Cars to "discover"? Such a thing?

[emcon5]

There are a lot of cool cars we can't get in the states. Ford Focus RS is a good example, but I hear they are finally making a version for here.

The rest of the world has also embraced the small diesel as an economic daily driver.

[Normy]

There are ALL KINDS OF GREAT CARS that exist in Europe that we cannot get here!

Why? Due to non-standard crash test regulations, many wonderful European cars stay on the other side of the pond. Have you seen a 2003 Peugeot 406C on the road in the US lately? This PinninFarina-bodied Peugeot was FANTASTIC! Small, gutless engine aside, it was beautiful. Nope, can't have it in Florida! What about a Citroen Xantia [pronounced X-an-sha]? I lived in Brussels in 1999 and 2000, and I rode around in/drove one on a regular basis, and that car was amazing. A rough cobblestone Belgian street felt smooth as fresh asphalt in that car....yet the hydro-pneumatic suspension would tighten up during curves, and the car handled about the same as a same-year Volkswagen GTI. The turbodiesel engine took us to Antwerp at 100 mph one night, and the car returned 40 mpg doing it.

Uhmm.... Hello?

Nope. Can't have it in the US.....

WHY do these non-standard crash tests exist? Oh, I don't know...

[That Xantia had four airbags, front and rear crush zones, and clips front and rear for child seats]

Perhaps it is because Ford, gm and Chrysler DON'T WANT THE COMPETITION?

Welcome to the United States of America, where all people are equal. But attorneys and lobbyists are more equal....

N!

[maxnine11]

had never heard of Lautomobile Ventura before coming across this ad on Craigslist today:
1968 Lautomobile Ventura, made in Brazil, RARE car

[onewhippedpuppy]

Going more mainstream, I think many cars languish before being "discovered" by enthusiasts. There seems to be a dead zone between the indifferent new car buyer and the enthusiast where cars depreciate and languish, only to be "discovered" by enthusiasts and enjoy a rise in value. I remember when the E30 M3 was a $10k car, all day long. Now a driver is $20k, with nice examples bringing far more.

[nota]

FIERO esp the motor swapped cars
and low mile originals

lots of guys are building chevy V8 or 3800 buick SC or turbo
those cars will run low 13 to 11 sec 1/4 and decent track times or autoX too
others use newer GM DOHC 4-6-8's with or without turbo's and 6 speed sticks all basic bolt in's with simple to fab mounts
big brakes from a vett or viper custom coilovers tube A-arms ARB ect
and still under 10k all up and about 1/2 that used now for well built cars

[Normy]

Originally Posted by nota

FIERO esp the motor swapped cars
and low mile originals

lots of guys are building chevy V8 or 3800 buick SC or turbo
those cars will run low 13 to 11 sec 1/4 and decent track times or autoX too
others use newer GM DOHC 4-6-8's with or without turbo's and 6 speed sticks all basic bolt in's with simple to fab mounts
big brakes from a vett or viper custom coilovers tube A-arms ARB ect
and still under 10k all up and about 1/2 that used now for well built cars

Yeah, they go real quick in a straight line. Of course, that's the trick right? Keeping the thing under control. gm HAD a 350-powered Fiero in the works, but [wisely] never put it in production because that conversion would out-perform the corvette, but also it made the corvair look like a 928 stabilty-wise. Fiero's with 350 conversions are NOTORIOUS for being dangerously touchy. The rear weight bias with the 560 pound small-block chevrolet engine mounted makes the car unpredictable in curves, and the chassis is barely able to put down the power- "axle-hop" is a huge problem. The result is a hideous Frankenstein of a car that does nobody any favors, and who's singular claim is the exhaust note.

N!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Going more mainstream, I think many cars languish before being "discovered" by enthusiasts. There seems to be a dead zone between the indifferent new car buyer and the enthusiast where cars depreciate and languish, only to be "discovered" by enthusiasts and enjoy a rise in value. I remember when the E30 M3 was a $10k car, all day long. Now a driver is $20k, with nice examples bringing far more.

The 911S was considered just another slow and old P-car after the first 911 Turbo arrived. This didn't really change until a 1995 Excellence piece titled "early 911S is special". One example of media influence.

[911FASCINATION]

That Ventura that max posted above looks like a 944 from the front and a Testarossa from the back-interesting.

[nota]

Originally Posted by Normy

Yeah, they go real quick in a straight line. Of course, that's the trick right? Keeping the thing under control. gm HAD a 350-powered Fiero in the works, but [wisely] never put it in production because that conversion would out-perform the corvette, but also it made the corvair look like a 928 stabilty-wise. Fiero's with 350 conversions are NOTORIOUS for being dangerously touchy. The rear weight bias with the 560 pound small-block chevrolet engine mounted makes the car unpredictable in curves, and the chassis is barely able to put down the power- "axle-hop" is a huge problem. The result is a hideous Frankenstein of a car that does nobody any favors, and who's singular claim is the exhaust note.

N!

the early 84-87 cars had a parts bin rear set up
but GM redid the suspension for 88
and the whole 88 rear cradle will bolt on the early cars
or a simple ARB added to the rear helps a lot
as do other aftermarket bits like the tube A-arms

btw chevy aftermarket has lots of lite alloy bits inc blocks and heads
yes a all iron motor is heavy but only about 150 lbs over the stock v6
or about an avg passenger weight !!!!
while newer alloy V8 are also used both LS1 or northstars
or the alloy v6's at about stock weight
want lighter get a eco-tec alloy 4 and add a turbo
and get v8 power numbers under the stock 4 bangers weight

sure there are some poorly done cheap cars out there
but there are also some well done swaps with outstanding performance
these cars are the USA's only cheap mid eng mass produced car

[mdmiller911]

TVR

I discovered these a few years ago and ended up buying one for VSCCA. Very unique marque with a somewhat bizarre history. Definitely worth looking into.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by oldE

I saw a Skoda at the Halifax airport a few years ago and knew at a glance what it was, as it's VW ownership/lineage was apparent.

Heh, as opposed to the older, pre-VW, versions, which is what I still think of when I hear that name (from Wikipedia):

In the late 1980s, Škoda (then named Automobilové závody, národní podnik, Mladá Boleslav or AZNP) was still manufacturing cars that conceptually dated back to the 1960s. Rear engined models such as the Škoda 105/120, Estelle and Rapid sold steadily and performed well against more modern makes in races such as the RAC Rally in the 1970s and 1980s. They won their class in the RAC rally for 17 years running. They were powered by a 130 brake horsepower (97 kW), 1,289 cubic centimetres (78.7 cu in) engine. In spite of its dated image and being the subject of jokes, the Škoda remained a common sight on the roads of UK and Western Europe throughout the 1970s and 80s.

Sport versions of the Estelle and earlier models were produced, using "Rapid" as the version name. Soft-top versions were also available. The Rapid was once described as the 'poor man's Porsche', and had significant sales success in the UK during the 1980s.[5]

"Of course, that the Škoda became such a figure of fun was in part due to its ubiquity on Britain's roads. The company must have been doing something right". extract from BBC report on Škoda sales in 1980s.

Someone I knew had one. He said a hundredweight bag of fertiliser/cement in the front trunk was essential to avoid terminal understeer... To the point where he eventually just mixed the cement up and poured it in to the trunk floor, because he was tempted to take it out once for luggage capacity and almost came to regret it...

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

They just opened a Fiat dealership here. I would say most Fiats are off radar for most Americans.

Fix It Again Tony is pretty much how most folks feel about them. Driving by the dealership Fiat has some little commuter cars. They are completely off my radar.

As a car guy I understand Fiat is an old brand and had some cool old cars. I would be very cautious about buying a new Fiat however.

You missed all the threads where we have been anticipating the new 500? There are several of us here, myself included, that long for a fiat 500 Abarth.

Embraer has a new 500...

[johnsjmc]

Lada.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Opel.

My father stood in line to buy an Opel GT when they were introduced in the US (1968). He was one of the first to get one (being an astute sports car junky back in the day). Turns out they were unmitigated trash. It broke down on his ride home from the dealership. He had it towed back and sold it to the next guy in line for the exact amount he paid OTD.

That money went into a new Lamborghini Miura.

[tevake]

How about ISO Rivolta



Not unknown, but perhaps under appreciated. Italian styling, corvette engine.



A true 4 seat GT. Sweet
BTW the owner of the silver/blue one recently sold his and got into a 930, and is on BBS.
Tell us more Eric.
Cheers Richard