Hobz good at math

Eager. Rewarding. From 2 star to 4 star, small tweaks make all the difference ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Clock strikes 9AM and you get a Teams message:
The Explorer program fucked up, built more test mules than the F-150 program, CD6 is way too expensive, and you've got half the usual time to launch something using scraps of the old platform.

Behold ... a $20 upgrade from an Altima at National.

https://i.imgur.com/QVfBtl6.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/8XhuoWi.png

I had the last gen Ecoboost and GT as company cars, this is so much better.

The exhaust no longer sounds like a sewing machine.
Now, it has character - blowoff valve whistle, a poppy tone.

The engine no longer has inconsistent power delivery.
Now, it feels fun to just get on it and ride the power band to redline; better than BMW B48

The suspension no longer feels like the car is three pieces: front, center, rear.
It now trail brakes, the front end tucks in eagerly and the rear end is mostly predictable.
It feels 800 lbs lighter than the last gen.

The auto no longer takes 3 seconds to downshift into first while tossing your head forward.
You leave it in L, it's always in the right gear, and it does all the dumb downshifts I would do to hear the pops and bangs.

The interior.... is so chunky and oddly shaped.
At least the headrests are pillow soft and the infotainment's super snappy.

For a convertible where you can still fit a rear facing child seat behind you.
For a convertible where you can still fit 2 medium sized suitcase and carryons.

The Mustang team have spun silver from a stinky heap ...
and IMO they've brought back the spirit of the E46, bravo.

https://i.imgur.com/VNYVsfp.mp4

Which engine does this one have? 4-banger EcoBoost? or the 5L V8?

Ecoboost, non performance pack.
The last one had the surge-y power delivery, heat soak, and lag of an EJ25.

New ecoboost is no longer a penalty box and imo way better than the BMW B48…
And that’s on regular gas + without the factory Ford Performance tune.

5.0 is obviously better but it’s not all roses - it’s a lot weaker down low than the other domestic V8s.
Best way to enjoy it is to throw the factory supercharger on, $10kish for 800hp and you keep warranty.

The BMW B48 really isn't that great of an engine. It works is all I have to say. Of the current BMW engines, only the B/S58 are good engines, all the others are also rans

Find something better to compare it to, like a EA888 or something.

Ya the last Ecoboost was an incoherent mess.

The new one is comparable in drivability Mk7.5 Golf GTI/R and A5.
In fact, I think it has less torque delay than the Golf R calibration.

It's stronger down low and up top but it should be when the 2.3L is rated for 310/350lbft.
Waiting on the factory warrantied Ford Performance ECU/TCU tune ...but the last gen gained 100HP at peak with a cold air intake

Isn't the B48 just a B58 cut down by two?

FWIW beyond tunability and reliability, I think the B58 is just fine.

It doesn't lag or drink or sound silent like the Audi/Porsche 2.9T in Macan/RS5.
It doesn't glitchout like the Alfa 2.9T
It doesn't surge like the MB 3.0T
It doesn't run out of breath like the N55

but it doesn't have amazing sound/character like the Alfa/MB motors either.

That already makes it the best out of the bunch as a well rounded package? Nothing else matches it's power, reliability, economy, etc. Some may beat it in a category or two, but not in anyway that matters too much.

And if we talk uber motors you can always graduate to the S58.

I'm not a BMW fanboi (I know we've had a few) but I drink the B58 coolaid. I've had both the B38 and B48 engines and they were just ok, nothing really standout about them.

id get a neck tattoo with b58 if I could. but its already full of umaru tattoos

B58 in the Supra has lots of personality/character with the manual... automatics probably mutes it a bit... but I can blip the throttle anytime and be treated to some vroom vrooms and pops/gurgles.

Logically, yes.

Emotionally, I feel like people do things because of the way it makes them feel.
Going from M340i (summer tire/RWD spec) and G70 3.3 ----> C43 Driver's Pack and Scat Pack spoiled me.
Numbers wise they are 5-10% worse for sure.

But…. It felt like graduating from really fast / nice Accord to wow we're in a sporty car
All options are great and I love how the B58 democratized performance, but I generally choose the more stimulating option

I'm surprised you thought the C43 was great. From all 3rd hand accounts, everyone said it's not that great, overly stiff, thirsty, doesn't handle particularly well.

Maybe I should go take it for a spin.

Think of it like the Elantra N; it’s got the theatrical bits down.
The M340i is more like the Tupe R, more competent but all business

C43 Upshifts are intentionally harsh, the exhaust note is playful and kinda savage without being MPPK440i stupid, the rev counter goes in the right direction, and the interior has a way better mix of materials/alcantara/slightly sportier seats.

Highway mileage at 80mph was within 2mph of the M340i.

The interior was noticeably cost cut from an E-class, the ride was harsh, and the back was cramped.

But by god that engine note and exhaust barks, and the dials on the wheel were cool, and the way it wanted to kick the tail out all the time.

:awwyeah:

This was the wagon btw.
The C43 was pure theatrics and I loved it but the wife not so much lmao.

It's interesting to see how the perceptions have evolved. Forum went from circle jerking Hondas to circle jerking mediocre BMWs and "AMG"s. AstulzerRZD's perspective on cars is refreshing especially when talking about the non-status quo cars.

That said I can't really agree with your idea of sporty cars. Unless you really mean "sporty" and not sports car.

On that note, it was really disappointing to find out that ///M cars are not good track cars out of the box. ///M cars, aside from G8X, are more street than track. The Type R OTOH, is more track than street. In that regard tho, the Type R is definitely more tin car feeling. I remember years ago AstulzerRZD kept talking about NVH and I never really understood ... mostly because I was in a BMW. Now? I definitely get it.

Really hot take but street cars are for fun to me - don’t really care about the sports but care lots about sporty.

FWIW even though the Mustang/Camaro put up better numbers, the Challenger is the easiest & most progressive to slide, so will always be my pick.

Another hot take since Waterloo/USA opened up a lotta opportunities - Any track driving that doesn’t require a SCCA comp license imo is also fun/networking for me

If I were taking this seriously I’d go renew my comp license after formula school at Skippy, then combine a season of karting either arrive and drive with an AER team my friend runs, Lemons teams my tech bros run, or 86 cup/GTA events since my buddy already drives his trailer out for em

Most M cars are a set of pads away from decent track car. But if by out of the box mean zero changes, then most cars won't survive 20mins of Mission out of the box. The Fk8 will overheat(FL5 is supposed to fix that), all M cars will cook their brakes. Maybe a 86/BRZ or Miata MIGHT survive, but I've never seen those stock lol.

911GT3?

Not really a hot take. Just a very NPC perspective. And I don't mean that in a bad way. Like for instance, I think they make great fun dailys.. just not track cars. It's a lot of fun to rip up and down streets and go pop pop bang bang. Hell I'm so good at it (add little bit of pedal pressure) I'll pop all the way down Willingdon from Canada Way to Moscrop lol.

As you know, I've done the whole, take a performance spec 3 series and modify it to be track worthy thing. It's not worth it to me, hence just buying an out of the box car and being done with it.

Mission is a really shitty track to draw comparisons from. I ran Mission full stock, just SRF and that's a matter of safety not "mods". I didn't overheat (at all) either.

I didn't overheat (into limp mode) at last VIMC day. I didn't do any CD (having too much fun chasing friend's E46 M3) and temperatures rose to 60% but no limp mode. And honestly, as my underbody was gone, there was no OEM ducting for cooing either + I'm now tuned.

That said CD laps are important, regardless of car or "overheating" issues. I learned that the hard way remember? Crappy NoStop pads blew up lol.

M cars require heavy camber adjustments. I run stock camber specs. Literally just fluid for safety and out on track.

We're just getting old, man :D.

The demographic on this forum is creeping up on 40, and NVH matters now. And really, the perception that the car is track-ready is more important than it actually being track ready.

It's about the experience, not about what it actually is. We won't remember our lap times at the end of our lives, but we sure will remember the good times from the drive, and being around good people.

Mission is a shitty track, but it exposes a lot of car weaknesses like no other. You can live with the stock camber on the shitty BMW mac struts, just have no shoulders left after 2 days. Mission also favours FWD cars heavily.

So hear me out, I'm so enjoying the quiet cushy couch that is the X5. Last night a friend came to code the car for me so I can get more range out of the battery. We sat in the car and just tried out the Bowers system that everyone raves about.

There are some days where I drive the M3 out and I think I'm too tired for this today.

shut up you stupid old man.

come join my currently NON EXISTENT geriatric motoring club. we meet at white spots / dimsums in richmond EARLY in the morning. like 7am.

by 9am, you'll be back home yelling at your wives. :pokerface:

p.s. i cant go this week I have gout and hemorids

What dim sum places are open that early here?

^ Is it fucked up that I got excited reading about your Cars and Dim Sum / White Spot idea?

Geriatric Motoring Club. Shit yeah.

Empire. Next to London drugs. Or there’s that one close to the shoppers on 5 road. Continental something

China town used to have one upstairs. Floata

—— arrrgh none are open at 7am anymore ——
Those days are gone apparently. Even that empire one is open at 9am now