Archives

This is called: A Day in the Life of an Internet Auto Forum. It is 5 minutes long but you may enjoy!:eek:
http://www.youtube.com/v/WWnAdB-vkXo&hl=en_US&fs=1

I love it! Every one of us can think of the name (or names) of at least one "car guy" who sounds much like the motorhead in the video. They are "experts" because they spent 5 grand on performance enhancements and fat tires. And they don't want to hear that the real experts are the ones who appreciate the delicate balance of performance, fuel economy, and durability that the OEM engineers achieved. The motorhead in the video is dead on with the "single mom who can change the timing belt and water pump in her driveway with an impact wrench and common tools that everyone has." and "the clutch replacement can wait until next month."

It's worth the five minutes to watch all of it. I never knew that autocrossing was a great way for a single mom to bond with her child, but now I am properly informed. :)

Hey, she could wait a bit and them buy a used Cruze, or wait a bit and she can buy a new one for $15000.

Hard to go wrong with a Corolla-you can get a new one for $15000 otd if you get a good sale.

Yeah, hard to beat a Corolla for $/utility/mpg.Have a bit more $$-Matrix if they still make them-love those hatchbacks.

I'm constantly pointing out- on various forums-that CAIs are generally a rip off.They CAN'T improve part throttle FE in a modern vehicle, and in truth the tiny bit of extra peak power a dyno might show, doesn't mean they will actually accelerate faster, since they usually foul up the carefully configured intake tuning the OEM guys set up.

CAIs are a waste of $$, generally won't improve acceleration, and never improve FE.

Want more power-same part throttle FE- get N2O- it might trash your motor of course, but at least it actually makes you quicker-when on the juice, and your not on the juice FE should remain the same.

Charlie
PS For the most part,same story for aftermarket exhaust systems.
PPS- slightly different story for modern turbo diesel pickups, but hop up parts ruin reliability and reliability is everything in a work truck.USA Turbo diesel pickups are work trucks/towing trucks. Hard to justify them for anything other than towing and hauling. If a smaller USA TD truck (like the Sprinter) every comes around-different story-they could be travel vehicles.

Charlie,
Remember the Cruze, Corolla and Matrix are "wrong wheel drive" and so you can't "drift" with them. They don't have at least 200hp and can't pull 0.90g on the skidpad. And they don't have a trunk wing or "Type-R" stickers on them, and both deficits seriously lower the engine's horsepower.

To review - Horsepower is calculated this way:
- Start with 50.
- For each level on the wing on your trunk, add 30.
- For each "Special Edition", "Type R", "Speed 3", or "Vtec" sticker or badge, add 40.
- Measure the wheel rim diameter, subtract the stock rim diameter, and multiply the difference by 25.
- If equipped with aftermarket ground effect body kit, add 60.
- If you can get your friends to believe that you can complete the quarter mile in under 12 seconds (even if you can't), add 100.
- If the windows are tinted dark enough to be illegal, add 35.
- Add 20 if equipped with a fart can or other exhaust enhancement.
- Add 15 for clear taillights and/or trunk mounted television antenna.

Add them all up and it's easy to see how Single Mom can have a 350hp rear drive vehicle that, if not necessarily safe, will certainly be fast enough to evade the police. And that adds in the bonus of keeping her insurance premiums lower as well.

</sarcasm> :D

Hi Mike;

Awesome video !!!
It really does a good job of capturing the absurdity that goes on in many online forums.

If I can't call this "dead-on" then I don't what else will do a better job and be just as hilarious at the same time. :D

Cheers

MSantos

This is soooo spot on!!!!

It not only illustrates people with a automotive opinion, but in general opinionated people that are oblivious to how the rest of the world thinks.

An example: I could understand during the Cold War Communists felt their government and way of life was better, but their view of the rest of the world was distorted. This both amused and frightened me (since they had the bomb). Many of the leaders in the Kremlin believed their own propaganda that Washington was just as autocratic as their government, with the FBI stalking us like the KGB did their citizens, etc, etc. Again, their worldview was one thing - what disturbed me is they also allowed their worldview to totally misunderstand us.

Back ontopic: we have had gearheads that project our motives for buying a Prius is EXACTLY like their motives for buying a bling-bling vehicle. They don't or refuse to get it. It's not stupidity in the conventional sense. In fact, if the gearhead in the video was a used car salesman, anyone here think he would loosen up? ;)

Maxx- right-forgot about "needing" RWD!
Yeah, need at least 200 hp. Heck in 18000 miles I seriously doubt that my 5200 lb vehicle(loaded to 6300 lbs on trips) has ever seen more than about 100 of its 250 hp.It has never seen full throttle- never been over 3200 RPMS.

Very few vehicles actually need more than 150 hp.Work trucks, yes, the rest not really.

That covers about 90% of the car forums i lurk in. :biglol:

Yeah i loved this video, pure gold.

"RWD car for superb handling dynamics!"