Cars and other kinds of motoring gibberish

Just consider that it took me literally almost 2 years to pick out my car. :beaten:
Well, not having enough $ really helped. :hehe:

krim wrote:Just consider that it took me literally almost 2 years to pick out my car. :beaten:
Well, not having enough $ really helped. :hehe:

Lack of money is the root of all evil. --George Bernard Shaw

Tu_triky wrote:

Lack of money is the root of all evil. --George Bernard Shaw

Women may run out on you while you're seeking fortune, but you'll never run out of women seeking your fortune.

--- richard cooper's friend george

Wynter wrote:Yea, but it includes the leather package and the navi package.

Well, if you REALLY want it, you'll need to compromise and come up with a list of what you NEED versus what you WANT. :sweat:

And it's a 6 cylinder. Whatever that means.

My God. :sweat: :doh:

You should spend A LOT more time reading up on this stuff so that you know what you're getting, especially if you're doling out serious bucks...

"A more informed consumer is a better and smarter consumer."

this is true, i really wanted the JCW rims, body kit and suspension, but i really couldn't justify adding $6k to the total. Instead, i settled for the NAVI which is awesome.

krim wrote:this is true, i really wanted the JCW rims, body kit and suspension, but i really couldn't justify adding $6k to the total. Instead, i settled for the NAVI which is awesome.

So you built and bought your car through the Mini site or did you go to a dealer?

bmwracer wrote:

"A more informed consumer is a better and smarter consumer."

Okay Wyn. Let's talk about cylinders and displacement! I'll try and clear this up in easy to understand terms :)

Cylinders are where the explosions that move the pistons up and down which rotate the camshaft which turn the wheels happen. The more cylinders, the more explosions, the more force on the wheel.
In short, more cylinders typically means more power.. but more explosions means more fuel.

This isn't always true (there are some very large 4 cylinder engines and some very small, efficient 6 or 8 cylinder engines), but it's pretty much a given that more cylinders will mean more output and more fuel.

The G37 has a 3.7 litre engine (in fact, Infiniti usually includes the displacement in the name of the model). That means that the total volume of those 6 cylinders adds up to around 3.7 litres.

The size (or displacement) of the engine will also give you some idea about it's output. A larger engine (more volume, i.e. litres or ccs) will generally mean more output and again, more fuel needed per 100 kilometres.

Typically Japanese engines typically have the greatest output per liter on the consumer level. German engines have a little less. And American engines less. This has been changing in recent years. Best to ask us about a specific engine.

For example, here are the relative cylinder and displacements of some of the cars we've talked about along with their power output and efficiency - unfortunately I only have American units.. but they'll be useful for comparison:

Minicooper: 1.6L 4-cyl - 118 hp (measure of output), 22 city mpg/30 highway mpg (I'll use the figures for automatics)
Minicooper S: 1.6L 4-cyl (supercharged) - 172 hp, 19/29 mpg
Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S: 2.5L 4-cyl - 175 hp, 23/31 mpg
Nissan Altima Couple 3.5SE: 3.5L 6-cyl - 270 hp, 19/26 mpg
Infiniti G37 Base: 3.7L 6-cyl - 330 hp, 18/24 mpg
BMW 328xi: 3.0L 6-cyl - 230 hp, 17/25 mpg
BMW 335xi: 3.0L 6-cyl (turbocharged) - 300 hp, 17/25 mpg
Lexis IS250 (AWD version): 2.5L 6-cyl - 204 hp, 20/26 mpg
Lexis IS350: 3.5L 6-cyl - 306 hp, 18/25 mpg

Now there's an important factor which isn't included here: weight. Weight determines how effective that little (or big) engine is going to be at moving the car. The Mini is quite small and light which means it'll likely be faster and more fun than a larger car with the same engine.

What I would do, if I were you, is get on something like autos.msn.com and do comparisons of your favorite choices, so you can get some empirical data comparing their features, prices, and performance. (that's where I got the data I included above)

And no matter what you decide to buy, DON'T get the extended warranty. Big waste of money.

krim wrote:Just consider that it took me literally almost 2 years to pick out my car. :beaten:
Well, not having enough $ really helped. :hehe:

:doh:

phlargo wrote:What I would do, if I were you, is get on something like autos.msn.com and do comparisons of your favorite choices, so you can get some empirical data comparing their features, prices, and performance. (that's where I got the data I included above)

Wow, thanks for clearing that up! I did have a very vague idea of what they were, but I'm really just picking stuff up the more I visit dealers. I should read up more, like B-san suggests.

A 4 cylinder would be just fine for me, because I don't need to go on the highway to get to work. But they don't have any of those available right now. I'd have to wait for the 2009 model.

Wynter wrote:

Wow, thanks for clearing that up! I did have a very vague idea of what they were, but I'm really just picking stuff up the more I visit dealers. I should read up more, like B-san suggests.

A 4 cylinder would be just fine for me, because I don't need to go on the highway to get to work. But they don't have any of those available right now. I'd have to wait for the 2009 model.

Agreed - for me, buying a car is often a multi-year event that involves tracking a car from design to production and comparison with at least a dozen similarly situation competitors.

But then I'm the kind of person who wants to know everything about anything I buy before I do. :crazy:

Personally, based on what you've said, my top choices for your needs would be something small, cute, and efficient. And from that, I seriously think that the Mazda 3, the Minicooper, and the VW Golf/GTI are my top picks.

The Altima coupe is a little heavy and lumbering in comparison, but also an option.. and I'm sure the the 4 cylinder would be plenty fast.

phlargo wrote:
<snip>

For example, here are the relative cylinder and displacements of some of the cars we've talked about along with their power output and efficiency - unfortunately I only have American units.. but they'll be useful for comparison:

Minicooper: 1.6L 4-cyl - 118 hp (measure of output), 22 city mpg/30 highway mpg (I'll use the figures for automatics)
Minicooper S: 1.6L 4-cyl (supercharged) - 172 hp, 19/29 mpg
Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5S: 2.5L 4-cyl - 175 hp, 23/31 mpg
Nissan Altima Couple 3.5SE: 3.5L 6-cyl - 270 hp, 19/26 mpg
Infiniti G37 Base: 3.7L 6-cyl - 330 hp, 18/24 mpg
BMW 328xi: 3.0L 6-cyl - 230 hp, 17/25 mpg
BMW 335xi: 3.0L 6-cyl (turbocharged) - 300 hp, 17/25 mpg
Lexis IS250 (AWD version): 2.5L 6-cyl - 204 hp, 20/26 mpg
Lexis IS350: 3.5L 6-cyl - 306 hp, 18/25 mpg

Now there's an important factor which isn't included here: weight. Weight determines how effective that little (or big) engine is going to be at moving the car. The Mini is quite small and light which means it'll likely be faster and more fun than a larger car with the same engine.

What I would do, if I were you, is get on something like autos.msn.com and do comparisons of your favorite choices, so you can get some empirical data comparing their features, prices, and performance. (that's where I got the data I included above)

M$ sucks. Your stats on the MINIs are outdated. Those are for the older models.
You have the '02-'06 model specs for the Cooper (R50) and Cooper S (R53), Not the '07+ Coopers and Cooper S (both R56)

R56 Specs 1.6L 4 cyl FWD 118hp 28/37mpg
R56 S Specs 1.6L 4 cyl FWD 172hp TURBO 26/34mpg

It's a whole new motor from the previous generation, they're much more efficient.

bmwracer wrote:
So you built and bought your car through the Mini site or did you go to a dealer?

I purchased through the dealer, you can't really buy through the website. You can configure the car and have it emailed to the dealer though.. i think BMW does it the same way.

phlargo wrote:
something small, cute, and efficient.

Just like Wyn-chan ;)

Anime Dad wrote:

Just like Wyn-chan ;)

I dunno, have you seen that wide rear-end??? [/list:u]

gaijinmark wrote: I dunno, have you seen that wide rear-end??? [/list:u]

it's hot like a corvette. :mrgreen:

gaijinmark wrote: I dunno, have you seen that wide rear-end??? [/list:u]

LOL. Good traction in the wet ;)

Anime Dad wrote:

Just like Wyn-chan ;)

Now that just might be the sweetest comment of the evening.

And the subsequent comments completely spoiled it :puppydog:

krim wrote:

Women may run out on you while you're seeking fortune, but you'll never run out of women seeking your fortune.

--- richard cooper's friend george

Straight up GD ~ Gold Diggers.

Back to the car talk...

You guys like to watch Top Gear?

Tu_triky wrote:

You guys like to watch Top Gear?

It used to be broadcast Saturday nights, before The Iron Chef. My favorite night of the week!. But they dropped the Chef and moved Top Gear to another night.

It's very funny sometimes. Like the episode where they had a challenge to buy a cheap car and make it amphibious. Hilarious!

Anime Dad wrote:

It used to be broadcast Saturday nights, before The Iron Chef. My favorite night of the week!. But they dropped the Chef and moved Top Gear to another night.

It's very funny sometimes. Like the episode where they had a challenge to buy a cheap car and make it amphibious. Hilarious!

Yeah it's pretty funny and usually entertaining...I don't watch it often but I've found it engaging to watch.

phlargo wrote:Cylinders are where the explosions that move the pistons up and down which rotate the camshaft which turn the wheels happen. The more cylinders, the more explosions, the more force on the wheel.
In short, more cylinders typically means more power.. but more explosions means more fuel.

Wow, tell us more, Mr. Science...! :beaten:



"EXPLOSIONS???"

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!!!!!!!! :sweat: :sweat: :sweat: