Car Ideas That Should Make It

[Jetboy.]

How about a Volvo 240 with upgraded suspension and a mid-mounted flat-12 from a Ferrari Testarossa?

I did say 'Post any automotive ideas that would be cool (and produceable, as well)' That would be cool...but not possible.

Motor Trend suggested making the Cobalt SS even more powerful and AWD, ellegible for FIA Rally... 👍

 

[240Z]

It is possible.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Oh yeah... Make a Renault Espace F1

with a Previa or MPV!

 

[Joey D]

Why does it have to be labeled "Extreme" That is just another marketing ploy to use against Average Joes out there. Why can't you just call it the Cut the Crap out of the Car model?

Hey I rather like my Xtreme thank you very much. Just not the gas mileage which is Xtremely low.

 

[VIPFREAK]

: points at you:

 

[Jetboy.]

Oh yeah... Make a Renault Espace F1 with a Previa or MPV!

Actually, since Renault is on contract with Nissan, wouldn't it really be the Quest or whatever minivan they make?

 

[VIPFREAK]

Actually, since Renault is on contract with Nissan, wouldn't it really be the Quest or whatever minivan they make?

I don't care about Nissan, I like the Previa and MPV... They were both so underrated.

 

[Jetboy.]

When you count that blasted Oddesey, yes, they are. (I hate the popular crowd for the most part). Make it a Previa. Ultimate Sleeper.

 

[ND4SPD]

I know this is 'cars', but I think a rotary engined bike would be cool.

Already been done.

60s MZ (East German) motorcycle prototypes.
69? BSA: F&38;S in Starfire frame. Experimental.
70 BSA twin rotor in a BSA A75 Bandit frame. Experimental.
70 DKW Hercules 2000 motorcycle at Cologne m'cycle show. F&S KM914 engine.
72 Yamaha RZ201 660cc prototype shown Tokyo Show, modified Yanmar engine.
72-76 Van Veen OCR 1000 cycle, 110 bhp Comotor engine, 150 mph, water-cool.
72-77 Hercules/DKW W2000 cycle 27 bhp aircool F&S KC24 1-rotor apr 4000 units.
? Kawasaki motorcycle pre-production.
? Yamaha RZ660 2-rotor water-cooled motorcycle pre-production.
73 Suzuki RE5 shown at Tokyo Show, mass produced next year, imported 75.
75-76 Suzuki RE5 497cc single rotor motorcycle, 48 bhp, 110 mph, water cooled.
83 Norton RC588 Interpol II motorcycle 2-rotor 135 bhp, air-cooled.
87-88 Norton Classic 588cc 2-rotor civilian limited edition air-cooled 85bhp.
88 Norton Commander 588cc 2-rotor police water-cooled 85bhp.
89 Norton Commander civilian water-cooled.
89 Norton P55 supersports roadster water-cooled scheduled.
80s Norton F1 racing bike.
91 Roton racing motorcyle (Australia). Brian Crighton.

Also many rotary engined lawnmowers, airplanes and snowmobiles.

 

[Emohawk]

You forgot VAZ, which was the only one I did know about.

 

[eliseracer]

How about a Volvo 240 with upgraded suspension and a mid-mounted flat-12 from a Ferrari Testarossa?

The flying brick. Really flies though. Gotta love the 240... Nicest V-V ever.

I would love to see something that was included on the original Bugatti Veyron design. Those twin intakes that pull around from the inside of the C-pillar areas and up ontop of the roof. When I was a kid I always drew those in, and when I saw the 16/4 design whatever amount of years ago, I was ready to sue the bastards for stealing my ideas.

And to whoever is familiar with modern Formula 1 car exhausts, I'd love to see a similar exhaust tip location on a real road-car. Most likely illegal and too dirty to have up there though.

Like This.

 

[miata13B]

Ah well, I wouldn't call them like this... you know this was just to get the attention of you ... as you can see it worked
So..honestly... the cars are getting fatter and fatter, from 4 zone air condition over Navi, TV, electric- air condition- warm-your-back-function-8airback seat to 100 punds of material to get the sound in the car down to 0 decibel.... Ok some want this, but I don't .... I drive an Sti, it is no 2 seater and it has 4WD and ok I admit I don't want to die in an accident because they reduced weight at the wrong points,... so I have about 1500 Kg and 310 hp... that is fine for me, but in Japan you get the spec C with 1300 kg I think... so some car manufactures could do something about it... and I don't mean the M3 CSL because while it is a perfect sports car indeed, it costs by far too much, give me a stock M3 : some little mods and we have additional 40 hp for maybe 4000 $ and then I cut out the ballast... et voila we have similar performace for 10% costs...

4wd on a STI . So how does it treat you when you have to lock your front hubs to use it? Also does it actually reverse with all 4 wheels or does it do it with two wheels?

I do believe the STI is an AWD or All-Wheel Drive car, not a 4WD Truck hopped up on 36 inch Swampers with a 6 inch lift on the suspension and a 6 inch lift on the body that is constantly covered with new layers of mud. Check that Viscous Clutch there : )

Why stick to the new generation? Personally give me less then half of what you paid for the STI which was probably what somewhere near $26,000 for a STI that has good mileage on it for being a used model. Properly broken in of course. : ) so for say $12,000 I could put together A nice BMW that was produced for the most part like a stripped down model as compared to today's generation of vehicles. give me a 1988 BMW M3 which can be picked up nicely for say $8,000 give or take. It depends on how much I talk down the owner. Then with a trusted 4 Grand I could throw a 325i inline six into it. Giving the car the extra torque minus a little top end. The car is already perfectly balanced for racing. Suspension including some adjustable dampers, Sway Bar upgrades, Urthane Bushings including engine mounts and for all parts connected to support the sprung weight of the car.

Now this is just the path I would go over the fact it is an all-purpose stripped model of a car dropping weight to one of the lightest body style designed to operate in the 200whp class. Now the STI will definately take the car in the straights. I will not deny that from the STI, but what I do deny is the possible handling in the corners. The M3 is quite nimble in the corners and with only an extra 75lbs added to the front of the car, you can reposition the battery into the trunk quite easily moved 10lbs. And a modern carbon fiber hood replacing the current hood would remove about 15lbs. from the front getting the match to a perfect 50/50 a little closer. Add a little Caster from the stock settings which are probably hanging around 7 degrees. maybe up to 8 degrees will get that car to react fast and accurately with an added bonus of tipping the wheel into the surafce on the weighted down side give it some negative camber. Now, small track I believe I could take the STI, long straights I think you have me.

Motor Trend suggested making the Cobalt SS even more powerful and AWD, ellegible for FIA Rally... 👍

I think the after market will do a good job in supplying the necessary parts. no problem

Hey I rather like my Xtreme thank you very much. Just not the gas mileage which is Xtremely low.

What does that Xtreme got for power and tranny? Have you thought about dropping a Tremec T-56 into it at all? I just can't stand the "Extreme" Trend.

 

[Max_DC]

4wd on a STI . So how does it treat you when you have to lock your front hubs to use it? Also does it actually reverse with all 4 wheels or does it do it with two wheels?

I do believe the STI is an AWD or All-Wheel Drive car, not a 4WD Truck hopped up on 36 inch Swampers with a 6 inch lift on the suspension and a 6 inch lift on the body that is constantly covered with new layers of mud. Check that Viscous Clutch there : )

Well, to be honest I never thought that there was a difference since ALL wheels I have are 4.... but if you say so...

Why stick to the new generation? Personally give me less then half of what you paid for the STI which was probably what somewhere near $26,000 for a STI that has good mileage on it for being a used model. Properly broken in of course. : ) so for say $12,000 I could put together A nice BMW that was produced for the most part like a stripped down model as compared to today's generation of vehicles. give me a 1988 BMW M3 which can be picked up nicely for say $8,000 give or take. It depends on how much I talk down the owner. Then with a trusted 4 Grand I could throw a 325i inline six into it. Giving the car the extra torque minus a little top end. The car is already perfectly balanced for racing. Suspension including some adjustable dampers, Sway Bar upgrades, Urthane Bushings including engine mounts and for all parts connected to support the sprung weight of the car.

Now this is just the path I would go over the fact it is an all-purpose stripped model of a car dropping weight to one of the lightest body style designed to operate in the 200whp class. Now the STI will definately take the car in the straights. I will not deny that from the STI, but what I do deny is the possible handling in the corners. The M3 is quite nimble in the corners and with only an extra 75lbs added to the front of the car, you can reposition the battery into the trunk quite easily moved 10lbs. And a modern carbon fiber hood replacing the current hood would remove about 15lbs. from the front getting the match to a perfect 50/50 a little closer. Add a little Caster from the stock settings which are probably hanging around 7 degrees. maybe up to 8 degrees will get that car to react fast and accurately with an added bonus of tipping the wheel into the surafce on the weighted down side give it some negative camber. Now, small track I believe I could take the STI, long straights I think you have me.

I bought it new for 35000 EUR ( 44000 $ ) which is the same you pay here for complete empty BMW 3.30... so to come back to your point, of course you can buy old cars and tune them for little money and you get a fast an light car but that was not the subject...
Honestly I don't think that an old M3 has a chance anywhere against my STi (310 hp as I said before ) but if it has then certainly not in corners ! Unless you put on slicks and a wing you will never outperform AWD, 3 LSD, sports suspension and a 400 Nm torque rallye car with a FR that has 2/3 of the power even if its is 300 kg lighter... You will have a hard time getting your drifting rear end back on the street
at a time my tires do not even make a sound... Of course you saved 30000 $ or so
but you can never compare new cars and old cars. Talking about new cars the Type R's, STi's, EVO's and 350 Z's are always way cheaper than new European cars with a similar performance....

 

[1X83Z]

You mean the 100 horsepower, part-time 4WD that had its debut in 1987. Then only the 4 door models came with the AWD system I believe. . . my memory is not fully there today.

Only sedans indeed - unfortunately for all of us rare car lovers.

What about a Dodge Spirit R/T ? I would love one of those buggers if we are going to go into small sedans and coupes of the late 80's, early 90's : )

There's one a few hundred miles from me for $11000. I was remotely interested until I found out the dealer was using it as his personal car. I'd pay $6 for one in nice condition though - on my 'must own' list.

 

[Sniffs]

regarding that Camry: i didn't actually work on the thing. someone else had done a hack and slash on the engine before I got the car, and rather sloppily applied the blue goo. not only on the cam gashet area, but un the head gasket area, too. there were drips of the stuff down the side of the engine block!
the only thing I replaced myself was a 9 dollar relay. I only recently had gotten a tool kit, and my partner at the time did a rebuild on the rear brakes and replaced the tank on a 90 Lumina. right now, the taurus I'm running is sitting, because it needs a damn windsheild

when it comes to cars, I'd rather see the return of the Hatch to the states on an american label (other than ford). the minivan, born in america, has been killed by Japan, Inc. btw, thanks for the RL pics of the Espace F1

 

[daggoth]

I would totally have to disagree with you there bud. 4wd in cars would not only ruin your gas mileage, but you would also have to deal with locking hubs whether they are manual or automatic, plus you will have to deal with two differentials with different gearing which in turn would make you have to add on a interaxle differential to compensate for the fact your gearing in the front is probably a higher ratio then your rear end. Plus to add to it, certain types of 4wd will not allow 4wd to be active when you reverse. AWD now that is the way to go if anything, it is lighterweight by at least 100 to 150lbs., it is always constant, no use for locking hubs or changing between a high and low gear, plus the Differentails' final drive gear ratios match up. : )

whoops! Sorry, I was thinking on AWD terms. It's a common mistake that I make since where I live, no one says Awd, it's always 4wd wether it's constant or not, and/or if the locking hubs are manual or electric.

EDIT: *it's always 4wd that we say, being Awd or not

 

[daggoth]

Oh yeah... Make a Renault Espace F1

with a Previa or MPV!

It would be easy with the Previa siice it's already an MR car!

Seriously though, my dad had on of those and I loved it! Very smooth engine and extremely comfortable ride.

Although I'm a Toyota fan I have to agree that many toyotas aren't particularly good-looking, but the new Previa is quite nice imho.

 

[miata13B]

I bought it new for 35000 EUR ( 44000 $ ) which is the same you pay here for complete empty BMW 3.30... so to come back to your point, of course you can buy old cars and tune them for little money and you get a fast an light car but that was not the subject...
Honestly I don't think that an old M3 has a chance anywhere against my STi (310 hp as I said before ) but if it has then certainly not in corners ! Unless you put on slicks and a wing you will never outperform AWD, 3 LSD, sports suspension and a 400 Nm torque rallye car with a FR that has 2/3 of the power even if its is 300 kg lighter... You will have a hard time getting your drifting rear end back on the street
at a time my tires do not even make a sound... Of course you saved 30000 $ or so
but you can never compare new cars and old cars. Talking about new cars the Type R's, STi's, EVO's and 350 Z's are always way cheaper than new European cars with a similar performance....

I still don't think you would havea chance on the corners. First and foremost you are dealing with a AWD car which is prone to understeer on corners. Yeah you might get the whole shot if you point the car and hit the throttle, but carrying speed through a corner you would have to let go of the throttle an then manipulate it to a neutral speed in order to maintain your line driving. That is also great that you have 310bhp, guess what, Horsepower is what sells the cars on monday that raced on Sunday. Torque is what wins the race and the application of it too. A Lotus Elise is a prime example. That car is ridicolusly light and running a little less then 50% of your STI power. I bet on a track with a good amountr of turns that Elise will blow your 310 bhp car out of the water. Now mind you, I don't think I would have too much worries from letting my rear end in the BMW letting loose on me. I do have a little experience racing cars under my belt. Now if you are talking about a little slip angle in my turns, then yes I will push the limit about 4 to 6% of traction provided. It is in consistency that wins the race, not brute force or drivetrain or weight transfer. . . They all are invovled in the equation, but the driver plays the most important part. By the way, those 3 LSDs are just that much more that can go wrong with the car. What are you running 2 Hellical cut Diffs and a Viscous Clutch in that car? In all honesty it does help you out but only in certain conditions and speeds. In Slowly speed corners, you will find yourself drifting out of the Line when accelerating with those LSDs. Do you know how and why a LSD is worked and used? You also have those Beautiful Brakes on your car, which have great gripping potential to get the inside advantage in the turn, but one split second can mean the difference of carrying your momentum into the corner.

The point I am putting across here is that the STI is not a God car by far. It is raved about just like every decade has a car to glamourize. I do like the car, but there are cars out there that you would never expect that can dethrone your horsepower ego. You see the power aspect, but what actually moves the car? How does it operate? How many speeds is your Tranny? What Gear ratios are you running through those gears? You Final Drive Gear Ratio which should be the same on the front and rear Differential too?

 

[VIPFREAK]

Although I'm a Toyota fan I have to agree that many toyotas aren't particularly good-looking, but the new Previa is quite nice imho.

If it's like below then no I don't like it because it looks too much like the old oddessy? 👎

 

[daggoth]

If it's like below then no I don't like it because it looks too much like the old oddessy? 👎

Yep, that is the one I'm speaking! lol I guess no car pleases everyone.

 

[1X83Z]

VIPFREAK, don't you live in the US? The picture you posted is not the US Previa.

 

[Max_DC]

I still don't think you would havea chance on the corners. First and foremost you are dealing with a AWD car which is prone to understeer on corners. Yeah you might get the whole shot if you point the car and hit the throttle, but carrying speed through a corner you would have to let go of the throttle an then manipulate it to a neutral speed in order to maintain your line driving. That is also great that you have 310bhp, guess what, Horsepower is what sells the cars on monday that raced on Sunday. Torque is what wins the race and the application of it too. A Lotus Elise is a prime example. That car is ridicolusly light and running a little less then 50% of your STI power. I bet on a track with a good amountr of turns that Elise will blow your 310 bhp car out of the water. Now mind you, I don't think I would have too much worries from letting my rear end in the BMW letting loose on me. I do have a little experience racing cars under my belt. Now if you are talking about a little slip angle in my turns, then yes I will push the limit about 4 to 6% of traction provided. It is in consistency that wins the race, not brute force or drivetrain or weight transfer. . . They all are invovled in the equation, but the driver plays the most important part. By the way, those 3 LSDs are just that much more that can go wrong with the car. What are you running 2 Hellical cut Diffs and a Viscous Clutch in that car? In all honesty it does help you out but only in certain conditions and speeds. In Slowly speed corners, you will find yourself drifting out of the Line when accelerating with those LSDs. Do you know how and why a LSD is worked and used? You also have those Beautiful Brakes on your car, which have great gripping potential to get the inside advantage in the turn, but one split second can mean the difference of carrying your momentum into the corner.

The point I am putting across here is that the STI is not a God car by far. It is raved about just like every decade has a car to glamourize. I do like the car, but there are cars out there that you would never expect that can dethrone your horsepower ego. You see the power aspect, but what actually moves the car? How does it operate? How many speeds is your Tranny? What Gear ratios are you running through those gears? You Final Drive Gear Ratio which should be the same on the front and rear Differential too?

1. Understeer : yeah basically neutral tendency, but if you drive to towards the corner at high speed, you just have to hit either the brake or the clutch hard to get some oversteer...
2. We are talking about a 1988 M3 right ? Not even 200 hp and 170 ft/lbs. torque at 1200 kg, on 205/16 tires ... No mods and you think that this old car can compete just like this ? I will search more info as soon as I have time, but so far : No I don't think so...
Will post more later....

 

[VIPFREAK]

VIPFREAK, don't you live in the US? The picture you posted is not the US Previa.

yeah... they killed it and gave us that bastard of a car the Sienna instead.

 

[TheCracker]

We are talking about a 1988 M3 right ? Not even 200 hp and 170 ft/lbs. torque at 1200 kg, on 205/16 tires ... No mods and you think that this old car can compete just like this ? I will search more info as soon as I have time, but so far : No I don't think so...
.

You've got to remember that the first M3 was basically a homologation special - a race car modified for the road, with all the Imprezas rally breeding its still a road car with some rally know-how. The M3 is generally thought as been one of the finest handling cars ever, they were built and set-up for the track where as the Impreza is designed to work best on the open road. What the M3 loses on the straights it would catch up in the corners. What would the power to weight ratios be for both cars? - i bet they are much closer than the 310-200hp figures look. Remember on track power to weight rules.

You'd have to put some good contemporay rubber on the M3 however, tyre technology has moved on so much since the late 80's.

 

[miata13B]

2. We are talking about a 1988 M3 right ? Not even 200 hp and 170 ft/lbs. torque at 1200 kg, on 205/16 tires ... No mods and you think that this old car can compete just like this ? I will search more info as soon as I have time, but so far : No I don't think so...
Will post more later....

The M3 was just being used as an example. There is a host of older cars that I would pick over the M3 but it was the first thing that came to mind. Bang for Buck I would rather use an older car and build it up then ruin a new car warranty with modding it to tell the truth. But this discussion did also start with having a car fully stripped down to nothing. Now if you want to go into that, I would take a Evolution 8 RS. Doesn't that fit the credential that you were going for? It will take a STI on the corners all day long. plus mate it with a six speed it would only be taken on long straights as the STI would pull on it.

With the M3, you apperantly don't think I would put that car on a diet do you? You can easily shave off another 150 to 200kg off of that M3. The Tires would definately be changed out. I might stick with some 16s but a little bit wider for the power the car can lay down. I would think at 240 to 260 hp at the wheels, not the crank would be enough to handle that STI. The point I was getting across with the car is that Budget wise and Performance wise it would be better off going with an older car versus handing out the dough for the All-Powerful STI. . .

You'd have to put some good contemporay rubber on the M3 however, tyre technology has moved on so much since the late 80's.

I was thinking about a set of Hoosiers. . . You know the money that I saved from not purchasing a new car definately would allow me to do that : )

 

[Sniffs]

heh heh...now I can picture a Caravan R/T

 

[1X83Z]

yeah... they killed it and gave us that bastard of a car the Sienna instead.

So you completely dismissed the overseas Previa because it looks like the Honda Odyssey, even though a) you've never seen one, b) it was never sold in the same market as the Honda Odyssey except perhaps in Japan, c) it debuted around the same time as the Odyssey, and d) you have no idea of its merits or demerits.

Man - that's bad. How old are you?

 

[Max_DC]

You've got to remember that the first M3 was basically a homologation special - a race car modified for the road, with all the Imprezas rally breeding its still a road car with some rally know-how. The M3 is generally thought as been one of the finest handling cars ever, they were built and set-up for the track where as the Impreza is designed to work best on the open road. What the M3 loses on the straights it would catch up in the corners. What would the power to weight ratios be for both cars? - i bet they are much closer than the 310-200hp figures look. Remember on track power to weight rules.

You'd have to put some good contemporay rubber on the M3 however, tyre technology has moved on so much since the late 80's.

The M3 was just being used as an example. There is a host of older cars that I would pick over the M3 but it was the first thing that came to mind. Bang for Buck I would rather use an older car and build it up then ruin a new car warranty with modding it to tell the truth. But this discussion did also start with having a car fully stripped down to nothing. Now if you want to go into that, I would take a Evolution 8 RS. Doesn't that fit the credential that you were going for? It will take a STI on the corners all day long. plus mate it with a six speed it would only be taken on long straights as the STI would pull on it.

With the M3, you apperantly don't think I would put that car on a diet do you? You can easily shave off another 150 to 200kg off of that M3. The Tires would definately be changed out. I might stick with some 16s but a little bit wider for the power the car can lay down. I would think at 240 to 260 hp at the wheels, not the crank would be enough to handle that STI. The point I was getting across with the car is that Budget wise and Performance wise it would be better off going with an older car versus handing out the dough for the All-Powerful STI. . .


I was thinking about a set of Hoosiers. . . You know the money that I saved from not purchasing a new car definately would allow me to do that : )

M3 6 kg / PS, my Sti 4,8 kg / PS ....

Well, my car also has a lot of rally technology, but more important is that technology made cars a lot faster since 1988.... ok cars also have gained more weight since then, nevertheless a stock M3 won't have a lot of chances, the Impreza is a cornering machine.... it's no race car, but it will definatly blow a 200 hp 1200 kg FR car from the 80's... If you reduce the weight ( -200 kg ) + slicks and a wing... yeah then it will / could win against the STi while still being cheaper... I know that.... but not stock, that's all I wanted to say....
Evo 8 RS - Impreza Wrx Sti spec C, same performance...
Afterall, of course old tuned cars always win the moneyforperformance game, and often they are also more fascinating (sound, pure driving experience )...
To come back to topic : I said that I want the car manufacturers to release low weight editions and I want them to be cheap ( unlike the M3 Csl for example )... And I said that my car is not the worst out there in terms of weight : It is no lightweight car with its 1500 kg, not at all, but as I said it is a middle class limousine with AWD for that it is ok, but I would of course prefer the Spec C, although not having an air condition is hard... I mean if you have to drive your car on a daily basis, a AC is a must have....

 

[skicrush]

So you want a Neon with Smart car running gear and the reliability of a Toyota GT-One?

Cracker, you are the FUNNIEST!!

I think they ought to supercharge or turbo the new corvette. Take the new Z06--add forced induction and a performance cam (this might cost a few bucks more), raise the redline to 8000 like its capable of (yeah, that's a 2 valve, overhead cam), adding 150-300 horses to the 500 it has NA, and say it raises the weight to 3200 or 3300 pounds, replace the couple parts that aren't carbon fiber (the hood, rear fenders--this would cost a little more, too), lengthen the gear ratios...we'd be talking a top speed of 220+. All for less than $100,000. And with pretty easy factory mods, that would require almost nothing of capital investment (ie, they would have to sell a bunch to break even. They'd use the same production lines as the normal Z06). With the success of the corvette racing team, they be able to sell a bunch of them easy, and it would be cheaper than paying Callaway or Lingenfelter to do it. They'd quit selling Ford GTs to anybody except the people that want one for nostalgic purposes. That would be pretty embarassig to Ferrari (Enzo Killer) and Porsche (Carrera GT Killer) too! All for less than 1/3 to 1/5 what those cars cost. Blue Devil, anyone?

 

[Jetboy.]

Hmmmmm...... The Blue Devil Concept in the Rumor Mill since last April.....

725 Horses.


Edit: Next idea.

Nothing I hate worse than false advertising. Be it stuffing (you know what I mean ), fake power figures, non-functional hood scoops, a bag of chips that appears to be full, but is half air, ect.

But, there is a difference between false advertising and totally snookering your opposition. Take the Honda del sol. It looks like a MR platform, but is a bloomin' FF. I believe this is a load of dross. Lo and behold, lets take the drivetrain from a MR2 (sorry to mix makes) and really make a car. The del sol's compact nature might make it aprehensive on the high banks, but it could seriously make a decent club car.