Topic: Let's see your car!

[mattcb350f]

Here's my 1987 VW GTI (8 Valve)



380,000 Km's and still going strong.

 Matt.

[eldar]

I would love to have a studebaker. Sure you cant tell the front from the back but they still look cool. I would like a nash but good luck finding one.

[loonymoon]

My first car. 1988 Austin Mini city E bought in 2000. Basic as hell, not even a radio in it - though i soon remedied that. I loved that little car like a friend it was FUN FUN FUN to drive!!



Unfortunately it was totalled in an accident caused by a company car driver....

My current Seat Ibiza, taken two years ago when I first got it.






Unfortunately it's not that shiny now, it looks like a Pterodactyl has plopped on it at the moment... 

[heffay]

point A to point B
94 trooper
263,000 miles
shocks: inadequate
acceleration: terribly inadequate
hauling capacity: very adequate
paint job: there's a bird working on that part
overall condition: "there's a big fvcking dent in the side of your car man"

[azuredesign]

work: 2002 Honda Civic vtec
Play: 2005 Chrysler Crossfire srt6
       

[CrisPDuk]

point A to point B
94 trooper
263,000 miles
shocks: inadequate
acceleration: terribly inadequate
hauling capacity: very adequate
paint job: there's a bird working on that part
overall condition: "there's a big fvcking dent in the side of your car man"

Hey Hef, what motor's that packing then?  We used to use a battered 3 Litre diesel Trooper for hauling the rally car around, acceleration on that was always way better than adequate   Even with a tonne and a half of car and trailer hanging off it's ass

[zanzara]

Gti with it's winter boots on and before getting closer to the ground.  Replaced the M6...

That's the price of kids

[heffay]

Hey Hef, what motor's that packing then?  We used to use a battered 3 Litre diesel Trooper for hauling the rally car around, acceleration on that was always way better than adequate   Even with a tonne and a half of car and trailer hanging off it's ass

3.2 v6 gas


SOHC 

[bill440cars]

work: 2002 Honda Civic vtec
Play: 2005 Chrysler Crossfire srt6
       

           Okay now, I'm gonna want some details on that Crossfire.
   When you get the chance, of course.


                            Later on, Bill

[azuredesign]

Hey Bill, Here's what I know:
It doesn't fit into little parking spaces like the Civic, and it doesn't get 35+ miles to the gallon. I don't think it would be a good car in snow.
It's basically a Mercedes 320 with the supercharger that was built in small numbers for Chrysler at the AMG plant, and didn't sell because at 50k, it was competeing with the Corvette and it didn't have the cache or the balls that the vette does. That's what made the price drop to half, which is where I got involved. It's fun to drive, and when the blower kicks in, it's really fun. It's throttle by wire, and it takes a bit to get the hang of auto shifting optimally to keep the supercharger on tap. It has a limiter at 6k, and it does work well. It has selectable stability control which is pretty darned transparent and helpful, especially as tires are ridiculously expensive. There's no place in eastern Mass to really open it up, even late at night, but 100 comes up really fast, and it's supposed to be limited at just under 160. On the other hand it's a relaxing car to drive at normal speeds, fairly quiet and smooth, although the suspension is pretty stiff.
Thanks for asking!
Ben

work: 2002 Honda Civic vtec
Play: 2005 Chrysler Crossfire srt6
       

           Okay now, I'm gonna want some details on that Crossfire.
   When you get the chance, of course.


                            Later on, Bill

[SteveD CB500F]

           Okay now, I'm gonna want some details on that Crossfire.
   

Bill,  it's a re-skinned SLK

Azure: when you say "the blower kicks in" I assume you mean the engine coming on cam as it's supercharged (not a turbo...)

My SLK is a 230 Kompressor (Supercharged). It's heavy, slow, inefficient but very pretty and a hoot with the roof down. And it's the wife's...

[azuredesign]

Steve:

Activation for the IHI used in the Merc SLK AMG and in the Crossfire has an electromagnetic clutch, and is triggered by rate of acceleration and RPM. The ECU has a memory, like in VW products that determines when the belt driven compressor kicks in. So it responds differently depending on how you drive. I'm not sure what you mean by "coming on cam", can you let me know? Your car weighs 150 lbs less than mine, but has 145 less hp and 110 less ft-lbs of torque, according to manufacturer's data, which we know is always true. While I have never driven a 230, I think they drive a bit differently, although I think the superchargers work similarly.  I do think your car looks nicer than mine though, especially from the front, and I'm sure the interior is more plush. The Crossfire was a Merc hand me down, and doesn't have all the plush MB amenities. I actually got the term "blower" from reading a Brit book when I was a teenager about Bentleys with the Roots supercharger in them.

Supercharger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other meanings, see supercharger (disambiguation)
A supercharger (blower) is a gas compressor that forces more air into the combustion chamber(s) of an internal combustion engine than is achievable with ambient atmospheric pressure (as seen in a naturally-aspirated engine, see forced induction). The higher mass flow rate together with an increased heat input provided by additional fuel combining with the greater mass of atmospheric oxygen available, increases the specific cycle work and hence power output of the engine.
A supercharger can be powered mechanically by belt, gear and shaft, or chain-drive from the engine's crankshaft. It can also be driven by a gas turbine powered by the exhaust gases from the engine. Such turbine-driven centrifugal superchargers are correctly known as turbo-superchargers, or more commonly, turbochargers.

[Terry in Australia]

Well there's some nice cars there, for sure. Here's a pic of the 1998 Aussie Ford Falcon I just bought to replace the 18 year old Toyota Camry that I had to give to my son. I don't like buying new cars, this one was over 30K when new, and I just drove it out of the used car yard for $4500.00, so if I'm gonna waste my money, I'll waste it on my motorcycles..............

Good thing also is it was made here in Oz, so I can buy parts for it just about anywhere. Like American made cars, it's build quality is "questionable", depending on which day of the week it was made. Judging by the dodgey electrics (my battery went flat if I didn't drive it every day, but somehow it's fixed itself, but now the radio doesn't work) I'm guessing it was built on a Friday, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

[SteveD CB500F]

SLK/Crossfire debate (part 3)

I guess a supercharger is a "blower" as well. It's just that we always used the term to mean a turbo.

I thought that superchargers ran at the same boost at all revs?

The SLK is underpowered at 195-ish bhp but I must admit that when I'm driving it, I just waft along with the others.  If I want to go fast I have a 955i Triumph Sprint.

Inside it has black leather (never, EVER touch one with the red leather seats...   where's the "puke" smiley?) and beaten aluminium facia and yes, it does look nice.

One interesting thing of note is that the front wheels are 205 and the rear 225 - weight saving?

If I could choose again I'd probably go for the SLK200 as I don't need the extra power and the 230 is a UK Government tax band higher due to the CO2 emissions.

[kghost]

You guys don't even wanna know about turbo supercharged engines or power recovery turbines 

[CrisPDuk]

Steve, superchargers and turbochargers are both just ways of pressurising induction air.

Superchargers are directly coupled to the engine, so when you give it some gas boost pressure is instantly available.  Traditionally a supercharger is directly coupled to an engine's crankshaft via a belt, but more recently, to comply with ever more stringent emissions regulations manufacturers such as MB have started fitting a clutch mechanism, similar to that used on A/C compressors to try and reduce consumption at low rpm, hence Azure's comment re; the blower 'kicking in'.

A turbocharger on the other hand derives its energy from the engines exhaust gases, this means that when you get on the loud pedal, you have to wait for sufficient exhaust gas pressure/speed to build up before the compessor side of the turbo starts to deliver positive boost pressure, resulting in the phenomenon known as turbo lag, on cars with larger turbos (RS500 Cosworth, Early series Escort Cosworth for instance) the step from off boost to on boost can be rather pronounced   Not dissimilar from a tuned 2 stroke in fact


kghost, are we talking Lancia Delta S4s here    Insane power at low rpms whilst the supercharger is doing it's thing, giving way to completely mental power as rpms rise and the turbo spools up   Only one man ever got close to truly mastering them, and he eventually died trying

[Terry in Australia]

SLK/Crossfire debate (part 3)

I guess a supercharger is a "blower" as well. It's just that we always used the term to mean a turbo.

I guess it must be a cultural thing Steve, over here in Oz a "Blower" has always been a Supercharger, and a "Turbo" has always been a Turbocharger.

I think the modern crossover device, the "Screw Blower" that mounts up like an alternator (belt driven) but looks more like a turbo will further muddy the distinction between the two. (but I want one for my Falcon) Cheers, Terry.

[bill440cars]

        About this Blower/supercharger thing. You've got the type that goes on a manifold with either carbs or fuel injection on top. I've mostly heard these refered to as "Blowers" and sometimes as "Superchargers".  Then you've got the smaller units that mount lower on the motor, are driven by smaller belts and feed pressure to the carb (which is inside a 2-piece case, of sorts), thus pressurizing through the carb. I've always heard these referred to as superchargers. Anybody else?

       

[bill440cars]

        Hey Ben, I appreciate the input on the Crossfire, sen several around town and some at the Dodge Dealer. Most I've looked at seem to run in the $30Ks, on the average anyway. Looks like it could be a fun car, but a bit to expensive for ME to have fun with. I do good just to keep regular transportation.

        Appreciate your input too Steve. 

[CrisPDuk]

Here you go Bill:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercharger

Everything yu never needed to know about supercharging

[74cb750]

I drive a white 1999 Honda Civic with four wheels, 180,000 miles w a heater that works well in warm weather.

Yes, we still have snow in the back yard and it is still cold at night, when the heater sometimes blows warm air.
peace,
michel

I 'd post a picture,but it looks really plain.

[mcpuffett]

Here's some photos of my trusty workhorse a 1995 Ford Transit 2.5 Diesel van , it quite easily carrys 2 bikes  & anything else you can get in the back of it ,
and heres the wifes car a Land Rover Freelander TD4 bmw powered  cheers Mick.

[bill440cars]

Here you go Bill:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercharger

Everything yu never needed to know about supercharging

                Well thanks, some pretty detailed info there. I've worked on some of the military equipment that had different series of the Detroit Diesel motors in them, that had blowers on them and never had any trouble with the blowers themselves. The M113A3 Armored Personnel Carriers had the 6V53T Detroit Diesel that had a Turbo in addition to the standard blower. Talking about cramming it into that motor!  

[azuredesign]

Steve, superchargers and turbochargers are both just ways of pressurising induction air.

Superchargers are directly coupled to the engine, so when you give it some gas boost pressure is instantly available.  Traditionally a supercharger is directly coupled to an engine's crankshaft via a belt, but more recently, to comply with ever more stringent emissions regulations manufacturers such as MB have started fitting a clutch mechanism, similar to that used on A/C compressors to try and reduce consumption at low rpm, hence Azure's comment re; the blower 'kicking in'.

A turbocharger on the other hand derives its energy from the engines exhaust gases, this means that when you get on the loud pedal, you have to wait for sufficient exhaust gas pressure/speed to build up before the compessor side of the turbo starts to deliver positive boost pressure, resulting in the phenomenon known as turbo lag, on cars with larger turbos (RS500 Cosworth, Early series Escort Cosworth for instance) the step from off boost to on boost can be rather pronounced   Not dissimilar from a tuned 2 stroke in fact


kghost, are we talking Lancia Delta S4s here    Insane power at low rpms whilst the supercharger is doing it's thing, giving way to completely mental power as rpms rise and the turbo spools up   Only one man ever got close to truly mastering them, and he eventually died trying

Thanks, that's as clear and concise as anything I've ever read about this stuff!

[azuredesign]

        Hey Ben, I appreciate the input on the Crossfire, sen several around town and some at the Dodge Dealer. Most I've looked at seem to run in the $30Ks, on the average anyway. Looks like it could be a fun car, but a bit to expensive for ME to have fun with. I do good just to keep regular transportation.

        Appreciate your input too Steve. 

Ditto Steve, thanks for your info. I love understanding mechanical stuff, and talking it through helps me alot.

Hey Bill,

FWIW, I took care of my great aunt and uncle for the last 8 years of their lives and they left me some dough. While I gave most of it to my wife, I kept a bit for myself, selfish bastard that I am. . I bought that car and a Hayabusa. I'm really thankful that I had this opportunity, as it's only in the last half dozen years that we haven't had to live paycheck to paycheck.

30k still seems like a lot to me for this car. The srt's were only made in 2005, although a handful were retitled as 2006's. I know dealers were selling new leftovers last year for upper 20's, but I purchased mine with 5k on the clock for a bit less locally. I just looked on cars.com, and you can get one with under 3k miles for under $25k. The convertibles may go for a bit more. If you are interested in any more info, please take a look at the crossfire forum: www.crossfireforum.org
I'm also happy to answer any questions I can, if you want to, pm me.

Thanks and best,
Ben