Car Talk Topic

[Outcast]

 

Fiat 500 are Lady's runabouts. The interior plastics are dreadful as well.

 

Back to proper cars, Lexus are finally installing a Bluray player in the LS, the first manufacturer to do so.

 

About bloody time.

 

http://www.netcarshow.com/lexus/2013-ls_46...allpaper_13.htm

 

http://www.netcarshow.com/lexus/2013-ls_46...allpaper_14.htm

Fiat 500s maybe. Not the Abarth.

 

About bloody time? I'm sorry, I wasn't aware the inclusion of blu-ray players in the LS meant so much to you. TVs are the least useful things in a car and being able to watch blu-rays in a car add nothing to it.

Edited August 5, 2012 by Outcast

[epoxi]

I wish every automaker had a Fiat 500 Abarth equivalent. I know Renault have the Twingo GT but it only has half the power. It would be great to see what Toyota could do with the Aygo (AKA C1, 107), Ford with the Ka or Hyundai/Kia with its small cars.

 

Considering how we will probably have to drive smaller cars in the future, it would make the prospect a lot more promising.

Edited August 6, 2012 by epoxi

[Kevin...]

Toyota has TRD

Honda has HPD or FP as well as Mugen

Mazda had/has Mazdaspeed

Audi has the S line

BMW has their Motorsport "M" division

Mercedes Benz has AMG

Volvo is working with Polestar

FoMoCo has SVT

Chrysler has SRT

GM has a dedicated performance division

Nissan has Nismo

Subaru has STI

Jaguar has an "R" line

 

 

Most major manufacturers have in house performance divisions. Some of them don't have fancy names, some are directly tied to an outside company, and some are completely different companies that manage their factory backed racing teams. Now having a performance division, no matter what the tie, is completely different than them actually putting out something desirable. Some companies put out cars like you mentioned with Fiat and the Abarth or Chrysler and SRT line that can be major tuning and visual upgrades and some just slap badges, body kits, wheels, and a loud exhaust, if that, on a car and call it a "sport" version.

Edited August 6, 2012 by κενιη

[Garfield 2]

On top of Motorsport M Division, BMW also have partnered up with ALPINA.

[epoxi]

Sorry, when I said "Abarth" I actually meant "500 Abarth." As in, the respective companies you mentioned should make a fast microcar, as opposed to "there should be more in-house tuning companies." I know about TRD, AMG etc., I just worded my comment completely wrong considering everyone was calling it "the Abarth."

Edited August 6, 2012 by epoxi

[Lurch]

The closest thing we had in the US til now was probably the older Mini Cooper S JCW (first bmw gen). Now even the minis got pretty damn fat.

 

But I definitely agree on the hot, supercompact deal. It's one thing our country is severely lacking. Small cars need a hot version or they just get thrown into the usual bin of boring sh*t to most people here. We need something like the original golf gti. The abarth is probably the closest to that at the moment.

 

Europe always seemed to have done pretty good in that respect though. Lupo GTI's, hot fiestas, and all manner of abarth Fiats over the years.

[Triple Penetration]

Ahem, Aston Martin Cygnet could count as a 500 Abarth for Toyota IQ, right?

 

I mean, it's still overpriced, but this time you don't pay for the power - but for the brand only.

[*MURDOC*]

Not even close.

 

The Abarth is a performance version of the 500, the Cygnet is essentially a "luxury" car based on the iQ.

 

 

 

 

 

Plus the Abarth is pretty sweet and the Cygnet is pretty beat.

[Outcast]

f*ck that Cygnet piece of sh*t. Just a way for Aston to get around some emissions legislature.

[Garfield 2]

f*ck that Cygnet piece of sh*t. Just a way for Aston to get around some emissions legislature.

f*ck those emissions legislations.

[Lurch]

So a couple weeks ago my friend bought a 91 E30 318i 4 door. He then bought a 91 318is 2 door from one of my other friends to use as a parts car. So I've been helping him make the 4 door into something decent to daily.

 

 

Started as the most basic E30 possible. 14" steelies, torn cloth comfort seats

 

 

318is parts car bought. Blown headgasket so it overheated bad when I drove it back to his place. But it does have perfect leather sport front seats, leatherette rear seat, a trunk full of various parts all kinds of sh*t the sedan needs..

 

 

Started swapping sh*t.

 

 

Swapped weaves on.

 

 

Swapped these great leather sports in.

 

 

Ballin. The E30 is still fun to drive with the little M42.

 

[visionist]

Just a way for Aston to get around some emissions legislature.

"Aston is confident of an exemption from punitive new CO2 rules owing to its teeny size."

 

Straight from the Horse's Mouth.

[AZAZEL]

EDIT: This is David Coulthart ripping through Copenhagen in an F1 car a few days ago, complete with burnouts and whatnot. Such a cool dude.

 

 

Edited August 9, 2012 by Azazel

[Triple Penetration]

Lurch, while the 4-door is more practical (and ultimately, better) than the 2-door, there's still an issue. The terrible chrome line.

 

Please tell me your friend will do something about it.

 

And how much was spent?

 

Now, on what I came here for. I need you guys to decide in which topic it should have gone - Fugly cars or Gorgeous cars?

 

[*MURDOC*]

Fugly and unoriginal as f*ck.

 

The only thing I like is the center driving position.

[friendly luggage]

Does anyone like Lexus lights? I think they look tacky and only suit Lexus cars. I've seen some pretty nice cars but then they ruin it with these bloody things. Smoked lights are ok but most of the time original is best.

[JayC]

Lexus lights don't even look good on a Lexus.

[mr quick]

[epoxi]

I dislike all aftermarket "Lexus lights" which are a senseless combination of plasticky chrome with and orgy of randomly arranged circles, for instance:

 

 

But I do like custom tail lights if they are understated and look like the design has had some thought put into it. i.e. tail lights that look as though they could be stock, just different trim level. I also like stock light clusters with the incandescent bulbs replaced with LED arrays.

[*MURDOC*]

Depends on the light/car.

 

I'm usually not much for the clears that have the chrome inside, but the are a few cars that can pull them off, as long as the design of the light itself looks okay.

 

 

 

Some cars always look better with stock tails.

[friendly luggage]

 

I also like stock light clusters with the incandescent bulbs replaced with LED arrays.

Could you show me?

 

I love the recent BMW and Merc lights which are like this

 

DAT TAIL LIGHT

[Sup3rman]

Still can't beat Audi LED lights..

Now that sh*t is fabulous...

Edited August 11, 2012 by Sup3rman

[Triple Penetration]

I also like stock light clusters with the incandescent bulbs replaced with LED arrays.

Could you show me?

 

I love the recent BMW and Merc lights which are like this

 

DAT TAIL LIGHT

Oh, I love the E60 taillights, I always somehow think of wasp wings when looking at them.

 

BTW, while Audi's LED lights are nice, they still are too simple for my taste. They're just a boring line of lights. Oh wait, all older Audi's didn't have that much of creativity in terms of lights anyway. Must be the heritage.

 

This!

[Garfield 2]

I even think it was BMW who first introduced such a style of taillights.

 

Those are the taillights of a facelift (2000) BMW E39.

 

[epoxi]

I also like stock light clusters with the incandescent bulbs replaced with LED arrays.

Could you show me?

I like this Silvia, he demonstrates the difference (LEDs on left, incandescents on right), the 'flicker' is only an effect of the camera, I haven't worked out what causes the occasional flicker when people video tape lit LEDs.

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately I have never seen anything like this in the UK, I have a feeling you will fail an MOT if your light units are not original DOT approved.

[Triple Penetration]

I saw a Citroen Saxo (ugh, I know) with those kind of rear lights so I don't know what you're talking about.

 

I would have taken a picture if I read your post before I saw the car, tho.

[friendly luggage]

I have seen car lights like that actually. Whether they're road legal or not it depends on the light. Many people will put their car through the MOT with the stock lights on and then change them to aftermarket ones after.

 

With the flickering light that may be caused by the camera and the way it captures. I know lights running off AC power flicker when viewed on a high fps camera.

[sivispacem]

Unfortunately I have never seen anything like this in the UK, I have a feeling you will fail an MOT if your light units are not original DOT approved.

Not true- as long as the lights conform to the brightness, transparency, functionality and type requirements, they can be what/however you like. You see many a (usually badly) modified car with other marques lights, and various vehicles with non-standard lights to the rear on the road.

[Garfield 2]

NCT (Irish equivalent of MOT) failed my friend for having facelift taillights in his pre-facelift BMW E39. He was told that they weren't original.

He just went to a different centre and passed it no problem...

Sometimes what they fail you on is just ridiculous. It's all a money racket anyway.

[visionist]

It's all a money racket anyway.

They're a F*cking bunch of Wankers. I'd happily take a sledgehammer to the lot of 'em.

 

The Z8 has Neon tail lights. A very cool design.

 

Not as cool as this though...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you don't like this, you are a Horrible human being and should Die painfully