GTP Member's cars directory. What do you drive?

[wrx sti0402]

'04 Pontiac GTO. Love it

 

[Eric.]

New GTO's are nice...driven around in a 6.0L one before and enjoyed it, but its a completely different car from my Si. I wouldn't trade.

 

[SPhilli911]

My A4 1.8T Quattro

 

[wrx sti0402]

New GTO's are nice...driven around in a 6.0L one before and enjoyed it, but its a completely different car from my Si. I wouldn't trade.

Well I figured it was quite the step-up from my '01 Oldsmobile Aurora.

Mine's a 5.7L ... but still plenty strong. Currently learning how to heel-toe properly (first manual), it's a bit difficult because of the pedal positions though.

 

[Paulie]

Great GTO mate.👍 Are the pedals adjustable? I remember Clarkson praising the Monaro for driver ergonomics, or was it VXR8? Still, normally Holdens are pretty good for driver position IMO, maybe it's something to do with the LHD conversion?

 

[hornet_burnout]

New GTO's are nice...driven around in a 6.0L one before and enjoyed it, but its a completely different car from my Si. I wouldn't trade.

Well I figured it was quite the step-up from my '01 Oldsmobile Aurora.

Mine's a 5.7L ... but still plenty strong. Currently learning how to heel-toe properly (first manual), it's a bit difficult because of the pedal positions though.

Great GTO mate.👍 Are the pedals adjustable? I remember Clarkson praising the Monaro for driver ergonomics, or was it VXR8? Still, normally Holdens are pretty good for driver position IMO, maybe it's something to do with the LHD conversion?

I prefer (visually) the Monaro but still, it's very good you can get it as a Pontiac. At least you can have one.

I keep saying this... You guys are so lucky, being able to get those big engines and V8's at those prices... It's "just" a 5.7! LOL 👍

Oh, and I don't think Clarkson can't heel/toe...

 

[wrx sti0402]

Great GTO mate.👍 Are the pedals adjustable? I remember Clarkson praising the Monaro for driver ergonomics, or was it VXR8? Still, normally Holdens are pretty good for driver position IMO, maybe it's something to do with the LHD conversion?

Thanks, it's a very comfortable car and the seats are great ... steering wheel telescopes and moves up and down. Pedals are non-adjustable.

I prefer (visually) the Monaro but still, it's very good you can get it as a Pontiac. At least you can have one.

I keep saying this... You guys are so lucky, being able to get those big engines and V8's at those prices... It's "just" a 5.7! LOL 👍

Oh, and I don't think Clarkson can't heel/toe...

Haha, I was able to get this one used (albeit with quite a few miles) for much cheaper than I thought. I'm very fortunate

A little more on the pedals -- From what I've heard, the 05-06's had a few improvements in relation to the conversion from the Monaro. Pedals were in a better location (with space to the left of the clutch), and it's much easier to heel-toe because of this. Being my first manual I guess I have a bit steep learning curve because the pedals aren't in ideal locations, but I'm learning nonetheless.

 

[hornet_burnout]

(...) it's much easier to heel-toe because of this. Being my first manual I guess I have a bit steep learning curve because the pedals aren't in ideal locations, but I'm learning nonetheless.

I know that with all that grunt, while not driving "fast" you won't feel the need to use the lower gears... but just keep doing it all the time to practice the foot move and timing. Just for fun, for practice, for smoother downshifting or whatever excuse you think of

I still do it sometimes when I drive a bit faster, just for fun, and with the excuse to the wife, that downshifts don't feel so much. Even if it's a FWD "people carrier" it helps 👍

 

[wrx sti0402]

I agree! I am trying to learn it as best as I can because I do feel it is necessary to learn. Especially on short offramps off the freeway ... I'd rather heel-toe than coast and downshift, then rev-match, etc.

A bit off topic: I managed 278mi out of my last tank! Average of 17.1mpg

 

[Paulie]

I prefer (visually) the Monaro but still, it's very good you can get it as a Pontiac. At least you can have one.

I keep saying this... You guys are so lucky, being able to get those big engines and V8's at those prices... It's "just" a 5.7! LOL 👍

Oh, and I don't think Clarkson can't heel/toe...

Aussies might get the V8 Commodore relatively cheap, but still, USA gets our own Commodore (or got) for cheaper than we do, then gets the faster Mustangs and Camaros for even less! That's why I brought Clarkson up, he said it had good pedal position.

I know that with all that grunt, while not driving "fast" you won't feel the need to use the lower gears... but just keep doing it all the time to practice the foot move and timing. Just for fun, for practice, for smoother downshifting or whatever excuse you think of

I still do it sometimes when I drive a bit faster, just for fun, and with the excuse to the wife, that downshifts don't feel so much. Even if it's a FWD "people carrier" it helps 👍

Indeed, I try to heel-toe everywhere, but under hard braking it's just impossible in my Ute, horrible pedal positions in relation to each other despite being in great position in relation to the driver. My brother's same generation Commodore sedan has a much better setup but Holden tell me there was no difference in pedal box from Ute to sedan.

A bit off topic: I managed 278mi out of my last tank! Average of 17.1mpg

Heavy footed are we? I know of people getting better mileage than that by far in their 5.7L Monaros.

 

[H3rmaN]

Better left stock IMO. Some of the interior changes are ok though.

True. It would draw my attention! That doesn't mean I like it. But it's just a matter of personal preference. I don't like body mods. Maybe a few details to enhance the cars natural form, but nothing this heavy.

I don't like it. I prefer it stock, on the road or not.

So I take it you guys arn't into the JDM modding scene then?

Before anyone says....NO, I don't mean boy racer crap. I mean Japanese car enthusiast modding. No stupid cruises or anything like that, just some quiet meets and the odd day down to see & do some drifting, hillclimbes, etc.

 

[homeforsummer]

Regardless of how it's modded you could probably do with re-hosting the photos. It's exceeded photobucket's bandwidth so those same pics must be on a dozen forums or more...

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

So I take it you guys arn't into the JDM modding scene then?

Before anyone says....NO, I don't mean boy racer crap. I mean Japanese car enthusiast modding. No stupid cruises or anything like that, just some quiet meets and the odd day down to see & do some drifting, hillclimbes, etc.

Some of my favourite modified cars are Japanese, but that S15 looks like trash to me, sorry. The side skirts look like skirting boards IMO.

 

[wrx sti0402]

Heavy footed are we? I know of people getting better mileage than that by far in their 5.7L Monaros.

Maybe highway only? I made a 180mi trip earlier this summer and got 26mpg (65mph / 6th gear the whole way). It really varies though, city driving kills the mileage.

 

[Diego440]

Stalkerish much?

My thoughts exactly

 

[Paulie]

Maybe highway only? I made a 180mi trip earlier this summer and got 26mpg (65mph / 6th gear the whole way). It really varies though, city driving kills the mileage.

Not sure of their usual driving habits, but Australia is fairly open with lots of highways and long distances to everywhere so it's possible. 26mpg sounds better.

 

[wrx sti0402]

Makes sense. At any rate, I am enjoying it

 

[hornet_burnout]

Maybe highway only? I made a 180mi trip earlier this summer and got 26mpg (65mph / 6th gear the whole way). It really varies though, city driving kills the mileage.

Well I don't worry much about MPG, but the basic tip for improving it is slow acceleration (the kind that is not possible in the city unless you want to get yelled at or worst in every traffic light). But don't expect much over 26.

Now, one advantage of a smaller engine is that 26 is my usual (not slow) average with a daily mix of city, and busy motorway with a couple pretty steep hills in it . On vacation, with the right roads and no traffic I've been able to reach 30. Only once though... usually don't have the patience to drive a whole tank as a snail on vacation.

Anyways, back on GT5, this talk and the current gas prices made think about "green" challenges in the game. Not just hybrids (been done before with a prius), but what if we could choose any car, and in each category had to find the fastest around the "ring" with a limited amount of fuel? I'm pretty sure VTEC engines would be good choice over V8

 

[wrx sti0402]

Slow acceleration and short shifting helps, but where's the fun in that?

Interesting idea on GT5. Not sure it would get implemented but it's an interesting idea nonetheless.

 

[H3rmaN]

Regardless of how it's modded you could probably do with re-hosting the photos. It's exceeded photobucket's bandwidth so those same pics must be on a dozen forums or more...

Pics not hosted on my account.

Some of my favourite modified cars are Japanese, but that S15 looks like trash to me, sorry. The side skirts look like skirting boards IMO.

Each to their own, but I just think it looks ace going sideways (new bumper on order from Japan before anyone says).

 

[Perfect Balance]

It's a drift car, the sideskirts are supposed to look like skirting boards.

He drives the piss out of it, who cares what it looks like? It's better than the alternative, i.e. hardparkers, which have cars that look like they just came back from a time attack when in reality they've just rolled off the trailer that brought them to the show.

 

[H3rmaN]

It's a drift car, the sideskirts are supposed to look like skirting boards.

He drives the piss out of it, who cares what it looks like? It's better than the alternative, i.e. hardparkers, which have cars that look like they just came back from a time attack when in reality they've just rolled off the trailer that brought them to the show.

EXACTLY! 👍👍

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

It's a drift car, the sideskirts are supposed to look like skirting boards.

He drives the piss out of it, who cares what it looks like? It's better than the alternative, i.e. hardparkers, which have cars that look like they just came back from a time attack when in reality they've just rolled off the trailer that brought them to the show.

I don't really care what it gets used for, personally I don't like how it looks.
One thing I do like about this S15 is that it's in good condition despite being used for drifting (except for the soon-to-be-replaced front bumper).

 

[hornet_burnout]

From the Prologue and the listings we have, we know we are going to get this and other drift machines, probably with similar mods.

Some like it, some do not.

I for one think this is really not good looking.

As the man said, to each their one 👍👍👍

 

[eschey]

I have a 1998 Nissan Wingroad. Whoop whoop.

It only had 35000k's on it when I bought it which was pretty much the reason I bought it lol. Its 4wd but only a 1500cc, doesnt really push me back in my seat. . .

 

[Paulie]

Well my Holden Commodore Ute has had sufficient change to warrant new pictures in this thread. It now had Infill Panels and a Lazerback Hard Tonneau installed, plus the rims which are 18x8.0".

 

[homeforsummer]

Looks ace Paulie, though either daylight or a tripod would be great for your next pics

The mods have made it look a lot more modern.

 

[TheCracker]

Looks good Paulie, tonneau makes a world of difference for the overall look 👍

 

[Jim Prower]

Probably helps a bit with fuel economy, too!

 

[Strittan]

Volvo 740 GL...

At least you can do burnouts with it, lol!