Car Thread - VROOM VROOM

[Troon_Patrol]

Legit question: Since your other hobby is complaining about CA gun laws in the gun thread, how are you getting around smog with this ubertuned car?

The short answer is I do not have to deal with CA laws anymore.

The long answer:
CA emissions standards are not as complicated to work around as the CA-DMV would like you to think. One of the reasons I did NOT want that aftermarket easy tunable ECU in my car was the fact the VIN would not bounce back properly during the emissions test. I would not use the term "ubertuned" I made adjustments to things I wanted. I did research this prior to starting to tamper with the car because I wanted to be able to sell it in CA under good faith. My understand is CA emissions tests for the VIN being electronically readable, the emissions data which honestly I don't know much about and a "visual inspection". Right off the bat the visual inspection is never done in most emissions testing shops, some will open the hood and do a 30 second visual but, aftermarket exhaust that is not CA legal? Nobody cares, there are no decibel devices and I have never seen/heard of LE use one in the field, I have heard anecdotal stories of angry police officers writing tickets for noise violations, that is a whole other subject. So if the OBD2 spits the correct vin and the car doesn't produce outside parameters of the emissions test it passes. At least that is my understanding.

Like everything else in this world if you have money and know the right people the car does not even need to be in the shop. I am not certain how they do this, I suspect they have a procedure to manually enter the VIN in situations when the VIN is not being communicated properly but the vehicle otherwise passes the test. Not sure exactly I don't have any names or phone numbers committed to memory if that is what you are after.

 

[The Last Stand]

Happy New Year!

Back to Marlene Dietrich:



She owned two Rolls Royces in her lifetime. This one here is a green, 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom Transformal Phenton. Two interesting facts I've read about this car: it was gifted to her during her performance from Morocco; Roll Royces were sought after by Hollywood executives/stars in the 20s. Well, three: a sixteen year old passed her test with that exact same car. Marlene was an excellent driver during her time as well.



Green for German gorgeous, thy name is Marlene.

 

[Mikoyan]

The short answer is I do not have to deal with CA laws anymore.

The long answer:
CA emissions standards are not as complicated to work around as the CA-DMV would like you to think. One of the reasons I did NOT want that aftermarket easy tunable ECU in my car was the fact the VIN would not bounce back properly during the emissions test. I would not use the term "ubertuned" I made adjustments to things I wanted. I did research this prior to starting to tamper with the car because I wanted to be able to sell it in CA under good faith. My understand is CA emissions tests for the VIN being electronically readable, the emissions data which honestly I don't know much about and a "visual inspection". Right off the bat the visual inspection is never done in most emissions testing shops, some will open the hood and do a 30 second visual but, aftermarket exhaust that is not CA legal? Nobody cares, there are no decibel devices and I have never seen/heard of LE use one in the field, I have heard anecdotal stories of angry police officers writing tickets for noise violations, that is a whole other subject. So if the OBD2 spits the correct vin and the car doesn't produce outside parameters of the emissions test it passes. At least that is my understanding.

Like everything else in this world if you have money and know the right people the car does not even need to be in the shop. I am not certain how they do this, I suspect they have a procedure to manually enter the VIN in situations when the VIN is not being communicated properly but the vehicle otherwise passes the test. Not sure exactly I don't have any names or phone numbers committed to memory if that is what you are after.

The visual is frequently done if you're not paying someone off.

And no, I don't need anything, I escaped that hole long time 'go.

 

[The Last Stand]

Gay boy auto/paddle trans person starts whipping out BHP as if he built the car from the ground up himself and it means something. For your info, my weekend car kicks out 240, and my daily driver (Aston) is just shy of 500, not that it matters

You just don't like driving. It's ok.

Manuals are for people who like driving engagement. Watch a drag race, one guy w/ an auto, one with a manual. The guy with the manual will be smiling and having a blast. The guy w/ the auto will be bored.

I make 550whp on e40, 0-60 is low 3s, top end is over 180mph; if any of this adds weight to my argument. Driving a 120hp manual car is more fun. @CaptainAutism69 is correct.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but why are you guys gatekeeping transmission preferences? AFAIK, the average consumer car is automatic.

 

[DavidS877]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but why are you guys gatekeeping transmission preferences? AFAIK, the average consumer car is automatic.

* In the USA.

Surprisingly, over 80% of cars sold in Europe run on manual transmissions.

 

[The Last Stand]

Billie Burke in an open automobile. OLD ass car.

 

[Doctor John B. Zyklon]

One of the reasons I did NOT want that aftermarket easy tunable ECU in my car was the fact the VIN would not bounce back properly during the emissions test.

You take the piggyback off for emissions. Just like you de-tune a car for emissions.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but why are you guys gatekeeping transmission preferences? AFAIK, the average consumer car is automatic.

"I love cooking. I order everything out; it's my passion.". You're allowed to like what you like. DSGs, PDKs, and some ZF-8s are fantastic performing trannies. If all you care about is performance, cool. Hopefully you're on the track a lot.

Once you own a quick car, you realize that speed and power gets boring quick. More importantly, it feels slow quick. But a manual, even a shitty one? Fun 5ever.

 

[The Last Stand]

"I love cooking. I order everything out; it's my passion.". You're allowed to like what you like. DSGs, PDKs, and some ZF-8s are fantastic performing trannies. If all you care about is performance, cool. Hopefully you're on the track a lot.

I'm not a track racer. Actually, I bought myself driving lessons for a refresher. I have my license; I just haven't driven anywhere in a year. I cannot afford a car currently with this economy, but I still want that skill.

 

[Doctor John B. Zyklon]

I'm not a track racer. Actually, I bought myself driving lessons for a refresher. I have my license; I just haven't driven anywhere in a year. I cannot afford a car currently with this economy, but I still want that skill.

I plan to take some classes myself. I can never get used to electric steering so I'm really unsure of myself with my daily.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

Once you own a quick car, you realize that speed and power gets boring quick. More importantly, it feels slow quick. But a manual, even a shitty one? Fun 5ever.

Spot on, and it's the reason I sold my GT-R after about 6 months, it just lacked any form of driver engagement unless I was doing illegal speeds. I loved my Lotus but the reliability was shit, and the manual gearbox wasn't the best either, but when everything came together...bliss.
Right now I have an Aston and a S2K. I'm using my Aston for daily driver shit, and keep the S2K for spirited drives and having fun.

 

[Troon_Patrol]

The visual is frequently done if you're not paying someone off.

And no, I don't need anything, I escaped that hole long time 'go.

IMHO the cheaper the place you go, in the worse the area/neighborhood and the less English they speak, the less they worry about visuals. I have never seen a smog shop put anything on a lift and I can't recall a tech ever looking at anything lower than the obd2 port.


Good for you. CA was and always will be a pit of despair, it rewards people who break the law, it punishes people who pay taxes and own small businesses.1A/2A rights along with religious rights are being eroded. I consider it US version of South Africa, there was nothing left for me there a long time ago. Even if you leave the city you are still a slave to laws written by people who reside inside the city. A friend of mine in Kansas texted me a pic of an oil filter solvent trap, I'm going to assume you are familiar. I asked him aren't you concerned about Local LEO seeing this? His response was he believed unless someone called the police specifically to complain they would not care even being used not as the NFA would like.

You take the piggyback off for emissions. Just like you de-tune a car for emissions.

"I love cooking. I order everything out; it's my passion.". You're allowed to like what you like. DSGs, PDKs, and some ZF-8s are fantastic performing trannies. If all you care about is performance, cool. Hopefully you're on the track a lot.

Once you own a quick car, you realize that speed and power gets boring quick. More importantly, it feels slow quick. But a manual, even a shitty one? Fun 5ever.

I thought about that, I even thought about installing the aftermarket ECU and keeping it around and just swapping one for another for emissions testing. The tuning I did to the ECU was really not that drastic, as dumb as it sounds I did it party because the dealer and other enthusiasts online told me it could not be done. As I eluded to in previous posts, if you can identify the device that holds the data you want to mess with and you can ground the oscillator or safely remove the chip and you have spent enough time screwing with EEPROM to recognize patterns and numbers you can do all kinds of things the dealer would never allow. The best part is you don't even need to buy new modules or tuner ECUs you can just make it do whatever you like. Anyone can buy a fast car with the right money from mom and dad, anyone can buy a gun with the right paperwork. I prefer to make things from scratch I have plans for a Tube chassis car but, that is WAY down the line. Not going to be starting that project anytime soon.

 

[The Last Stand]

Clara Bow crouched next to a car.

 

[Car Won't Crank]

Spot on, and it's the reason I sold my GT-R after about 6 months, it just lacked any form of driver engagement unless I was doing illegal speeds. I loved my Lotus but the reliability was shit, and the manual gearbox wasn't the best either, but when everything came together...bliss.
Right now I have an Aston and a S2K. I'm using my Aston for daily driver shit, and keep the S2K for spirited drives and having fun.

That's the reason why I didn't buy an Alfa Romeo Giulia despite it being a great sports sedan with only a 2.0T. It would have been a perfect package with a manual given its size and power output.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

That's the reason why I didn't buy an Alfa Romeo Giulia despite it being a great sports sedan with only a 2.0T. It would have been a perfect package with a manual given its size and power output.

I've owned a 166, Giuletta, and a 4C, as well as the Mazza Gran Turismo, and tbh, I will never buy anything from that company again. Outside of Top Gear phrases, the cars are compromised in horrible ways (i.e. the 4C's stupid flappy paddle gearbox and piles inducing seats), and fall to bits with ease. They make nice looking cars, but that's it.

 

[Doctor John B. Zyklon]

Spot on, and it's the reason I sold my GT-R after about 6 months, it just lacked any form of driver engagement unless I was doing illegal speeds. I loved my Lotus but the reliability was shit, and the manual gearbox wasn't the best either, but when everything came together...bliss.
Right now I have an Aston and a S2K. I'm using my Aston for daily driver shit, and keep the S2K for spirited drives and having fun.

Have you driven any Porsches? I think I'd like one; but frankly for my price range the only thing available would be a 996 911 I believe. They're just so ugly. Not to mention after been involved in the VAG world; I am not impressed with their engineering. I'm sure porsche is a bit different; but even then they do stupid things like putting EVERYTHING in the valley of an engine.

I drove my buddy's subbie last night. While the manual was fun, you really do miss the power. Still way more fun; but flooring it and feeling almost nothing happen was a bit much.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

Have you driven any Porsches? I think I'd like one; but frankly for my price range the only thing available would be a 996 911 I believe. They're just so ugly. Not to mention after been involved in the VAG world; I am not impressed with their engineering. I'm sure porsche is a bit different; but even then they do stupid things like putting EVERYTHING in the valley of an engine.

I drove my buddy's subbie last night. While the manual was fun, you really do miss the power. Still way more fun; but flooring it and feeling almost nothing happen was a bit much.

Never driven a Porsche, and don't really care too, they just don't appeal to me. I know the reviews and shit say the 911 is the best thing since your mothers lips, but they just seem too boring and 'safe'. I'd rather go for something with a bit more character regardless of the flaws than a 'oh I just got some money, I guess I should buy a German car' thing.

 

[Doctor John B. Zyklon]

best thing since your mothers lips,

I've never heard of this saying before and now I have to google the etymology and work it into my vernacular.

. I'd rather go for something with a bit more character regardless of the flaws than a 'oh I just got some money, I guess I should buy a German car' thing.

I understand that. I'm a fan of german cars myself, but a lot of that is due to the japs not making anything exciting anymore. For a couple of gay feelings reasons, I'd kind of like to move on from my S4; but I'm having a hell of a time thinking what I'd even like to get into. It'd have to be manual; I'd like lighter weight as well. But nothing like that seems to exist anymore; at least that's in my price range. I'd love an e90 M3; but I think I'd like something non-german as a daily just for maintenace and part cost reasons. Even though that M3 has a brilliant engine.

The closest thing I can think of is an S550 mustang; but, they're 3800lbs! How? My s4 weights that much and is awd.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

I understand that. I'm a fan of german cars myself, but a lot of that is due to the japs not making anything exciting anymore. For a couple of gay feelings reasons, I'd kind of like to move on from my S4; but I'm having a hell of a time thinking what I'd even like to get into. It'd have to be manual; I'd like lighter weight as well. But nothing like that seems to exist anymore; at least that's in my price range. I'd love an e90 M3; but I think I'd like something non-german as a daily just for maintenace and part cost reasons. Even though that M3 has a brilliant engine.

The closest thing I can think of is an S550 mustang; but, they're 3800lbs! How? My s4 weights that much and is awd.

I took an LC 500 for a drive a few months ago and quite liked that, but it's too modern and full of beeping things. I think the Japs just lost their way. The GT86 was fun on paper, but in reality flawed.
Just get a good condition S2000...it's the only car I refuse to sell and have kept mine for over 14 years now.

Otherwise, fun manuals...Lotus Evora, Aston V8 Vantage (2004-2006)

 

[Doctor John B. Zyklon]

I took an LC 500 for a drive a few months ago and quite liked that, but it's too modern and full of beeping things. I think the Japs just lost their way. The GT86 was fun on paper, but in reality flawed.
Just get a good condition S2000...it's the only car I refuse to sell and have kept mine for over 14 years now.

Otherwise, fun manuals...Lotus Evora, Aston V8 Vantage (2004-2006)

I could dig the GT86, but I'd want more power. I have an e36 M3 I'm starting to work on again that is my fun handling car with, currently, lower power. Still debating on if I'll supercharge it or just gets some bitch'n ITBs for it.

 

[CaptainAutism69]

I could dig the GT86, but I'd want more power. I have an e36 M3 I'm starting to work on again that is my fun handling car with, currently, lower power. Still debating on if I'll supercharge it or just gets some bitch'n ITBs for it.

There's a sweet spot of power, where you can have fun without losing your license. Maybe try a supercharged version and see how it is before altering yours? Honestly, I can't enjoy the Aston and kinda regret buying it as it's far too powerful