[V8] Still Audi-less

[Bryan Kamerer]

Uh, do you mean 300+ hp in a Miata?  OMG.

I have only had one Miata experience, not long after they came out.  Hertz
rented them in California, a friend there told me.  I had a business trip to
LA so I rented one, drove it around LA for a week.  What a ball.  That was
stock back then; that much HP in one would be deliriously fun.  I assume you
mean a newer generation with a stiffer body.

I'm going to also use this post to second what Roger Woodbury wrote recently
about "all the best cars have been built."  I've been in a  two + month hunt
for a tow vehicle/SUV for my horse.  I have been using a 99 Toyota LC for
that purpuse the last few years, but domestic circumstances dictate that
vehicle will be in her household going forward, not mine (aka, "the big D,
and I don't mean Dallas).  So in the short term, "cheap and cheerful" is the
word of the day.  I've driven or looked at every possible vehicle made and
sold in the US from 1994 to 2005 to find the right one, pickups and SUVs
included.  The hands-down winner is an early 100 series Toyota Land Cruiser
(V8 model, 98-00, the same conclusion I came to 3/4 years ago when I chose
that for her!).  But it's still pricey.  But the horrid cost/quality ratio
between newer vehicles and older ones is just mind boggling.  Cars are now
evolving at a much slower rate than they did when some of us were younger.
The early/mid 90s were a big break-point in technical prowess and assembly
quality.

The other day I took the train down to Portland from Seattle and picked up a
1998 Acura SLX (Isuzu Trooper with Acura interior and details).  It's not a
Land Cruiser but is 1/3 the price and it's cherry, runs like near-new, and
looks just great.  If cost were no object, it would be the 98-00 Toyo Land
Cruiser again, but this will do just nicely.  in all honesty, this is the
first four-wheeled vehicle I have picked out for myself since 1997 when I
got the 1991 V8 5-speed (I am a big motorcycle rider and have been through
five or six of those in the interim, and have three now - I have put 27k on
my V8 since 2001, and it's the only car I have used daily).  I'm going to
give the V8 a rest this winter and go through all systems and get it back to
tip-top shape.  I have neglected maintenance on it for a while since I don't
drive it very much.  But how much fun it is to drive.

So Roger Woodbury, your treatise found a fan in me.



On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 7:03 PM, NIck Miller <chance9121 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Just figured I'd keep you guys updated, Still no Audi.   I'm looking at
> picking up a 96 Cabriolet and a 98 Audi A4 2.8l V6 manual quattro, but
> haven't gone ahead with the deals yet.
>
> In the mean time, I'm doing a Flying Miata FMII Turbo kit with 3071 turbo
> on
> the miata, with wiesco pistons, carrillo rods, supertech valves, ported
> head, supertech valve springs, and a lot of other tish on that car.  As
> well
> as my current hydra nemesis ecu, I'm hoping for about 300-375hp or so,
> wihtout methanol or e-85...  Should be a winner!
>
> ~Nick
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