James Franks wrote:
>
> Oh Shawn, a TT? They come in two stock flavors, 180 HP or 225 HP. I
> guess you got the weaker one.
>
Yes, a TT. It was a roadster, but I don't know if it was the 180 or 225
version. It launched like a quattro though which would make it the 225
version.
> The Miata stuff is one thing, but a TT and a TR is no match.
> Only if the TT driver is just playing will you even smell his exhaust.
>
Don't knock it until you try it with a heavily modified TR6. And it was
the TT driver who was smelling my exhaust. :-)
> This reminds me of the movie out recently where the guy was in love with
> a LARGE woman, but could only see her as a beauty.
>
I have no delusions about my TR6. I know that it is a 30 year old car.
It has also had major surgery in the engine department, but is still all
TR.
Goodparts Remote Air cleaner
Goodparts Cold Air Ram Intake with Velocity stacks
Goodparts Tri-Carb intake Manifold (with 3 ZS 175's)
Heavily ported cylinder head with all ports matched
Block decked to increase compression, 10.75:1, overbored .040"
Goodparts GP3 Camshaft
Goodparts Roller Rockers
Tubular push rods
Kastner designed 2-piece stainless steel header
Stainless twin sports exhaust
195/65R15 tires
Semi-comp suspension (lowered car an inch and a half)
Poly bushings everywhere
Is that enough major surgery for you? :-)
As I said before, I have no delusions about my car. However, in this
case I think the "LARGE Woman" was the TT. The 180hp version weighs
3,130 lbs. More than 600lbs heavier than a TR6. The 225 horsepower TT
weighs in at a rather portly 3,473 lbs. That's nearly 1000lbs heavier!
That is all curb weight! Not Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight!
In truth, I was surprised at the outcome. Until I stopped by the
Audi/VW dealership down the street from my house and found out how heavy
those cars are.
My car is very much like Richard Good's customer test bed car. That is
capable of high 14 second quarter miles. According to Road & Track. The
hot TT roadster (225hp) runs the 1/4 in 14.8 seconds. We only reached
about 75mph before we had to slow for traffic. I won't dispute that were
we given more open road, that soon after 80mph I would have been waving
goodbye to the TT. Better aerodynamics, gearing etc.
> I do know how you feel though. I get the same charge out of smoking kids
> in their 5.0 Mustangs and Daddy's turbo Beemers with my 16 year old
> Porsche 944 turbo. (I'm slow out of the hole, so I try to get 'em from
> 60-120, where I have the advantage). I've gotten thinking about trying
> to make the TR more like the Porsche, in handling and power, but after
> you spend all the cash required, you should just buy a Porsche. As
> pretty as my 951 is, though , I get more comments from girls on the
> (much rattier) TR's than the Porsche. Go figure!
>
I once goaded a S2000 into a quick romp when my engine was only in Miata
beater tune. I knew I didn't stand a chance but I wanted to hear him
shift at 9,000 rpm! My wish was granted and he was very confused when I
thanked him. :-)
> I prefer to love my TR's for their foibles and charms. To handle like a
> modern car isn't in the cards for these old girls. They is what they is,
> and what they is won't stomp a TT straight up without major surgery. I
> still like the looks of a TR more than the TT.
>
So there you have it. Major surgery? YES. Beat a portly TT to 75mph?
YES.
The best part was the TT drivers reaction. Could he tell that my car
wasn't stock, definitely unless he was an idiot which I doubt. Was he
trying? I could hear the high pitch whine of his Turbo 4 cylinder over
the lower pitched growl of my straight 6. So yes, I believe that he was.
That belief is also backed up by his reaction. A big grin, a wave and a
thumbs up. Like I said before, a true car guy, not a sore loser.
> (As he dons his flame-retardent coveralls)
No flames intended, just giving you the rest of the facts. Take it for
what you will.
>
> BTW has anyone heard whether Chrysler is gonna build the Razor concept
> car? It's supposed to be a 2.4L 4 cyl turbo sporting 250 HP for about
> $16K. Real spartan 2 seat interior with recarro seats, 4 pt. belts, NO
> radio! 6-speed tranny and rear wheel drive. Not a convert, as I recall,
> but....me want, ME WANT! Here's where I saw it:
>
> http://www.edmunds.com/news/conceptcarspotlight/articles/57197/article.h
> tml
>
> Jim
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shawn Loseke" <shawn@swo.com>
> To: "Nick Gemas" <gln@worldpath.net>
> Cc: <6pack@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 11:58 PM
> Subject: Re: Zen and the Art of TR6 Maintenance
>
> > Nick is right, It doesn't take much modification to start dispatching
> > Miata's. In fact, all it took for me was some K&N filters. A twin
> sports
> > system on the stock exhaust manifold and some lower profile tires.
> > Unfortunately, it doesn't take much for the Miata's to even the stakes
> > again.
> > I don't bother with Miata's anymore though. Last night I gave an Audi
> > TT owner a right good flogging. At the next opportunity the Audi TT
> > owner gave me a big thumbs up and a big smile. He must have been
> another
> > true car guy.
> >
> > Shawn Loseke
> > 1972 TR6
> > Fort Collins, CO
> >
> > Nick Gemas wrote:
> > >
> > > How True Grant,
> > > I've always felt more like a caretaker than an owner of my six.
> However
> > > for those of us who still have a bit of hot rodder in us, the TR6
> offers
> > > some fun opportunities to turn this not so performance car into a
> Miata
> > > eater! This kind of performance doesn't have to come at the expense
> of a
> > > dependability or drivability. So I guess it's where your heart is,
> if you
> > > don't mind being passed by Corky Romano that's cool, but if you'd
> rather die
> > > than watch one of those little things blow your doors off , you
> don't have
> > > to. The TR6, with moderate modifications, can easily dispatch the
> Miata and
> > > a list of Japanese cars . So either way have fun , these are great
> cars!
> > >
> > > Nick Gemas
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Grant Kester <gkester@ucsd.edu>
> > > To: <6pack@autox.team.net>
> > > Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 8:26 PM
> > > Subject: Zen and the Art of TR6 Maintenance
> > >
> > > > My two cents regarding the debate over how to enhance TR6
> performance.
> > > >
> > > > While I'd be happy to have a bit more acceleration in my TR6 this
> is
> > > > definitely not why I bought it. If all I wanted was a two-seater
> with
> > > speed
> > > > I would have gotten a used Miata or BMW Z3 (well, I couldn't have
> > > affforded
> > > > the Z3), but there must be a dozen Miatas parked in front of
> houses within
> > > > a two block radius of me. Not to mention the Corky Romano factor;
> they may
> > > > be faster than a TR6 but god knows you pay the price in style. For
> that
> > > > matter, I live in Southern California where I'm surrounded by kids
> in
> > > Ninja
> > > > Hondas that can blow the doors off of any Miata (not to mention my
> 33 year
> > > > old Triumph), so I'm used to being passed.
> > > >
> > > > With my Triumph I'm owning, and sustaining, a piece of (design)
> history.
> > > In
> > > > an era of god-awful ugly car design (Azteks, PT Cruisers and,
> IMHO, Z3s
> > > and
> > > > Miatas) the TR6 has a really elegant beauty of line (thanks in
> part to
> > > > Karmann). I like the idea of keeping a 33 year old car functional
> and
> > > > on-the-road as opposed to the mindless drive to consume, dispose
> and
> > > > destroy that guides most of our buying decisions. It probably
> sounds a bit
> > > > strange, but my TR6 reminds me of the old Bonsai trees I used to
> see at
> > > the
> > > > Nat'l Arboretum in DC; maintained and passed down from one
> care-taker to
> > > > the next, sometimes over hundreds of years. I got my car from a
> guy up
> > > the
> > > > coast who cared for it almost religiously, even down to the little
> details
> > > > that you can't see and that don't always matter. I plan to do the
> same and
> > > > if I ever sell it I hope to pass it along to a like-minded person.
> > > >
> > > > Grant Kester
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