I've only barely begun to start reading through. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks so much for sending it lol. It'll definitely come in handy. I haven't yet run the gamut of Turbo dodge cars, and will likely own at least 3 more before I'm done. REALLY want an 89 caravan, or a K car convertible to swap in a Turbo 2 with that spare A-523 I have laying around.

Posted by budda I've only barely begun to start reading through. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks so much for sending it lol. It'll definitely come in handy. I haven't yet run the gamut of Turbo dodge cars, and will likely own at least 3 more before I'm done. REALLY want an 89 caravan, or a K car convertible to swap in a Turbo 2 with that spare A-523 I have laying around.

greasy cheesy 80's Mopar goodness:

click to view

And it still looks awesome, I almost bought a 12 second spirit r/t last week but instead chose an ugly Volvo and stuck money in the bank... Maybe I'm getting old or something.

If you want you can have my 8valve spirit turbo for CHEAP. Only 318 made. Needs a fender. Make an offer lol.

Posted by budda If you want you can have my 8valve spirit turbo for CHEAP. Only 318 made. Needs a fender. Make an offer lol.

I still have the window sticker for my old one (same exact car) ... I'll have to pass for now lol

I'm pretty sure that Honda is similar to Toyota in so far that the body is more likely to rot away before that engine fails as long as you do routine maintenance on it.

The '09 isn't a bad car - I had the '11 as a rental while my Corolla was having it's roof replaced after a wooden garage door came crashing down on it last year. The only complaint I had with it was the dash - wow does it stick out into the cabin quite a bit. Made it annoying to get in and out of the car.

Was a fun car to drive, though. Much more fun than most rentals I've driven.

Yeah the dashboard is massive. It would be kinda cool if it was more functional space, but the aesthetics are nice.

Also I just found out the car has a body kit on it. I honestly thought it was stock. That explains the 2 accidents in the carfax lol.

Posted by Samurai a blender has more torque, but they do make a fun sound as you're heading past 7,000 RPM. My only beef with the Civic Si was the fact you had to keep it wound to have fun with it, like on a twisty road? You had to make damn sure you were in the right gear exiting an apex or you might as well throw out the anchor and do some fishing. That's just the way Honda's are. other than that, you really don't hear too much about them breaking.

Honda is not for you then, this is exactly the point of Vtec engines, coupled with gearing. It can be a slow car, or if driven correctly quite quick. Kept in the powerband.

Posted by gambino Honda is not for you then, this is exactly the point of Vtec engines, coupled with gearing. It can be a slow car, or if driven correctly quite quick. Kept in the powerband.

this was why I bought the Cobalt SS back then. It had enough power where even if you missed the gearing, you could still pull the twisty without fear. Don't get me wrong, the Civic Si (and the RSX and old Integra GS) i drove were an absolute blast to drive. I just wasn't too keen on the engine experience. I much prefer the more American powerband. With that said, my Cruze has a very VTEC-like response (until 5k when the engine management makes the engine fall flat on it's face).

Posted by Samurai my Cruze has a very VTEC-like response

So... you can't actually feel anything different when it happens?

Posted by bandi So... you can't actually feel anything different when it happens? http://honda-tech....stc=1&d=1339831575

lol... (i just watched that last night again)
Actually, the entire turbo/VVT system works very well, it's just that GM calibrated it very conservatively. When you're winding through 2nd and 3rd gears and hit right about 5k on the tach, you can feel the engine just stop pulling. It will wind to 6300, but all you're doing is beating on the engine. There are several tuners out there (mostly offered through Bad News Racing) that edit the engine management so the engine will make power through 6k. From people I have talked with on CruzeTalk, it's worth every penny and definitely improves the driving experience. Honestly, though, with the Cruze, I think my first modification would be to the wheel/tire and suspension side of things. It's got a 215-60-16 combo right now on aluminum wheels but i think that is adequate for normal driving, but way too small for the type of driving I enjoy. Also, the suspension despite being tight, is too soft for the cornering i like... there are several options out there for the car, most notably H&R or Eibach spring kits as well as the struts that go with them. I have yet to crawl under my car and see if it has the watts link (or z-link whatever they call it). 1LT models in 2012 were supposed to have it.

For a 1.4L, the engine is remarkably stout, my fear is longevity. You all know turbos with mileage are fragile. How is this car going to be at 115,000 miles? or 145,000 miles? or 200,000 miles?

Meh, you keep your oil changed religiously so who knows. I've still got the original turbo on my Beetle and I'm at 650,000 km.

I always forget the Cruze has a turbo.

Posted by bandi Meh, you keep your oil changed religiously so who knows. I've still got the original turbo on my Beetle and I'm at 650,000 km. I always forget the Cruze has a turbo.

base models are the 1.8L found in the Saturn/Opel Astra.

Sam, not being a dick but if you like spirited driving why in the world would you buy a car like the cruz? I haven't driven one but I could imagine its a dull transportation pod for the masses.

Posted by sleeperspirit Sam, not being a dick but if you like spirited driving why in the world would you buy a car like the cruz?

a)price- it was in my price range
b)environment- i need a car that will go in the snow every year
c)efficiency- everything is so far apart here, I needed a car that was good on gas
d)i had to grow up sometime- i'm not 23, or even 33 anymore. at some point one has to stop wearing their ballcap backwards and grow up.

sounds like you need a chipped diesel

175HP / 295LB-TQ will be lots of spirited driving, and 1100km a tank!

Posted by Nismo sounds like you need a chipped diesel 175HP / 295LB-TQ will be lots of spirited driving, and 1100km a tank!

diesel is not widely available here, oddly enough.
and when it is available, it's very expensive.

My fiancee's Cruze is an odd little car... Not sure what engine it has, but it's an LT, automatic. It shifts like there's a little man in the transmission changing the gears with a hammer.

Posted by CDSbigsby My fiancee's Cruze is an odd little car... Not sure what engine it has, but it's an LT, automatic. It shifts like there's a little man in the transmission changing the gears with a hammer.

that's the huffy puffy 1.4L Turbo with the everspastic 6-speed automatic.
My mom's is a Cruze Eco with this set up.

Posted by Samurai lol... (i just watched that last night again) Actually, the entire turbo/VVT system works very well, it's just that GM calibrated it very conservatively. When you're winding through 2nd and 3rd gears and hit right about 5k on the tach, you can feel the engine just stop pulling. It will wind to 6300, but all you're doing is beating on the engine. There are several tuners out there (mostly offered through Bad News Racing) that edit the engine management so the engine will make power through 6k. From people I have talked with on CruzeTalk, it's worth every penny and definitely improves the driving experience. Honestly, though, with the Cruze, I think my first modification would be to the wheel/tire and suspension side of things. It's got a 215-60-16 combo right now on aluminum wheels but i think that is adequate for normal driving, but way too small for the type of driving I enjoy. Also, the suspension despite being tight, is too soft for the cornering i like... there are several options out there for the car, most notably H&R or Eibach spring kits as well as the struts that go with them. I have yet to crawl under my car and see if it has the watts link (or z-link whatever they call it). 1LT models in 2012 were supposed to have it. For a 1.4L, the engine is remarkably stout, my fear is longevity. You all know turbos with mileage are fragile. How is this car going to be at 115,000 miles? or 145,000 miles? or 200,000 miles?

The spring/struts would definitely improve things. But I would also research lower tie bars after. That will make a huge difference in the way it handles. I am sure on tirerack.com there are kits with just spring/struts, and also both front, and back lower tie bars.