Sleepers

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
He's saying it is far more common with people of the "fast and furious" mindset, which does indeed revolve around import cars, usually Civic's (Honda capitalized on this with "Civic Nation"). I would agree with him that there is certainly a disproportionate number of "ricers" who flock to these cars, adorn them with [censored]-cannon's, massive body kits and "Type R" and/or "V-TEC" badges and run around like they are the fastest thing on the road.


That might have been true for a couple of years, but that certainly isn't true now.... that scene has been dead for quite a few years now.


Probably depends on where you live. We still have a pile of them up here. Though there are a good number of J-bodies fitting the description too.

Apparently nobody told them their "scene" died

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL

Probably depends on where you live. We still have a pile of them up here. Though there are a good number of J-bodies fitting the description too.

Apparently nobody told them their "scene" died

heh yeah, surely a few people hanging on to the "glory years" of tuna salad, granny shifting, and living your life a 1/4 mile at a time; but there'll always be people who do tacky [censored] like that. As far as the regional thing, that has to be true.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Yeah, I think it depends on where you live and the culture. I don't see many riced-out Hondas around here anymore, nor do I see many V-6 Mustangs with dual exhaust anymore. The latest trend that is taking a long time to die (but I think still will) is the "donks" with the big wheels. We're talking Chevy Caprice, Ford Crown Vic, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, etc.

Hi-Riser on Wikipedia

These are very popular in the south. Out west, I'm sure ricers are still popular. In the southwest, you see 10" Daytons on a lot of things. I may not like the particular styles, but they're still "car guys", and I'm glad the hobby of modification is still alive, even if it's not my taste.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Yeah, I think it depends on where you live and the culture. I don't see many riced-out Hondas around here anymore, nor do I see many V-6 Mustangs with dual exhaust anymore. The latest trend that is taking a long time to die (but I think still will) is the "donks" with the big wheels. We're talking Chevy Caprice, Ford Crown Vic, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, etc.

Hi-Riser on Wikipedia

These are very popular in the south. Out west, I'm sure ricers are still popular. In the southwest, you see 10" Daytons on a lot of things. I may not like the particular styles, but they're still "car guys", and I'm glad the hobby of modification is still alive, even if it's not my taste.


I am 99% sure that new V-6 Mustangs come with dual exhaust (confusingly enough). I think the most hilarious Mustang offense has got to be the application of the Nissan GT-R badge.

I think the trend that I've noticed the most are the donks combined with large corporation logos. I've seen the a "Fantastic 4" Honda Accord, a "Home Depot" Caprice, a "McDonalds" Crown Vic.... it's like the worst of both the donk scene combined with NASCAR.

As far as I can tell the Honda faux-performance scene is mostly done for. I think most of those guys saved up some money and bought WRXs.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Actually the dual exhaust is optional on new Stangs. My FIL has a beautiful blood red one and they have a package of appearance only items designed to make it look more like a "real" Stang, that is a 5.0.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Sorry...my Mustang reference was a call-back to the mid-90s, when the 3.8L version was the Wimpstang and folks put a coupla' Flowmasters on it with the "GT pipes" and thought it sounded like a 302. It didn't.

I realize the new V-6 Mustangs have two outlets...and probably outrun a right number of older 302s as well.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Sorry...my Mustang reference was a call-back to the mid-90s, when the 3.8L version was the Wimpstang and folks put a coupla' Flowmasters on it with the "GT pipes" and thought it sounded like a 302. It didn't.

I realize the new V-6 Mustangs have two outlets...and probably outrun a right number of older 302s as well.


Yeah, I have a coworker that has a 2010 with the 4.6 and he ran a newer V-6 model.... which kept up with him. He was a bit surprised. I'd still choose a 4.6 over the new V-6, but still, 300 hp is 300 hp no matter how it gets to the ground.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
He's saying it is far more common with people of the "fast and furious" mindset, which does indeed revolve around import cars, usually Civic's (Honda capitalized on this with "Civic Nation"). I would agree with him that there is certainly a disproportionate number of "ricers" who flock to these cars, adorn them with [censored]-cannon's, massive body kits and "Type R" and/or "V-TEC" badges and run around like they are the fastest thing on the road.


That might have been true for a couple of years, but that certainly isn't true now.... that scene has been dead for quite a few years now.


So then, how long until the WHOLE (seemingly requisite) Nippon import scene (including the truly fast/high performance one) is; passe, "so yesterday", 'played out', and dead?? (One can hope, can't one??

)

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
So then, how long until the WHOLE (seemingly requisite) Nippon import scene (including the truly fast/high performance one) is; passe, "so yesterday", 'played out', and dead?? (One can hope, can't one??

)


Hopefully never. I like cars no matter where they come from, particularly the ones that are developed to be fun to drive. I hope we always get cars like the Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3, WRX, etc. Those are great, reasonably practical cars that the average person can get behind the wheel of and enjoy without too much risk.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
So then, how long until the WHOLE (seemingly requisite) Nippon import scene (including the truly fast/high performance one) is; passe, "so yesterday", 'played out', and dead?? (One can hope, can't one??

)


Hopefully never. I like cars no matter where they come from, particularly the ones that are developed to be fun to drive. I hope we always get cars like the Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3, WRX, etc. Those are great, reasonably practical cars that the average person can get behind the wheel of and enjoy without too much risk.


Great post. We're all "car guys", no matter what we drive. We should be supporting one another in the hobby, rather than trying to tear one faction or another down. I don't care for the 24" tires on a Chevy Caprice, but at least they're working on their car. I don't care for the coffee can mufflers on Civics, but at least they're working on their car. I don't care for 8" exhaust tips (from 2.5" pipes) with a tune that bellows smoke out of a Cummins-powered Ram, but at least they're working on their truck. And I don't hope that any of them quit; to the contrary, the more people stay involved in the car community (no matter what they choose to drive), the better off we all are in my opinion.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
So then, how long until the WHOLE (seemingly requisite) Nippon import scene (including the truly fast/high performance one) is; passe, "so yesterday", 'played out', and dead?? (One can hope, can't one??

)


Hopefully never. I like cars no matter where they come from, particularly the ones that are developed to be fun to drive. I hope we always get cars like the Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3, WRX, etc. Those are great, reasonably practical cars that the average person can get behind the wheel of and enjoy without too much risk.


Great post. We're all "car guys", no matter what we drive. We should be supporting one another in the hobby, rather than trying to tear one faction or another down. I don't care for the 24" tires on a Chevy Caprice, but at least they're working on their car. I don't care for the coffee can mufflers on Civics, but at least they're working on their car. I don't care for 8" exhaust tips (from 2.5" pipes) with a tune that bellows smoke out of a Cummins-powered Ram, but at least they're working on their truck. And I don't hope that any of them quit; to the contrary, the more people stay involved in the car community (no matter what they choose to drive), the better off we all are in my opinion.


Smoke-stack exhausts.

Could this be a sleeper?

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: Mykl
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
So then, how long until the WHOLE (seemingly requisite) Nippon import scene (including the truly fast/high performance one) is; passe, "so yesterday", 'played out', and dead?? (One can hope, can't one??

)


Hopefully never. I like cars no matter where they come from, particularly the ones that are developed to be fun to drive. I hope we always get cars like the Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3, WRX, etc. Those are great, reasonably practical cars that the average person can get behind the wheel of and enjoy without too much risk.


Great post. We're all "car guys", no matter what we drive. We should be supporting one another in the hobby, rather than trying to tear one faction or another down. I don't care for the 24" tires on a Chevy Caprice, but at least they're working on their car. I don't care for the coffee can mufflers on Civics, but at least they're working on their car. I don't care for 8" exhaust tips (from 2.5" pipes) with a tune that bellows smoke out of a Cummins-powered Ram, but at least they're working on their truck. And I don't hope that any of them quit; to the contrary, the more people stay involved in the car community (no matter what they choose to drive), the better off we all are in my opinion.



AGREED!

My post was just some good-natured razzing of the import nameplate ONLY crew on here (I should have used at least TWO 'wink' emoticons to get that across, I guess?).

HOW many times have I said that I would be driving an STI right now IF it were made by a domestic nameplate company??? (Even though I know this may bother you, and others on here, just like those who REFUSE to purchase a domestic nameplate bother me).

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: dailydriver
AGREED!

My post was just some good-natured razzing of the import nameplate ONLY crew on here (I should have used at least TWO 'wink' emoticons to get that across, I guess?).

HOW many times have I said that I would be driving an STI right now IF it were made by a domestic nameplate company??? (Even though I know this may bother you, and others on here, just like those who REFUSE to purchase a domestic nameplate bother me).

I don't really care where a car is built or what plate it has on it, I lay out a set of needs and I set out to find a well built vehicle that meets those needs (or wants).

 

[SteveSRT8]

Eh, to each his own. All cars can be made into amusing toys.

My personal crusade is NOISE. I like quiet cars, and fast quiet cars are real sleepers...

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Not a single car mentioned to this point is a "sleeper"...



So enlighten us.


An SHO is not a sleeper. A 1991 taurus gl with hubcaps bad paint and an SHO motor might be a sleeper...

A 1975 4 door nova, with dog dish hubcaps, 250 emblems and faded paint (preferably pastel blue or green) sporting a big block (with HUGE hidden mufflers) and a 300 shot of n2o might be a sleeper.

Hint if it has got spoilers, red moldings and fancy wheels a sleeper it is not.

M3, M5, S4 as sleepers

My uncle had one of those...beat-up brown 4-door Nova, 307 badges, column auto, snow tires, a missing wheelcover, & a bad muffler. The column shifter controlled a 3500-stall TH350, the "bad muffler" was a high-compression 383 with camel-hump heads, a mushroom-tappet cam, and a 950 Holley on a Holley Strip Dominator intake (all from a wrecked circle-track car), the stock rear end had 4.10's and a Detroit Locker, the "snow tires" were Hoosier dirt-track tires, the wheelcovers hid the rim screws, and the car was lightened: rear doors gutted, PS and PB delete, no radio, bumpers gutted, 6-cylinder front springs with drag shocks...it was maybe 2900lbs, and ran about 11-flat.

It was rear-ended by an old man in a huge Buick Electra while sitting at a light.

No more super-Nova.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
...

The mid to late 80's Buick Regal T-Types with the GN's turbo 3.8L were as plain Jane as they come but look out if you took one on. Definitely a factory sleeper. I almost bought one. I really wanted a GN but the costw as too high. Instead I looked into a Regal T-Type and would have saved thousands and had the same performance. Of course no Darth Vader look which was a lot of the appeal.

......


Don't pay attention and all you see is taillights in the distance. IMO these turbo regals were definitely factory sleepers!


They were about as close to a factory sleeper as I can think of, but a sleeper is about appearing to be something it isn't. Every fast factory car I can think of has some sort of distinguishing feature; emblems. colors, wheels, something.

Count me as you can't buy a factory built "true sleeper".

I worked for a Buick when T-Types and Grand Nationals were new (and turbo pace car TransAms and Cyclones too)

I'd love to have a nice T-Type they were every bit a grand national under the skin and were "sleeperish" (understated is a better word in my opinion) but anyone who was not an imbecile knew what it was...



You are entitled to your opinion of course but I disagree. The T-Type is a perfect example of a factory sleeper.


You know it is funny, there is a Buick rally in town. I walked out yesterday to find a sickly light blue stock T-Type in the parking lot. It is less of a sleeper than I remembered...

No side moldings, unique wheels, 3.8 SFI Turbo and/or T-Type emblems literally everywhere you look (including the hood ornament) black grill insert, black insert headlamp doors... the list goes on.

Nope, not a sleeper - you'd have to be absolutely daft to mistake it for anything other than a performance car...

On a separate note, who would have think there were actually 4 Reattas on the road much less in the same place...


The true sleeper was the Regal T-type Limited. In that case, most of the "T-Type" badges was replaced by "Limited" stuff...all it had was the hood bulge (with "3.8 SFI Turbo") and a little "T-Type" on the back. You could even get one with a velour bench-seat interior, column shift, and wire wheelcovers! (In fact, I saw one like that; it was white and even had the old-man door moldings.)

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: ls1mike
I love that car, what makes it even better is it is a Ford with an LS based motor in it.


Only you GM guys would think that makes it better, LOL!

I'd love to see one with a 1,000HP TT Termi swap. But that's more $$$$. And that's usually the determining factor in these types of builds.

There is a dude in Nashua, NH with a Grand Marquis with a Termi in it. The only clue is his vanity plate ("TRMIN8D"), a set of what look like Marauder wheels, and the cobra (snake) badges on the fenders. I saw him gassing up, and it was subtle...stock interior, quiet exhaust, I'd never have guessed if not for the plates.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
^^^Nope. And I love the new gen Goat.

Gotta be something that just doesn't look fast to be really sleepy!


Would a 1984 Corvette with "Cross-Fire Injection" badges and a turbocharged LS2 under the hood qualify?

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: VicVinegar
I'm suddenly reminded of the WRX STI Limited from a few years back. Basically a WRX STI with the wing deleted. The hood scoop still gives away something, and someone who knows would notice the STI badge or the wheels, but it looks pretty tame overall.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2007-subaru-wrx-sti-limited-first-drive-review


Didn't all the Imprezas with the Sport (RS?) package have the scoop, though?

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
^^^Nope. And I love the new gen Goat.

Gotta be something that just doesn't look fast to be really sleepy!


Would a 1984 Corvette with "Cross-Fire Injection" badges and a turbocharged LS2 under the hood qualify?

Yes it would, especially if it was a bit quieter than the norm. I made a lot of my pocket money in the 70's drag racing and a quiet car was universally underestimated.