you know purchases something like a car, piece of furniture, smartphone, etc., what is the exchange? Is it noted or talked about at all?

If you mean does my neighbor say something nice? Yes.

[j44ke]

When I am in Eastern Europe, I see luxury cars and station wagons. When I am in Switzerland, I see luxury cars. When I am in France, I see pieces of crap made in France with wheels attached. When I am in Italy, even the crappy cars (see Fiat Panda 4x4 below) are driven beautifully. When I am in England, everyone drives on the wrong side of the road.



There's at least one in every Italian village. It breaks but you can fix it and it's 4 wheel drive.

[alexstar]

Personally I agree with Thomas when he says that in the USA a fancy car is a marker of status. Just look at how many "cheap" Mercedes-Benz are being sold.

I want to buy a work-oriented pickup truck with a manual transmission and NO infotainment system, 2 doors instead of 4, and a long bed. This is not possible because American truck manufacturers don't make 2 door pickups any longer, and options-wise, are building trucks into luxury vehicles that cost up to $100,000. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Lionel]

In france I drive my S4 Avant. A station wagon with a great sunroof that I paid something like 1500 euros for and I like it. I must be quite american.

[Saab2000]

In france I drive my S4 Avant. A station wagon with a great sunroof that I paid something like 1500 euros for and I like it. I must be quite american.

Vive la France!

[Dave]

When I was little, I remember hearing first, then seeing my first Mustang. It was one of the early Shelby GT350’s. Since that day it has been my dream to own one. I know they might not resonate with many of you who love your turbo charged euro cars or the fast and furious 4 cylinders with a fart can exhaust, but I love loud American muscle.

So here is 662bhp worth of butt clenching fun...until the mods begin and we push it to 700-750rwhp. It also sounds fantastic.


59E6FBA4-D04F-4067-B223-662F7F4CA61A.jpg38EF2B2B-5512-4741-98CE-72E8EB423A3F.jpg

[Jason Musgrave]

Oh heck yeah!

[maunahaole]

That a sweet Panda, Jorn. It’s no Lada Niva.

[nahtnoj]

662hp is 662hp.

In fact, its 1hp more than the Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series:

https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/...81474979847785

[jerk]

When I was little, I remember hearing first, then seeing my first Mustang. It was one of the early Shelby GT350’s. Since that day it has been my dream to own one. I know they might not resonate with many of you who love your turbo charged euro cars or the fast and furious 4 cylinders with a fart can exhaust, but I love loud American muscle.

So here is 662bhp worth of butt clenching fun...until the mods begin and we push it to 700-750rwhp. It also sounds fantastic.


59E6FBA4-D04F-4067-B223-662F7F4CA61A.jpg38EF2B2B-5512-4741-98CE-72E8EB423A3F.jpg

i have a 2008 GT500. don't neglect the suspension on that thing. the car is really trash unless you address it and almost flawless if you do. you already have way more power than the stock set-up can handle. don't do any power add-ons until you take care of keeping the wheels in the right place! the stock TVS supercharger on that thing runs pretty cool compared to the one that came on my car- but if you like to get into the boost a new heat exchanger is a must too.

awesome car. nice color too! hit me up if you have any questions. i've put a ton of work into mine and know all the mistakes you don't have to make!

[j44ke]

In france I drive my S4 Avant. A station wagon with a great sunroof that I paid something like 1500 euros for and I like it. I must be quite american.

Having an Audi definitely qualifies you as an American these days. Plus you want a Harley with flames on the gas tank. The only problem is that you are about 85lbs underweight for your height, but that can be fixed with a steady diet of Red Lobster two for ones.

[j44ke]

i have a 2008 GT500. don't neglect the suspension on that thing. the car is really trash unless you address it and almost flawless if you do. you already have way more power than the stock set-up can handle. don't do any power add-ons until you take care of keeping the wheels in the right place! the stock TVS supercharger on that thing runs pretty cool compared to the one that came on my car- but if you like to get into the boost a new heat exchanger is a must too.

awesome car. nice color too! hit me up if you have any questions. i've put a ton of work into mine and know all the mistakes you don't have to make!

Is that why there are all those videos of these cars going backwards and around on YouTube? I mean it really does look like the back end goes faster than the front and the car just makes an immediate u-turn.

[Jason Musgrave]

i have a 2008 GT500. don't neglect the suspension on that thing. the car is really trash unless you address it and almost flawless if you do. you already have way more power than the stock set-up can handle. don't do any power add-ons until you take care of keeping the wheels in the right place! the stock TVS supercharger on that thing runs pretty cool compared to the one that came on my car- but if you like to get into the boost a new heat exchanger is a must too.

awesome car. nice color too! hit me up if you have any questions. i've put a ton of work into mine and know all the mistakes you don't have to make!

Craig - what's the hot setup wrt mustang suspension? Inquiring minds and all that...

[Dave]

i have a 2008 GT500. don't neglect the suspension on that thing. the car is really trash unless you address it and almost flawless if you do. you already have way more power than the stock set-up can handle. don't do any power add-ons until you take care of keeping the wheels in the right place! the stock TVS supercharger on that thing runs pretty cool compared to the one that came on my car- but if you like to get into the boost a new heat exchanger is a must too.

awesome car. nice color too! hit me up if you have any questions. i've put a ton of work into mine and know all the mistakes you don't have to make!

Ahhhh not to worry, I am working with BJ McCarty (Venomous Consulting) and we have a plan for the suspension. LCA by BMR to replace the crap stock ones. They don’t use poly bushings and withstand that delightful urge to have the rear end hop all over. I am doing AFCO dual pass heat exchanger, 170 degree t-stat to begin with. I already pitched the crap Goodyear’s for some MPSS and that made a world of difference. Keep it that way for the time being and when ready, do a 2.4” VMP pulley and 90mm idler, JLT CAI, and Ford Racing 65mm throttle body. With his tuning, looking at 700+rwhp.

BJ is THE tuner for these cars. Go to YouTube and look up BJ McCarty and his car “Christine”. He is making over 1000+rwhp on an 07’ GT500. Whipple, Kenne Bell, TVS, all send him prototypes of their blowers to test. He is a blast as he will talk you out of stupid shit you don’t need and keep your budget where you want it to be.

This one is my favorite.




Now with all that said, I would love to chit chat about your experiences. I lucked out on this one, as it is a 2014 and had 3k miles on it when I got it about 5 weeks ago. Giving the trans fluid change a go tomorrow and replacing it with mobile1 atf as the synthetic smooths out the shifting.

You have to admit that the whine of the SC is intoxicating. My teaching partner just got the new M2 (really sharp car) and he can’t keep up with me, but....then if we have to turn, he has me.

[jerk]

Craig - what's the hot setup wrt mustang suspension? Inquiring minds and all that...

Most of the stuff out there for these cars is overpriced junk that either takes strength and weight out to try to gain a few hundredths in the quarter mile- or band aids to try to prevent wheel hop.

I spent a lot of time and money on my 2008 Bullitt preparing it for road racing- and I came to rely on Sam Strano and what he learned in route to winning national championships in a s197 mustang in autocross- which is insane given what cars he has to race against.

In short- the best thing to do with these cars is wide 18" square wheels with awesome rubber. I've got custom offset 18x11" on all four corners and run Hoosiers. I've got XTA coilovers, camber plates, new lower control and upper control arms- and a Watts link in the thing as well as a giant front sway bar. The car handles better than anything I've ever driven.

I've also got Mickey Thompson ET street drag radials on the stock wheels just for driving it around- because the Michelin pilot sports that came on it made first through third gear pretty useless. These cars have dumb solid rear axles and lots of power- most people have no business driving them honestly. (You should see the discussions about replacing clutches and transmission fluid because people just don't know how to shift).

I'm really lucky to have a great shop at JBA here in SD and to be pals with Sam- the former dyno tuned for the bigger supercharger I put in- and the car is putting about 750hp to the wheels but it's safe and won't explode. As I mentioned the suspension is pretty dialed too. The thing is a fat pig though and the next step is fitting the interior and putting it on a massive diet.

[jerk]

Gutting not fitting the interior. Sorry phone.

[Dave]

Most of the stuff out there for these cars is overpriced junk that either takes strength and weight out to try to gain a few hundredths in the quarter mile- or band aids to try to prevent wheel hop.

I spent a lot of time and money on my 2008 Bullitt preparing it for road racing- and I came to rely on Sam Strano and what he learned in route to winning national championships in a s197 mustang in autocross- which is insane given what cars he has to race against.

In short- the best thing to do with these cars is wide 18" square wheels with awesome rubber. I've got custom offset 18x11" on all four corners and run Hoosiers. I've got XTA coilovers, camber plates, new lower control and upper control arms- and a Watts link in the thing as well as a giant front sway bar. The car handles better than anything I've ever driven.

I've also got Mickey Thompson ET street drag radials on the stock wheels just for driving it around- because the Michelin pilot sports that came on it made first through third gear pretty useless. These cars have dumb solid rear axles and lots of power- most people have no business driving them honestly. (You should see the discussions about replacing clutches and transmission fluid because people just don't know how to shift).

I'm really lucky to have a great shop at JBA here in SD and to be pals with Sam- the former dyno tuned for the bigger supercharger I put in- and the car is putting about 750hp to the wheels but it's safe and won't explode. As I mentioned the suspension is pretty dialed too. The thing is a fat pig though and the next step is fitting the interior and putting it on a massive diet.

Now that sounds like a blast!