Category Archives: Car stuff

sport cars, track, racing, etc

The Civic Si

The new Civic and the Si is getting more and more great reviews and race wins, pretty amazing.

Also check out the Civic Si Unveiling video from Speed channel.

Right now I might choose the Si over a MINI Cooper S, and that is saying a lot coz I loooove the MCS… I have to test drive the Si to be sure though…

And to the FWD haterz, FWD is fine and a lot of fun if designed right and driven properly… plus, what can you do when you only want to spend 20k on a car, not that many RWD choices, besides maybe the (Miata) MX-5.

SF Auto Show writeup by Jason

Jason and I went to the opening day of the SF Auto Show, he just posted a very detail writeup at Carmudgeons.com. It pretty much sums up the day in the post. Basically the coolest car we saw was a silver Ruf 996 Turbo R on King Street on the way to the auto show, it was clean, he didn’t even have a radar detector on his windshield, the exhaust also sounded very mean. On the floor, we liked the new Civic Si the best. It was quite a car, only thing I hated on that car was the e-brake handle, it looks like a small u-know-what. I found an iPod dock connector in the glovebox, very cool! Without NAV, it’s priced at under 20k, that is a crazy deal for the performance and the exclusivity. You know this car will not depreciate at all!

Quite sadly, neither of us were impressed by any of the new offerings by BMW… The M5’s numbers look good, we’ve seen the writeup on m5board, but it’s one FUGLY car with a high-reving motor that is most likely gonna blow up when driven hard. The Audi RS6 was much more interesting, and it looks badass to boot!

I hope I’ll see the Ruf Turbo R at one of the nearby tracks one of these days, it certainly belongs on one.

fast cars and crazy partying for the rich and brainless

This year?s event starts with a public music concert in London and then cars will take off for Turkey passing through ten countries en route to Istanbul. Then the 120 cars and 250 people will fly to Hong Kong using three cargo planes and a private Gumball 3000 jet for all the drivers. Stage Two starts in Hong Kong and heads to Shanghai, Beijing and another concert in Tianamen Square. Then it?s back on the jets, this time to Salt Lake City. Stage Three starts there are with races across the salt flats and then of course, a little sojourn in Vegas. It all ends with a big finale in Los Angeles with another concert and a trophy ceremony at the Playboy Mansion.

The Plans for the Gumball 3000 2006 – Luxist – www.luxist.com

Sounds like fun though…

wanna bring your C6 Z06 to the track? these might prevent u from going fast

The tire pressure monitoring system does not seem very track-friendly… What happens if I run Hoosiers or R-Comp? it might turn on traction control for you!! and also might put your car in a power-reduced mode… WHOA! I guess even with reduced power u might still be able to go fast… (like a 20% reduction still gives u 400HP, LOL!)

C6 Z06 Track Problems – SCCAForums.com

The NEW Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) presents a whole list of problems:

(Note that the C5 TPMS wiring and programming were included on the C5 Z06 but not activated. However the C5 Tire Pressure Warning Sensors (TPWS) could be added to the C5 Z06 and then turned ON. Likewise it could be turned OFF for track use. The older TPMS ONLY functioned as a pressure Warning message.)

The New TPMS is more invasive and not only Warns the driver but activates Traction Control and a Reduced Power Mode.

– It is installed OEM on the car and NOT a delete option

– Currently the TPMS can NOT be turned OFF

– Currently the TPMS can NOT be reprogrammed

– The new TPMS is federally mandated on all cars by 2008. *

– The TPMS has a narrow range 28-38 psi.

– The TPMS MUST see 4 TPW sensors or it DeFaults to Traction Control ON and a Reduced Power Mode.

– The TPMS MUST see all 4 TPWS in range

– The TPMS MUST see ALL 4 TPWS in the correct position (LF/RF/RR/LR)

– The TPMS reads the TPWS above 20 MPH

– If an over pressure condition (+38 psi) is sensed the TPMS will alarm on the DIC

– If an underinflation condition (- 28 psi) is sensed the TPMS will alarm AND Default to TC ON and Reduced Power Mode

– A wheel without an emitting TPWS or in the wrong position is considered a 0 psi flat and causes the DeFault Mode

– Therefore ALL Race Wheels MUST have a NEW TPWS installed despite the narrow psi range.

– TPW sensors are $70 each, retail

– The TPW sensors are rotational dependant and produce a voltage and emit a readable frequency when spinning. The option to “fool” the TPMS by installing 4 in a pressure vessel in the rear of the car won’t work.

– The TPWS come in 2 different groups UJ9 and UH3 and must be matched according to VIN#

– The TPWS operate on 2 frequencies: 315 mHz, 433 mHz and possibly a third 309 mHz and have a 125 kHz activation/programming frequency.

– Each TPWS is unique and has a “rolling code”

– A new special programmer is necessary to initialize each TPWS to the TPMS as to frequency and position.($700 retail)

– Each time a wheel is installed on the car or wheels switch positions (wheel rotation/ wheel change/ wheel set change) it must be initialized with the programmer as to frequency AND position AND the rest of the wheels must be reprogrammed/verified as to position with the programmer.IN ORDER (LF/RF/RR/LR) This is a time consuming procedure performed at each wheel position.

The new Civic Si

Went Honda’s site to check out the new Civic, saw some pics of the Si, damn, I like it!! That black one, the second to last one in the gallery, looked SOOO NICE!

Alright, if I move up to the city next year I’d get one as a commuter, save some gas u know… LOL… Don’t think they would have a Hybrid version of the Si though… 😉