The Pittsburgh Thread

[Bumblebee2012]

I'll have $43K in the ss and be around 650 at the tires. Your looking at about $60K to have a stock ZL1, price with tax. I got my car through a deal at work that got me the TF3 package car for a really low price. So even if I drop another $5K on rear end junk, I'm way too the good side of buying a ZL1.

I would think that throwing a set of bias slicks on a ZL1 will do some fun things to the IRS, just like it would to an SS. The $300 ZL1 fuel pump is setting on my bench in the garage.

If I'm to understand you, you can turn a stock ZL1 up to 650-ish RWHP and feed that power into a set of race slicks and the ZL1 rear parts will plant it and slingshot the car with no complaints well into the tens? Even if so, the cost is going to be much higher than where I'm at. I can do it for under $50K. Oh, and as for the automatic transmission, I hear you and I understand your point of view, but I have no use for an automatic. The visceral feel of a manual is pure bliss. My Cruze is an automatic though. It's a racing machine! :-)

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[cam99]

Originally Posted by Bumblebee2012

I'll have $43K in the ss and be around 650 at the tires. Your looking at about $60K to have a stock ZL1, price with tax. I got my car through a deal at work that got me the TF3 package car for a really low price. So even if I drop another $5K on rear end junk, I'm way too the good side of buying a ZL1.

I would think that throwing a set of bias slicks on a ZL1 will do some fun things to the IRS, just like it would to an SS. The $300 ZL1 fuel pump is setting on my bench in the garage.

If I'm to understand you, you can turn a stock ZL1 up to 650-ish RWHP and feed that power into a set of race slicks and the ZL1 rear parts will plant it and slingshot the car with no complaints well into the tens? Even if so, the cost is going to be much higher than where I'm at. I can do it for under $50K. Oh, and as for the automatic transmission, I hear you and I understand your point of view, but I have no use for an automatic. The visceral feel of a manual is pure bliss. My Cruze is an automatic though. It's a racing machine! :-)

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The rear end is bulletproof. period. It's not a stronger ss rear, it's a completely different rear, cast iron, 9.9" ring gear, with huge axles. People in the 9-10's on stock rear. Slicks and go. Not going into the " for less money I can mod my xxx to be faster than a xxx" argument. It's pointless. A foxbody mustang for example can be built stupid fast for way less money than either of our cars just for an example. I'm not saying theres no point to mod an SS , you can make it crazy fast, I'm just saying a zl1 as a drag car can go quite fast with some pulley and tune with other bolt ons, without upgrading rear end, axles, clutch, output shaft, fuel system, bushings, camshaft, valvesprings, etc etc. I guess I don't need to row through the gears to enjoy my car as much as i used to. Sitting in traffic or going stop sign to stop sign with my heavy clutch manuals just lost it's allure to me. i can still use the flappy paddle manual mode if I want to control things on a twisty road or what have you. Differnt strokes for different folks I guess. Congrats on your racing cruze though

[Bumblebee2012]

You need to feel the clutch in these new SS cars, it feels broken is so light!

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[cam99]

Originally Posted by Bumblebee2012

You need to feel the clutch in these new SS cars, it feels broken is so light!

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i had to use the lingenfelter clutch return spring in my ss because the damn pedal liked to stick to the floor drag racing , but before i traded it in, i took it back off. I couldnt believe how different it felt without it. it didn't feel that much firmer when i installed it, but night and day when i took it off. worked like a charm though.

[tahseenmahmood]

Originally Posted by Bumblebee2012

I personally don't get that car, but I suppose if your not into Street racing or drag racing and you like going to a road track it can make sense in your head. I'm more of the kind of guy that will rarely hit a drag strip but will race anyone that comes up on me in the streets. Talking smack at Jerry's on a Friday night and getting a friendly $100 bet going on a drag race is good times. It's been a few years since I've played that game, but I assume it still goes on.

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Same with me.! I try to race any one any car on the streets... it dosent matter if it is a zl1 or a ferrari.. on the street its all about traffic judgment and calculated risks.. driving in india for 5 years, dodgeing the cows and dogs and 1.4 billion people in india at high speeds made me a good street racer.! LOL

[demonspeed]

I'm still confused how anyone with Ford tattoos can fathom buying anything other than Fords... let alone a Toyota! I'm truly not saying this to be insulting (maybe a little condescending), but I honestly don't understand.

I'm a die-hard GM guy with a strong preference toward Chevrolet. It's mostly emotional and not something I can necessarily explain - nor would I expect others to "get it." With that said, I can't ever see myself owning anything but GM (at least from the perspective of where "I'm at" right now). This doesn't mean I think other brands are junk (I'm really not sure there is a "bad" car made today), but I just like what I like.

To be fair, my '93 Mustang GT was my second car. It was purchased after I sold my '89 IROC-Z -- and my stepdad was a Ford guy. I learned to drive in Fords, so I said "eff it" and gave the fox body a shot. It was ok, but I never made the connection. I later bought a '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee at an auction for a cheap DD. It was ok, but I sold it to buy a '97 Tahoe because I wanted a Chevy (and I made money on the Jeep). My last foray outside of GM was an '02 Mercury Cougar Sport that I purchased when I was broke and working at Saturn. I needed something "right now" and it was the "sportiest" thing we had in stock. It was a decent car, but I felt like a douche driving it (and it was a complete dog even with the V6).

As they say, things come in threes, so I gave each of the Big 3 a shot and have stuck with GM (I haven't had anything but GM since 2007). Aside from my three non-GMs, I've had the following since getting my license 14 years ago:

'89 IROC-Z
'01 Z28
'00 SS
'91 Z28
'97 Tahoe
'05 GTO
'08 G6
'07 TrailBlazer (still have)
'02 SS (obviously still have)
'12 Malibu (still have)

While other brands make great cars, I have no interest in spending my money on anything but GM; however, I don't have a bowtie tattoo.

[Bumblebee2012]

I guess I'm not brand specific, I favor Ford but I've had a bunch of cars. Let's see how God my memory is over 25 years of driving.

In order of purchase:
71 Chevelle (still have)
77 Civic manual shift
79 Dodge Omni manual shift
79 Buick Electra
80 Plymouth Turismo
80 Pontiac Grand Prix W-30 Olds 455 powered
86 Monte Carlo LS 305
87 Bronco II manual shift
Unknown year Dodge D-50 (Mitsubishi) manual shift
79 F-250 (still have)
95 Civic manual shift
95 Chevy G-20 Mark III Conversion
97 Caravan
00 Excursion Diesel
00 Toyota Corola
01 Nissan Frontier Supercharged manual shift.
01 Vitara manual shift
05 Ram 2500 Crew Cab Long bed Cummins
2006 Mazdaspeed6 manual shift
2011 Malibu
2012 Camaro manual shift
2012 Cruze
2013 Malibu


Sent from a Galaxy Note 2, far far away.

[Witt]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

I'm a die-hard GM guy with a strong preference toward Chevrolet. It's mostly emotional and not something I can necessarily explain - nor would I expect others to "get it." With that said, I can't ever see myself owning anything but GM (at least from the perspective of where "I'm at" right now). This doesn't mean I think other brands are junk (I'm really not sure there is a "bad" car made today), but I just like what I like.

While other brands make great cars, I have no interest in spending my money on anything but GM; however, my bowtie tattoo is in a place I'm not willing to reveal to you men.

I cut your quote down a little just to reply to this...I was exactly the same way for a while but realized if I stuck to a certain make or model I was cutting myself short of potential other buys that were either better suited for me or better bang for the buck.

By looking the other way to other makes, you're only shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to buying new or used. Not many people have this preference buying TVs, computers, or lawnmowers but are fairly particular in brand of vehicle, even if it means buying an inferior model for the money. Confuses the hell outta me.

[demonspeed]

Originally Posted by Witt

I cut your quote down a little just to reply to this...I was exactly the same way for a while but realized if I stuck to a certain make or model I was cutting myself short of potential other buys that were either better suited for me or better bang for the buck.

By looking the other way to other makes, you're only shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to buying new or used. Not many people have this preference buying TVs, computers, or lawnmowers but are fairly particular in brand of vehicle, even if it means buying an inferior model for the money. Confuses the hell outta me.

I completely understand what you're saying, Al. I think I explained this in a post long ago, but I just find it "comforting" I suppose to have the familiarity. Maybe it's no different than one being a die-hard Steelers fan -- there are plenty of great teams with great players that win super bowls. There's just something that creates a connection for people to certain things.

I do admit right up front that other manufacturers build great and exciting vehicles, but I simply prefer putting my money behind a Chevrolet. They've never let me down, I'm very familiar with the product, and it's just the way it is I also enjoy being sort of the "underdog" professing how much I enjoy being a Chevy Redneck

With that said, I'm also probably one of their biggest critics. If they do something wrong/stupid, then I'll be very vocal about it (you can find me on gminsidenews doing such).

As for your other consumer goods analogy: I've been increasingly sticking with specific brands over the years. I've found I'll check out LG for TV's and such; it's Whirlpool for appliances. Hell, if I didn't have landscapers, I'd only buy John Deere. Even growing up, I only bought Nintendo stuff -- I wouldn't even consider anything that wasn't Nintendo brand (like controllers and stuff like that). I'm just a weirdo with a good sense of humor!

Originally Posted by Bumblebee2012

I guess I'm not brand specific, I favor Ford but I've had a bunch of cars. Let's see how God my memory is over 25 years of driving.

That's 23 cars of which only 3 were Ford. I'm still failing to see the Ford die-hard connection

[G-Oil Guy]

I'm a car whore. As long as its got 4 wheels ill probably want to drive it. Drove my buddies 2013 mustang. It was fun.

If I sell my house for enough I may have enough where I may spring for an Audi S5. Depends on how I like the way it drives.

[demonspeed]

Originally Posted by G-Oil Guy

If I sell my house for enough I may have enough where I may spring for an Audi S5. Depends on how I like the way it drives.

I honestly believe the S5 to be one of the most gorgeous vehicles on the road. It's so smooth and elegant... I'll let others compare/contrast it to the female anatomy.

[G-Oil Guy]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

I honestly believe the S5 to be one of the most gorgeous vehicles on the road. It's so smooth and elegant... I'll let others compare/contrast it to the female anatomy.

Ha!

[Swacer]

Originally Posted by G-Oil Guy

I'm a car whore. As long as its got 4 wheels ill probably want to drive it. Drove my buddies 2013 mustang. It was fun.
.

+1 Drove a 2011 GT/CS 2 weeks ago and loved it. Made me look at Jay's car even more

What does a used GT500 go for? haha

I find myself being more moderate in regards to car choices. Prove to me my investment is worth it, you'll get my money.

[Swacer]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

I honestly believe the S5 to be one of the most gorgeous vehicles on the road. It's so smooth and elegant... I'll let others compare/contrast it to the female anatomy.

I love the S5. I even considered a S4 when I was looking at the Camaro.