99StockGT

I'll be there rolling down from the North end, first C&C for me! Be gentle..

This is the point where your brain should kick in and realize you are in over your head. I'm comfortable doing most things on my own car but once you get to that "do I really know what I'm doing" point you should either a) get a mentor to help you b) get that thing to a shop before you brake something expensive. Point b) is where the wonderful people at IPS and I met and have since been taking all my toys to them. Paying someone to fix something is MUCH more pleasant than paying someone to fix something you messed up.:fuckyeah:

45 PSI huh? Bet that was a fun ride before things went boom.

Oh I realize that, just looking for a general idea. Wasn't sure if people bring out their big 8 second monsters for this or its more common to actually see street beasts for it. Either way the June one I"ll probably bring something to play with.

Going to be out of the country for the first one, the later June show though could be something I could make. Typically what ETs are you expecting for this? Don't want to show up and be the slow poke of the bunch.

Bump as we get close. Would love to see some CR folk out for this

Bad suspension is part of the "throwback" that makes the car an 'Merican classic. Leaf springs and drum brakes baby! Just make it go fast

Would love to make it to one of these unfortunately I'll be in the store till 9:45 at earliest! Maybe I'll look out the front doors and see you all driving by on 23. If so, wave to the poor guy in the windows!

For this of us that spent a ton of time in the IS field it's a similar situation to what you have seen in the computer support world. The days of knowing all the hardware ins and outs, as well as breaking down software glitches to their basic parts have largely gone by the wayside. Replaced with much more easy to use diagnostic and repair tools, largely disposable parts, and a knowledge bank thanks to the "Google Machine" that allows anyone with a basic understanding to learn their way. Not saying its a bad thing, just different and many steps removed from what it once was. Younger Techs would be lost when it comes to SCSI cards and IRQ conflict errors, much like Carbs, massive amounts of vacuum tubes and EECs/Early ECUs. The newer stuff is more powerful out of the box, more robust, easily upgradable/supportable and able to do things simply that would have been hard to believe of tech just a few years removed. I guess maybe it comes to an appreciation point. You don't have to know how to work on the old stuff, how to tune it all and make it work just right. As long as you appreciate and respect those that came before you and put in the hard bloody-knuckled work to get us to where we are. To Draco's point and taking the younger generation under my wing, that's a great mode of thought. Being in the parts business you see everything from the barely running to the running screaming italian and everything in between, it's our responsibility as car nuts to foster that desire in the younger generation. (/off soap box) Mallard I completely agree with you on what tuners will have access too. I think it COULD possibly lead to another Golden Age of of Tuning. Imagine the customization available if you were able to 3D print body panels and interior pieces. Able to CNC your own accent pieces and basic hardware. Could certainly but a fun time to live in, as long as the desire to express ourselves in our automobiles is still around.

ZOMG!! Yay Germans!

I made this comment when I first saw the Dart at the Detroit Auto Show years ago, and I said it again this year. If you put a Hemi V8 in that, a 5 speed with a nice stiff clutch, and rear wheel drive I'de write a check right now. That thing could have been an absolute BLAST... or it could be a slightly fast econo box that ruins a good musclar name

I was wondering when you would wake up and pay attention to this thread Draco, I even mentioned the BRZ in an early post to make your ears burn. While yes I agree there are a lot of reasons things are easier now due to the ability to just "Google it" and with plug and play tuning it just seems to have taken some of the...dare I call it ART out of everything? I'm as guilty as the next guy, I'm on forums for just about every car I own to be able to help me trouble shoot issues or gleen knowledge from people before me. Previously that was either done at a car show (April 14th), parking lot where we stood around compairing and telling tall tales, or from trial and error in the garage. The first car I ever modified basically pre-internet-as-we-know-it I happened to have a very knowledgable friend who almost held court for local car guys. Do we still get that feeling on Forums and Blogs? Do you still get that sense of awe when you see someone roll in driving an S4 that has no replaced equipment just a patched piece of software for their computer systems as you do from someone rolling up in a crazy modded early 90s machine with shiny pipes and turbos, custom mounted IC solution, and obvious TLC under the hood? I don't. It's also I think a bit of a generational issue. Are the up and coming still as interested as we were in customization and personality? I'm not THAT eld that I feel like I'm ready to say "When I was young" but, it kinda feels like that is missing...maybe thats just me.

Thanks for the tie in, I was thinking the same thing Maybe someone over across the pond is on the same wave length as I am. Very excited to see if this thing truely comes to pass. Could this be the first shot fired in a new Golden Age v2? Honda? Nissan? Return fire!

Hopefully the 3JZ takes modification as happily as the 2 did, if so paired with modern upgrades this would be a beast. In cars with a AWD system like this how stout are they beyond stock levels?

Aaron while I did enjoy the video, I think it actually plays a good example of what I'm talking about. Which is more satisying? As the video host says, Intake, Exhaust, Cams, etc to squeeze out more power or ... plug thing in, turn key, wait for beeps, oh look I'm faster. Just doesn't seem like the same sense of accomplishment. At least, IMHO. BMW has started loading Turbos on all sorts of things which is definitely exciting. My E36 was a wonderful car and a blast to drive, but a little wooshy wooshy noise would have made it even more boyishly fun. Are the 335s one of the next highly tuned mosters?

Awesome post Farkas! +10!

Blasted! Thought it was on the 13th. Ah well, I'll give you a rain check on the Coney. Maybe I'll actually make C&C that week! Or I could set you up a little course in our parking lot and you could put on a class. Hopefully it doesn't rain all weekend, I'll refer you back to my naked dancing to commune with the rain gods. For a more on topic post, from the younger crowd...what do YOU all see as the next car(s) that will become project cars? Is it the route of plug in and tune? Will we ever see the return of Streetglow lights and and carbon fiber well...everything? Custom wheels on any/everything and all night cruises?

I'll keep that in mind for when I'm not working on a Saturday morning. Tell you what, I'll do you one better and get you a free Coney if you bring the "Super Beetle" to the carshow

Ahhh Jones, I'm going to have to buy you a coffee. Granted it will have to be a German coffee, and come with an auto cooling fan in the lid and have a self dispensing creamer but I'll buy you a coffee.

/facepalm I was meaning this purely in the sense of readily available, parts are cheap and attainable, and not a massive upfront cost of the actual car. AKA all the kids are doing it like they were the SIs from a few years ago.

So with all this fantastic knowledge we have going here I go back to my previous question...what will be the new '99 Civic SI? What car(s) are 3-6 years old easily able to find, reasonably inexpensive, and easy to work on? Even if it is just involves plugging in and changing numbers...

But but but...if you are doing so little work on these cars now what do you have to get from the parts store!? I like things you have to buy lots of parts for and break things working on, it keeps me in business!

You tell me, does it? Hopefully so! :dumb: I DO appreciate all the advances in technology over the past decade, what we can squeeze out of motors with what we have learned is fantastic. Maybe I'll ask for a seat when you rip that TT of yours around and I can make my own informed decision

Aaron, not really looking to buy a car just presenting a point and get people talking/thinking. I've got more cars than places to park them at the moment so until I have an 8 car garage I'll hold off on future purchases. Benjamin yes I'm aware of this and I'm not saying all technology is bad. There are absolutely areas that it comes in increadibly useful...like keeping people alive in an F1 car. Back to my origional point for the thread. As we see the trend for modern cars towards more and more computer/sensor controlled cars do we still get the same enjoyment and sense of accomplishment from making them fast that we used to? Is it as fun reprogramming with your laptop as it was getting dirty in the garage? Same seat of your pants feeling? Thankfully it seems like F/I is making a pretty good comeback maybe that's a sign of things to come. Just trying to keep the discussion going, don't kill the new guy!

I'll totally chalk your '03 Cobra and '05 Evo up as great cars to be had for a not too terrible price. Not exactly easily within grasp of those fresh out of college/high school but not TOO far of a stretch. Both are reasonably inexpensive to do modding to as well so I'll give you a +1 for those two.