Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

It's annoying to see videos posted online about some Hondas or Acuras beating Corvettes in the 1/4 mile or from 0-60. The other night I was returning home from a friend's house at about 11:30pm when a white Civic pulled up beside me and the passenger was motioning with a thumbs down to me. At first I didn't catch on what was happening but then I realized he had an anti-Corvette attitude. When the light changed green he screached off the line. I let him get a head start because I noticed he didn't appear to have significant mods done to his car other than the loud exhaust pipe (usually they tend to have lowered suspension, low profile tires, fancy paint jobs, and the occasional racing product sticker prominently displayed ala Grand Prix Racing). As he took off I unleashed my Vette and the sound of my Bassani filled the night air as I quickly dismissed this disrespectful Civic. It wasn't even close!

I've been told I was lucky that night because some Civics would have shredded me instantly. I believe it. But I just can't stand the thought of these little 4 bangers disrespecting the great American sports car! Grrrr, it boils my blood! [:@] Even after I slowed down to turn into my housing community the Civic passed me while still motioning with the thumbs down even after I had left him some considerable distance behind. Talk about stubborn [>:] Well, at least this was one Civic that fell prey to my 445hp V8!

By the way....I'm just venting here...there's no real point to my post other than to vent a little.......ok, I feel better now :)


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RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Interesting comments, that somewhat mirror my thoughts, although have very conflicted thoughts and emotions about this suject.

On one hand, I find a lot of these small 4-banger Japanese "things" annoying. First, they sound ridculous, with what is often called a "fart muffler" making, at best, a sound like a mad hornet. Second, some have the most over the top aero kits and slots and scoop additions imaginable - hideous. Third, and most important, the owners are total a**holes.

But there is another side of me that admires any attempt to get power out on engine and appreciates the challenge getting a lot of horses out of a small diosplacement motor. I just love the Alfa Guilio Zagatos of the late 60s, with their 1600 cc two-cam fours and webers and 140 HP! A lot of these modified Japanese cars represent an attempt along this line, and I can respect that.

Still, most look hideous and the owners act like jerks.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

GOOD KILL,;) PI$$ ON THOSE JERKS!!!I hate punks like that. I just laugh at those rice burners, I don't care how fast they are. USA HORSE POWER RULES!!! Win or loose, I'm a Vette Fan!!!

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

There is a Civic around here than can do in the 11s and one very mean Neon that did high 10s until it blew up. Neither is particularly a comfortable car to drive on the street, I imagine, more like our Camaro (a 9 sec street car) but still, from about 2 liters, that is pretty cool.

But I still prefer big V8s . . .

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Chances are that they are jealous of a car that they can't afford to buy - a bad attitude, for sure. Very few ricers try to race me and the ones that do, get pummeled very quickly. For every fast ricer, there are three Corvettes that are MUCH faster. It just boils down to the law of physics: You can always extract more HP from a larger displacement "air pump". 400 HP from a 5.6 liter engine is almost always more reliable than the same HP from a 2 liter engine.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Yeah, i dont really like to race because of my status with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles... im not liked very well there. But when i had first gotten my car, i was headed to the Ocean Front here and a guy in a turbo Jetta that was kinda fixed up pulled up next to me at a stop light and i know its not a Japanese import, but its still a good story. The light turned green and i didnt know we were racing and i heard him revv really high and then blow off right before he shifted and at that point, i had just put the pedal to the floor. I got up to about 70 before the next light turned red and i caught up with him. By that time, i was ready to go... The light turned green, i nailed it, he nailed it. It seemed like it took almost no time to get up to 85 in a 45. I had him by about 2 car lengths and MY car was stock!! He wasnt a d**khead though. We pulled up to the next light and waved and said hello to each other and that was about the end of it. But my heart was racing faster than i was i think lol.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I have a customer who has a Neon SRT-4 with the Stage 3 performance enhancement on it. I guarantee it will give any 450hp V8 car a good run for the money as it is kicking out about 330 hp. Wicked little ride, even though it IS a Dodge [:-]. Not a fan of it, just throwing that in. When I get my 383 stroker built for my Camaro, he wants to race me. LOL

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I can respect the Neons, but I don';t like racing against them. As I have said on other occasions here, I really don't like to run against those super-Neons on the street or track, not necessarily because they are fast (some are, but not that fast) but because I've had them jump nearly a lane sideways from torque steer combined with turbo kick in. that is scary (at least for me in the lane next to it).

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I got a kick out of one magazine's article where they cruised a local street night-racing area with a new Z06. Ricers, old muscle- cars, you name it would challenge the Z, thinking they would out-accelerate the modern-day king of American speed. They ALL saw the Z's taillights. Let's face it, a 500 HP, 30 psi-blown ricer is probably not going to have Z06-size tires and traction (lack of, actually) will make or break an aspiring speed king.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Well, yes, but I will say that I respect the Mitsi and Suburus: Evo and STi. The four-wheel drive gives them an incredible advantage off the line and putting the power down in sharp turns, and it would be fun to play around with one -- I just don't have the time or place for one.

One big drawback to the 'vette is its two-wheel drive. It is really difficult to use more than about 450 HP (in a 3200 lb car) on only two wheels. My car is a kick to drive but it is no faster below 100, 110 than a 500 HP ZO6, or for that matter than it was with the stock engine and a Magnusen at 465ish RWHP, because its just all wheelspin.

I sincerely hope that, with the "C7" whenever GM gets around to it, they finally re-design the car and add full time four wheel drive. Porsche adds it to the 911 Carrera 4S for only about 180 lbs, and it's worth that much weightfor the traction and control you get.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I agree. One magazine invited any tuners to bring their best to try to beat a new Z06. As you may have guessed, most couldn't get traction and subsequently, lost to the Z in the 1/4 and 0-60 contests. Regarding the STI and Evo, in stock form, you have to wind them out to 6000 rpm to get a decent launch. That's hell on the clutch.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I had some chump in an mr2 with his girlfriend mess with me at a light, I was behind him and we were both in the turn lane, I know he could hear my supercharger because it was screaming. As soon as the light changed he took off, this was around a corner I hit the gas and my tires slipped so he got ahead of me by like 2 car lengths. (I also forgot to turn traction control off.) I caught up to him very quickly, at the next light all he could do was say 4 seconds it took you 4 seconds to catch me. I was like yeah 4 seconds, ok lets run quarter mile ill catch you in 4 seconds and then run mid to low 11s while ur running low 14 or high 13's my car doesnt stop acclerating at a high rate yours does. I hate it soooooo much, yeah ur ricer might acclerate to 40 or 60 faster than my vette (this was around a corner too) but thats it. He thought he was a bad ass and I bet hes telling all his friends how his mr2 is faster than a 500 + hp vette.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

To post about ricers not getting traction, I have a friend that has a civic with over 600 hp (at the crank not sure what he has at the wheels). His car is fwd and his tires can only be so wide or they will stick out of the car. Guess what he runs quarter mile....... 13's lol at 120 mph[sm=bangbang.gif]. He just smokes his tires off the line no traction what so ever. If he puts his slicks on he runs better; he could hang with my vette for sure. But if hes going to race me on the street he would have no chance. its sad all the money he has wasted on it. He could have one bad ass vette. But to each his own I guess.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Well, its not just ricers who can't get traction. My point above about 'vettes, and my hope the next gteneration has 4-wheel drive, is because vettes need more traction, and there is a limit to the width of tires you can run in them, too.

Tire width: I'm at the limit--I've tubbed the rear wheel wells on my car (the Lingenfelter kit) and run 345 drag radials - at 14 inches, the widest street tire made unless I want to go to M.T. street slicks, etc.

Traction: my car can break the tires loose on power alone (i.e., without dropping the clutch, just keep it in the same gear and floor it), in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd - 3rd is particularly disconcerting because you are really moving by the time you are in that gear.

As a result, my car really can't accelerate much faster with 603 RWHP than it was with 470, when it had the original engine and the Magnusen SC on it. 0-60 and even 0-80 take as long, or longer (because it is harder to drive it to get traction) now. It is only as I start pulling hard in the top of 3rd and into 4th gear that the difference is perceptable (and of course, it pulls like a demon in fifth now).

The car will get out of the shop this week with another 100 RWHP, which I know won't make any difference without slicks on the rear (which won't happen, it is a street car) - that, and another 40 coming later this summer (alcohol injection) are just for the hell of it. The car will be "faster" in some technical sense, but I bet it still won't be able to break into the 9s in the quarter without slicks, suspension mods, and abuse. It's stuck in the mid/low 10s on street tires -- even if I added 1000 HP.

And its not just me, look at the tests Car and Driver does of 1100 HP vipers and 950 Hp vettes in their annual shoot out-- no one gets into the 10s (they run real street tires, not drag radials).

Four-wheel drive would fix alll of that: if my vette had it it would weigh about 200-250 lbs more, a weight it would not notice, and gain a good 1/2 second in the 1/4 mile right there, maybe more.

Suburu and Mitsubishi , and Porsche with their Carrera 4, have the right idea. 4-wheel drive is costly and adds weight, but it allows you to put about 30-40%% more power down, and control it well. When you think about it, if you do it right, with that advantage, you just can't lose . . .

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Lee, you make a good point. But now I'm confused. If the issue is about traction...why am I being told to disengage the traction control on my vette when I race somebody? Shouldn't I leave it on if I don't want my tires to slip? Please advise. :eek:

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Well the problem you would have if you left the traction control on is that as soon as the car senses any wheel spin/slip it reduces engine power (no matter how hard you are pushing on the accelerator). With the traction control off you are in complete control over how much throttle/power you are attempting to put to the ground verses the computer holding you back by cutting the power to your wheels.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Yeh, this topic is a real barn burner, that's for sure. The other aspect of the import scene I cannot stand is the "rolling start" many of them like to take... that's the only way they can get some traction, by starting at well over 40mph..... that impresses me not. Like Lee said, I do respect people who are passionate about their hobby and can do some pretty cool technological things with these cars, but it ain't my bag of tea.

I don't care what anybody says, there is no way you can get the same torque and grunt outta a 4 cylinder that you can from a V8. Sure, at 25,000 rpm, their car might make the same power, but man... that's just not the same thing to me, at all.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Two points in reaction to above.

As was stated, the reason to turn off the traction control is that it over-reacts when you try to spin the wheels.

Second, I respect people who really work at getting a lot of power out of a small displacement engine, but the one thing you never get is torque, and I love torque, great big gobs of it, like you get from a big V8.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I used to have a really closed mind in this area of automotive enthusiasts... but, we got one of those speed shops next door last year, and I have hung out with the guys a bit... they are CAR nuts, not neccessarily import nuts... they really love and admire the North American V8... as a matter of fact, one of the owners is so pumped about our new 'Vette, he is starting to look to buy one, too. They keep trying to talk me into puttin' the car in the shop and doin' some stuff to it, but this car we are leaving stock.

Anyways, thanks to them, I have a new appreciation for this stuff, just as Lee states here.

But, yeh, you won't catch me dead in a Honda. :)

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Horse power aside, I would be willing to say that any souped up import set beside my '04 LaMans Blue coupe, the majority of people will admire the CORVETTE. And in 5 years or 25 years the Vette will still be stylish and the import will be scrap!

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Ya, Dude,well said!!!!!

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Yeah, you won't -- I don't think Honda makes hearses.

(Sorry, just could not resist that).

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Although I'm not into racing, I love reading about people who do. When a car pulls up and wants to race me, and I know they have a lot less under the hood than I do, I just give them pure attitude and a sideways glance as if to say, "Pleaseee, you don't expect me to lower myself and waste my gas on you and that piece of junk you're driving." [:'(]

Of course, I realize my 350 HP/ A4 tranny is not for racing . . . to be honest, for me it is all about style. I grew up loving Corvettes and now owning one is a dream come true. Corvettes will always exemplify quality, class, and style - not to mention a piece of Americana. But for all you guys who do race, know that you are in my prayers. :)

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Bada ZING, dude!!!! :D THAT was funny!! LOL

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Same boat here, my friend. Me, I like to ride aroun' slow-like.. give everyone the chance to take in the beauty known as Corvette! Not to mention, you get far fewer tickets this way, too.... :D

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Here, here! That's exactly the right attitude and approach we should all have when these little 4-bangers start egging us to race. But, of course, sometimes our testosterone gets the better of us (I'm guilty too) and we just can't resist pounding them down. But last night I went out cruising my town and did it real slow-like. It was awesome. I had my top off (Targa style) and I felt like a million bucks!

I had just washed and shined the vette so it was looking goooooood. I say Rita has the right idea!!! Whatayasay guys? :)

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Well, I must admit that I didn't buy my car to cruise. I remember many years ago when a friend bought a huge Cadillac Sedan DeVille. The thing was like a giant pillow and he drove it accordingly - veeeeeery slooooooowly. If was like we had entered a time warp, where everything was moving in slow-motion. That's not me, although I do exercise contraint when there is traffic - no darting in and out, which is sure to attract the law's attention.
However, yesterday, I stopped at the bottom of the hill upon which I live. A Honda was coming from down the street and I had plenty of time to turn onto that street, ahead of him/her. Well, that driver obviously felt that I shouldn't be in front of him/her as he/she accelerated aggressively to pass me out.
I was shocked when I saw this car trying to pass me on a fairly narrow residential street. My pysical reaction, which occured instantly was to step on the gas. Of course, my C5 was in second gear and in the blink of an eye, I was 6 car lengths in front of the Honda.

Sorry, Honda person - don't try to pull stupid moves near my car!

Dave

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I know what you ,mean, Dave. I can't tell you how many times some butthead has tried to squeeze me out of the lane I'm trying to pull into. Now, when I'm changing lanes to get to an off ramp, and there isn't much space (especially when approaching a curvy offramp), I've been know to pass the exit and go to the next one. I know if I speed up, which I could easily do, I won't have enough time or space to slow down and safely navigate the ramp, so I do the smart thing and get out of the situation. Make no mistake - at this point, I am grumbling a few choice words. But when on the flats of the freeway, and there is enough jiggle room, I show 'em this girl knows how to drive and how incredibly fast my Vette can accelerate . . . Ha, Ha, I love it. If there is a preconceived idea of Blondes in Corvettes I am more than happy to live/drive up to the image. Honest, Guys, you would be proud of me! But to be honest, I don't want a ticket, so I try not to do these tricks too often, because I know it is only a matter of time.
Stay safe, all - have fun! Keep posting the cool stuff you guys do. :)

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

...with the possible exception of the Acura NSX......

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

The poor old NSX. You know, if Honda had put twelve cylinders, 6.4 liters, and 580 HP back there instead of six cylinders, 3.2 liters, and 290 HP, they would have had a line around the block waiting to pay $250,000 for the thing.

They just don't understand. It can be pretty, it can even be fast, but it has to have lots and lots of power to really matter.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

I believe the Japanese car manufacturers at the time had an agreement with the government that horsepower would be limited to 260? This is the primary reason why the NSX did not match other supercars at the time. Still, its shape is still attractive after all these years and it is one if (if not the most) reliable high performance sportcars ever made.

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Yeah.....but I still think the Corvette is the most attractive of them all! This is how I went out cruising the night I had a "Slow & Show" attitude.... :D

Attachment 2997

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Well, I can't argue with that!:D

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Ooohweee, Pecemkr!
Your ride is looking sooo good.

Got to love it!!! :)

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

:D thanks Dave....thanks Rita :D

I just love taking fotos of my black baby! :)

stop encouraging me or i'll post more hahahahahaha :D

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Oh, please do!! I love your car, and you can never look at too many pictures of it. :)

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

hahahahahaha :D ur great Topspeed!!!
Here's another one :D

Attachment 2994

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

:DMan, that thing looks like it can roundhouse kick Chuck Norris into next Tuesday just sittin' there parked!!! Thanks for posting that, my friend, and any others you might have I'd love to see!!

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

OK, let the bashing on the new guy begin!! hahaha...Anyway the main reason I am here on the site is to grab some info and learn a little about the C5 vette...I am 27 years old and have been around v8 muscle my whole life...My family,friends, and everyone I knew including myself were strictly narrow-minded v8 owners and import haters..It was not until I was about 21 or so that I first even looked an imports way to see what these little turds were about...
So here I am 6 years later and pretty much all of my "hot rod" cars I have owned have been hondas....I can say after you expand your mind a little to something else besides v-8s, you can actually learn a lot about them and other brands of cars you thought you would hate forever...The build quality on hondas is second to none when comparing anything domestic...I learned at the time that I could build a faster honda (on the budget I had) than pretty much any domestic car I had in mind and be much more reliable,cheaper on gas, insurance,etc,etc... So with all that being said I built and currently own an 11 sec civic that I have less than 4k in the entire project(incl. the price of the car)...Not bad by anyones standards if you ask me....
Ok, no that you all hate me :D I hope that you could at least take a little info in from someone who was on both sides of the fence...Imports will never take the sound, style, or just the cruising around trophy home in my book just as well as yours, but if I was ever again gonna build a "budget minded" race car, no doubt it would be a civic.., sorry...
And yes, now that I am a little more financially stable to own a "real car", I am looking for a 97-03 chevrolet corvette...So any helpful + or - about what to look for will be appriciated.....Thanks for reading...[8D]

RE: Japanese Imports vs Vettes
 

Welcome to the party! I think anyone can build a fast car for $4000. Get a 198? - 199? Camaro, install a 150-shot of NOS, throw on some drag radials and you're good to go. The mustang guys are also very good at making sub-12 second cars on a very small budget. I'm sure you've seen them at the drags, too.

These are the common problems that should've been resolved in an older C5:

Column lock failure (steering wheel locks-up): If it's an auto (A4), then the dealership should've removed the mechanism and installed a block-off plate. If it's a 6-speed (MN6), the dealer cannot do the same, so make sure the previous owner installed a Column Lock Bypass (keeps the locking pin in the retracted position). Update: I hear that the dealership can now remove the mechanism in a 6-speed C5.

Leaky differential gaskets: These should have been replaced, as factory seals leaked by 20,000 miles.

Door lock modules: When they fail, arming the car with the remote fails to lock one or both doors. This is a relatively simple installation, but make sure both door locks work.

Fuel gage/sender unit malfunction: Make sure the fuel gage reads accurately when the tank is below half-full. Earlier years had problems. Typical fix is either Techron fuel additive or a new sender unit.

Oil pressure sender unit. If this fails, the oil pressure gage will show 80 psi. If so, the sender unit needs replacement.

Horn not working when the steering wheel center hub is pressed ground wire becomes loose, $30 fix.

Air pump relays: There are two that are connected to the air pump. The one that fails most often is the one that's hardest to get at - behind the intake manifold. Either relay failure can cause a check-engine light to show up. $200 at dealership.

That's all I can think of right now.

The horsepower for 97-2000 is 345 with 350 lbs-ft of torque. The 01-04s have 350 HP and 375 lbs-ft (MN6) or 360 lbs-ft (A4s) of torque.

The improvements in 2001 are listed here:
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2001/index.htm

I believe in 2000, an airbag switch was added so that you can have a kid ride in the passenger seat. Without this switch, the airbag could cause serious injury to young children. Also, at some point, active handling and HUD (heads up display) was added (maybe in 2000?).

Good luck!

Dave