Thoughs on Cheap Sporty Cars (thread break)

[Jeff_DML]

Watched a YouTube video on the new mustang last night, actually looks pretty nice

[Jeff_DML]

The new base model Mini doesn't sound bad

http://www.edmunds.com/mini/cooper/2014/road-test.html

[lupinsea]

Originally Posted by lemming

did we rule out the v6 mustang or the v6 camaro?

those are not slow cars.

I'll be curious about the turbo 4 motor they'll be sticking in the new Mustang. Apparently, in Ford's mind the engine hierarchy goes like this:

3.7L V6 - Base engine
Ecoboost 2.3L 4 cyl. - Mid-range
5.0L V8 - Premium

It seams weird thinking of a turbo 4 in a Mustang but the way I hear it is that the Ecoboost 4 cyl makes a bit more power than the V6 with a flatter torque curve that starts lower and better power across the RPM band and it should get better fuel economy.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by lupinsea

I'll be curious about the turbo 4 motor they'll be sticking in the new Mustang. Apparently, in Ford's mind the engine hierarchy goes like this:

3.7L V6 - Base engine
Ecoboost 2.3L 4 cyl. - Mid-range
5.0L V8 - Premium

It seams weird thinking of a turbo 4 in a Mustang but the way I hear it is that the Ecoboost 4 cyl makes a bit more power than the V6 with a flatter torque curve that starts lower and better power across the RPM band and it should get better fuel economy.

What's weird about a turbo 4 in a Mustang?

In 1985 and 1986, the SVO was positioned above the 5.0. Rightly so in 1985, maybe, maybe not in 1986, but it was gone for 1987.

[bren]

Are those Michelin PSS tires? In 1985? No wonder it was such a hot car.

[lemming]

i'd prefer a turbo, especially where state of the art is right now.

the v8s are lovely, but it's really, really difficult to commute with them. see: "living with an E90 M3 on a daily basis, by JST" (abysmal fuel economy)

they can crackle and pop like v8 overrun, too. it's cool.

[John V]

I enjoyed commuting in my V8. It got about the same fuel mileage as my E46, but it had an additional 180hp.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by John V

I enjoyed commuting in my V8. It got about the same fuel mileage as my E46, but it had an additional 180hp.

yeah --(we had same car) --but that car only weighed 3000lbs.

these V8s are barges. the mustang is easily 3600? camaro v8 is 3900. E90M3 is 3700 or so.

maybe why conceptually, for the OP, that the list was restricted to the cars that are on it. the pony cars are brutes. fun. but pretty different.

[clyde]

I dug commuting in the Fox body 5.0 Mustangs in the day. Pretty sure I'd be super happy commuting in a modern day 5.0 Mustang (either outgoing or incoming, but definitely more incoming) and happier with it than with the turbo 4 that they'll use. That begs the question if I'd be happy enough with the turbo 4. Based on my experience with the FoST, assuming the Mustang version is a bit quicker, yeah, I would be. But I'd still be happier with the V8. Mileage? Fuck that...and based on my experience with the FoST, I'd be pretty surprised if the turbo 4 Mustang does much better than the V8 in the real world of "how often do I have to fill up and what's it cost me?" The E90M3 was so awful not because of its mileage as much as that coupled with a tiny tank.

[lupinsea]

Originally Posted by lemming

yeah --(we had same car) --but that car only weighed 3000lbs.

these V8s are barges. the mustang is easily 3600? camaro v8 is 3900. E90M3 is 3700 or so.

maybe why conceptually, for the OP, that the list was restricted to the cars that are on it. the pony cars are brutes. fun. but pretty different.

Mostly the list was restricted to cars that I'm somewhat interested in that I could think of off the top of my head that are potentially affordable after they are a few years used.

Also, anything I get (other than my Jeep) will be used for commuting, so I'd want a reliable vehicle that I can put 12,000 - 15,000 miles on per year and can go at least 150,000+ miles without too much fuss.

I'm thinking that's probably not a BMW M3.

The Mustang is a bit of an outlier as it's larger than I like but I think Ford is getting the weight down around 3400 lb. so, hm, still heavier than I wan't but not out of the norm in todays automotive landscape. The Camaro I wouldn't consider at all just because it seems like a fatter pig at near 4,000 lb. Besides, given how well Ford tuned the FoST and FiST cars, I think they're going to do a great job with the Mustang. Speculation, but I think it's a reasonable assumption at this point.