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The Car Thread ... !

Nice, I remember the final supercharged V8 was quite a good dependable engine as well.

But the racing V12s were something special. Great engines, a very clever engine designer from NZ (Alan Scott) and a great team - Tom Walkinshaw Racing. Some of the best engines in the most sophisticated car (best aero and chassis), great team members and excellent drivers who were fast but knew how to look after the car.

That doesn’t happen very often. Tom Walkinshaw got the right people together to make it happen.

If only he was still with us.

Andy Wallace had some great comments on the XJR9 and how fast it was “it just kept accelerating faster and faster”. :) Tony Southgate aerodynamic wizardry and a V12 with big top end power.

It was said that if anything else gave them trouble through the twisty parts at Le Mans then they’d just wait for the straights and drive straight past again. :)
 
Our Q4 has gone into Audi this morning for its first service at 2 years and we've got a brand new Q3 until tomorrow with only 650 miles on the clock. Not quite a bottom spec but I have to say I can see why Audi are getting a lot of criticism about obvious cost saving and scrimping on interior materials. A very plasticy and creaky cabin to be honest, full of hard cheap feeling plastics. Nice to drive, but my wife is now so used to the power of electric, going back to an ICE automatic is hard for her as they are sluggish by comparison. She has a lead foot anyway.

I drove an MG ZS a few weeks ago as a hire car, which was a mild hybrid and I have to say I was more impressed than I wanted to be. The interior quality was far superior to this Q3 and had a much more modern infotainment system and intuitive interface. I really don't know what Audi are playing at to be honest. The Chinese makers are raising the standard at undercutting the Germans massively!
IMG_5945.jpeg
 
avro707 said:
Nice, I remember the final supercharged V8 was quite a good dependable engine as well.

But the racing V12s were something special. Great engines, a very clever engine designer from NZ (Alan Scott) and a great team - Tom Walkinshaw Racing. Some of the best engines in the most sophisticated car (best aero and chassis), great team members and excellent drivers who were fast but knew how to look after the car.

That doesn’t happen very often. Tom Walkinshaw got the right people together to make it happen.

If only he was still with us.

Andy Wallace had some great comments on the XJR9 and how fast it was “it just kept accelerating faster and faster”. :) Tony Southgate aerodynamic wizardry and a V12 with big top end power.

It was said that if anything else gave them trouble through the twisty parts at Le Mans then they’d just wait for the straights and drive straight past again. :)
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I worked for Tom Walkinshaw briefly on a placement through my school at TWR Arrows in Leafield. Scary guy and only really spoke to him once. Very cool outfit though at the time, but a tiny facility by modern F1 standards. I think the old factory was Super Aguri after that and then Caterham. Site is completely derelict now sadly. They had a Volvo touring car in the reception, which at the time, was a current project with Prodrive I believe. I also have a connection to the XJR9 through one of my best friends too, his father was one of the test drivers on the Le Mans project in the 80's under Ross Brawn. He has one of Jan Lammers helmets and Silk Cut race suits from the period which I tried on whilst drunk once at a party, I do have the photo somewhere lol.
 
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And with all the good also comes the bad, not been a good week for the little toy. First on my way to the Netherlands from the UK, in Belgium on the motorway the battery light started flashing. And yes the alternator was on its way out and failed in its entirety. Then the air oil separator gave up, initial indicator was a rougher idle, and then in the morning there was 2L coolant dumped in my parking. And damn, that part that is worth 80 euros but is actually an engine out job.

The joys of 26-year-old toys…

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I saw a Ferrari Purosangue today, in a lovely dark red.

I like the shape - it’s different, has a lot of presence.

Poor 911 above. Hopefully it gets back to health soon.
 
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avro707 said:
I saw a Ferrari Purosangue today, in a lovely dark red.

I like the shape - it’s different, has a lot of presence.
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It is lovely, isn't it? One of the people in my apartment block in the Netherlands has one albeit on Belgium number plates as many there do.

IMG_2612.jpeg


avro707 said:
Poor 911 above. Hopefully it gets back to health soon.
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It will, hopefully. The engine out is a bit too much for me at the moment. I've given the specialist permission to replace all coolant and vacuum lines, a refresh when it is being taken out. As in my experience, at this age once one is gone and replaced, then the next will become the weakest. The hoses don't cost much, the labour to do this is the pain in the backside. But so be it.

There are some other issues, the previous owner really didn't maintain it that well, but I'll do those together with my daughter. Like all suspension arms, bushes, shocks, springs could do with a refresh. Brake lines also look like they've had better days. And I can only imagine what it will be like behind the front bumper, those poor three radiators and condensers will be filled with crud, I bet. It is nice to give it some TLC and bring it back up to spec. To me, that is also part of the fun.
 
I like modern Ferrari design, still obviously Ferrari but not being a slave to the past designs but also not doing a BMW with design people don’t understand (a nice way to put it).

Modern with elegance.
 
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If I could. Which I can't.

I would have a BMW850i

I owned a red 1993 model back in the year 2000. I loved that car it was everything I ever wanted.

Shortly after followed divorce, relocating to Singapore and then to the Philippines.

Have not owned a car at all since 2012 and I do miss it. Last car I had, sold in April 2012, was an Audi 2.7 liter bi turbo. Nice car but nowhere near the 850i
 
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I love the E31 as well. With a 5.4L V12.

It’s hard to believe when the design was signed off! And considering that - it still looks so modern and timeless today.

Such a beautiful design. The good ones (in original condition) are starting to become valuable these days as well.

The Alpina B12 models are extremely collectible.

Of them all I’d like to look at two of them, the M8 prototype with the 640hp 6.0L V12, and the 850 prototype that the former BMW boss had shipped to Alpina for conversion to a B12 coupe “with more horsepower than standard”.

The M8 engine seems unrelated to the McLaren F1 unit.

On that note, I would like to see the 6.1L V12 engined E34 M5 wagon mule car - used for testing of the F1 engine.

The BMW folk did some outrageous test cars, the Z3 “M Roadster” which would normally have a 3.2L 321hp inline 6 fitted with the big 5.4L V12 out of the E38 7 series.

Or the numerous V16 research cars, the E32 7 series V16, the later one that came after it, then the V16 Rolls Royce cars (built in small numbers). The RR V16 was 9 litres. I was fortunate to have a look at that in the 100EX (which became the Phantom Drophead).
 
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Just a small rant.

So my truck needs new tires and up until recently the dealership I went to provided top notch service - yes a tad more expensive but until last year I was still in warranty.

Anyways, I wanted to replace the Wrangler All terrain tires with the same kind because they're 3peak snow rated, I drive in the snow often in NH and VT. I also go camping and its not uncommon for me to be on a dirt trail with several inches of snow.

Long story shot, I seemed to get a lot of run around on trying to order the Wrangler ATs, getting yes to death, and non-answers (they heavily implied they're Wrangler AT tires). I called one more time and asked point blank are they the ATs or not - they couldn't answer and told me they'll have someone call me back - strange.

Near the end of the day (I had called early morning) they called back and said yes, the tires are in stock ready installation, again I asked Wrangler ATs? Long pause - no they're Frontiers. He then went on a spiel of how long he's been doing this, and how tires are all the same so don't worry about it, trust him.

As you can see from the picture the Wrangler AT has a more aggressive tire with deeper lugs, where as the Frontier seems more suited for highway.
1753960677753.png
 
maflynn said:
Just a small rant.

So my truck needs new tires and up until recently the dealership I went to provided top notch service - yes a tad more expensive but until last year I was still in warranty.

Anyways, I wanted to replace the Wrangler All terrain tires with the same kind because they're 3peak snow rated, I drive in the snow often in NH and VT. I also go camping and its not uncommon for me to be on a dirt trail with several inches of snow.

Long story shot, I seemed to get a lot of run around on trying to order the Wrangler ATs, getting yes to death, and non-answers (they heavily implied they're Wrangler AT tires). I called one more time and asked point blank are they the ATs or not - they couldn't answer and told me they'll have someone call me back - strange.

Near the end of the day (I had called early morning) they called back and said yes, the tires are in stock ready installation, again I asked Wrangler ATs? Long pause - no they're Frontiers. He then went on a spiel of how long he's been doing this, and how tires are all the same so don't worry about it, trust him.

As you can see from the picture the Wrangler AT has a more aggressive tire with deeper lugs, where as the Frontier seems more suited for highway.
View attachment 2533159
Click to expand...
Are the frontiers not 3 peak rated?
 
diamond.g said:
Are the frontiers not 3 peak rated?
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Tbh, I assumed they weren't but after googling they are. From my research however I kept seeing that the Frontiers were good/decent in "light snow" and that's what pushed me away.
1753962713707.png



The bottom line for me is I have experience and peace of mind with the AT as I know how they perform. As the customer I felt they were trying to pull a fast one and give me something that I didn't ask for.
 
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maflynn said:
Tbh, I assumed they weren't but after googling they are. From my research however I kept seeing that the Frontiers were good/decent in "light snow" and that's what pushed me away.
View attachment 2533169


The bottom line for me is I have experience and peace of mind with the AT as I know how they perform. As the customer I felt they were trying to pull a fast one and give me something that I didn't ask for.
Click to expand...
Did they order the tires you wanted? I use Discount Tire, mostly because at the time they were recommended by others in the area for the car I drive.
 
maflynn said:
Just a small rant.

So my truck needs new tires and up until recently the dealership I went to provided top notch service - yes a tad more expensive but until last year I was still in warranty.

Anyways, I wanted to replace the Wrangler All terrain tires with the same kind because they're 3peak snow rated, I drive in the snow often in NH and VT. I also go camping and its not uncommon for me to be on a dirt trail with several inches of snow.

Long story shot, I seemed to get a lot of run around on trying to order the Wrangler ATs, getting yes to death, and non-answers (they heavily implied they're Wrangler AT tires). I called one more time and asked point blank are they the ATs or not - they couldn't answer and told me they'll have someone call me back - strange.

Near the end of the day (I had called early morning) they called back and said yes, the tires are in stock ready installation, again I asked Wrangler ATs? Long pause - no they're Frontiers. He then went on a spiel of how long he's been doing this, and how tires are all the same so don't worry about it, trust him.

As you can see from the picture the Wrangler AT has a more aggressive tire with deeper lugs, where as the Frontier seems more suited for highway.
View attachment 2533159
Click to expand...
Saying all types are the same is like saying all cars are the same. They really are not!
 
Apple fanboy said:
Saying all types are the same is like saying all cars are the same. They really are not!
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Soon as he said that, I didn't bother arguing, I just ended the call. there was no reason to belabor or argue the issue. Just cancel the appt and find someone else to do the work
 
maflynn said:
Soon as he said that, I didn't bother arguing, I just ended the call. there was no reason to belabor or argue the issue. Just cancel the appt and find someone else to do the work
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You would have thought that when a customer asks for the Wrangler AT version they provide the Wrangler AT version. I don't understand what is so difficult in that concept. I would have done the same, it is just not the same at all. Or just be honest and say you can't deliver the chosen tyres but here is a possible alternative. Very odd...
 
maflynn said:
No and they tried to say the frontier tires are the exact same the Wrangler All Terrain Adventure tires.
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I live in Alaska and have ordered tires from TireRack with great success and savings. Anyway, are you certain the there is a "Wrangler Fortera" or "Frontier" instead? I could not find Wrangler Fortera at the Tiorerack webpage (I didn't search for "Wrangler Frontier," but did for Wrangler ATs, and it seems that it is a good one for your truck. I would choose the HTs over the other, because it is an on/off-road tire that does not have an over-aggressive tread.

Buying locally would be my choice, but you can call and ask for recommendations at TireRack:
www.tirerack.com

Goodyear Wrangler AT/S | Tire Rack

Wrangler AT/S tires are Goodyear's On-Road All-Terrain light truck tires developed for the drivers of two- and four-wheel drive pickups and full-size sport utility vehicles looking for satisfying on- and off-road capabilities. The Wrangler AT/S is designed to handle tough off-road conditions,...
www.tirerack.com
 
maflynn said:
Near the end of the day (I had called early morning) they called back and said yes, the tires are in stock ready installation, again I asked Wrangler ATs? Long pause - no they're Frontiers. He then went on a spiel of how long he's been doing this, and how tires are all the same so don't worry about it, trust him.

As you can see from the picture the Wrangler AT has a more aggressive tire with deeper lugs, where as the Frontier seems more suited for highway.
Click to expand...

Goodyear is just terrible for this lol. My Jeep also uses Goodyear Wrangler tires! .... Wrangler Duratrac RT tires, to be specific. And that RT is important! The Duratrac RTs are basically Duratracs with a much more robust sidewall (with kevlar, too!) Of course, to keep things simple, Goodyear still sells regular Duratracs, too.

Still, it brings me joy having Goodyear Wrangler tires on a Jeep Wrangler hahahhaha.

They replaced the OEM BFG KO2s, which I have a real soft spot for in terms of aesthetics - especially when they have the white text. Such a classic look! BUT THEY HANDLE LIKE CRAP IN WET WEATHER!

Sadly no white letters on the goodyears. And it was my only option at the time. At least I do like driving on em a lot more than driving on KO2s. They are a little stiffer and noisier though.

For car stuff, I was planning to buy a new sedan because my mother can't get into my Jeep and I wanted to buy something I knew she'd be able to ride in. I test drove some things. Ended up buying a leftover Chrysler 300 because it was the right size/price/I like them. It's nice and comfy. That came with firestone firehawks lol.

It's a shame Cadillac gave up on selling the CT6 in the US.
 
Hey @AlaskaMoose,

A friend of mine's daughter is going to be going to college in Anchorage and they were planning on buying her a car up there instead of shipping one.

Called a Toyota dealer and was told to get a Rav4, you had to put down a $1000 deposit which put you on a waiting list to get a car in 1-3 months. Then when your name came up, you either took the car that came in or went back to the bottom of the list.

Is this true?
 
Herdfan said:
Hey @AlaskaMoose,

A friend of mine's daughter is going to be going to college in Anchorage and they were planning on buying her a car up there instead of shipping one.

Called a Toyota dealer and was told to get a Rav4, you had to put down a $1000 deposit which put you on a waiting list to get a car in 1-3 months. Then when your name came up, you either took the car that came in or went back to the bottom of the list.

Is this true?
Click to expand...
I have never heard of such a thing, but I imagine that it is possible these days. If you were over here you could buy new or un-driven Toyota cars and trucks, but you aren't going to save very much by buying used, or new (non-driven) Toyota automobiles. For example, my wife bought a 2023 Tacoma TRD Off Road truck last year because we didn't want to buy the newer model that has a 4-cylinder turbo motor (the 2023 model has a non-turbo V6). The cost for this 2023 Tacoma was around $6,000 under the same model but a 2025 one. Kendall Toyota/Subaru is perhaps the largest dealership in Alaska. But when the newer models arrive to Kendal and other dealerships, they sell the slightly older models to other dealerships. Affordable Used Cars is one of those secondary dealers that sell "used) cars and trucks like my wife's 2023 Tacoma. However, while this truck was sold as "used," it had 18 miles in the odometer, and a full Toyota warranty starting on the day it was sold to my wife. I buy the Toyota Platinum extended warranty from another dealership in Kansas and save quite a lot of money (somewhere around $1,500 for a 10-year/ 100,000 miles). Are you planning to buy new or used?
 
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