Automoda

You know... I'd experiment with different ideas on the nose cone. Since its just fiberglass it would be possible to do a lot with it to try to hide the extra width a bit more. To me, an important key to a good looking super 7 is how the nose cone is shaped. Since this one is so wide, you might try giving it a little more of a point on the nose instead of going straight across, or perhaps just curve it a bit on the sides so the opening is smaller. The seven was never built for looks, of course, but sometimes subtle things make a big difference on these cars. For instance I really like how Birkin's back fenders taper a little, and have a bit of angle on the front and back edges to keep it from looking like a true cylinder, or how their roll bar and windshield tapers in a little rather than having a true 90 degree bend.

I've heard rumors that Optima was bought out and is making batteries that are half as good as the ones in previous years. This could explain the reason some people have 10 year old batteries that keep going and some have 2 year old batteries that need to be replaced.

Mine lasted 3 years before I stopped trusting it. 10 is preeeeeety optima-istic. I just put a new one in and it feels good.

I have to say I love it. I wish the article had more details.

Thats a great chart. Thanks! Like you say, the 7s can vary so much its hard to fit them in a chart like that. Its possible there's a missing variable: "Awesomeness" The 818 looks like a ricer on the outside. Compared to an Atom or a 7 or Xbow, both looks and driving experience would not really compare that well. That'd push the 818 down the chart a bit. But some of those cars are so expensive they deserve to sit on the bottom forever.

I'm going to keep an eye on it. What about the Factory 5 "818"? https://www.factoryfive.com/kits/project-818/ Seems like it has the same philosophy, though its still a kit. But the cost + performance seems to be the focus of both cars. Probably the 818 is significantly cheaper though.

I feel that the Evora is a little pudgy. For a Lotus, that is. Of course they're catering to the more luxury minded crowd I guess. But the car is large, if you've ever been up to one in person. Large for a Lotus, that is. I'm not sure about the 160. I like that it is offered, but I'd rather spend the same money and get a new Birkin kit with the Duratec and the normal sized tires. I guess I'd like to borrow a 160 and give it a spin now and then, but I sure like carving corners like only modern tires can do. Lotus isn't the only one getting 2 in the top ten. Jag made a pretty nice showing. Did you look at the comments? Someone trashed the Fiat for being slow, handling badly, and sucking. I wondered why that car would be in the top 10 myself, when I first saw it. Sadly not a lot of new cars get my juices flowing. I'm honestly not excited about any make or model of main stream car. I guess its also partly that I've become jaded by the fact that car makers tend to make them impossible to work on and they'll soon start putting black boxes and GPS spyware in all the new stuff. Yeah... cant wait for my car to print out a ticket as I'm driving down the road.

... How did you make that?

Now thats what I wish I was driving this winter instead of a natgas Chevy Cavalier.

I dont buy it. I'm going to say that its a CG fake. If there was such a paint, it'd probably change between 2 colors. Secondly it'd require some kind of stimulation to change, and such stimulation would not be even, so some would change faster than others. Paint thickness and other factors would make for a blotchy change. The paint in this video would probably be possible if it was covered with more or less nano-level moving parts but I dont see how you could do this in a paint. It is, of course, a cool idea.

I want a picture of it with the nose cone, fenders, and hood/cowl on. Sitting next to an S3. Come on! Yer killin' me ;o)

I actually would love to build my own 3 wheeler. Its been on my mind for a long time.

Wow I love that red one!

Just WOW

Its sort of cool though

I used to be involved in recumbent bicycles a lot. I have one titanium model, one aluminum, and one chromoly model. I remember years ago talking to the manufacturer of the chromoly bike and he said that he could actually have the bike made in quantity in China from titanium for the SAME PRICE as he could have the frames made here in the US in chromoly steel tubing. Now, his brazing was beautiful and all and these were expensive bikes, but not outrageously so. In fact several builders did do exactly that. So of course that gets one to thinking.... About the only way to make a Seven lighter in any significant way would be to build it from Ti. So what about cost? Well, if I can get a Birkin kit for lets say low 20K range with all of their new suspension etc, but a top-of-the-line Cat costs 65K, that leaves a lot of wiggle room. If someone was building Ti frames and leaving the engine to the buyer (I dont know how to spend 20K+ on a 4 naturally aspirated 4cyl... 3-5K seems plenty) I think they'd have quite the hot product. Imagine it with a bike engine or one of those light little V4s. Ti is a bit more flexy-springy (I consider it part of my single-beam bike's suspension) but the 7's frame design is so triangulated I don't think it would flex at all. That stuff is TOUGH. Its lightness is amazing. The seven is just built from mostly 1 inch square tubing. I think its doable. Any thoughts?

Wow! What a setup. How do you like it? 2.4 Ecotec-- I'm not really familiar with that engine. How much did the turbo setup cost? Very clean car. Looks like you put a lot of thought into it. I notice the side skin is missing more than even a normal Stalker. You should stick a chunk of fiberglass with a Corvette emblem on it in the teeth.

I may take a hose to my car once per year just before the big car show. Otherwise it washes down nicely with a bucket of hot water and some micro-fiber rags. Usually hitting it with a hose causes more trouble than it solves. I only do it to rinse out the engine compartment and flush the rocks and dirt out of between any aluminum and frame tight spots. To be honest, my 7 is the easiest car that I've ever owned when it comes to keeping it clean. Most of the time a "California Car Duster" does the job.

So since nobody has posted it already, I'll post it here. I got it on the Birkin Yahoo list: Just wanted to let you know that John Watson of Birkin cars and Dhersan Shanmugam, his factory manager have been hi-jacked and shot today in Broederstroom. Both have been shot in the back and were taken to Fourways life hospital. Here is the latest update received from Cheryl. John: Bullet lodged against the spine. Missed the veins and spinal cord. Going into ICU for the night. They are operating tomorrow morning. We are praying the hospital plan covers. We are so lucky that the bullet didn't hit the aorta or spinal cord. I think the shock is setting in now. He is being sedated. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Dhersan is in good spirits - also going in tomorrow to take out bullet. It is a flesh wound. -------------------------- I always wondered how long Birkin would be able to hold out in South Africa. I've been paying attention to what is going on in that country for years and you would not believe the stories. I have a few S.A. friends and they got out a while back. My editorial: They should move Birkin to some Asian area and produce them cheaper and in a much more stable country. If they dont do something sooner than later they're going to end up either in the middle of a civil/race war or just be overrun in some kind of zombie apocalypse/Blackhawk Down kind of scene. Then it'll be too late to load up the equipment into a shipping container. Though perhaps, then, the Birkin frame could be adjusted to take offroad suspension and crossbow mounts for the Road Warrior future. But I just dont see a future where things get better in that country for anyone. I mean, would YOU move there? Nope.

Oh man! What a great deal. If I only had the scratch I'd buy it up in a second! You know, I like the idea that it isn't painted. Everyone has their own idea of what the ideal paint scheme would look like, so this saves having to sand off the existing paint -- I've been dieing to try out this idea I have for a paint scheme involving candy red with paisleys in it, wood trim with gold leaf accents. I'd be the trend setter! )

.......What

The American 7 would have to be the Super Stalker. Its not just a seven made in America, but it is a seven that has been Americanized; Big displacement! Superchargers! V8s! Paint jobs with flames! Hood scoops! .... and a luxuriously spacious seat.

I cant wait to see what the wide body looks like. Not that I want a wide body myself. But I know a lot of people have a hard time with the size of a 7 and Caterham does pretty well with their wide body. Birkin makes a good looking car and they have a good sense of style. It'll be fun to see how they deal with the width change. As for the aluminum hubs-- Birkin already had awesome hubs. These new ones that work on all 4 corners of an IRS car are a great idea. Keep the price down but give the top quality. I'd love to see more of the suspension. So far I haven't come across one of the IRS birkins in person, but I suppose these pictures show a change from what the current cars are using. But get rid of the AVO shocks! My Birkin blew a seal on a front AVO and when I contacted AVO for a rebuild, they said due to shipping, taxes, import fees, EU super special double helical carboniferous green vat tax it would cost only a few bucks more to get a new shock. The AVO shocks seem to go bad a lot compared to other brands. I ended up putting GAZ on the front of my Birkin and they're great.

Wow thats good looking. Old school fenders and tires and wheels mixed with that simple, tasteful, and sharp paint scheme make it one of the better looking sevens I've seen lately. (I'd get rid of the BBQ grill though). The lack of a roll bar makes it seem even lighter and smaller than ever.

Wow! Hey everyone, you've got to look at this slide show. So awesome! Thanks for posting it. What an event. I wish we had events that large here in the USA. It would require every super seven in the USA to equal that event! There are some really interesting cars in Australia. And whats the moose-Ferrari?