I thought that I would spend some time educating the world on real potholes as found in the Caribbean. So do enjoy our take on this whole pothole debacle.
Auto123: Spring is generally an ebullient time for car buffs. The sleek, gorgeous models start coming out of hibernation, the race tracks open for the season, and you can finally crack open those windows and rejoice at the feel of the wind whipping through your hair – until you slam into a pothole, sworn enemy of drivers everywhere.
Caribbean: For one, there is no spring in the Caribbean. We have the Dry Season from January to June and the Wet Season from July to December. Sometimes the Dry Season is somewhat wet and other times it's bone dry.
And in the Caribbean, Trinidad specifically you are not so foolish to have your foot planted on the accelerator and zoom zooming along a road to be caught unawares with a pothole arising from the asphalt like a Phoenix. No we don't do that here.
In the Caribbean, potholes have mailing addresses. They get electricity and water and sometimes digital cable tv available where they are. Potholes here pay bills, you meet them in the supermarket and say howdy. They are cordial and introduce themselves to you soon after you have gotten a new vehicle.
In the Caribbean, potholes are legendary. They have full celebrity status along with the requisite Facebook pages. Newly spawned potholes Tweet about themselves and their roadworthy lineage on Twitter.
In the Caribbean we have Angry Potholes who can stop traffic on major roads and highways. Our traffic issues aren't caused solely by too many vehicles, it's La Pothole Cosa Nostra.
Auto123: Basically, potholes are formed from cracks in the pavement caused by heat and the stress put on our roads by cars driving over them. The more vehicles on the road, and the heavier they are, the more potholes will crop up.
Caribbean: This is true here as well. We have many a truck worsening the situations.
And this is just my conspiracy theory, but I believe in Trinidad the Water Company, the Works Ministry and La Pothole Cosa Nostra are in collusion to go forth and populate the roads of the nation with pothole after pothole.
How else can you explain that every time there is a newly paved stretch of road it immediately requires archaeological excavation to locate "leaks" that have magically appeared only After the road is paved?
Auto123: They fill up with snow and rain, which lodges under the asphalt in a layer of dust and compacted gravel. When temperatures drop below 0°C, these accumulations freeze and expand, pushing the dust and gravel back. When the weather becomes milder, the ice melts and leaves empty spaces under the road. With time, the surface becomes so thin that it collapses, leaving behind holes that can be seen with the naked eye. If the holes aren’t filled in, they will expand and beget many more, accelerating the process.
Caribbean: In the Caribbean, potholes fill up with dasheen and yam. They carb-load before they head to the gym to lift weights. Temperatures don't drop here they rise but the sometimes clogged drains allow water to settle on the road infrastructure. Within that womb of rising temperatures and semi-stagnant water a new pot-holette is formed with brothers and sisters to soon follow.
Auto123: What to do when the inevitable occurs?
Because driving through craters can damage your car’s suspension components, the vast majority of motorists attempt to deftly zigzag between potholes, an eminently simple and efficient solution that unfortunately can’t always be used.
Caribbean: What to do they ask? Ha! You run! One dares not drive through a pothole here casually. I know of a pothole with Navy Seal training that grabbed hold of a wheel of a car, did a special maneuver and pushed the shock head and shock through the bonnet of a car.
Auto123: So how can you prevent damage when faced with the inevitable?
Caribbean: You pray, plain and simple.
Auto123: Entering a crater causes more destruction than exiting it, so it’s better to slow down as much as possible before driving into a pothole. However, you shouldn’t apply the brakes once you’ve entered the pothole, because a locked wheel will deteriorate much more willingly than one that is moving.
You also have to be alert and evaluate the breadth of the pothole itself. The longer it is, the more destructive it will be. It’s vital to consider the diameter and width of your tires as well. The smaller they are, the harder they’ll fall. Finally, before any outing, make sure your tires are properly inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Caribbean: You see all those considerations, they only work when it's one pothole per 1000 miles on a road. In the Caribbean we have potholes spawning in rapid fire succession. You're not getting a chance to have engineers scan and analyse the dimension results and provide feedback that will adjust your driving style.
In the Caribbean in some places we have potholes within potholes. Yeah it's like Inception. In other places we have patches of road amidst a bevy of potholes. So if you're in the Caribbean sometime in the future, prepare yourself for a mix of good roads and those of the cheese grater variety.
Original Article Source: http://www.auto123.com/en/news/car-news/potholes-a-survival-guide?artid=129051&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=blog-en
MyRX7Story Note: This article was meant to take a humorous look at a serious issue that affects many drivers and their cars within the Caribbean. I know that the respective agencies responsible for the roads are doing what they can to alleviate the situation, but just a reminder that we as drivers are still experiencing some problems.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Potholes: A Survival Guide (Auto123)
Potholes: A Survival Guide
By Auto123.com,
Spring is generally an ebullient time for car buffs. The sleek, gorgeous models start coming out of hibernation, the race tracks open for the season, and you can finally crack open those windows and rejoice at the feel of the wind whipping through your hair – until you slam into a pothole, sworn enemy of drivers everywhere.
Basically, potholes are formed from cracks in the pavement caused by heat and the stress put on our roads by cars driving over them. The more vehicles on the road, and the heavier they are, the more potholes will crop up.
They fill up with snow and rain, which lodges under the asphalt in a layer of dust and compacted gravel. When temperatures drop below 0°C, these accumulations freeze and expand, pushing the dust and gravel back. When the weather becomes milder, the ice melts and leaves empty spaces under the road. With time, the surface becomes so thin that it collapses, leaving behind holes that can be seen with the naked eye. If the holes aren’t filled in, they will expand and beget many more, accelerating the process.
What to do when the inevitable occurs?
Because driving through craters can damage your car’s suspension components, the vast majority of motorists attempt to deftly zigzag between potholes, an eminently simple and efficient solution that unfortunately can’t always be used.
So how can you prevent damage when faced with the inevitable?
Entering a crater causes more destruction than exiting it, so it’s better to slow down as much as possible before driving into a pothole. However, you shouldn’t apply the brakes once you’ve entered the pothole, because a locked wheel will deteriorate much more willingly than one that is moving.
You also have to be alert and evaluate the breadth of the pothole itself. The longer it is, the more destructive it will be. It’s vital to consider the diameter and width of your tires as well. The smaller they are, the harder they’ll fall. Finally, before any outing, make sure your tires are properly inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Article Source: http://www.auto123.com/en/news/car-news/potholes-a-survival-guide?artid=129051&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=blog-en
By Auto123.com,
Spring is generally an ebullient time for car buffs. The sleek, gorgeous models start coming out of hibernation, the race tracks open for the season, and you can finally crack open those windows and rejoice at the feel of the wind whipping through your hair – until you slam into a pothole, sworn enemy of drivers everywhere.
Basically, potholes are formed from cracks in the pavement caused by heat and the stress put on our roads by cars driving over them. The more vehicles on the road, and the heavier they are, the more potholes will crop up.
They fill up with snow and rain, which lodges under the asphalt in a layer of dust and compacted gravel. When temperatures drop below 0°C, these accumulations freeze and expand, pushing the dust and gravel back. When the weather becomes milder, the ice melts and leaves empty spaces under the road. With time, the surface becomes so thin that it collapses, leaving behind holes that can be seen with the naked eye. If the holes aren’t filled in, they will expand and beget many more, accelerating the process.
What to do when the inevitable occurs?
Because driving through craters can damage your car’s suspension components, the vast majority of motorists attempt to deftly zigzag between potholes, an eminently simple and efficient solution that unfortunately can’t always be used.
So how can you prevent damage when faced with the inevitable?
Entering a crater causes more destruction than exiting it, so it’s better to slow down as much as possible before driving into a pothole. However, you shouldn’t apply the brakes once you’ve entered the pothole, because a locked wheel will deteriorate much more willingly than one that is moving.
You also have to be alert and evaluate the breadth of the pothole itself. The longer it is, the more destructive it will be. It’s vital to consider the diameter and width of your tires as well. The smaller they are, the harder they’ll fall. Finally, before any outing, make sure your tires are properly inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Article Source: http://www.auto123.com/en/news/car-news/potholes-a-survival-guide?artid=129051&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=blog-en
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
How Regular Maintenance Helps You Avoid Costly Car Problems
Sometimes people hesitate to perform regular maintenance on their vehicles. They think, "It's working fine right now, so why would I spend time and money on it?"
However, it's the regular maintenance that is a key factor in keeping your vehicle running properly. Without it, you could find yourself facing costly car repairs, many of which could have been prevented with the proper care.
So what parts of your car should be getting a regular checkup? Read through the six steps below to make sure you're covering your bases and keeping your car in good shape.
Six Car Maintenance Steps You Don't Want to Skip
1) Oil changes. Getting your oil changed every 3,000 is a must for keeping your car in good working condition. If your oil ever runs out you risk damaging your car permanently, so don't pass up this necessary step.
2) Windshield essentials. Keeping your windshield clean will help it stay in good condition for years to come. You will probably need to replace your windshield wipers every 6-12 months. If they are leaving streaks, it's a good sign they need to be replaced. Windshield washer fluid and the accompanying nozzles should be checked monthly for proper operation.
3) Tires. Your tires are responsible for many of your car's operations, so it's essential to keep them in good condition. Two of the things you want to regularly check are tire pressure and tire tread. Your manufacturer's manual should tell you how often to check the pressure, but it's a good idea to do it monthly in cold temperatures. Have your tire treads checked every time you get an oil change to make sure they are being evenly worn down.
4) The engine. Most people aren't going to check their own engines for proper functionality, but you can check your engine air filter for cleanliness. Every six months or 7,500 miles you should check the air filter to see how dirty it is. If you can hold it up to a light bulb and still see through most of it, it's clean enough to function properly.
5) The battery. Every few months - and more frequently in cold weather - you should check your battery cables to make sure they are securely attached to their terminals. Clean any corrosion from the terminals themselves.
6) Coolant levels. You always want your coolant level to be between the low and the high markings on the semi-transparent bottle that holds it. Once your engine is cool you can open the hood to check the level. If it's too low, simply unscrew the cap and add some more.
Keep your car in great condition by paying attention to these details and performing regular maintenance where needed. You might hesitate to pay for these things in the moment, but they are much less expensive than a major car repair down the road.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kris_Carlson
However, it's the regular maintenance that is a key factor in keeping your vehicle running properly. Without it, you could find yourself facing costly car repairs, many of which could have been prevented with the proper care.
So what parts of your car should be getting a regular checkup? Read through the six steps below to make sure you're covering your bases and keeping your car in good shape.
Six Car Maintenance Steps You Don't Want to Skip
1) Oil changes. Getting your oil changed every 3,000 is a must for keeping your car in good working condition. If your oil ever runs out you risk damaging your car permanently, so don't pass up this necessary step.
2) Windshield essentials. Keeping your windshield clean will help it stay in good condition for years to come. You will probably need to replace your windshield wipers every 6-12 months. If they are leaving streaks, it's a good sign they need to be replaced. Windshield washer fluid and the accompanying nozzles should be checked monthly for proper operation.
3) Tires. Your tires are responsible for many of your car's operations, so it's essential to keep them in good condition. Two of the things you want to regularly check are tire pressure and tire tread. Your manufacturer's manual should tell you how often to check the pressure, but it's a good idea to do it monthly in cold temperatures. Have your tire treads checked every time you get an oil change to make sure they are being evenly worn down.
4) The engine. Most people aren't going to check their own engines for proper functionality, but you can check your engine air filter for cleanliness. Every six months or 7,500 miles you should check the air filter to see how dirty it is. If you can hold it up to a light bulb and still see through most of it, it's clean enough to function properly.
5) The battery. Every few months - and more frequently in cold weather - you should check your battery cables to make sure they are securely attached to their terminals. Clean any corrosion from the terminals themselves.
6) Coolant levels. You always want your coolant level to be between the low and the high markings on the semi-transparent bottle that holds it. Once your engine is cool you can open the hood to check the level. If it's too low, simply unscrew the cap and add some more.
Keep your car in great condition by paying attention to these details and performing regular maintenance where needed. You might hesitate to pay for these things in the moment, but they are much less expensive than a major car repair down the road.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kris_Carlson
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
AutoTechWorld Tips for better gas mileage for RX7 owners.
AutoTechWorld Tips for better gas mileage for RX7 owners.
Drive smoother:
Non Rotary: Be gentle with your gas pedal and your brakes.
RX7 Onwer: What do you mean gentle? Like with a brick on the pedal? All RX7 owners don't use brakes unless absolutely necessary. We downshift to slow down.
Non Rotary: There's no reason to speed up to a red light just to slam on the brakes. Aggressive driving will lower your gas mileage.
RX7 Owner: We don't speed up to the red light. We're coming to a stop after racing a Honda owner and showing him who is the king of the road.
Aggressive driving? - Is there any other?
Slow down:
Non Rotary: Most vehicles get the best fuel efficiency between 45 and 55 miles per hour. Driving more than 60 mph can cut fuel efficiency 7% to 23%.
RX7 Owner: We're just getting comfy in 2nd gear at 45 miles per hour. How can we stay stuck in 2nd?
Reduce idling:
Non Rotary: Turn off your engine if you're waiting for more than 20 seconds. Idling wastes more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it.
RX7 Owner: Once you've ported idling while waiting is the least of our problems. I had a bridgeported 12a that used to idle at 2k rpm lol.
Use lower grade fuel:
Non Rotary: Regular unleaded fuel won't hurt most vehicles even if premium unleaded fuel is required. Unless your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel, stick to regular.
RX7 Owner: Can't fool us with this one. We won't hear the pinging with the exhaust so better safe than sorry and let's throw in some octane booster just in case.
Remove excess weight:
Non Rotary: An extra 100 pounds sitting in the trunk or back seat can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2%.
RX7 Owner: The extra 100 pounds is the tool kit and spares just in case we break down somewhere.
Turn on the ventilator and turn off the air conditioning:
Non Rotary: The most efficient way to cool your car is with the air that comes in through your flow-through ventilator. Air conditioning or open windows (because of the drag) make your vehicle less fuel-efficient. Driving fast with the windows open can burn more fuel than the air conditioner.
RX7 Owner: Air conditioning wasn't invented for RX7s. The fact that we can get our windows to go up when we're down driving is a miraculous achievement in itself. We don't need the added luxuries.
Replace or tighten the gas cap:
Non Rotary: Fuel evaporates through gas caps with broken or weak seals, potentially reducing your efficiency by 2%.
RX7 Owner: No problems here, our gas caps must be the only thing with strong seals. But we're running rich so much that the fuel still evaporates.
Keep the tires inflated:
Non Rotary: Tires that are not properly inflated have a higher rolling resistance, which reduces efficiency. Keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
RX7 Owner: Since we're not driving around in slicks we need just a little less air pressure in preparation for the next impromptu race.
Change the oil:
Non Rotary: Energy-conserving or synthetic motor oil can reduce engine friction, improving efficiency by as much as 2%.
RX7 Owner: Don't change the oil, plan to change the engine. Talk done.
Replace the spark plugs:
Non Rotary: Misfiring spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%
RX7 Owner: We may backfire but we never misfire.
Hope you've enjoyed the contrast :)
Drive smoother:
Non Rotary: Be gentle with your gas pedal and your brakes.
RX7 Onwer: What do you mean gentle? Like with a brick on the pedal? All RX7 owners don't use brakes unless absolutely necessary. We downshift to slow down.
Non Rotary: There's no reason to speed up to a red light just to slam on the brakes. Aggressive driving will lower your gas mileage.
RX7 Owner: We don't speed up to the red light. We're coming to a stop after racing a Honda owner and showing him who is the king of the road.
Aggressive driving? - Is there any other?
Slow down:
Non Rotary: Most vehicles get the best fuel efficiency between 45 and 55 miles per hour. Driving more than 60 mph can cut fuel efficiency 7% to 23%.
RX7 Owner: We're just getting comfy in 2nd gear at 45 miles per hour. How can we stay stuck in 2nd?
Reduce idling:
Non Rotary: Turn off your engine if you're waiting for more than 20 seconds. Idling wastes more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it.
RX7 Owner: Once you've ported idling while waiting is the least of our problems. I had a bridgeported 12a that used to idle at 2k rpm lol.
Use lower grade fuel:
Non Rotary: Regular unleaded fuel won't hurt most vehicles even if premium unleaded fuel is required. Unless your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel, stick to regular.
RX7 Owner: Can't fool us with this one. We won't hear the pinging with the exhaust so better safe than sorry and let's throw in some octane booster just in case.
Remove excess weight:
Non Rotary: An extra 100 pounds sitting in the trunk or back seat can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2%.
RX7 Owner: The extra 100 pounds is the tool kit and spares just in case we break down somewhere.
Turn on the ventilator and turn off the air conditioning:
Non Rotary: The most efficient way to cool your car is with the air that comes in through your flow-through ventilator. Air conditioning or open windows (because of the drag) make your vehicle less fuel-efficient. Driving fast with the windows open can burn more fuel than the air conditioner.
RX7 Owner: Air conditioning wasn't invented for RX7s. The fact that we can get our windows to go up when we're down driving is a miraculous achievement in itself. We don't need the added luxuries.
Replace or tighten the gas cap:
Non Rotary: Fuel evaporates through gas caps with broken or weak seals, potentially reducing your efficiency by 2%.
RX7 Owner: No problems here, our gas caps must be the only thing with strong seals. But we're running rich so much that the fuel still evaporates.
Keep the tires inflated:
Non Rotary: Tires that are not properly inflated have a higher rolling resistance, which reduces efficiency. Keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
RX7 Owner: Since we're not driving around in slicks we need just a little less air pressure in preparation for the next impromptu race.
Change the oil:
Non Rotary: Energy-conserving or synthetic motor oil can reduce engine friction, improving efficiency by as much as 2%.
RX7 Owner: Don't change the oil, plan to change the engine. Talk done.
Replace the spark plugs:
Non Rotary: Misfiring spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%
RX7 Owner: We may backfire but we never misfire.
Hope you've enjoyed the contrast :)
Tips to get better gas mileage
Tips from the LA Times
Here are some easy ways to stretch more mileage from your vehicle from auto information companies TrueCar.com and AutoMD.com:
Drive smoother:
Be gentle with your gas pedal and your brakes. There's no reason to speed up to a red light just to slam on the brakes. Aggressive driving will lower your gas mileage.
Slow down:
Most vehicles get the best fuel efficiency between 45 and 55 miles per hour. Driving more than 60 mph can cut fuel efficiency 7% to 23%.
Reduce idling:
Turn off your engine if you're waiting for more than 20 seconds. Idling wastes more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it.
Use lower grade fuel:
Regular unleaded fuel won't hurt most vehicles even if premium unleaded fuel is required. Unless your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel, stick to regular.
Remove excess weight:
An extra 100 pounds sitting in the trunk or back seat can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2%.
Turn on the ventilator and turn off the air conditioning:
The most efficient way to cool your car is with the air that comes in through your flow-through ventilator. Air conditioning or open windows (because of the drag) make your vehicle less fuel-efficient. Driving fast with the windows open can burn more fuel than the air conditioner.
Replace or tighten the gas cap:
Fuel evaporates through gas caps with broken or weak seals, potentially reducing your efficiency by 2%.
Keep the tires inflated:
Tires that are not properly inflated have a higher rolling resistance, which reduces efficiency. Keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
Change the oil:
Energy-conserving or synthetic motor oil can reduce engine friction, improving efficiency by as much as 2%.
Replace the spark plugs:
Misfiring spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/03/tips-to-get-better-gas-mileage.html
Here are some easy ways to stretch more mileage from your vehicle from auto information companies TrueCar.com and AutoMD.com:
Drive smoother:
Be gentle with your gas pedal and your brakes. There's no reason to speed up to a red light just to slam on the brakes. Aggressive driving will lower your gas mileage.
Slow down:
Most vehicles get the best fuel efficiency between 45 and 55 miles per hour. Driving more than 60 mph can cut fuel efficiency 7% to 23%.
Reduce idling:
Turn off your engine if you're waiting for more than 20 seconds. Idling wastes more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it.
Use lower grade fuel:
Regular unleaded fuel won't hurt most vehicles even if premium unleaded fuel is required. Unless your engine starts to knock or ping when using a lower-grade fuel, stick to regular.
Remove excess weight:
An extra 100 pounds sitting in the trunk or back seat can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2%.
Turn on the ventilator and turn off the air conditioning:
The most efficient way to cool your car is with the air that comes in through your flow-through ventilator. Air conditioning or open windows (because of the drag) make your vehicle less fuel-efficient. Driving fast with the windows open can burn more fuel than the air conditioner.
Replace or tighten the gas cap:
Fuel evaporates through gas caps with broken or weak seals, potentially reducing your efficiency by 2%.
Keep the tires inflated:
Tires that are not properly inflated have a higher rolling resistance, which reduces efficiency. Keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
Change the oil:
Energy-conserving or synthetic motor oil can reduce engine friction, improving efficiency by as much as 2%.
Replace the spark plugs:
Misfiring spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30%
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/03/tips-to-get-better-gas-mileage.html
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The science of traffic jams explained in new infographic
This is a very informative article discussing how traffic jams are started. Check it out and hopefully it helps us understand how to adjust our behaviour whilst behind the wheel.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/108526/the-science-of-traffic-jams-explained-in-new-infographic
http://www.caradvice.com.au/108526/the-science-of-traffic-jams-explained-in-new-infographic
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
German RSC Ready to Sell 4Rotor Super Car
Rotary Super Cars Germany is a young company with the goal of offering symbiosis of high performance vehicles and active environment to create new benchmarks in the areas, power efficiency, value for money or the use of high-tech materials.
Since there is no vehicle that meets all these requirements, the construction of the RSC Raptor GT™ started in 2009. Systems such as the VAS (variable aerodynamic system) were developed and brought to small series production. This vehicle meets all requirements or exceed them. With enthusiasm and passion of our team involved in the development and production of the Raptor GT™. We guarantee the best workmanship and highest individuality. The selective use of proven components increases the active/passive safety while reducing production costs, which ultimately benefits every buyer.
With the Raptor GT™, we give our customers the opportunity to experience the unique combination of high end components and environmental protection on the roads and racetracks of the world. The Raptor GT™ doesn't follow the standard in many areas, he goes a very unique way with his drive and approach design. Each vehicle is handmade and unique, which corresponds exactly to the needs and wishes of the owner.
Drivetrain:
The RSC Raptor ™ GT S, RS, RSR and N-Spec does not have a conventional drive system as used in most of today's super sports cars. He has a self-developed and heavily modified, based on parts of the Mazda 13B MSP, high-performance engine with four rotors (4-Rotor rotary engine) and, depending on the model, a water-to-air intercooled turbo or biturbo system. This engine is the heart of the RSC Raptor GT™ and gives him his very special temperament. The power output of a rotary engine uniformly grows with increasing rpm. The high-performance engine in the RSC Raptor GT™ has the redline set depending on the selected driving mode, up to 7,500 rpm or 9000 rpm. The fuel E85 is used, which is produced from rapeseed. By using this fuel to reduce the emissions by about 90% is feasible.
The sequential 8-speed RSC R-SHIFT transmission in the RSC Raptor GT™ is controlled by a hydraulic shift system with shift times of 25-35 milliseconds. Furthermore, each RSC Raptor GT™ has a carbon-aluminum drive shaft, and an electronically controlled rear axle differential.
The powertrain is controlled by an engine management system, specifically developed from Bosch Engineering GmbH for the RSC Raptor GT™, including a complete electronic system consisting of ESP, ABS, EBD, VAS, R-TRAC (traction control), R-DIFF (electronic differential) and a Launch Control. The RSC Raptor GT™ RSR and N-Spec also has an active suspension. All electronic systems can be easily operated via the buttons on the steering wheel.
Body/Chassis:
Depending on the model the body of the RSC Raptor GT™ is of 80% glass fiber or carbon fiber and differs in details in the form and aerodynamics. Furthermore a wide range of special equipment is available. Starting with the rims, complete body equipment packages up to the painting - the customer has no limits.
The RSC Raptor GT™ also has the RSC VAS™ (Variable Aerodynamic System), a system that changes the aerodynamics and the aerodynamic properties of the RSC Raptor GT™ to generate more downforce at high speeds. This system include SBS (Speed Brake System).
Interior:
The RSC Raptor GT™ has two 7" full-graphic-Diyplays, where various telemetry data such as speed, mileage, temperatures, pressures, and the chosen vehicle settings and many other data, are available. These displays create exciting visual effects that show the high-tech genes of the RSC Raptor GT™. They are placed on the left and right of the large 5" tachometer with digital gear indicator and shift light. The driver is always looking at the relevant information and driving a RSC Raptor GT™ becomes a special experience.
The cockpit offers an unique combination of high-quality materials like carbon fiber, brushed aluminum and various types of leather. Many interior equipment packages are available. There also no limits for the customer.
Production levels of the RSC Raptor GT range from the base 500 hp 2.6L 4 rotor rotary to 800 hp turbo and 1.200 hp twin turbo variants. The cars are built in Germany. They are available in left- and right-hand drive configuration.
VelociRaptor:
The second car which is currently in the construction phase. The main facts: Mid-engine, AWD, 8-speed sequential RSC R-SHIFT transmission, RSC VAS, 90% carbon fiber, over 1.200 hp and a weight under 1.100 kg.
This car will set new benchmarks...
Rotary Super Cars Germany
(+49)1511 75 500 98
Read more: http://www.worldcarfans.com/110100528830/rotary-super-cars-unveils-the-raptor-gt#ixzz11VugzrTl
Since there is no vehicle that meets all these requirements, the construction of the RSC Raptor GT™ started in 2009. Systems such as the VAS (variable aerodynamic system) were developed and brought to small series production. This vehicle meets all requirements or exceed them. With enthusiasm and passion of our team involved in the development and production of the Raptor GT™. We guarantee the best workmanship and highest individuality. The selective use of proven components increases the active/passive safety while reducing production costs, which ultimately benefits every buyer.
With the Raptor GT™, we give our customers the opportunity to experience the unique combination of high end components and environmental protection on the roads and racetracks of the world. The Raptor GT™ doesn't follow the standard in many areas, he goes a very unique way with his drive and approach design. Each vehicle is handmade and unique, which corresponds exactly to the needs and wishes of the owner.
Drivetrain:
The RSC Raptor ™ GT S, RS, RSR and N-Spec does not have a conventional drive system as used in most of today's super sports cars. He has a self-developed and heavily modified, based on parts of the Mazda 13B MSP, high-performance engine with four rotors (4-Rotor rotary engine) and, depending on the model, a water-to-air intercooled turbo or biturbo system. This engine is the heart of the RSC Raptor GT™ and gives him his very special temperament. The power output of a rotary engine uniformly grows with increasing rpm. The high-performance engine in the RSC Raptor GT™ has the redline set depending on the selected driving mode, up to 7,500 rpm or 9000 rpm. The fuel E85 is used, which is produced from rapeseed. By using this fuel to reduce the emissions by about 90% is feasible.
The sequential 8-speed RSC R-SHIFT transmission in the RSC Raptor GT™ is controlled by a hydraulic shift system with shift times of 25-35 milliseconds. Furthermore, each RSC Raptor GT™ has a carbon-aluminum drive shaft, and an electronically controlled rear axle differential.
The powertrain is controlled by an engine management system, specifically developed from Bosch Engineering GmbH for the RSC Raptor GT™, including a complete electronic system consisting of ESP, ABS, EBD, VAS, R-TRAC (traction control), R-DIFF (electronic differential) and a Launch Control. The RSC Raptor GT™ RSR and N-Spec also has an active suspension. All electronic systems can be easily operated via the buttons on the steering wheel.
Body/Chassis:
Depending on the model the body of the RSC Raptor GT™ is of 80% glass fiber or carbon fiber and differs in details in the form and aerodynamics. Furthermore a wide range of special equipment is available. Starting with the rims, complete body equipment packages up to the painting - the customer has no limits.
The RSC Raptor GT™ also has the RSC VAS™ (Variable Aerodynamic System), a system that changes the aerodynamics and the aerodynamic properties of the RSC Raptor GT™ to generate more downforce at high speeds. This system include SBS (Speed Brake System).
Interior:
The RSC Raptor GT™ has two 7" full-graphic-Diyplays, where various telemetry data such as speed, mileage, temperatures, pressures, and the chosen vehicle settings and many other data, are available. These displays create exciting visual effects that show the high-tech genes of the RSC Raptor GT™. They are placed on the left and right of the large 5" tachometer with digital gear indicator and shift light. The driver is always looking at the relevant information and driving a RSC Raptor GT™ becomes a special experience.
The cockpit offers an unique combination of high-quality materials like carbon fiber, brushed aluminum and various types of leather. Many interior equipment packages are available. There also no limits for the customer.
Production levels of the RSC Raptor GT range from the base 500 hp 2.6L 4 rotor rotary to 800 hp turbo and 1.200 hp twin turbo variants. The cars are built in Germany. They are available in left- and right-hand drive configuration.
VelociRaptor:
The second car which is currently in the construction phase. The main facts: Mid-engine, AWD, 8-speed sequential RSC R-SHIFT transmission, RSC VAS, 90% carbon fiber, over 1.200 hp and a weight under 1.100 kg.
This car will set new benchmarks...
Rotary Super Cars Germany
(+49)1511 75 500 98
Read more: http://www.worldcarfans.com/110100528830/rotary-super-cars-unveils-the-raptor-gt#ixzz11VugzrTl
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Walking Through the Wankel Wilderness
Life seems to happen when you want it not to sometimes.
Circumstances bully you for your time when you'd much prefer they leave you be.
Problems arise in the midst of jubilation and RX7s can and tend to fail at the most inconvenient times.
I don't have any special story or epic tale to tell of me having decimated a V8 muscle car and shown the Mitsu and Subaru boys tail lights for the quarter mile stretch. Nor do I have the experience of maxing out Sarah, spitting fire until the Mazda factory buzzer stopped remembering to tell me I shouldn't be at this speed.
I hadn't gotten there yet.
Yes I knew the car's potential but I just hadn't gotten there.
And so when driving down to work on the highway that morning and I heard this sickening pop from behind me and felt the car lose power and slow down to a near halt and I had to mosey on to the shoulder lane, the last thing on my mind was that the engine had given up the ghost.
I knew what I heard, I knew that I lost power, and I knew that I was getting great trouble to start this engine again.
I also knew the sun was scorchingly hot and I had to get to work.
I tried Anil, to see if he happened to be home but didn't get through.
I didn't have anyone else to call, so I tried and tried and finally got the engine to start.
But it was a very slow, almost funeral march home.
I didn't know what was the issue, so I parked Sarah home and went to work, figuring I'd have to look into that later on.
Even though I didn't know the extent of the damage I knew that the dynamics of the sale transaction I had previously considered had changed without a doubt. What I had no clue about was how much.
There was however one person, who had expressed great interest in Sarah when I had put it on Trinituner, but we had not as yet met for the usual test drive etc.
He was from the South land and said that he and his brother had been to visit Anil the one time that Sarah was there, to get an engine for a project his brother was working on and they saw it at that point.
He apparently had liked the car then and was happy when he saw it go up for sale on the forum.
So he had expressed his interest and I said no problem we'll see how things will work out.
But when this happened, I thought it best to alert him because I knew that the price could not be the same and I didn't know what his interest would be after hearing the news.
Strangely enough he was still interested.
And why is that?
Well as he reminded me the license plate of Sarah is PBG 5531
The license plate of the RX2 RE project that his brother has, PS 5531.
As he put it, it was fate for them to be together.
So since this was part of destiny all we had to do is adjust the pricing.
So we spoke about that and struck this deal in a mixture of online and telephone conversations.
There were only two issues to this agreement.
Firstly, he at that time did not have all the money.
He explained that he and his brother were building a business and they had a shipment coming in about April, this being late January and post the sale of items in that shipment he would be able to complete the purchase.
And the second more weighty matter was, we had never met.
I had only the information shown in the 100 plus page thread on the Mazda forum and the other posts on trinituner to go on.
Either he and his brother were for real or this whole deal was shot.
Either this transaction would be completed and it would be a story to remember or nothing would happen and it would all fade away like dust.
I figured two things.
One I bought this car to learn and so time is on my side in waiting for him to complete his business. Either he is for real or not but either way I'm in no hurry.
Secondly, I really didn't have a secondly, if he wasn't for real then I'd sell to someone else if I couldn't fix the issue.
So that was my rationale at that point.
And trust me lots of persons could not comprehend the decision that seemed simple to me.
Nobody was losing here. Whilst he did his part I would continue mine.
Either after April we linked up and did the deal or not.
It wasn't like he was asking me to hold my breath for six months.
All I had to do now was try to figure out what might be the issue and let time pass.
And so I researched online.
I searched local websites, tried to get contact numbers for different persons.
I hunted I asked, I went and saw some persons.
I did all of this very cautiously mind you, because I knew that not everyone was likely to be honest and reasonable with sharing information.
And time passed, and I learnt more.
Everything pointed to a seal having blown and caused a loss of compression.
So since for the most part the car wasn't moving, I focused on gaining confidence and increasing in my comfort level with automotive mechanical things.
So through that period I accumulated a lot of tools and a great deal of knowledge about cars in general; much more than I had previously.
And this was the point of this whole jumping in all Gung Ho into this rotary business.
To learn about cars in general and survive the learning process.
April came and the shipment arrived as promised. I think it had been delayed by a week and a half or two weeks but it arrived.
I was kept up to date on the progress and the January deal remained in tact.
Some of the initial sales were slow but as before, waiting was not hurting either of us.
What most people, including my parents did not comprehend was my willingness to wait for a virtual stranger.
Truly virtual since my initial introduction had been online.
I tried to explain my reasoning but that fell on deaf ears.
At least they let the car sit in the garage so I knew they didn't think I had completely lost all of my marbles :)
And then one day the required sales were almost complete and the savings were almost there.
And I got a call, shortly before I had to leave the country for a bit.
The guy and his brother and a friend wanted to come up to just see the car before we closed the deal.
If my friends and parents thought I was losing it I figure the same was occurring on his side, cause he'd never met me. Who was to say I was for real?
So we arranged and a Wednesday evening they came up, inspected the car and we talked like we'd known each other for years.
Who was this person and his brother you may ask?
Well none other than Khaleel and Khayam of Maztune.
And their friend who came to make sure everything was on the up and up?
Rana a true rotary enthusiast.
See Maztune's facebook page here Maztune
So I left for vacation and when I came back we closed the deal the Saturday after I came back.
And well that's how I met Maztune and how Sarah got the home she now has in Southern Trinidad.
The real question was how would I continue to learn now that Sarah was gone?
If you like how the story is progressing,
Leave Comments below or
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Coming Soon: And there was 2 before 7
Previously:
3rd Gen's a Charm
Sarah's First Service
Bringing Home Sarah (Part II).
Bringing Home Sarah (Part I).
Rotary Owner and Loving It.
Is She The One? (Part II)
Is She The One? (Part I)
Rotary Revealed
Frustrated Wannabe Amateur Tuner
Navigating The Financial Labyrinth
European Exodus
RX7 Genesis
See pics:
My RX7 Story Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Email me at safeq@myrx7story.com
Circumstances bully you for your time when you'd much prefer they leave you be.
Problems arise in the midst of jubilation and RX7s can and tend to fail at the most inconvenient times.
I don't have any special story or epic tale to tell of me having decimated a V8 muscle car and shown the Mitsu and Subaru boys tail lights for the quarter mile stretch. Nor do I have the experience of maxing out Sarah, spitting fire until the Mazda factory buzzer stopped remembering to tell me I shouldn't be at this speed.
I hadn't gotten there yet.
Yes I knew the car's potential but I just hadn't gotten there.
And so when driving down to work on the highway that morning and I heard this sickening pop from behind me and felt the car lose power and slow down to a near halt and I had to mosey on to the shoulder lane, the last thing on my mind was that the engine had given up the ghost.
I knew what I heard, I knew that I lost power, and I knew that I was getting great trouble to start this engine again.
I also knew the sun was scorchingly hot and I had to get to work.
I tried Anil, to see if he happened to be home but didn't get through.
I didn't have anyone else to call, so I tried and tried and finally got the engine to start.
But it was a very slow, almost funeral march home.
I didn't know what was the issue, so I parked Sarah home and went to work, figuring I'd have to look into that later on.
Even though I didn't know the extent of the damage I knew that the dynamics of the sale transaction I had previously considered had changed without a doubt. What I had no clue about was how much.
There was however one person, who had expressed great interest in Sarah when I had put it on Trinituner, but we had not as yet met for the usual test drive etc.
He was from the South land and said that he and his brother had been to visit Anil the one time that Sarah was there, to get an engine for a project his brother was working on and they saw it at that point.
He apparently had liked the car then and was happy when he saw it go up for sale on the forum.
So he had expressed his interest and I said no problem we'll see how things will work out.
But when this happened, I thought it best to alert him because I knew that the price could not be the same and I didn't know what his interest would be after hearing the news.
Strangely enough he was still interested.
And why is that?
Well as he reminded me the license plate of Sarah is PBG 5531
The license plate of the RX2 RE project that his brother has, PS 5531.
As he put it, it was fate for them to be together.
So since this was part of destiny all we had to do is adjust the pricing.
So we spoke about that and struck this deal in a mixture of online and telephone conversations.
There were only two issues to this agreement.
Firstly, he at that time did not have all the money.
He explained that he and his brother were building a business and they had a shipment coming in about April, this being late January and post the sale of items in that shipment he would be able to complete the purchase.
And the second more weighty matter was, we had never met.
I had only the information shown in the 100 plus page thread on the Mazda forum and the other posts on trinituner to go on.
Either he and his brother were for real or this whole deal was shot.
Either this transaction would be completed and it would be a story to remember or nothing would happen and it would all fade away like dust.
I figured two things.
One I bought this car to learn and so time is on my side in waiting for him to complete his business. Either he is for real or not but either way I'm in no hurry.
Secondly, I really didn't have a secondly, if he wasn't for real then I'd sell to someone else if I couldn't fix the issue.
So that was my rationale at that point.
And trust me lots of persons could not comprehend the decision that seemed simple to me.
Nobody was losing here. Whilst he did his part I would continue mine.
Either after April we linked up and did the deal or not.
It wasn't like he was asking me to hold my breath for six months.
All I had to do now was try to figure out what might be the issue and let time pass.
And so I researched online.
I searched local websites, tried to get contact numbers for different persons.
I hunted I asked, I went and saw some persons.
I did all of this very cautiously mind you, because I knew that not everyone was likely to be honest and reasonable with sharing information.
And time passed, and I learnt more.
Everything pointed to a seal having blown and caused a loss of compression.
So since for the most part the car wasn't moving, I focused on gaining confidence and increasing in my comfort level with automotive mechanical things.
So through that period I accumulated a lot of tools and a great deal of knowledge about cars in general; much more than I had previously.
And this was the point of this whole jumping in all Gung Ho into this rotary business.
To learn about cars in general and survive the learning process.
April came and the shipment arrived as promised. I think it had been delayed by a week and a half or two weeks but it arrived.
I was kept up to date on the progress and the January deal remained in tact.
Some of the initial sales were slow but as before, waiting was not hurting either of us.
What most people, including my parents did not comprehend was my willingness to wait for a virtual stranger.
Truly virtual since my initial introduction had been online.
I tried to explain my reasoning but that fell on deaf ears.
At least they let the car sit in the garage so I knew they didn't think I had completely lost all of my marbles :)
And then one day the required sales were almost complete and the savings were almost there.
And I got a call, shortly before I had to leave the country for a bit.
The guy and his brother and a friend wanted to come up to just see the car before we closed the deal.
If my friends and parents thought I was losing it I figure the same was occurring on his side, cause he'd never met me. Who was to say I was for real?
So we arranged and a Wednesday evening they came up, inspected the car and we talked like we'd known each other for years.
Who was this person and his brother you may ask?
Well none other than Khaleel and Khayam of Maztune.
And their friend who came to make sure everything was on the up and up?
Rana a true rotary enthusiast.
See Maztune's facebook page here Maztune
So I left for vacation and when I came back we closed the deal the Saturday after I came back.
And well that's how I met Maztune and how Sarah got the home she now has in Southern Trinidad.
The real question was how would I continue to learn now that Sarah was gone?
If you like how the story is progressing,
Leave Comments below or
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Coming Soon: And there was 2 before 7
Previously:
3rd Gen's a Charm
Sarah's First Service
Bringing Home Sarah (Part II).
Bringing Home Sarah (Part I).
Rotary Owner and Loving It.
Is She The One? (Part II)
Is She The One? (Part I)
Rotary Revealed
Frustrated Wannabe Amateur Tuner
Navigating The Financial Labyrinth
European Exodus
RX7 Genesis
See pics:
My RX7 Story Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Email me at safeq@myrx7story.com
Monday, April 12, 2010
3rd Gen's a Charm.
"I'm calling about the 3rd Gen I saw in the paper. Can you give me some more details about it?"
"Stock, black, 18" staggered rims..."
"Ok when can we arrange a viewing?"
"I'll bring it up so you can see it this evening."
A few hours later...
"So this is it."
My eyes beheld a Black 3rd gen, 18" staggered with a big black wing on the trunk.
"Yeah, running stock boost. Jump in lehwe (let us) go for a test drive."
"Watch dis eh..." (Pay attention to this which I am doing or about to do.)
Now that's an excerpt of a conversation I had with a 3rd Gen RX7 owner soon after seeing the one in Grande.
Why did I call to check it out?
Well it was much cheaper and I was curious.
So you meet me at the point where I've just gotten into the car and the owner, whom I'll call E, was about to take me for a test drive.
It was late in the evening on that day and we were in front of my workplace and the street was pretty much empty.
It's a broad enough street for two cars to pass side by side with cars parked on both sides.
We were on the right side, just beyond the office gate.
I do believe that I should have taken note of those words, "Watch dis eh..."
Now one translation of this would be what I stated above, "Pay attention to what I am doing or about to do."
Another translation depends on the context and might strike some concern into the hearts and minds of mortals.
"I going and try something, let's see how it goes."
This I believe to be a better translation and more suited to what then unfolded before my eyes, ears and within my physical being.
I heard the engine revs increase in pitch, most significantly.
Like really really plenty and like really really quickly.
The next few moments can only be described as memorable.
I know we were in neutral, then I do remember him putting the car in 1st gear and even though I wasn't specifically looking I know his foot came off the clutch, the handbrake went down and we began to be propelled ever forward and never backward.
But you see I didn't see very much as things got a bit blurry, but I did feel us proceeding up the street, with the car not entirely positioned in a northward direction, more North Westerly for a great portion of the road.
We weren't exactly drifting, but we weren't exactly not doing it at the same time.
See drifting reference here: Drifting
I wasn't hearing anything he was saying, if he was, because of the deafening roar of that exhaust but some thoughts began to come to me with great force of clarity.
One: I never met this guy before. So how do I know that he can drive?
Two: My seatbelt was not fastened. Refer to thought one and insert some measure of concern when that light bulb went off.
Three: How do I know we will return in one piece?
Four: What are you really doing here in this car at this point? Yuh mad awah? (Have you indeed lost some of your mental capacity to logically process information within the appropriate decision making paradigm?)
And so these thoughts stayed with me throughout this test drive, making it the most memorable I've had.
But what was more interesting post the drive and my heart coming back down from 9000 rpm was what my friend and work colleague, Jerry had to say.
Yip same Jerry from the roadtrip.
When we were leaving the curbside and migrating ourselves from this position up the street in a near sideways fashion, he saw blue and yellow flames erupting from the depths of the exhaust barrel, and embracing the crisp evening air.
He himself wondered, what was really wrong with me.
Needless to say, I did not go for that car, partly because of how tail-happy it was and I thought that living was a much better option.
There was also a bit of an oil leak and I couldn't handle an engine rebuild if it was serious.
But though I never forgot that ride, I always hoped for another chance at a 3rd gen.
And just around Christmas, going on 2 months of owning the 2nd Gen that I had hunted so hard for, I saw an ad for a 3rd Gen and the price was near enough within reach.
But I had to be out of the country for a bit and so, though I spoke with the guy, we arranged for after the New Year holiday to link up.
So my plan was simple, see if I can get someone to buy the second Gen in time and borrow the extra cash to upgrade since it was a really attractive deal.
And so for that reason only, I made a post on tuner to sell the 2nd Gen in hope that the timings would line up and I would get the chance to own an entry level beast.
But when I called the guy early in the New Year, he told me that in the midst of the New Year festivities his engine had blown and so he would sell the shell at a much reduced price.
I felt crushed at that point.
While that price was closer to what I would sell the 2nd Gen for, I'd have to foot the bill of either rebuilding the present engine or acquiring a new one and doing work on that potentially.
So I had to contemplate that. Is it worth giving up a working car, to go and take public transportation and hopefully at some point get a faster rolling car or not?
Since the car had been on trinituner there was a bit of early interest and so I figured I'd at least see what the interest was like and arranged with a couple people to view, whilst I made up my mind.
So some people came to view and test drive and gave me their feedback and pointed out some things and all was going fine, until one morning driving down the road to work, not far from my home, everything changed...
If you like how the story is progressing,
Leave Comments below or
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Next: Walking Through the Wankel Wilderness.
Previously:
Sarah's First Service
Bringing Home Sarah (Part II).
Bringing Home Sarah (Part I).
Rotary Owner and Loving It.
Is She The One? (Part II)
Is She The One? (Part I)
Rotary Revealed
Frustrated Wannabe Amateur Tuner
Navigating The Financial Labyrinth
European Exodus
RX7 Genesis
See pics:
My RX7 Story Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Email me at safeq@myrx7story.com
"Stock, black, 18" staggered rims..."
"Ok when can we arrange a viewing?"
"I'll bring it up so you can see it this evening."
A few hours later...
"So this is it."
My eyes beheld a Black 3rd gen, 18" staggered with a big black wing on the trunk.
"Yeah, running stock boost. Jump in lehwe (let us) go for a test drive."
"Watch dis eh..." (Pay attention to this which I am doing or about to do.)
Now that's an excerpt of a conversation I had with a 3rd Gen RX7 owner soon after seeing the one in Grande.
Why did I call to check it out?
Well it was much cheaper and I was curious.
So you meet me at the point where I've just gotten into the car and the owner, whom I'll call E, was about to take me for a test drive.
It was late in the evening on that day and we were in front of my workplace and the street was pretty much empty.
It's a broad enough street for two cars to pass side by side with cars parked on both sides.
We were on the right side, just beyond the office gate.
I do believe that I should have taken note of those words, "Watch dis eh..."
Now one translation of this would be what I stated above, "Pay attention to what I am doing or about to do."
Another translation depends on the context and might strike some concern into the hearts and minds of mortals.
"I going and try something, let's see how it goes."
This I believe to be a better translation and more suited to what then unfolded before my eyes, ears and within my physical being.
I heard the engine revs increase in pitch, most significantly.
Like really really plenty and like really really quickly.
The next few moments can only be described as memorable.
I know we were in neutral, then I do remember him putting the car in 1st gear and even though I wasn't specifically looking I know his foot came off the clutch, the handbrake went down and we began to be propelled ever forward and never backward.
But you see I didn't see very much as things got a bit blurry, but I did feel us proceeding up the street, with the car not entirely positioned in a northward direction, more North Westerly for a great portion of the road.
We weren't exactly drifting, but we weren't exactly not doing it at the same time.
See drifting reference here: Drifting
I wasn't hearing anything he was saying, if he was, because of the deafening roar of that exhaust but some thoughts began to come to me with great force of clarity.
One: I never met this guy before. So how do I know that he can drive?
Two: My seatbelt was not fastened. Refer to thought one and insert some measure of concern when that light bulb went off.
Three: How do I know we will return in one piece?
Four: What are you really doing here in this car at this point? Yuh mad awah? (Have you indeed lost some of your mental capacity to logically process information within the appropriate decision making paradigm?)
And so these thoughts stayed with me throughout this test drive, making it the most memorable I've had.
But what was more interesting post the drive and my heart coming back down from 9000 rpm was what my friend and work colleague, Jerry had to say.
Yip same Jerry from the roadtrip.
When we were leaving the curbside and migrating ourselves from this position up the street in a near sideways fashion, he saw blue and yellow flames erupting from the depths of the exhaust barrel, and embracing the crisp evening air.
He himself wondered, what was really wrong with me.
Needless to say, I did not go for that car, partly because of how tail-happy it was and I thought that living was a much better option.
There was also a bit of an oil leak and I couldn't handle an engine rebuild if it was serious.
But though I never forgot that ride, I always hoped for another chance at a 3rd gen.
And just around Christmas, going on 2 months of owning the 2nd Gen that I had hunted so hard for, I saw an ad for a 3rd Gen and the price was near enough within reach.
But I had to be out of the country for a bit and so, though I spoke with the guy, we arranged for after the New Year holiday to link up.
So my plan was simple, see if I can get someone to buy the second Gen in time and borrow the extra cash to upgrade since it was a really attractive deal.
And so for that reason only, I made a post on tuner to sell the 2nd Gen in hope that the timings would line up and I would get the chance to own an entry level beast.
But when I called the guy early in the New Year, he told me that in the midst of the New Year festivities his engine had blown and so he would sell the shell at a much reduced price.
I felt crushed at that point.
While that price was closer to what I would sell the 2nd Gen for, I'd have to foot the bill of either rebuilding the present engine or acquiring a new one and doing work on that potentially.
So I had to contemplate that. Is it worth giving up a working car, to go and take public transportation and hopefully at some point get a faster rolling car or not?
Since the car had been on trinituner there was a bit of early interest and so I figured I'd at least see what the interest was like and arranged with a couple people to view, whilst I made up my mind.
So some people came to view and test drive and gave me their feedback and pointed out some things and all was going fine, until one morning driving down the road to work, not far from my home, everything changed...
If you like how the story is progressing,
Leave Comments below or
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Next: Walking Through the Wankel Wilderness.
Previously:
Sarah's First Service
Bringing Home Sarah (Part II).
Bringing Home Sarah (Part I).
Rotary Owner and Loving It.
Is She The One? (Part II)
Is She The One? (Part I)
Rotary Revealed
Frustrated Wannabe Amateur Tuner
Navigating The Financial Labyrinth
European Exodus
RX7 Genesis
See pics:
My RX7 Story Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Email me at safeq@myrx7story.com
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Sarah's First Service
When I was much younger I used to dream like any other young boy about owning cool cars. I knew all the high end brands, Jaguar, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti and so on and I could identify them with only mere glimpses.
As I grew older the reality of the structure of life began to set in and the realisation of why these cars were still only dreams began to settle into my consciousness.
But this had never stopped me from car-gaping (aka car gazing, or drooling over sweet machines on wheels).
And long before I had gotten Josephine, the green Peugeot 306, I used to travel (utilise public transportation) via Maxi-Taxis (large taxis) to Port of Spain to get to work. This was a regular, until I started getting a lift into town with some friends.
On the occasions I would travel however, it would invariably be on the Priority Bus Route. Because of this, there was a house in Tacarigua that I would pass with an open yard that would always have on display a wide assortment of very attractive sports cars. I would enjoy that portion of the journey, though I did not know all of the cars at that time.
Years later during the consideration processes surrounding me undertaking this RX7 project, I had been investigating available Rotary mechanics and where they were located.
Lo and behold, to my surprise there was a rotary mechanic who lived at the same house where I would observe a wide range of sports cars, and so to me it seemed to be almost destined to be.
So I went and I spoke to the mechanic, Anil, who's a very cool and knowledgeable guy, about my RX7 considerations and he gave me some advice about what to look for etc and said when I did buy something I could bring it by and he'd take a look etc.
So post the drama of the first night bringing Sarah home, I made an appointment with Anil to service the car and check it out and dropped it off for him to do the needful.
During the same day that I dropped the car off by Anil for a routine service, unknown to me at the time, two brothers visited Anil to purchase a 3rd Generation RX7 13b-REW enginge for a project that one of the brothers was working on.
The older brother's plan was to put said engine in a Mazda RX2 RE and make a good attempt of reaching the moon, with the type of power that would be hitting the wheels.
I'll revisit that Mazda RX2 RE at a later date.
So Anil called me later on in the day to pick the car up in the evening when I was finished work. When I got there we chatted about the results of the checks he had done and he pointed out that the transmission seals needed to change, which is why I was getting a leak that I had but I could just keep topping up until I got to change it out. He gave me a link of someone to check for that. At the time it wasn't the highest priority since I planned to go manual anyway with Sarah.
Since his focus at that time wasn't so much on the older rotaries, he would help as much as possible but wouldn't be able to function as my primary aid. So as expected the real challenge in the journey going forth would be to meet the right people, those that were honest, knowledgeable and willing to assist.
And so I continued the reading I was doing, and joined a RX7 forum, www.rx7club.com and started searching for more technical RX7 resources on Trinituner and came across a crew called Mazda People United.
At the time there was just a very long, like 100+ pages long thread in the technical section of Trinituner, before it was split up amongst the most popular brands so aficionados could focus on their brand of choice.
See Mazda People United thread here: Mazda People United
Mazda People United Facebook page here: Mazda People United
So I decided, if I'm going to link with these guys I need to read from the first post by Turbodrive to the last until I made my first post. Gotta have my rights of passage dealt with properly so to speak.
And it was a very fun read. I came across legendary characters like Miggy and Five Forward and heard about these guys who had a laser sedan and hatch projects and about this Mazda RX2 RE project....sounds familiar huh?
I didn't know it at the time, but all these separate threads were all connected and would be revealed in time.
If you like how the story is progressing,
Leave Comments below or
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Next: 3rd Gen's a Charm.
Previously:
Bringing Home Sarah (Part II).
Bringing Home Sarah (Part I).
Rotary Owner and Loving It.
Is She The One? (Part II)
Is She The One? (Part I)
Rotary Revealed
Frustrated Wannabe Amateur Tuner
Navigating The Financial Labyrinth
European Exodus
RX7 Genesis
See pics:
My RX7 Story Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Email me at safeq@myrx7story.com
As I grew older the reality of the structure of life began to set in and the realisation of why these cars were still only dreams began to settle into my consciousness.
But this had never stopped me from car-gaping (aka car gazing, or drooling over sweet machines on wheels).
And long before I had gotten Josephine, the green Peugeot 306, I used to travel (utilise public transportation) via Maxi-Taxis (large taxis) to Port of Spain to get to work. This was a regular, until I started getting a lift into town with some friends.
On the occasions I would travel however, it would invariably be on the Priority Bus Route. Because of this, there was a house in Tacarigua that I would pass with an open yard that would always have on display a wide assortment of very attractive sports cars. I would enjoy that portion of the journey, though I did not know all of the cars at that time.
Years later during the consideration processes surrounding me undertaking this RX7 project, I had been investigating available Rotary mechanics and where they were located.
Lo and behold, to my surprise there was a rotary mechanic who lived at the same house where I would observe a wide range of sports cars, and so to me it seemed to be almost destined to be.
So I went and I spoke to the mechanic, Anil, who's a very cool and knowledgeable guy, about my RX7 considerations and he gave me some advice about what to look for etc and said when I did buy something I could bring it by and he'd take a look etc.
So post the drama of the first night bringing Sarah home, I made an appointment with Anil to service the car and check it out and dropped it off for him to do the needful.
During the same day that I dropped the car off by Anil for a routine service, unknown to me at the time, two brothers visited Anil to purchase a 3rd Generation RX7 13b-REW enginge for a project that one of the brothers was working on.
The older brother's plan was to put said engine in a Mazda RX2 RE and make a good attempt of reaching the moon, with the type of power that would be hitting the wheels.
I'll revisit that Mazda RX2 RE at a later date.
So Anil called me later on in the day to pick the car up in the evening when I was finished work. When I got there we chatted about the results of the checks he had done and he pointed out that the transmission seals needed to change, which is why I was getting a leak that I had but I could just keep topping up until I got to change it out. He gave me a link of someone to check for that. At the time it wasn't the highest priority since I planned to go manual anyway with Sarah.
Since his focus at that time wasn't so much on the older rotaries, he would help as much as possible but wouldn't be able to function as my primary aid. So as expected the real challenge in the journey going forth would be to meet the right people, those that were honest, knowledgeable and willing to assist.
And so I continued the reading I was doing, and joined a RX7 forum, www.rx7club.com and started searching for more technical RX7 resources on Trinituner and came across a crew called Mazda People United.
At the time there was just a very long, like 100+ pages long thread in the technical section of Trinituner, before it was split up amongst the most popular brands so aficionados could focus on their brand of choice.
See Mazda People United thread here: Mazda People United
Mazda People United Facebook page here: Mazda People United
So I decided, if I'm going to link with these guys I need to read from the first post by Turbodrive to the last until I made my first post. Gotta have my rights of passage dealt with properly so to speak.
And it was a very fun read. I came across legendary characters like Miggy and Five Forward and heard about these guys who had a laser sedan and hatch projects and about this Mazda RX2 RE project....sounds familiar huh?
I didn't know it at the time, but all these separate threads were all connected and would be revealed in time.
If you like how the story is progressing,
Leave Comments below or
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Next: 3rd Gen's a Charm.
Previously:
Bringing Home Sarah (Part II).
Bringing Home Sarah (Part I).
Rotary Owner and Loving It.
Is She The One? (Part II)
Is She The One? (Part I)
Rotary Revealed
Frustrated Wannabe Amateur Tuner
Navigating The Financial Labyrinth
European Exodus
RX7 Genesis
See pics:
My RX7 Story Facebook Page
Follow me on Twitter: MyRX7Story
Email me at safeq@myrx7story.com
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