DC2 Acura Integra – 11 Years in the Making

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This has been a very long time coming-11 years to be exact. In this time, Ferd Natividad has gone using a full range of emotions together with his ’94 Acura Integra-he’s loved it, hated it, overlooked it and at one point, nearly trashed the DC2 altogether. Ferd was just crazy enough to think about destroying the shell because he couldn’t fathom the notion of someone finishing what he started across a decade ago, two years ago. Hence, the Acura Integra’s nickname ATS*Kranky is an appropriate one. Ferd is a founding member of NorCal’s famed Honda car crew, ATS Garage, and the temperamental nature of the Integra can make it Kranky (cranky). You wouldn’t think that this Integra was such a pain in his ass because at first glance it is apparently as close to perfect understandably. It is certainly not without its faults and headaches, however.from the Making

The car started life as a black LS slammed on Mugen RnR wheels back in 2003, Ferd explains. I had the DC2 resprayed a goldish/bronze tone each year later yet still kept it very mild because builds just weren’t that intricate at the time. More events started happening in NorCal and another event specifically, JDM Theory, really took off. Everyone started doing more with their things and cars got more competitive. What my friend Fred Chapman and that i really desired to do was tear the complete car down so we could build it through the ground-up, even though i bought a Rev Hard turbo kit to make the Integra a bit quicker. Fred sold us a ’91 Civic so I could have a daily driver while we rebuilt my Integra, and he bought my LS motor from me to set into their own car. Also, he bought my brakes and I sold my turbo kit to my other friend so the Integra was essentially a rolling shell. My game plan was simple; I recently wanted to put another motor in, execute a five-lug conversion and install an entire JDM Type R clip. As possible tell at this point, it didn’t exactly work out the way I planned.

During the mid-2000s, the premier tuning shop in Northern California was RedZone Performance. It was actually such a big name from the Honda community that you would be hard-pressed to identify a Honda from that area that didn’t pass through RedZone. They made it happen all so Ferd trusted them with the task of converting his Acura Integra to right-hand drive. Being as busy because they were, he didn’t rush them and so they worked on the automobile sparingly. Ferd occupied the downtime by tinkering together with his EF hatchback. What was supposed to be a side project ended-up as being a full-blown build. It was put on the backburner while he continued his EF, although eventually he got his now-RHD Integra back from RedZone.but because his funds were going to the Civic, he needed some financial aid. He began seeking out a paint sponsor and found one with a body shop called Garage Inc. You don’t dictate when the car gets finished. That’s the thing with having sponsors, typically. Jobs that generate income for the business come first and so the Integra just sat. They would do a little bit of body work here and there but then there would be extended periods of inactivity, as Ferd explains. They just kept lagging and continued to create empty promises. There was a point after i would have rather taken and paid the auto somewhere else. The automobile was half done so I just wanted them to finish it. I even sold my EF so I could fund the other build. Months turned into years and I eventually bought another car and started another project.

The latest project, an EG2 del Sol, was featured, built and later on sold before he finished this DC2. A couple years went by before I eventually got my Integra shell back. Ferd told us Seriously. It took so long that we was actually surprised when I got the car home. You’d assume that it was a good thing to get it back but I really started to doubt this project. It just looked like there was only bad luck with this car and because of the down time, I just got sick of waiting. I was at a crossroads; I could sell it because I had a great deal of inquiries, but I just couldn’t picture someone finishing this project. It literally made me sick to my stomach. I needed to crush the car because I didn’t want to handle it anymore and didn’t want to concern yourself with seeing someone elsethat includes a quick-disconnect plate on the firewall.

The turning point came when he acquired his K20A2 engine from Dan at R-Crew Racing. Seeing the heart of Kranky really gave him a brand new sense of motivation. Getting the parts to get the swap running became an issue since there was a certain way he wanted the engine bay to look. Once again but his friend Fred Chapman became the voice of reason the negative opinions came creeping into his head. He was with Ferd during the entire ordeal and wished to see the build come to fruition as much as anyone. On a random night, Fred showed up at his doorstep and so they installed the K-series that same evening.

Once the heart was transplanted, the duo was able to execute the cosmetic side from the engine bay in true ATS Garage fashion. As being a Honda aficionado, you should already be familiar with their work, so it really needs no introduction. Through the parts selection, color execution, to the smallest of details like the wrinkle black finish of his brake booster, you can tell this is a signature ATS Garage masterpiece. Everything was beginning to fall into place until it came time to get the engine running. All things considered, it wouldn’t be Kranky without some form of dilemma. 10 years of build-up in the fuel tank and lines turned-out to end up being the issue. The metal lines were so corroded how the lines inevitably turned soggy and prevented fuel delivery to the engine. To make the Integra a little less Kranky the fuel tank was hot-cleaned, new and tankedvery happy to say that the vehicle fired right up afterward. We even got the auto tuned by RedZone Performance and it made good power. This car has been with me for so long that I’m glad to see it finally completed. This DC2 Acura Integra will always be special, he added, although there were times when I lost my patience, nearly gave up and built other cars to occupy my time.

Despite us airing out Kranky’s rough past, Ferd’s build is honestly among the best we have ever seen. It instantly captured our attention when it first debuted and we knew it was the perfect choice to grace the cover of this year’s Honda Issue. ATS Garage builds are top tier and their builds continue to evolve with the times, almost to the stage where these are ones that set the precedent while still holding true to the old methods Hondas are designed by a small grouping of friends in tiny one-car garages.

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Make the Most out of Your Long Weekend with These Great Ideas

As the calendar moves along and also you see that 3-day weekend coming, you’re not going to want to just sit around a wait for it and have that loathsome “staycation” that appears to somehow be acceptable for some. I mean, really – what’s more boring than turing your vacation into just putting things off at your own home. That’s true laziness. here you’re afforded an opportunity to live a little, to change your boring life around into something interesting and memorable, and instead you’re going to just do everything you always do, wasting time from the back yard or in front of the TV, and you justify it by providing it a cute little name like “staycation.” Well, don’t be that kind of loser. You gotta prepare and make that 3-day weekend enough time of your life. Here’s some ideas!

NissanMay2015-2-1

First, and foremost, you gotta get rid of town. You can’t stay-cation. That’s the worst. A very important factor to really ensure it is memorable is usually to finally obtain the new car you’ve been wanting to get. Visit Nissan Riverside and check out their awesome deals on great rides. Once you get a new car you are able to invite your buddies to go with you together with you can definitely hit the weekend and then make it amazing. What you do is you get a great destination, like a National Park – Joshua Tree for example, or perhaps Zion in Utah, and obtain into that new Nissan and drive for this great place. When you’re stuck in that traffic because everyone and their mother has chosen to take a road trip this weekend simply because they followed my advice, you at least have been in your brand-new car and loving life. You’re almost thankful for the traffic to maximize your period in your new car! Start picturing yourself in traffic in many sweet ride from here: http://metronissanredlands.com.

NissanMay2015-2-2

You may maximize your fun in other ways if that doesn’t sound appealing because you have no sense of adventure. You can still do something special on this special weekend, although you may don’t desire to drive somewhere awesome. Develop a great menu idea making a special meal. Maybe BBQ some shrimp? Or earn some great steaks? Sometimes we can easily come up with a meal idea that really stands beyond other meals to ensure that we remember it for a long time. Once had a ton of oysters and i’ll always remember that amazing meal i.

NissanMay2015-2-3

You can also take the time to do a movie marathon of something like the very first Star Wars trilogy. Alternatively, a 007 marathon. Of course you can do Lord of the Rings too. An issue that takes a very long time to watch and you need a great long time to do it. Most of us never get a chance to observe all of the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars in a single setting, why not get it done on a 3-day weekend, and you’ll bear in mind having tried it and isn’t that something worth doing?

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1991 Toyota Soarer – Hybrid 1JZ Head w/ 2JZ Block

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We never had the pleasure to getting the Z20 Toyota Soarer on US soil. It shares the same chassis as the A70 Supra, where powerplants just like the 1G, 7M and 1J/2J were interchangeable,. That’s perhaps the most relatable part of the ’86-91 Soarer. Some might say we were blessed using the Lexus SC300/400-the successor for the Z20. However for us JDM fanboys, a sheet of us was still missing since we never received this fine rear-wheel drive, boxy coupe that begged to be driven hard and even drifted; hence why our hearts fluttered when we stumbled onBefore the next generation came marching in, Akihiro Nakamura snagged this ’91 Toyota Soarer just. Considering that the newer plus more powerful JZ engines were a direct swap, it had been a no-brainer what Nakamura-san was going to do, even though the chassis originally came with a turbocharged 7M-GTE. He decided to piece together a completely-built 3.-liter 1.5JZ. Confused? A 1.5JZ includes a 1JZ head with a 2JZ short block. This hybrid combination relies on a high flowing head mated with a large turbo, all equating into aThe bottom-end received a grip of reinforcement to serve his power demands, not necessarily for reinforcement but for longevity with newer metals and fresh components. The guys at R Performance installed forged Tomei pistons and connecting rods in preparation for the ogre-esque T04R turbo. An HKS standalone computer controls the engine assembly working in conjunction with its various sensors. A five-speed R154 transmission, a direct cousin of the robust six-speed Supra V160 Getrag, was reused but upgraded having a twin-plate Ogura Racing Clutch. The rejuvenated powertrain gave the Soarer reliable and quickSuper-stiff 20kg front and 11kg rear Swift springs on the Aragosta-based coilovers were a perfect match for the drift machine, as this JDM Toyota Soarer was built to slide. At a whopping 6.5-degrees camber, the top struts are already set up Oni-kyan style (demon camber) by which no pun was ever intended to this Oni Style Soarer name. The Soarer comes designed with a double wishbone suspension, so the camber adjustment needed to be done via upper and lower arms and not by camber plates-a big hint that the suspension components were modified for stance and gratification. All alignment settings were configured in accordance with Nakamura’s driving style.pulled and folded to support the staggered TE37 Super Lap wheels. Not just for show, Nakamura-san explained to us he chose these classic Volk Racing six-spokes for their light weight, durability and strength. In fact, these wheels were so emphasized for their weight-saving characteristic that Volk never included center caps. Yes, every ounce matters when it comes to lightweight tuning! The massively wide wheels were wrapped with Dunlop DZ101 tires-slightly stretched for fender clearance.

1991 toyota soarer MOMO drifting steering wheelwork like a partition to the gutted rear and carpeted front interior. The Cusco Safety 21 rollcage prohibits more than two occupants in this machine, with various gauges and a deep dish MOMO steering wheel an indication of this JDM Toyota’s serious sliding potential.

So, while we never saw the Z20 here stateside, Nakamura-san has shown us a good demonstration of how the perfect one is built. The underground drift car has taught us precisely what the hybrid 1.5JZ engine is capable of, plus we’ll always bear in mind the Winged Lion emblem of the Toyota Soarer.


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2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith – Tested

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It should be strange to exist in a category of one; not to have contemporaries, to not have benchmarks to measure yourself against. The property owner of a Rolls-Royce must be aware of this feeling, and they must be in a position to console themselves by swaddling their bodies in quilts stuffed puffy with hundred dollar bills. You got a glimmer of driving Rolls-Royce’s latest touring coupe, nevertheless it was just a drive, when you read our February 2014 issue. The Wraith is actually a high-performance fastback packing 624 hp from the 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12. Clearly, we needed another opportunity using the car with a test track to see what all that power can do inside a 5,328-pound cruiser.

If you’re reading the magazine in page order, you no doubt read Ian Kuah’s review of the latest Mercedes S63 Coupe. The newest in space-age German technology can be yours for the very reasonable sum right around $220,000. I say reasonable because things are all relative. The Rolls-Royce Wraith starts at $288,600, nevertheless the car we tested had a bottom line of $360,325 with options. Let that sink in. I digress, even though that’s more the than the price tag on a Boxster S in options alone.of the otherworldly experience. There aren’t many people on earth who arrive at drive a Rolls and much less still who are fortunate enough to drive them at their limits. I do this job for science.

Acceleration runs are obviously fast, yet strangely effortless. Launching the car can be difficult with 590 lb-ft of torque being delivered through just the rear tires. The engineers in Goodwood eschewed the all-wheel-drive trend and stuck with the greater traditional rear-wheel drive. Careful throttle modulation and a bit of practice provides for a -60-mph sprint in just 4.1 seconds. In comparison, a Bentley Continental GT Speed I tested did exactly the same in 3.8 seconds, but with the added benefit of powering all four corners. In the event you keep your Berluti boot planted in the Wraith’s thick woolen carpet, the quarter-mile eclipses in a mere 12.5 seconds with a trap speed of 114 mph. The ZF eight-speed automatic is smooth and efficient. It never feels as though power is oozing away like some autos, however it certainly never bangs a shift, either. From in the car, the engine noise-and external sound for that matter-doesn’t exist. From outside, the Wraith may sound like a Spitfire ripping on thewithin a relatively short 109 feet from 60 mph. That may be 2 feet shorter compared to the aforementioned Bentley, which not only enjoys a plus of wider front tires but a 150-pound advantage in mass as well. Again, no drama in the endeavor, just punt the brake pedal toward the floor and the car dives on the front axle while screeching to some halt.

Our figure-8 tests are where things normally get interesting for larger, more massive cars. This Roller is no exception. You feel every ounce of mass wanting to continue on; the major brakes scrub speed dutifully, though braking into the skipad sections is again fantastic. Turn in too quickly as well as the car returns gentle, speed scrubbing understeer. The same happens if you try to carry your braking past too far into the turn. The Wraith prefers a far more gentle, patient hand in the wheel. Fast steering inputs create a situation in which thewheels and tires, and suspension charge eagerly into the turn, as the body attempts to continue straight on. The Rolls certainly does. Your body movement could best be described as nautical. Although the Wraith is tuned to be more sporting than its chassis-mate Ghost, it really is still faraway from a sports car. The air suspension is firm but compliant in most situations but isn’t quite created forin the future almost completely off the brakes, let the car settle and regain composure, turn in deliberately but patiently, again, let the body settle its considerable mass on the outside tires, and then feed in the power. The Wraith will average .82 g around the skidpad section. A simple prod of the throttle will blast the back tires free of the constraints of friction, creating a gluttonous, smoke-pouring drift. Driving a Rolls-Royce, even one that isn’t yours, will give you a glimpse into the life of the 1%. Powering a Rolls-Royce out of a turn, swinging the back end around while feeling the tires melt beneath the mountain of torque, lets you gaze down on the 1% from the life of a fractional.

If you are more concerned with lap times as compared to smoke-filled gluttony, you can feed power in slowly, let the rear end hook up and power out onto the straight, while picking up the front end like an offshore racer. The Wraith could eventually lap our figure-8 in 26.6 seconds. The Continental GT does the identical lap .9 seconds quicker, again the all-wheel drive is a big advantage exiting turns. The Bentley won’t ever present you with the choice ofIf that makes more sense, at the end of your day, we can try to compare the Wraith with other vehicles, or collections of other vehicles. , it stands alone.Ultimately and however Hopefully I have also given some comprehension of the feeling of your Wraith, though i have laid out the performance numbers to bare. From your inch-thick carpeting, to the immense slabs of wood that make up the door panels and then drifting up to the fiber-optic-equipped starry night headliner, nothing gives you the elegant experience of this Rolls-Royce. WhileCadillac and Lexus, and the rest of the luxury pretenders throw stitching on every edge and corner of their interiors, Rolls has moved past that and it is now leaving the busy, overworked seek out simplicity and the beauty of uninterrupted shapes.

It appears to be almost counterintuitive to say with regards to a $360,000 high-tech vehicle, although the pleasure arises from the simple act of driving it. The rarity of such a nicely-engineered vehicle that achieves world-class luxury with elegant athleticism, although it isn’t simply the exclusivity endowed by the price.

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Make the Most out of Your Long Weekend with These Great Ideas

As the calendar moves along and also you see that 3-day weekend coming, you’re not going to want to just sit around a wait for it and have that loathsome “staycation” that appears to somehow be acceptable for some. I mean, really – what’s more boring than turing your vacation into just putting things off at your own home. That’s true laziness. here you’re afforded an opportunity to live a little, to change your boring life around into something interesting and memorable, and instead you’re going to just do everything you always do, wasting time from the back yard or in front of the TV, and you justify it by providing it a cute little name like “staycation.” Well, don’t be that kind of loser. You gotta prepare and make that 3-day weekend enough time of your life. Here’s some ideas!

NissanMay2015-2-1

First, and foremost, you gotta get rid of town. You can’t stay-cation. That’s the worst. A very important factor to really ensure it is memorable is usually to finally obtain the new car you’ve been wanting to get. Visit Nissan Riverside and check out their awesome deals on great rides. Once you get a new car you are able to invite your buddies to go with you together with you can definitely hit the weekend and then make it amazing. What you do is you get a great destination, like a National Park – Joshua Tree for example, or perhaps Zion in Utah, and obtain into that new Nissan and drive for this great place. When you’re stuck in that traffic because everyone and their mother has chosen to take a road trip this weekend simply because they followed my advice, you at least have been in your brand-new car and loving life. You’re almost thankful for the traffic to maximize your period in your new car! Start picturing yourself in traffic in many sweet ride from here: http://metronissanredlands.com.

NissanMay2015-2-2

You may maximize your fun in other ways if that doesn’t sound appealing because you have no sense of adventure. You can still do something special on this special weekend, although you may don’t desire to drive somewhere awesome. Develop a great menu idea making a special meal. Maybe BBQ some shrimp? Or earn some great steaks? Sometimes we can easily come up with a meal idea that really stands beyond other meals to ensure that we remember it for a long time. Once had a ton of oysters and i’ll always remember that amazing meal i.

NissanMay2015-2-3

You can also take the time to do a movie marathon of something like the very first Star Wars trilogy. Alternatively, a 007 marathon. Of course you can do Lord of the Rings too. An issue that takes a very long time to watch and you need a great long time to do it. Most of us never get a chance to observe all of the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars in a single setting, why not get it done on a 3-day weekend, and you’ll bear in mind having tried it and isn’t that something worth doing?

1991 Acura NSX – Marriage Proposal Included (For Real)

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Kris Yu is has been pumping out quality cars for years. After building a 911 Porsche, he wanted something exotic and high end without the headaches and maintenance that come with some Euros. His latest creation entails Honda’s legendary supercar, the 1991 Acura NSX, short for New Sports car eXperimental. And even today, after 20-plus years, it’s still the dream car for many Honda junkies. [side note: Yu proposed to his now fiance in the “”Special Thanks”” portion of this article, when she saw it in the Nov. issue mag, she said Yes!]
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Believe it or not, this car was a culmination of three different NSXs. His first NSX was purchased from Fatlace and Illest creative director Mark Arcenal. Kris loved this NSX simply because it had a built transmission by HKS and was the #16 NSX off the assembly line. The second one he bought had a solid interior and a JDM motor with only 7K miles on the odometer, however, its exterior was a bit deteriorated. Kris eventually bought a third NSX (Is this guy crazy?! -Ed). There was now a trio of NSXs parked in his driveway. The third one was decent in terms of interior and exterior. After much weighing the ins and outs of each car, Kris decided to keep the second one because he knew he was going to make some major exterior changes anyways, plus the motor was sound with its low mileage. “”I didn’t want to cut up a perfect NSX body. I figured I’ll let someone else enjoy it,”” he explains. The other two were sold after Kris picked out all the little pieces that he wanted to keep, such as the OE door motors, interior panels and window switches.
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An interior so damn clean even all the aftermarket stereo equipment looks OEM or is hidden from view.

When it came time to build his masterpiece, Kris tackled the exterior first. He didn’t want to make it impractical to where the car wasn’t capable of daily driving. He noticed most NSX builders either kept the body stock or went to the extreme. “”My only rule when I started this project was to not take away from the lines and true look of the original exterior.”” It took Kris roughly a year of planning and piecing together the aero till he was satisfied with the look he was going for. The result is what he calls JGTC-inspired. It features a custom widebody mixed with some JDM and USDM pieces. Front and center, you’ll find a very sexy JDM Burn Up front bumper, followed by an array of Downforce aero, including the side skirts, engine ducts, rear fenders and intake scoops. For the rear, Kris took the stock NA1 bumper and cut the lower half so the exhaust was visible. He then rolled the edges and molded side splats from Backyard Special. Perhaps the hardest part of the project was the subtle widebody, though. It might not scream widebody, but each corner has brand-new aluminum fenders. The fronts are 1-inch wider per side, while the rears are 1.5-inches beefier.
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Next up was the NSX’s chassis. Prior to his current setup, a set of NA2 Type R suspension was used. However, after going for a test ride with air suspension, Kris knew right away this was the route to take. AirREX made a custom-valved setup just for Kris and guaranteed it wouldn’t stray away from performance. “”I was worried that after I installed the air it would feel hella floaty, but it actually handled better than my Type R setup,”” Kris says. (How do we know he’s from NorCal? Hella! -Ed). Finishing up the chassis upgrades included StopTech big brakes and sexy ‘n’ staggered Work S1R wheels.
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As we mentioned earlier, this particular NSX only had 7K miles on it. Well, it’s because the motor was previously swapped from its original ’91 engine to a reconditioned ’95-spec. It features upgraded cams and valve springs, plus Kris added bolt-ons such as a Pride header, test pipe and exhaust to let the six-cylinder breathe. To keep up with the extra airflow, injectors were upgraded before a Prospeed ECU was used to tune the car to 287hp—not a crazy amount of horsepower but enough for this mid-engine supercar to have some fun.
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Low-mileage 3.0-liter features bolt-ons and upgraded cams to make 287hp on pump gas. Not hella bad…

Attention to the interior was just as important to Kris. Holding him and his passenger are Bride Digo seats strapped with Takatas. Even with all the custom exterior and top-shelf parts on the car, Kris tells us he loves his stereo setup the most. He was going for an OEM-classy look, but nothing extreme. The custom center double-din dash holds the Clarion DD and 7-inch monitor. All the other audio gear was hidden away from sight.
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There were a lot of options that could’ve been done to make this car appeal to the younger and trendier crowd. Kris could’ve easily painted his NSX a flashy color, but he went with a more modest black. He could’ve turbocharged it, but he’d be dealing with tuning issues. And while his car may be on air, it’s not obnoxiously slammed and allows him to drive around town with ease. You can always do what people on the Internet tell you, but having an NSX this sweet that you built using your own ideas and inspiration can’t be beat.
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Tuning Menu
1991 Acura NSX

Owner Kris Yu

Location San Francisco, CA

Occupation Performance Shop Sales, Tech at Impact Performance

Engine ’95-spec 3.0-liter C30A engine; upgraded cams and valve springs; ARC intake; Pride header, test pipe and v2 exhaust; Rywire injector harness; OE RDX injectors; K-Tuned injector bracket

Drivetrain five-speed manual transmission

Engine Management Prospeed ECU

Footwork & Chassis AirREX Race suspension with 16kg front, 18kg rear equivalent valve rates; Type R front brace and sway bar; GT Spec rear strut bar

Brakes StopTech four-piston front and rear brake kits

Wheels & Tires 18×8.5″” front, 19×10.5″” rear Work S1R wheels in matte bronze; 225/35R18 front, 275/30R19 rear Toyo T1 Sport tires; Project Kics black chrome lug nuts

Exterior custom widebody conversion and rear bumper; Burn Up front bumper; Downforce side skirts, splitters, carbon-fiber air ducts, JGTC-style intake scoop, rear fender scoops; Backyard Special rear bumper pats; Type S taillights; shaved fender lights and antenna; Craftsquare mirrors; Type R rear wing and hood; piano black paint with PPG glamor clear coat

Interior Bride Digo seats and seat rails; Takata harnesses; Spoon shift knob; Works Bell flip-up hub; Personal steering wheel; Type R shift plate and boot; painted trim pieces; Clarion head unit in custom center dash; 7″” SOS monitor; Arc amp; Illusion Audio speakers; Morel subwoofer

Thanks You Wilson at AirREX, Sunny, Carlin, Jerry, Norm Silas at Impact Performance, Mark at Pride Exhaust, Bing and Joey Simplicity In Sound, Stan at Toyo Tires, Matt at The Shop San Bruno, Jeff at Launch Distribution, Steve at Mackin Industries, Mike C, Dave C, Harry at HRS Enterprise, Pat at Quickworks and my Endless Project family

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1991 acura NSX 95 spec C30A engine 11
1991 acura NSX downforce side skirts 09

Special Thanks I would like to take this time to thank my girlfriend Tammy for always putting up with my hobbies, the countless hours you stayed late while I was working on my cars, waking up early to keep me company at shows and flying around the country for events. I would like to make this feature special to you as it is to me. I’m glad to have met you and I don’t know what I would do without you. Will you marry me, Tammy? Now turn around…

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2015 Volkswagen e-Golf – First Drive

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I’ve said frequently that, for the investment, the Volkswagen Golf is the perfect car in the world. The TDI has always been a fan favorite for efficiency, as the GTI and Golf R are as fun to operate a vehicle as cars costing twice as much. The base Golf is not merely as efficient as ever, on account of the new 1.8-liter turbo, but the interior is world-class as well. For 2015, VW is heading into the zero-emissions market with the all-electric e-Golf. It looks set to be the benchmark in thattogether with the eye rolling. It’s fantastic, and electric cars use a real place in the market. Even for enthusiasts. We have a pretty good thought of what people expect from them, as someone who has spent a fair period of time talking to electric car owners while charging an extended-term Tesla. These are almost never the person’s only car and seldom the owner’s priciest car. Even in the case of $90,000 Teslas. They are, however, the owner’s daily driver and sometimes favorite toy.

Volkswagen e Golf Rear Three Quarters View Dynamic

Volkswagen e Golf Rear Three Quarters View Charging

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Driving the e-Golf, the genuine stand-out feature is the shortage of anything that stands out. Apart from some energy readouts rather than a tachometer and the general lack of noise, there is little concerning theThe only electric motor is just rated at 115 hp, but with 199 lb-ft of torque available from the start, it pulls better than a TDI. Unlike other compact electrics, it even pulls well at highway speeds. The show’s over by 35 mph, though the Nissan Leaf, as an example, feels downright fast off of the line. The e-Golf keeps pulling long after.

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Volkswagen e Golf front-end

Acceleration is quiet and smooth, as is highway cruising. Other electrics suffer from wind and road noise that could normally have been masked by powertrain sounds. The MQB-based Golf is quiet in the first place, but it seems as though additional time has been spent with this battery-powered variant. The whole experience might be relaxing. And as anyone who has driven a good electric vehicle can tell you, this is the way ahead forthan the usual comparable four-door 1.8T Golf, even carrying around 700 pounds in lithium-ion battery pack. The 24.2 kWh battery is good for 70 to 90 miles of normal driving. Volkswagen is partnering with Charge Point, a nationwide charging station network, and says the e-Golf can be charged to eighty percent of capacity in just thirty minutes. We can’t imagine buying or leasing one of these without having access to a charger either at home or work, if not both, although plugging into a standard 110-volt home socket will require 20 hours for the same charge. In the event of the inability to quite make it to that charging station, VW offers free roadside assistance.

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Volkswagen e Golf charger

Volkswagen e Golf front three quarters

Despite the extra 360 pounds, the newest MQB still feels nimble and maintains the normal solid-yet-compliant ride. The steering is wonderful, surprisingly so, with no on-center dead spot. Resistance builds consistently and immediately as the wheel is turned. Road feel is around the low side. Some of that could be attributed to the 205/55 all-season tires, and I’m sure some is merely tuning to the audience. Regardless, the handling is better than other things in the class. Putting battery pack inside the center tunnel and underneath the rear seats has lowered the car’s center of gravity and made it more centralized front to rear, which is always good for dynamics. It would be interesting to see how the good pair of performance tires affects things in terms of both handling and economyThe placement of the batteries has also allowed for the same trunk space like a regular Golf. And the rear seats are typical MkVII cavernous, with plenty of knee room and headroom, even when sitting behind a tall driver. The front seats are flat and certainly less supportive as those in the GTI, but appropriate for the application form. Maybe we will have the GTE in Canada And Americaavailable at launch. It’s loaded with LED headlights and driving lights, touchscreen navigation, keyless access, front and rear park distance control and a rearview camera. Pricing is $36,265 with destination and includes the previously mentioned roadside assistance as well as a 100,000-mile warranty on theKeep in mind it’s half the cost, though it just has half all the different a Tesla Model S. It makes a perfect second or third, although again, this isn’t will be a household’s only car. Like other cars carrying the Golf name, the e-Golf is actually a world-class vehicle.

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Your Car Color Might Say More Than You Bargained For

Does the color in the car you drive say something with regards to you as a person? The color might be giving away greater than you bargained for too, although we’re all just about accustomed to equating the type of car with the personality of the driver. The color of your car may act as an expression of how you desire the world to perceive you, according to psychologists and other scientific types in white coats.

Car colors are influenced by gender and age, as well as the colors which are actually available on the automobile lot when we go to make our purchase. Incidentally, look into the great array of car models and colors at fiat dealer Los Angeles after you’ve read through this article just to be sure that you choose the right color for your personality.

Of course there’s a lot more with it than that when it comes to choosing the color of your car or truck. Popular colors vary in several vehicle types – luxury sedans are most popular in white or black colors with only a small number of colorful characters choosing one in an even more colorful shade for example.

Here are several tips about exactly what the color of your car or truck says about you, it’s your decision whether you suspect them or think that it is actually next to the truth:

White – includes a suggestion of taste and elegance, those who are drawn to white vehicles prefer to present themselves as young, fresh faced and modern. On the other side it may be that you are living in the desert and want to drive a white car which doesn’t absorb quite so much heat as a black one. White as a color is difficult to help keep clean making it high maintenance, just like the average white car driver perhaps?

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Black – is the most popular color for luxury motors. Black is the color of sophistication. Royalty, Diplomats and other VIP’s are driven around in luxurious black vehicles – the hue of power. Those who decide to drive a black car are making a declaration they are important and also in control.

Silver – silver shines with innovation. If you think about things such as stainless silver and steel technology this is the color which represents style and security. Silver cars indicate high class gentlemen and ladies who have a high status in the world and aren’t scared to show it away. Silver cars don’t get quite as dirty as white cars or quite as hot as black ones. Silver is the perfect fall back color.

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Gray – there is a subtle difference between silver and gray car drivers. Silver car drivers want to stand out from the crowd whereas gray car drivers prefer to match unnoticed. They care less about their perceived status and much more about getting on with life. Gray is among the most popular car colors around.

Red – people who elect to drive cars are screaming out “look atme and me, me”. The red car is for the exhibitionist although women may choose to drive a red car for no other reason than they think it is fun.

Blue – is a happy color when it comes to cars. The color is practical and projects a personality that is stable, serene and truthful. That’s why blue is really a popular color with mini vans – the minivan is usually the vehicle for a family.

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So, what color car do you drive and what does it say about you?

Take a look at http://www.ocfiat.com and see their terrific variety of new and used vehicles – they’ve got motors of all various sizes in all different colors.

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2011 Subaru WRX – Lower Class

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It was actually a glorious day when Subaru introduced the WRX to the Usa market. The imaginations of enthusiasts went wild while they fancied a date together with the the, mud and ice Subaru WRX. After all, it had the template to be a rally car: all wheel drive plus a flat-four turbocharged motor. But for some people, they don’t notice a gutted-out off-roader. Some visit a car going toTo this day, there’s an army of people with pitchforks and torches willing to tear down anything with air. They will swear on his or her mother’s grave that static is the one and only way to develop a proper car. Are swift and nimble-such as Ian King’s RWB Bernardo and Porsche Pena’s Liberty Walk GT-R, though however, if you’ve been keeping up with us, we’ve presented countless cars on air that aren’t just parked pretty.all around.

Brendan’s WRX has been on our radar for quite some time now. He’s been killin’ the Subie game at Wekfest and other popular car shows while still daily driving the car when he’s not away at school. You have to give props to your guy who does a lot of DIY work in the garage. Brendan admits that the bags were the most difficult part of his build, but together with his homie, he was able to install the AccuAir e-Level management system to offer his car adjustability and this perfect stance.was just as unique. The BT Aero carbon-fiber front lip leads your eye area to the bold Chargespeed-style carbon side skirts. Then when you get to the rear, you’ll view aall the right boxes with Bride seats, Takata belts along with a Cusco rollcage.

They say you are able to judge somebody by their shoes; that’s true about wheels too. You won’t find any replicas here, but wheels equivalent to a pair of Jordans. Brendan rocks polished 18×10.5 Work Meister S1Rs with a 4.3 lip right in front and a 4.7 with thedue to Air Lift struts and AccuAir management.

In the cabin you’ll get the top-shelf usual suspects say for example achose to keep the mods under the hood to a minimum having a Tomei exhaust, Invidia downpipe and Cobb intake.

A wise man once said, Variety in taste is a good thing for the world. This couldn’t be any truer for Mr, though it’s true the WRX is rally inspired. Bannister and his bagged WRX.


“5 Wildly Popular Car Modifications That Must Be Stopped “

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In certain circles (usually Asian-Americans and people who want to pretend they’re Asians), the cool thing is to have a Japanese import seems like it’s souped up for street racing. If all the modifications are useless and possibly counterproductive, it’s what my people call a rice rocket. You probably ought to call it another thing, or else you’re a racist.

Personally, i became a junior member of the rice rocket club as i bought a Civic Si with 18-inch rims, and I cope with my guilt by pointing out considerably more ridiculous rice rockets inside a desperate bid to prove I’m still cool. So here’s a few things those dorky people who are very different from me stick on the cars:

#5. Fake Engine Sounds

You’ve probably heard of a turbocharger, which is actually a thing that you put in your engine to create your car faster. It’s considered cool to have turbo,. Which is i don’t completely understand what it does, and for the purposes of this informative article, all you need to know. Now, there are 2 ways to let someone know your car has a turbocharger (and you are therefore cool). One is to put a sticker upon it saying so — more on that later — as well as the second is to make sure everyone hears the sound it will make.

So, it might be dawning on you that there’s no reason to pay for this if you’re putting your thinking caps on:

If you can just buy this:

That’s right, that’s a speaker system. A speaker system that can mimic the characteristic turbo sound. It even comes with a switch, so you can turn on the sound at stoplights and near attractive girls. (Feel free to call that sexist if you can show me a video of a girl revving an imitation engine to thrill a handsome man passing by.)

Listen to this awesomely sad piece of technology for yourself:

When you have this thing, I’m not sure why you need a car at all. Each and every time the girl calls, you just run these in the background say, I’m sorry, I’m having trouble hearing you over my turbocharger. Hold on, I have to ramp something.

Then if you notice her in person, just let her know it’s in the shop. The turbocharger shop.

#4. Giant Wings

First, you have to understand the difference between a spoiler and a wing. They’re both those little tail pieces on the rear of a car whose main functionality on a street-legal vehicle is always to look cool and make your trunk a bit harder to open up. The spoiler is the one with no gap and, just as a random example, here is this completely tasteful Civic Si factory spoiler.

Clearly owned by someone with excellent taste.

A spoiler’s purpose is basically to decrease the slope of the airflow path down the back of the vehicle, which allegedly decreases drag, increases mileage and keeps your rear window cleaner. Does my tiny two-inch high spoiler really do all of that? I don’t know. If it doesn’t do any kind of that Voodoo aerodynamics magic for me, no less than it doesn’t hurt my car, but even.

The same can’t be said for wings:

But all the fastest race cars have wings, you might think. I see them on Formula-1-type cars all the time!

Surely what’s suitable for a race car is nice enough to your Chevy Cavalier!

It’s important to remember that F1 cars go really really fast. At those speeds, pushing your tires down (which is such a wing does) actually creates a noticeable difference in steering and control. I’m happy to bet about 70 percent of cars with oversized wings are actually physically unable to reach a speed at which the wing’s downforce would help.

That’s probably the case here.

Rice rockets usually have only a rear wing, and have front wheel steering and drive, although not only that. If the wing is having any effect, it’s picking up the wheels you wish to push down, basically.

Wheelies only look cool once you do them on purpose.

If that scientific discipline took on corporeal form and bit them in the ass, and additionally, most rice rocketeers wouldn’t know aerodynamics. So they purchase wings that aren’t even shaped for providing any downforce. Hell, they could even be providing lift. Or more likely just being heavy, creating drag and making your car slower than grandma’s stock Corolla over the following lane.

You might think at this point that the giant wing is the stupidest thing you can put on the back of your car but you would be wrong.

You could put three wings! In a place where no oncoming air can get in their mind! That’s thinking out of the box, kid.

#3. Body Kits

Have you been worried that the bottom of your automobile is too miles away from speed bumps to adopt any damage, but you don’t want to mess with your suspension by lowering it? Well, aerodynamic body kits are for you personally!

There are two main straws people grasp at to justify a crazy body kit. The first one is that if you will get wider wheels (for better traction) they’ll stick out of your wheel wells, and you’d need wider wheel wells to cover the wheels and direct air smoothly over them. I guess that’s technically true.

But that only explains an eighth of the ridiculous setup. The second flimsy straw is the idea of ground effects, a real phenomenon where, basically, if one makes a tiny narrow space in between the car along with the ground, it helps pull the car down (that same downforce people want so badly from the wings).

Like the wings, you hardly need that sort of business inside a regular passenger car, and actually you’re probably getting more downforce out of the weight of that stupid body kit than any ground effect aerodynamics it’s generating).

In addition to being useless, body kits in the wrong hands could lead to some truly disturbing Frankenstein-like creations.

You’ll probably vaguely recognize a number of the parts and obtain an eerie feeling that they don’t belong together once you know cars. This grass-nuzzling abomination was once a stock Acura Integra.

Unable to exit a slightly sloped driveway to look for it., although thanks to a Frankenstein body kit produced from a Porsche 911 molded front end, a Mercedes-Benz hood, a Toyota Supra front body kit, a Nissan 350Z exhaust and Lexus IS300 headlights converted to tail lamps with fiberoptic halos, it has become the creature you can see above, begging for death.


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