ccap41

Okay I kind of messed up the last post picture-wise..

I found some pictures of my C350 when I had her. First pic everything is factory. Then I changed the grill and hood emblem and had it tinted 20% all the way around. And the last picture of the 700+ miles was one day of driving where I intended to buy a Mach 1 in Iowa and the dealer straight up lied about the condition and it being all bone stock. It had exhaust and rock chips EVERYWHERE. like, even rear deck lid kind of everywhere. Then I ended up buying the Mach 1 that I did from Kentucky. In fantastic condition. Oh and just a couple that I thought looked cool. One next to my gf's G and another near a Raptor at my gym.

I dunno : the factory buy-back & crushing of like 6 years of Tacoma production is tough to forget. I don't recall.. Got some deets on it? (I honestly never really looked much into Tacomas till about a year and a half ago when my dad was truck shopping so forgive my ignorance) Either way, understandable. Everything hits everybody in a different way, rubs them the wrong way..

^ Agreed. And Frisky: I like how you looked at that and I can't agree more. The price hike..is just too much.. I've said it before and I understand 1, 2 grand, even 2500. but 4100 is a big gap.

Ford still shows the GT350 as having a V9 on their website. Correction, Only the GT350R has the V9.

Until they see the rather large absence of options on that V6 Stang. The V6 Mustang is the complete opposite end of what I'm complaining about with the 1SS. One doesn't allow you any options(or hardly any) and the other forces options on you. Both frustrating, imo.

I saw my first Chevy SS yesterday.. sadly it was in my rear view mirror so I couldn't get a good look at it. That is one underrated/underappreciated car.

It isn't about how many of us(small sample size) that buy base SS's and GT's but for those who DO buy them. As auto enthusiasts we tend to spend a little more on our vehicles than most would anyway so using members of an auto forum is quite the biased "results". Not everybody is going to want to spend te extra 4k for things like leather and all the cool techno doo-dads. The package is cool and awesome that they made but I think they should have offered a lesser trim as well. If it is for CAFE, I understand that more than to give the options that "most" got on the previous model. I think that is kind of a bull$h! reasoning because you could go down the line for every car produced and add the options that "most" buy and completely change the pricing game. Think "most" Chevy Cruzes are bought with an automoatic tansmission? Why offer a manual at all then? "Most" trucks never need/use 4wd, should they all get rid of that too? It's all about the options and giving people options. Saying "most" order this or that isn't justification.

It's even better when you are behind the wheel. I couldn't imagine having 707hp at my disposal. It's gotta be such a rush. I mean in town or even up to 60mph where it'll just light them up is super gnarly n all but I couldn't imagine being in a vehicle that size at 100mph and having it still pull like a son of a bitch. HA me too! Minus the Tacoma.. That has some real staying power/equity in its name. It's earned it.. imo.

I saw my first Hellcat out in the wild!

Saw/heard my first Hellcat. Fck. Irrationally stoked.

Why do you act like this is a big surprise? All cars are way too pricey these days. While it is a gamble on GM's part to price them like this, it appears that they are going to upsell it on the fact that it has more standard equipment than the Mustang. We will see if the gamble pays off. Why am I surprised that the new Camaro with a V8 is $4100 more than a V8 mustang? I pointed out that "I thought the Mustang was expensive". That was my point in the standard equipment though. They're doing kindof like what Ford does in their packaging where if you want(in this case a V8) you are forced to get other things with it. Random, made up, example. If I wanted HID headlights on my mustang. The odds are very good that it will be in a package that also adds X Y Z and it will end up costing a couple/few grand. That is what this is like. I think it is crappy. You want a V8, well there isn't a stripped down V8 anymore for Camaro.. I'm very intrigued in the V6 version actually. I still would never buy one but it intrigues me nontheless. I wish the 2.3 EcoBoost was a little more powerful so play with this. Fair enough but I do think you are over dramatizing it a bit. The way all the makes package their cars has been questionable to me for a long time though. I'll definitely admit I have not looked at packaging for much other than vehicles I've been interested in. By if they're all similar to how Ford does it..I don't like that. I think that's one of my favorite things that MB and BMW do if you can basically "a la carte" everything. You can package too but it seems like waaaay less of a hassle to do it with them.

This goes back to what we were saying in a our thread though: are you a performance-oriented guy or are you a guy who must have a V8? Because lemme tell you: when you can get a RWD sports coupe with 270-ish hp for 27 large, you are living in an age of miracles and wonders (Paul Simon REPRESENT!). That used to be an F-body Z-28. With a solid axle. Yes, I'd love to see a Silverado-engined Alpha for low thirties. But it probably ain't gonna happen. And maybe it doesn't need to. Or my first '04 Mustang GT(260/290) .. lol I do see what you mean.. but I still don't really agree with the pricing. I guess as a Mustang guy I really don't care. But as a human it is hard to see a logical reason to buy it over the mustang. I say logical meaning practicallity. It may be better in every way but it is THAT much better to warrant the price differnce. That is my point. a couple grand..OKAY, $4100..that's significant.

Why do you act like this is a big surprise? All cars are way too pricey these days. While it is a gamble on GM's part to price them like this, it appears that they are going to upsell it on the fact that it has more standard equipment than the Mustang. We will see if the gamble pays off. Why am I surprised that the new Camaro with a V8 is $4100 more than a V8 mustang? I pointed out that "I thought the Mustang was expensive". That was my point in the standard equipment though. They're doing kindof like what Ford does in their packaging where if you want(in this case a V8) you are forced to get other things with it. Random, made up, example. If I wanted HID headlights on my mustang. The odds are very good that it will be in a package that also adds X Y Z and it will end up costing a couple/few grand. That is what this is like. I think it is crappy. You want a V8, well there isn't a stripped down V8 anymore for Camaro.. I'm very intrigued in the V6 version actually. I still would never buy one but it intrigues me nontheless. I wish the 2.3 EcoBoost was a little more powerful so play with this.

Sorry man, but I had to test that on your post lol I almost did that myself

You're saying everybody buys loaded cars? C'mon man. You know that isn't true. I'm not talking about the abilities of the car itself.. I know it will be a very very good pony car. My point is the price of entry for a V8 is outrageous now, for the Camaro. I thought the Mustang was expensive. Add $4100 before you can step into a Camaro. These used to be cars that EverydayJoe could afford. Pushing 38k isn't that car anymore.

No no no not that kind of packaging. I mean if you want a V8 you're stuck spending an extra 4100 over a mustang GT and getting extra features/tech/whatnot with no real choice of a stripped down Camaro SS. You think agerage Joe wanting a muscle car knows or cares about Cadillac bones under that? A large majority of drivers could drive ANYTHING brand spankin new and say it rides better than anything they've ever driven. So why would Joe spend an extra $4100 on the Camaro? Both are 12 second cars.. Both can pull 0.9g+ or whatever, as if the average driver can push either of these cars to the limit). I just don't see $4100 better.. $1000..$2000..yes..$2500..that's a decent gap. but $4100. That's significant to a comparison.

Nope I guess I was halfway wrong. I knew the new 1.0 Focus got a 6spd and I guess I just assumed the 2.0 did as well. But, I was wrong. In that case it just reinforces my confusion. There must be some financial case for keeping the 5-speeds around. Oh well. Completely agree.. It just seems odd to have a 5spd and a 6spd..then the auto. Only thing I can really think of is just the way they are geared to the engines. They must have been designed together therefore they are at the right rpm for each gear/speed that they(the engineers) want. And redesigning isn't worth it till a new engine probably. Or the people buying them don't reall care as the take rate is probably pretty dang low.

Yeah, ouchy town for an SS now.. It kind of sounds like Ford's crappy packaging techniques where they force you to get all sorts of options in an expensive package in order to get(in this case) the V8.

Nope I guess I was halfway wrong. I knew the new 1.0 Focus got a 6spd and I guess I just assumed the 2.0 did as well. But, I was wrong.

If money wasn't an issue I'd put a 4.6 from a 99-04 Mustang GT in my first car('95 Beretta Z26). And I'd put a 4.6 from a 99-01 cobra(or 03-04 Mac 1) in my 3rd car('03 Focus SVT), and I'd put a 4.6 from an '03-'04 Cobra in my Escape. I'd just have 4.6 mod motors EVERYWHERE!! Fck it, I'd even buy a brand new Mustang and swap in an '03-'04 Cobra 4.6 and up the power some.. Now that would be a unique build.

I don't know why Ford is such a holdout on 6-speed manuals in their mainstream compacts. They already have 6-speeds in the ST models, just gear that unit less aggressively. I'm really not sure. It could still be a fuel economy thing by having them all tall gears..? But I think the Fiesta is the only one with a 5spd. The Focus manual is a 6spd along with the obvious ST cars. Technically 4th is considered an overdrive gear at 0.95:1 and 5th is 0.756:1 But it was a fun little car to drive. The clutch and gear shifter felt good. Not too long or too short of a throw. Clutch didn't feel SUPER light like I've felt in other manual economy cars. It grabbed at a good point. It was a fun driving experience. I didn't dirve it at highway speeds so I don't know how the power is at 70mph but I got up to 50 and it felt more than adequate for a car of its class.

^ A friend of mine picked up a 1.0 Fiesta about a month ago. That is a fun little car. Very tall gearing, but that is expected. Especially because it is a 5spd rather than a 6spd.

Did you know that the Continental Sports Car Series only allows that motor to rev to 6100rpm..? In gears 1-3, 6th and 6400rpm in 4-5th Odd how that works..but Fun fact..

20k(base) for a 137hp/126tq car.. I realize power isn't everything in a car but man..dollar to power ratio is off on this one! On a seious note. Good review. I enjoy reading them. And it is cool that you can get some fun TRD parts for a car like this. That should help spark the aftermarket and youth to get into this. Also, at 137hp it should help parents feel comfortable buying/letting them drive theirs. Yet, they can still modify the car..good high school -> college car.