Guest BlackJesus Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 [u]Muscle round-up: GTO, Mustang, Charger GTO, Mustang and Charger bring back the Big-3's war of horsepower. July 22, 2005[/u] NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - I had one of those rare, truly beautiful driving moments behind the wheel of a 400-horsepower 2005 Pontiac GTO. At the precise moment I approached a favorite twisty piece of road, a song came on the radio as if sent from heaven just for me: "Ballroom Blitz." For those of you too young to remember -- I just became my parents -- "Ballroom Blitz," by a band called Sweet, was a hit in 1975. That was just after the last desperate breaths of the original muscle car craze. Muscle cars were done in by rising gasoline prices, they say, and by giant-sized insurance premiums. Now they're coming back with more powerful and more efficient engines and safer, better handling cars. No matter how improved these cars are, though, they are for experienced drivers only. In the versions talked about here, each packs at least 300 horsepower. That kind of power is not something you want in the hands of a driver who just finished with his learner's permit. [u]Pontiac GTO[/u] Strong point: Power, power, more power Weak point: Price, day-to-day drivability Price: About $33,000 My introduction to the GTO was as a passenger with Consumer Reports test driver John Ibbotson on the magazine's test track in Connecticut. Think those guys are all about how many grocery bags you can fit in the trunk? Let me tell you, those eggs would have been scrambled long before they got to the fridge. The GTO can get loose and swing when you want it to, but it can also hold the line just fine when you don't. Step on the throttle and the car shoots forward in a fluid, controlled way. It's fast but not jumpy or skittish. You can spin the tires, sure, but you have to want it. If what you really want is a no-drama express ticket to highway speeds. . . . Vroom! Off you go. The GTO is built in Australia as a modified version of the Holden Monaro. Its interior look and feel is better than any other GM car at the price. Thanks to an engine it shares with the Chevrolet Corvette, the GTO has huge, gut-punch power and an engine sound to match. The car really has just two major problems. One is a sticker price over $30,000 for the GTO's single trim level. No cheaper versions are available. That's steep for a car aimed at the young -- or as a midlife-crisis rescue car. The other problem is that, particularly when equipped with a manual transmission, this car does not like to be driven slowly. Not even a little bit. The problem is a close-ratio six-speed transmission with a sloppy, widely moving shifter. It's a lot easier to get to the next gear in time if the engine is revving like mad before you try to shift. Ignoring the normal first, second, third sequence of gears helps. A feature called "Skip shift" actually forces you to go from first gear straight to fourth in order to smooth things out under light acceleration, but it's all a pain. As long as you keep driving like a nut, though, it's just fine. [u]Ford Mustang GT[/u] Strong point: Style and performance at a bargain price Weak point: Rock-hard, cheap interior stuff Price: About $31,000 for the Mustang GT Premium Of these three cars, it's the least expensive and has most personality by miles. In driving fun, it gives up nothing to the more powerful GTO. It's also a far easier car to drive and live with on a daily basis. The latest Mustang doesn't just look like a Mustang. It feels like one, even from 20 feet away. It feels even more like one from the driver's seat, looking at the retro-styled steering wheel and fat-numbered gauges and listening to the carefully tuned burble of the 300-horsepower V-8. But, while it all looks great, the cheap plastics can make it seem like you're driving a giant Revell model. Practicality isn't the point here. There's a trunk, but it's small. There are back seats and you could put a victim -- I mean a passenger -- there for a short ride. As for fun, though, the Mustang's got plenty. Just a touch on the gas pedal and this thing wants to rip. Its solid rear axle is surprisingly supple. Overall, it offers an authentic muscle car experience that turns any trip to the store into an occasion for grins. Since its appeal is almost entirely emotional it's hard to talk about the Mustang's value in the usual terms. This is a car that people either fall in love with or they just don't get it. Those who don't get it should check their pulse. [u]Dodge Charger[/u] Selling point: A big sedan with chest-thumping power Weak point: Big sedans just aren't as fun as smaller, lighter coupes. Price: About $29,000 for Charger R/T Stretching the definition of muscle car, Dodge added back doors and usable trunk space. Well, actually what they did was remold the Chrysler 300C into it's bad-boy brother. But it's got the Charger name and the engine is called a Hemi. It's a half-beat slower than the Mustang or GTO and it rolls around the corners with a bit more heft. It is, after all, a large sedan, not a coupe. Four people can get in and out of this car easily and sit in it comfortably -- five in a pinch -- and they can take all their luggage with them, too. The interior is bland and, in places, cheap-looking and ugly. Rear visibility can be a little challenging, due to the high back fenders and cut-down rear windows. While the Charger's thrills are bit more muted than the Mustang's or GTO's, it's the only one of these three cars that could stand alone as a family's primary rolling stock. It also offers stability control -- which neither the Mustang or GTO has -- along with side impact airbags, which the GTO lacks. It's fun to get crazy, but there is something to be said for safety, especially when the family is along for the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 Now we need the Camaro and the Firebird to make a return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nati Ice Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 naw... just the z28, ss, ws6, and firehawks... we can go without the 6ers... also... why do the gto's look so much like damn imports, i would love to have one and all and i know theyre based off of that austrailian or japanese car but couldnt they at least made it look more "american" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest #22 Posted July 22, 2005 Report Share Posted July 22, 2005 [img]http://www.maniadekit.com.br/images/Fotos/AMT8597.jpg[/img] Oh F'in Yeah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackJesus Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [i][b]I notice they took the Rebel flag off that Dukes Car..... I think it is on the roof in the new movie though right ???[/b][/i] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='Nati Ice' date='Jul 22 2005, 07:34 PM']naw... just the z28, ss, ws6, and firehawks... we can go without the 6ers... also... why do the gto's look so much like damn imports, i would love to have one and all and i know theyre based off of that austrailian or japanese car but couldnt they at least made it look more "american" [right][post="117803"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote] It looks just like a damn Grand Prix, doesn't look imported to me. BTW, we will be selling the wifes Celica in the next month or two, and it will be replaced with a 1998-2002 (LS1) Trans Am giggidy giggidy giggidy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nati Ice Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 link broke... what? no ram air? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='Nati Ice' date='Jul 22 2005, 09:33 PM']link broke... what? no ram air? [right][post="117876"][/post][/right][/quote] It's a picture of Quagmire. I don't have a picture of the Trans Am, because I don't know which one I'll buy I would prefer a 6 speed, T-tops, Ram Air, black or blue, possibly silver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nati Ice Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [img]http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/capri7001/eua/firebird.jpg[/img] defintely one of the best looking cars ever made, i have quite a few friends who drive f-body cars (specifically an ss and firebird formula), anyways good choice... but its still no mustang... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='Nati Ice' date='Jul 22 2005, 09:59 PM'][img]http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/capri7001/eua/firebird.jpg[/img] defintely one of the best looking cars ever made, i have quite a few friends who drive f-body cars (specifically an ss and firebird formula), anyways good choice... but its still no mustang... [right][post="117885"][/post][/right][/quote] It definitely is a hot looking car, although it's no Dodge Stealth [img]http://3snationalgathering.com/v-web/gallery/albums/ng2005wednesday/DSC05132.sized.jpg[/img] [img]http://3snationalgathering.com/v-web/gallery/albums/ng2005wednesday/DSC05139.sized.jpg[/img] However, I have owned 3 (I still own one, it will be my daily driver) Dodge Stealths in the last 4 years, and am ready for something else. This is the one I sold last summer: [img]http://img321.imageshack.us/img321/1084/stealth4yk.jpg[/img] I can't wait to get my Trans Am though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAYCAT Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 I'm looking at getting something down the road and it will be of something old and no computer BS. Maybe another Trans Am like the 76 I had. Crate engine 4spd and no sensor or bs to make it quit for no reason. God I miss the old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='STRAYCAT' date='Jul 22 2005, 10:18 PM']I'm looking at getting something down the road and it will be of something old and no computer BS. Maybe another Trans Am like the 76 I had. Crate engine 4spd and no sensor or bs to make it quit for no reason. God I miss the old days. [right][post="117893"][/post][/right][/quote] I hear that. A couple of weeks ago, my Engine Control Relay was buzzing constantly when the car was off. I figured it was the computer, so I sent it in to be checked, and they said there was nothing wrong with it. So I went ahead and started disconnecting the electrical BS in the engine bay, including the MAF, TPS, etc. It turned out being my ISC causing the problem. If only I drove a carbeurated car, the problem wouldn't even have existed [img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons//24.gif[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STRAYCAT Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='BengalsOwn' date='Jul 22 2005, 10:23 PM']I hear that. A couple of weeks ago, my Engine Control Relay was buzzing constantly when the car was off. I figured it was the computer, so I sent it in to be checked, and they said there was nothing wrong with it. So I went ahead and started disconnecting the electrical BS in the engine bay, including the MAF, TPS, etc. It turned out being my ISC causing the problem. If only I drove a carbeurated car, the problem wouldn't even have existed [img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/24.gif[/img] [right][post="117897"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote] Yep most of the old cars you could pour beer or water in the carb and it would still run. Actually that is an old trick to knock the carbon buildup on the pistons. [img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/26.gif[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bengaljet Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 Never owned a Muscle car,but still own the 1st new car I ever bought. April 26,1973 bought($3,800) a 73 MGB Roadster-has 86,000 miles and still runs good. Always loved those 2 seaters. 1st car I bought($800) was 1963 MGB-love at first sight. I'll take the sports car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nati Ice Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 own- i thought you were a 3000gt type of guy, oh well, same difference (probably not), ive heard those stealths and 3000gts are hard as hell to work on and even harder to tune correctly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='Nati Ice' date='Jul 22 2005, 11:00 PM']own- i thought you were a 3000gt type of guy, oh well, same difference (probably not), ive heard those stealths and 3000gts are hard as hell to work on and even harder to tune correctly... [right][post="117921"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote] 3000GT is the same car as the Dodge Stealth, they just have different parking light setups, front and rear bumper skins are different, and different sideskirts. Also have different B pillars, and different tail lights. Mechanically, the are exactly the same. Also, if you wanted to (a lot of people do), you could bolt a 3000GT front end, rear end, sideskirts, etc. onto a Stealth, and vice versa. They're not any more difficult to work on and tune than any other car, to be honest. They aren't very reliable cars, and need to be worked on more than most other cars though. We've rebuilt 4 Stealth engines in the last 5 years [img]http://forum.go-bengals.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/24.gif[/img] If we put as much work as we put into the different Dodge Stealth's we've (me and my father) owned, his 1957 Chevy might be close to being finished by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 Here's my dad's Stealth that he sold last summer. This one was a twin turbo. We completely rebuilt the motor (it spun a bearing), completely rebuilt the transmission, and even gave it a brand new paint job. This car was beautiful, people were shocked when they found out it was 13 years old. [img]http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8199/stealth8lf.jpg[/img] Here's where the magic happens (that's a 1937 Ford sitting in the background, there's a 57 Chevy wagon to the right of where I was standing, and behind me is a 41 GMC Truck): [img]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8/wheremagichappens7iy.jpg[/img] The yellow car in the background was my first Stealth [img]http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9031/stealths3vf.jpg[/img] I don't have any pictures of the current one, because there isn't anything special about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nati Ice Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 ive gotta say... on looks alone... the black one you said you sold last summer looks the best... is that an r/t? humor me, i know little about stealths but ive always had a love for 3000gt's... weird, i know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-GoBengals- Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 buncha hillbillies.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BlackJesus Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote]God I miss the old days.[/quote] [b]just give it 10 years[/b] [img]http://www.mondolithic.com/Image%20of%20the%20Week/Wired_Lexusfull.jpg[/img] [img]http://www.mondolithic.com/Image%20of%20the%20Week/Wired_LexusCut.jpg[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='Nati Ice' date='Jul 23 2005, 12:35 AM']ive gotta say... on looks alone... the black one you said you sold last summer looks the best... is that an r/t? humor me, i know little about stealths but ive always had a love for 3000gt's... weird, i know [right][post="117972"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote] Thanks. Yes, it's an RT. Non turbo. The 18" wheels actually came stock on the 1995+ 3000GT VR4's, sweetest wheels you can get IMO. They peel real easily though. It had custom Katzkin leather, lowered, etc. I didn't go too crazy with it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nati Ice Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 yea you can definitely see that yellow interior work and the lowered stance... but i would need those twin turbos for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BadassBengal Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 Sorry for bein such a "young buck", but alot of those cars are ugly as FUCK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfeet4real Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 i would love for them to return with the firebird. that would be friggun' awesome! i have a 91 firebird thats still in pretty good condition although i'd like to do more to it but no money to do so....... [img]http://myspace-866.vo.llnwd.net/00015/66/87/15037866_l.JPG[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BengalsOwn Posted July 23, 2005 Report Share Posted July 23, 2005 [quote name='BadassBengal' date='Jul 23 2005, 02:30 AM']Sorry for bein such a "young buck", but alot of those cars are ugly as FUCK. [right][post="118034"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote] Which cars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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