Picture of your car (2011)

[63dot]

I love the german-colored motorsport emblem!

Gorgeous 1-er!
I cannot believe BMW is still putting MYRTLE WOOD in these cars.

With the small size, and probably less taxing engine, I wonder if this model will return longevity to BMWs. Sometimes the bigger cars (pick your company) have the great big engine and smooth ride, but almost every time they don't live as long as their mid-sized and sub-compact cousins from the same rollout.

I have seen a few 1 series BMWs and they look like they can compete against anything in gas mileage and performance and hit a sweet spot there, but I hope their price can take on sub-compact Acura TSX and Infiniti G35 models. The best local price I have seen on a 1 series is about $29,400 with tax, license, destination and loaded in the mid-range of features.

 

[standingquiet]

Well traded the Subaru today time to get something a bit more sensible so i got a 2007 Ford Focus ST-2.

Done all the paper work today and pick her up tomorrow afternoon, cant wait.


Matt

 

[RaceTripper]

Well traded the Subaru today time to get something a bit more sensible so i got a 2007 Ford Focus ST-2.

Done all the paper work today and pick her up tomorrow afternoon, cant wait.


Matt

Now if I were in England and I was getting a Ford Focus, I think it would have to be a RS.

We don't get to play with those on our side of the pond.

 

[rezenclowd3]

Pretty fly zmmer with nice rims! Not tempted to squeeze 17/18s on? (Assuming it won't **** up the running gear/handling)

Nope, I will only go with 16's max if I do. I do not want to add more unsprung/rotating weight. Besides, it would not look period correct. I like the look of some sidewall. DD comfort would also be too negatively impacted with less sidewall due to the M3 springs and Biltstein dampers. It also has a 2.93 Diff mated to a ZF M3 tranny, so it doesn't have the pickup and go for Auto X, so heavier wheels would just be terrible. A 3.4x-3.7x lsd will be on its way for racing duty.

 

[RaceTripper]

That's about 700 pounds too much!

...

Some day I may work on that problem. Once it's paid for and I have another car as a daily driver, the JCW could become a dedicated track car with a proper rollcage and bucket and all the unnecessary weight evicted.

 

[standingquiet]

Now if I were in England and I was getting a Ford Focus, I think it would have to be a RS.

We don't get to play with those on our side of the pond.

The RS's are very nice i used to have a Mk 1 RS the limited edition blue one they did 4500 cars of.

The ST's are not much different still have the 2.5 Turbo 5 cylinder engine but only 225bhp. I'm looking at the Mountune Kit with takes it to 260bhp for £1200.

But the new one is to much money £28,000 you can buy much nicer cars with that sort of money.

Matt

 

[RaceTripper]

The RS's are very nice i used to have a Mk 1 RS the limited edition blue one they did 4500 cars of.

The ST's are not much different still have the 2.5 Turbo 5 cylinder engine but only 225bhp. I'm looking at the Mountune Kit with takes it to 260bhp for £1200.

But the new one is to much money £28,000 you can buy much nicer cars with that sort of money.

Matt

I have to agree. I probably wouldn't buy one myself, even if I could. But I'd love to drive one just try it out. As it is I think my JCW was too much, but it's a hell of a fun car to drive, and very fast around a circuit.

Americans mostly don't get the allure of a rallye type car. Ovals and 1/4 mile are about as sophisticated as we can manage.

 

[standingquiet]

I have to agree. I probably wouldn't buy one myself, even if I could. But I'd love to drive one just try it out. As it is I think my JCW was too much, but it's a hell of a fun car to drive, and very fast around a circuit.

Yeah John Cooper Works are great cars, all of the new minis handle great

 

[rezenclowd3]

Americans mostly don't get the allure of a rallye type car. Ovals and 1/4 mile are about as sophisticated as we can manage.

So very sad but true. F1 fan here, and rally if I can ever find time to watch it. I might not be a F1 fan for much longer though if they keep making "the ultimate racing machine" slower and slower by limiting the technology I understand the safety reasons, but its getting to be worse than the bicycle world

 

[standingquiet]

So very sad but true. F1 fan here, and rally if I can ever find time to watch it. I might not be a F1 fan for much longer though if they keep making "the ultimate racing machine" slower and slower by limiting the technology I understand the safety reasons, but its getting to be worse than the bicycle world

IMO F1 died along time ago it's so boring now. My favourite, most entertaining and close action racing is British and World Touring Cars.

 

[RaceTripper]

IMO F1 died along time ago it's so boring now. My favourite, most entertaining and close action racing is British and World Touring Cars.

BTCC is some of the best and most entertaining racing on the planet. NASCRAP wishes it could be that exciting.

 

[RaceTripper]

So very sad but true. F1 fan here, and rally if I can ever find time to watch it. I might not be a F1 fan for much longer though if they keep making "the ultimate racing machine" slower and slower by limiting the technology I understand the safety reasons, but its getting to be worse than the bicycle world

I was a big F1 fan, but once the USGP got cancelled my wife and I became huge ALMS fans. Evey year we go to the 12 Hours of Sebring, Road America, and Petit Le Mans. The racing is much better than in F1, and the series is far more fan friendly. I've even started working in the hot pits doing IMSA pit notes during races, in addition to the race photography I have been doing for fun.

One point to consider about F1 rules changes. Slowing the cars down could improve the on track action. Right now they are so fast they get too spread out and it becomes a parade of cars with the action being how the gaps change. When you slow the cars down they start to bunch together again and force some wheel to wheel battles. The turbo 4-bangers coming in a few years could prove to add some excitement back to F1, even if it does cost us the terrific sound of high revving V8 engines. The rule changes aren't so much about safety as they are about trying to get a race to ensue.

 

[dubels]

BTCC and V8 Supercars are the most exciting series left.

 

[JoeG4]

Still fantastic. And gorgeous!

 

[rezenclowd3]

I really don't car about close racing in F1 as I would just prefer teams the engineering to be unregulated (except for safety). My opinion I believe is in the minority.

For road based cars, I want close racing. I really do agree that ALMS and LeMans are fantastic, as well as touring cars. If I ever go (which I plan on doing sooner than later) I might have to try to say "hi" to you. I much enjoy your photos. Being near the pits would be the cats meow for me. Its the work done behind the scenes and fuel/tire changes that make me feel as if I just drank 3 Chai chargers

The US GP in Austin is still supposed to take place correct?

 

[RaceTripper]

I really don't car about close racing in F1 as I would just prefer teams the engineering to be unregulated (except for safety). My opinion I believe is in the minority.

For road based cars, I want close racing. I really do agree that ALMS and LeMans are fantastic, as well as touring cars. If I ever go (which I plan on doing sooner than later) I might have to try to say "hi" to you. I much enjoy your photos. Being near the pits would be the cats meow for me. Its the work done behind the scenes and fuel/tire changes that make me feel as if I just drank 3 Chai chargers

The US GP in Austin is still supposed to take place correct?

I'm glad you like the pictures. Thanks for looking. If you plan to attend an ALMS race I go to let me know. We can arrange a meet up. Unlike F1, fans get full access to the paddock (but not hot pits) and drivers in ALMS. But you can get close enough to the hot pits to see what the drivers are eating between stints. Working the pits is pretty cool, but it can get pretty busy if all your cars come in at the same time.

The Austin GP is on for 2012. I believe they have broken ground for track construction recently. We plan to attend (we attended the USGP 2003-2007).

 

[codymac]

I really don't car about close racing in F1 as I would just prefer teams the engineering to be unregulated (except for safety). My opinion I believe is in the minority.

Not at all. I yearn for the days of Can-Am and Group B racing - racing was dangerous and sex was safe back in those days.

For road based cars, I want close racing.

That has its limits though. Some of last season's GT1 races looked more like crash testing than racing.

 

[Tonsko]

Re:Focus, that's a nice motor. Heard great things about the Mountune kit as well!

Racing wise BTCC and WRC is where it's at for me. Dakar is good too, but only because I get to see about 2 minutes a year I suspect

 

[FadeToBlack]

My Car:

2007 Honda Civic Si w/ 09+ front end conversion

^Pics taken w/ My iPhone 4 HDR mode

That's a nice Si. Don't believe I've ever seen one in that color. My friend had an '08 Si sedan for about 7 months or so, but had to get a 4WD for work. His was black. It was a BEAST! He put a Skunk2 catback on it and a Weapon R intake and I swear, that thing would scream. It sounded like a Ferrari. I miss it.

 

[nez]

Hopefully it's not too big an image... e90 m3. i love this this thing to bits.

 

[SaMaster14]

Hopefully it's not too big an image... e90 m3. i love this this thing to bits.

Love the M3. Nice car!

And cool chrysler 300 JoeG4. We usually get the Chrysler when we get a rental on vacation.

 

[standingquiet]

Still fantastic. And gorgeous!

I love these cars, i looked at the SRT8 model with the Hemi but UK + V8 = Bankrupt lol

Matt

 

[JoeG4]

I love these cars, i looked at the SRT8 model with the Hemi but UK + V8 = Bankrupt lol

Matt

Thanks for the kudos, and to the rental dude too. The V8 is easy to get spoiled by, with all that power on tap. Too bad about the UK gas prices though, I think I agree with you!

The euro dudes on the 300c board used to make me jealous about their CRD with that high gas mileage Mercedes diesel, I've heard it gets in the realm of 30-35mpg (brit gallons, of course). Holy crap! That's practically Honda Civic (with gas engine) territory! Unfortunately, the CRD engine can be a headache as far as reliability is concerned. (or so I've heard)

I haven't been in a v6 300 in a very long time though, heh. Cheers!

 

[SaMaster14]

Thanks for the kudos, and to the rental dude too. The V8 is easy to get spoiled by, with all that power on tap. Too bad about the UK gas prices though, I think I agree with you!

The euro dudes on the 300c board used to make me jealous about their CRD with that high gas mileage Mercedes diesel, I've heard it gets in the realm of 30-35mpg (brit gallons, of course). Holy crap! That's practically Honda Civic (with gas engine) territory! Unfortunately, the CRD engine can be a headache as far as reliability is concerned. (or so I've heard)

I haven't been in a v6 300 in a very long time though, heh. Cheers!

Your welcome. And just want to make clear that I meant no disrespect to the car in saying that we get it as a rental. We obviously get the bone-stock V6s, and they are really nice! I know the V8 and the SRT8 versions are amazing.

 

[Farns514]

I love these cars, i looked at the SRT8 model with the Hemi but UK + V8 = Bankrupt lol

Matt

The Chrysler 300C SRT is a fantastic car, i think it was the summer before I headed into freshman year of college, when my buddy and i took his SRT to his lake-house. We got up to 167mph in his car on back roads, craziest/scariest/most fun experience ever. He traded that 300 in about a year ago for the Jeep SRT and man is that thing fun to drive....... Wish i could afford an SRT.