First Drive: Widebody Challenger

[AllBlack05S]

ass ugly? this from the guy who has a list of generic 3 box sedans, a jeep, and one car with any style in his sig list 

[AllBlack05S]

Oh and a Mini isn't a straight line car either. Its got a 1.6 liter 4 banger not a 5.2 V12.

The purpose of that wide of rubber width is 2-fold the primary of which is getting 600whp to the ground in a front drive car. The second is pure looks.

This is the previous look of the car:






p.s. knowing the driver I'd wager that on a run around Streets of Willow (for example) a lambo would not fare as well as you think it would against that car.

[Elmo187]

how big of a guy are you? because i'm a pretty husky and tall guy, and that's one of the cars i might end up replacing my 'Balt. you're just making me want them more from your version of the Coop, and his. i'm wondering how much a 1st generation JCW might be.

EDIT (yes, i know its a few hours old, but oh well): i can find an R56 Coop S for around the same price as a Cobalt SS Turbo. so i'm gonna try and find an R56 and test drive it to compare. already test drove the 'Balt SS Turbo, i'm leaning towards that right now, but won't make my mind up until i've eliminated all other options. i've already eliminated a WHOLE bunch of others ones.

2005 Dodge Neon SRT/4
2006 Acura RSX-S
2007 Scion tC TRD Supercharged
2007 Honda Civic Si
2007 VW GTI

doubt i could find a JCW for around that price though.

[S POWRD]

LOL, yeah. A widebody Mini IS ass ugly... I don't know what you're talking about generic sedan... Last I looked I could care less how EITHER of my cars looked. I don't buy a cars to show it off in a parking lot with a bunch of morons, I bought my cars to DRIVE, and they both do that extremely well... Better than most Mini's. And I don't know how you can call an S4 generic  

And making a mini 600 HP makes it pretty much useless anywhere other than in a straight line. I'm sure if you throw in a couple curves and a hairpin corner that mini will be demolished by any Italian car. They should have kept it like it was. It looked like EVERY other mini out there, but at least it wasn't ass ugly.

But I guess because you own a "British" car that makes you know everything else about every other car.

And thanks for the personal bash, BTW. It was truly called for... 

[S POWRD]

how big of a guy are you? because i'm a pretty husky and tall guy, and that's one of the cars i might end up replacing my 'Balt. you're just making me want them more from your version of the Coop, and his. i'm wondering how much a 1st generation JCW might be.

EDIT (yes, i know its a few hours old, but oh well): i can find an R56 Coop S for around the same price as a Cobalt SS Turbo. so i'm gonna try and find an R56 and test drive it to compare. already test drove the 'Balt SS Turbo, i'm leaning towards that right now, but won't make my mind up until i've eliminated all other options. i've already eliminated a WHOLE bunch of others ones.

2005 Dodge Neon SRT/4
2006 Acura RSX-S
2007 Scion tC TRD Supercharged
2007 Honda Civic Si
2007 VW GTI

doubt i could find a JCW for around that price though.

LS2 GTO

[jjo]

EDIT (yes, i know its a few hours old, but oh well): i can find an R56 Coop S for around the same price as a Cobalt SS Turbo. so i'm gonna try and find an R56 and test drive it to compare. already test drove the 'Balt SS Turbo, i'm leaning towards that right now, but won't make my mind up until i've eliminated all other options. i've already eliminated a WHOLE bunch of others ones.

2005 Dodge NSRT-4
2006 Acura RSX-S
2007 Scion tC TRD Supercharged
2007 Honda Civic Si
2007 VW GTI

doubt i could find a JCW for around that price though.

    1)I've always wondered about the Turbo Solstice's/GXP's ...too small for ya ?

    2)What about the new(er) Mitsu Lancer Sportback Ralliart w/ it's cheaper price & detuned snail ?
    linky : http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/03/30/first-drive-2009-mitsubishi-lancer-sportback.htm?page=all
   
     3) And the somewhat tuneable Mazda MS3 

 

[Elmo187]

the Solstice GXP isn't in my price range and i'm also not in the market for a 2 seater coupe/roadster.

the Lancer RalliArt Sportback is butt ugly and is a major pig in the weight department.

i'm also not in the market for ANOTHER V8 RWD coupe. i already have one powerful V8 in my stable. i am very fond of the LS2 GTO, but i don't need another V8 RWD coupe.

[AllBlack05S]

LOL, yeah. A widebody Mini IS ass ugly...

All current Mini wide body kits suck this car is going to have a one off hand made body (kinda like a ferrari) if it can't be done and look good trust me he won't do it he'll sell the wheels and go narrower.

I don't know what you're talking about generic sedan... Last I looked I could care less how EITHER of my cars looked. I don't buy a cars to show it off in a parking lot with a bunch of morons, I bought my cars to DRIVE, and they both do that extremely well... Better than most Mini's. And I don't know how you can call an S4 generic  

You don't care about how it looks but it ruffled your feathers to hear it described as generic though. By generic I mean generic following the sedan small box followed by a big box followed by a small box design set out by mercedes in the '60s and practiced to this day by almost all car manufacturers. And yes an S4 is generic by those criteria its a mass produced A4 with some minor body cues and a nice motor. Doesn't mean I don't like them, just means its generic. Just like my 3 cars are generic hatches. Hell 2 of my cars look almost exactly alike.

And making a mini 600 HP makes it pretty much useless anywhere other than in a straight line. I'm sure if you throw in a couple curves and a hairpin corner that mini will be demolished by any Italian car. They should have kept it like it was. It looked like EVERY other mini out there, but at least it wasn't ass ugly.

You know this from your massive experience driving 600hp Minis right? Have you even driven a Mini at all? How about one with the suspension set up correctly? What does peak hp have to do with handling anyway? Oh yeah nothing.

But I guess because you own a "British" car that makes you know everything else about every other car.

As I'm sure you know and likely the reason behind your "quotes". Minis aren't British they're German. Country of final assembly doesn't determine it, if it did Camrys would be American cars.

I own 3 German cars and a Vespa. I HAVE driven Italian cars, British cars, Japanese cars, and American cars. All told I have more than likely logged close to 1/2 a million miles behind the wheel. I haven't aggressively driven a Lambo and I'll wager you haven't either. You are the one who are making broad brush statements about other cars based on your 5 long years of driving experience. You may be a wrench and a car nut but I'd bet booze I know more about more and different cars just by nature of being a car nut and DRIVING for longer than you have been alive.

And thanks for the personal bash, BTW. It was truly called for... 

Personal bash? Didn't make any shot at anything but the style of a car just like you did.

[AllBlack05S]

how big of a guy are you? because i'm a pretty husky and tall guy, and that's one of the cars i might end up replacing my 'Balt. you're just making me want them more from your version of the Coop, and his. i'm wondering how much a 1st generation JCW might be.

EDIT (yes, i know its a few hours old, but oh well): i can find an R56 Coop S for around the same price as a Cobalt SS Turbo. so i'm gonna try and find an R56 and test drive it to compare. already test drove the 'Balt SS Turbo, i'm leaning towards that right now, but won't make my mind up until i've eliminated all other options. i've already eliminated a WHOLE bunch of others ones.

2005 Dodge Neon SRT/4
2006 Acura RSX-S
2007 Scion tC TRD Supercharged
2007 Honda Civic Si
2007 VW GTI

doubt i could find a JCW for around that price though.

six three 260ish I fit the R56 well with or without sunroof the 1st gen I fit (barely) with the sunroof if I could have found one the way I wanted it it wouldn't have had the roof but for 16,400 I couldn't pass a car with everything but nav still in warranty.

Second gen car vs cobalt SS turbo I'd go cobalt myself. they are alot closer to done than the R56 Minis the R56 are too much of a compromise IMO.

Don't waste your time looking for a JCW car you're paying for the badging. the $32,000 GP edition was 214 crank hp the JCW kit cars were 214 and 210 depending on how much tune you wanted to pay for. A $17,000 first Gen S and a grand or so in parts and you're at the same spot.

[AllBlack05S]

    What kinda HP & Tq did this mini put out ?  I'm likin the FMIC and curious why the
choice of 18's for the Slicks/DR's     

specs of the abf drag car:
2002 Cooper S
stock 2006 harmonic balancer (2.5 pounds lighter)
stock R53 block (no girdles)
stock R53 cam
stock R53 rocker arms
stock R53 oil pump
balanced and blueprinted
Carillo Pro connecting rods
JE 10.0:1 flattop pistons (the Mini is a non-interference motor the pistons tdc is about a 1/4" below the top of the block)
M2  race cylinder head with 5 axis big valve valve job-manganese bronze valve guides, dual springs, titanium guides, stainless intake valves and inconel exhaust valves
Garrett GT3582R turbo (pushing 45psi)
Edelbrock 75mm throtlle body
1,000cc RC injectors
NGK plugs
custom plumbing, intake manifold and 20x10x3 intercooler with a garrett core
Clutch masters fx700 twin plate clutch (car launches at 7,000 rpm and shifts at 9,000 rpm)
stock R53 shifter
Nitto Drivelines halfshafts
weight 1,950lbs
wheels front 15x8.5 Back 15x 3.5 Weld racing with M&H slicks
car launches with 30psi boost and makes consistent 1.6 second 60 ft starts

635whp
423 lb-ft torque
10.36 1/4

[LSixer]

but I'd bet booze I know more about more and different cars just by nature of being a car nut and DRIVING for longer than you have been alive.

Booze? Can I get in on that action?

All I can say is that I have seen Eric scream around the parking lot in the cooper S, which isnt CLOSE to 600 hp. If by some luck he acquires one of those, I am moving out of state. There wont be any place safe on the road. I would suggest those that live in Northern Illinois to do the same. 

Oh and on topic. Doesnt any one else agree that the decals on that challenger have to go?

[S POWRD]

Eric, I don't have a problem with you and I never have. What got under my skin is that you have a Mini... A car that seems like every entry level car person gets and does ridiculous mods to, yet they ALL look the same and you said mine is generic.

The British joke was about morons putting British flags on the roof and mirrors... I know you don't do that, but while at the Dragon last week there were hundreds of Minis there and it seemed like half of them had the stupid flag on their German Mini.

I have driven modded mini's.... And I have yet to see ANY FWD vehicle handle 600WHP in something OTHER than a straight line.

I'm sure you've driven a LOT more cars than I, you may know specs of cars from what you read. I know cars how they are by fixing/driving/being around them every day (and just because I work in a German auto repair shop doesn't mean I'm ignorant to Japanese, Domestic, Swedish (I HATE VOLVO's), etc).

And my vote still goes to the GTO, you can't beat them for the price... they've got one of the nicest interiors for that priced car and class of car that I can think of.

[AllBlack05S]

The problem with FWD and 600hp cars handling is more likely due to them being driven wrong. I'd wager most 600hp fwd cars were either purpose built for drag (personally I think drag racing as a sport is stupid and pointless but that's just me) or just to show it could be done (as is the case with rich kids and their Hondas). The purpose built drag cars won't by design handle and the others get all available funds dumped into the motor and little into handling/braking. Pair that with someone who likely thinks the gas pedal is an on/off switch and you get sh!t handling 600whp fwd cars.

Its apples to oranges though.