Car Chat

[cawimmer430]

They were; but that one clearly has the grille for the front radiator.

Most of the wasserboxers in the US have long ago been converted to type-4 aircooled engines. I don't know if that's an option in Germany or not.

I would think some diehard enthusiasts may have converted some of the water-cooled versions to air-cooled engines, but I suspect this would ruin the chance of the vehicle getting a Historic plate registration because it's essentially not an original car anymore.

[Soup DeVille]

I would think some diehard enthusiasts may have converted some of the water-cooled versions to air-cooled engines, but I suspect this would ruin the chance of the vehicle getting a Historic plate registration because it's essentially not an original car anymore.

You can get a historic plate on anything of the right vintage in the US; the plate doesn't require an inspection to make sure its all correct.
Of course, that may change in your country of course.

[CaminoRacer]

While I was driving around a parking lot in the Miata, I checked the gearing vs speed. It'll still accelerate fine in 3rd gear, from 10 mph to 20 mph. Could be in 4th at 20 without much issue, I think. And that's a manual - an automatic would have an easier time due to the torque converter.

[MX793]

Adam Sandler explaining this topic. Interesting.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BH-N8t_1Fc

Autos are geared shorter, but he left out that these autos can't hit 60 in 2nd gear.

A Mustang GT barely hits 60 mph in 2nd gear with the MT.  If first and second gear in the auto are shorter, that means that the auto can't hit 60 mph in 2nd gear.  So the auto actually has to shift twice.  If the MT had the same ratios and 2 shifts were required to hit 60 mph, the car would be even slower.  The time lost by having to shift into 3rd would more than erase the time gained by having shorter 1st and 2nd gears.

So it ultimately comes down to autos being faster because they can shift so much faster.  With the same gearing, the auto would be a little faster on account of a faster shift into 2nd.  And because they shift so much faster, they can use shorter gears that require multiple upshifts to reach 60 and actually see a benefit, because the shifts are quick enough that they don't negate the gains of the shorter gearing.

[CaminoRacer]

Autos are geared shorter, but he left out that these autos can't hit 60 in 2nd gear.

A Mustang GT barely hits 60 mph in 2nd gear with the MT.  If first and second gear in the auto are shorter, that means that the auto can't hit 60 mph in 2nd gear.  So the auto actually has to shift twice.  If the MT had the same ratios and 2 shifts were required to hit 60 mph, the car would be even slower.  The time lost by having to shift into 3rd would more than erase the time gained by having shorter 1st and 2nd gears.

So it ultimately comes down to autos being faster because they can shift so much faster.  With the same gearing, the auto would be a little faster on account of a faster shift into 2nd.  And because they shift so much faster, they can use shorter gears that require multiple upshifts to reach 60 and actually see a benefit, because the shifts are quick enough that they don't negate the gains of the shorter gearing.

Even if I could shift as fast an auto, I don't want to have to shift that often. I skip gears in the Miata a lot just so I don't have to shift every 2 seconds.

[SJ_GTI]

Even if I could shift as fast an auto, I don't want to have to shift that often. I skip gears in the Miata a lot just so I don't have to shift every 2 seconds.

I wouldn't say I do it often, but it certainly isn't uncommon to skip gears. I would say the most common time I do it is if I need to jump into traffic and get up to ~50-55 MPH quickly. In that case I will often go 1-2-3-6 (or sometimes 1-2-3-5 if traffic is busy and I don't want to be in 6th gear).

[MX793]

Even if I could shift as fast an auto, I don't want to have to shift that often. I skip gears in the Miata a lot just so I don't have to shift every 2 seconds.

Same here.  I also take off in 2nd a lot.

[shp4man]

Those damn up and down buttons on the steering wheel are rarely used. The programming is better than me. I admit it.

[FoMoJo]

I wouldn't say I do it often, but it certainly isn't uncommon to skip gears. I would say the most common time I do it is if I need to jump into traffic and get up to ~50-55 MPH quickly. In that case I will often go 1-2-3-6 (or sometimes 1-2-3-5 if traffic is busy and I don't want to be in 6th gear).

Same here.  I also take off in 2nd a lot.

I don't think I've ever skipped a gear when up shifting.  Of course, these were 3 and 4 speed transmissions.

[MX793]

I don't think I've ever skipped a gear when up shifting.  Of course, these were 3 and 4 speed transmissions.

Lots of torque and a very close ratio gearbox for the first 5 gears.  My car is geared more like a 4-banger than a V8, except 6th gear which is about the ratio you'd expect for an OD in a V8 vehicle.

[Laconian]

I do 1, 2, 5 all the time. Second gets me up to speed and 5th is best for arterial cruising.

[JWC]

Like FoMO, I never skipped gears, but like him my rides were 3sp, 4sp or 5sp. I was taught not to do that because of lugging and drivetrain wear. The only time to not start off in first was when driving an unloaded 1 ton and over trucks.

[r0tor]

So much unthusiasts... You should cherish every single shift

[CaminoRacer]

I do 1, 2, 5 all the time. Second gets me up to speed and 5th is best for arterial cruising.

I'll usually skip 1 gear in the Miata. 1-3, 2-4, 3-5, 4-6. Depends on the situation.

[CALL_911]

I'm in Italy and got a SEAT Arona (VW Polo based "CUV") for a rental with a 95 hp I3+5MT. It's very nice inside for what it is, and it is quite roomy. It is slow as balls, and it has a high feature infotainment system (standard VW fare) which I find finicky and too busy. It doesn't have any standard USB ports (only USB C) so I can't use it to plug in my phone. Overall I do like it, but I def prefer the 5 door hatch form factor (see: VW Polo, Ford Fiesta)

[cawimmer430]

Today's shoot: Business Blondie and her BMW i3S. Unfortunately we're limited to Munich because of the car's poor range!!! 

[veeman]

Today's shoot: Business Blondie and her BMW i3S. Unfortunately we're limited to Munich because of the car's poor range!!! 

That is an interesting choice of background.

[r0tor]

I secretly think the i3s actually looks pretty good

[Laconian]

I secretly think the i3s actually looks pretty good

They are really good looking. I love the funky interiors. But the drivetrain is so uncompetitive!

[CaminoRacer]

Yep it's not the styling that repels me from the i3.

[AutobahnSHO]

+1 to y'all

[cawimmer430]

That is an interesting choice of background.

There are much better locations outside of the city, but we were limited by the car's pathetic range and lack of charging infrastructure. At 100% charge this i3S had a little over 200 km of range, but this will drop like a rock with heating (it was cold) and when driven on fast roads like state roads and highways. "Fast charging" in the i3S takes 40 minutes - where can you find a fast charger in Third World Merkel Germany?

The owner uses her i3S to get from her home to work in the city. That's it. But when you want to take a longer trip, range anxiety and lack of chargers come into play. She does not even own a garage and parks her car in front of her apartment. When I arrived at her place yesterday, she asked me if I could bring her to her car, which had just finished charging to 100% "around the block" - basically almost a kilometer away from where she lives...

[Rich]

why is she doing duck face

[cawimmer430]

why is she doing duck face

Because it was a behind the scenes snapshot - she intentionally made a funny face.

[Galaxy]

When the i3 came out it was really impressive with it's all carbon fiber construction. The only electric car that can ~ compensate the weight of the battery. It is a shame that BMW has let it languish. It would actually be competitive if they gave it new battery technology, new  electric motors, and updated safety equipment, and infotainment.

[cawimmer430]

When the i3 came out it was really impressive with it's all carbon fiber construction. The only electric car that can ~ compensate the weight of the battery. It is a shame that BMW has let it languish. It would actually be competitive if they gave it new battery technology, new  electric motors, and updated safety equipment, and infotainment.

And an internal combustion range extender - preferably a Diesel.

[AutobahnSHO]

Used car prices may finally normalize
https://qz.com/2046081/us-inflation-data-show-the-used-car-bubble-has-burst/

[MrH]

The bubble has burst because used car prices flatlined for a single month, after record increases?

[MX793]

The bubble has burst because used car prices flatlined for a single month, after record increases?

Yeah, not exactly what I call a "burst".  When used price come crashing down to 30%-50% current, I'll call the bubble burst.

[AutobahnSHO]

Well, *I* said "may finally normalize".

I'm not responsible for other peoples' writing.

I find it fascinating how lumber climbed and climbed but crashed back down quite quickly. Maybe the same with used cars will happen?