A most interesting web page: http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/engineweights.html Pretty useful for figuring out how much to make a fictional V6 engine weigh.
They have been saying that, for like the past 2 years though. I kinda want to see what they can do with it, they are known for getting cars to handle well, so they should be able to make a fun SUV, potentially with awesome ride quality too. But I just don't know if there is a market, they can't compete against Germany on technology, and people buying big sporty SUV's are IMO not really looking for the last word in handling, otherwise they would buy a sedan. They want luxury from a big fashionable brand, with enough power to be fun, a German SUV will handle decently and that's all it needs to do. Maybe Lotus can get some hipster cred with it? In general I feel pretty bad for Lotus as a brand. They are excellent, their cars are excellent, but they have a stigma attached to them that hasn't been true for the last 20(?) years. They make genuine drivers cars and everything I have heard about the Evora has been positive, including reliability*. I guess I can be glad that they are not in perpetual financial difficulties thanks to new ownership giving them some money to invest in development. *Apparently the clutch is a little expensive to replace, its in a slightly awkward place and therefore incurs large labour costs, the parts are pretty cheap. But that is the only expensive thing that they need doing.
American SUV fans be like: "It doesn't matter if it weighs as much as a railcar and has a wheelbase the size of a whole executive sedan, if they put rear independent suspension and AWD in it, it won't be a proper offroader anymore!!!"
Someone rifled through my car last night and pilfered my shit. They took 3/4 of a pack of American Spirit cigarettes, a pocket knife, my Enterprise hat, and my cupholder. My cupholder is removable. They took it. Dickheads. The pack of cigarettes came just as easy as it went. I found it on the ground. Onto the next guy I guess.
Here's a pro tip: Own nothing and you will never be rob ever. Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler Sorry that happen to you though.
https://www.olx.pl/m/oferta/ford-consul-1972-r-1-7b-CID5-IDvFf0G.html?code=6be225b73c With me having the dough (in trust fund, but still counts), this brown 70s-tastic V4 sedan seems irresistible... --- Post updated --- What if they rob you for practice?
Only possible in very good climate cause clothes are possessions too and can be stolen. Oh, and a pro of pros tip: don't live and you'll never die.
Not just IRS, but even IFS is inferior in some aspects of off-roading (but also superior in others). Typically differentials in IFS AWD/4WD systems are made of aluminum to cut down on weight, they rob a little bit of ground clearance (other than what your tire gives you), steering systems are overly stressed in crawling situations, they don't articulate as well in crawling situations, ball joints and axles are overly stressed. There are reasons why serious off-roaders swap out IFS systems for solid axles. Sure, exceptions like the Hummer H1 and Unimog come to mind, but they use portal axles, in-board brakes, are all steel/cast iron, etc.
The aluminium vs steel thing is kinda interesting. In mountain biking, the evolution of high end bikes has mostly gone steel -> aluminium -> carbon fibre. However, there are still companies building high end steel bikes, because some people prefer how they feel, apparently the frames have more give in them. Supposedly the weight difference between steel and aluminium isn't as much as you would expect either, since the aluminium has to be made thicker to match the strength of steel. That additional thickness means aluminium frames don't have the same level of compliance in them. Now ofc, that could all be hipster logic, since in top level racing, no one rides steel. But at national levels there are still people riding steel and winning as part of factory race teams, same goes for Carbon bikes and Aluminium bikes. For example, £4800 can get a top of the range bike with the same steel frame as this (Cotic only make steel bikes, they seem to win many events too) BTR also make some fairly cool steel frames (£2900 for below frame) [frame prices listed in this post include rear shock] Whereas the vast majority of the industry is now Carbon such as this £8099 Santa Cruz (frame only is £2999), Santa Cruz are generally very highly regarded, but expensive. So in Off Road cars, is there much debate between steel/aluminium/carbon?
I don't think there is much debate at all, almost everything is preferred to be steel. Bumpers, suspension components, ladder or tube frames, etc. The only thing that's really debated is wheels.
