Draco-REX

This. Even with my meager little one-man SCCA RallyCross effort, there is definitely a difference between modifying a car and developing a car to race. For example, I have 3 rear sway bars for my WRX, one of them has 3 settings, so essentially 5 different rear sway setups. I currently run with none. It's taken me 3 years of racing and I'm finally about 95% of the way to a championship-winning car. If only I had a championship-winning driver.

Why go all the way to Japan? http://www.vermontsportscar.com/

I'm sure he was taught a new meaning for a "dangling chad."

I have the right to bitch that they didn't give me any good options to vote for. Actually if you want to really get down to brass tacks here, I have the right to bitch about my government by virtue of being a US citizen. It's one of the ideals that our country was founded on. But feel free to have a different opinion. That's another right that's allowed in this country.

Depends on your commute. It certainly wouldn't be comfortable, but it wouldn't be too bad. I drove the WRX all last winter with no interior and a straight pipe. You get used to it after a while. But I certainly didn't enjoy the run out to MA and back. But that 168hp is going to feel like a lot more when that car is brought down to fighting weight.

If I could vote for "None of the Above" I would have. The best thing I can do with my vote is keep it from helping a crook get into office. I don't see the point in voting for someone just so I can complain about them later. Get some better choices, and you'll see more turnout.

I also would rather the parts include an AWD conversion. However, a N/A FWD car is perfect for getting started in Stage Rally. You can't just start in a Turbo AWD car, you have to earn coefficients through racing in the lower classes before they'll let you loose with an Open Class beast. The FIA has a few different Spec classes in Stage Rally. This could easily become another for people who want to get started. Hopefully RallyCar will take a good look at this and with Block's help get a spec series started to get people into RallyCar RallyCross and Stage Rally. This would get you a car prepped to the same spec as a factory team for 60-70K. Yes, that's one fucking expensive Fiesta. But that's less than half the cost of an Open Class car, and you will know that it's built to Ford's rally specifications. You could build your own car for less, but you'll have a hard time maintaining the on-course reliability. I'd love to see Team O'Neil put together 5 or 6 of these (or more) and start a "Skip Barber"-style School/Series for stage rally. That would be awesome. They already teach, they would only have to get a sanction from RallyCar to open a class for their cars. I would seriously consider enrolling if they did this.

Not surprising. It's really surprising how the "Buy American" argument with cars is no where near as clear-cut these days. Hopefully with FoMoCo tightening the belt on labor costs they'll be able to bring more production back to the US. And then, who knows? Maybe Detroit will rise from the dead.

Skip to 2:38 to see the clip. Seems this guy can't help saying the same sentence over and over and over and over.

They put a steel prop rod in a steel bracket without a bushing in between. Then they mounted it on top of the radiator core where it'll be hit with whatever weather you're driving through. What kind of idiot thought this was a good idea? We open the hoods daily to check the fluid levels so they aren't just sitting in place for months at a time, but they still seize up. Every month or so in the winter I'll pop the hood, and lift the prop rod only to have the bracket bend upwards. Then I'll have to get the rubber mallet and PB Blaster to straighten it out and get the rod un-seized. I've never had this problem in any other car because the prop-rod has always been in a plastic or rubber bushing so it won't seize. The Colorado is the worst engineered vehicle I've ever had the mispleasure of driving. I could go on for pages on just how much of a bunch of morons the design team was citing specific examples. But we shouldn't derail this thread any more than it already is.

They even managed to screw up the hood prop-rod.

A 1, 4, or 5 as the first digit of the VIN means the car was built in the US. You might be surprised how many "domestics" don't start with one of those three numbers. Subaru has been steadily bringing production into the US. Right now, All Legacy models including the Outbacks that are sold in the US, and EVERY Tribecca on the planet are built by SIA in Indiana with American steel. (As well as the Toyota Camry. I'll have to look into where the Forrester is built) When the automotive industry was on the rocks, Subaru was the only company to post consistent growth instead of decline. This meant more jobs for american auto workers when the Big 3 were laying people off. I'm not trying to say that Subaru is better than Domestic companies; I know that some of the money leaves our shores when you buy one. But just that the "domestics" aren't the only companies doing good for the people out there.

You drive a Colorado. Any car shopping advice from you is blatantly flawed, sorry.

Subaru FTW. First digit of my Legacy's VIN is a 4.

Out of curiosity, may I ask how you know this? By Kroger, I'm assuming you mean Turkey Hill? I ask because I was thinking of starting to use Turkey Hilll (Kroger) gas in the Legacy since it's on the Top Tier Gas site and I'd get fuel perks. But if they get their gas from BP, I won't make the switch. I've heard way too many bad stories about BP gas to ignore. Thanks.

I never use Speedway or Pilot gas. If they can't get a 93 octane rating, then it must be crap. Here: http://www.toptiergas.com/

Ahh, looks that way. Good eyes. Still not sure about the lack of helper springs, but it's possible the MR2 just doesn't have enough travel to need them.

I'm not familiar with the MR2 world, so I can't give you specifics. Unfortunately, what's good for one car might be junk for another. But there are a couple things I can offer. 1. You should be looking at coilovers. While they're overkill and often over sprung/damped for street use, for track use they're a must. The ability to corner weight your car will help you tremendously. The Ohlins, while excellent struts (I have a set on my STI) are not valved for track use and are only 1-way adjustable (they have 24 clicks). 2. You'll want coilovers that are ride height adjustable and not just pre-load adjustable. The difference is that you can turn the damper body inside the spring perch to lengthen or shorten the overall body. Neither of these coilover offers seem to have that. A good giveaway is the lack of helper springs. 3. Coilovers need to be rebuilt periodically. I would look into who can rebuild them and what it will cost. If you buy a used set, unless you KNOW they are barely used, plan to have them rebuilt and add that to the cost. 4. Again, I'm not sure if Tein or JIC are good in the MR2 world. As Subarus go, they're considered junk. I'd look into KW. I'm not sure if they have MR2 offerings, but if they do, they offer tons of valving and spring options and can be rebuilt here in the US. Talk to TurnInConcepts.com to see if they can get you a set for your MR2 or if they can point you in the right direction. That's all I've got. Good luck.

He was moving too fast to stick the landing. Plus, he looked pretty dazed, just standing there in traffic. I think he landed pretty hard.

fixed. Same thing though. There needs to be regular testing past a certain age that people CAN fail. When I was getting my OH license an old man came in to get his renewed. He had to be assisted into the building and to the counter, then was prompted through the eye test every step of the way and still had trouble understanding what he had to do. I'm sure he got his license. And he's not the only elderly person I've seen who needed to be prompted through the eye test. Frankly, it's not just a test for the eyes, but also for following simple directions. If you can't figure out "Center column 3rd row, Left column 1st row, right column 4th row" then you shouldn't be driving.

Oh I'm in... Very cool.

Jealous of the Bio-Diesel cars that smell like food? http://www.jegs.com/p/Manhattan-Oil/Power-Plus-Fuel-Additives/746462/10002/-1 This stuff even works on gasoline engines too, though not as well.

Well at least the idiot father isn't breeding.. The mother on the other hand needs to removed from the genepool for even THINKING that's a plausible excuse.

lol

There aren't enough negative repercussions for bad driving.