Visiting an old friend

The 2005 - 2006 Ford GT is an instant classic.

The manufacturer-claimed 550 horsepower from the truck engine-based supercharged V-8 did not have much exotic technology, the GT is Ford's permanent stamp in sports car history.

Priced at the time at $150,000, the car was expensive but not exotically so. The big Ford accelerated like a car with more power for its price. Back then, other cars costing $150k consisted of a luxury car super-expensive edition:
the tuned BMW Alpina B7 sedan,
rough price of any tractor-trailer truck (requires a CDL),
stock Mercedes Benz S55 AMG,
and, if memory serves, different variations of the Porsche 911 Turbo, probably the Turbo S, which back then made somehow made less power than this big Ford.

Acceleration wise, the big Ford did the 0-60 time in 3.6 to 3.7 seconds, apparently depending on the weather and skill of the test driver who was testing it. Even today, that is still very fast.
Zero to 100 took around 12 seconds. Today, the Ford amazingly still does not have a confirmed and verified top speed -- Motor Trend tested 200.1 mph in late 2004. The car's 6 gears are extremely wide, almost like that of a truck - still thundering along in 5th gear around 200 mph.

A decade later, the car saw a careless revival, a V-6 powered car with nearly 650 hp -- car magazines cared but Ford fans, truck fans, and obviously V-8 fans didn't pay attention: they cared about preserving and treasuring the memory, stats, times, and great value that the 2005 and 06 Ford GT cars presented to the world.

Retro "Need for Speed" pleasant pastime decades later

Retro racing games can be a harmless pastime

February 2017

            You can learn a lot from retro, cheap, and forgotten racing games. For me, I have learned they have cars, toys, and a fun time burning off some steam from an otherwise long month in the life of this blogger.

            I traded the cute but glitzy Need for Speed: Underground 2 for one of its predecessors, Need for Speed: High Stakes. The fourth road racing game from EA, my copy has the green “Greatest Hits” signification on the side; denoting one million or more sales.

            I found myself thinking of the game for months beforehand, even requesting it at my local retro game store.

            Since I have loaded into my PlayStation 2, I have found myself falling in love with those sports cars from the 1990s, which reads like a modern cast of “The Cannonball Run”: Porsche 911 Turbo, Lamborghini Diablo SV, McLaren F1 GTR, Ferrari F50, . . . the list goes on for a total of eighteen. That may be less than some other games, but it’s enough to get your gears going.

                                                           Pic credit: Wikimedia commons

            Starting the game up in test drive mode, the cars accurately reflect real-life features. Neither Diablo nor the F50 have traction, braking, or stability systems to keep them on the road (the other cars have such systems). The F50 zings and misbehaves a lot an old PS1 game; oversteering at will as if to anger the player.

            After watching some videos of the previous (but not immediate predecessor) Need for Speed II, I can say that this iteration portrayed itself as a fine balance of simulation and classic arcade game. The cars of the late 90s are all here, and while some of them handle pretty much identically, some of them oversteer strongly. The engines snarl, whine, growl, shriek, bark, and dance to redline; cars roll and crash in spectacular wrecks, other traffic cars honk at you, and the player can even see the driver's avatar move the steering wheel turn in accord with the player’s steering input. It’s these small details that make up a crescendo of a driving experience.

            At the end, I’m energized to go about the next day. Sliding this game into the disc tray and playing it is very much participating in a retro digitization of seeing people do the very things that young men dream of doing with beautiful sports cars. Those things are speed and dance through corners. 
            Thanks for the retro ride, High Stakes. It was nice meeting you again.

4 Great BMW Engines

August 2016

4 Great BMW engines

            A few weeks ago, I saw the new BMW M4 crackle and whine by, its exhaust an interesting compromise of BMW high revving and air-ish sound as it drove. I wrote an editorial last year for my automotive purposes to explore why I did not like the M4's turbos. Call me close-minded, but I thought the higher revving M3 of yore was the life of the BMW party. 
            It hit me though.

            BMW is a carmaker who resorts to whatever it needs to make raw power, just now in a bit more responsible, buttoned-up, fuel efficient way.

        

           1. All normal BMW Inline Sixes—late 1970s to present day (not counting M3 engines! see #4)

            Applications: nearly all BMW's cars and sport utlities

Yielded anywhere as little >200 hp to nearly 500 (1970s M1 race car prototype).

            I can relate with hardcore Bimmer fan’s love of the company’s long running product, the inline six. The most epic example comes from the classic M1, sporting a strong-for-its-time 300 horsepower in 1978 road car spec, to nearly 500 for the prototype spec.

All this, plus strong torque, from 6 normally aspirated cylinders. Still defined as an engineering marvel for its time, the more basic-equipped sixes have been entertaining BMW owners for decades. The long time standard issue engine in several cars, the I-6 is now optional on many models including those cars just mentioned.

BMW’s other longtime selling point was the availability of the six with a manual, and in the 2 and 3 Series cars, that is something it continues to offer its customer base to this day.

In recent times, the engines have revved high, been equipped with as many as 3 turbos, and adopted hybrid drive systems.

2. 5.4 liter V-12

Applications: 1990s 750i/iL, 1990s 850i Coupe (limited production)

OK, so the old 5.4-liter V-12 was not high on power, but it was a bold effort from the engineering team to create its first V-12. This brand new engine signaled the turning point for an ultimate engine that would very mildly share of the same architecture and cylinder count as the McLaren F1 road car would—just much smaller, weaker valves) and half the power (320-hp instead of 627). The big Seven was and is a great sporting luxury cruiser, and paved the way to its faster, more respected 438-hp successor: the 760i V-12.

As for acceleration for the Seven with the 5.4? Slower than any of the today’s generation cars, but still packing more a bit more juice than the base V-8 did. My point is that although this was not a powerful car, it had the beginnings of the engine block for the McLaren F1, as well as the lush Rolls-Royce Phantom.

3. 5.0 liter high-revving V-10

            Applications: 2005-10 M5 sedan and M6

            While applied to what some call an overly technological car, the racing-derived replaced the venerable V-8 from the 2000 M5. Sporting an awesome 500 hp rating, this V-10 redlined at 8250; possibly the highest of any luxury sedan for its time. Although electronically limited to 155 mph, a YouTube search for the cars shows what appear to be 200-mph attempts with the limiter deactivated. Note: Deactivating the limiter on your car  voids the warranty.

            4. 3.2 liter M-engineered 24-valve inline six

            Applications: 2001-04 M3; Z4 M Roadster and Coupe; Z3 M Roaster

            This snappy, zingy, torquey, and downright fantastic driver’s engine was strictly employed within a variety of M products, including the great 2001 – 2004 generation M3. That car that is still mentioned in a variety of car blogs, forums, magazines, German tuner mags since its introduction.

            Basically a teched-out, stroked, and higher-performance version of the 3.0-liter six, the car revved high, much like the V-10 also in this article: nailing hitting 333 hp at 7900 rpm in the M3, losing only 3 of those horses for the Z4 M coupe and roasters.

            It helped the American market M3 hit 0 to 60 in a fast 4.9 seconds, making a racket all the way there. Lighter-weight CSL cars did the deed in closer to 4.7, but BMW has always been conservative in their performance numbers.

            The best part? A used copy of these preferably with the stick makes for a great used car bargain, dipping as low as under $15,000 for a higher-mileage example with some dings and scrapes.

2016 Mopar RAM Rebel to hit dealers soon

For truck enthusiasts, Chrysler's SRT and Mopar parts division have been there for truck guys and gals through the years: Ram 2500 V-10, the Cummins engines introductions, Ram SS/T of late '90s, and then the 2005-06 RAM SRT-10 sport truck, with all the goods of the Viper sports car. 

But now, there will be a limited edition of the new RAM Rebel truck, the Mopar edition. Tested to be tough with its 5.7-liter HEMI engine and small ducts on the hood for the Mopar edition to assist with cooling the hot HEMI.

According to FCA US Replay, only 500 examples of the truck will be made for North America. Of those 500 units, 100 will be sold in FCA Canada.

All Mopar RAMs come standard with the 8HP70 fancy 8-speed automatic transmission.

It is an exciting time for the RAM truck brand, as research and development continue to impress new truck buyers.

Cool Viper Engine Ideas

Source: enginelabs

As I learned last year, Fiat Chrysler killed the SRT car brand--leaving the one of a kind Viper back to its Dodge division.

So what?

Well, Automotive News announced last week through their Web site that the UAW union voted on not continuing to produce the Viper after 2017.

So, a replacement then? Or something? Anything?

No. No replacement for the V-10 powered sports car.

After first being introduced at an auto show by Carroll Shelby in 1989, the car began production not entirely long after in 1992. It ran steady until 2010, after Chrysler basically got divorced and screwed over by Mercedes-Benz's parent company, then picking back up again for 2013.

Other than its Dodge Ram-based, Lamborghini-modified V-10 engine, the car never really took off. Here, I would love to include some fun engine ideas for the car as a Last Hurrah of sorts.

1. current Supercharged "Hellcat" V-8. Output: 707 horses

The Hellcat 6.2 is a mean but logical engine that is probably a lot cheaper to build than the Viper's literally unique, variable timing V-10 engine. It even eclipses

2. Base 6.4 liter Hemi. Output: 485 horses

Well, the mighty SRT Hemi engine from the Challenger, Charger and Grand Cherokee I also thought would be an excellent idea for under the hood. Cheap, too!

3. Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6, fully modified, turbos, direct injection, variable valve timing lift and control

Ok, so this engine does not really exist. But it would be frugal, interesting, and probably make it competitive something like the $80,000 Mercedes-Benz SL400, which as a base car, also has a twin turbo V-6.

Volvo T6 four cylinder nabs Wards Engines

Volvo T6 wins Wards Engine Award

By Zach Filtz for BOTFG

Posted 7 January 2016

For those of you who think your classic BMW straight-six is the royalty of premium cars, Volvo has put your mindsets on high alert. Volvo Cars’ T6 Drive-E engine has been named one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines.

Editors called it “arguably the new benchmark for high-output 4-cyl engines.”

For those unfamiliar with Volvo Car’s engine, the T6 Drive-E is a lightweight 4 cylinder engine that uses both a turbocharger and a supercharger to not only boost power, but to bring up its gas mileage. In other words, a performance and environmentalist’s dream brought to reality.

The T6 Drive-E engine can be found in the all-new XC90 SUV and S90 luxury sedan, which has not started production.

“Achieving an effective level of balance across comfort, efficiency and power has been the ultimate goal for our creation of the Drive-E engine family across our global model range,” said Michael Fleiss, Vice President of Powertrain at Volvo Car Group.

“The T6 Drive-E’s use of both supercharging and turbocharging, which is also being utilized in the new XC90, delivers a lively, compelling result,” Fleiss said.

WardsAuto editors selected the winners after spending October and November studying and driving all 31 nominees. There is no instrumented testing for their competition, per se. 

Editors score each engine based on horsepower, torque, comparative specs, noise attenuation, fuel economy and the application of new technology. The guiding principles: Does the engine or electric propulsion system truly sell the car or raise the bar for its competitive set?

While this is not an enthusiast-minded engine, it does produce a healthy 316 horsepower.

While the T6 has won the award now, this raises the question if the new T8 Drive-E—a super-hybrid powered version of the T6—would also win the Hybrid category for engines.

Truck choice post! Chevy or Chevy!

Hello, Filtz Guy car blog readers! As always, thanks for reading.

I have not been paying as much attention to this blog in recent months, because I had (past tense) picked up a blogging gig with another site.

Without further adieu, I have a truck choice for you: Chevy trucks against each other!

I am sure it is no secret that, since the full-size Silverado 1500 USA market truck was redesigned for the 2014 model year, Chevrolet upgraded their big V-6 all the way to 285 horsepower. That is quite a bit for a basic engine, thanks to all the technical doodads and new injection system that the engine received.

Credit: edmunds.com

And of course, Chevrolet brought back the Colorado back with 305 horsepower and $34,000, which is only a few thousand away when you compare it to fairly base Silverado V-6 (at $31,000 long bed 4x4). Check out the trucks!

What is your favorite Chevy truck--midsize or full-size?

2016 Car of the Year. Excuse me?

Motor Trend magazine of North America announce their Car, Truck, and SUV of the Year awards last month. That's fine and all, but I think a big shocker came when they announced Car of the Year.

It was the Chevrolet Camaro, both six and V-8 versions of it. Mother of pearl, yes, the Camaro!

This is the same model of car that Chevrolet left almost unchanged for years, specifically the last consecutive generation of the old car. It went from 1993 until the end of 2002, essentially unchanged save for some cosmetic modifications, and the addition of the Ram Air hood-to-engine power increasing system. 

Power for those old cars stopped climbing, and were rated at 315 horses for its final few years (SS version), and was long criticized for its aged looks and unrefined driving habits. A rough ride didn't help. It was "cheap" speed, though, sometimes overshadowed by unemployed car nuts such as myself. 

I may have been paying more attention to Hondas, instead, but 315 horses for a little less than $30,000 is still 315 horses, my friend. Of course, especially back in 2002 for those numbers.

But back to the main point here, and away from that rabbit trail. Has Chevy really perfected the pushrod sports car that much that a major publication hailed it as Car of the Year?

While I can understand why to an extent, I don't understand why because of the car's poor access, and its terrible windows and no vision.

Why is that enough to crown a car of the Year award? I am not sure, and I would satirically question if Motor Trend is sure other than the Camaro's go-fast mission, and GM's claimed ability for the Camaro "handle well."

Motor Trend, try to think with your head next time, and not your lead foot.

2016 Republican Candidates and the Cars they would be

2016 Election

Republican candidates and the cars they represent

Originally written 8/7/2015--Rejected from another major car blog for the possibility of angering people 

As I turned on the idiot box last night, I could not help to notice the first GOP debate was airing on Fox News. I did an article for my personal sake comparing authors to cars, but why not compare the aspiring GOP presidential candidates to the cars they in a sense represent?

Donald Trump: Extended length Cadillac Escalade with bumper stickers referencing The Apprentice as well as his ego. Probably has not been washed in a while, because like Trump, the truck has probably been all over the place.

Ben Carson: Carson has a calmer personality and does not appear to argue with other GOPs as much, so possibly something more conservative like a full size Chevrolet Impala. Maybe a clean one in all black, or dark blue.

Jeb Bush: Lincoln, but not an old Town Car. This Bush desires to be more progressive than the views the Town Car represented. But he’s not exactly poor either, so nothing below that, and he would not touch a Tesla with a 100-foot pole.

Rand Paul: Smart car/Scion IQ/Chevrolet Volt. Any of these do not blend in with other cars. They stick out, just like Paul’s almost libertarian views on a number of topics.

Chris Christie: Mercedes G550 (yes, the boxy one). This is because he is very different from the other GOPs because he is so moderate. He also appears to run other candidates over, according to the debate. Why not pick Earth’s ultimate 4x4 vehicle?

Mike Huckabee: Chevrolet Tahoe with Cross emblems on it. Perhaps a Jesus-based plate frame as well. Parked on the weekend? Church most of Sunday, as Huckabee is a vocally religious person.

Car Opinion: Could the new Bronco be a hit for Ford? BOTFG takes a look...

13 November 2015

Ford Motor Company is at it again.
Automoblog.net, the website that I write for, spilled the beans last week that we will be getting a new midsize-about SUV possibly dubbed the Bronco.
If you are new to cars and do not live in a rural area, you may not know what a Bronco is.
The Bronco, sold here from the 1960s well until 1996, was a midsize, if not almost full size, truck-based SUV that had a great reputation. Decent power, hard-working engines from the F-150, and excellent torque in the later Power Stroke diesel versions coupled to capable off-road driving made for a good nameplate.
After being phased out and being replaced by the V6-only Explorer urbanite of the 1990s (and still even today), Ford lost their two-door betweener-sized SUV. They also lost another diesel.
I think it is excellent news that they want to bring this famous nameplate back to Ford, and like the continued Research and Design division at Ford with strongly evolving technology, could mean renewed share of a the market for Ford, whom has lost to GM with the Tahoe/Suburban full sizers.
Long live the Bronco, and for oil's sake, sell us a powerful award-winning diesel in the U.S.

Used Luxury Car: Mercedes Benz SL folding hardtop

2009 Mercedes SL-class SL550/SL600

On: Why I think they are underrated

This short piece will be about why I miss the old SL550 by Mercedes--and why the SL600 is better for power, and a lot more fun to rocket around--without all the racket.

The 550 version of the SL today offers around 400 horsepower, if not a little more. What do I think? I think that is too much for an eight-cylinder powered car. It is also too close to the beloved twin turbo SL600 V-12's 510 hp figure. Even my own girlfriend thinks the V-12 needs to stay around after our conversation about the 600 last week.

Because no matter how much you boost a V-8 SL, it will never be as silky or effortless (common adjectives for Mercedes) as their excellent twin turbo V-12 motors. 
Starting with 493 hp in 2004 and now pegged at 510, the car currently boasts a truck-like 612 pound feet of torque, and remember this is all on pump premium gas we are talking about. Five and a half liters of all-aluminum, silky V-12 muscle that runs right into its 155 mph speed governor at full gas smash.

The old SL550's normally aspirated 5.5 liter V-8 was paired with the 7-speed automatic; a manual has not been available since the 1990s. And yes, the normally aspirated V-8 made the same displacement somehow as apparently "small" piston V-12 did.

The SL600, however, was paired with the slightly stouter 5-speed automatic to accommodate the 12 cylinder's torque. Used in the old Maybach 57 luxury sedans, these were stout engines and transmissions.

Step inside, and there is only room for the driver and the passenger. This is where I now think Mercedes hits the nail on the head, because interactive luxury systems are abound. Some of the goodies that will fit into the car's small interior are present, such as the smooth ride and fairly slow handing response. The SL will never let you forget you are driving a car that weighs almost as much as a Dodge Dakota does.

     Photo Credit: Google Images

What do you love about your truck No. 1: John Hoover and his F-150

TH BLOG of that Filtz Guy will be doing a series of timeless features this second half of the year 2015. John Hoover of Finleyville, Washington County, Pa., was the first to step up to the plate. Specifically, we will be interviewing truck owners about their trucks all around Western Penn.

While some working men use their trucks to carry fuel to construction equipment, John Hoover uses his sparingly
o help his kids move to new houses, and to haul of a bit of mulch for occasional mulching."

Hoover, who also owns two newer small SUVs, owns a 1989 Ford F-150 4x4 long bed, as pictured. He has put around 20,000 miles on the truck's odometer, which be bought from a friend somewhere around 2000-01. It's total mileage is right around 70,000 miles, which is read from a standard old school odometer.

It has locking hubs for 4 wheel drive, has no modifications, and a torque-rich big 4.9-liter six cylinder engine. It, as well as the close gearing of the 5-speed, help with work and hauling furniture. Its drivetrain has had no issues, as like other old school Ford 4.9s, it has been reliable for him.

While it's not for sale, Hoover said he has some some funny experiences of his ownership with it. He said when was helping haul a glass-topped picnic table, he said the table actually felt right out of the truck's bed around a sharp turn. "It was in the West End of Pittsburgh," he said, "and thankfully the table did not fall too far away from the road." Hoover said that he was thankful he did not have to clean up the mess, because he placed the table back in the bed, and was good to go afterward. There were no issues with it nor the truck.

He has only gone through one battery since bought it 15 years ago from a friend, and the motors for both of the windows do not work anymore.

Despite the Ford's wear and tear issues, 

"Once you own a truck, you will never want to go back to a car, or even a van."

While Hoover may not drive the truck on a regular basis, he does find enjoyment in helping his family, and driving one of the rare manual transmission trucks on American roads today.

21st Century of Guts: Why I still remember the forgotten GTO

8/3/15

I have been thinking about the sleek looking modern Pontiac GTO from about a decade ago. 
I have been thinking about its strong, somehow poetic 350-horsepower engine.
I think that the car kicks ass. But why did it go?

Who can forget such a car. The 2004 Goat boasted a 5.7 liter engine lifted from the Corvette. That car boasted a 0 to 60 time of a good 5.3 seconds for the stick and 5.4 for the automatic. Fast, but the auto's acceleration felt a little slow.

Source: Net Car Show website

Seeing the car lose its guts, all of its sales, and its availability for the American market.

It was kind of beautiful, if a little on the plain side. But I sure do miss seeing them on GM dealer lots.

I miss seeing them rumble quickly past everything in sight, only Corvettes and Subarus and other serious performance cars strong and light enough to keep up.

I miss the no-cost 6-speed manual option, one of the very few cars to offer such an option. I miss hearing those 'boxes clutches engage and then disengage, and then continue to wildly accelerate onto a freeway ramp. 

I have been thinking lately perhaps I will own such a car someday, used, with plenty of miles. And, just for kicks, an automatic car to mod it. 

The best sports car Ford made

I need to get this one off my chest. I have since joined another blog but I want to say this.

I think the Ford GT is one of the best Ford sports cars ever sold in the USA. 

I believe this even if Jeremy Clarkson asked Ford to take his car back.

The 2015 Charger

The 2015 Charger

June 18, 2015

The Charger is on its way to be a world class full-size sporting sedan.  With the release of the Hellcat and R/T Scat Pack models, good ol’ Mopar is returning to its early 1970s roots: where big power meets loud engines.

            It has also increased in technology too, for the most part. While fuel economy isn’t quite hybrid-ish, the big sedan starts things off with 292-hp six-cylinder. Not enough for you? A 375-hp Hemi is optional, with a top speed limiter.

            More juice comes from the SRT branch’s mechanical work on the SRT 392 (6.4 Hemi) and Hellcat, a new name that Chrysler is using for super-Hemis. Boasting 485 horsepower for the SRT and an extreme 707 for the Hellcat, these big machines mean business. All that power takes gears, and all Chargers start off with a new, class-leading 8-speed auto carried from the Ram trucks. Charger’s brother, Challenger, is the only one to offer a manual with these engines: a six-speed.

            Last year I pondered whether the Hellcat Challenger was going to be more badass and thus more popular than Chrysler’s other sports car: the Viper. Has Chrysler made their comeback with this supercharged 4-door behemoth?

American Writers' Personalities as Modern Cars

“What would you be if you were a car?” My father and I came up with this idea a few weeks ago.

While I have a hard time fitting myself into stereotypes, I think it would be fun to place the “personality” of today’s cars and associate them with famous American writers of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Flannery O’Connor—2015 Chevrolet SS

            One of the great American writers of Southern “grotesque,” O’Connor was known for writing stories that could be sometimes quite frightening, or appear to be timid at first and then shock the hell out of you. For a literary example, read “Good Country People.” The Chevy SS appears to be something like that—kind of average-looking sedan until you press the ignition button and drive the car onto a busy highway. Watch the smoke from the rear wheels appear into a cloud, then a mushroom cloud, and feel your heart speed until a stop while the fear of an overpowered sedan overtakes you.

Mark Twain—Bentley Flying Spur or 2015 Cadillac CTS

            Twain was not poor by any means, and it is understood that he enjoyed the wealth that he built from his traveling lectures. I had a hard time picking either a luxurious Bentley sedan or Cadillac’s newest car, the CTS. I suppose it could vary depending on how patriotic Twain was feeling, but with his money he would enjoy fine motoring in some sort of luxury.

T.S. Eliot—2002-05 Jaguar X-type

            Eliot and his poetic colleague, Ezra Pound, were born in America but hated living here. Eliot eventually took up British citizenship, which is why he is associated here with the Ford-made Jaguar X-type. Sold only for a few years in the States, the car was probably much less popular than his poetry about 100 years earlier.

F. Scott Fitzgerald—the President’s Cadillac limousine (unknown year)

            Scott Fitzgerald may ring a bell in many Americans who at least received a B in their high school English class. That’s because he is famously associated with the Jazz age, his tremendous if short-lived wealth, and his extraordinary income from his literature, such as “The Great Gatsby.” I figured why not pick the President’s very own limousine.

Tennessee Williams—1966 Shelby Cobra 427

            Although this is meant to associate authors with modern cars, I could not think of a car that was more associated with excess and drama than the king of American cars itself, the Shelby Cobra. Equipped with a mean 425 horsepower engine, the car could rocket to high acceleration numbers faster than anything else with plenty of noise, drama, and boys staring at it as it drove by. Williams was a purveyor of stories but also of drama, with his “A Streetcar Named Desire” hitting audiences in the 1950s. His critics complained of excess drama and sex in the play, as well as other literature he composed.

Leaving the place called 'weak and boring'

            Today’s cars need more performance-oriented models. There, I said it.

            I have said this before, but even Toyota’s chief executive said it. Where is the Supra that Motor Trend put on its cover last spring? It made it to the March 2014 and called it “The Next Supra,” with a question mark after it.

            Honda continues to offer a non-updated, 4-cylinder powered Civic Si for the older Honda performance crowd, which has good performance. But it offers 60 less horsepower than the turbo Subaru WRX. Why is this?

            Although this will sound like an opinion, what if Honda put some money aside to save their older, performance image. The newer CR-Z, the little hatchback that looks like a toy car, has similar power to the new Honda Fit, and less than the Civic, or Accord, or, well…a Hyundai Elantra for that matter. That is sad. So my idea to fix things, at least with Honda, is to offer some sort of fast badge on their cars.

            How so? I have blogged and video’s about it before, but the Accord V-6 has more speed than many cars. Why not offer a mildly faster Civic? Ditch the hubcap wheels, remove the rear seats, increase the wheel/tire size, and have Honda throw some money into creating something new. How about a new, radical interior? How about cool interior lighting? Or closer gearing, or even gearing at all? The Civic is no longer the fun young person's car, and almost feels too grown-up for its own good.