Plunging Gas Prices Fuel Sharp Rise in Truck, SUV Sales

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

...Sure I like the Mustangs and the Corvettes, but they tested them on Top Gear and when stacked up againsts equivalent european rivals they got whacked each time. Also if I want a sports car I want something that goes fast and can turn the corner.

The Mustand I know STILL has a live rear axle. I think the new vette might but not sure....

You must not have been watching in the last couple years. The Vette has smacked down all European cars costing 2x to 3x as much. The 500+ HP Mustang can also do it on a budget!

Mr. Clarkston actually bought the ZR-1 Vette if I am not mistaken he liked it so much.

-S

PS. A Transcript. Notice what they say last -

Right, make no mistake. What we have here is one of the truly great supercars. Bragging rights ahoy: the ZR1 currently holds the production car record for the Nürburgring.

I feel like I've been tipped off the top of the Cresta Run. On rollerblades. And I'm blindfolded. Holy cow, this is scary. To clarify the situation, let's look at the issues.

One: the track I'm on, which is full of closing-radius sphincter-tightening corners, treacherous cambers, conniving double-apex curves and, most of all, blind traps that jump up at you from behind crests.

Issue two, the car. In the Corvette ZR1, we've got 638bhp, in a machine that weighs just 1,518kg fully fuelled and optioned. That's Enzo Ferrari territory.

I don't know the car, and I don't know the track. That combination is so intimidating, I feel like I've about 1,500bhp under my toe.

My first tickle had the rear tyres spinning up in second gear, in a straight line, with the ESP and traction control fully on.

"Oh, it'll do that," chief engineer Tadge Jeuchter told me later, showing only a slightly evil grin. It cuts in only when the car gets properly sideways. And that's in full-nanny mode: after that, there's a 'competitive driving' mode (I'll not deploy that, because I'm not competitive). And then an 'off' mode. If I used that too soon in the learning curve, I would indeed be off.

I'm not saying the ZR1 is dangerous. Far from it. After a few laps, I feel more comfortable. Comfortable? Hmmm, maybe not. Lightning-bolt alert, doing what I can to stay with a car that'll do 0-60 in 3.4 seconds, top out at 205mph and corner at 1g-plus.

More than that, it's gradually apparent that the handling is pretty damned sublime. That, and the brakes, and the grip.

Right, make no mistake. What we have here is one of the truly great supercars. Bragging rights ahoy: the ZR1 currently holds the production car record for the Nürburgring.

[SUBMAN1]

Figured I'd put up a picture too - http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/03/1.html

-S

PS. The envy of the Europeans!

[XabbaRus]

Developed by the Japanese if I'm not mistaken? The engine anyway.

I'll give you the Vette, but the Mustang....even the Shelby 500 didn't come up with 500 HP.

I still like them though don't get me wrong....

[Rockstar]

DRIVE IT LIKE YA STOLE IT.

Heartbeat of America baby. _/|_/|_/|__

[XabbaRus]

OK my mistake, looks like the Corvette engine is a GM one. I remember the Top Gear one now but I'm sure he mentioned some of the stuff was derived from a japanese sports car. The tech anyway.

Still I wouldn't say no to ZR1

[conus00]

Originally Posted by Monica Lewinsky

I have a full fledged pick 'em truck [4x4 and stuff]. I just ride out the gas wars per gallon. Doing o.k. right now.

My favorite thing to do is to pull behind a foreign piece of crap car and shine my lights in his/her mirrors - all of them and blind the jerk or jerk'ess from a height 3-4 feet above where they are at a stop light.

My thrill is seeing their hands trying to block the light from my truck.

Much fun!

and ....... the jerk that cut me off a mile or a half mile ago can not do a thing about it.

Another favorite thing to do is ... these scum bags trying to pass from the right lane or right shoulder, I take my truck, straddle the right lane, and run them off into the ditch on the road. With our winter conditions here, have put 7-8 into the ditch and needing a tow. Much fun. Does not cost me a dime and has no effect on my safety.

Large MASS under a controlled condition is a good thing now and then.

Do you realize how ridiculous you sound? People like you should have their DLs suspended for the rest of their lives. I can't even believe that you wrote all this. I wonder if anybody gets killed on the road as a result of your actions how you are gonna live with that. I am never harsh in my reactions to stupid posts here on subsim but unless you are JOKING (and I don't consider this to be funny) I have an advice for you: GROW UP!!!!

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

OK my mistake, looks like the Corvette engine is a GM one. I remember the Top Gear one now but I'm sure he mentioned some of the stuff was derived from a japanese sports car. The tech anyway.

Still I wouldn't say no to ZR1

Where did you hear that? Its pure GM product! No Japanese at all.

The gauges, the seats, the entire interior, the suspension, the engine - all 100% American. I think my father in law (ex GM Exec) would probably want to gouge your eyes out about now!

-S

[SUBMAN1]

Now this is interesting:

Adjustable suspension

The ZR1 comes with GM's Magnetic Selective Ride Control (MSRC) suspension system. The MSRC shocks are automatically adjusted based on driving conditions and vehicle dynamics (cornering, braking, etc) for optimal handling. The system is adjusted every milisecond to provide sharp handling during spirited driving, and a smooth ride while cruising.

While the ZR1 is overall a more aggressive sports car than the Z06, it is actually less harsh over bumps, thanks to the MSRC technology. 'The damping control of MSRC allowed for front and rear springs that have a slightly lower rate than the Z06, which enhances the car's ride quality,' said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer.

[Frame57]

I built up a 455 engine to harness about 650 HP. Now I have a Pontiac 400 I am building. Sold the 455 motor and my friends all told me how no one wants to buy a gas hog of a motor like that in this economy. It sold in about an hour of posting it...I laughed all the way to the bank. I still like the old school stuff because i can work on it, but these new vettes are tempting....

[Zachstar]

Oil is rising again. Up by 6 percent just today.

Wonder what these idiots will do once gas is back to 3 dollars? Cry for bailouts?

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Frame57

I built up a 455 engine to harness about 650 HP. Now I have a Pontiac 400 I am building. Sold the 455 motor and my friends all told me how no one wants to buy a gas hog of a motor like that in this economy. It sold in about an hour of posting it...I laughed all the way to the bank. I still like the old school stuff because i can work on it, but these new vettes are tempting....

You did the right thing. By the way, the type of people looking for this type of product usually don't have an issue when it comes to money. They have plenty of it.

Keep up the good work. This is a hobby that shouldn't die, and can always make you a tidy profit!

-S

[Zachstar]

Oil continues to rise. If anyone is still buying an SUV they are beyond stupid.

The middle east is warming up for next year. They will get their 100 dollar oil EASILY and a repeat of last year is possible.

[Frame57]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

You did the right thing. By the way, the type of people looking for this type of product usually don't have an issue when it comes to money. They have plenty of it.

Keep up the good work. This is a hobby that shouldn't die, and can always make you a tidy profit!

-S

It will be in a Pontiac Catalina with a charcoal gray metallic paint job. Should have it all done by late spring. If I can figure out how to post stuff here i will send pics.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Frame57

It will be in a Pontiac Catalina with a charcoal gray metallic paint job. Should have it all done by late spring. If I can figure out how to post stuff here i will send pics.

I agree with you on the new stuff. It is impossible to work on. I think they do that on purpose as a payoff to the dealerships so that you can't take your car to a normal shop anymore.

An example, on my 9-3 Aero - to find a battery for it, forget it! i eventually found one that I could make fit for half the price of the SAAB battery, and within 10 CCA of the original too. Why the hell do they make me take it to the SAAb dealership for everything? Even the oil filter requires a special tool just to remove or put back on. Good thing I have finially got a hold of the shop manuals. Bad thing is, a lot of the fixes for things in this manual requires the simple replacement of a part - $$$$. WTH??? That is why they make them all computerized. Replacement instead of fixing. Now that is wasteful!

I could go on all day on this, but yes, keep those older things still running! I suspect one day they may become more valuable than anyting else on the road.

-S

[Frame57]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

I agree with you on the new stuff. It is impossible to work on. I think they do that on purpose as a payoff to the dealerships so that you can't take your car to a normal shop anymore.

An example, on my 9-3 Aero - to find a battery for it, forget it! i eventually found one that I could make fit for half the price of the SAAB battery, and within 10 CCA of the original too. Why the hell do they make me take it to the SAAb dealership for everything? Even the oil filter requires a special tool just to remove or put back on. Good thing I have finially got a hold of the shop manuals. Bad thing is, a lot of the fixes for things in this manual requires the simple replacement of a part - $$$$. WTH??? That is why they make them all computerized. Replacement instead of fixing. Now that is wasteful!

I could go on all day on this, but yes, keep those older things still running! I suspect one day they may become more valuable than anyting else on the road.

-S

No doubt! I saw a 1970 GTX in showroom condition going for 100K. A 68 GTO for about 60K. Yeah they are going up...