Humble Beginnings

[megotmea7]

hey i used to put those together!
<first job was at toys r us puting bikes and powerwheels together

[Motorer1]

Originally posted by megotmea7
well i started with a not quite brand spankin new 240sx in 96 and toyed around with it for a while then i got a really good deal on a 86 fiero gt and wanted to make a ferrari conversion of some sort so i started saving and got a way better job which opened up a whle new world of possibilitys (about a 2 monthes after i got my job i blew the fiero's motor so i put that on hold) after a while of looking i finaly found a decently priced decent condition FD that i traded my 240 in for and the rest is history. the fiero still sits in its rebuild but not running and not worked on in almost a year and a half state and i drive the 7. i want to get the fiero running so i can sell it and get back just a little bit of the money i put into it but everytime i get a little extra money i blow it on some stuff i probly could live without(turbos and the sort...) well anyway i want a bike so i can get some decent mileage out of a tank and have a little money left over for other things... namely making the 7 get even worse gas mileage

Nice, i love the 240SX. I want to try one out when i turn 18, and then turn it into a Drifting Car. Hope I don't crash!!!

[henk4]

Originally posted by Egg Nog
If you're going to look at it that way, my first "humble beginning" was a Red PowerWheels Corvette about a decade-and-a-half ago

Man, what a sweet ride.

Don't tell me that that's a real car, a 2CV is, see this pic

[Egg Nog]

Originally posted by henk4
Don't tell me that that's a real car, a 2CV is...

Yes, I'm fully aware that a 2CV is a real car I just thought I'd mention my sweet old 'vette

Actually, interestingly enough, the owner of the British Columbia Citroen owner's club lives about 5 minutes walk from my house. He owns a 2001ish BMW 325i and 2 Citroens (I beleive one is a 2CV, but I'm not really an expert on them).

What is it, 35 roaring horsepower?

[crisis]

Originally posted by henk4
Don't tell me that that's a real car, a 2CV is, see this pic

The best thing about the 2CV is that it removes the neccesity for me to explain why I hate French cars. It is, however a cheap shot at VW, succeeding as it does in taking the mantly of the worlds biggest hunk of shit from the beetle.

[Motorer1]

Originally posted by crisis
The best thing about the 2CV is that it removes the neccesity for me to explain why I hate French cars. It is, however a cheap shot at VW, succeeding as it does in taking the mantly of the worlds biggest hunk of sh*t from the beetle.

yes, i definatly agree. Those things are so stupid i can't beleive anyone would buy them. But the Beetle is ok. My friend converted one into a Baja Bug (an off-road beetle for those who don't know )and we had some fun with that car.

[crisis]

Originally posted by Motorer1
yes, i definatly agree. Those things are so stupid i can't beleive anyone would buy them. But the Beetle is ok. My friend converted one into a Baja Bug (an off-road beetle for those who don't know )and we had some fun with that car.

My mate has a fibre glass beach buggy. Very amusing... He bought his daughter an old Beetle. This from a man who owns a 100 series Landcruiser with a supercharger, a 350cu 330hp Torana, a 500hp 350cu Torana race car. My next door neighbour has an immaculate 89 Corvette show car and a VW beetle he chooses as a daily driver. What is it with these seemingly normal people who have a passion for high performance cars and at the same time a perverted passion for the worlds worst handling gutless abortion on wheels. Apologies to the 2CV.

[henk4]

Originally posted by Egg Nog
Yes, I'm fully aware that a 2CV is a real car I just thought I'd mention my sweet old 'vette


What is it, 35 roaring horsepower?

Well actually no, this early sixties model, or even late fifties has only 12 HP. It never reached more than about 25 in the last versions.

However, and I know from experience, roadholding is far superior over the Beetle, it is simply impossible to topple over, you can lift the inner rear wheel when cornering, but that's it.

Few people know that in the sixties there was a version called Sahara, of which about 600 were built. It was one of the first SUV's as it was fitted with two synchronised engines, one driving the front wheels, the other the rear wheels. It was unstoppable and the few remaining examples command premium prices theses days.

[henk4]

Originally posted by crisis
The best thing about the 2CV is that it removes the neccesity for me to explain why I hate French cars. It is, however a cheap shot at VW, succeeding as it does in taking the mantly of the worlds biggest hunk of shit from the beetle.

Ever driven one? Great fun, incredible roadholding.

You have to remember the period when this car came on the market, with all industrial infrastructure in Europe in shambles after the war and the economy at an all time low. It made motoring accessible to the French "masses". Of course you are entitled to hate French cars, but this one should not be the reason.

[crisis]

Originally posted by henk4
Ever driven one? Great fun, incredible roadholding.

You have to remember the period when this car came on the market, with all industrial infrastructure in Europe in shambles after the war and the economy at an all time low. It made motoring accessible to the French "masses". Of course you are entitled to hate French cars, but this one should not be the reason.

I admit to never having driven one. I would imagine that it had great road holding. Then again so does my bike given that I cannot ride faster than about 30kmh. I imagine that the suspension would not have been particularly taxed by the excessivley high cornering sppeds possible in this beast. Still, fun is where you find it. Nevertheless you hit on an important point. For its day it may have been adequate, even quite good. Within the context of 2003 it remains a piece of shit however. I know from our previous jousts that you are a classic lover so I think I understand your affection for cars is not always based on pure performance.

[henk4]

The maximum cornering speed of the 2CV is such that an oversteering Beetle would have left the road well before that. The suspension does't look like it, but it is very strong. In spite of the long wheel travel, it is possible to three wheel through the corners, but you have to do everything wrong, including lifting and applying the brakes. Of course absolute speeds are not that high, but the last versions could do 110 and 120 with favourable winds.

The chassis was also used for the Ami (the one with the Anglia style rear window), which ultimately saw a 4 cylinder version when Citroen put the 1000 CC GS engine in there. It came a bit too late to become really a success, but it had the potential. The chassis was also used for Citroen's first rotary engined car, just to demonstrate the intrinsic capabilities.

Good that you are able to do 30 on the bike, but for how long? By the way, when going downhill on a normal road and a racing bike, you can indeed reach cornering speeds which are difficult to match by a car. Also that I know from experience and it's a great feeling. The only setback is that you also have to do the climb, and I am not claiming that I could reach the same cornering speeds there.

[megotmea7]

thats when you get a CBR1000RR and get the best of both worlds... ohh and i do plan on geting one

[henk4]

Originally posted by megotmea7
thats when you get a CBR1000RR and get the best of both worlds... ohh and i do plan on geting one

that will not do much for your shape, isn't it?

[Motorer1]

Did anyone start out with a motorcycle as their first or second ride? I am bound and determined to put a honda crotch rocket in my garage by next summer.

[16-4Veyron]

ahh why do i have to be 13!!!!