Finally some pics of the New GTO, salt encrusted though it was after my travels this weekend. Went down to Jackson to do some computer work for the library, and to show-off the new car. It was a magnificent ride down, and only a little scary during the snow bursts we saw today on the way back. The car already has over 900 miles on the odometer, and it’s averaging around 20mpg on the highway on 87-octane gas.
:-) Here’s the Vortex Thread that got me to buy the GTO. 3 guys (maybe 4) got GTOs out of the deal, but Gateway, the thread originator, didn’t pull the trigger. Lots of good GTO pics in the thread. :-)
Learned something on my way to South Lexington to pick up my office-mate Patrick: Don’t try to ease into the throttle while your shifting the GTO. Clutch-in, shift, and STAY THE FREAK AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE until after you’re in the next gear. I had the poor car (still searching for a nickname…“Goat” is the traditional name for a GTO, and Big Blue is Robin’s car’s name…we’ll see what pans-out) bucking like a bronco in traffic just shifting through 1-2-3. Once I stayed away from the throttle all driveline lash ceased. ...
What can I say? I found a 2004 GTO for a steal this morning at 9:30, and by 12, I had signed the papers, traded-off my Chevy Silverado, and powered down the road in a Kentucky-Blue Pontiac that could take-on anyone. The seats are amazingly comfortable, the 350hp LS2 is both smooth and menacing, and the transmission is chunky and satisfying. The car feels brutish and blunt–it’s all force and no apologies. No wussy cylinder deactivation…if you keep your foot in it, this thing’s good for 158mph and 6mpg ...
Why OH WHY do I read The ‘Tex? I mean, all it does is give me car fever, something fierce… So, here’s the deal…Pontiac brought the GTO back to America for 2004, and priced them right out of the market at $31k. This is roughly the same price as a Chrysler 300C. Pics: GTO: 300C: Anyway, for $32k, I’m buying the Chrysler, no question. …but the plot thickens… After the inital hype died, Pontiac couldn’t give away the GTO. Styling was somewhat bland, and the 6-speed got panned for being vague, but the essentials were there: 350hp V-8 engine, manual tranny, independent rear suspension, and room for 4 people. GM’s stepping up to the plate, adding some “visual excitement” to the styling, and plopping-in the 400hp v-8 from the Z06 corvette ...
Big red now has some new Bilstein shocks, thanks to my father, some air tools, and a little elbow grease. It took us two-and-a-half hours, but knowing what I know now, I could probably do it in about an hour’s time. The jack only slipped once, but we had two jackstands under the frame at the time, so the whole process was injury free, minus some bruised knuckles. The new shocks firm-up the ride of the truck, but it’s not punishing. It just feels more planted and controlled than before. ...
Man, the truck has been making a dent in my pocketbook here lately: First, a new set of tires (see below) that I got installed today at Ashley’s wheel and brake. I had them investigate a noise in the steering. Turns out, I had a bad inner tie rod on the right side, so there’s more moolah. Still, the paint’s nice and shiny, and it’s nice for tooling around in, plus there’s just something intoxicating about a V-8.
Well, after sliding SIDEWAYS onto the interstate yesterday in the rain, I have a new set of Yokohama Geolandar’s in 245/75R16 headed for Ashley’s Wheel and Brake. should be there either friday or early this coming week.
Haven’t been able to post from work for the past two days…so here goes. Cool Article on a MINI in a rally
I’m well and truly stuck on this problem, so might as well blog for a sec… My MINI stinks as a long-distance cruiser (something I do more and more these days, it seems), so I’m coming-up with requirements for an interstate demon: Must haves: * Room for 4 adults, plus baggage for two + kids * Deep overdrive. I don’t want to be turning 4k rpm @ 80mph. * Resonably good handling * over 25 mpg on REGULAR gas (over 30 would be preferable) * low insurance costs * good safety record * cloth seats ...
The Autocross Yes, that’s a Ford Festiva with a motor-swap. Last Sunday was my first autocross with the Cincinnati Sports Car Club, also known as The Guys Who want to Autocross, but Can’t Follow the Rules. Basically, this is a parallel group to the Cincy Region of SCCA, but they do their own thing at the deathtrap of a site known as Scarlett Oaks. The site’s on the northside of Cincy, just East of I-75 on I-275. There’s no way SCCA’d allow an event there: The course cuts between buildings, beside big ditches, and it’s rimmed with 3" concrete curbs. You get off-line, you kill your car. (On the bright side, LOTS of good accident stories while you’re in grid.) ...
You know what jealousy is? It’s walking up to your truck and two spots down from you, you see one of these puppies: I love working here, but I hate working here, because someone has this sexy beast and I don’t. It’s a Caddy CTS-V. Basically, it’s a somewhat sporty rear-wheel-drive Cadillac sedan, with the engine, transmission, and brakes from a Corvette Z06. 348 cubic inches, producing 400 horespower. ...
MINI Cabrio ad: “Immer offen” is German for “Always Open”. Driving home the other day, I really could see owning one of these little girly beasts. I’ve never thought of the MINI as girly (though I’ve often thought of the similar New Beetle that way). It’s not bulbous or effeminate; rather, it’s curvy in front but squared-off, well proportioned, and hunkered-down. Whereas a New Beetle looks ready to roll over, pod-like, when it’s turning, a MINI just looks hunkered-down. One of these would be even moreso. ...
defining moment: going sideways down the entrance ramp onto New Circle Rd after I goosed the throttle in Big Red. I countersteered and got out of the throttle, and the rear-end came back into line, but that was a real pucker moment.
I went with Susan on Saturday to buy her new truck: Susan…to put that in your blog, cut and paste the following into blogger: What a day…I drove down to Jackson to talk to Steve and Susan about the Library’s needs for new server, and then Susan, her mom Flo (nee “Flo-Bess”), and I were going to go to Hazard to buy her an Escape. We left for Hazard a little after 11. She had her mind set on one with a moonroof, V6, 4WD, and the works. ...
Ahh…the first evidence that the automotive driving public is coming to its senses. The Hummer H2 is starting its long, welcome sales slide into oblivion. The 11mpg behemoth, the symbol of American largess seems soon to join the Ford Excursion, whose porcine mass would seem to preclude any sort of excursion whatsoever, in the automotive junkyard. Perhaps, finally, America will wise-up and choose more efficient options for taking Timmy to soccer practice. Seventy-five dollars per bi-weekly fillup will do that to ya.
Some pics from the evolution school I took on Friday: Ahh..nothing like MINIs in the sunrise A little symmetry as Ron (left) and Mark (right) change their street tires for Khumho Ecsta V700’s. Rons would delaminate from the heat by the end of the day. This is Ron’s MINI about to head out on course. We had two parallel courses, both exactly the same, so both groups compared times against one another. I was the fastest MINI, but Mark was right behind me.
Well, if you want to buy that Mitsu Evo, better do it quick Mitsubishi is in deep trouble, though I’m not suprised. Aside from the Evolution 8, they have no interesting product: The Galant is an also-ran, as are the lancer, the Ascender, etc. No product == no sales == no profits == no company. Recently, an affiliate, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus, had announced a recall after a series of accidents caused by wheels flying off moving vehicles. In one widely reported case, a young woman was struck and killed by a runaway truck wheel. Mitsubishi Fuso was a division of Mitsubishi Motors in 2002, when the accidents occurred; it later sold much of its stake to DaimlerChrysler, which owns 65 percent of the truckmaker. ...
My new truck: Specs: 4.8L V-8 Engine (code: l4R): 275hp, 285 ft-lbs torque 4L60E transmission (w/a .70 overdrive) Dry weight: 4246lbs 108,000 miles Dad bought himself a new 2004 GMC Sierra 1/2 ton pickup. 5.3L v8, automatic tranny, decent option level. Sticker was $28k, and he got it for $19.6k, after all discounts. So, in a fit of amazing generosity, he’s *giving* me his old truck. Yeah, it’s the anti-mini. Been a pack-a-day smoker’s car for 3 years, so it pretty much reeks inside. But it’s got a ‘Murican V-8, baby. Needs just a bit of work: ...
Okay, folks, here’s where I’ll be on June 20th: I’ll be in the Northwest Vista watching 30 screaming Formula 1 racers duel at the world’s greatest racetrack. :) nummy.