"Sports" car owners.

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: JT1
For the last year my DD was a 1991 chevy caprice, all was good it was very reliable just a little mundane, I was only one time "challenged" by another driver to race. This was against a dodge ram 1500 5.9, hardly worth the gas I probably would have lost anyway.

Just yesterday I picked up a 1997 Eclipse GST, for those that do not know this is a FWD 2dr 2.0 turbocharged version of the standard eclipse, the only cosmetic differences from a Non turbo eclipse are the badges and a larger "arch" type spoiler. Besides the aftermarket wheels it is stock appearing, the only other modifications are hidden under the hood.

Just since yesterday I've been challenged or had people rev their exhaust at me twice(oddly enough both honda civics), in both of these situations I was in no position to race nor had the interest.

I'm really just wondering if any other sports car or muscle car owners have noticed how differently people act when your driving your "hot rod" as opposed to your daily beater?


Has happened to me most of my life as I used to drive muscle cars and when I got out of that and more into new vehicles I dress them up, add dual exhaust, etc... I do not race on the street though. I have done that maybe 2-3 times in total and it was when I was young and STUPID! I applaud you for not doing it.

I get challeneged to race at least 1-2 times a week. Usually by some stupid teenage kid in a little ricer rocket with a phart can muffler( I know it is spelled wrong ), a ridiculous big wing on the trunk, and some tribal grahpics who thinks he has a super fast vehicle because of that. I just ignore them. I am not racing on the street and risking hurting or killing myself or others to prove anything.

I get a lot of that in my current truck as said. I dressed it up with a muscle car tribute theme because I like my vehicles to be unique and look good. It is not an invitation to street race.

Hey NHHEMI that`s a SWEEEEEEET truck!!!!!!! I`ve never seen one before. I LOVE it!

 

[PandaBear]

 

[Spyder7]

I saw one really nicely custom modified chev pickup recently. The visual evidence to the mods was evident from the small logos he had on the tinted back window, but evident throughout in the rims and after market brakes visible through them, suspension, muffler and exhaust. The net effect was very well done. No 'ricer' or tackiness to it, just very finely tuned and detailed with the concession to the mods put in confined to that small arrangement on the back window.

It was far better done than many modified cars I've seen, where too often they don't seem to know when to stop and cross over into the totally tacky (like the ugly orange painted Shadow with its far too wide tires and ridiculous Viper stripe over the top - it just looked tacky).

-Spyder

 

[KrisZ]

I hope you guys realize what happens after one of these ricers "challenges" you for the race?

Usually the way it goes is that they challenge a guy in a Mustang, for example, the guy just ignores the ricer and when the light turns green he just accelerates as normal, meanwhile the ricers guns it and thinks he just beat the mustang guy.

The next step is to brag about it near a doughnut shop during their gatherings or on some internet forum. So they keep doing this because they think they are actually winning.

 

[Spazdog]

My Mazda has an aftermarket exhaust, 18"s, etc... (not a loud exhaust, just a lower tone. The intake probably made it louder than my exhaust did.)

I almost never get ricer revved.

My wife's car? Holy schnike' does it ever attract Civics, 3.8 Mustangs and 3.4 Camaros.

It actually has more torque than my car and 90%+ of the torque is availiable from 2300 rpm. The doofus in the 3.4 Camaro with the cracked fender, teal green door, and Flowmaster 1 into 2 muffler doesn't stand a chance. But he will rev. Oh yeah. He is mighty....

"Ooooh there's a PT Cruiser wagon with chrome 5-spokes (OEM) I can enhance my manhood by beating that!"

99.5% of the time, they get to leave with their "victory". But I would be lying if I didn't admit that .5% of the time, when the wife and kid aren't in the car, there are no (zero) side streets ahead, and there is a substantial divider of some sort between myself and oncoming traffic, if the wife's clown hearse didn't eviscerate a ricer, Foreign or Domestic. I mean I was just blowing out the cobwebs. Yeah, that's what happened!

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Not surprised. I've noticed that other drivers treat me a lot differently depending on what car I drive. . . .

. . . In the Buick Park Avenue, I get a lot of respect. It's sometimes very annoying--like when people at 4-way stops wait for me to go even though it's not my turn. The one thing that happens is many drivers approaching from the rear pick the other lane at stoplights on 4-lane streets. I figure they're thinking that they don't want to get caught behind a slow octogenarian. They almost always end up merging behind me after the light, though. It's a pretty fast car.

Respect, no, but I've often noticed the same thing about their apparently not wanting to get stuck behind Grandpa (me) heading off to bingo night. Like you, I surprise 'em. And the PA is quite nimble for a car its size; I can thread it through a parking lot and be at the exit before a lot of the other drivers put their beasts in gear.

 

[ItsuMitsubishi]

97 Eclipse turbo is definitely going to get every rice boy in his Civic all hyped up to test you. It WILL be annoying, and most of the time it really isn't worth the fuel or risk of a ticket. The design of the car still looks relevant today IMO. Congrats on the car! What kinda modifications are you rockin'?

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I hope you guys realize what happens after one of these ricers "challenges" you for the race?

Usually the way it goes is that they challenge a guy in a Mustang, for example, the guy just ignores the ricer and when the light turns green he just accelerates as normal, meanwhile the ricers guns it and thinks he just beat the mustang guy.

The next step is to brag about it near a doughnut shop during their gatherings or on some internet forum. So they keep doing this because they think they are actually winning.


That is true I agree. However, I am not racing on the street just to shut them up. They can say whatever they want I really don't care. I am not going to hurt or kill myself or others and race on the street.

I had a couple rednecks in a Chevy truck try and race me in my 04 Ram( dressed up similar to the 08 above ). We were side by side at the lights and when it changed the guy floored it and took off in a cloud of oil smoke and engine noise. I just went about my business and ignored him.

Ran into them down the road at the store and they were talking smack about how my truck was all show and no go. I tried to explain I didn't even try and race but they were strutting around with their chests puffed out saying they smoked me. I walked away chuckling. I could have eaten that truck alive without trying but I refuse to street race.

If someone wants to think they won a race when I didn't even try what can I do?

 

[JT1]

Mods:K&N FIPK, Blitz Electronic boost controller, Lightweight Aluminum Flywheel/Centerforce clutch, 3" exhaust w/Magnaflow muffler,17"Enkei Wheels.

The rice magnet.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: JT1
Mods:K&N FIPK, Blitz Electronic boost controller, Lightweight Aluminum Flywheel/Centerforce clutch, 3" exhaust w/Magnaflow muffler,17"Enkei Wheels.

The rice magnet.


I don't know if you can call a ricer a "rice magnet".

 

[JT1]

Someone clearly doesn't understand the definition of rice, but oh well.

Pick your poison, I've got a little of both.

 

[ls1mike]

They pretty much leave the Trans Am alone. If they get froggy, I usually have a full bottle of N20 so I can through a purge their way. That is enough to make them back off. I do my racing at track.

The Regal. Ha! No one looks twice at it, but with exhaust, computer, smaller supercharger pulley and few other goodies it moves pretty good.

 

[Tornado Red]

Nobody messes with my Golf TDI. Maybe they wonder what I have under the hood, but they don't want to find out.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Not surprised. I've noticed that other drivers treat me a lot differently depending on what car I drive. . . .

. . . In the Buick Park Avenue, I get a lot of respect. It's sometimes very annoying--like when people at 4-way stops wait for me to go even though it's not my turn. The one thing that happens is many drivers approaching from the rear pick the other lane at stoplights on 4-lane streets. I figure they're thinking that they don't want to get caught behind a slow octogenarian. They almost always end up merging behind me after the light, though. It's a pretty fast car.

Respect, no, but I've often noticed the same thing about their apparently not wanting to get stuck behind Grandpa (me) heading off to bingo night. Like you, I surprise 'em. And the PA is quite nimble for a car its size; I can thread it through a parking lot and be at the exit before a lot of the other drivers put their beasts in gear.


Those Buick and Olds 3.8`s are sleepers. They`re family sedans that can outrun most sportscars on the road.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Many Civic Si with coffee can exhaust tried my S2000, none success so far. The problem is my rear UHP summer tires wear out in less than 12k miles.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: JT1
Mods:K&N FIPK, Blitz Electronic boost controller, Lightweight Aluminum Flywheel/Centerforce clutch, 3" exhaust w/Magnaflow muffler,17"Enkei Wheels.

The rice magnet.


I don't know if you can call a ricer a "rice magnet".

 

[ffracer]

The solution is usually not related to the car somewhat, but driver ability.

They are called turns. Anyone can push the gas. Very few can keep going.

 

[ItsuMitsubishi]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: JT1
Mods:K&N FIPK, Blitz Electronic boost controller, Lightweight Aluminum Flywheel/Centerforce clutch, 3" exhaust w/Magnaflow muffler,17"Enkei Wheels.

The rice magnet.


I don't know if you can call a ricer a "rice magnet".


Nice setup.

cchase, just because it's Japanese doesn't qualify something as rice. 'Rice' in the automotive context is not your racially disparaging terminology of the 60's, but rather a reference to the kids who are "all show, no go"-stickers, [censored] cans on stock 1.5L SOHC engine, huge park bench wings etc. With JT1's modifications being purpose-serving performance oriented and hidden under the hood, would make his car the opposite of rice.

 

[ItsuMitsubishi]

Originally Posted By: ffracer
The solution is usually not related to the car somewhat, but driver ability.

They are called turns. Anyone can push the gas. Very few can keep going.


Very true. People need to realist that weight distribution, suspension, torsional rigidity etc are just as important as brute force.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: ItsuMitsubishi
Originally Posted By: ffracer
The solution is usually not related to the car somewhat, but driver ability.

They are called turns. Anyone can push the gas. Very few can keep going.


Very true. People need to realist that weight distribution, suspension, torsional rigidity etc are just as important as brute force.

On the street though, the only semi-safe form of "racing" is a quick zip to 50-60mph in a straight line. Involving handling is usually a contest of who's stupider and willing to risk an accident...