2011 VW GTI (Autobahn package)
Carbon steel Gray - exterior
Titan Black Leather - interior
6 speed manual
200 HP / 207 TQ
18" Detroit wheels
Xenon (AFS)
Navigation - touch screen
Dynaudio - touch screen
Sunroof, Bluetooth, etc.
GTI Carpet Mats
K&N Drop-in airfilter
Great all around car for the money.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Fifteenth Vehicle
2009 Mazdaspeed3 Gran Turismo
Mica Black exterior
Black Alancatra/Leather interior
Navigation
Xenon
Bose Audio
6 speed
MS Factory Cold Air Intake
Hotchkis F&R anti-sway Bars
Bought this lighter car with better power to weight ratio to also be a track car. But, the economy was slow and the tires were a bad size 215/45/18, in which no R-compound track tires were available. This keep me from actually getting the vehicle on the track before I sold it. Definitely a fast car, but also a bit soul-less.
Mica Black exterior
Black Alancatra/Leather interior
Navigation
Xenon
Bose Audio
6 speed
MS Factory Cold Air Intake
Hotchkis F&R anti-sway Bars
Bought this lighter car with better power to weight ratio to also be a track car. But, the economy was slow and the tires were a bad size 215/45/18, in which no R-compound track tires were available. This keep me from actually getting the vehicle on the track before I sold it. Definitely a fast car, but also a bit soul-less.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Fourteenth Vehicle
2007 Acura TL Type-S
Black exterior
Tan interior
Automatic with paddle shifter manual mode feature
3.5L V6 286 HP / 258 TQ
Stock - Front Brembo brakes
Navigation
DVD Audio
Back-up camera
Xenons
Third Track Vehicle - One Track event at TWS 2.9 Mile road course. Car did pretty well for it's power to weight ratio and on street Yoko S-drives. Weight definitely a negative factor at the track.
Black exterior
Tan interior
Automatic with paddle shifter manual mode feature
3.5L V6 286 HP / 258 TQ
Stock - Front Brembo brakes
Navigation
DVD Audio
Back-up camera
Xenons
Third Track Vehicle - One Track event at TWS 2.9 Mile road course. Car did pretty well for it's power to weight ratio and on street Yoko S-drives. Weight definitely a negative factor at the track.
Thirteen Vehicle
My career once again dictated a change. Had to have a 4-door sedan for work. Traded the VW R32 at a Saab dealership for a new 2006 Aero. Good looking, but soul-less vehicle. Virtually no aftermarket parts available for it. Resale value concerns also started becomimg a factor.
2.8L V6, Turbo 250 HP/258 TQ
Black exterior
Tan leather - two tone interior
5/6speed manual
2.8L V6, Turbo 250 HP/258 TQ
Black exterior
Tan leather - two tone interior
5/6speed manual
Twelfth Vehicle
Sold the Red GTI when given another company car. Drove the company Taurus/Sable around for a few years. The day that I turned in the company car, was driven straight to the VW dealer.
2004 VW R32
3.2L V6, 6 speed
4-wheel drive (Like the Audi)
Black Exterior
Black Leather interior
Monsoon Radio
Koenig sport seats
Great exhaust note, good power, comfort, exclusivity, and resale value.
2004 VW R32
3.2L V6, 6 speed
4-wheel drive (Like the Audi)
Black Exterior
Black Leather interior
Monsoon Radio
Koenig sport seats
Great exhaust note, good power, comfort, exclusivity, and resale value.
Eleventh Vehicle
2000 VW GTI GLX VR6
2.8L V6, 5 speed 174 HP/181 TQ
Flash Red exterior
Black leather interior
Second track car - Added Neuspeed ECU, Neuspeed Race springs, Bilstein Sport Shocks, Front/Rear/Tower anti-sway bars. Used same Yoko A032R tires that fit the Audi on track days.
Embarassed many drivers of far more expensive and exclusive vehicles on the road course. Go under dogs.
2.8L V6, 5 speed 174 HP/181 TQ
Flash Red exterior
Black leather interior
Second track car - Added Neuspeed ECU, Neuspeed Race springs, Bilstein Sport Shocks, Front/Rear/Tower anti-sway bars. Used same Yoko A032R tires that fit the Audi on track days.
Embarassed many drivers of far more expensive and exclusive vehicles on the road course. Go under dogs.
Tenth Vehicle
Had a Jeep Cherokee Ltd. as a company car for a few years. After resigning that position went straight to Don McGill Audi and got the following.
1998 Audi A4 Quattro
2.8L V-6, 30 Valve 190 HP / 208 TQ
Sable Brown Metallic - exterior
Fawn leather - interior
5 speed Manual
First track vehicle - added ECU chip, Eibach springs, Bilstein HD shocks, Front/Rear/Tower anti-sway bars and YOKO A032R tires.
1998 Audi A4 Quattro
2.8L V-6, 30 Valve 190 HP / 208 TQ
Sable Brown Metallic - exterior
Fawn leather - interior
5 speed Manual
First track vehicle - added ECU chip, Eibach springs, Bilstein HD shocks, Front/Rear/Tower anti-sway bars and YOKO A032R tires.
Ninth Vehicle
Honda Civic LX - 4 door 1988
Metallic gray exterior
Lite gray velour-like cloth interior
3 speed automatic (I think)
Bought new
This was a vehicle bought for basic, low maintenace, work transportation. It performed flawlessly as such.
Metallic gray exterior
Lite gray velour-like cloth interior
3 speed automatic (I think)
Bought new
This was a vehicle bought for basic, low maintenace, work transportation. It performed flawlessly as such.
Eighth Vehicle
Honda CRX - 1984 (maybe)
Blue exterior / Blue/back interior
Manual - 5 speed
Bought used
Blue exterior / Blue/back interior
Manual - 5 speed
Bought used
Sixth Car
Volkswagen GTI - 1986 (I think)
Black exterior
Charcoal/Gray cloth interior
5 speed, decent stock stereo
102 HP / 2300 #
Was in college and don't remember too much about this car, except that it was a bit more comfortable than my original GTI. Sold it to a graduating Fraternity brother who got several more years out of it.
Black exterior
Charcoal/Gray cloth interior
5 speed, decent stock stereo
102 HP / 2300 #
Was in college and don't remember too much about this car, except that it was a bit more comfortable than my original GTI. Sold it to a graduating Fraternity brother who got several more years out of it.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Fifth Car - 2nd German Car - VW
1983 VW Golf GTI
1.8L I4 110 HP / 109 Lb/Ft. of Torque
5 speed manual
Silver exterior with blue/red striped interior
0-60 mph - 8.20 seconds /Top speed 114 MPH
Curb Weight - Less than 2,000 lbs.
The original "wolf in sheep's clothing".
Also had the 85 MPH max speedometer as mandated by governmental regulation at the time. This little econobox could out drag many factory V-8s at the time. Yes, it was a sad time of excessive government intervention within the automobile realm. This little hot hatch was the bright spot.
1.8L I4 110 HP / 109 Lb/Ft. of Torque
5 speed manual
Silver exterior with blue/red striped interior
0-60 mph - 8.20 seconds /Top speed 114 MPH
Curb Weight - Less than 2,000 lbs.
The original "wolf in sheep's clothing".
Also had the 85 MPH max speedometer as mandated by governmental regulation at the time. This little econobox could out drag many factory V-8s at the time. Yes, it was a sad time of excessive government intervention within the automobile realm. This little hot hatch was the bright spot.
Fourth Vehicle...1st German car
1980 or 1981 VW Scirocco S
Cirrus Grayish metallic - exterior
Cloth interior
1.6L or 1.7L I4, Approx. 74 HP & 90 LB/FT of Torque
4-5 speed manual
While visiting El Paso, Texas learned that I would be attending college in TX after graduation. Bought this car while on vacation in El Paso and the next day drive it the 750 miles +/- to Houston, TX. Good college car for a few years.
Cirrus Grayish metallic - exterior
Cloth interior
1.6L or 1.7L I4, Approx. 74 HP & 90 LB/FT of Torque
4-5 speed manual
While visiting El Paso, Texas learned that I would be attending college in TX after graduation. Bought this car while on vacation in El Paso and the next day drive it the 750 miles +/- to Houston, TX. Good college car for a few years.
Third Vehicle...
1982 Toyoya Celica Supra
Metallic Gray / Black Leather interior
L-type, 5 speed manual
2.8L I6, 145 HP / 155 Torque
Power everything
0-60 in 9.8 seconds / 1/4 mile in 17.2 @ 80 MPH
First real semi-performance car, at least for the times. All of the cars in this era were emasculated by governmental smog restrictions. Remember the 85 MPH maximum speedometers, anyone? For a high school senior this was a great ride with the leather and pop-up headlights, etc. Looking back at the horsepower numbers from previous vehicles, this one felt fast, because in relative terms it probably was. It had almost twice as much HP as previous cars.
Metallic Gray / Black Leather interior
L-type, 5 speed manual
2.8L I6, 145 HP / 155 Torque
Power everything
0-60 in 9.8 seconds / 1/4 mile in 17.2 @ 80 MPH
First real semi-performance car, at least for the times. All of the cars in this era were emasculated by governmental smog restrictions. Remember the 85 MPH maximum speedometers, anyone? For a high school senior this was a great ride with the leather and pop-up headlights, etc. Looking back at the horsepower numbers from previous vehicles, this one felt fast, because in relative terms it probably was. It had almost twice as much HP as previous cars.
Second Car experience
1980 Toyota Corolla hatchback
White exterior with blue interior
1.8L I4 engine, 75 HP
Auto Transmission, 3 speed probably
Once my older brother and I were both licensed drivers and had different school and sport schedules, it became necessary to get a second vehicle. This would be the first real car of my own. One that I could put a better stereo in or some mag wheels which were popular at that time. Well I did put an upgraded stereo in this car, but didn't mess with anything else. I also learned something about vehicle dynamics and physics with this car. My friend's little yellow Honda Civic which had very firm suspension back then right from the factory was able to vastly outcorner this vehicle. On the night (March 21st, 1980) that someone shot JR Ewing, I attempted to follow the friend's civic through a turn and ended up in someone's front yard.
White exterior with blue interior
1.8L I4 engine, 75 HP
Auto Transmission, 3 speed probably
Once my older brother and I were both licensed drivers and had different school and sport schedules, it became necessary to get a second vehicle. This would be the first real car of my own. One that I could put a better stereo in or some mag wheels which were popular at that time. Well I did put an upgraded stereo in this car, but didn't mess with anything else. I also learned something about vehicle dynamics and physics with this car. My friend's little yellow Honda Civic which had very firm suspension back then right from the factory was able to vastly outcorner this vehicle. On the night (March 21st, 1980) that someone shot JR Ewing, I attempted to follow the friend's civic through a turn and ended up in someone's front yard.
First vehicle driven
1980 Ford Mustang
Orange exterior color with black interior
Auto Transmission, 3 speed
Manual everything else.
I had to research back, but it probably had the ohc I-4: 140 cubic inches; 88 horsepower
with the 3 speed automatic transmission.
My brother was a few years older than me. Our father bought this car for us both, but mostly for my brother, to drive to our high school which was about 25 miles away.
Don't have any fond memories of this ride. Might have been a slight improvement over the family's earlier Ford Pinto, though. Rolled up the passenger window one mornng and shattered the glass. Don't think that all of the glass fragments were ever found.
Orange exterior color with black interior
Auto Transmission, 3 speed
Manual everything else.
I had to research back, but it probably had the ohc I-4: 140 cubic inches; 88 horsepower
with the 3 speed automatic transmission.
My brother was a few years older than me. Our father bought this car for us both, but mostly for my brother, to drive to our high school which was about 25 miles away.
Don't have any fond memories of this ride. Might have been a slight improvement over the family's earlier Ford Pinto, though. Rolled up the passenger window one mornng and shattered the glass. Don't think that all of the glass fragments were ever found.
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