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  1. R

    Spoiler or no Spoiler...?

    I'm with you, the '05 has a great bod that doesn't need a bunch of cheesy but useless ornaments cluttering it up. Such gewgaws are more an easy stylistic crutch of the plaid suits in marketing than a more mature and thoughtful element from the pro's in the design department -- they just cheapen...
  2. R

    Who wants IRS?

    The improved weight distribution will certainly be a great thing, an example of good attention to performance chassis basics rather than trying to bandaid a mediocre chassis with ultra wide tires and ultra stiff chassis to rack up impressive, if somewhat artificial, test track numbers. The...
  3. R

    New Stang vs top Ricer Cars

    I think a big thing being missed in this discussion is that it is focusing almost exclusively on simple straight, off-the-line acceleration. While certainly an important part of the performance envelope, it is only but a part. The EVO and STi, while quite fast in that one realm, really isn't...
  4. R

    Who wants IRS?

    Downgraded a touch perhaps, but certainly not doomed. And I too hope for a sub-Cobra level IRS offering.
  5. R

    New Stang vs top Ricer Cars

    Probably would be close in a straightline race, but get in any more demanding speed contest (curves, braking, bumps, all of the above) and I imagine the AWD EVO would eek ahead a touch. The STi, too, would probably fare similarly against the GT, perhaps better matching its straightline prowess...
  6. R

    Who wants IRS?

    I agree, the truth will be in the actual driving, and some reasonalby decent live axles have been designed, though not in recent history. But even given the best possible live axle design, there is, inevitably, the unavoidable physics of mass and interia and any live axle design, presuming they...
  7. R

    Who wants IRS?

    ...nor a powerful V8, nor big brakes, nor sharp steering, ... Sorry, sounds too much like dumbing down the criteria rather than raising the car and expections to meet them. Sure the new 3-link buggy axle will be a vast improvement over the current contraptions propping up the ass of the...
  8. R

    IRS...

    Depends on the track. On very smooth, level tracks, where a suspension doesn't do much anyways, an IRS's advantages are probably minimal. In these easy situations, cheap, simple and rugged live axles would likely suffice just fine. Now, should the track be a bit more challenging, with lumps...
  9. R

    A better v6 eventually?

    I might disagree with this assertion, that the Mustang is a muscle car, especially such a caricatured description of one above ("designed to be heavy???? It's a car, not a tank). Ironically, the Mustang was originally designed much in contrast to the muscle cars of the day, emphasizing a...
  10. R

    Aluminum vs. Iron Block...

    I know some of the earlier M3s had an iron block, but thought they all (3 Series) went AL now -- could be wrong though. In any case, even Ferrari used an FE block a couple years back in their Formula One cars, though they've returned to AL (and/or Magnesium?) now. So while FE has been...
  11. R

    Aluminum vs. Iron Block...

    And the greater thermal transfer ability of AL allows greater design flexibility for more power, i.e., cooler cylinder heads allowing higher compression ratios for example. Theoretically, the hotter a motor runs, at least in the combustion chamber, the more thermodynamically efficient it would...
  12. R

    So what about the next cobras?

    My guess regarding the motor, SC 4V DOHC 5.4 approaching 450-475hp -- the horsepower ante just keeps rising. Major brake and suspension upgrades -- IRS of course, not some ox-cart live axle. SMG perhaps, at least a 6 speed ATX. Upgraded interior and a far more unique exterior, sort of...
  13. R

    Honesty, dumb question? RX8 or new Stang?

    For the more broad-minded car enthusiast, a Mustang/RX-8 comparison is quite reasonable -- that's one I'm mulling over. They are both, broadly, front engine, RWD 2+2 sport coupes of roughly similar size. Aside from that, each has is distinctions. I too have driven the RX-8 and found it to...
  14. R

    Clarification of IRS v. Live

    In comparing two well designed suspensions, one IRS, the other a live axle, the differences would be thus: On very smooth roads and surfaces there is probably very little difference, but then again, in such conditions, neither suspension really is doing much anyways (hardly a very discerning...
  15. R

    05 saleen (photochop) from other board

    Holy cheese grater Batman, where's my pizza? Way over done, the distinction between a lot of styling and good styling.
  16. R

    Will it have HID's?

    I certainly wouldn't call them a luxury gimmick, good bright healights being critical to night driving, especially high performance night driving. As I noted however, bright headlights alone are only part of the equation and just as important are excellent optics and lensing to properly focus...
  17. R

    Will it have HID's?

    As you touch on, the real factor is not the brightness of the HID's per se, but rather, the poor optics of many designs, which is bad in general regardless of how bright the bulbs might be. Simply reverting to dull lighting seems to be approaching the problem from the wrong direction...
  18. R

    Will it have HID's?

    I sure hope they are! Not sure what you don't like about them, I mean beyond being much brighter and a far better color spectrum... :shrug:
  19. R

    IRS vs. Live Axle

    "I agree...my current Zed4 and the E46/E36 have/had IRS and I would say while it gives great precision for the rear, not to break loose while accelerating round the apex, great ride comfort as well as handling but there are some core needs for IRS to work very well. IRS requires a very near...
  20. R

    IRS vs. Live Axle

    I voted for option 3, though I think ideally Ford simply should have focused its design, development and production resources into just a very good IRS rather than spreading it out over two systems. My apologies to the hard core drag racers, but I think a good IRS offers the best ride AND...
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