I agree with you in regards to import over domestic, the red text is for because this thread was started (years ago) in regards to high HP out of the box.
+1
Big American V8's are pretty simple to get more power out of. I had a buddy with one of the cylinder deactivation Hemis that he was pretty unhappy with (the cylinder deactivation part). Add a quick and easy chip to disable the deactivation and picked up 50 ponies.
While this may be true, people look at track records. The domestic companies may be putting out products that will go well into the 100K range now but it is a recent change where the Japanese cars have been doing it consistently since the 80's.

 

LOL I was just about to post about my Cobalt rental. We get the car from Enterprise and drive to our hotel and park. No problems. Get checked in and then drive downtown to get some pizza (we're in Louisville, KY). Park the car and come back after eating. I put the key in the ignition and the key won't turn. I turn the steering wheel back and forth and it still won't turn. Make sure the car's in park and put foot on brake pedal, still nothing. I call Enterprise and they send out AAA after having me repeat the steps I already took above. AAA comes out, tries it and still can't get the key to turn. The AAA guy gets a call on his walkie-talkie and I hear the guy on the other end tell him that the ignition lock-up is a recent recall/problem and the best way to get the car started is to hammer the key in. The AAA guy pulls out a rubber mallet and goes to town on the key. A second later the car starts. LOL, WTF I have to start the car by hammering the key into the ignition??! Needless to say we brought the Cobalt back to Enterprise and are now driving one sweet Dodge Caravan. Why me.

The most ironic part of the story is that the second they gave me the keys and I saw it was a Cobalt I started sulking because I had one once before as a rental and it was a major POS with only 5k miles on the odometer. I actually said to my fiancee when driving downtown that if I had to own this car I'd drive myself straight into a concrete barrier. I guess I should have taken my own advice.

 

Eh, i been really close to buying the GTO back in 04 but i think back then i picked the Audi A4.

Also recently the G8 was in my top 3 of cars that i wanted for a daily driver. Picked the 328i instead though.

 

Just an FYI, my Acura CL was made in Marysville, Ohio and my GTO was made in Australia.

What IS an "IMPORT" these days?

I've put 20K on my GTO in the first 1-1/2 years now and have had no problems with it at all. Even after modifying it a year ago. I have made over 80 1/4 mile passes at the track so far. I was afraid to bang on my CL that hard because of the rep that the tranny had.

I really do miss the Acura though. I hope to get the wife a new TL in a couple of years. She actually cried when I sold the CL.

 

I don't know if domestics are "in" but something to consider are the factors that causes changes in vehicle purchasing trends. If you look at users like myself and i'm sure many others on here have similar vehicle pasts/preferences, I've had 2 Hondas and 1 Acura, I'm 23 and am growing bored of the TL and looking for a new experience. For myself I've set my eye on a full size pickup (used 2006) and putting some money back into the bank. For others I wouldn't be surprised to see some young guys checking out GTOs, G8s, CTS etc. I think alot of us have been in the "IMPORT" scene for a long time now and are just looking for change, the domestics reliability/warranties have gotten good enough that you can buy one with a level of confidence.

 

I personally am not looking at American. I am thinking of downgrading from my 01 CL-S. I have a 07 TSX as well and have found for my need (point A to B driving) I need just a basic reliable fun sharp looking car. I don't want to drive a slug and I still want to enjoy some spirited driving but a car that does 0-60 in 5 sec flat is not in my needs anymore esp. with gas prices. American auto makers are still making crap (cobalt for example). I am more interested in VW GTI or Civic SI's now. I know the overall census is high school kids drive those but I don't care. You can't beat a fun little SI for 21K that I can pay off in 2 years. No car payment is the best car payment and that car would last me 10 years easy and still get 30+ mpg. So IMO Import>American Muscle.

P.S. All cylinder deactivation is crap! My neighbors honda accord v6 has it and she gets horrible gas mileage compared to my CL. Given the Accord has 3.5L and I have 3.2L but the hp isn't that far off. She averages 25 hwy w/ cly deact...where I get 30 hwy w/ all 6 cly. Thats crap.

 

Pretty much for performance cars, I'll usually go with cars from the Big 3. If I want econocars, I'll go with Honda and the like. I'll take a Civic Si over a Cobalt SS, but when it comes to a GTO, C6, or a G8.... there really isn't anything out there in the same price range that can compete.

I don't actually bring it to a shop unless I need to, but the only things I've changed are oil, oil filter, spark plugs + wires, and the rear axle fluid, all of which are regular maintenance.

 

It's one of the first mods G8 owners do to their cars.

 

For the price American muscle is #1 to an extent.
Now if you want to go above that price point and compare ferrari, lambo, bmw, merc, dodge viper, corvette zo6, etc...I think Nissian takes the cake price vs performance w/ the GTR.
so import vs mucle in this scenario import>american muscle.

 

To each his own. Personally (and I'm not alone in this) I would take the C6 Z06 over the GT-R anyday. In fact I would take an R34 GTR over the GT-R. Yes, the GT-R is a bit cheaper than the Z06, markups not considered, and it does offer better performance in some areas. But I personally can't stand the GT-R's looks.... I love the interior a lot, but its hardly sexy on the outside.

 

In the performance catergory the new battle in $100K and under range is the ZR-1 Vette and the GT-R. I like the GT-R better on "paper" (so to speak) but I would have to see, caress, smell and drive the both bfore I could decide. Anybody got a 100K they can spare?

For economy, give me a civic! I've owned 3 (1980, 1988, 1990) in my 30+ years of driving.

 

I miss my GTO it really was a well built car and I had zero issues with it.

 

I'm getting really tired of seeing that "944 track rat soon to have LS1 swap" in your sig.

When's it gonna say "944 LS1 track rat"?

 

not always Beetroot.
depends on what you're going for. cheap to upgrade. yes a 5.0 Mustang you can build a CRAZY fast with the car for maybe 10,000-15000 dollars. so the bolt ons and kits are out there for a lot of domestics. but as far as handling and fine tuned forced induction (like a Evo 10 or GT-R) yeah it takes money to "turn up" these cars but at the same time their more advance. they don't use pushrod motors, they (most of the time) rev higher than the domestics, they aren't as "crude". it's all what your taste is.
If you want a torque,lower rev, go like hell in a stright line,old school muscle:
go with a domestic like a Vette, G8, or Mustang
if you want to tear up corners, rev like a weed eater, more refined car,newer technology:
go with a Evo, GT-R or Sti

 

Author: JATHON SAPSFORD

???

 

I can agree with that, it is the ole "boost vs. displacement" arguement. It IS a subjective choice based on personal taste. However, I think you would be surprised at how well the new Vettes as well as the GTO/G8 can handle the twisty-turnies. They have very modern suspension technology. But the Mustang GT, yeah it still handles like a barge.

 

Because you used the word performance here instead of power (or raw power)
I have to through the Carrera S coupe into the mix. They are available for under 100K. It's up to 385hp and makes up for it's lack of power (compared to the vette and GTR) with very neutral handing.

 

I'm a big import fan, but are you kidding me with this statement? You are joking right? Just take a look at the aftermarket industry....imports are less then a 20% factor in it.

But also keep in mind, a LARGER portion of the domestic industury are go fast parts...that you wouldn't notice from the outside. I've got more off the shelf camshaft options for my GTO then the k-series probably has in performance parts for the motor as a whole. Have you ever opened just a mustang magazine? There are more mods for a mustang then probably all of acura's 2008 line.

And I'm a huge honda 4banger fan, i've got a b16 that's been sitting in my garage for years that everyday I itch to put in something, so i'm not discrediting honda.

 

I'm not trying to make a domestic stink, but my GTO has been in the shop A LOT less then my CL was


but then again one of the big factors for me buying the GTO was it wasn't made in the states

 

Nurburgring lap times: Aug 2008 (Source: Wikipedia)

Porche Carrera S = 7:50
Nissan GT-R = 7:29
Corvette ZR-1 = 7:26 (Record time for a stock production car)

 

viper AC-R just beat the ZR-1's ring time

 

Winter project...

 

This was the point I was trying to make

 

pick up a used or rough looking CRX Si like a 89 or 90 it will drop right in.
if you don't mind doing some bodywork and painting and work on them you can get them for like 1000 bucks out the door.

 

I'm guessing that's an 08 Carrera S not the 09 which has a different motor and tranny, not that 30 hp and a PDK will make up 21 seconds. But 21 seconds over 14 miles is not that substantial and I'd still take the Porsche over the Nissan or Vette because I think it's a more attractive car.

If it were me on the Nurburgring, I'd probably be fastest in the GTR with it's techno wizardry, 2nd in the Porsche because it makes you a better driver than you actually are and off the track in the Vette because I couldn't handle the power.

 

Fair enough. I'm looking forward to seeing some pics/vids. I've become a little fanatical with these renegade hybrids.

 

Pontiac G8 FTW....

 

The G8 is very very tempting for me

 

The Viper ACR is modified with aftermarket parts by a 3rd party and not included in the "factory production car" lists I have seen. But, it is a beast no doubt.

 

"7:50 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S Horst von Saurma Sport Auto (08/2008), PCCB, PDK, Sport Chrono Plus, Michelin Cup tires"

I like the Porsche classy styling too. I would probably chose the Porche if the 3 cars were put in front of me. Anything that can run the ring under 8 seconds is gonna be scary-fast enough for me.

 

i never got a pm back from you about gto's

lol, i decided to go with a '97 lexus sc400 instead to use as a nice fixer-upper project

 

Tell ya what, you find a car that can run the ring in under 8 seconds and I'll buy you a steak dinner.

 

nice, my mom had one of those, blast to drive!

 

it is a full production car, it just uses some aftermarket parts in production

 

i'm well aware of my options

 

That would be pretty awesome, huh

Make that minutes...lol

 

After driving a car with 738lb-ft of torque a month or so ago I'd like to hope I can own a big V8 American car so I have at least something in the way of low end torque.

 

the difference at "the ring" on a lap from a Vette ZR-1 to a Nissan GT-R is only 4 seconds. grant it 4 seconds sounds like a lot in racing but when cars making a lap in the 7-8 minute range. it's really not that much.
that's a example of just cause you got a 600+ hp machine your not king of the hill automatically.

 

I had a feeling that's what you meant, I'm not sure the space shuttle could do it in under 8 seconds.