File this one under "What took you so long?" Apparently a Japanese drifter has already snagged one of the brand new Toyota GT86 sport coupes (to be sold in the US as the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ). Out came the standard 2.0L boxer four and in its place now sits the DOHC 5.0L V8 from the Lexus IS-F. In stock trim this engine is good for 416 HP and, as you can see, this much extra horsepower makes the Toyota quite tail-happy. Which is kind of what you want if you're going drifting.
The Youtube video linked above is a shakedown run of the new car, complete with new wheels and a widebody kit. Of note is the engine fitment--still low and back in the engine bay. The stock hood closes properly. The engine looks like it belongs in there.
I wonder how long it'll take before someone Stateside does the same thing with a Chevy LS motor or a new Ford 5.0. Both the 6.2L LS3 and the Ford 5.0 make more power than the IS' motor, and will weigh about the same (the LS might be lighter due to it being an OHV engine as opposed to the other two DOHC units).
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The Ultimate Sleeper
It is said that when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
But if you have a big enough hammer, your problems tend to vanish quickly.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, that hammer.
What is currently bombarding your eyeballs with testosterone and awesomeness is the brand spanking new Shelby Cobra 1000, freshly released for the 25th Anniversary of Carroll Shelby's tuning company.
"Looks like a Shelby GT500 with some shiny bits", you're probably saying to yourself, "What's so special about this hammer?"
Well, the street version of this monster is good for....are you ready?
950 Horsepower.
I will say it again for those of you who are on drugs.
950 HORSEPOWER.
Now, if you are like my wife and have no idea what that means in relation to anything else, I'll lay it out for you.
The 2012 Shelby Cobra GT500, apon which this car is based, is good for 550 horsepower. That means that this is 400 horsepower more powerful (if you want, you could also say it is as powerful as a GT500 and a pair of VW GTIs put together).
From another point of view, compared to the Bugatti Veyron, which is right now the 3rd fastest car in the world, the Shelby Cobra 1000 has 51 fewer horses.
And it's not going to be just fast in a straight line, either. Shelby and his team also upgraded the suspension. (Read about it here in Motor Trend).
"But Iron!", you say, "I am in need of more horsepower, and I'm also quite possibly deranged. I need a track car as bonkers as I am! Whatever am I to do?"
Well, cease wringing your hands in despair, dear reader, because they are coming out with a track only version of the Shelby 1000, which is good for 1100 horsepower (in other words, it's as strong as the 1000 plus my family Mazda5).
Now, here's the downside: Shelby and Co. are only making 100 of both models. Combined.
And there's also the price. Expect to pay upwards of $200,000.
Then again, the Veyron costs $300,000 more, and nobody in their right mind is going to want to get into a drag race with you because they KNOW they can't win.
With this, you won't have that worry.
But if you have a big enough hammer, your problems tend to vanish quickly.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you, that hammer.
What is currently bombarding your eyeballs with testosterone and awesomeness is the brand spanking new Shelby Cobra 1000, freshly released for the 25th Anniversary of Carroll Shelby's tuning company.
"Looks like a Shelby GT500 with some shiny bits", you're probably saying to yourself, "What's so special about this hammer?"
Well, the street version of this monster is good for....are you ready?
950 Horsepower.
I will say it again for those of you who are on drugs.
950 HORSEPOWER.
Now, if you are like my wife and have no idea what that means in relation to anything else, I'll lay it out for you.
The 2012 Shelby Cobra GT500, apon which this car is based, is good for 550 horsepower. That means that this is 400 horsepower more powerful (if you want, you could also say it is as powerful as a GT500 and a pair of VW GTIs put together).
From another point of view, compared to the Bugatti Veyron, which is right now the 3rd fastest car in the world, the Shelby Cobra 1000 has 51 fewer horses.
And it's not going to be just fast in a straight line, either. Shelby and his team also upgraded the suspension. (Read about it here in Motor Trend).
"But Iron!", you say, "I am in need of more horsepower, and I'm also quite possibly deranged. I need a track car as bonkers as I am! Whatever am I to do?"
Well, cease wringing your hands in despair, dear reader, because they are coming out with a track only version of the Shelby 1000, which is good for 1100 horsepower (in other words, it's as strong as the 1000 plus my family Mazda5).
Now, here's the downside: Shelby and Co. are only making 100 of both models. Combined.
And there's also the price. Expect to pay upwards of $200,000.
Then again, the Veyron costs $300,000 more, and nobody in their right mind is going to want to get into a drag race with you because they KNOW they can't win.
With this, you won't have that worry.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Natural Habitat
So, I've been doing some introspective thinking about the state of the automotive union today; thinking about what the manufacturers are making and what's likely to be the future.
The answer is that as things look right now, the future of accessible automotive performance in America is likely to mirror what the current state of accessible automotive performance is in Europe - hot hatches.
You heard it here first; I, Tsume, cede that if you want to get your performance kicks in the future it's very likely to be manning the tiller of a revvy little overhead cam hatchback.
I think it's crap. This is why.
Look at anyone who's trying to sell pocket-rocket type cars today; the words they use are ideas like "nimble" and "eager" and "effervescent". Basically, a hot hatch lives for a place like this:
See that? You don't need a 400 hp V8 to really enjoy that road at all, do you. A Chrysler 300 SRT-8 would look like a bison in wellies compared to the lithe ballerina a WRX or a Focus RS presents carving down that ribbon of asphalt.
Now, check this out:
This is where I live. In fact, between the Rockies and the Appalachian mountains, this is how almost all the roads look. This is the sort of place where a guy's got to drive for an hour at 80 mph to get to the nearest building more than three stories tall. All of a sudden those cheerful advertising words like take on a different meaning - what was nimble, eager and effervescent on the European-style b-roads is darty, fussy and droning when exposed to the long-haul freeways of middle America.
What you want here is a big, loafy V8, muttering along quietly at cruise and then kicking down with explosive torque to pass the poor sod who's trying to scoop his fillings off the floor of his Fiesta because Top Gear told him it was a good car.
So what's the point?
There's different things for different habitats - people who live in flyover country and want a performance car shouldn't have to just accept that they'll be forced into buying something that makes no sense for driving where they live. Just as American cars make no sense in Europe, out here European cars are about as sensible as a pet squid.
We need our big, cheap V8 touring cars. They're what makes sense out here.
The answer is that as things look right now, the future of accessible automotive performance in America is likely to mirror what the current state of accessible automotive performance is in Europe - hot hatches.
You heard it here first; I, Tsume, cede that if you want to get your performance kicks in the future it's very likely to be manning the tiller of a revvy little overhead cam hatchback.
I think it's crap. This is why.
Look at anyone who's trying to sell pocket-rocket type cars today; the words they use are ideas like "nimble" and "eager" and "effervescent". Basically, a hot hatch lives for a place like this:
See that? You don't need a 400 hp V8 to really enjoy that road at all, do you. A Chrysler 300 SRT-8 would look like a bison in wellies compared to the lithe ballerina a WRX or a Focus RS presents carving down that ribbon of asphalt.
Now, check this out:
This is where I live. In fact, between the Rockies and the Appalachian mountains, this is how almost all the roads look. This is the sort of place where a guy's got to drive for an hour at 80 mph to get to the nearest building more than three stories tall. All of a sudden those cheerful advertising words like take on a different meaning - what was nimble, eager and effervescent on the European-style b-roads is darty, fussy and droning when exposed to the long-haul freeways of middle America.
What you want here is a big, loafy V8, muttering along quietly at cruise and then kicking down with explosive torque to pass the poor sod who's trying to scoop his fillings off the floor of his Fiesta because Top Gear told him it was a good car.
So what's the point?
There's different things for different habitats - people who live in flyover country and want a performance car shouldn't have to just accept that they'll be forced into buying something that makes no sense for driving where they live. Just as American cars make no sense in Europe, out here European cars are about as sensible as a pet squid.
We need our big, cheap V8 touring cars. They're what makes sense out here.
What Makes a Car Guy? (Or girl)
Get your water wings, fellas. I'm probably gonna get a little deep here.
It's a valid question, right? A lot of people say they're "car guys", but are they? Are they just attaching a label to themselves in some vain hope to fit in, or are they a real car guy?
I think we need to start with a definition of what is and isn't a car guy. Or girl. Cuz we're all equal opportunity and crap like that. So what's it really take to be a car guy? Well there are a few things most people define as car guy-esque. The guy that wrenches on his own motors is a car guy. The guy that does amateur racing is a car guy. The guy that seems an endless font of knowledge of all things automotive is a car guy, or the guy that can drop year, make and model on seemingly any car just from a piece of trim or a taillamp is a car guy. Or they say they are. And I can't really fault any of those qualifications. But I don't think that's all there is to it.
You see, there are some that call me a car guy. But the problem is, I don't fit ANY of the above criteria. I don't go racing. I'm all thumbs when it comes to tools. I definitely don't have the knowledge and my brain goes fuzzy trying to identify even some common makes and models. I don't have any of it. I don't even own a "car guy worthy" car. I drive a midsize FWD sedan for God's sake, the automotive equivalent of Wonder bread. It's not on any car guy's short list of dream rides, that's for sure. It's not pretty, and it's not fast, and it won't get you any well-endowed women with loose morals. So am I a car guy? Well, by the classic definition above, no. Not even close. I'm just some regular schmuck who happens to like cars a little.
Except the definition is wrong.
I think there's more to being a car guy than owning something with a ton of horsepower that's got a glovebox full of timeslips from the autocross track or the drag strip. There's more to it than an encyclopedic knowledge of all things 4-wheeled. There's more to it than having the prettiest, shiniest machine on the block. There is more at play here. I believe there are only two things you need to be a real car guy. The first and most important thing is that you LOVE CARS. It seems obvious at first blush but a lot of folks overlook that one simple fact. You don't have to know everything, you just have to know you love these four wheeled machines. The second, and more subtle thing is that you should just know what makes a car good and what makes a car bad. Any dipstick can rattle off performance numbers and say "This car is better than that car". Well on paper maybe, but that's only part of it. If all that mattered were statistics 99% of the driving public would be in a Corolla or Prius, because it's the best car that fits their needs 99% of the time. No, there's much much more to it than that.
There are any number of small nuances in the way a car moves, the way it feels, that makes a car good or bad. Let's, for giggles, look at my daily driver. It's a 2008 Ford Fusion SE with the 2.3L four. Is it fast? It's got 160HP and weighs 3500lbs. No, it's not fast. Is it pretty? The front end looks like a disposable razor and the rest is typical three-box midsize sedan. So no, it's not really pretty either. So what makes it such a great driver's car? Put a good set of performance tires on it and watch the car come alive. The front suspension is built for high speed stability, but the car is set up to handle twisty roads remarkably well. Hit the mountain two-lanes and you'll be rewarded with a car that's stable, planted and predictable all the way to the limits of its adhesion. No it's not fast, but the 2.3 has enough torque to squirt out of corners and build speed until you get to the next one. The brakes are firm and communicative. The chassis understeers, but it's a progressive understeer, one you can see coming a long way off and correct for. This car is not beige. It's only beige for people who want beige. For the car guy, it's a sport sedan. Is it an M5 on a budget? HECK no. But it's plenty capable in the hands of someone who knows how to get the most out of it. In the hands of a car guy, this car will MOVE.
So then, by this new definition, would you say I was a car guy or not?
It's a valid question, right? A lot of people say they're "car guys", but are they? Are they just attaching a label to themselves in some vain hope to fit in, or are they a real car guy?
I think we need to start with a definition of what is and isn't a car guy. Or girl. Cuz we're all equal opportunity and crap like that. So what's it really take to be a car guy? Well there are a few things most people define as car guy-esque. The guy that wrenches on his own motors is a car guy. The guy that does amateur racing is a car guy. The guy that seems an endless font of knowledge of all things automotive is a car guy, or the guy that can drop year, make and model on seemingly any car just from a piece of trim or a taillamp is a car guy. Or they say they are. And I can't really fault any of those qualifications. But I don't think that's all there is to it.
You see, there are some that call me a car guy. But the problem is, I don't fit ANY of the above criteria. I don't go racing. I'm all thumbs when it comes to tools. I definitely don't have the knowledge and my brain goes fuzzy trying to identify even some common makes and models. I don't have any of it. I don't even own a "car guy worthy" car. I drive a midsize FWD sedan for God's sake, the automotive equivalent of Wonder bread. It's not on any car guy's short list of dream rides, that's for sure. It's not pretty, and it's not fast, and it won't get you any well-endowed women with loose morals. So am I a car guy? Well, by the classic definition above, no. Not even close. I'm just some regular schmuck who happens to like cars a little.
Except the definition is wrong.
I think there's more to being a car guy than owning something with a ton of horsepower that's got a glovebox full of timeslips from the autocross track or the drag strip. There's more to it than an encyclopedic knowledge of all things 4-wheeled. There's more to it than having the prettiest, shiniest machine on the block. There is more at play here. I believe there are only two things you need to be a real car guy. The first and most important thing is that you LOVE CARS. It seems obvious at first blush but a lot of folks overlook that one simple fact. You don't have to know everything, you just have to know you love these four wheeled machines. The second, and more subtle thing is that you should just know what makes a car good and what makes a car bad. Any dipstick can rattle off performance numbers and say "This car is better than that car". Well on paper maybe, but that's only part of it. If all that mattered were statistics 99% of the driving public would be in a Corolla or Prius, because it's the best car that fits their needs 99% of the time. No, there's much much more to it than that.
There are any number of small nuances in the way a car moves, the way it feels, that makes a car good or bad. Let's, for giggles, look at my daily driver. It's a 2008 Ford Fusion SE with the 2.3L four. Is it fast? It's got 160HP and weighs 3500lbs. No, it's not fast. Is it pretty? The front end looks like a disposable razor and the rest is typical three-box midsize sedan. So no, it's not really pretty either. So what makes it such a great driver's car? Put a good set of performance tires on it and watch the car come alive. The front suspension is built for high speed stability, but the car is set up to handle twisty roads remarkably well. Hit the mountain two-lanes and you'll be rewarded with a car that's stable, planted and predictable all the way to the limits of its adhesion. No it's not fast, but the 2.3 has enough torque to squirt out of corners and build speed until you get to the next one. The brakes are firm and communicative. The chassis understeers, but it's a progressive understeer, one you can see coming a long way off and correct for. This car is not beige. It's only beige for people who want beige. For the car guy, it's a sport sedan. Is it an M5 on a budget? HECK no. But it's plenty capable in the hands of someone who knows how to get the most out of it. In the hands of a car guy, this car will MOVE.
So then, by this new definition, would you say I was a car guy or not?
Friday, March 16, 2012
Configurator Challenge, CA Edition
So, time for the West Coast to strut its stuff in the Configurator Challenge.
For the under $20k, I managed to get a pretty good deal with a Mazda3 iTouring. Sadly, Mazda doesn't have a share page for their cars, but I'll run down the list of why I chose this. For starters, for the money, the Mazda3 is probably one of the best driving cars on the road today. And, with their new Skyactiv 6-speed manual, that gets you 155 horsepower and 39 mpg (you can get one more mpg on the freeway with the 6 speed auto, but that, combined with the destination fee, comes in at just over $20k). As is, with the manual, there's just enough room for you to get a spoiler on the back, and at $19,920, comes in at $80 under budget.
Expensive for the segment? Sure. But you get what you pay for.
For the under $30,000, I went with a Dodge Charger SXT.
Why?
Well, for one, it's a big, hairy chested man of a car. It makes no bones about what it is, and it looks damn good while it does it. If Billy Dee Williams were a car, this is what he'd look like. Asthetics aside, here's what this car has: a brand new, 3.6L V-6 good for 292 horsepower, a cracking smart 8 speed transmission, REAR WHEEL DRIVE (take THAT, Kia!) and a long list of standard features: Keyless Ignition, Bluetooth, 1 year of Satellite Radio, USB, and a list of features a mile long.
With the Rallye Appearance package (2o inch rims and nicer tires, performance suspension, and paddle shifters) and Navigation/Rear backup camera options, this Charger SXT rings the registers at $29,510. Not too shabby.
Finally, for the under $40,000: The Hyundai Genesis R-Spec
Hyundai? Well, there's a good reason. First, it's a good looking car. Plus, let's look at what comes standard:
429 Hp 5.0L V-8 Engine.
19 Inch Rims
A sport tuned suspension
Heated front seats
A cooled driver's seat (because the plebes riding with you can roast their giblets in the summer, ahahaha!)
Add to that the options of Bridgestone performance tires, and it rings the registers at $48,755. For all that you get a handsome, fast and comfortable luxury car that can lay claim to exclusivity and grace.
For the under $20k, I managed to get a pretty good deal with a Mazda3 iTouring. Sadly, Mazda doesn't have a share page for their cars, but I'll run down the list of why I chose this. For starters, for the money, the Mazda3 is probably one of the best driving cars on the road today. And, with their new Skyactiv 6-speed manual, that gets you 155 horsepower and 39 mpg (you can get one more mpg on the freeway with the 6 speed auto, but that, combined with the destination fee, comes in at just over $20k). As is, with the manual, there's just enough room for you to get a spoiler on the back, and at $19,920, comes in at $80 under budget.
Expensive for the segment? Sure. But you get what you pay for.
For the under $30,000, I went with a Dodge Charger SXT.
Why?
Well, for one, it's a big, hairy chested man of a car. It makes no bones about what it is, and it looks damn good while it does it. If Billy Dee Williams were a car, this is what he'd look like. Asthetics aside, here's what this car has: a brand new, 3.6L V-6 good for 292 horsepower, a cracking smart 8 speed transmission, REAR WHEEL DRIVE (take THAT, Kia!) and a long list of standard features: Keyless Ignition, Bluetooth, 1 year of Satellite Radio, USB, and a list of features a mile long.
With the Rallye Appearance package (2o inch rims and nicer tires, performance suspension, and paddle shifters) and Navigation/Rear backup camera options, this Charger SXT rings the registers at $29,510. Not too shabby.
Finally, for the under $40,000: The Hyundai Genesis R-Spec
Hyundai? Well, there's a good reason. First, it's a good looking car. Plus, let's look at what comes standard:
429 Hp 5.0L V-8 Engine.
19 Inch Rims
A sport tuned suspension
Heated front seats
A cooled driver's seat (because the plebes riding with you can roast their giblets in the summer, ahahaha!)
Add to that the options of Bridgestone performance tires, and it rings the registers at $48,755. For all that you get a handsome, fast and comfortable luxury car that can lay claim to exclusivity and grace.
The Configurator Challenge, Okie Edition
Here's my list.
1.) Sporty Compact:
I am allergic to new compact cars. I dislike front wheel drive, I dislike sideways four pot motors, and I dislike that they are invariably styled to look like a tarted up cordless mouse.
One of these is an inexpensive, sculpted lump of plastics and electronics. The other is a computer mouse.
No number of overhead cams or turbos can cajole me into liking one. But, as I must choose, I choose you, Nissan-chu!
It's a Nissan Versa with a 5 speed stick and a lighted ash tray. It's about the cheapest thing you can buy new in America. I choose this because I don't really care for compact cars, and if I was going to have to have something I didn't want, I would get it at the cheapest price possible.
I would use the other roughly $8,000 to buy this:
http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/2890376828.html
Drive the Nissan to work with the other cubicle-dwellers, get decent mileage, then drive something I give one iota of one crap about on the weekends. Not a bad deal, really.
2.) Midsized Sedan:
There are only two options for me on this one - Hyundai Genesis or Charger R/T. I chose the burly American.
Dodge Charger R/T
Coming in at just under $30,000, a fella can get a 370 hp Dodge Charger R/T; it's got rear wheel drive, a big stonkin' V8, great styling and... Probably other things. I don't care a great deal about those things, to be perfectly honest. I mean, look at it; would you really rather have a sucked on throat lozenge lookin' Camry or this mean burly bugger? I'm takin' the charger, and spending the $5 I have left on a pack of cigs.
3.) Luxury Sedan or SUV:
This one is something of a bear. The Infiniti M56 opens up at 57k. No dice. CTS-V? Almost 60k. BWAH! Town car? Mrrrrrr, maybe if Ford had put the Coyote in it. DTS sedan? I guess if I'm being driven somewhere, fine...
What's that Eminem? What can I import from Detroit for under $50,000? A Shiny Red SRT-8 300C? The HECK you say! Really, a 6.4L Hemi? I'm all over this.
Chrysler 300 SRT 8
Thank you, Eminem. I am sorry I said bad things about Rap music, you were very helpful and courteous this time.
So, that's my picks. Nissan Generica (Versa) Dodge Charger R/T and a Chrysler 300.
Because GM and Ford don't make V-8 RWD cars anymore. Jerks.
1.) Sporty Compact:
I am allergic to new compact cars. I dislike front wheel drive, I dislike sideways four pot motors, and I dislike that they are invariably styled to look like a tarted up cordless mouse.
One of these is an inexpensive, sculpted lump of plastics and electronics. The other is a computer mouse.
No number of overhead cams or turbos can cajole me into liking one. But, as I must choose, I choose you, Nissan-chu!
It's a Nissan Versa with a 5 speed stick and a lighted ash tray. It's about the cheapest thing you can buy new in America. I choose this because I don't really care for compact cars, and if I was going to have to have something I didn't want, I would get it at the cheapest price possible.
I would use the other roughly $8,000 to buy this:
http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/2890376828.html
Drive the Nissan to work with the other cubicle-dwellers, get decent mileage, then drive something I give one iota of one crap about on the weekends. Not a bad deal, really.
2.) Midsized Sedan:
There are only two options for me on this one - Hyundai Genesis or Charger R/T. I chose the burly American.
Dodge Charger R/T
Coming in at just under $30,000, a fella can get a 370 hp Dodge Charger R/T; it's got rear wheel drive, a big stonkin' V8, great styling and... Probably other things. I don't care a great deal about those things, to be perfectly honest. I mean, look at it; would you really rather have a sucked on throat lozenge lookin' Camry or this mean burly bugger? I'm takin' the charger, and spending the $5 I have left on a pack of cigs.
3.) Luxury Sedan or SUV:
This one is something of a bear. The Infiniti M56 opens up at 57k. No dice. CTS-V? Almost 60k. BWAH! Town car? Mrrrrrr, maybe if Ford had put the Coyote in it. DTS sedan? I guess if I'm being driven somewhere, fine...
What's that Eminem? What can I import from Detroit for under $50,000? A Shiny Red SRT-8 300C? The HECK you say! Really, a 6.4L Hemi? I'm all over this.
Chrysler 300 SRT 8
Thank you, Eminem. I am sorry I said bad things about Rap music, you were very helpful and courteous this time.
So, that's my picks. Nissan Generica (Versa) Dodge Charger R/T and a Chrysler 300.
Because GM and Ford don't make V-8 RWD cars anymore. Jerks.
The Configurator Challenge
You know those online configurator thingies that automakers put up, so car guys like us can waste time at work picking out our dream rides? Well I've decided to have a little challenge between me and the other two knuckleheads that run this dog and pony show. Here's the rules.
A: Each of us will pick three cars. A sporty compact or subcompact for under 20 grand, a midsize sedan for $20-30K, and a luxury car or SUV for $40-50K. We HAVE to select a car and options that are available right now, but as long as we stay in those guidelines anything goes.
So right off the bat, I'll show you what I've got.
My first selection, a sporty subcompact, is the 2012 Chevy Sonic. (You can see the build here.) Why did I pick the Sonic? Well for one it's cheap. Not only is it cheap, but it has a lot of great features for the money. It handles well, it rides nicely, it's got loads of room, and the turbo/stick combination makes for a peppy little runabout. I think it's one of the best cars in its class, and my build--nearly fully loaded--comes in a little over 18 grand. For that money it's tough to beat.
My second choice is the midsize sedan. There's no lack of competition in this segment. Every automaker has some skin in the game, and most of them are good cars. So I've decided to go out to left field, and I've picked the Kia Optima because it's a great looking car, it's got plenty of room, is comfortable, handles well and gets great mileage for its size. I selected an EX, which comes with the lovely little 274HP turbo four and six speed automatic. From there I selected the Premium package that includes heated power seats, sunroof, and a bunch of other lovely goodies that'll come in handy later on. All told I was out the door for $28,800. (Sorry, no build sheet available for this one)
My third choice was a luxury ride. This is tough, actually. There's a lot of really expensive metal out there, and while you can't really go WRONG, you can be more right than others. So once again, I went a little oddball. I decided on a luxury crossover, because what's the point of luxury if you can't share it with all your friends. My pick was the 2012 GMC Acadia Denali. Why did I pick this? For one, I think it's an attractive vehicle. It's easy to drive and maneuver in traffic, the 3.6L DOHC V6 has plenty of get up and go, it's reasonably economical and you can get just about anything you want on this thing (though it comes with most of it). I think it's a great pick. (build sheet here )
So there you have it. Now let's see what those other two came up with. Probably not as good as mine.
A: Each of us will pick three cars. A sporty compact or subcompact for under 20 grand, a midsize sedan for $20-30K, and a luxury car or SUV for $40-50K. We HAVE to select a car and options that are available right now, but as long as we stay in those guidelines anything goes.
So right off the bat, I'll show you what I've got.
My first selection, a sporty subcompact, is the 2012 Chevy Sonic. (You can see the build here.) Why did I pick the Sonic? Well for one it's cheap. Not only is it cheap, but it has a lot of great features for the money. It handles well, it rides nicely, it's got loads of room, and the turbo/stick combination makes for a peppy little runabout. I think it's one of the best cars in its class, and my build--nearly fully loaded--comes in a little over 18 grand. For that money it's tough to beat.
My second choice is the midsize sedan. There's no lack of competition in this segment. Every automaker has some skin in the game, and most of them are good cars. So I've decided to go out to left field, and I've picked the Kia Optima because it's a great looking car, it's got plenty of room, is comfortable, handles well and gets great mileage for its size. I selected an EX, which comes with the lovely little 274HP turbo four and six speed automatic. From there I selected the Premium package that includes heated power seats, sunroof, and a bunch of other lovely goodies that'll come in handy later on. All told I was out the door for $28,800. (Sorry, no build sheet available for this one)
My third choice was a luxury ride. This is tough, actually. There's a lot of really expensive metal out there, and while you can't really go WRONG, you can be more right than others. So once again, I went a little oddball. I decided on a luxury crossover, because what's the point of luxury if you can't share it with all your friends. My pick was the 2012 GMC Acadia Denali. Why did I pick this? For one, I think it's an attractive vehicle. It's easy to drive and maneuver in traffic, the 3.6L DOHC V6 has plenty of get up and go, it's reasonably economical and you can get just about anything you want on this thing (though it comes with most of it). I think it's a great pick. (build sheet here )
So there you have it. Now let's see what those other two came up with. Probably not as good as mine.
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