SCC poll: which Coleman car would you buy?

[eyesoreracing]

Yo, yo, bling, and yo

Dave Coleman here, Sport Compact Car, blah blah blah.

So it turns out I have to come up with clever s*** to say every month to separate you from another $4.95 (or whatever Primedia wants this week). So Im working on fixing the world by changing just one car at every major car company. Im not done with all of them yet, but heres my first pass at re-shaping the world. If you could have only one of the following cars, which one, and why. If you gotta change something about one of my cars, tell me what youd change.

Toyota: MR2 Spyder Turbo. Start with the current car. Dont change the price ($25k), but add 8 psi, a limited-slip, TRD suspension and the same size tires at both ends.

Subaru: Resurrect the SVX with twin turbos and a clutch pedal. Admit it, that car was cool. Ok, put it on a diet so it only weighs 3200 lbs, add two turbos to the 3.3-l flat six (same architecture as WRX engine, remember!) and a manual transmission for once. It should eat Supras for lunch and in my world it costs $35k.

Mazda: Mazda3 coupe. Remember when every sh*tbox came as a coupe? Same platform, new body, lower roofline, punch the engine out to 2.5 liters, give it 170 hp and an assload of torque, kinda like a Spec-V that handles and looks good. Just over 3000 lbs, $15,500 takes it home.

Mitsubishi: EVO, as it sits. Unchanged, except for a discount. Get yours now for $26k.

Nissan: Bring back the S13. But do it as the Sileighty (so I can put my bike in the back) and do it non-turbo. What am I, on crack? No, get this: strip it to the bone and sell it cheap. Try 2400 lbs, a healthy VVT SR20 with 195 screaming, NA hp, real brakes, and sell it for $18k out the door. Want a turbo? Add your own, youve got money left over.

Lotus: An Elise that goes Hmmmmm. Same as now, same price (~$40k) but with a rotary lifted straight from an RX-8 (25hp stronger than the 2ZZ, plus much nicer to have behind your ear at 8000 rpm).

Honda: K24-powered Insight. Bet you dont miss the CRX now. It drippin aluminum, so its still gonna be spendy, but its small, so not too spendy. Lets say $20k and only 2200 lbs, airbags and all.

Discuss amongst yourselves. I gotta go score USCC. Be back in two days.

-Dave

 

[Pretzellogic]

[standard interweb skepticism]You can't be the REAL Dave Coleman 'cause he would never come in here and I know his cousin and they say he's shorter in real life blah blah blah[/standard interweb skepticism]

With that out of the way, I suppose I should answer you question. I think you'll find than many on this board are somewhat odd in their vehicle choices. After all, it takes a true masochist to attempt to squeeze power out of an FS-DE. As a result, our choices will probably fall in the 'frankencar' category. That's just an unfounded assertion, which have yet to be seen on the internet, but I'm pretty sure it will stick.

I would go for the SVX with the manual swap and double-my-pleasure turbos, as I would be assured that my car was simultaneously kick-ass, unique, and just a little pointless. That, and I've loved these cars since I was a kid.

MR2? Already done. Mazda3? Hiboosted ones are putting down very nice numbers (damn them). Evo? Wouldn't futz with it. Sileighty? Pretty, but hardly unique. Lotus? I liked the article you ran two(?) issues ago, but, again, it's been done. I am intrigued by the Insight, though.

Hope that helps you with whatever youre trying to achieve. Good luck with USCC. Try to blow up something nice for us.

 

[BradC]

To many good choices here. I have always had a soft spot for the SVX, but the Elise and Sileighty sound pretty good too.

My vote is if the MR2 could handle more power without rebuilding the motor, I am in. If not, EVO!!!!!

 

[xelderx]

SVX. I wanted one of those so bad when I was younger. I was really diappointed when I found out that they weren't available in a manual. They have to keep the half windows in the doors though and make them gull-wing while they are at it so I can just pretend that it's a big Mazda AZ-1.

 

[biochembruin]

good idea with the EVO coleman, did it take you all day to think of the idea of an EVO for $26k?

Kidding. But that would be my choice. 4wd 4d turbo.

love your writing fake-dave

 

[goldwing2000]

I'd go for an Elise with a Renesis.

It'd actually be +48hp, even if Lotus didn't tweak with it (which they would). The car's light weight would offset the dismal low-end of the rotary and, as you said, the rotary would be much nicer behind your ears at 8,000 rpm.

Add a sequential-shift gearbox and you've got a winner.

Oh, and since we're dreaming, I want a pony.

 

[GimmeA3S]

Toyota MR2 Spyder - it's really too bad Toyota turned that sexy, Ferarri-look-alike MR-2 into the insect that it is today - they shouldn't have been allowed to use that name on a car that is so completely different (other than the engine placement) Wanna know why sales have been sluggish? The damn thing is FUGLY - but I bet it handles like it's on rails. Sure, add a turbo - then maybe the performance will outweight the appearance.

Subaru SVX - Never totally warmed up to the exterior..seemed kinda awkward, especially towards the back. Really liked the interior though...Kind of 'NSX-ish' in it's comfort and ergonomics for an exotic. It was novel back then, but has since been trumped by the 3000GT VR4 and the Stealth RT Turbo, which were IMO WAY better looking, coke-bottle screamers. (But all 3 needed to go on a diet).

Mazda3 Coupe...I'd buy one tomorrow...imagine how hot that would look! Give the coupe a HP advantage over the sedan (e.g. Acura Legend) and watch them sell faster than Mazda can make them. See ya, tC.

Evo - yes, for sure bring the price down..there's no excuse for ANY car in that class to cost >$30K. (I know, they're trying to keep it EXCLUSIVE and keep themselves in the black with warranty claims for drivetrain abuse).

Have NO idea what an S13 or Sileighty are, and I (used to) consider myself well-read on automobiles.

Lotus Elise - Sure, Rotarize it, but work on that low-end while you're at it..may as well make it a McLaren killer if you're gonna mess with it at all.

Honda Insight...Oh, GOD please don't make me look at that car anymore. (Although that hatch lid looks like it was pulled directly off the last gen CRX, a car that I worshipped back in the day). I say resurrect the CRX, add a turbo, V-TECH and AWD and there you have an EVO killer - 2 seats, a turbo and AWD....State Farm would LOVE me.

 

[RHAGEL]

I agree with Pretzelogic. I read SCC frequently, you don't sound like Dave Coleman. And why the hell would you come in here, why not ask the question to your own readers? Anyway, I think a rotary Lotus Elise would be cool, but concidering the turbo elise that has been in many magazines recently (including SCC) I would have to say the Subaru. You don't see many old Subi's around and would be an interesting project.

 

[kurt]

Dave

I'd go with the Nissan. Assuming the rear bumper won't catch on fire...

 

[Pretzellogic]

I agree with Pretzelogic. I read SCC frequently, you don't sound like Dave Coleman. And why the hell would you come in here, why not ask the question to your own readers? Anyway, I think a rotary Lotus Elise would be cool, but concidering the turbo elise that has been in many magazines recently (including SCC) I would have to say the Subaru. You don't see many old Subi's around and would be an interesting project.

Well, I wasn't disputing the fact that this is the real Mr. Coleman. I don't really care, as if it isn't it's not like we've lost anything.

 

[goldwing2000]

The guy is almost definitely a sham/poser but he posted an interesting question, so we'll run with it. (thumb)

 

[Pretzellogic]

The guy is almost definitely a sham/poser but he posted an interesting question, so we'll run with it. (thumb)

Amen. I like any question that lets me get my geek on.

 

[goldwing2000]

lmao @ "get my geek on" (rlaugh)

 

[ChopstickHero]

Have NO idea what an S13 or Sileighty are, and I (used to) consider myself well-read on automobiles.

Sil-Eighty is a SILvia oneEIGHTY ... it's a 180SX with a SR20DET motor... released in japan, considered the King of drift cars.

 

[GimmeA3S]

Love it when I can learn something on this forum Thanks!

Is this car the predecessor to the Skyline or any of the Z's or are they unrelated?

 

[biochembruin]

Have NO idea what an S13 or Sileighty are, and I (used to) consider myself well-read on automobiles.

you haven't seen inital D!

 

[RHAGEL]

I do think a Silvia would be pretty cool. Especially if it was set up to drift, I've seen one around my house before. To an untrained eye it just looks like another Nissan, but it is cool to see JDM cars in the US. I have also seen a few Skylines and even a new one. What happened to Nissan anyway? They need some more exciting cars.

 

[eyesoreracing]

"I read SCC frequently, you don't sound like Dave Coleman. And why the hell would you come in here, why not ask the question to your own readers?"


Let me break this down for you.

1: You can't hear me.

2: If you read SCC frequently, then you are my readers, so I'm asking you.

-Dave

 

[eyesoreracing]

Sil-Eighty is a SILvia oneEIGHTY ... it's a 180SX with a SR20DET motor... released in japan, considered the King of drift cars.

Not quite.

Silvia was the notchback bodystyle with fixed headlights.

180SX was hatchback bodystyle with pop-up lights (same as US car)

Sileighty was a junkyard-only combination of hatch body with fixed headlights. Nissan never sold it.

And no, it wasn't really a predecessor of the Skyline. Silvia started way back in 1966, Skyline started way back in 1958. In the '90s, they shared a lot of parts (enought that you can swap a lot of engine, suspension and brake stuff between them).

-Dave

 

[eyesoreracing]

The guy is almost definitely a sham/poser but he posted an interesting question, so we'll run with it. (thumb)

Is it common for people to come on this forum impersonating me? If you see an imposter, tell me, I want to see it. I'll have to check the famous manual, but technically, I think having imposters means you're famous.

-Dave