Thursday, November 18, 2010

Top 10 Cars Most Likely to Get a Speeding Ticket

Whoever said that out of control teenagers are the greatest threat to drivers out there better read this report released by verisk analytics about a month ago. " The study examines which vehicles makes and models are more likely to get a ticket. The results are based on the number of tickets per 100,000 miles driven.

On top of the list is the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. The average driver for the car is 52 and I say if you can afford the $102,600 car, you can afford the tickets.



The third vehicle most likely to get a ticket is the Scion TC and the average driver is 30 years-old although the car is marketed to first-time buyers. These cars are pretty common on the street and many on them are modified. There is a wide range of aftermarket parts for it and even Tanner Foust races a heavily moded one.



This is the list of the 10 most likely cars to get a ticket:

  1. Mercedez-Benz SL-Class
  2. Toyota Camry/Solara
  3. Scion TC
  4. Hummer H2/H3
  5. Scion XB
  6. Mercedez-Benz CLS-63 AMG
  7. Acura Integra
  8. Pontiac Grand Prix
  9. Mercedez-Benz CLK 63 AMG
  10. Volkswagen GTI
Some of these cars are not the speeding bullets that one sees on the road everyday. I was expecting to see more aggressive vehicles such as the Subaru WRX STI or even Nissan's 350Z model. What makes the Toyota Camry/Solara number two on the list? One could assume that it is a pretty common car but so are the Honda Accord and Civic and they are not in the top 10.

These are the 10 vehicles least likely to receive a ticket.
  1. Buick Rainier
  2. Mazda Tribute
  3. Chevrolet C/K - 3500/2500
  4. Kia Spectra
  5. Buick Lacrosse
  6. Saturn Aura Hybrid
  7. Oldsmobile Silhouette
  8. Chevrolet Uplander
  9. Hyundai Tucson
  10. Pontiac Vibe


The lowest average age for any car in the top 10 most likely to be ticketed is the TC's 30 year-old average driver. So what's all the buzz about teenagers and people in their twenties driving like maniacs? I say the octane-driven desire does not discriminate based on age. Young or old, man or woman we rev or die!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Top Gear Comes to America?

Any car enthusiast knows that TopGear is one of the greatest automotive shows of history. These guys are awesome at what they do and although a little goofy at times they always give realistic reviews of cars that range from an everyday car like a corolla to the super desired supercars like a Veyron.



Even though the series has been introduced to America twice, both times it has been unsuccessful because of low ratings. Well, starting on November 21st TopGear will be aired in the History Channel and it will be hosted by Comedian Adam Ferrara, professional drfter Tanner Foust and auto racing analyst Rutledge Wood. On a recent review by insideline the show is rated as only OK and not really worthy of carrying the straightforward-yet-fun style that has made TopGear a hit since it was first aired in 1977.


One of my favorite shows was Tanner's Supercars exposed. This show had some of the best cars out there and this guy drove them like there was no tomorrow. I remember vividly that shootout episode where a souped up Viper span out while doing over 100 mph, check it out!


I look forward to watching the American version of TopGear (and I know the revordie fans do too) even though I've read nothing but negative or neutral reviews on line whose common denominator is that the show is OK but it needs to mature. Be sure to tune in and/or set your DVR, for Sunday November 21st at 10PM on the History Channel.

Why Are the Police Against Car Meets?

Last Thursday I headed over the Ramblewood and University Drive to meet with some of my friends as well as to check out some nice rides. When I got there there 4 cars if front of Dunkin Donuts and the rest of the parking lot was empty. Wait, there was a cop in the middle of the parking area. It turned out the cops forced everyone out of the parking lot. But why do cops do that? I've been to many car meets and this is one of the most friendly and calm meets. As with any rule, there's always an exception. Some drivers peel wheels and rev up their engines when they leave as they want to show off their rides but it doesn't turn into an illegal street race where streets are blocked.

So why do cops ask people to leave? After all, car meets have been around since cars were invented. The answer is pretty straight forward. It's because some people are dirty and they do not realize that they're using a private area. When they leave the meet, which usually happens in a big parking lot, they leave a trail of dirt, bottles, food wrappers and more. So this post goes out to all the people that enjoy car meets and bring trash with them. Be courteous, do not leave garbage at your local car meet so that other people can enjoy it without getting kicked out for your bad habit.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Porsche Panamera gets the revordie test drive

"It's just a four-door Porsche, nothing else" That's what people think about the Panamera but I always had second thoughts about this sedan. If the legendary German automaker dares to include a four-door vehicle in its super sporty vehicle line up is because it is backed up by what made Porsche recognized in the auto industry (or so I thought): a powerful, highly reliable luxury vehicle.

At the Porsche Aircraft Experience, I had the opportunity to test drive the 2011 Porsche Panamera.  Even if I had to skip class, I was not about to let this one go by. The look of the car? It is a stretched 911 with two extra seats that seats pretty low for a sedan. The interior of the car is my favorite part about it. It's simply flawless! The seats are wrapped in fine leather and the headliner was elegantly dressed with suede. I can not stress enough how pleased I was with the prime quality of the materials in the car. Leg and head room for the driver and front passenger are comfortable.

After drooling all over the driver and co-driver seats of the car, I jumped in the back which is exceptionally comfortable and has an unmistakable luxurious accent all around. Leg room is only comparable to a limo, and did I mention the back seats are bucket seats? not the typical bench type of seats that sit a number of people on them. I could live in this car!

 But, I'm not here to rate interiors. This is the revordie blog so it was time to put this German babe on the road. Like the Cayenne Hybrid S, handling is unmatched. Though I wasn't allowed to take the Panamera on the highway I drove it in the snake-like roads surrounding the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Pushing the Panamera through sharp turns at speeds nearly double the local speed limit allows me to tell you that this car can twist and turn like a sports car. When it comes to handling this is not the average sedan.
But once again, Porsche managed to disappoint me. As I came to a stop I floored the Panamera to see how its V6 3.6 liters engine would pick up. I was blown away to see that Porsche's PDK transmission starts in second gear even after switching from comfort to sport mode. As the tachometer approached the redline I never felt the kick a performance car should have. It reminded me of my mom's decade old Camry; Bulky, heavy and lame. Is that all Porsche can do with its 300 hp engine? And I'm not the only one complaining about it. Insideline mentions it too in its review of the Panamera. And the Steering wheel-mounted switches were just as lame. At one point I switched gears with them and an interested buyer in the car who came along for the ride asked if the car went into neutral.

So why does Porsche develop a car so far out of what they're known for? I can't understand. I must include in this review that the Panamera comes in 5 different models and I drove the most basic one. The Panamera Turbo which is the top of the line has 500 horsepower and it's an all-wheel drive as compared to the rear wheel-drive basic Panamera I drove. The Panamera starts at $74,400 and the turbo version of it nearly doubles its price at $135,300. I would not recommend buying this car to any one of my fans unless you want to spend so much cash to be driven (instead of driving yourself) with a little bit of style.

Got the money sitting around? get a GT-R for $84,060 which will give you 485hp and spend the rest of the money fighing your speeding tickets.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Second Generation Porsche Cayenne Tested

The Cayenne has always struck me as a high-class, luxurious vehicle for the true performance-enthusiast who refuses to clog the streets with a 5,000 pound boxy SUV which not even soccer moms seem to like. It certainly has the look and the sound of a true performance car, but is it a true performance SUV worth sporting a Porsche badge?

Thankfully, I was invited by my friend Carlos to attend the Porsche Aircraft Experience at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. At this event, we had the opportunity to drive the second generation, 2011 Porsche Cayenne S hybrid.



My first impression of the Supercharged Cayenne is that it really was not big at all. Compared to many of the full-sized SUV s on the road, the Cayenne really is a thin, sleek  family vehicle. My eyes lit up and turned 360 degrees when the hood was opened and a supercharged Porsche engine was revealed. Talk about a tingling feet sensation! The 2011 Cayenne S comes with a 3.0 L V6 engine that produces 328 hp plus an additional 51 hp by the electric motor adding up to 379 hp and cranking 428 lb.-ft. of torque of pure performance.

 The interior of the car is very, very nice. Fitted with black, fine leather and plenty of electronic gadgets such as seat warmers, bluetooth and plenty of additional features such as the 14 speaker BOSE Surround Sound System and a Panoramic system that is almost four times larger than the standard moonroof.

Once we took the Porsche out in the road, I took control of the vehicle before entering I-95. As I approached the light, it turned yellow and I pressed the break lightly. Quote from the Porsche salesman: "No, go for it, it's a true performance car" With no hesitation in me, I put the pedal to the metal and I made the turn which the Cayenne took effortlessly and impressively there was no tire squeal.

The transition from the gas-powered engine to the electric engine is absolutely seamless. It might have well gone unnoticed for the entire trip if it wasn't for the seven-inch, high-resolution touchscreen that was actively displaying the flow of energy from the engine to the tires and storing energy from the tires to the battery cell.

The disappointing part of this story comes as I disengaged the automatic transmission and started driving the car with the steering wheel-mounted gear switches. Porsche's Tiptronic S shifts up with a press of the switch by the thumb and it shifts down by pulling backward on the same switch. It felt sluggish and somewhat dull. Plainly put, it was not at the same level as the rest of the agile-yet-cozy attitude of the car.

Although the Cayenne is not meant to be Porsche's legacy defending super-car, it is a very nicely put together vehicle which combines great power with outstanding handling and a luxurious style for the driver and its occupants. Starting at a base price of $67,700 the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid stands as a performance SUV that will keep soccer moms and salaried dads glued to the steering wheel for a fun, fast and classy ride. Just don't use the wheel-mounted Tiptronic shifters.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Just Videos

Ever seen anyone run themselves over? he did...



I only believe this one because is on video...



Some people simply aren't meant to drive...



And how about that gas it up a little and SLOWLY let go of the clutch?



And of course, to close a racing video:



Although I have been involved in 2 car crashes, I have never caused an accident. Both times I was rear-ended while waiting for a red light to change. Luckily I was never hurt but in the second crash my 5th generation Toyota Celica was totaled. Rev or die fans, do you care to share some of your driving experiences?

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Hennessey Venom GT, you'll need a new set of pants after reading this one!

Power power power and then more power. That's what is seems like today's car market is all about. Superchargers, turbos and even double turbo engines are no longer performance parts only found in the finest super cars. I mean, twin turbo Taurus? So what makes a super car a supercar nowadays? Feast your eyes on the ALL-AROUND super car Hennessey Venom GT.


According to Road & Track the Hennessey Venom GT has been fitted with a twin-turbo 6.2 liter V-8 engine that puts out 1200 horsepower and 1155 lb.-ft. of torque. So why is this important? After all, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport already puts out that kind of power. The Venom weighs only, 2685 lbs compared to the Buggatti's 4034lbs. This gives the super-sexy beast a power to weight ratio of only 2.24 lbs. per horsepower compared to the Super Sport's 3.37 lbs. per horsepower.






The Venom GT is based on a Lotus exige and it can reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. Although an official price hasn't been released, online rumors say the price starts at $600,000 US. I think this super car is a true beauty and it delivers everything its hyper fast looks promise. Comments?

Supercharged R8 by STāSIS engineering displayed at 2010 SEMA

As if 525 horsepower wasn't enough, STāSIS engineering displayed a supercharged version of the super-sexy already Audi R8. Thanks to only 7.5 psi of boost, Audi's Super car produces a whooping 710 horsepower and torque is raised to a not-so-wimpy 523 lb.-ft according to Road & Track.

STāSIS Engineering claims the hooked up Audi will go from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.1 secs. The revamped Audi will sport a lighter exhaust system which will be of larger diameter, simple math for the average tuner.

So rev or die fans, is this an R8 worthy upgrade? Do you prefer turbo or supercharger? On a personal note, I prefer the sound of a turbo spooling up when compared to a supercharger. If I owned one of these babes I would only put a turbo on it, not a supercharger. Although a supercharger does not have a lag as compared to a turbo, a turbo has a regulation device built in, which opens a "waste gate" once the maximum boost has been reached. The supercharger does not do that which gives the turbocharger a bit of an edge.

So rev or die fans, What do you prefer and why? Turbo or supercharger? Feel free to comment on the R8 Spyder by STāSIS Engineering as well.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Fixx Fest 7 feeds the biggest Euro Fever event in the South East

Audi, VW, BMW, Mercedes Benz you name it! This event is expected to have anywhere from 1200 to 1500 European cars, wow! Admission will be $15 per person and $10 more get you in the 1/4 mile drag strip for as many runs as you can get in. The event will take place in the Bradenton Motorsports Dragstip from noon to 7PM. Here's a video of last year's event.


The event will have a best of class show which will be based on participants' votes and all winners will receive a trophy.

This was last year's show stopper. USP's 800 WHP SR4




Since the Euro event will be hosted in West Florida there will be caravans/cruise from many parts of the state. This is the link for the Eurofixx blog where people discuss to meet for the event.


So, can we gather the rev or die crew together for this one? Show of hands people!

This post will be updated as we get more information about the revordie caravan.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

1200 horsepower Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, whoa!

As if 1001 horsepower wasn't enough for the Veyron, the new 2011 Suport sport version has been released and it put down 1200 horsepower and and 1,106 lb-ft of torque according to autoweek.

This babe will also feature four larger turbos than the original Veyron as well as larger water-to-air intercoolers. In order to keep it its W16 engine, it's been fitted with four larger gas pumps. With so much going for it one could wonder. Is there a downside to it? How does the $2.3 million price tag sound?

Is this an overpriced performance car or is the money worth spending in order to obtain a little exclusivity?

Monday, October 11, 2010

2011 Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro

Yes, it's a very long name that indicates the R8 will be offered as a convertible. The super-sexy German R8 will also receive aerodynamics upgrades such as air intakes behind the doors as well as more carbon fiber on the rear side panels and the cover over the storage compartment, says Road & Track.



 The R8 spyder's powerplant will not receive any upgrades, meaning it will put out the same 525 hp and torque is rated at 391 lb.-ft. that peaks at 6500 rpm in its V-10 version of the engine. As the word quattro indicates, the R8 will be an all wheel drive and it will be mated to a 6-speed gearbox.







Though the convertible only adds 200 lbs. to the already light R8, it will do little to slow it down as it will be able to sprint to 62.1 mph in 4.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 194.5 mph. The R8's interior is not bad at all either when compared to other super exotics. Check out R&D's picture feature but make sure you click on interior photos.


Will the R8 take the spotlight while on the street? you be the judge, like always. Voice your opinion and comment.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

500+ horses for the 2011 GT-R?

This super icon which currently boasts 485 hp and 434 pound-feet of torque could get a power increase that should put it at the 500+ hp level, according to the publication autoweek.But was this necessary? Does it have enough power already? can it really be improved? A stock GT-R already runs a quarter mile in under 12 seconds.







Along with the rumored power upgrade, it is also being said that the little monster will be available with new interior trim options as well as a much higher quality grill with carbon-fiber inserts in it. The car aerodynamics could also be upgraded with the purpose of directing more airflow into the engine bay.





While we look forward to see the upgraded beast, it also makes us wonder, how much horsepower is enough? Is there such a concept as too much horsepower? Lets hear your point of view on this one rev or die fans

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Hayabusa turbo

Now here's an oldie that never dies. The ghost rider has been famous for his insane driving in Europe. This daredevil fears nothing when he's on top of his bike. There's not much to say other than letting you guys enjoy the ride in his 499 horsepower turbo Suzuki hayabusa.




This guy fears nothing!



So rev or die people, has any of you ever encountered any problems with the cops while speeding? Do you have a cool story you want to let us know?

Meet the Smart Diablo

Most of us have seen the Smart car which for your info sports a 1 liter, 61 CC engine.


The 3-cylinder produce 70 horsepower which takes it to a maximum speed of 90 mph. I have heard people describe them as lawn mowers with windows as well as a purse car; definitions that I wouldn't argue with.
Watch it on the quarter mile with a Ferrari F430:

Ooops!  forgot to mention a little detail about it, because the car is so light people customize them with a hayabusa engine in it. Now this is what I call a dictionary definition of the word sleeper. A 2nd generation hayabusa engine puts out a cool 172 horsepower while weighing only 220 pounds with all fluids, electronics, etc. Here's another video of a smart with a busa engine on it.




I bet next time you see one of these on the street you'll think twice before revving your engine at it, huh?

Lambo Sesto Elemento Hits Paris


The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is loaded with carbon fiber, hence its name
Carbon Fever! This is what the Italian automaker Lamborghini set out to spread among the car enthusiasts. Feast your eyes on the concept Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.

According to the New York Times the sesto elemento may well hit the production line as the rear-wheel drive borrows its V-10,  570 horsepower engine from the Gallardo.























But what does the Carbon fiber do for the Lambo? It's 800 punds lighter than the Gallardo Coupe. That would propel the bull badge from 0 to 60 mph. in only 2.5 seconds. 
Would this hyper modern look work for Lamborghini or is this too extravagant?

 The sixth element, which has a power to weight ratio of only 1horsepower for every 3.85 lbs,  was showcased to the public at the Paris Auto Show last month.

So what's your rev or die take on this one? Do you look forward to seeing on the streets or is this showroom material only?

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Lighter and stronger, The new Audi R8 GT is unveiled

If this doesn't catch your attention you might as well be blind...



After much rumor in the super car world, the Audi R8 GT's specs were released yesterday. The leaner more muscular version of the R8 will be 220 pounds lighter which puts it at 3,362 lbs. The V10 5.2L engine will put down 560 horsepower, that's 42 horseys over the previous R8 model. According to mibz, who made the GT's specs public after being released by Audi, the GT's power plant will launch the supercar to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and up to 124 mph in just 10.8 seconds.

The R8 GT will be equipped with a launch control system, six-piston brake calipers for the front and the engine will be mated to the R8's R-tronic sequential manual transmission. It can be customized with special materials for the interior, GT logos and even a roll cage.

Does the Audi R8 GT get your blood flowing or does the $250,000 price tag make you shiver? Is the $95,000 difference between the R8 and R8 GT worth spending the extra money?

Murcielago smokes R8! ...and they got a speeding ticket to prove it

Mibz reported recently that the Austrian police were forced to close a highway in order to catch a speeding Murcielago racing an Audi R8. The 27 years old Bulgarian, who had just bought a Lamborghini Murcielago 2 months before, had it tuned by IMSA which increased the engine's output by 65 horsepower. That translates to  a cool 631 horsepower for the Lambo.




Its contender, the Audi R8, most commonly known for its stellar appearance in the Iron man movies, was in stock condition, That means it pumped out either 414 hp or 518 hp depending on the type of engine (which we assume wasn't included in the police report). The exotic street-racers were clocked by speed traps at 170 mph for the lambo and 145 mph  for the R8. Both driver licenses were suspended.




So rev or die fans, do you have any speeding stories to tell? What's the fastest you have driven your car? have you had a triple-digit speeding ticket? Brag on and comment!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Toyota FT-86 / Subaru 0846

Now this is one of those rides that people have been waiting for a very, very long time. It is no secret that the Japanese automaker Toyota has been slacking with an entry-level tuner car for a number of years. Heck, the Celica has been discontinued since 2006! Toyota's most sporty vehicle at the moment is the Tundra which puts out a cool 381 hp and 401 lb.-ft. torque with its 5.7 L V8 version. However, it is a truck! No tuner wants to put a flatbed next to an STI and have them run side to side. it's like comparing oranges to apples.


According to the publication Car and Driver it might just be a little too late for the release of this vehicle since Hyundai has already taken a head start in the race with its recent release of the real-wheel drive genesis which is marketed with two engine options: 
  • a 2.0L  4-cylinder turbocharged produced 210 hp and 223 ft·lb torque
  • and a naturally aspirated 3.8 V6 puts out 306 hp and 266 ft·lb torque.

The FT-86 will likely be offered as a front-wheel drive, naturally aspirated 4-cylinder and a turbocharged version of it should be available at a later date.


So what do you think about this one? Will Toyota/Subaru have a shot at the tuner market with the FT-86/0846 or will it be too late for the party as suggested by C&D? Will the option of a naturally aspirated front-wheel drive make it a sit on the side when compared to the existing genesis or will it be a nice tuner starter?

Turbocharged Focus RS Hits U.S. market in 2012

The turbocharged Ford focus ST will finally be introduced at the American market in 2012. According to Car and Driver, the American automaker will fit the focus ST with a turbocharged four cylinder engine that should put out about 247 horsepower.



Though we'll never understand why Ford markets the focus with such puke-inducing colors, the interior of the ST will sport carbon fiber look-like trim, and of course, a six-speed manual transmission. Although no official price has been set on the ST, this car is expected to be a powerful contender on the entry-level tuner world next to the Honda Civic Si, VW Jetta and the Mazda speed 3.
For more information on the upcoming ford ST check out edmunds.com video.





What's your position? Would you put your hard-earned money on a 2012 focus ST? What's its greatest contender in the U.S. market?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Facebook fans bring Audi TT RS to America

The 2010 Audi TT RS is estimated by Audi to go from 0 to 60 in 4.6 seconds

It took only a month for over 11,000 Audi enthusiasts to vote for the TT RS to be sold in America through an online survey in Audi's Facebook page. According to the car magazine Road & Track, the thousands of signatures and the positive reviews in the American media made the German automaker reconsider its marketing strategies in America and last week it confirmed that the 5-cylinder, 2.5 liter turbocharged sweet-looking beast will hit the showrooms in the third quarter of 2011.


 R&D quotes Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America: “With performance and agility rooted in Audi motorsports success, the TT RS is truly an emotional sports car. That emotion became abundantly clear as we explored interest across the country.”

The four-wheel drive TT RS delivers performance with an output of 360 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque and It will only be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission. Want to see it in action?




Here's a souped up version of it...







Although the Audi TT RS doesn't have the most masculine and intimidating appearance on the street, it is a nice piece of machinery that will stand out of the crowd both for its sleek looks and improved performance. There's no set price for this babe yet but its European version starts at an equivalent $57,000 US. What's your take on this? Is the TT RS worth a spin around the block?

Ultra Modern GT-R or Electric Fiasco?

You've been living under a rock if you haven't heard a word about the iconic Nissan GT-R R35. When it was launched in 2007 it rocked the sport car industry with its twin-turbo V6 engine putting out 475 hp, 434  lb-ft torque and with a top speed of 192 mph. It is the dream car of many tuners and the reason most of us turn to sites like youtube and streetfire to watch videos like this 9 second GTR:






According to mibz the Japanese automaker Nissan hinted on an interview with the British publication autocar that the next generation GT-R might be 100% electric. This comes as a surprise since part of the vehicle's beauty lies on its twin turbo engine. Now that's a sound any car enthusiast can truly appreciate. But wait a moment, isn't this super car marketed to car enthusiasts? Removing the GTR's twins would be like taking away communion from Christianity; the wings off of an airplane and the U.S. constitution and declaration of independence from the American people. Would this move be a smart decision for the automaker? Would the rumored 100% electric GT-R be as appealing as its twin turbo predecessor to you? Like always rev or die fans, voice your opinion and comment.


VS

Monday, September 20, 2010

5-0 gets a boosted makeover!

After 11 years in the police force, the 4.6L V8 crown victoria police interceptor will be put to rest. Its replacement, ford's next generation police interceptor sedan will be based on the taurus' platform with two engine options: the 3.5L V6 and the Ecoboost version of the same engine which according to Ford will produce 20% better fuel efficiency as well as 15% less greenhouse emissions when compared to a naturally aspirated engine. That means the flashing lights  in your rear-view mirror may well be accompanied by a four wheel drive with twin-turbos spooling to get you to pull over. Now that's a tune that will invite to put the pedal to the metal rather than pulling over!

Along with the twin-turbo version, an Explorer-based version will also be offered. The 3.5L V6 should produce a not so wimpy 280 horsepower. The interceptor brothers will be equipped with plenty of gadgets like a rear-view camera, Police-Calibrated power train and transmission, police tuned suspension and level III ballistic door panels. 
So what's the verdict? Although certainly not Italy's specialized highway patrol car, the new interceptor couple should allow the local police forces to crack down on speeders and crooks easier. Maybe it will turn the parking lot of a dunkin donuts into a showroom too!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

2nd Gen tC

With an output of 160 hp and 162 ft·lb of torque, the Scion tC was introduced into the market in 2004 as a way to appeal to the generation Y who wanted to get a modern, stylish car who are mostly first time buyers. And the car delivers the goods that are promised with its sleek looks and a nice list of gadgets including a 160-watt Pioneer sound system, mirror-mounted turn signal lights and a beautiful panoramic moonroof. But this is rev or die, we’re not here to talk about looks.

Scion has unveiled its second generation 2011 tC with an improved powerplant.  
The 2AR’s displacement has been increased to 2.5L as compared to the previous 2.4L engine and it is mated with a 6-speed transmission both manual and automatic. How cool is that? Not enough to make me want to buy an automatic, not yet. The engine's output is rated at 180 hp and 174 lb-ft torque an increase of 19 horsepower and 12 lb-ft torque over its predecessor. Unfortunately, despite the rumors and to many people's disappointment, the tC will not be equipped with Toyota's VVTL-i. Now that would have been a heck of a come back for a 2nd generation amped up version of the tC. So rev or die people, does the second generation Scion tC make justice to its predecessor? Will the slight performance improvements give scion's tC an edge over the rest of the entry level cars such as the Ford Focus? Honda Civic SI? At a comfortable $18,895 MSRP You be the judge, comment!

If you disagree and you're more interested in watching the tC's new looks rather than seeing how it performs click here. No, really, here it is.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Got a tip for your tips...

I was driving down Hollywood Boulevard on my way to school when a  very particular car got my attention. Not because of its 22 inch rims or a flamboyant paint job. It was the fact that the car had been customized with what seemed to be a 10-tip exhaust system. I thought to myself,  Is this even possible? what kind of engine could it have? V-20?  Unlikely, so I decided to snap a quick picture so I could share it with the rest of the people out there who have customized their cars in one way or another.


But what makes a person want to add truck horns to the bottom of a Nissan Altima? Customizing or modifying your car is just one more way to express yourself to the world as you drive by. Whether you do it for looks or for performance it's just a matter of choice.

The 93+ Only blog will be a meeting point for people interested in making their car unique regardless of what your choice might be. Are you interested in looks? performance? Both? Forced induction or naturally aspirated?  Are you just into the car scene or are you just looking to learn more about cars? Whatever you choice might be, visit the 93+ Only blog often, comment on it and keep it under 4 exhaust tips please!