Kitcat

I know this popular subject has been covered before but my post is triggered by GJSlutz's post under a different topic saying he now has a TDI Jetta sportswagon as a tow vehicle for his se7en. Any idea what it can actually tow? I saw that in the US its rated at 1000lbs, wh/wldn't cut it. But in England, the same vehicle is rated by VW at 3300 lbs. Different suspensions? Different liability laws? Pickup trucks are dirt cheap at the moment. Lots of $10K off ads. On the other hand they are gas guzzling behemoths and not especially practical for my daily commute. The relatively diminutive Jetta wagon gets great mileage and would seem to be the best of both worlds, if the trailer were a light weight, single axle etc., type, and IF it could comfortably tow 3,300 lbs. Thots? Mike

Just saw that New Zealand's football team (Soccer in the states) has qualified for the 2010 World Cup. I thot they only played rugby down there? Anyhow, it's an amazing accomplishment. Go All Whites! Mike

So it makes almost no power below 4K? Pretty stout otherwise. About equal to the "200 hp" Zetecs on the dyno. 50 more hp than my Crossflow, 4 less torque. Also a pretty flat power curve as well.

Slip-My thot was if he runs a business restoring valuable cars, and if business was slow, how fortuitous that his own car now needs restoring. So the insurance co pays him the $500K, or what ever it costs to dry out a Veyron, and his business benefits. I am probably reading too much into it. To me the lesson is stay off your cell phone while driving. I find it hard to pin this on the pelican. Mike

Seems like more than a coincidence (insurance scam?).

RWHP= 137 Torque= 70

Impressive. Sad to see the Dino go tho(:.

gjs: It wld be nice to have that AC Cobra back! I am trying to conjure up some sympathy on that but I am also an old geezer and, while you were ripping around in Cobras and Panteras (wow!), I was in a clapped out Fiat 128 that was prone to electrical fires. NY Times says new Prisoner series is not very faithful to the original version, either in details or concept. Nothing a good R500 wouldnt fix:).

Define "a lot of camber". I run about 1 1/2 degrees of negative. See my knock-kneed avatar, above. Mike

Jon: Wld you use these as a street/rain tire, or for dry pavement competition? Mike

Just checked the latest issue of Excellence and they report these early 70's Targas being valued at $16.9K for so-so condition, $19,225 for good condit, $25,750 for excellent condition. Then they list actual prices paid recently, with a low at $9K, high at $36K. Mike

Ditto the AM similarity. Even more so, this new Porsche looks a lot like a Ferrari 456 to me. Better than the stretch-911 that is the new Panamerica, tho. Has anyone actually seen one in person? The photos of it are not especially flattering.

Ben told me that after the R500 was tested by the car mags, it wld be for sale for around $70K. Given the plunging $, that is probably not a bad price.

Yes, I think the ad limits it to other Caterhams. As to "Lotus style" cars, that really opens up the competition: There are many super developed auto-x only and track-day only cars that are Lotus inspired that wld probably whip it. But I wldnt mind giving it a try!

There have been articles on this in "Excellence" car magazine (devoted exclusively to Porsches). The advice is always the same: Have someone knowledgeable look at the car and, buy the best example you can afford. They are Porsches, so plan to pay "Porsche" prices for repairs, service, etc., and pray you don't need an engine rebuild. The magazine periodically provides "Market Updates" re pricing for the various models so I wld expect an issue in the last 12 months or so covered that. They have a web page so that mite be a place to start and perhaps order a pertinent back-issue. Mike

Not necessarily in that order:)!

The alleged "fastest Caterham in the states" is listed on their webpage. This car was mentioned by recent owner, Craig Chima, here a few months back when he noted a desire to sell. All the goodies, dynos around 270 hp, and at $53K and 2300 miles.Edit:Just advised by owner, via Chris T. that odometer reading of 1200 miles is accurate. Mike

Hey-so what the H... happened to your engine already? Big hole in the side. I thot those BUSA engies were bullet proof. What's the redline, 12K? Did you try !4K? Hopefully they are plentifull and cheaply replaced tho I am sure it's a huge PITA.

OK, who here holds the record for the longest build time? (Never-ending upgrade-itis does not qualify-slngshot:)). I will define this as starting from when the build actually started to when the car was driven ( ran, stopped, turned) on a public road. Not necessarily licensed-wh/is a whole different contest! Thinking about starting, making plans to start, researching plans, etc., etc., do not count. I am talkiing about when actual construction started (frame was begun-or arrived from the supplier). This thread was inspired by my neighbor, JohnK, whose recent post shows he began his Ultralite in 5/05 (!). CAN ANYONE BEAT THAT? Mike

Looks like the perpetrator "forgot" about leaving a note admitting to his/her responsibility. Hopefully the caught him/her. I sense a cell phone somewhere in all of this. Mike

I have a hunch that part of the explanation for the accident involves the leaves on the road. Damage seems very minor, fortunately. Mike

Al-No I didn't know. Thx a lot! I think that from a purely aesthetic perspective, the classic-clammed S3 Lotus/Caterham is one of the nicest. And adding Brooklands seems to really round it out. I do know I fully expected to win the prettiest car contest at the Se7ens event at the Dragon in '07:). Then I showed up and saw all the other amazing cars and resigned myself to being just another lovely Se7en(:. I look forward to seeing photos of your completed car. As you can tell from my photo, it is essential that the color of your gloves match your nose band! (In my case it was pure coincidence-but I like it in the above photo) . Mike

Jack: The Brookland screens were great. They really livened up the car's performance. I was able to hang with a Honda 2000 down the straight, and that was a first. Of course it was all over for the Honda at the first breaking area into turn one: He was on the brakes while I was still accelerating. Downside-I nearly froze to death getting there. I had a shirt, 2 sweatshirts and a winter jacket on and gloves, etc, heater full blast and man it was cold! Worth it tho:). Mike

At Putnam Park racetrack, Nov1, 2009. Courtesy of a (talented) friend of Jack Banker's, who was there. Mike

Their website shows a lovely like-new car with 480 miles. Zetec w/185 hp. Buyer's remorse? Mike