So a funny thing happened on my way to Hi-HO....

05 September 2007, 11:50

Hi HO!

Ok, looks like the get-together is going to be Saturday, September 22 then. If we do it during the day, my place is fine (but if the weather's good, maybe we can go someplace like Deep Cove or something) ... my folks are coming up that night so we're going to have to find a venue if it's in the evening (possibly Darrene's -- thanks for offering). Give me some feedback on ideas, guys? What do you think about laser tag? Haha... or a bowling tournament ... or something...

Thugster, thanks for the list ... I'll have to run my Sera against the checklist. Some stuff like centre-mounted brakelights and such shouldn't be too hard to strap on for the inspection. My car was also never produced in LHD so it will need some kind of jury-rigged headlight. But the main problem is the glass -- if that doesn't pass, that's a fatal ...

Pho -- ok cool I'll see if I can pick up a Hyper Rev or something before I go. I'm on the stuff Irene asked for as well.

Urban -- got your whiskey today. Was on some kind of promo and came with a free "Single Malt Glass".

KFC, can you use some japanese rubbers?

Tricky tricky tricky... what can I entice Tricky with.... too bad they won't let me bring Kobe Beef ... (or will they?!?!?)

KFC - you're probably better off buying a new power supply, you'll save that much in electricity alone...

Sunny, who'd you have to sleep with to lay your hands on that?

05 September 2007, 13:56

Joe, surprisingly, no one! I actually wasn't sure if I was going to go on the drive today, but my manager thought I was kidding that I didn't know I was going. It really helped that I've been in fast cars before, done autox, and beaten just about everyone at work in karting.

That said, the 911 didn't come out today. We were supposed to get one from a private importer, and the one we're supposed to get crashed last night. Instead we got a fully optioned Cayman S, which I've never been in. I didn't get a chance to drive it, but I *think* I prefer the Boxster about 90% of the time. The XKR though, is quite something. It's a bit soft when you really push it, but it's a GT and does that job really well. It was already really fast in Taiwanese mountain roads, but I think it'd eat a lot of cars for lunch on faster mountain roads like the Sea to Sky.

On schedule tomorrow is Audi A4 1.8T S-line (yeah we still get the 1.8t), Suzuki Swift, and on Friday a group test for Focus TDCI and Golf 2.0TDI.

Bruno, I've been in the 535d and A6 3.0TDI. I'm surprised that the performance is close in 335d and A4 3.0TDI. The Bimmer had mad power and torque. It was enough to trigger traction control in 2nd gear, going uphill in the 535d. The 3.0TDI is a nice engine to be around in though. Much nicer than the Merc's 320CDI engine, which reminds you that you're driving a diesel just about all the time.

05 September 2007, 15:03

Maybe the difference is the A4 3.0TDI can make use of the diesel's torque because it's quattro while the 335d can't make full use of it in a 0-100km/h sprint. Also, I think the new A4 may have a new version of the 3.0TDI.

05 September 2007, 17:12

Can't do Saturday night. Sofia's chorus is having a show that night. Suffice to say, I'd be alone with Sebastien during the day so I can't go to lasertag/karting or what not.

Doesn't mean I can't hang out though with my boy!

05 September 2007, 17:40

Saturday should work for me during the day, and I like karting even though I'm more of a mid-pack karter.

BTW, How much does the HyperRev cost over there? I always wanted to look at the GC stuff (know squat all about Japanese) but never justified the cost to get them through the bookstore at Yaohan.

05 September 2007, 18:07

I think Saturday is good for us. One thing is I don't think Stef will be up for karting after last time.

On the other hand, I have a voucher for a free race somewhere because of it.

05 September 2007, 18:46

"For relaxing times, make it Suntory times"

05 September 2007, 19:43

I keep forgetting to post after seeing Tricky. The yellow flapped wonder drove by me just after I left work yesterday.

05 September 2007, 20:45

Speaking of yellow... pineapple flavoured OKF FTL!

Not only does the artificial pineapple flavour taste more artifical than pineapple, but the distinctive yellow colour makes one ponder the fact that it will probably remain the same colour when it's later expelled.

05 September 2007, 21:37

Necro - no, no need for a Hyper Rev (but if you insist, I'll take it), but just the simpler Subaru WRC challenge magazine. I think I got mine at the Subaru booth @ the autoshows. Do they have them at the dealerships? I don't know if they made them in Japan, but I have a couple old ones at home. It'd be nice to have. I have an old one with Richard Burns as the main driver.

LaterZ!
Darren!!

05 September 2007, 22:19

06 September 2007, 01:54

Bruno, what happened last time at karting?

I think the 335d's traction could be an issue, but I wasn't aware of the A4 having a new diesel. I'm gonna have to check with the brand editor today. One thing with both the 3.0TDI and the BMW's engine (and diesel) is that they both feel great going at say 6-8/10ths, but when you start pushing, you kinda go "oh, that's it?" since it's running out of steam past 4k or so. It kinda feels like it's gone before you started. It's especially obvious when you compare it to the newer bimmer/audi V6's, which are pretty high revving.

06 September 2007, 14:27

Last time my wife got kicked off the track because she was holding people up.

Well the new A4 just launched at the Frankfurt Autoshow, and it does sound like it has a new itteration of the 3.0TDI. Minimized internal friction... blah blah blah... and on paper it looks like it's got an extra 15bhp over the 3.0TDI in the A6.

Quote:

The three-litre diesel is a new member of Audi's V-engine family. It develops 176 kW (240 bhp) and has a peak torque of no less than 500 Nm all the way from 1500 to 3000 rpm. This large TDI unit, with its displacement of 2967 cc, makes the new A4 even more of a sports saloon. It needs only 6.1 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h from a standing start, and has a top speed of 250 km/h, yet its average fuel consumption is a more than modest 6.9 l/100 km. The 3.0 TDI always has quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

The V6 TDI's engine block is made from a light but rigid high-tech material: vermiculite graphite cast iron. Inside the engine, intensive fine tuning measures have minimised friction losses. The latest generation of common-rail fuel injection is used. Its high operating pressure atomises the fuel extremely finely, for a more uniform mixture and efficient combustion. The piezo injectors operate with immense speed and permit the fuel injection stroke to be divided up into individual stages, so that the engine runs exceptionally smoothly.

The exhaust-driven turbocharger is also a unit from the latest design generation. A high-speed actuating motor alters the position of its guide vanes, so that high torque builds up more rapidly and spontaneously. The 3.0 TDI already complies with forthcoming Euro 5 limits. A novel exhaust gas recirculation concept with increased cooling performance is used to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen.

06 September 2007, 14:39

Bleh, screw the A4. I saw the specs for the RS6 today. Forget the M5 touring. I want a RS6 Avant.

:drool:

06 September 2007, 20:41

Bruno - did you say you're coming on the 22nd? If so, can you bring that CS3 disc? I have a disc for Peter with raws too.

06 September 2007, 20:51

Ye, I'll bring the disc on the 22nd.

06 September 2007, 21:02

work is asdfjkasldfkjasdfj boring.

06 September 2007, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by -S-

Bleh, screw the A4. I saw the specs for the RS6 today. Forget the M5 touring. I want a RS6 Avant.

F--K ME! I was thinking to myself "What would they do to top the bi-turbo V8 in the previous generation?"

I guess 2 extra cylinders resulting in a bi-turbo V10 would pretty much do it.