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Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) MegaDork
12/21/22 7:44 p.m.

I would love, incidentally, to have an Acura version of the Fit.  Keep the L15 or throw in an R18 like the HRV has, I don't care.

 

Mini Coopers are nice, non-penaltybox small cars.  They definitely have sound deadening in them to rival a Mercedes.  I'd love to have an R50, as long as someone else was paying for its upkeep.

Ranger50
Ranger50 MegaDork
12/21/22 8:43 p.m.

A plain Jane minitruck, 4cyl/manual. Not that near full-size abomination bullE36 M3 out now masquerading as a mid size. Bring back the s10/ranger/taco/b-series....

I mean the FiST got a 200hp 1.6, the FoST had a 300hp 2.0, Mustang had a 315hp 2.3...

Tom1200
Tom1200 UberDork
12/21/22 9:20 p.m.
Pete. (l33t FS) said

I do agree!  But "small" is kind of relative, too.  The G20 was effectively a B13 SE-R. The S40 was a Dodge Colt/Mitsubishi Mirage(LanEvo III wink)

The problem is that it doesn't cost much more to make a large car as a small one.  So the profit margins are razor thin on small cars, if not actually negative.  People might balk at a $50,000 Fit.  People only spend that kind of money on a Civic if they throw a lot of wings and ugly trim and nostalgia at them.

It took SAAB-type people to spend large money on boring yet high quality smallish 4 cylinder cars, and look what that got SAAB.

I'm not looking for a 50K Fit or Mazda 2 but I'd pay 2-3K extra for one that wasn't at 75dba on the highway.

RevRico
RevRico UltimaDork
12/21/22 9:30 p.m.

Three pages and no one?

earlybroncoguy1
earlybroncoguy1 Reader
12/21/22 9:43 p.m.

In reply to Cousin_Eddie (Forum Supporter) :

You're right, I don't know why I blanked on the '69-'72 years. Guess I was just thinking of the square bodies. Still fullsize, though.

I blame the egg nog.

GTwannaB
GTwannaB Dork
12/21/22 9:43 p.m.

I wish they put the Cobalt SS turbo motor in a Cruze hatch. 

earlybroncoguy1
earlybroncoguy1 Reader
12/21/22 9:48 p.m.

In reply to jimbob_racing :

Oh, we can do that, but GRM would probably have to upgrade the servers to handle the traffic for just that thread. 

Peabody
Peabody MegaDork
12/21/22 10:12 p.m.
GTwannaB said:

I wish they put the Cobalt SS turbo motor in a Cruze hatch. 

Or Sonic

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) MegaDork
12/21/22 10:15 p.m.
GTwannaB said:

I wish they put the Cobalt SS turbo motor in a Cruze hatch. 

The 1.4 turbo engine can have its wick turned up to close to those power levels by just raising the boost targets/limits, as well as a few other limits.  It's already mapped out in the ECM and apparently the other hardware is already good for it.

Smells to me like GM intended to make a 200hp version then decided not to.

 

I think bigger.  The Cruze is the same dimensionally as the Celebrity except for overall length, which is explained by the lack of crazy amounts of overhang and dead space ahead of the drivetrain.  

Imagine a 3500 or 3900 powered Cruze.  Imagine a 3500/3900 not artificially limited to keep it less powerful than the 3800 or the 3.6.  

buzzboy
buzzboy SuperDork
12/22/22 12:36 a.m.
Peabody said:

A simple 2dr hatch with a manual trans  would be nice. 

BMW E36/5 has entered the chat

I loved mine relentlessly until the (swapped) engine began having issues.

QuasiMofo (John Brown)
QuasiMofo (John Brown) MegaDork
12/22/22 7:46 a.m.

I really enjoy my 2.7T in the 2021 Silverado. The newest iteration is more uncorked. 

I would like the new engine in a single cab, short box with a six speed manual and all wheel drive with a slightly lowered ride height.

Not asking for a world changer or a race truck. Just an efficient Syclone style daily that gets good fuel economy and I can drive in the Michigan winters.

NickD
NickD MegaDork
12/22/22 8:28 a.m.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
GTwannaB said:

I wish they put the Cobalt SS turbo motor in a Cruze hatch. 

The 1.4 turbo engine can have its wick turned up to close to those power levels by just raising the boost targets/limits, as well as a few other limits.  It's already mapped out in the ECM and apparently the other hardware is already good for it.

Smells to me like GM intended to make a 200hp version then decided not to.

Del Long has a couple of his D/Mod beasties running around with the 1.4T pushed to over 300hp, and they run stock pistons, rods and cranks from what I hear.

Apexcarver
Apexcarver UltimaDork
12/22/22 8:50 a.m.

4 door sport wagon with lower ground clearance and some sportiness in the suspension department with a 5k minimum tow capacity (would prefer 7k). 

 

Its like EVERYTHING with any towing capacity is high ground clearance / SUV /Truck /etc.   Nothing to tow with that is actually any fun to drive. 

Peabody
Peabody MegaDork
12/22/22 9:06 a.m.
NickD said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
GTwannaB said:

I wish they put the Cobalt SS turbo motor in a Cruze hatch. 

The 1.4 turbo engine can have its wick turned up to close to those power levels by just raising the boost targets/limits, as well as a few other limits.  It's already mapped out in the ECM and apparently the other hardware is already good for it.

Smells to me like GM intended to make a 200hp version then decided not to.

Del Long has a couple of his D/Mod beasties running around with the 1.4T pushed to over 300hp, and they run stock pistons, rods and cranks from what I hear.

Yes, they're (LUV) great motors, but the newer version of the 1.4 (LE2) I think is even better. But I assume we're talking about the 2.0T in the SS? That was 260hp. About all you can see with a tune and a few minor mods on the LUV is maybe 200hp, but it's not very drivable, and I wouldn't expect the turbo to last, so 180 is a lot more sensible. Big turbo and intercooler, 300 is not out of the question.

Our Sonic 1.4T has been an excellent grocery getter, and being GM, there's decent aftermarket, parts are plentiful, and there are a bunch of interchange between the various cars that used those engines and trans.   If they weren't holding their value so well I'd have one. I've already started accumulating parts...

A 401 CJ
A 401 CJ SuperDork
12/22/22 9:31 a.m.
lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) said:

I drive a 2022 Jeep Gladiator which has a 3.6 V-6. There are lots of people out there who doing all kinds of V-8 Hemi swaps to get BIG HP #'s. I think the truck would be great if it had the 5.7 Hemi that was in my old RAM 1500. It wouldn't be a hot rod, but would make towing a bit easier. That with the 8-speed transmission already in the Gladiator would make for a really nice ride, but at the end of the day I still enjoy it as-is and will until it falls apart no matter when that happens.

This I believe.  I always felt they missed the mark throwing the hotted up 6.4 in the factory ones recently.  I got mine to do Jeep stuff and that includes some light towing.  I'm not interested in doing burnouts or wrapping it around a pole when the big 485 hp motor starts writing checks the antiquated chassis can't cash.  The base Hemi pickup engine is the way to go.

As for swaps, and I'll talk about the JK since that's what I know, a good case can be made to forgo the Hemi for an LS.  And that's really surprising given that one would think that there would be some advantage to keeping it all Mopar.

BRZCory
BRZCory New Reader
12/22/22 9:42 a.m.

Toyota V6-turbo sedan with a DCT, a hitch, and a 5,000lb tow rating. 

I need something that can haul dogs, tow a Miata on a trailer with a spare set of tires, still get high 20's when not towing, and be livable, reliable, and "fun enough" as a daily driver.

Gimme an "IS350t F-sport" with a hitch and a brake controller.

But I guess it's straight to the Ridgeline I go, which is much bigger than I want in a daily, with worse MPG.

Tony Sestito
Tony Sestito UltimaDork
12/22/22 9:53 a.m.

I want this, but the modern version. Basically, a RWD, modern V8-powered, somewhat affordable hatch wagon thing that looks cool. 




 

Nicole Suddard
Nicole Suddard Marketing Coordinator
12/22/22 9:59 a.m.

In reply to RevRico :

This is the exact image I imagined when I read the name of the thread.

Nicole Suddard
Nicole Suddard Marketing Coordinator
12/22/22 10:05 a.m.

As someone who is often nudged about when they'll be having kids, I'd like to see the Honda Odyssey offered in a PiH or all-electric option within the next few years. That would make the idea of daily-driving a family hauler much more palatable.

j_tso
j_tso Dork
12/22/22 10:10 a.m.

In reply to Tony Sestito :

I've seen a couple of other concept cars like that. Maybe in the 70s they envisioned a lot more street parking so side access was made.

NickD
NickD MegaDork
12/22/22 10:12 a.m.
Peabody said:
NickD said:
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
GTwannaB said:

I wish they put the Cobalt SS turbo motor in a Cruze hatch. 

The 1.4 turbo engine can have its wick turned up to close to those power levels by just raising the boost targets/limits, as well as a few other limits.  It's already mapped out in the ECM and apparently the other hardware is already good for it.

Smells to me like GM intended to make a 200hp version then decided not to.

Del Long has a couple of his D/Mod beasties running around with the 1.4T pushed to over 300hp, and they run stock pistons, rods and cranks from what I hear.

Yes, they're (LUV) great motors, but the newer version of the 1.4 (LE2) I think is even better. But I assume we're talking about the 2.0T in the SS? That was 260hp. About all you can see with a tune and a few minor mods on the LUV is maybe 200hp, but it's not very drivable, and I wouldn't expect the turbo to last, so 180 is a lot more sensible. Big turbo and intercooler, 300 is not out of the question.

Our Sonic 1.4T has been an excellent grocery getter, and being GM, there's decent aftermarket, parts are plentiful, and there are a bunch of interchange between the various cars that used those engines and trans.   If they weren't holding their value so well I'd have one. I've already started accumulating parts...

There was kinda-sorta a Cruze with the Cobalt SS motor, which was the Buick Verano Turbo. The Verano used the Cruze chassis and came with the vaguely related LHU 2.0T. They even came with a manual transmission. Granted, I don't think I've ever seen a Verano Turbo, let alone a manual Verano Turbo.

BlueInGreen - Jon
BlueInGreen - Jon UberDork
12/22/22 10:24 a.m.
Ranger50 said:

A plain Jane minitruck, 4cyl/manual. Not that near full-size abomination bullE36 M3 out now masquerading as a mid size. Bring back the s10/ranger/taco/b-series....

A Maverick with a 6spd manual and the turbo engine would be cool.

Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter)
Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
12/22/22 10:38 a.m.

This car exists, but not here.

I'd love the Caterham se7en Kei car.  The base model starting at £28,990 GBP inc Vat (Just under $35k USD inc tax, approx. $29.5K USD)  available turn key under the  replica law that was passed a few years ago.  Along with warranty supported autocross and time trial series for stock, down to the tires, cars.

Peabody
Peabody MegaDork
12/22/22 10:39 a.m.

In reply to NickD :

That's a good call, and I can't believe I missed it. I've actually driven one of those with the 6spd manual.

When I was car shopping last summer I found one at a dealer in Toronto, drove there and had an extended test drive. It was a beautiful car with high metallic black paint, really nice wheels and very comfortable leather interior. I really, really liked it and pictured myself looking all executive-like driving around in it. Then I drove it. It was everything I was hoping it wouldn't be. It handled like a Buick much larger than it was, the final drive in the manual trans was awful, it felt like it was in high 2's, and that 2.0 felt like it belonged in a truck. It made good power, but felt like a real low revving engine, and coupled with the lousy final drive just felt very blah. Test drove a real turd of a 9C3 the same day, too. But it wasn't a total loss, there was a place that made fresh Jamaican patties in the same plaza, and they were pretty good.

Datsun310Guy
Datsun310Guy MegaDork
12/22/22 10:42 a.m.

In reply to QuasiMofo (John Brown) :

I'd be interested if you started a thread.  I'm looking at Silverado's and I'm struggling with the old school mentality of a truck having a turbo 4-cylinder.   

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