General Car Talk Discussion Thread
Flitz metal cleaner & polish works great on exhaust tips. You can also use brasso.
Unless your talking about the 90's where Ford & some other makes had specific CA emissions cars. Today's cars are certified for all states.
Assuming it's stock, it would be fine across state lines. Large manufacturers don't make cars that only be sold in one (or a few) states.
Any Avants we more than likely won't be getting. German wagons over the past few years haven't been worth the time to bring over with such low sales.
I'm going to guess a S6 Premium Plus is going to be a $65k car. Prestige closer to $70k and probably $80k with most of the bells and whistles.
I don't think the CTS is dated at all. And I can't imagine its maintenance costs approaching Audi territory. Dealer told me that to replace the alternator on the S6 (apparently an issue) involves removing the entire fucking engine.
Yeah, the hottest cars I saw today were a yellow Gallardo and a pearl white CTS-V sedan.... hot chick driving it too. No pics, they were right behind me.
On the other hand, the ugliest car I saw today was a metallic burgundy CTS with a landau top
On the other hand, the ugliest car I saw today was a metallic burgundy CTS with a landau top
i dunno obviously looks are all subjective. I've seen the CTS V wagon, although its ok from the side profile, especially if you get those gun metal looking wheels it looks good on a black color. The back just looks bad.

then again i'm partially not super fond of wagons. I love hatches, but wagons dont look as good as sedans.

then again i'm partially not super fond of wagons. I love hatches, but wagons dont look as good as sedans.
I've seen a black CTS wagon in person, and I can assure you the back (and the rest of it) looked quite good.
I was never a fan of the wagon in the first place even in V guise but seeing it in person, it just looks "okay". Same deal with the V Coupe.
The sedan on the other hand.... so beast. Yes, subjectivity rules... I do love me the F10 M5 though, just haven't seen one in person yet.
The sedan on the other hand.... so beast. Yes, subjectivity rules... I do love me the F10 M5 though, just haven't seen one in person yet.
Toyota developing MANUAL gearbox for future electric vehicles.... 
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...ic-tesla-rival

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...ic-tesla-rival
Toyota plans electric Tesla rival
Firm plans sporty battery-powered cars with electric motors mated to manual gearboxes
The Toyota GT2000 EV previews Toyota's electric powertrain
by Vicky Parrott
12 July 2012
Toyota is plotting an all-electric sports car to rival Tesla as part of a host of new performance models planned in the coming years.
Naohiko Saito, Toyota’s handling guru, has said the electric powertrain previewed in the Toyota 2000GT EV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is “an early part of the development process involved in refining the technology”. He added that the technology would be seen first in a city car before being developed for a sports car.
That could involve mating a manual gearbox to the electric drivetrain, something which is being developed in the 2000GT EV. It channels power through an electric motor and works in conjunction with an inverter that alters torque levels being sent to the wheels depending on the ratio chosen.
Hiroyuki Ogawa, Toyota’s advanced drivetrain engineering chief, said there was “a desire to use a manual gearbox in our electric and hybrid sports cars”.
He added the CVT gearbox was “efficient but not fun”, and the manual ’box “promises much better feel for the driver”. A production manual hybrid from Toyota is at least three years away, he confirmed.
Firm plans sporty battery-powered cars with electric motors mated to manual gearboxes
The Toyota GT2000 EV previews Toyota's electric powertrain
by Vicky Parrott
12 July 2012
Toyota is plotting an all-electric sports car to rival Tesla as part of a host of new performance models planned in the coming years.
Naohiko Saito, Toyota’s handling guru, has said the electric powertrain previewed in the Toyota 2000GT EV at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is “an early part of the development process involved in refining the technology”. He added that the technology would be seen first in a city car before being developed for a sports car.
That could involve mating a manual gearbox to the electric drivetrain, something which is being developed in the 2000GT EV. It channels power through an electric motor and works in conjunction with an inverter that alters torque levels being sent to the wheels depending on the ratio chosen.
Hiroyuki Ogawa, Toyota’s advanced drivetrain engineering chief, said there was “a desire to use a manual gearbox in our electric and hybrid sports cars”.
He added the CVT gearbox was “efficient but not fun”, and the manual ’box “promises much better feel for the driver”. A production manual hybrid from Toyota is at least three years away, he confirmed.
that would be weird haha a manual in an all electric car.
COming to the shift points you would have to pay close attention or i'd assume they'd but some audible tone to let you know you're nearing redline. Wait is there even a redline now?
COming to the shift points you would have to pay close attention or i'd assume they'd but some audible tone to let you know you're nearing redline. Wait is there even a redline now?
Most all-electric cars are only one-speed transmissions. No need to shift at all. In fact, a major contributor to the delay in getting the first Tesla model to market was their effort to develop a 2-speed trans...which (I don't think) they ever succeeded in doing.
for those wondering about sound options, see below. Toyota is a fun company, I would not be surprised at all if they implemented something similar to that in a production vehicle.
http://blog.roadandtrack.com/classic...ed-into-an-ev/
http://blog.roadandtrack.com/classic...ed-into-an-ev/
Classic Toyota 2000GT Turned Into an EV
January 19, 2012 by Nick Kurczewski
This could be your electric-powered dream machine, or your worst classic car nightmare. Under the auspices of the Toyota Automobile Association, and officially titled “Crazy Car Project,” a group of engineers have turned a Toyota 2000GT sports car into a solar-powered and zero-emissions classic.
That sounds fine, until you remember that Toyota built only 337 examples of the 2000GT from 1967-70. A convertible version – while never officially produced – made a very memorable appearance in the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.” Powered by an inline-6, the rear-wheel-drive 2000GT is considered the first Japanese supercar. Pristine examples have sold for more than $300,000.
Apparently, tradition took a backseat to innovation with this EV project. Not only was the vintage engine replaced by an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack, the engineers had some fun with the car’s exhaust note. EVs normally operate in near total silence. However, the driver of the 2000GT SEV (Solar Electric Vehicle) can opt for an exhaust note that sounds like a rocket, airplane, or horses galloping.
While it’s definitely amusing, we’re hoping the 2000GT’s original parts are sitting on a shelf somewhere, ready to be refitted once the novelty wears off.
January 19, 2012 by Nick Kurczewski
This could be your electric-powered dream machine, or your worst classic car nightmare. Under the auspices of the Toyota Automobile Association, and officially titled “Crazy Car Project,” a group of engineers have turned a Toyota 2000GT sports car into a solar-powered and zero-emissions classic.
That sounds fine, until you remember that Toyota built only 337 examples of the 2000GT from 1967-70. A convertible version – while never officially produced – made a very memorable appearance in the James Bond film “You Only Live Twice.” Powered by an inline-6, the rear-wheel-drive 2000GT is considered the first Japanese supercar. Pristine examples have sold for more than $300,000.
Apparently, tradition took a backseat to innovation with this EV project. Not only was the vintage engine replaced by an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack, the engineers had some fun with the car’s exhaust note. EVs normally operate in near total silence. However, the driver of the 2000GT SEV (Solar Electric Vehicle) can opt for an exhaust note that sounds like a rocket, airplane, or horses galloping.
While it’s definitely amusing, we’re hoping the 2000GT’s original parts are sitting on a shelf somewhere, ready to be refitted once the novelty wears off.
for those wondering about sound options, see below. Toyota is a fun company, I would not be surprised at all if they implemented something similar to that in a production vehicle.
http://blog.roadandtrack.com/classic...ed-into-an-ev/
http://blog.roadandtrack.com/classic...ed-into-an-ev/
That would be stating it mildly.
I never considered myself an automotive "purist", but I am starting to re-evaluate that about myself; I just can't get on board with some of this crap.
I never considered myself an automotive "purist", but I am starting to re-evaluate that about myself; I just can't get on board with some of this crap.
I guess you haven't seen this:
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OT for a second...but who else loves these?...
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3109540200.html
This is great looking as well...
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3140754067.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3109540200.html
This is great looking as well...
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3140754067.html
OT for a second...but who else loves these?...
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3109540200.html
This is great looking as well...
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3140754067.html
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3109540200.html
This is great looking as well...
http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3140754067.html













or even anything cheaper for that matter