Hmm.. Interesting.. So, I wonder what the USA company is patenting.. and if the japanese company has some other patent also?

Your history of cars gets more and more interesting my freind...
I know a few ppl around here that tool around in the first generation M5
I look forward to chatting with you at Deals Gap

Went with my mom to pick up her new ride. '06 C240. I took it around the block, so much body roll, but its nice and quite. haha
Overall I really like the styling of mercedes, but not so much the performance as compared to BMW's.

next to my daily driver... E46
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...4-22133805.jpg

Just an fyi, I think these are like $5k+, top secret is about as expensive as it gets - makes HKS look reasonable.

I know, just posting it because alot of people are so bewildered that these even exist.

even ksport makes an airbag suspension that handles like a coilover for 2k

Gordon - what do thing the maintenance would be on a used Ferrari (parts / labor)? Or other cars that are a bit on the exotic side?

In your opinion what is the "cheapest" exotic brand (Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, Lotus, BMW, Mercs, etc) to own?

I was looking at lotus elises the other day, there are some really nice ones in the 25-30k range out there, seems like a more reasonable alternative than some of the other things mentioned here. A little harder to get the power out of, but light as hell.

^ that would be a V-8 that I wouldn't mind putting in the FD but for $27K, I can think of better things to do.

Fun cars, but I'm not a big fan of the weak Toyota engine and the car is completely impractical - I've also heard it's dangerous if you get in a wreck

The FD is a much better compromise between power and light weight than the Elise imo. Lotus needs to build a car with some balls; the Evora isn't it, either.

I've seen this engine and it's very impressive - essentially two inline 4s from motorcyles mated together in a very compact powerhouse - why can't GM produce something like this in a compact sports car?

As usual, the Japanese big 4 are the kings of inline 4 refinement and power. The new inline 4 in the Kawasaki 300X waverunner puts out a whopping 300 hp from a 1.5L engine (supercharged) - I already have one on order

^ Im sure you guys have seen it, but the new Atom 500 is the car Id choose with that engine. IMO thats probably the best track day weapon you can have. Unfortunately its well out of my price range, but amazing car none the less. And if you guys havent seen the full "Italian Job" video with Jeremy Clarkson, definitely worth the watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyYnN...eature=related

Wow that video is sick.

V8's are starting to grow on me. And FAST too.

I think that's the about the only thing I could leave the ZX-10 behind in (and have even more fun doing it) - awesome

My current FD was my friend's who now owns a Lotus Elise. Definitely not practical at all. The power was low on it so we installed a supercharger which gave it the kick that it needed, but now he is buying a built engine that we are going to swap in so he can run a bigger pulley for the track.

The car is a pain in the ass to work with. We are going to install clam hinges.

Copy and pasted from MR2 forum

Quote:
Originally Posted by ||||||||||
Can the mr2 ever compete with these other japanese cars, or no matter what are these cars always in a much higher league than the sw20 mr2 turbo?


Of course...

There's 2 reasons why:

1.) With enough money I could make a Kia Rondo compete with them.

2.) The real answer... Dollar for dollar the MR2 wins every time - here's what I mean:

Give a person money and see what car is faster between the cars you mentioned. If you gave them these amounts:

$5,000 - MR2 wins because you haven't yet purchased one of the others because of lack of funds...

$10,000 - MR2 wins again because you still can't afford a Supra or NSX, and the RX7 you bought for 10K is mostly stock, while your MR2 you bought for $6,000 has a nice ATS GT30 kit, IC and a tuned EMS on it.

$15,000 - MR2 wins yet again: Your now able to afford a Supra!!! but it's a non turbo... the RX7 has 5K worth of repairs and mods to it, but that only bought you a larger turbo with no tuning. Meanwhile your MR2 now has full coilovers/sway and strut bars, wheels and sticky rubber.

$20,000 - You bought your first Supra Turbo!!!!! but it's a ragged out piece of crap without a single worthwhile mod. You MAYBE can find a crapped out NSX, but... well.... it's crapped out. The RX7 is responding nicely to the new EMS/exhaust/tune/injectors and fuel, but riding on those stock wheels and suspension is getting no where with the ladies... Your MR2 though has now upgraded to a trunk mount or A2W IC, swapped the GT30 for a GT35 with custom intake and exhaust manifolds and makes over 500whp on e85 - oh, and you've had the entire car professionally repainted and with your new wheels it looks immaculate.

It just goes on and on... it all depends on how much money you spend. If you said which is cooler, an MR2 with upgraded turbo kit or NSX with supercharger kit - sure, most people would pick the NSX, but for the money, the MR2 wins every time...

are you still really on the ugly MR2? Give me 5k and I can go buy a beetle that will smoke the hell out of most cars on the road, it doesn't matter how fast if it is still a shit box.

I can't believe this thread is still going, wasn't it already locked a couple times?

3sgtepower, how many FD owners are on the MR2 board? If any on there, who feel the need to justify why they bought it over the MR2? It is easy, there are probably none because there is no need to.

You also forgot with 10k right now you can get a pretty nice single turbo FD, there are plenty of examples on the forum and if you do a search.

Edit: I would also take a 5k roller FD over a built MR2

I'm on there, and that cost argument can be made for plenty of cars, hell you could make it about a fox body or a roller camaro or damn near any car. Its all about what YOU want. I wanted an FD, so I bought an FD.

you may be on there but are you always trying to justify how the FD can be better than it with your posts?

Every single one of his posts are about the MR2 and how it can/is/should be better than an FD.

i'd buy my wife an mr2 lol, but i'd never drive one myself. thats almost as bad as owning a Del Sol.

nope, he's just like the v8 swap guys that constantly berate the rotary, ignore them and eventually they go away.

The mr2 was never in the same league as the supra, rx7 or nsx BRAND NEW anyway so comparing them now used will net the same result.

OF course a cheap car thats cheap to mod is a cheap choice comparing to a car that cost more and also costs more to mod lol.

Its common sense.

How about with that 10k, i put that as down payment for a new 135I and blow the doors off any japanese car within your 10-15k price range.

Not to mention i have warranty, an amazing engine, a comfy ride and that bmw badge all the ladies get wet for.

^^^^

There's a guy in the Richmond area I believe that does rotary conversions to Europas. There was one getting tuned at KDR when I went up to grab my car.... it had a full 320 rwhp FD TT motor, some custom bodywork, and even had an FD dashboard grafted inside. I've got pics someplace.

if i sell my FD. next car will be a retromodded 69 Camaro SS or a 67 Chevelle SS.