Acura Integra

time for another post, here it is,

The Acura Integra

(credit: commons.wikimedia.org)

Where to start? It was one of those barely sports cars made in Japan in the '90s. What's worse than its fake sporting credentials (the biggest engine was a 1.8 liter) is that the Integra was a Honda Civic underneath.

There is a slight issue with the styling.  The front fascia looks like one of those hideous multi-eyed bugs. Also, the body lines of the fenders don't really line up with the the side of the car. So it looks like it has fender flares at the front, but not at the back.

The engines weren't great, either. The most powerful version, the Type R made 195 horsepower. The (equally hideous) Toyota Celica of the same time period had a 2.0 liter Turbo that made 251 horsepower, for $4,000 more than the Acura. $4,000 is a lot of money, but the Celica Turbo All-Trac had AWD, a turbocharger, and was a rally homologation car. With the Acura, you get an Acura badge.

So, the Acura. Slow, not a sports car, and hideous!

Do you have any thoughts about cars/cats? What drives you crazy? One post a week so stay tuned!

Chevrolet Spark

'bout time for another post, here it is,

The Chevrolet Spark

(credit: caranddriver.com)

The people that buy this car obviously aren't interested in 0-60 times, but I'm pretty sure the salesmen at the dealership don't advertise the appalling 12 seconds that it takes to get the car to 60. Or the fact that the Spark makes 98 horsepower.

Even though it is the size of a toaster, the Spark has 10 airbags! At that point, there must be airbags for your eyelashes and toenails!

The Spark also comes in a electric version, too. The electric version might be economical with gas mileage, but the drivetrain needs to be replaced every six or seven years, if driven normally (letting the battery go flat, using fast charging stations). On a related note, in the battery there is nickel, and nickel mining is a filthy operation that causes a lot of acid rain. Also in the battery, there is deadly deadly cadmium which is famous for being in old yellow paint, and poisoning artists. In the electric motor, there is neodymium. Neodymium is very energy consuming to extract.

The rear brakes are drum brakes! This is 2017, and there is a car with brakes from the 30's! What's worse is that because there is no asbestos in the rear brakes, they won't work as well as the drum brakes from yesteryear.

It gets 39 MPG. That isn't really shocking considering that the engine is a 1.4 four-cylinder, attached to a car that weighs about two pounds. What's worse is that you can't capitalize on this because of the nine gallon fuel tank. Sure, it gives you a good range of 358 miles, but if it had a normal capacity fuel tank, it could go 716 miles on one tank!

The spark also comes with a CVT. This makes it sound like they're filming an episode of Bonanza! under the hood (i.e. lots of MOOOoooooOOOooooooooo). This is because instead of gears, there is a belt being moved around on two cones using the same principle of  shifters moving a bicycle chain around.

So, the Spark. Slow, electric, bad brakes, and doesn't make good use of its fuel sipping ways.

Do you have any thoughts about cars/cats? What drives you crazy? One post a week so stay tuned!

Geo Metro

'bout time for another post, here it is,

The Geo Metro

(credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/)

It looks like some car (or some toaster). It must be the dullest and boringest car ever. Brand new, they were $6,750. That's fabulous for a new car, but it might have been better to just get a decent condition used car.

A used car would be faster, too. The base Metro has a one liter three cylinder engine. The motorcycle engine under the hood makes a mind-boggling fifty-five horsepower! From what I can deduce, the top speed is between sixty-ish and the high side of ninety MPH.

The transmissions aren't great, either. There is a five speed standard shift, which is normal enough, but there is also a three speed automatic. In the '60s three speed autos were outdated!

So, the metro. REALLY REALLY slow, a toaster, and boring.

Do you have any thoughts about cars/cats? What drives you crazy? One post a week so stay tuned!

Pace Car Lap

I went for a few laps in a pace car around the New Hampshire Motor Speedway!!
Here is a video:

East Coast Camaro All Vehicles Show

I went to the All Vehicle Show in Andover, Mass. and took some pictures!

Engine of a 2017 SS Camaro

'68 GT500 CobraJet

'13 Boss 302 Mustang

Drag Modified Chevelle

Drag Modified Ford Maverick Engine

'65 Tempest

'58 Impala

'66 Impala SS Convertible

'57 Bel Air

First Generation Camaro SS!

VW Golf

'bout time for another post, here it is,

The VW Golf


(credit: autoblog.com)

Right, it's basically a new VW Rabbit. This should mean that the clutch linkage should break a lot, and that when people attempt to get in it, the door handles come off.

It isn't cheap, either. $19,895 gets you the base model. For just a little more than $20,000, you could get a Dodge Dart GT. The Dart GT also has 14 more horsepower. But not only is the Dart better value for money, but it also has character. The VW is boring. It doesn't have the good looks or sportyness of something like a Ford Focus.

The GTi version isn't much more interesting either, as the most powerful trim level pumps out just 220 brake horsepower. The equivalent Ford Focus costs $3,000 less, and has thirty-two more horses under the hood. Also the Ford can come with stripes, therefore it is both faster and better than similar cars that don't come with stripes (i.e. The Volkswagen Golf).

So, the VW Golf. Expensive, boring, and slow.

Do you have any thoughts about cars/cats? What drives you crazy? One post a week so stay tuned!

The Miata!

'bout time for another post, here it is,

The Mazda Miata

(credit: commons.wikimedia.org)

I'm pretty sure the thought process before buying a Miata goes something like this: "I want a convertible two-seater exotic car... but I can't afford a Ferrari 488... so I'm going to get a car that is both slower and more expensive than a 2014 V6 Droptop Mustang." Sure, if you get a cheap used car, it might be constantly developing a problem, but so will the Aventador Spyder that you can't afford.

I don't think the Mazda is really a sports car. It makes 155 horsepower... the same as an '07 Camry.  The MX-5 also tops out at 141, and that's the two liter version! Not really fast enough,  considering that a Charger V6 does 140 and costs $1,000 less than the top spec Miata.

The styling is also a bit iffy. The front and back look normal, but in the middle, the Miata looks squashed down; like a couch when someone is sitting on it!

So, the Miata. Slow, bad looking, and generally not great.

Do you have any thoughts about cars/cats? What drives you crazy? One post a week so stay tuned!