Car Chat

[MX793]

Too much power, too little traction/brains/skill

https://www.carscoops.com/2020/05/dodge-charger-hellcat-crashes-while-racing-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500/

[Eye of the Tiger]

Traction control is nice

[Soup DeVille]

Too much power, too little traction/brains/skill

https://www.carscoops.com/2020/05/dodge-charger-hellcat-crashes-while-racing-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500/

And he broke that free at what? 70 MPH already? And I assume the tires were at least as good as stock?

[MX793]

And he broke that free at what? 70 MPH already? And I assume the tires were at least as good as stock?

I wouldn't assume the tires were any good.  Looked like it was filmed in Florida, maybe Texas.  Folks in those parts like to let their tires get really bald before changing them.

[Soup DeVille]

I wouldn't assume the tires were any good.  Looked like it was filmed in Florida, maybe Texas.  Folks in those parts like to let their tires get really bald before changing them.

Fair enough.

[Laconian]

I wouldn't assume the tires were any good.  Looked like it was filmed in Florida, maybe Texas.  Folks in those parts like to let their tires get really bald before changing them.

Florida has torrential rainstorms every day during the summer, wouldn't bald tires mean crazy hydroplaning?

[FoMoJo]

Too much power, too little traction/brains/skill

https://www.carscoops.com/2020/05/dodge-charger-hellcat-crashes-while-racing-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500/

And to make it worse, he was losing.

[MX793]

Florida has torrential rainstorms every day during the summer, wouldn't bald tires mean crazy hydroplaning?

Look at accident rates in Florida when it rains...

More accidents happen in the rain or on rain-soaked roads than on snowy/icy roads, nation-wide.

[r0tor]

I was in my buddies modified firebird (I think it dynoed around 500 at the wheels) with some sticky ass rubber ehen it decided to spin the tires at 70ish mph in 3rd gear when my buddy floored it.... A lot of poo shot out

700hp is a shit ton for a street car on street tires on a public road.  With the nannies turned off its pretty easy to lose it.

[Laconian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bxwQeKhYXQ&feature=emb_title

That Huff was even allowed to go 200 mph well into the night emphasizes just one of the advantages of his electric dragster. It's quiet compared to combustion engines, save for the sound of the tires breaking away from the glue on the track. There is no oil to spill.

And the cost of running and maintaining the electric dragster is minimal.

In between his record-breaking attempts, Huff plugged his car into a 220-volt outlet on site at the Tucson Dragway. He estimates that each charge costs about 70 cents.

Huff said the average amortized cost of one race in his dragster is about $40. Other 200 mph cars can cost up to $1,000 per race.

Huff's dragster comes with an 800-volt battery that stores 1.6 million watts — the largest battery of its type ever produced. Under Huff's hood is enough energy to power 2,400 homes for 20 seconds.

[CaminoRacer]

That's weird as hell to watch. Definitely not as exciting as nitro cars...

Looks like Don Garlits has his work cut out for him though

[MX793]

Under Huff's hood is enough energy to power 2,400 homes for 20 seconds.

Or one home for about thirteen hours.  Or about 1.75 liters of gasoline.

[giant_mtb]

When you put it into the amount of gasoline, it really does just seem puny.  Kinda crazy how much energy we can get from that small of an amount of burny liquid.

[Laconian]

Or about 1.75 liters of gasoline.

Awww, way to kill the magic.

[Laconian]

When you put it into the amount of gasoline, it really does just seem puny.  Kinda crazy how much energy we can get from that small of an amount of burny liquid.

My interpretation is "it's crazy how much energy we throw away when we putter around for our errands".

[MX793]

Awww, way to kill the magic.

In fairness, that assumes you could actually extract and utilize 100% of the energy in that gasoline.  Accounting for inefficiencies and such, it's more like a few gallons.

[AutobahnSHO]

Not many things amuse me more than someone racing a gutless 20yr old car and getting DESTROYED on the twisties.

[MX793]

Not many things amuse me more than someone racing a gutless 20yr old car and getting DESTROYED on the twisties.

Most people are just too chicken to take twisties fast.  Or they buy cheap Walmart tires with no grip.

[AutobahnSHO]

I usually park Scrappy other side of street but needed to solder because the headlight socket was melted. So here's the fleet.

[Raza]

Is the current generation Mini Cooper S any good?  Does Car and Driver still do reviews of cars?  The last Cooper hardtop review I could find was from 2008.

[Laconian]

I've read that the latest Minis feel (relatively) big and remote, ever since they migrated to using the BMW 1-series as their underpinning.

[MX793]

I've read that the latest Minis feel (relatively) big and remote, ever since they migrated to using the BMW 1-series as their underpinning.

A lot of "new Mini" folks I've talked too seem to indicate that the cars started losing their luster when they switched from supercharged to turbocharged.  And the chassis has gotten fatter and duller since then.

[2o6]

Is the current generation Mini Cooper S any good?  Does Car and Driver still do reviews of cars?  The last Cooper hardtop review I could find was from 2008.

Stop reading them inconsistent opinions and drive one yourself.


(I will say, having driven all three, the 2nd gen is a little more demure than the 1st and 3rd)


The latest Mini is sharp driving car; and pretty cheap.

I've read that the latest Minis feel (relatively) big and remote, ever since they migrated to using the BMW 1-series as their underpinning.

I think this is backwards; the 1-series is the most recent car to use the chassis. The latest gen mini with the 3cyl is the first car on that chassis.

[Raza]

Stop reading them inconsistent opinions and drive one yourself.


(I will say, having driven all three, the 2nd gen is a little more demure than the 1st and 3rd)


The latest Mini is sharp driving car; and pretty cheap.

I think this is backwards; the 1-series is the most recent car to use the chassis. The latest gen mini with the 3cyl is the first car on that chassis.

I'm not so concerned with how it drives (I'm almost certain it'll be a good drive and if it isn't, I wouldn't buy it anyway), but rather I'm looking for things like a long term test, reliability, common issues, et al.

[Raza]

A lot of "new Mini" folks I've talked too seem to indicate that the cars started losing their luster when they switched from supercharged to turbocharged.  And the chassis has gotten fatter and duller since then.

They dumped the supercharger after the first generation. That was like 15 years ago.

[Raza]

I've read that the latest Minis feel (relatively) big and remote, ever since they migrated to using the BMW 1-series as their underpinning.

It's still a tiny car, like 151.9"—almost 10" shorter than my Z4.

[2o6]

I'm not so concerned with how it drives (I'm almost certain it'll be a good drive and if it isn't, I wouldn't buy it anyway), but rather I'm looking for things like a long term test, reliability, common issues, et al.

My "mom" has a 3cyl automatic Mini, and she's been driving it every day in Detroit, nonetheless. It's been pretty flawless, and she bought hers used. I have another friend with a current-gen Mini Cooper S, and it's a riot to drive. It is a bit firm riding though; she's looking to get a 4-series or something bigger.

I have heard nothing but horror stories from that crapola PSA engine on the 2nd gen Mini. The engine itself was revised in 2011, I think, and it was made "more reliable" and got some new tech, but I don't think it's a very good car. The same friend that now has a 3rd gen Cooper S, had a 2nd gen Cooper, and the timing chain went out (common on this model).

[Raza]

My "mom" has a 3cyl automatic Mini, and she's been driving it every day in Detroit, nonetheless. It's been pretty flawless, and she bought hers used. I have another friend with a current-gen Mini Cooper S, and it's a riot to drive. It is a bit firm riding though; she's looking to get a 4-series or something bigger.

I have heard nothing but horror stories from that crapola PSA engine on the 2nd gen Mini. The engine itself was revised in 2011, I think, and it was made "more reliable" and got some new tech, but I don't think it's a very good car. The same friend that now has a 3rd gen Cooper S, had a 2nd gen Cooper, and the timing chain went out (common on this model).

Visually, my favorite was the second gen R56, but those are rather old now and I've heard a lot of bad stuff about their reliability. I'm considering getting a FWD car again instead of only looking at AWD, so the first car that came to mind really was the Mini.

[Morris Minor]

A lot of "new Mini" folks I've talked too seem to indicate that the cars started losing their luster when they switched from supercharged to turbocharged.  And the chassis has gotten fatter and duller since then.

If you can find one, a good new Mini 1st gen S is an absolute hoot.

[r0tor]

I remember driving a coworkers turbo JCW version like 10 years ago... That thing was halariously fun