Teh Official "Dude Where's My Forum?" Thread, Brought to you by the minds of Box, and her fiancée, Lorelei Options

[Bitter]

Well I'm not saying that they're the BEST setup, just they're super easy to drive and very very forgiving. Vague clutch is a pretty common thing these days it seems, every newer manual I've been in have this weird feeling when I'm trying to find just the right slip for the clutch to get it up the ramps for the drive on rack, like it's hard to find that right balance between throttle and clutch, which may actually be more of an electronic throttle issue. Of course driving a car up steep ramps, especially one you've never driven before, isn't exactly an every day occurrence so I suppose forgiving that oddity is acceptable. Even many newer automatics with electronic throttle are vague and difficult in that situation, however most cars in the past 5 or so model years are much much better. It was primarily the earlier domestics with e-throttle that were awful, the mapping of pedal to throttle was just terrible. pedal pedal pedal no throttle..tiny bit more pedal ALL THE THROTTLE

[Box]

I should've clarified in which regard, best in smoothness and ease to drive. That and people seem to say the shifters are the best as well, but that's subjective to an extent. I hated driving my brother's Audi, electronic throttle and clutch are a match made in Hell. I hate digital throttles so much, so that pretty much keeps me out of cars made past the mid 00's. I think the 2006 GTO, 2006 RSX, and 2005 Miata were about it on cable operated throttles. If I ever begrudgingly sell the Firebird I've thought about getting an '05 Miata since it's the newest car I'd like overall, or at the very least a NB2 in general being '01-05. Right before they started ruining cars with digital throttles and stuff called "infotainment".

[richee3]

Best shifters I have ever felt, irregardless of clutch or throttle:

1. Miata. I hate to agree with the masses, but it does have a nice feel
2. Mustang GT350. It’s just so effin’ manly. It was made of pure freedom and I’ve heard that each shifter has to be blessed by a bald eagle in a special ceremony before being installed in the car. Each shift in that car was filled with testosterone and f*** yeah.


Worst clutches I have ever felt:

1. Mustang GT350. I think both the throttle and the clutch were electric in that car. I couldn’t feel anything, totally numb. But I think the ‘puter intervenes to make sure you don’t kill it.
2. 350Z. Hated that one.
3. Manual Tacoma. Nice truck, numb clutch.

[navseal345]

The newer Mustang w/ a manual is pretty nice.

[richee3]

Do they all have that awesome chunky manly shifter feel? I didn’t know if that’s specific to the GT350 or across all newer Mustangs. I’ve only rowed the 350 through the gears. Each shift was along the lines of *thunk* ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Box]

The regular Mustangs have a Chinese made p.o.s. manual that's arse and a carry over from the S197, the GT350 gets a Tremec TR-3160 just like all 6th gen Camaros.

The Miata's shifter is good, the Firebird's is better. I had them side by side for awhile and the Firebird's was easier and smoother from gear to gear. I think the Miata's would benefit from a bronze shifter bushing and weighted knob, that and thinner gear oil.

As far as the worst that'd be the SN95 Mustangs I tested, terrible shifter and unusable clutch(literally). Though the '94 Ford Escort was terrible too, but at least it's vague and mushy clutch was easy on my leg.

[Box]

So the first gen IS300 used a throttle cable to the end, so that's another one until 2005. I know why they did it, but digital throttles are the devil and especially in a performance car. Which would be nice to find a manual IS300 to test out, since after extensive thinking it's really be between it and the Miata. That or a SC300 if it could be found, but with only some 3,800 ever made with the 5-speed I won't hold my breath. Aside from door count the IS300 should be better than the SC300 anyway, smaller and lighter plus factory Torsen LSD.

[richee3]

It’s half and half. The first 50% of the throttle is DBW, then the cable takes over after that. I’ll never understand why they did it that way.

[Box]

For the manual as well? I know the MR2 Spyder had DBW and a throttle cable on SMT models but not manuals, was a sort of fail safe in case the DBW failed.

Speaking of the IS300, I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds the factory tail lights to be too much:


So much better.

[richee3]

That I can’t speak for. I can’t fathom the point of only doing half and half though.

[Bitter]

I got to use my big air hammer a bunch today, I don't know why but it always puts a smile on my face when I use it. Knocked out 3 hub bearings, one GM and 2 Ford. On one of the Ford bearings I was going at it with the flat hammer bit from behind the hub hoping to start driving it out of the knuckle after I'd already gotten the thing to spin in the knuckle bore. Well it smacks that hub so hard that 3 of the 5 lug studs just fell out of the hub. The splined sections just about jumped free, that's insane. I've never seen wheel studs fall out like that, OE stuff at 100K miles. I guess the hammer hits so hard it deformed the hub in such a way they just...done fell a loose. Like hitting a knuckle to pop loose a tie rod end. Tool is ****ing god awful loud, even with my ear plugs in. I try to limit my use or work it in spurts, the other guys aren't wearing ear plugs and I know it's still terribly loud even 20 feet away across the shop, firstly it has no muffler and secondly it's steel on steel with terrific force. We're getting approval for some lower ball joints on a F150 from a fleet, boss doesn't think I can just drive them right down and out with the big air hammer but I think I can. Hell I think my smaller one can drive them out! I can't wait to find out.
Also that Astro 1128 is so amazing, I've been using it a lot to speed through bolt removal and installation on front end work, it makes it feel like the work goes so much faster. I FINALLY feel like I'm making good time on work and being productive. Tools do not a mechanic make, but **** they sure do help!

[Box]

From what I can gather even the manual has DBW in the IS300. Apparently in addition to being a fail safe(I guess Toyota didn't trust their DBW?) it also controls idle speed, cruise control, and traction control. Sigh, apparently there's a delete kit intended for standalone ECU use. Even if you could delete the DBW with the factory ECU you'd lose the cruise control and not sure what you'd do about idle speed, who cares about traction control. Oh well, at least you saved me the trouble of finding one only to hate driving it and being confused as to what the Hell was wrong with the throttle.

I got to use my big air hammer a bunch today, I don't know why but it always puts a smile on my face when I use it. Knocked out 3 hub bearings, one GM and 2 Ford. On one of the Ford bearings I was going at it with the flat hammer bit from behind the hub hoping to start driving it out of the knuckle after I'd already gotten the thing to spin in the knuckle bore. Well it smacks that hub so hard that 3 of the 5 lug studs just fell out of the hub. The splined sections just about jumped free, that's insane. I've never seen wheel studs fall out like that, OE stuff at 100K miles. I guess the hammer hits so hard it deformed the hub in such a way they just...done fell a loose. Like hitting a knuckle to pop loose a tie rod end. Tool is ****ing god awful loud, even with my ear plugs in. I try to limit my use or work it in spurts, the other guys aren't wearing ear plugs and I know it's still terribly loud even 20 feet away across the shop, firstly it has no muffler and secondly it's steel on steel with terrific force. We're getting approval for some lower ball joints on a F150 from a fleet, boss doesn't think I can just drive them right down and out with the big air hammer but I think I can. Hell I think my smaller one can drive them out! I can't wait to find out.
Also that Astro 1128 is so amazing, I've been using it a lot to speed through bolt removal and installation on front end work, it makes it feel like the work goes so much faster. I FINALLY feel like I'm making good time on work and being productive. Tools do not a mechanic make, but **** they sure do help!

FREEDOM HAMMER!!!

[Box]

I had to drive the Audi tonight, I HATE DBW. I also hate its headlights, couldn't see for **** and sadly that was it being a clear night. It needs a HID retrofit yesterday.

Also I can't help but notice crossovers are killing sedans like SUVs killed coupes around 15 years ago.

[richee3]

Also I can't help but notice crossovers are killing sedans like SUVs killed coupes around 15 years ago.

So you heard the news about Ford, huh?

[navseal345]

Also I can't help but notice crossovers are killing sedans like SUVs killed coupes around 15 years ago.

So you heard the news about Ford, huh?

I did. **** is funny. Most of their cars sucked ding dong anyway.

[Box]

From what I've heard the Fiesta and Focus are good cars though. I would say it's sad where the automotive landscape is heading, but coupes have been dead and are consequently unaffected by people buying crossovers. If anything with sedans dying off and everyone buying crossovers and SUVs for people movers then perhaps coupes will take off again for those that want a car and don't like crossovers and SUVs, and want something stylish that stands out. Honestly only offering crossovers and SUVs for people that want an appliance to get around and then sport coupes for those that care about driving seems to hit all marks of potential buyers anyway. Apparently Ford thinks so if they're only going to offer trucks, SUVs, crossovers, and the Mustang.

[Box]

I think Chevrolet and Dodge are more or less following the same trend, just not as hard initially as Ford. From what I hear Dodge is killing the Charger and the Dart is already gone. Chevrolet is getting rid of the Impala and Sonic along with a few others I think. So meh. Personally I don't get the appeal of a high riding height, it makes me uneasy. I feel more secure in a Miata than I ever will in something with enough ground clearance to go over said Miata.

[Box]

I think my clone did the infotainment for the Alfa 4C:

Now THAT is what I call quality modern amenities. Look at that climate control that's not even climate control, and apparently it's cable operated even. THE BEST.

[Box]

I'll throw in the base 86/BRZ and 370Z into contention with the Alfa for best modern infotainment:



Though that factory Alpine single DIN in the Alfa is hard to argue with. 1999 forever!

This post has been edited by Box: Apr 28, 2018 - 5:22 PM

[Bitter]

It's simple why Alfa went with a single DIN and cables, they couldn't produce anything reliable them selves so they out sourced the radio and well cables don't need wires and we know how bad Fiat is with electricity.