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Path: utzoo!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen
From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS])
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: big block vs 4-bangers
Message-ID: <1102@watdcsu.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Mar-85 23:44:43 EST
Article-I.D.: watdcsu.1102
Posted: Mon Mar 11 23:44:43 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Mar-85 01:14:03 EST
References: <281@oblio.UUCP> <330019@acf4.UUCP>
Reply-To: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS])
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 79

In article <330019@acf4.UUCP> hkr4627@acf4.UUCP (Hedley K. J. Rainnie) writes:

>To TOM:
>    (I ain't to blame, this ain't no flame)
>
>    1) The alloy Porsche and Mercedes-Benz now uses in their aluminum engines
>        is known as 390 alloy and was developed, you guessed it, for Chev-
>        rolet's ZL-1 racing engine.  Flame on about American engines if you
>        wish, but the Chevy 427 is the exception.  This motor was developed
>        ground-up for international 24 hour racing.

I don't flame about *all* American engines.  There are exceptions
(such as the ZL-1 you mention), but in general the US made engines are
not as refined as their European counterparts.

>    2)  I challenge your assertion about the new Vette and the Porsche.  If
>        I recall the article, C&D rates the Z-28 better almost purely 
>        subjectively--the Vette beat it out on almost every test.C&D
>        writers are entertaining enough, but most should be put away for
>        their own safety.  In addition, they tested the '84 Vette which
>        has an inferior suspension to the 85 and a far less powerful engine.
>        Road and Track ran a similar test under RACING conditions at Willow
>        Springs raceway.  This test was also with the '84 Vette and it wound
>        up on top in lap times.  The Z-28 was 4th, the Porsche 944 5th.  In
>        lateral accelerati, the Corvette again took top honors, the Z-28
>        5th, the 944 6th.

Yes, the handling tests are subjective.  If you want top lap speeds,
however, give an experienced driver a 911 Carrera (better yet, a 1972
Carrera RSR) and he can ake it go 'round faster than any of the ones
above.  BUT, he's got to know how to drive a rear-engined car...

>p.s. Jeff & I both drive 427 Vettes.  Out of curiosity, what do you drive,
>        Tom?

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Oh-oh.  Here the truth comes out.  Being that I am a poor student (3B
Computer Science at U of Waterloo) my transportation is restricted to
a 1972 VW Super Beetle.  Before you choke completely, let me note that
it is equipped with some niceties such as P6s, two-piece wheels, Weber
carburation, headers, etc.  A good bottomless pit to sink my money
into.  I really like my car, but due to financial considerations I
will need to sell it in order to make it through fourth year.  Even
so, it's sitting in winter storage right now... :-(  I hope that when
I graduate I will be able to buy a reasonably nice car, and I'm sure I
will buy something on par with a 944 in the foreseeable future (the
nearness of which depends on whether I end up getting a Master's and
how good a job I get upon graduation...)

As you may have noted, I'm not comparing my Bug to 427 'Vettes or much
anything else either.  Most of my experience comes from driving other
people's cars, which I do a lot.  I've driven all kinds of VWs and
Audis, and also various types of American cars (OK, not a 427 'Vette)
as well as Volvos, BMWs, Japanese cars, ...  So I don't have long-term
ownership experience, but I have driven many different cars giving me
at least some view of what things are like.

As to powerful engines, I have driven (for about a day) a 400 (or
thereabouts --- 6.6 litre) Trans Am with a 4-speed.  I felt it had too
much power for the amount of traction it had.  The acceleration was
nice, for sure, but it was *work* trying to control it when th road
wasn't quite dry.  I would expect that a 427 would cause even greater
problems.  Am I right?

As for what I would *like* to drive --- If it had to be reliable,
daily transportation, I'd likely go for a new GTI.  If I didn't care
about reliability, I'd try find a 916 (or at least a 914/6).  That car
was something that the Fiero will have a hard time matching.  Alas,
there were less than 20 916's built, and only about 3500 914/6's.  But
someday...


				   \tom haapanen
				   watmath!watdcsu!haapanen
Don't cry, don't do anything
No lies, back in the government
No tears, party time is here again
President Gas is up for president		 (c) Psychedelic Furs, 1982