Fundamentals of Engineering
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Snow, snow, and really more snow
Winter has hit Kansas rather hard and quite quickly. It’s weather like this that makes me wonder what profession one needs to afford cars for each season. While I’m still waiting to figure out the profession, here is my list of cars for each season:
Spring/Summer:
I decided to combine my spring and summer car into one fine automobile. The M3 sedan is the epitome of what I want in a vehicle. It’s somewhat of a sleeper in the fact that it doesn’t have outrageous kit on it and it’s a 4 door, so it can be enjoyed with company in comfort. On top of that it goes like the wind (I guess on this last statement as I’ve yet to drive one). Basically it’s a vehicle that can be utilitarian but when the need arises it can hoon with the best of them.
Fall:
Audi R8 – While it’s 30/70 split all-wheel drive system would lead you to believe this to be a year round type of car, I think the ground clearance would hinder me when it comes to anything over 5 inches of snow. Hence it being my fall car. It can go fast in the rain and small amounts of snow as well as be a joy in the warmer conditions.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4×4 with the Selec-Terrain system. I finally like the looks of the Grand Cherokees and being the geek I am, I really like the technology and control the Selec-Terrain seems like it would give.
Sean
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Car of the week: 8/22-8/29
Ferrari 458 Italia
I first saw one in the flesh a couple weeks ago while on a bike ride with some friends. I was at the intersection waiting to cross the street when I saw a black sedan rip around the corner and ‘give it some stick’. Nice! 2009 Black BMW M3 Sedan. Immediately following this was a yellow car. I couldn’t identify it. Small frontal cross-section, sleek, moving at a decent rate of speed. Then it struck me as it came into 3/4 view, new Ferrari 458 Italia. I’d finally seen one. Then, like a proper Ferrari should be driven, the driver cornered hard and slammed through 1st and 2nd gear. Whaaaa! Whaaaaa! What a sound. Thus the F430 had died.
This may be the best looking and best performing street going Ferrari to date. The later statement based on reviews, not personal opinion. However if anyone would like me to show them how to properly hoon their Ferrari please contact me.
Produced for the 2010 model year in Maranello, Italy it is the successor to the F430 (the authors dream car until that bubble was burst with the introduction of this beauty). Powered by a mid-mounted, 4,499cc, V8 engine, the 458 produces 570hp @9,000 and 400 lb-ft of torque @ 6,000rpm. This power plant doesn’t just outperform the F430, it puts it to shame as can be seen in this review by Jeremy Clarkson.
Perhaps the only downfall in my book, price excluded, is the absence of a proper manual transmission. The 458 is available with only a 7-speed dual-clutch, flappy paddle gear box. Now it’s my assumption that it is properly mated to the engine and performs flawlessly, unlike the human factor. However, it has been and always will be my belief that the proper manual transmission has 3 pedals and a gear lever in the console for personal rowing enjoyment.
Despite this small and easily overlooked short-coming, This is your Car of the Week and if I ever was allowed to drive one, it would be the Drive of my Life.
H.T.E
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Tags: Car of the week, Ferrari
I took the vanilla bean (a.k.a. 2003 white cavalier with nothing for options) into the dealer to see why it wasn’t shifting unless you were at minimal throttle. As it turns out, it has something to do with the catalytic converter. Let me back up a bit.
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Tags: cars
The plan (infancy stage)
So I spent some time this weekend watching a show on Speed called Bullrun. It is a reality television show based on the Bullrun Rally that is held annually. Bill Goldberg is the host, and although scripted, the show is entertaining and holds a special place in my reality tv show bank.
After watching 5 episodes back to back (thanks Tito), I came to the realization that with some careful planning, a little bit of luck, and the mad skills that my best mate Tony and I possess behind the wheel of a vehicle, we could be highly competitive on this show if not bring home the grand prize. I called Tony up and basically he agrees. Which brings me to the plan that he and I have dreamt up.
Some time in the late summer/early fall Tony and I will saddle up in one of the plethora of cars he has and make our way across this glorious country that is America. Along the way we will stop at all the crazy/lame/weird/fun things to see and do. Also scheduled in our travels will be carefully planned stops at the local go-kart tracks along our route.
We figure about 7-9 days of automobilia should satiate our need for some good old fashioned fun.
Until the plot thickens,
H-T.E.
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When I’m a big kid
Last Thursday night I was able to satiate my sushi craving. The wife and I went to dinner with L and L at Sushi Haru. Afterward, the 4 of us went over to N and T’s house as my driving/car knowledge services were requested. L was purchasing N’s 350z and L needed me to shake down the car to make sure everything was in good standing. The Zed was in great condition and it felt nice to be in a proper (implying rear wheel drive, manual gear box) sports car.
This brings me to my post. I’m no doubt insanely excited to buy a proper sports car. The cobalt is a great little putt around car that fulfills the need to have a manual gear box and have a good time. However, it lacks in power, amenities, and all around poise. The Zed in comparison has better seats, better gears, better power, and better amenities. There are some shortcomings of the Zed though.
- Not enough power: Albeit not lacking especially when compared to the Cobalt, the Zed still stutters upon tip-in. It doesn’t have the torque or seamless delivery that I would require in a sports car.
- Not loud enough: I know this can be alleviated by installing new exhaust and most likely must be done on any car that is factory stock, but the sound inside the cabin was not loud enough and honestly didn’t translate how the exhaust note sounds outside the car.
The vehicle in production that currently satiates my desire for fun and usability is the BMW 335i Sedan (this will be solidified or crushed depending on how it drives). I have it all planned and optioned out for when I get the funds. However, recently I’ve read of BMW releasing in 2011 a 335is 3-series that will be a step up from the 335i and a step down from the M3. Hopefully that will be my purchase when the time comes.
In the mean time, if anyone who stumbles across this cares to fund my desire, feel free to email me and I can send you my address.
H-T.E.
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