O/T: Interesting CarTalk Segment

#1 11-13-2002, 09:01 AM

I came across this segment on the cartalk site... I must say I agree with them regarding the WRX advertisment.

http://cartalk.cars.com/Radio/Show/A...245/RA/s01.ram

Mike

benebob · #2 11-13-2002, 09:33 AM

Sure wish I could hear it but no speakers at work. Guessing its about the one with the two guys and the corners being not the safest. Remember the "Drive So Fast You'll Loose Your License." ad for the SVX? It was quitely pulled after a lawsuit filed by if I think a police association.

Landshark · #3 11-13-2002, 09:58 AM

i saw that on i-club, and i've seen the commercial (Radar Love in the background.) i don't think the guys in the commercial were excessively speeding, and i don't think that Subaru is overpowering their cars and should "go back to the nice cars they were building." the gas mileage on the WRX is way better than a Mustang/Camaro, and its a helluva lot safer. as someone on i-club said (don't remember exact wording), "were those actually MEN who said that? - sounded like a couple of Grandma's."

#4 11-13-2002, 10:03 AM

plus, klick and klack make it sound like subaru just barely started amping up their cars.. they've been turbocharging the impreza overseas since like '92 or '93, and boosted the legacy before that.. These guys should be ranting about the imminent proliferation of subaru's new 3.0 liter six and the effects it'll have on mileage.

-adam

Landshark · #5 11-13-2002, 10:11 AM

yeah, the WRX isn't some new thing for Subaru (just in the U.S). if it was up to them, we'd all be driving a boring little car that did nothing but get you from point A to point B. i can't understand why they'd been pushing the new Mini so hard, either. i don't always agree with them, but they're still funny.

benebob · #6 11-13-2002, 10:28 AM

I am thankful for their efforts to keep as many 3 ton SUVs off the road as possible. Granted I do understand the need for 1% of the popluation people to have large vehciles for towing purposes but really does anyone need to spend $50,000 for a 15 mpg commuter that emits more emissions than 1.5 15 mpg cars from the same year but really, to cut on the WRX for its sportiness is pathetic. A quick, good braking, well handling car is a good thing in that it is able to avoid accidents safely. A company like Subaru needs to accent their sportiness since many people (Clink and Clank inlcuded make fun of the granola utilitarian in Subies). Why would they cut on Subaru rather than Nissan with the new Maxima commercial where its going 150 mph??? Does every Japanese midsized car really need to have 240 plus bhp now? Honda and Toyota followed suit. Heck there's even a new Neon Turbo with 215 bhp. Granted, the hubcaps will fall off and kill someone in the first turn of the commercial though.

Mr. Pockets · #7 11-13-2002, 10:31 AM

What a ridiculous rant. I sent an email and told them so.

It's a friggin' performance car, for crying out loud.

Besides, they want Subaru to stick to making $4000 cars. Absurd. Subaru listened to hundreds of people tell them every year that we wanted the WRX here, and they finally did it. It's selling like hotcakes. Good for them.

#8 11-13-2002, 01:23 PM

You know what ticks me off about that? People speak of the mini like its gods gift to the automotive realm. Yeah? Well check this out:

Neons are faster in 0-60, the 1/4 mile, have better power/weight ratios, and have higher top speeds, and to top it off do better on the skidpad.

0-60 times:

Neon 5spd (1st gen): 7.5 seconds
Mini: 8.7 seconds
Neon SRT4: 5.8 seconds
Mini S: 7.3 seconds

Power/Weight Ratios

Neon 5spd (1st gen): 150hp,2400lbs = .0625
Mini: 115hp,2524lbs = .0455
Neon SRT4: 223hp*,2970lbs=
.075
Mini S: 161 hp,2550lbs = .0632

*= at the wheels, who knows how much at the flywheel

or the 1/4 mile?

Neon 5spd (1st gen): 15.9 @87mph
Mini: 16.8 @81.3mph
SRT4: 14.2 @99mph
Mini Type S: 15.8 @ 90mph

Skidpad?
Neon 5spd (1st gen): .82g
Mini: .79g
SRT4: .85g
Mini Type S: ???

or Top Speed?

Neon 5spd (1st gen): 118mph base, 130mph ACR or R/T
Mini (base): ??
SRT4: 148mph
Mini Type S: ??

Ah, but lets not forget about PRICE:

Neon R/T (1st gen): About 7,000
Mini (base) 20,000
SRT4: 20,000
Mini S: 27 grand fully loaded.

Sources:
http://www.projectviper.com/srt4/specs.html
sport compact car's review of the SRT4
http://neon.atsweb.net/Dodge_Neon_RT.html (car and driver neon R/T review)
car and driver as much as possible,
and when all else failed 'edmunds' even though they're inaccurate.

#9 11-13-2002, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by benebob
Heck there's even a new Neon Turbo with 215 bhp. ignorant sentence.

Actually, according to SCC it had 223hp AT THE WHEELS.

7 more and its SVXish.

Mr. Pockets · #10 11-13-2002, 01:32 PM

Okay, your unprovoked Neon ranting is even getting on my nerves.

Correct bob if you want, but the sudden, unrelated Mini vs. Neon comparo is off-topic and aggravating.

I've driven the Mini and, if I had the money, I'd buy one. That little car is worth every penny, and not just for the nostalgia.

Your last comparison of the Neon SRT4 and the Mini Cooper S is a little unfair, anyway. Yes, you can load up the Cooper S with enough options to get the price up to about $26,700. But that's including a whole slew of options that you can't get on the Neon.

It's not all about quarter mile times, man. And, please, for crying out loud, give the Neon soapbox a rest.

#11 11-13-2002, 02:07 PM

I just hate it when people keep saying "Oh the mini handles so WELL! Oh the mini is so powerful and fast for a small car! Oh the mini is basically a performance car thats really tiny!"

YEAH FREAKING RIGHT.

- Ca$h

benebob · #12 11-13-2002, 02:23 PM

I'm just wondering where this whole Neon/ Mini thing came from. I was just talking about the quality of Dodge products with the wheel statement. Any company that builds a car that has a trade in after 2 years of a 1/3 of the price has definately got to do some quality work. As for 0-60 times really these don't matter a bit on a track. A Porshe 944 will usually post quicker lap times than a 911 or Vette from the same era even though its got 2/3 the power and a much worse 0-60 time. If life was just about acceleration then there wouldn't even be a steering wheel on a car.

#13 11-13-2002, 02:53 PM

Hence why I mentioned the skidpad test buddy.

Take a look at this, then come back:

http://www.allpar.com/neon/scca.html

- Ca$h

#14 11-13-2002, 03:03 PM

ENOUGH about the neon! sheesh.

Mike

benebob · #15 11-13-2002, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by $VX
Hence why I mentioned the skidpad test buddy.

Take a look at this, then come back:

http://www.allpar.com/neon/scca.html

- Ca$h

Skidbad shimdpad. Whatever, the 911 and the Vette both have as good as or better skidpad ratings as the 944 still the 944 is faster? Why because it is a better car for the purpose. Neons aren't bad cars if you buy one for under $4000. Why has it done as well as it has on the track? There are lots of reasons but not one of which is that its a good car. Yes it has a decently quick motor and tranny but as far as polishing it so its a drivers car. Not a bit. It is a throw away car nothing more nothing less. Personally I'd never be caught in one b/c of its horrible crash worthiness but thats just me since I wouldn't be here if I was driving that instead of my Impreza when she died.