Automotive Exceptionalism

davy26 · Apr 6, 2021

Purely gratuitous - just another ('93) Integrale HF Evo.

o.m.e.g.a · Apr 7, 2021

Delta says HI from Lofoten 😀

davy26 · Apr 8, 2021

Some American porn from me for a change: Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe of David Smithies and Chris Clarkson at Brands Hatch, March 2018.

Paedipod · Apr 8, 2021

vbrad26
Yeah the MK3 Jetta/Golf/GTI will always have a place in my heart. I never owned one (thought I did have a MK2 Jetta with a VR swap) but the MK3 is where it all really started for me.

Saw this ad....needed the car. (Went from a Fiero GT😲)

Couldn’t leave it alone though and upgraded most things on my own......stiffened suspension first, then Euro headlights, then brakes and wheels, then oil cooler, then left it in the hands of a local tuner for two months(!) and he did some magic for about another 80 hp to get just over 200 bhp. I have no “real” idea of what he did but it left me broke but with a huge grin. Last mod was replacing the front grill/lights for a Hella 4 square setup. No pics 🙁🙁🙁 as pre-digital and ex has all the hard copies. Had to sell with an out-of-country move and a new baby.

davy26 · Apr 8, 2021

vbrad26
Yeah the MK3 Jetta/Golf/GTI will always have a place in my heart. I never owned one (thought I did have a MK2 Jetta with a VR swap) but the MK3 is where it all really started for me.

I had a Mk.III in the late 90s. Most people seem to think that the Mk.III was not a good iteration, but for three years I did 50,000 miles a year in mine and it was quick, civilised and ultra-reliable. Passed it on to my eldest who was also very happy with it.

vbrad26 · Apr 8, 2021

Lol VW has always had some clever marketing.
Two commercials that always pop into mind are...

abrod520 · Apr 8, 2021

vbrad26
Two commercials that always pop into mind are...

The Peter Stormare commercials would have been cringey if not for the fact that they essentially just let the guy off the leash for a little while (doesn't hurt that the Mk.V also elevated the GTI/GLI from 'yeah it's good' to true excellence. Oh man that 2.0)

BTW I had a Mk.IV Jetta 1.8T too, back in college after my first S2000 tried to take me out 😉

Many a rain / snowstorm was experienced firsthand thanks to those dumb window clips.

Vercingetorix · Apr 8, 2021

vbrad26
Lol VW has always had some clever marketing.
Two commercials that always pop into mind are...

Never realized Slippery Pete did those.

abrod520 · Apr 8, 2021

Now largely forgotten (as is Citroen in general), but the Xsara was a very fearsome competitor in the later days of 2.0L WRC.

Petroleum · Apr 9, 2021

Had a visit form this bad boy, some time ago, what a machine 😁

banshee · Apr 9, 2021

Any Mini Cooper fans around?
Here is my 2016, Cooper S, manual transmission.

Paedipod · Apr 9, 2021

Petroleum
Had a visit form this bad boy, some time ago, what a machine 😁

also a visit....needed to wear earplugs

Vercingetorix · Apr 11, 2021

Been playing around digitizing my slides/negatives and remember the days when you could actually get close to race cars.

abrod520 · Apr 11, 2021

Vercingetorix
Been playing around digitizing my slides/negatives and remember the days when you could actually get close to race cars.

I haven't been to an IMSA (nee ALMS) race in a while but they've always had an open paddock, no?

I remember standing next to a Corvette C6.R at Lime Rock 2006 when they fired it up. Nearly knocked me over from the soundwave force alone

Vercingetorix · Apr 11, 2021

abrod520
I haven't been to an IMSA (nee ALMS) race in a while but they've always had an open paddock, no?

I remember standing next to a Corvette C6.R at Lime Rock 2006 when they fired it up. Nearly knocked me over from the soundwave force alone

The last few I have been to haven’t seemed as fan friendly as in the past. Could just be different tracks though. WEC was a huge disappointment and the top teams had miniature labyrinths to keep prying eyes away.

abrod520 · Apr 12, 2021

Vercingetorix
The last few I have been to haven’t seemed as fan friendly as in the past. Could just be different tracks though. WEC was a huge disappointment and the top teams had miniature labyrinths to keep prying eyes away.

WEC I suppose makes a bit more sense, given that it's quite techno-focused these days. Although I remember being able to walk right up to the R8s back in the day. Of course, they were soon due to be replaced but still.

Even so, I've fallen out of love recently with circuit racing. I'll still show up for the endurance races, but prototype racing isn't interesting and until GT3 becomes the top class for touring cars, I can't say I'm particularly interested in watching a WEC or IMSA race where the cameras only follow the prototypes (WEC) / "prototypes" (IMSA) and occasionally the GTE cars.