Imports

[-Fred-]

Those wheels... I'm so sick of seeing them.

 

[Cano]

repost? maybe; show car? most likely. And the front is pretty ugly. But still, it has amazing workmanship, and I had not seen a swapped Supra with this kinda power setup. It's pretty insane.

 

[WeinerSchnitzel]

 

[homeforsummer]

It does look good, and I'm sure it's fun to drive. I'm not elitist, I'm traditional. I like to be able to fix things that go wrong with my car, and since even the technicians have to go through extensive hybrid-specific electrical training then you can bet fiddling with the thing in my garage is out of the question.

Then by default you should dislike pretty much any modern car. I can't think of many that don't need a lot of help from factory techs to either fix or modify. The CR-Z is no different, but then by default should come under no more scrutiny because of that.

It's got a bunch of unnecessary hybrid technology packed in there which doesn't create much, if any benefit other than raising production costs and making people feel smug. It still gets the same gas mileage as all those crappy compacts from the 80s and 90s, especially various models of Honda's own CRX and Civic, both of which are perfectly acceptable cars to drive in the modern world, especially the second-gen CRX which happens to have one of the most clever interiors I've ever laid eyes on.

Except it does have the potential for significantly better economy than the cars you mention, and not only that but it produces fewer emissions (and I'm not just talking good ol' CO2, but other toxic emissions, stuff that all cars have improved upon in the last 20 years since the last CRX).

The fact that those old CRXs and Civics have the same kind of performance potential, a very heavy performance aftermarket and OEM market with parts starting at super cheaper and going up to slightly less cheap, and are easily maintained in your driveway in a rain storm by the most half-witted of car enthusiasts proves to me that they're by far the better car. They can also be had for as little as a tenth the price of this newfangled smugmobile.

What? 20-year old cars are available cheaper than new ones? Bloody hell, someone tell the public! Why are people buying new ones when they could go second hand instead! Why doesn't everyone do that?

Oh wait...

You happen to own a 199Old NA Miata, so I know you know where I'm coming from.

I do indeed, but then it's rather foolish to assume that the fact my budget was only about £1k wasn't mostly responsible for me choosing the car I did... If I had £20k in my account sitting idle, I suspect I wouldn't have bought the car I did.

But you're British, so you like new car technology by default.

That doesn't make any sense. I'm pretty sure there are plenty of people in the UK who aren't keen on more and more tech creeping into cars.

Actually, I'm one of them. Which is partly the reason I own a Miata. I like how simple it is.

But I also like the CR-Z. It's clever technology, and yet the car isn't weighed down by excess tech. At the end of the day it's still a fairly lightweight, inexpensive, manual-transmission hatchback that's fun to drive.

The top five on Autoblog's article is occupied by two hybrids at the top and three conventional old cars, two of them being the CRX and Civic. The leader is the original Insight...from 2000...which was very light and aerodynamic, and about as lame a drive as they get.

Rather demonstrates that you know very little about the subject, given that the original Insight is supposed to be a lot of fun to drive. Go read any review - quick steering, typical great Honda gearbox, responsive engine, very little inertia thanks to the low weight, pretty respectable performance given that it's got a one-litre engine, fairly stiff stock suspension, etc etc. Go read some reviews.

If you call yourself "traditional" and not "elitist" then surely you should be putting more emphasis on fun rather than dismissing something solely due to the technology used. These days it's pretty easy to find something that's fast but finding something fun is a bit more difficult. The CR-Z isn't fast but Honda made it fun even at low speeds, and they made it economical at the same time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. People dislike it solely because it's a hybrid. They may dress it up with other meanings but it boils down to them disliking hybrids.

People bemoan Porsche and Ferrari now looking at that tech too, but they'll quit their whingeing when the cars they produce are still awesome to drive but manage 25% better economy than their predecessors.

Oh, and I really like the Integra that Azuremen posted 👍

 

[Stotty]

Not sure if this is sacrilegious or not, but I find it strangely attractive...

One more... not quite a real road going RSR as this started out as a GT3RS and then had the RSR kit added, but I do want...

 

[homeforsummer]

That DS is every shade of awesome. Best car in hundreds of pages. Presuming it's been converted to RWD? Otherwise that engine is gonna be a handful...

 

[boiltheocean]

One more... not quite an real road going RSR as this started out as a GT3RS and then had the RSR kit added, but I do want...

I'd so do that if I ever own a Porsche. I can't get over how nice the RSR looks.

 

[Stotty]

I didn't notice the 8 banger under the DS hood... inspired me to do some digging and see if I could find out more...

It's running a 410bhp LS1 with a 4L60E tranny and a RWD conversion with independent front suspension based on a Mustang and a custom 4 link rear.

Couple more pics...

 

[TheCracker]

Loving the DS 👍

Could have done with wheels closer in style to the original DS ones though.

 

[Glubags]

Presuming it's been converted to RWD? Otherwise that engine is gonna be a handful...

Can't really mount an LSx longitudinally in a car like that (and behind the front axle) and expect it to be anything but RWD can you?

Just sayin!



Also: freakin fast twin-charged EG hatch hailing from Canada. Unfortunately an Evo slid into its rear end later on in that event:

 

[homeforsummer]

Can't really mount an LSx longitudinally in a car like that (and behind the front axle) and expect it to be anything but RWD can you?

Good point, I wasn't really looking at how it was mounted to be honest, as my eyes were steaming up from how awesome it looked.

 

[NotThePrez]

That Citreon DS is full of . Want, a lot.

Contribution:

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

What tires is that Supra running?

That car is very clean

 

[Time_Attack]

BFG KDWs.

 

[Glubags]

P.S. the TT V8 Supra is a work of art.

 

[Time_Attack]

It was for sale recently. I don't know if it sold or not.

 

[Keef]

Also, go look at some EG-6/EH-2 crash tests.

Problem solved.

Also, this is amazing and I want it. I imagine this old Alfa does everything in the world better than a CR-Z, including getting groceries. There is no interior to impede cargo room, so you could fill it to the brim with bread and apples and milk. Don't even have to worry about spilling anything on the carpet. It's also probably rough, raw, responsive, and maybe even a tad nervous at the limit. Probably blaring loud. Definitely the better car.

 

[homeforsummer]

You forgot to mention that it breaks down all the time and have to ship all your parts in from Italy. Which you'd be doing a lot, given the first reason.

Plus, it's tuned. I'm sure the CR-Z is even more fun with a few bits attached.

I'm aware you were probably being obtuse, but two can play at that game.

 

[speed junkie]

The sex.

 

[Keef]

Yeah dude. Is that a carbon kevlar seat? Oh wait, I have one of those.

 

[Azuremen]

 

[speed junkie]

 

[homeforsummer]

Miatas make such cool drift cars. Nothing quite like drifting with the top down, try that in a Silvia...

 

[MasterFocus]

Miatas make such cool drift cars. Nothing quite like drifting with the top down, try that in a Silvia...

ok, but its rather easy 💡

 

[Revheadnz]

That green E36 was lovely. Pity.

Not trying to start/contribute to more complaining but personally, I don't like the CR-Z. I won't go into my personal dislike of new cars that are all enormous, heavy and laden with unneccesary technology. That's a whole 'nother can of worms that I won't get into here.

It doesn't appeal to me styling-wise and it's slow. It seems that the general consenus among automotive journalists is that dynamically it's at best reasonable.

And Honda are trying to pass it off as a spiritual successor to the CRX. That (in its top specification at least) was as fast or faster than any other hot hatch/small coupe on the market and handled just as well. And in its lower specification was still enjoyable to drive and got anything from amazing (1st generation) to good (3rd generation) fuel economy.

Of course, if Honda have been keeping a top secret petrol CR-Z in the wings that is focused on the enthusiast driver that packs a Civic Type R drivetrain and handles like a CRX of old, i.e not a Civic Hybrid, then I will take this back.

I'll stop before I whinge too much, so here's a picture of a Saab.

Oh, and a Celica.

 

[homeforsummer]

Nice Saabs 👍

Not trying to start/contribute to more complaining but personally, I don't like the CR-Z... It doesn't appeal to me styling-wise and it's slow. It seems that the general consenus among automotive journalists is that dynamically it's at best reasonable.

Can't disagree with that. Well I can, but it's also your opinion so I'm happy enough with that. Given that it performs as well as my Miata in a straight line, I don't see it being too slow. And I like the styling, best looking Honda since we lost the S2000.

And Honda are trying to pass it off as a spiritual successor to the CRX.

Went over this one with FoolKiller in the hybrid thread. Honda have mentioned about twice (at the most) the CRX when talking about the CR-Z. They're not trying to pass it off as a spiritual successor in the slightest. Styling wise there's some influence, but their main tagline is "World's first sporty hybrid".

That (in its top specification at least) was as fast or faster than any other hot hatch/small coupe on the market and handled just as well. And in its lower specification was still enjoyable to drive and got anything from amazing (1st generation) to good (3rd generation) fuel economy.

The fastest CRXs are significantly more thirsty than the CR-Z (unless you baby them, which defeats the purpose of having a fast car), and the most economical ones are significantly slower (and still only just as economical, despite weighing several hundred kilos less and being smaller). Unless there's one in the middle that matches the CR-Z somewhere, then they can't really be compared.

Of course, if Honda have been keeping a top secret petrol CR-Z in the wings that is focused on the enthusiast driver that packs a Civic Type R drivetrain and handles like a CRX of old, i.e not a Civic Hybrid, then I will take this back.

A few UK mags have hinted there may be a Type R in the pipeline, but it'll still be a hybrid.

 

[Keef]

A few UK mags have hinted there may be a Type R in the pipeline, but it'll still be a hybrid.

If it's anything like the Euro CTR then I'll go around and swipe all the R badges off them myself. Honda screwed that one up big time. Mugen had to make a special version for Europe just to make it half deserving of the Type R badge. The Japanese car is where it's at.

 

[homeforsummer]

If it's anything like the Euro CTR then I'll go around and swipe all the R badges off them myself. Honda screwed that one up big time. Mugen had to make a special version for Europe just to make it half deserving of the Type R badge. The Japanese car is where it's at.

The Euro Type R is still a very good car. People bleat on about the torsion bar rear end but all the best hot hatches ever (Renaults, Peugeots) have had one.

I'd agree the Japanese version is better, but the Euro one is still a great car. The Mugen one isn't the best version though, given that it rides like the Flintstone-mobile and costs FORTY THOUSAND POUNDS. I think I'd save about £17k (or more) and just get the normal one with a limited slip diff.

Or for £40k you could import the JDM one and have enough change for a DC2 Integra R...

 

[vinnyvangough]

900bhp Drag R32 Skyline we done some graphics for

Dragon Performance RX-7 Drift Car we done the graphics for

The Furse Rally Car we done the graphics for

Dan Joyce's Old "Angry Pirate", Now JDM Garage's drift car

JDM Garage's Bee-R324 Skyline

SR20DET Powered 4 door Nissan Skyline Drif Car (I had so much fun driving this on the motorway)

JDM Garage's ols AE-86 Corolla

And some more ones we have done the graphics on

 

[homeforsummer]

Nice work 👍 For a second there though I read "drifting this thing on the motorway" rather than driving I was going to ask how on earth you managed to get away with it...