Imports

  • Thread starter Puffy
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I love this!

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Too true. I literally goggled when I first saw the weight quotes for the Mazda3 back when it came out.

And the Focus... last one I drove was around 3200 lbs. :odd: And it felt like it.

Actually... that Sentra curb weight would pass for "lightweight" nowadays... as the lightest cars in the class (the Corolla and the Civic) weigh about that much... with puny 1.8 liter engines!

The 3 and Focus aren't that bad... A MK6 GTI is around 3300lbs, the MK5 R32 close to 3500... That's heavier than a Corvette.
 
I've always wondered... what do these guys do when they encounter a speed bump??? Drive over it diagonally? Avoid it at all costs? Only drive on smooth paved roads making parts of the city unreachable to them?
From what I've seen personally, a lot of guys will just raise the suspension & drive over it slowly. Those who can't usually go over it the best they can.

I have a buddy with a lowered Cobra, who in his case, drives though the middle of speed bumps so that his exhaust doesn't scrape. All about driving a lot more cautiously.
 
Raising the car only works on airbags, but in that case it wouldn't be much of a problem. You can go over them diagonally, but in a lot of cases, you simply don't "encounter" speed bumps. You learn where you can and can't go. I can't remember the last time I had to go over a speed bump, simply because I avoid them. Bumpy roads aren't really a problem, but there are some entrances to places I can't go. Although usually there's another way in to most places, so I just use the one with less of a crest or dip in it.

One entrance to a gas station I frequent, the back wheels actually come off the ground when I enter, so I have to maintain a little speed when I pull in because I don't have an LSD, so if I stop with the wheels in the air I'll get stuck.
 
Sacrifices have to be made in order to look good. I compromised a lot and my car isnt even that low.

Think of it as women wearing heals.
 
From what I've seen personally, a lot of guys will just raise the suspension & drive over it slowly. Those who can't usually go over it the best they can.

I have a buddy with a lowered Cobra, who in his case, drives though the middle of speed bumps so that his exhaust doesn't scrape. All about driving a lot more cautiously.

Raising the car only works on airbags, but in that case it wouldn't be much of a problem. You can go over them diagonally, but in a lot of cases, you simply don't "encounter" speed bumps. You learn where you can and can't go. I can't remember the last time I had to go over a speed bump, simply because I avoid them. Bumpy roads aren't really a problem, but there are some entrances to places I can't go. Although usually there's another way in to most places, so I just use the one with less of a crest or dip in it.

One entrance to a gas station I frequent, the back wheels actually come off the ground when I enter, so I have to maintain a little speed when I pull in because I don't have an LSD, so if I stop with the wheels in the air I'll get stuck.

Makes sense... I do remember living in the US most roads are paved and smooth... Here in Holland its another story though... especially in Amsterdam... You got bricked roads practically everywhere and they went overboard on the speedbumps here in the city... Ive rode along with some friends with lowered cars and its not that pleasant when you dont have smooth roads... the highways arent a problem though. The bricked roads just make the whole car vibrate :P

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^^^ Most roads are like this in Amsterdam
 
Speedbumps and cobbled streets aren't bad.. It's driveways (especially gravel ones...) with an incline that's the worst. I hate getting stuck :(
 
I actually liked the roads in Amsterdam, yes the cobbled roads aren't ideal, but in a city like Amsterdam you're not going to drive very fast either... call it what ever you like, I actually like driving on these uneven road surfaces, its kind of fun!
 
Nice ITB set-up there, too.

Wonder where the left-hand ducting goes to? What's it for?
 
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