Car Talk!

[Bizkitkid2001]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobRich

The one I am looking at is a hand-built classic Avanti II on a Studebaker chassis with a GM drivetrain. 350 engine. 400 trans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studeba...anti#Avanti_II

The later produced ultra-rare convertibles from around 1990-1991 can get towards the $50k range on the used market.

As you have discovered, the new "Avanti" shares little in common with the Studebaker-derived classics. I don't know much about pricing for the Ford-based replicas, though I would suspect maybe two to three times the cost of a Mustang GT, if not more since there are only 150 per year being manufactured AFAIK.

It may even be more now that Avanti has been shut down after the owner was accuses of running a $428 million money scheme and all Avanti facilities were closed in December 2006 according to Wikipedia.

[RobRich]

I knew Kelly was picked up on charges awhile back. Looking at Wiki, it does appear "Avanti" production has been halted in Mexico as well.

[rrcn]

A couple recent pictures:

http://www.techimo.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/10804

http://www.techimo.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/10805/


I want to shave my doors pretty badly. I know a guy who does great body work. He's the one who shaved my 'gate.

[RobRich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Real Bingo

Here's my fuel consumption for the Mustang since I got it back in 08/2005.

My car gets forty rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!

[Bizkitkid2001]

A guy at work says that I don't know how to drive a stick because my shifting ins't smooth enough to where he can't feel the shifting.


He says that I need to shift with only having the clutch halfway down. I know that doing this will cause premature wear on the clutch plate and syncros, yet he swears that is how you should drive a car on the street. I tell him that shifting with the clutch all the way depressed, and experience a slight jerk when up shifting is better on the clutch and transmission.

He still keeps saying that I need to learn how to drive. Does anyone have any links, or explanations of their own, that I can tell him to prove that only putting the clutch partially down is bad?


I try googling for "half clutch shift" and similar phrases and only came a cross simple posts in car forums where people just say its bad, but don't explain why. I was hoping I can get a better explanation from people here.

[SoloCamo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bizkitkid2001

A guy at work says that I don't know how to drive a stick because my shifting ins't smooth enough to where he can't feel the shifting.


He says that I need to shift with only having the clutch halfway down. I know that doing this will cause premature wear on the clutch plate and syncros, yet he swears that is how you should drive a car on the street. I tell him that shifting with the clutch all the way depressed, and experience a slight jerk when up shifting is better on the clutch and transmission.

He still keeps saying that I need to learn how to drive. Does anyone have any links, or explanations of their own, that I can tell him to prove that only putting the clutch partially down is bad?


I try googling for "half clutch shift" and similar phrases and only came a cross simple posts in car forums where people just say its bad, but don't explain why. I was hoping I can get a better explanation from people here.

IIRC, only depressing the clutch halfway is similar to clutch slippage, which we all know is not a good thing.

That's why on my Jeep I keep it in "power" mode. It may shift harder, and rev a little higher, but I'll gladly take that over premature tranny death. Of course this is an auto...but it is the same concept.

[RobRich]

Forget the proof. He has a preconceived, albiet insipid idea.

Simply shut him down instead. Ask him if he paid for your car or pays for maintenance on your car. I suggest telling him until he pays, you will drive your car as you see fit. If he doesn't like your driving, he can ride with someone else.

Anyway, if he thinks full clutch engagement is "jerking" him about while cruising around town, then he probably does not need to ride with me, be it an auto or manual.

[RobRich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoloCamo

That's why on my Jeep I keep it in "power" mode. It may shift harder, and rev a little higher, but I'll gladly take that over premature tranny death. Of course this is an auto...but it is the same concept.

Sure enough.

Economy mode on a Mopar(/Mitsu) automatic is generally reserved for open highway cruising, an environment with few gear changes and limited heat buildup. Around town or in situations of often gear changes, the trans should typically be in power mode, as it limits internal slippage, thus decreasing heat buildup and friction wear.

[Bizkitkid2001]

First to second for me is usually a bit jerking, mainly because I shift faster than the revs drop. So by the time I already have second gear selected and ready to raise the clutch, the rpms are still falling to the matching speed. If I let up off the clutch while its still falling, there is a jerk as the engine speed drops faster once the transmission catches.


Is this really a bad thing? This is what my cooworker mainly complains about when he says jerky shifting, and why I should only do the clutch halfway since it will bring the engine rpm down quicker before I acutally shift into second gear.


Should I just try to shift a tad slower? I find it hard to do this as when I shift this car I am in a sporty mood and just like to get my shifts quicker. Going from second to third, or any higher gear does not have the same problem as the difference in the engine RPM between other gears isn't as big as first to second, so the engine rpm does not have to drop as much.



I never had this "jerking" with my old Mazda b2600i so I am wondering if it is my driving style or just that its a much tighter sportier drivetrain so small jerks and bumps are felt more.

[Bizkitkid2001]

Here are two videos that show the type of "jerking" I get when I shift.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=0


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIy7JvhlYk8


Notice how in both of those the cars engine is still at a higher rpm than the rpm needed to match the gears so the car kind of "launches" forward a little bit when they shift. That it what I do when accelerating hard from first to second. Although I am able to match the revs at higher gears so I get no jerking when I am shifting up in higher gears (or could it be my lack of torque doesn't make the car budge )


My cooworker says that clutching half-way will provide a smoother shift and make the car accelerate faster.


I told him that I would also be replacing the clutch and syncros next oil change if I did that. I don't know how true his claim is though about better acceleration.