NOS2006

As some of you may have read, I'm looking to purchase a newer (not necessarily brand new) car within the near future (say... by the new year). I was looking at '08+ Saab 9-3s, but I took one for a test drive today. Beautiful car inside and out, sufficient power, and it seemed to handle pretty good. However, it just felt like a car. It didn't give me any type of special feeling, it was just a ride. I want more than that.. something that I get into and it just feels special. The Camaro SS I drove a few weeks ago felt more "special," but it still had a terrible feeling interior and wasn't as amazing as I had expected. My friend's S2000, however, had a very appropriate feel to it. So, my criteria is relatively good gas mileage (was looking at E46 M3s, but 23 MPG highway doesn't cut it), manual transmission, $25k or less, and it must have a sunroof. Better looking cars with better quality interiors will take priority, but I'm very open to suggestions. It doesn't have to be a sports car, and it doesn't have to be a luxury car. What I'm looking for is something like an M3 (as I'm assuming), a really nice all-around performer but with better MPGs.

lol That's fine with me. I don't want to be rowing 8 gears... 6 is just fine.

...73 way?

lol Well to put it into context, I'm pretty sure the least expensive vehicle we do at my company is the IP and center console of the CTS. The most expensive is the Bugatti Veyron's complete interior. That being said, the leather is top notch. I've watched them wrap the leather IPs for the Corvettes from start to end... from when the leather is just a hide hanging to the fully wrapped piece. It's a very precise job they do and it shows in the end result. Unfortunately, the Corvette just doesn't have a good design for an interior in its class, but the materials are great when the higher interior option is chosen. When it is not, the IP literally feels like some Rubbermaid garbage.

The leather dash? If so, I'm biased.. I work for the company that designed, engineered, and produces the Corvette's leather IP and console.

I'll have the opportunity to take one for a drive in a couple weeks and was wondering what information you guys would like to know when I test it out. I've never driven a Corvette, nor have I ever driven in a Corvette, but since this is one of the cars I would love to own in the near future (although base car, not GS), I am very excited to take this opportunity and answer any questions you might have that I can!

It very well could've been. I've heard "at least 800 HP" in certain applications. Which would make sense if GM really was going to go with a wet dual clutch setup. I didn't know that about the 5.5; I'll have to catch up on my knowledge on upcoming GM powertrains...

I got word that GM was actually developing a small, very high-power and highly technological DOHC V8 for the C7 before the whole financial crisis fully developed. I don't want to say too much on it because I'm not sure how much is true, but I trust the sources I have on this. Just wondering your thoughts on this since we've always had pushrods in the Corvette and this would be an entirely new direction.

Probably the best looking Colorado I've seen. Congratulations and great purchase!

To check into junkyards, go to car-part.com and put in the information you're looking for. You can list the results by price or by location.

Guys who are saying that the green/MPG thing isn't really a case for these higher end automobiles, take this into consideration: Bentley is using a 4.0L V8 in its base 2011 Continental GT to reduce CO2 emissions by about 40% from the the normal (pre-2010) W12 and its TT W12 in the high-performance model has dropped some weight too by using lighter materials (yes, for the performance aspect I'm sure, but I would bet that it also stems from trying to get better fuel economy figures).

lol I'm glad there are still some guys around here to appreciate that..

Sold the Millenia for $200 eh? I've got one thing to say about that... http://flint.craigslist.org/grd/1921467170.html

Here's the best video I've got of the Neon w/ the swap done. Only thing different right now (other than trans internals) is that the battery's in the trunk and not up front. http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/6046/dsci0001.mp4 And a few pics of the S2000... (notice the driver's side crash bar that may have saved our lives)

lol Well if you do, let us know how it goes! And thanks, Z... I've always had a soft spot too, but I didn't think I would ever be serious about getting one until now!

Hmm. That looks like some cut and sew might need to be done to make it wrap around the back side of the cluster correctly... That doesn't look fun, sir. lol

haha The Aveo SS... I forgot about that one, that's hilarious because it's true! Camino... the S2000 did pretty well surprisingly. The whole car's totaled, but if you were to take pictures of the interior, you would never know it was messed up on the outside. Apparently Honda does their own crash rollover testing even though it's not government mandated on convertibles. whiteknight, I used simple contact cement. However, it didn't hold up around the edges and it's starting to peel back. Also, make sure you use the contact cement on both the material and the surface you're laying it on.. and use a lot of it! But do make sure it's tacky before putting the two sides together. Once they touch though, they don't want to let go, so be careful with it and don't mess up! oblu, it sure does change my perspective on things. Crazy how that happens, eh? Thanks for all the well wishes and good words, guys! Also, this is what I want the Saab to look like. Although exterior color doesn't really matter to me because the tinted windows and dark wheels will look good on any of the colors IMO...

Hey guys! I've been around on here every once in awhile, but haven't really said much. Not enough news out there for me to spend too much time for me to comment on, but I do still read when I've got an opportunity. I've been real busy lately... some of you will remember that I picked up an '04 Neon R/T about 13 months ago. Well, I ended up doing a motor swap to an SRT powertrain basically all by myself. It was expensive since I didn't buy a donor car and just bought every part piece by piece, so that drove me into the floor as far as money went. I did the swap while doing 20 credit hours at school (still have 2 semesters left before I either go to grad school for Aerospace or find a job). The swap was worth it; the car is much faster now. I did snap the trans twice since doing the swap, but that's been fixed, as well as a few other small problems. It was fun to do and one hell of an experience, but I think I might be selling the car. At first I wanted a fast car, but now that I have one, I'm not sure I do. One, it's not as reliable as I'd like since it's modified more than I initially expected it to be (to put it into perspective, I ran a LS1 GTO w/ heads, cams, and LT's who dyno'd 430/400 and he only put about half a car on me from ~10-85, and that's with him launching first -- I didn't even know we were racing until he punched it unexpectedly). And two, I had a pretty major event happen to me this last weekend that makes me not want to even risk myself running my car too hard. I love speed and I love pure performance, but I don't want to tempt myself to experience those everytime I touch the gas pedal and see the needle creep from vacuum toward boost. I was up north (about 5 hours north in Cheboygan, MI) with friends and we woke up Saturday morning to get some breakfast. Six of them could fit in a friend's F150 and the other two of us just jumped in my best friend's S2000, him driving and me sitting passenger. We were coming up on a corner in the middle of nothing but farmland when an animal crept out on the road. Swerving into the oncoming traffic lane (no traffic at all), he avoided the animal. However, his back wheel caught the gravel, sent us sideways over the embankment, and we went for a ride. I think we were going about 55-60 MPH when we left the road and we ended up rolling 3 times, top down, and going approximately 40-50 yards from the edge of the road. I basically suffered bumps, bruises, and major whiplash and he ended up with some fractured vertebrae, fractured skull, and concussion. We both blacked out, and I'm not sure if I got a concussion or not, but it wasn't fun at all as I'm sure you can imagine. This just shows that even a very capable car can be ruined at any given moment; we're both lucky to be alive. So, since then (and even a little before.. but moreso now), I've been looking at '08+ Saab 9-3s with the 2.0T and six-speed manual to welcome me back to the GM family. I'm excited to find one, and I'll let you guys know when I do. I just need to fix the small things that are wrong with my car now and sell it. Once it's sold, I'll finally have money to buy one of the two cars I haven't gotten off my mind for the last couple of years (9-3 and an LS3 Corvette... eventually). I'm definitely excited about this future purchase, and my first plans are to tint the windows and put a set of Cobalt Turbo SS wheels on it (with chrome black powdercoating). lol I didn't really mean to get all sad and sobby at all, just wanted to say hey and share what's been going on with me and why I've been gone. Hope all is well with all of you guys (and gals!) old and new! Let me know if you guys want any pics/video of the Neon's swap or of the S2000.

Good catch, Z!

Isn't this what children do when they get in trouble.. try to throw the blame for something on someone else? How immature.

I just wanted to note that all 2010 Camaros are 6-speeds

Source: Left Lane News Sounds pretty damn sweet if you ask me. I'm really excited to see if they really are using an LS9 and see what the specs and stats are on this car...

I'm sorry, but Crosby is a douchebag and not nearly what he is hyped up to be. There are better players in the game today, and one of them even plays on the same line as him. That being said, congratulations on the win and on the number of gold medals! We all know the true champions though, wiping the floor with the most medals. And regardless of all that, considering that North America took around 65 medals (with pretty much only two countries), I say we're the best continent in the world.

Oh man, how could I forget the 240SX and 300ZX?

Testing, testing un, deux, trois.