General Car Talk Discussion Thread
AZ Community Team
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,103
Likes: 4,763
From: Maryland
can they get 450hp at the crank with 32+ mpg freeway?Just a guess, but I think the GM engineers can do it. Very low friction pushrod motor (cylinder deactivation?), low aero drag, sticky rubber doesn't help rolling friction, and typical tall Vette gearing will get it to 32+MPG.
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 64,155
Likes: 14,305
damn... if it had a 6MT I woulda flipped out...
http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/...itemid=1514173
http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/...itemid=1514173
2011 BMW M3
You are viewing a masterpiece of automotive manufacture. Brabham was always focusing on reducing the weight of their cars and increasing the bhp for best performance. The car is full carbon fiber, Spoilers, hood, boot lid, even the wheel housing is carbon fiber. Chassis, suspension, set up, all reinforced and focused on race performance and all day driving. Interior is full Rolls Royce leather, including the boot. Masterpieces rims and performance tires.The car got an outstanding 610+ bhp from a tuned 10 cylinder M5 5.8l natural aspirated engine and a perfect road holding at a top speed of 345 km/h This car is a must for whom respect it .
Item Number: 1514173
Mileage: 9300
Price: $199,000 / Call
Exterior: Silver
Interior: tan
Body Style: 2 Door Coupe
Engine: V10 5.8 litre
Transmission: Auto
Make: BMW
Model: M3
You are viewing a masterpiece of automotive manufacture. Brabham was always focusing on reducing the weight of their cars and increasing the bhp for best performance. The car is full carbon fiber, Spoilers, hood, boot lid, even the wheel housing is carbon fiber. Chassis, suspension, set up, all reinforced and focused on race performance and all day driving. Interior is full Rolls Royce leather, including the boot. Masterpieces rims and performance tires.The car got an outstanding 610+ bhp from a tuned 10 cylinder M5 5.8l natural aspirated engine and a perfect road holding at a top speed of 345 km/h This car is a must for whom respect it .
Item Number: 1514173
Mileage: 9300
Price: $199,000 / Call
Exterior: Silver
Interior: tan
Body Style: 2 Door Coupe
Engine: V10 5.8 litre
Transmission: Auto
Make: BMW
Model: M3
plus, dat widebody.
Engineer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 76
From: Boston
damn... if it had a 6MT I woulda flipped out...
http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/...itemid=1514173
http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/...itemid=1514173
If I was spending that much my car would look like one of the iND portfolio projects. Not that mess...
Engineer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 76
From: Boston
Saw that the other day... Beautiful project, what a beast!
It just keeps pulling and pulling.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,542
Likes: 6,192
From: Phoenix, AZ
C'mon. First, there are plenty of independent shops with more reasonable rates than the dealers. Second, any 9+ year old car is going to have more significant maintenance costs than a new one. My wife's Pilot will hit 10 years old in April of this year. I just spent over $2K in maintenance and repair costs to deal with the front struts going bad, among several other things, on that car. Is that really a better deal than I would have on maintenance on a 9 year old 645? I'm doubtful.
Your Friendly Canadian
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 17,447
Likes: 1,506
From: Toronto, Ontario
C'mon. First, there are plenty of independent shops with more reasonable rates than the dealers. Second, any 9+ year old car is going to have more significant maintenance costs than a new one. My wife's Pilot will hit 10 years old in April of this year. I just spent over $2K in maintenance and repair costs to deal with the front struts going bad, among several other things, on that car. Is that really a better deal than I would have on maintenance on a 9 year old 645? I'm doubtful.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,869
Likes: 3,489
C'mon. First, there are plenty of independent shops with more reasonable rates than the dealers. Second, any 9+ year old car is going to have more significant maintenance costs than a new one. My wife's Pilot will hit 10 years old in April of this year. I just spent over $2K in maintenance and repair costs to deal with the front struts going bad, among several other things, on that car. Is that really a better deal than I would have on maintenance on a 9 year old 645? I'm doubtful.
Never mind the labor cost... I've worked at a few auto parts vendors and it's obvious that parts for European makes - even the fluids - are more expensive in comparison to other makes.
some brief searching on the 645i reveals potential issues with the VANOS solenoids and seals, ignition coil failure, iDrive problems (fixable with update??), active steering rack failure ($$$$$)
I would love a new 6 Gran Coupe. It's probably my favorite sedan out there at the moment. Just don't want one when it's getting up there in miles and out of warranty.
Fahrvergnügen'd
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,494
Likes: 1,569
From: Maryland
C'mon. First, there are plenty of independent shops with more reasonable rates than the dealers. Second, any 9+ year old car is going to have more significant maintenance costs than a new one. My wife's Pilot will hit 10 years old in April of this year. I just spent over $2K in maintenance and repair costs to deal with the front struts going bad, among several other things, on that car. Is that really a better deal than I would have on maintenance on a 9 year old 645? I'm doubtful.
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 64,155
Likes: 14,305
when I took my BMW in to have some paint and a couple of dings fixed today, the service guy casually told me that I should probably get the oil changed, because I haven't in a long while (it's 10k between oil change but it goes by time period as well) - anyways I was like, heck, sure, go for it. He casually tells me, ok, that'll be $180. I'm thinking like uh, WHAT?
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 64,155
Likes: 14,305
oh yeah, wish I would have known when my free maintenance expired, in September 2012. 
partly my fault, I should have had it done before then. But I really didn't think it would be that much for an oil change.
partly my fault, I should have had it done before then. But I really didn't think it would be that much for an oil change.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,869
Likes: 3,489
that reminds me, does anyone know why so many new cars have transitioned to cartridge style oil filters? I am unsure of the advantages, other than being able to price gouge customers because no ordinary person has the tools to remove the new oil filter caps. Where do they sell those adapters anyway... would Harbor Freight have them?
also, anyone know how much Honda charges for an oil change on a Pilot?
also, anyone know how much Honda charges for an oil change on a Pilot?
Thread Starter
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 64,155
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Aston Martin's 100th anniversary this year! 
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/06/a...-in-2013-w-vid
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/06/a...-in-2013-w-vid
Aston Martin plans 100th Anniversary celebrations in 2013 [w/video]
By Jeffrey N. Ross RSS feed
Posted Jan 6th 2013 1:01PM
While we will just be catching our breath after obsessively covering the Detroit Auto Show, Aston Martin will be kicking off a yearlong celebration commemorating 100 years since the automaker's creation. Incorporated back in 1913, Aston Martin will be spending the year hosting numerous events in Europe and the US to celebrate. The company even created a special centenary logo aimed at commemorating the past and looking ahead to the future.
The festivities begin on January 15 when Aston Martin will present a plaque at the company's original headquarters at Chelsea's Henniker Mews in London, England followed by a reenactment of Lionel Martin at a separate event in London; both will feature a new Aston Martin Vanquish alongside the third car the automaker ever produced – a prototype named A3. In July, from the 15th through the 21st, Aston Martin will have more celebrations at its current headquarters in Gaydon, and this will include a car show with as many as 1,000 cars in attendance making it the largest gathering of Aston Martins in the automaker's history. Other events include a James Bond-inspired drive through England and Wales making site stops for past 007 movies, and there will be a driving event in California preceding this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Scroll down for a brief video and an official press release detailing Aston Martin's centennial celebrations.
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By Jeffrey N. Ross RSS feed
Posted Jan 6th 2013 1:01PM
While we will just be catching our breath after obsessively covering the Detroit Auto Show, Aston Martin will be kicking off a yearlong celebration commemorating 100 years since the automaker's creation. Incorporated back in 1913, Aston Martin will be spending the year hosting numerous events in Europe and the US to celebrate. The company even created a special centenary logo aimed at commemorating the past and looking ahead to the future.
The festivities begin on January 15 when Aston Martin will present a plaque at the company's original headquarters at Chelsea's Henniker Mews in London, England followed by a reenactment of Lionel Martin at a separate event in London; both will feature a new Aston Martin Vanquish alongside the third car the automaker ever produced – a prototype named A3. In July, from the 15th through the 21st, Aston Martin will have more celebrations at its current headquarters in Gaydon, and this will include a car show with as many as 1,000 cars in attendance making it the largest gathering of Aston Martins in the automaker's history. Other events include a James Bond-inspired drive through England and Wales making site stops for past 007 movies, and there will be a driving event in California preceding this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Scroll down for a brief video and an official press release detailing Aston Martin's centennial celebrations.
<object width="853" height="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Unpwa4xK6P0?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Unpwa4xK6P0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="853" height="480" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
Fahrvergnügen'd
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,494
Likes: 1,569
From: Maryland
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,869
Likes: 3,489
(I don't know the slightest thing about Land Rovers other than their off-road prowess)
Am I crazy for seriously considering purchasing a Passat TDI as a daily driver? I've never owned a VW. I've actually only ever driven one once and it was a CC rental. And it broke down on me. 
Valve stem failed.
40 mpg. Pretty big car compared to the competition. Leather. Nav. Pretty good audio. $30k.
Valve stem failed. 40 mpg. Pretty big car compared to the competition. Leather. Nav. Pretty good audio. $30k.
