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.

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.

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.

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.

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 silliest car ever made

Jeep SRT Blog: The most pointless vehicle?

By Zachary Filtz

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Have you ever wondered what the most pointless car is on the market not right now on U.S. soil? No, Mercedes-Benz, does not build it. It is not the CLS-class AMG, nor is it the station wagon-like Benz E63 AMG Wagon. The Wagon can get honorable mention. Chrysler-Fiat Corporation currently makes it. What is it? It is the hot rod-like Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.

The Grand Cherokee has long offered available additional power, but only since the previous gen did it start offering the famous “Hemi” moniker, and only since 2012 has it offered this large, heavy 6.4-liter good-old iron block monster. Let’s crunch the numbers. The SRT G-Cherokee serves up an impressive 470 horsepower (tying the Chrysler 300 SRT and about tying the also-large Dodge Charger SRT), 465 pound-feet of torque, and is about good for a 0-60 rush of just under 5.0 seconds, at least with the outgoing, if dated, 5-speed automatic transmission, which dates to the era when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

            Why is this unnecessary, may the reader ask? How many SUVs can you think of that that have almost more power and torque than a V-8 Camaro? It gets worse. There is not much practicality, as the 4WD system is really tuned to operate like an all-wheel-drive system, making it less friendly through the mud like the regular GC is, and more suited to a drag strip, or airport runway. In other words, an SUV that does not do what SUVs are known for. With the Jeep name, one thinks of a car that does what the billy-goat does, climb mountains, run through the mud and descend steep hills. Not so with the SRT GC. It is tuned to turn like a car, with its big wheels and tires, but it does like to steer well. How well can a 5300-pound sport utility turn?

            I create this idea that it is pointless with this. If you want an SUV with power, then there are other options. BMW sells a few V-8 options with its X5 sport utility, I believe Mercedes still offers a V-8 with the ML-class, and Audi only offers smaller engines for its sport utilities. So, if a customer wants power, why not consider those, or something like a Charger sedan? Perhaps with the Hemi, or the Challenger in some off-the-wall color, or something similar. Is there really a market for Grand Cherokee SRT to continue?

            It also is not very new. It has been sold on our shores for the last eight years, skipping a year before it got redesigned, and then started to be available again. It started off as a mid-size GC with what appeared to be a cheap body kit, huge, shiny-looking wheels, and still a tuned V-8 that would top 140. It was as fast a Ford Mustang in a straight line. But not like Mustang buyers would care. What has changed since then? Nothing, it is the same formula, save for the $70,000 sticker price. A person could buy two Camaros for that price, and probably have more fun than something like this.

            With Chrysler’s recent mistake by trying to make the SRT name its own brand, as well as refusing to offer individual SRT dealer, the brand will now fold back under the Dodge group. This was to include the Charger and Challenger cars. This means that Grand Cherokee SRT was to be sold at Jeep dealers again rather than Chrysler-Dodge-SRT dealers, and what appears to be the end of the 300 SRT sedan, which was the first of the still-in-production Chrysler cars to be available with the SRT tuning treatment. In other words, the fate of the Grand Cherokee SRT is uncertain. If you are looking to buy a heavy SUV that goes fast in a straight line and a high sticker price, then the Jeep SRT just might be your ride.

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