200hp / 2700lbs - Really?

[[es vi: eks]]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Sorry by timing I meant lift duration, which I'm fairly sure Subaru does not have (continuously variable)? Last I checked Subaru was a little behind on valve tech, and their new FB engines aren't even replacing the EJs completely right?

Its a brand new engine design which they are trialling them in the forster.
Most likely they will be introduced over the next year or two in different models.
EJ will be replaced fully when the FB has proven its self and any faults sorted out.

[Dimman]

EJ is like a quarter century old, like ^ said, FB will replace it soon.

I'm not sure of what the cost/benefit of something like Valvematic would be in a performance role. No need for it in the LFA (or any lift control for that matter...) so it likely is better in emissions/economy control.

[serialk11r]

Valvematic I think would give a slight max torque increase over cam switching with probably a good amount more near the profile switching point and at very high rpm, but the main benefit would be fuel economy probably...which does matter for a low end car doesn't it? It does add cost to the car, but the US has finally adopted the stricter fuel efficiency standards, and it'll make it easier to hit emissions requirements, plus add some "green" image to the company lol.

LFA is a pure performance/exotic car hence no need for fuel economy enhancements.

[Snaps]

^ I've said from the beginning that this car should have valvematic I just hope it actually happens, even though it will make the car cost more...

[xantonin]

Originally Posted by Snaps

^ I've said from the beginning that this car should have valvematic I just hope it actually happens, even though it will make the car cost more...

I'd be willing to pay more for it.

I'm fine with paying more for things I can't make up for with easy mods, if you know what I mean.

[Kage]

I agree with above. I'd prefer to pay quite a bit more for a better/more powerful/more efficient engine. Honestly I'll probably just do intake exhaust and maybe flywheel/clutch and a drop depending on what stock height/ride comfort(roads here are shit) are.

The less I have to buy to make the car "right" the better.

[Snaps]

Originally Posted by xantonin

I'm fine with paying more for things I can't make up for with easy mods, if you know what I mean.

I know exactly what you mean, and I completely agree

Things like Valvematic, ABS Brakes, a good Trac Control system (among many other things) are all near impossible to add without spending a shitload more than what the parts are worth... so those sorts of things I don't mind paying more for.. however, things like a good stock exhaust, are a lot lower on the list, because they can easily be replaced with aftermarket parts that are usually, lighter, and overall better than the stock parts.

[xantonin]

Originally Posted by Snaps

I know exactly what you mean, and I completely agree

Things like Valvematic, ABS Brakes, a good Trac Control system (among many other things) are all near impossible to add without spending a shitload more than what the parts are worth... so those sorts of things I don't mind paying more for.. however, things like a good stock exhaust, are a lot lower on the list, because they can easily be replaced with aftermarket parts that are usually, lighter, and overall better than the stock parts.

Precisely! Let's hope Toyota reads this now.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Snaps

I know exactly what you mean, and I completely agree

Things like Valvematic, ABS Brakes, a good Trac Control system (among many other things) are all near impossible to add without spending a shitload more than what the parts are worth... so those sorts of things I don't mind paying more for.. however, things like a good stock exhaust, are a lot lower on the list, because they can easily be replaced with aftermarket parts that are usually, lighter, and overall better than the stock parts.

Also cutting weight (without gutting your car) is REALLY hard. Give me a light, stiff chassis first. Valvematic, meh... I don't know enough about it, and no one locally has any experience with it. ABS, yes. Traction control can be done independently with fuel or ignition cutting, DBW should make it easy to do a throttling Trac system too.

But light, rigid chassis should be the MOST IMPORTANT thing on everybody's list. It makes the handling people happy, the speed people happy, and even the tree hugging hippies happy.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Also cutting weight (without gutting your car) is REALLY hard. Give me a light, stiff chassis first. Valvematic, meh... I don't know enough about it, and no one locally has any experience with it. ABS, yes. Traction control can be done independently with fuel or ignition cutting, DBW should make it easy to do a throttling Trac system too.

But light, rigid chassis should be the MOST IMPORTANT thing on everybody's list. It makes the handling people happy, the speed people happy, and even the tree hugging hippies happy.

Cutting weight is not that hard. Doing it cheaply, or elegantly (also expensive) is though.

Not disagreeing, I'm totally on your side, just saying.

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by Dimman

Also cutting weight (without gutting your car) is REALLY hard. Give me a light, stiff chassis first. Valvematic, meh... I don't know enough about it, and no one locally has any experience with it. ABS, yes. Traction control can be done independently with fuel or ignition cutting, DBW should make it easy to do a throttling Trac system too.

But light, rigid chassis should be the MOST IMPORTANT thing on everybody's list. It makes the handling people happy, the speed people happy, and even the tree hugging hippies happy.

Remove spare tire and jack + carpet and insulation in trunk(does anybody really look in your trunk) + AC unit = at least 110 pounds

This is all stuff you can do on your own for basically nothing.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by Mouse

Remove spare tire and jack + carpet and insulation in trunk(does anybody really look in your trunk) + AC unit = at least 110 pounds

This is all stuff you can do on your own for basically nothing.

If you are going that far, might as well take out rear seats plus front passenger seat. Take out stereo. Take out power steering.

[dominican]

Originally Posted by OldSkoolToys

I'm still confused by people's "need" of mid range power for 'practical daily driving'. Even my AE86 has enough mid range power for 'practical daily driving'.

So the worry/complaint that the engine needs this fabled mid range for 'daily driving' is....well, silly. If you're just daily driving, doing errands, etc., you're not racing. And if you want to race around town, well, you're gonna be screaming the engine anyways.

So I guess...if you want low-end / mid torque for fooling around with people on the road but not actually racing, but just fooling around....I unno, -don't- get a 4cyl below 2.4L?

I agree with OldSkool here, 100 hp in a car like a yaris or a civic is more than enough to commute. If all I'm doing is keeping up with traffic, I don't have to rev my Prelude engine past 2.5k RPMS, where it's making negligible power. MY 90 HP civic used to be just fine at driving around town.

By contrast, my 540 had TONS of torque, and while it made driving a little more exciting, it was no better or worse for commuting.

With that said, I like my engines to have power up there in the rev range, like the F20C in the S2000, the H22A in my Prelude, etc... That way, I can drive like a granny on my day to day grind, and when I want performance, downshift and open the taps. The only "problem" I see is that when I want to pass I have to downshift to get on the power. I personally don't see that as a problem, but people don't like to feel like they are making the engine struggle. What they may not understand is that these engines are made for that, and sound great at high RPMs.


I hope the FT-86 has similar driving characteristics to the S2000, engine wise at least.

One can dream...

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

If you are going that far, might as well take out rear seats plus front passenger seat. Take out stereo. Take out power steering.

If you read the post I was quoting...Dimman stated:"cutting weight (without gutting your car) is REALLY hard." I simply added a couple of things that could be done to lighten the car without gutting it.