Bullrun vehicles

[M1Accord]

I just finished watching the first season of Bullrun. It is a very interesting show for DIY car guys like us. I thought it was funny how the Lambo seems to be as reliable and durable a diet coke on a hot summer day. Also, the guys who supposedly know a lot about cars, race show owners (Nissan) and autpart owner (67 Mustang), can't build a reliable car worthy of any kind of driving.

I was rooting for team Olds the way time because I didn't like the fact that other teams gang up on them. It was funny how some teams seems to be putting oil/fluid into their cars just about every race. Were these heavy burner by any chance? They were doing mostly speed limit. It seems like only the Ford, Lotus, and Honda didn't have any mechanical problem at all. Team Chevy also didn't have mechanical problem but it burns oil like they're cooking it for dinner.

If it was your money, what car would you take? Which oil would you run?

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

Yeah, not sure on the mustang but the youtube video's on the Nissan guys showed they were definitely into pushing the HP envelope on their vehicles. This never yields a reliable vehicle and it showed. I felt bad for the guys with $10K in paint jobs on their vehicles having to smash into things during the challenges.

If it were me...I'd be in my 2002 Maxima with PP or Mobil1 5w30.

 

[d00df00d]

Tough call.

One choice would be an M3 of some vintage. In an E36, I'd use RLI 5w30; in an E46 or E92, I'd use the factory 10w-60.

Another would be a new Subaru STI with RLI 5w30.

 

[OVERKILL]

E39 M5

Or an '03 Cobra

 

[M1Accord]

Keep in mind, these must be vehicles you either currently own or could afford to pick up for the race with the understanding that you will very likely not win and be stuck with the some repair bills.

I would go for my current Accord. It has 200 hours, which could be helpful in the challenge and has a great driving range of almost 500 miles per tank. I run 0W20 and install an auxiliary gas tank to give me an additional 16 gallons, bringing the total fuel capacity to 33.2. I would install roll cage as well as external frame cage to protect the car.

I would install oil and atf readout gauge as well as mpg reader, which my car doesn't have but newer vehicles do. I would install fog light and have all the bulbs upgrade to much high intensity, which lead up to a fresh battery from JC to replace my 7+ years old OEM party. If possible, I'll have secondary battery installed in the trunk.

I'll change all the fluid 1 months prior to the trip to ensure everything is working properly. I may upgrade my brake rotors and pads as well.

If navigation is permitted, I'll install a good on-board with live traffic report/assist like those in Acura lines. My co

 

[CrAlt]

Originally Posted By: 2002 Maxima SE

If it were me...I'd be in my 2002 Maxima with PP or Mobil1 5w30.


If the whole game was just about getting there then ya, i'ed run some reliable car that got great milage too..

But a maxima or just about any stock FWD car would be no match in the challenges. Unless you picked up a high end sports car your talking about doing major work too keep up.
Upgraded suspention
Upgraded brakes
Upgraded cooling
Aux tank
Upgraded electrical
An engine that can do north of 100MPH all day..
etc.
Also you would need a navigator thats really on the ball.

Those guys in the rat box chevy didnt stand a chance.

The guy with the charger is on another web board im a member of. If you dig around his site he has a video blog some ware with the day to day stuff. There is very little in his car that is stock 68 charger. http://www.mrangryinc.com/

If I was going to do this i think i would have to go with a newer WS6 trans-am or vette. Thats a hard all around package to beat.The fact that they can get 30+mpg in OD is a big plus and parts can be found at any parts store.
Brake a simple suspension part on a lambo, BMW, or even an old mopar and your all done. No one will have those parts in STOCK.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: CrAlt
Brake a simple suspension part on a lambo, BMW, or even an old mopar and your all done. No one will have those parts in STOCK.

Three of my local BMW parts departments disagree with you.

 

[CrAlt]

And so would a lambo dealership... so what?

Try finding a headlight and grille assembly at PEPBOYS at 11PM at night for your BMW... The F150 guys did.

Try walking in to an autozone or NAPA and getting a tierod for a lotus, high end BMW or MB after you smashed it with a bolder on some backwoods dirt road.

Im not a chevy guy but for this task QUICK parts availability and simplicity would weigh heavy on my choice in cars. That show seemed to be designed to beat up the machines. Look at the cars that made it to the final. A chevy, olds, dodge, and a F150 truck...

 

[wander2039]

1. Ranger regular cab short bed with supercharged 4.0L. 5spd auto or 5spd manual.

2. Crown Vic with supercharged 4.6L.

3. Mustang with supercharged 4.6L.

All will take alot of abuse.

 

[M1Accord]

A quick observation: Why did those guys use credit cards to pay for gas? They seems to waste a ton of time running in to pay cash and waiting for change before the pump is activated. If there is a line, they'd be loose about 10 minutes. Personally, they didn't seem to be too bright in fuel management.

I am looking forward to the second season where professional cross country people will hopefully be on-board. I wonder if the show vet its contestants so no-one would have the experience or car to compete easily.

Did the truck have mod to get that much horsepower out of it? It seems like he's the only one that could run any leg without fueling up while having heaviest vehicle with a kick-[censored] engine.

The Charger team was stupid for trying to eliminate the Olds. It was the truck and TransAm that they should be worrying about.

 

[SLCraig]

What would I use ideally? something from Nissan, anything that says GT-R on the back would be just fine

 

[M1Accord]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
What would I use ideally? something from Nissan, anything that says GT-R on the back would be just fine

Can you afford it? It has to be something you could afford to buy and not mind coming home with the repair bills and no prize money. The challenges had to do more with driving skill than with huge engine. The F150 handed the Lambo his [censored]. I would stick with something that is very good on gas, sleeper profile to not get pull over, and has reasonable handling. A Civic is a good choice but a Accord V6 would be better since it can handle long trips better. I'll take the back seats out too and have a go-bag to keep water and snacks.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
What would I use ideally? something from Nissan, anything that says GT-R on the back would be just fine

During the 1970s, the GT-R was much like a Datsun 510, except more powerful. The name was never used again until 1989 for the R32 Skyline GT-R.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if more people knew that the original Nissan GT-R was this way?

 

[mcrn]

A 2005 Dodge Cummins with the NV 5600 transmission, a Kore suspension, and 150 Gallon fuel tank in the bed.