Sport Car Videos

2007 USCC: 1990 Nissan 300ZX

2008-05-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX
Expert Rating Summary
Category
Nissan 300ZX Rating

Performance 8
Fuel Economy 3
Ride Quality 2
Steering/Handling/Braking 8
Quietness 2
Controls/Materials 5
Interior Room 4
Room/Comfort (rear) 0
Cargo Capacity 2
Value within Class 4
Total Score: 38
Maximum 10 points per category

Nissan redesigned its rear-drive sports car for introduction in spring 1989, adding a turbocharged model that fall. Two curvaceous body styles were offered: a 2-passenger coupe, and a 2+2 coupe with a small back seat. A 222-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 was standard in all models except the 300ZX Turbo, which came only in 2-seater form. Equipped with twin turbochargers and twin intercoolers (one set for each cylinder bank), the four-cam, 24-valve 3.0-liter engine developed 300 horsepower with 5-speed manual shift, or 280 horsepower when fitted with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Automatic also was available with the less-powerful engine. Turbos had intercooler inlets in the front air dam, a rear spoiler, Z-rated tires, and super HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Steering) 4-wheel steering. That meant the rear wheels first turned slightly in the opposite direction from the front wheels, then in the same direction, to improve stability in fast lane-changes. Antilock braking was standard. Door-mounted front seatbelts could be left buckled, to deploy automatically. A T-top roof was standard on the Turbo model. Other 2-passenger coupes could have a fixed roof or the removable roof panels.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Nissan 300ZX: A driver's airbag became optional this year, and a new base model joined the lineup. Additional standard equipment included heated mirrors, an illuminated entry system, a cargo cover, and automatic temperature control. All except the base model had a Nissan/Bose audio system. Base models seated two, had no T-bar roof, and came only with 5-speed manual shift.
1992 Nissan 300ZX: Optional in 1991 models, the driver's airbag became standard this year. Otherwise, the 300ZX was little changed.
1993 Nissan 300ZX: For the first time, the Z-car lineup included a factory-built convertible, introduced as an early 1993 model. Fitted with leather upholstery, the convertible had a manually folding top and a rear "hoop" over the interior, to increase structural rigidity and provide upper anchor points for the manual lap/shoulder belts. No other significant changes were evident.
1994 Nissan 300ZX: A passenger-side airbag joined the driver's airbag for 1994. New standard features included remote keyless entry for all models, and a power passenger seat for the convertible.
1995 Nissan 300ZX: No change was evident in the sixth season of this generation of Nissan's Z-car.
1996 Nissan 300ZX: For its final season in Nissan's lineup, no significant change was announced. Nissan chose to focus its attention on higher-volume models, letting the 300ZX disappear. As before, the selection consisted of base and hatchback coupes (with or without T-bar roof), a Turbo coupe, a 2+2 coupe, and a convertible with leather upholstery. Since its demise, several versions of a potential Z-car for the future have been seen at auto shows.

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Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo

2008-04-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

A cocky Chevy Cobalt SS owner says:
I own one of the original cobalt SS supercharged released new in 04 as an 05 model. Since then have kept regular maintenance and run it clean. It turns heads and has all the power you need. Many people have tried and only one has beaten me. This thing is fast. As far as Japanese tuners they can't touch me modded or not. My only loss came at the hands of a beamer on the interstate. And I wasn't taking it that seriously I just punched it to pass him and I was coming on my turn and he blew by me as I was gettin ready to slow and exit.
But the 2.4L is a disgrace to the SS because those are the ones the "rice burners" are bragging about beeting the SS, but they aren't beeting the right ones.
Look for the little insignia on the door then you'll know you can't win before you even try.

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Mustang Vs. Police Chase

2008-03-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Mustang is the best deal for the money. It is cheap to buy, cheap to maintain and has decent gas mileage.

Also, it definitely is a head-turner. Sure, many people may have Mustangs, but they are still aggressive-looking with decent power, even in the V6.

Mechanically speaking, it's a dream car. The auto transmission shifts so smoothly that you can't hardly tell it's even shifting.

Funny story about the transmission: I was recently driving down a hill at about forty miles per hour, and I went to shift from second gear to drive, and accidentally threw it into reverse. The engine died and the tires screeched and locked up, but I pulled it off the road and it started back up again with no problems whatsoever. People bash Fords for poor reliability, but this incident just proves to me how high-quality some of Ford's products are.

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BMW cool Burnout

2008-03-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

As general a very fast car. The performance figures don't prepare you for the insane acceleration on offer in any gear, and at any revs. Above 4,000 RPM it really goes ballistic, and if there's a better sounding production car engine in existence, I haven't heard it. It still makes the hair stand up on my neck every time I rev it.

Handling is superb too, once you appreciate it will barbecue the rear tyres and hang its tail out at the slightest opportunity. Thankfully it has steering and brakes which are both superb in terms of feel and accuracy. It's the kind of car that makes you seek out deserted roundabouts and lap them several times, completely sideways and feeling like a total hero.

Downsides? I just can't drive it sensibly, and hence destroyed a set of rear tyres in just 7,000 miles! Dealers are also arrogant and pricey. That said, I love this car because it's a total animal, and its 100% driver focussed, just like my previous TVR Chimaera. Except this starts every time I want to use it, and doesn't require top level breakdown cover each time I dare to venture more than a mile from home.

Yes it's a BMW, and hence it has an image problem, but one blast in this mad, rocket-sled powered mini-hearse will sell you. It's totally bonkers and unlike any other BMW, it has a touch of individuality. I'm converted

2008-03-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

A sports car is an automobile designed for performance (fast) driving. Most sports cars are rear-wheel drive, have two seats, two doors, and are designed for more precise handling, acceleration, and aesthetics. A sports car's dominant considerations can be superior road handling, braking, maneuverability, low weight, and high power, rather than passenger space, comfort, and fuel economy.
Sports cars can be either luxurious or spartan, but driving mechanical performance is the key attraction. Drivers regard brand name and the subsequent racing reputation and history as important indications of sporting quality, but brands such as Lamborghini, which do not race or build racing cars, are also highly regarded.
A car may be a sporting automobile without being a sports car. Performance modifications of regular, production cars, such as sport compacts, sport sedans, muscle cars, hot hatches and the like, generally are not sports cars, yet share traits common to sports cars. Often, they are called "sports cars" for martketing purposes for increased advertising and promotional purposes. Performance cars of all configurations are grouped as Sports and Grand tourer cars, or, occasionally, as performance cars.
A sports car does not require a large, powerful engine, though many do have them. Some classic British sports cars lacked powerful engines, but were known for exceptional handling due to light weight, a well-engineered, balanced chassis, and modern suspension. On tight, twisting roads, such an automobile performs more effectively than a heavier, more powerful luxury car with less maneuverability.
Enjoy this sport car photos put togather in a nice video-like slideshow.
Read more about sport cars at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_car)

Toyota Supra Tune up

2008-03-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

Toyota Supra is one of the most "Tune UP" cars in the world. This car is especially popular among the teenage wannabe race drivers.
Leave a couple of words of your own to support or criticize the Toyota Supra.