late 80s sedans.
Discussion
All their speedos go up to 85mph as a maximum. I know this is because of the 55 limit in the States was around until 1987, but...
can this be changed? Surely big 4-6 litre V8 petrol engines can be changed so they at least get near to 100mph?
or is it impossible. Cos I want to buy one eventually, but if it can only do 80 comfortably it would be a shame.
can this be changed? Surely big 4-6 litre V8 petrol engines can be changed so they at least get near to 100mph?
or is it impossible. Cos I want to buy one eventually, but if it can only do 80 comfortably it would be a shame.
Erm, just because the speedo only goes up to 85 doesn't mean they can only do 85, any more than my Mondeo can do 160 because it's got a 160mph speedo. My 1985 Vette had an 85mph speedo but also a digital readout that managed 148....
Also had a 5.0 Camaro Z28 with a similar speedo where the speedo wasn't much use but you could calculate your speed off the tach.
Also had a 5.0 Camaro Z28 with a similar speedo where the speedo wasn't much use but you could calculate your speed off the tach.
Aha well i'm only fifteen....
How am I to know? My parents grew up with cars that if you pushed them too far they would sorta self-destruct... so I assumed that applied to most cars from before the 1990s...
But thats good. I guess they only put it on so people thought what I did right? Cos the speed limit was 55mph in the States until 1987?
How am I to know? My parents grew up with cars that if you pushed them too far they would sorta self-destruct... so I assumed that applied to most cars from before the 1990s...
But thats good. I guess they only put it on so people thought what I did right? Cos the speed limit was 55mph in the States until 1987?
Ah yes, 15 years old - thats a great excuse!
Its probably because they didnt really expect anyone to be travelling 30mph above the posted limit, and yes I suppose its a sort of detterent that takes away bragging ability as they cant say for certain what speed they were doing over 85.
BTW most cars from the late 60's could do over 85 with self destructing (well in the western world anyway, trabants were made in russia out of wooden papier mashe so I wouldnt put my life on it that they would hold up too well).
Its probably because they didnt really expect anyone to be travelling 30mph above the posted limit, and yes I suppose its a sort of detterent that takes away bragging ability as they cant say for certain what speed they were doing over 85.
BTW most cars from the late 60's could do over 85 with self destructing (well in the western world anyway, trabants were made in russia out of wooden papier mashe so I wouldnt put my life on it that they would hold up too well).
Hey, don't worry mate. If you don't ask you don't find out.
Most of the regular US Sedans of the time (Crown Victoria, Cutlass, Continental, etc.) could go faster than 85mph, but due to low speed limit they were designed to waft their drivers and passengers around in squidgy comfort. They don't tend to go around corners well, were pretty basic from a suspension/engine and drive train point of view but could cover long distances reliably. They are pretty crap really, weren't particularly well built (especially compared to the German stuff of the time) but have a quirky charm that I think is pretty cool.
Most of the regular US Sedans of the time (Crown Victoria, Cutlass, Continental, etc.) could go faster than 85mph, but due to low speed limit they were designed to waft their drivers and passengers around in squidgy comfort. They don't tend to go around corners well, were pretty basic from a suspension/engine and drive train point of view but could cover long distances reliably. They are pretty crap really, weren't particularly well built (especially compared to the German stuff of the time) but have a quirky charm that I think is pretty cool.
bob1179 said:
Hey, don't worry mate. If you don't ask you don't find out.
Most of the regular US Sedans of the time (Crown Victoria, Cutlass, Continental, etc.) could go faster than 85mph, but due to low speed limit they were designed to waft their drivers and passengers around in squidgy comfort. They don't tend to go around corners well, were pretty basic from a suspension/engine and drive train point of view but could cover long distances reliably. They are pretty crap really, weren't particularly well built (especially compared to the German stuff of the time) but have a quirky charm that I think is pretty cool.
The build quality was fine for the purpose. Count how many 60's Mustangs are still on the road and compare that to BMW, Audi and VW. There is a bit of a fallacy...well, a conspiracy really, about German quality. For example, I had a 1987 Camaro Z28 made of brittle plastic but after 17 years, everything still worked and hadn't broken. Contrast that to a quality car of the 80's, like the VW Golf and count how many you see these days. If they were "quality", they'd all still be running. BMWs of the 80's and 90's also rust like any other car and it's more to do with how they are looked after.Most of the regular US Sedans of the time (Crown Victoria, Cutlass, Continental, etc.) could go faster than 85mph, but due to low speed limit they were designed to waft their drivers and passengers around in squidgy comfort. They don't tend to go around corners well, were pretty basic from a suspension/engine and drive train point of view but could cover long distances reliably. They are pretty crap really, weren't particularly well built (especially compared to the German stuff of the time) but have a quirky charm that I think is pretty cool.
It is true to say that most American cars were built to waft but then if you lived in the US with hundreds of miles of straight road, you might find a wafter a little better than a car that treats your back like a piledriver. Having a big car that went round corners on rails was like fitting an M3 with a sail in case it hit a flood.
I also have a 1997 VW Golf GTi and it's falling apart.
woah woah woah.
I had a 1982 golf gti until I sold it 2 years ago, it was mint- very little corrosion and still went round corners like it was on rails.
Unfortunately the guy I sold it to managed to "de-rail" into a ditch and so it went to the big scrap heap in the sky.
Did BMW's not have galvanised panels like Audi?, if so then I doubt corrosion would be problem.
I had a 1982 golf gti until I sold it 2 years ago, it was mint- very little corrosion and still went round corners like it was on rails.
Unfortunately the guy I sold it to managed to "de-rail" into a ditch and so it went to the big scrap heap in the sky.
Did BMW's not have galvanised panels like Audi?, if so then I doubt corrosion would be problem.
hman said:
woah woah woah.
I had a 1982 golf gti until I sold it 2 years ago, it was mint- very little corrosion and still went round corners like it was on rails.
Unfortunately the guy I sold it to managed to "de-rail" into a ditch and so it went to the big scrap heap in the sky.
Did BMW's not have galvanised panels like Audi?, if so then I doubt corrosion would be problem.
Which underlines the fact about whether a car is looked after etc. Yours is a sample of one. I've seen plenty of rusty BMWs and Fiats have been galvanised since the early 90's. My ex had a Punto she scraped down a post so all the paint flaked off and it still didn't rust.I had a 1982 golf gti until I sold it 2 years ago, it was mint- very little corrosion and still went round corners like it was on rails.
Unfortunately the guy I sold it to managed to "de-rail" into a ditch and so it went to the big scrap heap in the sky.
Did BMW's not have galvanised panels like Audi?, if so then I doubt corrosion would be problem.
As for your concept of cornering on rails, for it's time it was good but really, times have moved on.....substantially.
LuS1fer said:
hman said:
woah woah woah.
I had a 1982 golf gti until I sold it 2 years ago, it was mint- very little corrosion and still went round corners like it was on rails.
Unfortunately the guy I sold it to managed to "de-rail" into a ditch and so it went to the big scrap heap in the sky.
Did BMW's not have galvanised panels like Audi?, if so then I doubt corrosion would be problem.
Which underlines the fact about whether a car is looked after etc. Yours is a sample of one. I've seen plenty of rusty BMWs and Fiats have been galvanised since the early 90's. My ex had a Punto she scraped down a post so all the paint flaked off and it still didn't rust.I had a 1982 golf gti until I sold it 2 years ago, it was mint- very little corrosion and still went round corners like it was on rails.
Unfortunately the guy I sold it to managed to "de-rail" into a ditch and so it went to the big scrap heap in the sky.
Did BMW's not have galvanised panels like Audi?, if so then I doubt corrosion would be problem.
As for your concept of cornering on rails, for it's time it was good but really, times have moved on.....substantially.
It was upgraded a little to cope with changing times, a standard one would be very tired but I refreshed it with koni adjustables + matched springs, poly bushes and some super sticky rubber. Turned into a track tool with road abilities.
I've driven most new hot hatches with the esp off and they dont have the raw feel of direct (No PAS)steering and no servo brakes and my god are they heavy nowadays!
Unfortunately ultimately when it was taken past its limits it broke away in a very un-progressive manner, it was its downfall in the hands of a complete muppet :-(
Before:
After:
Edited by hman on Tuesday 16th June 09:51
LuS1fer said:
bob1179 said:
Hey, don't worry mate. If you don't ask you don't find out.
Most of the regular US Sedans of the time (Crown Victoria, Cutlass, Continental, etc.) could go faster than 85mph, but due to low speed limit they were designed to waft their drivers and passengers around in squidgy comfort. They don't tend to go around corners well, were pretty basic from a suspension/engine and drive train point of view but could cover long distances reliably. They are pretty crap really, weren't particularly well built (especially compared to the German stuff of the time) but have a quirky charm that I think is pretty cool.
The build quality was fine for the purpose. Count how many 60's Mustangs are still on the road and compare that to BMW, Audi and VW. There is a bit of a fallacy...well, a conspiracy really, about German quality. For example, I had a 1987 Camaro Z28 made of brittle plastic but after 17 years, everything still worked and hadn't broken. Contrast that to a quality car of the 80's, like the VW Golf and count how many you see these days. If they were "quality", they'd all still be running. BMWs of the 80's and 90's also rust like any other car and it's more to do with how they are looked after.Most of the regular US Sedans of the time (Crown Victoria, Cutlass, Continental, etc.) could go faster than 85mph, but due to low speed limit they were designed to waft their drivers and passengers around in squidgy comfort. They don't tend to go around corners well, were pretty basic from a suspension/engine and drive train point of view but could cover long distances reliably. They are pretty crap really, weren't particularly well built (especially compared to the German stuff of the time) but have a quirky charm that I think is pretty cool.
It is true to say that most American cars were built to waft but then if you lived in the US with hundreds of miles of straight road, you might find a wafter a little better than a car that treats your back like a piledriver. Having a big car that went round corners on rails was like fitting an M3 with a sail in case it hit a flood.
I also have a 1997 VW Golf GTi and it's falling apart.
I completely agree with what you have said. I had better explain myself a little better! The fit and finish was pretty dire, but durable, as you say, something a lot of European cars didn't have. I think one of the reasons for this is as I mentioned earlier, US cars are designed to cover much larger distances than there European counterparts. For eaxample, most European Fords up until the 90's only had 5 digit odometers. Anything over 100,000 miles is still considered high mileage, in the US a 100k car has only just run in.
Anyway, I have an unhealthy love of all cars, including those dodgy US ones! Any piccies of your Z28?
There are some pics of my Z28 here on my 4th gen car Domain site which also has about 300 photos from various American car shows:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/471412/2
I have separate Car Domain sites for my C5 Z06 and current Mustang though.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/471412/2
I have separate Car Domain sites for my C5 Z06 and current Mustang though.
I should clarify that many of the older American cars were limited but principally by the options you chose for the car - if you specified the stock tyres, for example, the limiter would be set at around 105-115mph. If you selected the sports suspension and higher-rated tyres, the limiter was disabled.
You're worrying me now. The Fuego wasn't a bad car but it was very ordinary to drive.
3rd gens are harder to come by and are usually a bit tired. They were never that powerful with most having the 5.0 205hp auto, 5.7s were fairly rare but they only reached 240hp right at the end. The 4th gens were way more powerful but arguably less stylish.
3rd gens are harder to come by and are usually a bit tired. They were never that powerful with most having the 5.0 205hp auto, 5.7s were fairly rare but they only reached 240hp right at the end. The 4th gens were way more powerful but arguably less stylish.
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