I actually hear the off-road junkies speak very favorably of the H3. They say the H1 would be better, if it weren't for the price. And the H2 was just way too big and not capable enough. But the H3 is supposedly just right. Supposedly it's quite capable. .. Me personally I think I'd rather have a Jeep.
BTW dad was eyeing one of these babies last weekend
I had one of those as a rental car a while back. I know there are some people out there that like them, but I absolutely hated it. The stupid chop-top hot-rod thing they've tried to do makes it a) hard to get in and out of and b) hard to see out of. At more than one intersection I was having to lean over so I could look up and see the stop light.
It's hard to see in this picture, but the lower rear corner of the front doors is squared off. I guess it's done for styling I do know that the door caught me on the back of the leg once when I started stepping away from the car and shuting the door behind me. Hurt like hell.
Not sure what engine they put in this thing. Noisy and no power... that's all I know.
Here's the pic, with the WB corrected. The only other thing, that I'd like do diff. now, is to blur out the background, some more.
Oh, the story behind this image is, that I was working at a NASCAR event (work for NEXTEL),when I came across this beast. It was parked at the far end of a field, right next to a security booth. It was clearly driven there, but not a spec. Not even in the treads.
what's that? like a secondary panhard rod on bushings?
Other way dude. It is an over-the-leaf traction bar. Pictured is the front of the bar, which attaches to the forward spring mount on the frame. In the background you can just see the other end of the bar attached to a bracket off the top of the axle u-bolts. It prevents (well, reduces) axle warp and has cut down on a lot of the hop I used to experience in heavy throttle and/or low traction situations..
I made a whole gallery of shots to share w/ others as it was not a 100% bolt-on install for the LII w/ the 31-spline axle.
Other way dude. It is an over-the-leaf traction bar. Pictured is the front of the bar, which attaches to the forward spring mount on the frame. In the background you can just see the other end of the bar attached to a bracket off the top of the axle u-bolts. It prevents (well, reduces) axle warp and has cut down on a lot of the hop I used to experience in heavy throttle and/or low traction situations..
Duh, I should've noticed those were leaf-springs in the first photo. But you controlled your depth of field too well...
You're right, a pretty simple fix. Almost makes me wonder why its not more common on light truck suspensions. Now I'm curious... truck suspensions is a whole 'nother world.
I'm gonna have to agree with C&D on that one. Sounds like it could be a bit unruly, not as refined as the VW, which I think strikes a truly good balance between hot-rod and daily driver. Remember, I'm an old man that turns up his nose at all the v-dub kids who have "chip it!" tattooed on their arms.
that said, if this Mazda was out, I would have given it a drive.
I had a '99 Protege, total stripped base model, and in terms of full ownership experience, including driving experience, it was one of the best I've ever had.
Ha.. yeah, should be an interesting car to read about. I'll never drive one. Way too much go for this man. When it's all said and done, I just need to get to work in the AM, that's all, thanks so much.
In fact the GTI won't even get a test-drive outta me. I've stricken all turbo/supercharged cars from my list. I just can't/won't pay for premium.
That reduces the shortlist to:
Mazda 3 2.3L Hatch ('5-door')
VW Golf 2.0L
Ford Focus ZX5 2.0L
Subie Impreza 2.5i
All small wagons or 4-door hatches, all small 2.5L or smaller I4's. The focus really doesn't look that interesting.. it just makes the list for completeness..
All small wagons or 4-door hatches, all small 2.5L or smaller I4's. The focus really doesn't look that interesting.. it just makes the list for completeness..
Just curious (I really don't mean to offend anyone).
Why not take the money (that would be spent to buy one of those cars), and just by a 4th gen. TA or Camaro, instead?
I can't imagine, that you'd ever look back, once you pushed one of those pedals to the floor...
Just curious (I really don't mean to offend anyone).
Why not take the money (that would be spent to buy one of those cars), and just by a 4th gen. TA or Camaro, instead?
I can't imagine, that you'd ever look back, once you pushed one of those pedals to the floor...
Sincerely,
Russ
Yassir, here's a second for a Firebird WS6 (aka ram air). Sure is fun to have a manual transmission in first gear with your feet off the clutch, off the gas, the engine at idle, and not stall. Kick it in the ass lemme hear them pipes.
Comments
Sebastian
SmugMug Support Hero
[andy voice] GO STUDY [/andy voice]
www.zxstudios.com
http://creativedragonstudios.smugmug.com
Seriously one of the cheapest mods w/ the biggest payoff I ever did to ol' truckzilla.
I'd give the kid that owned that thing credit.. but I can't for the life of me remember where I got that from!
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
I'm very happy with mine
It's put together well, fun to drive and gets half way decent mileage.
I had one of those as a rental car a while back. I know there are some people out there that like them, but I absolutely hated it. The stupid chop-top hot-rod thing they've tried to do makes it a) hard to get in and out of and b) hard to see out of. At more than one intersection I was having to lean over so I could look up and see the stop light.
It's hard to see in this picture, but the lower rear corner of the front doors is squared off. I guess it's done for styling
Not sure what engine they put in this thing. Noisy and no power... that's all I know.
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Been there, done that too. In fact, a couple of months ago on a road trip for
work. Only I didn't get to go home and sleep the rest of the day
This was selected as the "Photo of the Day", for Jan 24-06, at http://www.dailydigitalphoto.com/cgi-bin/potd/potd.pl?day=24&month=1&year=2006. Had I had my white balance adjusted correctly (too cool), I might have taken POTM (althought I admit, the highlites are a little blown-out).
Here's the pic, with the WB corrected. The only other thing, that I'd like do diff. now, is to blur out the background, some more.
Oh, the story behind this image is, that I was working at a NASCAR event (work for NEXTEL),when I came across this beast. It was parked at the far end of a field, right next to a security booth. It was clearly driven there, but not a spec. Not even in the treads.
Let me know what you think...
Russ
Your dad didn't expect you to find it there either. Now where is he gonna hide it from you.
www.zxstudios.com
http://creativedragonstudios.smugmug.com
I made a whole gallery of shots to share w/ others as it was not a 100% bolt-on install for the LII w/ the 31-spline axle. May hold out for an '07. Word has it the Mazda3 will get a 6-speed manual!
You're right, a pretty simple fix. Almost makes me wonder why its not more common on light truck suspensions. Now I'm curious... truck suspensions is a whole 'nother world.
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=upcomingMS3&bhcp=1
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=10707
Like I said, these were snappies for web distribution to show others. I even used a P&S! :uhoh
that said, if this Mazda was out, I would have given it a drive.
I had a '99 Protege, total stripped base model, and in terms of full ownership experience, including driving experience, it was one of the best I've ever had.
moderator of: The Flea Market [ guidelines ]
In fact the GTI won't even get a test-drive outta me. I've stricken all turbo/supercharged cars from my list. I just can't/won't pay for premium.
That reduces the shortlist to:
- Mazda 3 2.3L Hatch ('5-door')
- VW Golf 2.0L
- Ford Focus ZX5 2.0L
- Subie Impreza 2.5i
All small wagons or 4-door hatches, all small 2.5L or smaller I4's. The focus really doesn't look that interesting.. it just makes the list for completeness..Why not take the money (that would be spent to buy one of those cars), and just by a 4th gen. TA or Camaro, instead?
I can't imagine, that you'd ever look back, once you pushed one of those pedals to the floor...
Sincerely,
Russ
Yassir, here's a second for a Firebird WS6 (aka ram air). Sure is fun to have a manual transmission in first gear with your feet off the clutch, off the gas, the engine at idle, and not stall. Kick it in the ass lemme hear them pipes.
Yay, I'm in the 2%, I'm special!
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter