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balthazar

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Everything posted by balthazar

  1. balthazar
    You need 'adult back seat space' - Chevy has an SS for you.
  2. balthazar
    Seems like some interesting points to weld together different property steels. Around the rear door latches & the roof rail, for EX.
  3. balthazar
    Distinction & uniqueness in design is deserving of continuation. Current Camaro looks awesome still, to dump that and go with a generic pod and just glue the 'Camaro' nameplates on it is ridiculously stupid. In contrast, some cars out there recycle the same old elements for decades and everyone praises the "iconic look". Evolutionary is the way to go with the Camaro. I agree that weight is a small concern, tho in truth- the '67-69s weren't much lighter. Quoted weight of the '69 V8s was 3050, but my brother has an all-steel '68 Firebird (400), and with zero options and a few components removed he couldn't get his car below 3200 on the scale, and he was pursuing weigh loss for drag racing. And to be frank, I see a strong parallel with some luxury sedans; they perform very well even tho they weigh 4800 lbs or more. Camaro is no slug nor a slushbucket on the track. If we were all told it weighed 3300 and performed like it does, all would be well.
  4. balthazar
    What already weighs 4000 lbs : the S470 is 4729 to start as it is. Add batteries and it'll be 5500.
  5. balthazar
    That's it. Click on the pic for the full-size image. Actually, it's coachbuilt, not from the regular catalog, but it's still pretty neat.
  6. balthazar
    Direct link : http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/SHORPY_FL16790028.jpg
  7. balthazar
    Ironically, I saw a Freightliner Sprinter today, that someone had zip-tied a MB logo over the grille. Classy. The theory that a vast quantity of people aren't buying MBs, either cars or commercial vans, because of the brand name is a weak one. As far as 'being mercedes', that's poses an interesting question. I do recall reading the same opinion when GM was well over a 30% marketshare and fleeting like a whoremaster, that 'GM is doing pretty well'... and everybody just nodding their heads along. MB is first & foremost a fleet vehicle seller in Europe, and they are bringing their 'low-hanging fruit' to this market next, and dumping their top end. Will be interesting to watch.
  8. balthazar
    1938 Cadillac Series 353 :
  9. balthazar
    Offering spartan commercial vehicles has not tarnished the Mercedes-Benz nameplate here in Europe, so I really wouldn't expect it to do so in the US. The images of the brand differ a great deal from there to here from what I've seen.
  10. balthazar
    didn't astom-martin just drop their small car? The cignet? This is COMPLETELY below where bentley supposedly is positioned. There's a few million that could easily be spend on making the core vehicles have some actual, detailed, distinctive bodywork rather than the bland, generic-cism they've been peddling up to now. I mean, look at the price tags on bentleys; why for one hot second ISN'T the interior for the concept EXP 9 immediately in regular production- the bentley GT coupe is $240K! There shouldn't BE any bentley concepts- they should be the production cars.
  11. balthazar
    Have you looked at one up close? They're not built any better than the average cargo van. More to the point- it has a premium price but it reeks of cheapness. You can get 300K out of about anything with decent maintenance; that claim is no longer a distinction. Just today I heard the brother of my buddy say he had 320,000 on his Ford F-250 SD.
  12. balthazar
    There's certainly not a lot of distinction in this increasingly-crowded segment, but the question remains what the association with the luxury aspect of the badge being increasingly seen on one of the most elemental & spartan vehicle on the road will do over the long run to perceptions. Because there's nothing 'mercedes' WRT a sprinter van...
  13. balthazar
    Springs will 'set' in a few hundred miles tops, but I don't believe this will ever drop a car from the initial height any more than -say- 3/8-inch. If the spring is properly indexed in it's pocket (where applicable), it's really not going to go anywhere (as in permanently compress). This says big block front coils have a spring rate of 403. Your first link is for the Moog 6304's. This says their spring rate is 337. 2nd link for the Moog 6192s has a spring rate of 300. I suspect the 3rd link for the Elgin 6192s has the same spring rate of 300- cannot be a coincidence that the numbers are the same. These sound more in line with small block rates- either would be fine. I can tell you '65 Pontiac full-size front coil rates are 275- so either the 300s or 337s should be right on the money. The other issue tho is load height- and this is subjective. Factory correct coil load height tells you the height that spring is designed to carry it's load. Factory-spec springs just look like the car has a mild lift kit in it to my eye. This probably comes from being around these cars after they were decades old and the spring load height had deteriorated (spring rate is permanent, but load height does decline over many years). They just look better down about 2 inches (the full-sizers) from 100% factory, IMO. You can cut the coils to achieve this if you already have them without affecting ride quality, tho there are aftermarket dropped springs readily available. Again- cutting a coil off won't change the spring rate. This, IMO, is too tall :
  14. balthazar
    The lack of a center stack is refreshing, but the console is so tall, it's of no advantage. It looks nicely finished, but design-wise it's a mishmash with little cohesion. The air vents are a bit much. My biggest gripe would be the uber-ubitquitous 3-spoke steering wheel trimmed in aluminum with the bottom spoke having a hole thru it : a slight variation on at least 20 other wheels just like it. Homogenization in full overdrive. I would agree if the controls are all driver-controlled that's not the way to go, but the TT is going to be a single-occupant car probably 98% of the time anyway.
  15. balthazar
    This is yet another recent vehicle that open comment on it looking like the previous generation has occurred. Been saying for years we're at the 95% percentile of auto design- here's mounting evidence.
  16. balthazar
    That person is long gone; your legion of fans yearn to see you TODAY. Sure, a few paparazzi shots have temporarily surfaced, but you are rapidly approaching the legacy of JD Salinger or Syd Barrett here.
  17. balthazar
    We know this isn't you because we actually see this person, and you are invisible.
  18. balthazar
    580 would only be a 24-HP bump. The 2G CTS-V surprised most when it's official numbers were released, I expect the same on the 3G V. I'm going to guess a minimum of 610.
  19. balthazar
    Here's to hoping Fap's rabid, slavering, anti-Pontiac fuel doesn't have a 84-year run in its tank.
  20. balthazar
    They have to be getting better: mercedes wasn't even in the luxury class in the 1980s.
  21. balthazar
    GTO, Cavalier, Corvette, Cobalt- who can tell them apart??? I mean, they all have air vents.... and the first letters are VERY similar. {insert teeth-knashing, scribbly cartoon meme here}
  22. balthazar
    Where's your GTO review? Can't unilaterally damn it because it had a manual? Last truly "unique" Pontiacs were the GTO & G8, not the Fiero. GTO was a pretty nice piece, every one I see is always impeccably maintained; surprising for a HURR rental car.
  23. balthazar
    I'd prefer the mesh grillework of past Vs.
  24. balthazar
    ^ + GTO. GTO, G8 and Fiero were unique product; not 'Chevys with red gauges'. To a lesser degree, the others mentioned were certainly differentiated enough to stand alone, IMO. People who for some inexplicable reason are angry at the brand will gravitate right to the G3 / Aztek. Those who can value the cars listed above will focus on those instead, and that's how the 'chips fall' WRT opinion, apparently. I'm sure there are BMW haters that will harp on the 318i, the FWD pods a-comin, the debacle of the Bangle Butt and the decades of horrendously cheap interiors and dismiss that entire brand, too. I don't find this mindset legitimate in either case.
  25. balthazar
    No doubt the limited production is playing a role in that stat.
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