Duane you guys have an unenviable job, and do a great job, so I wasn't criticizing, jut stating my opinion. I don't think this guy will change, as I recall he did get banned a while ago as well.
There are always those that second guess the Mod staff when it comes to a ban, except maybe when we clip a spammer. We work hard to keep Ferrarichat a harmonious place and Luke was definitely not being harmonious. Nothing wrong with good natured humor but being downright rude is another thing.
I hope you are right. My concern is the financial problems at GM will not allow them update the exterior as needed. It will ony be a simple slight change. My other concern is the newer milage requirements from the Frderal Gov will cut back the HP alot. I have a new Vette on order from a local Chev dealer. If it is low HP I will keep my ZR1. I saw this once before in the 1970's. The 1971 vette had 120 real hp. I am glad I kept my 1968 vette. Same car with 1960's muscle power. One of my buddies that owns a dealership told me that by 2014 the milage requirements will require manufacturers to only sell automatics. Lee Lee
427 is dead C7 Z06 will likely have a 5.4 I'd really like to see Vette sold off like AM so they can build a worldbeater like the C6 Z & ZR1 were
Couldn't they just make all pickups 3/4 ton and greater making them all Commercial type sales to lose all those low mileage vehicles from their low mileage rating? The Corvette is too much of a Chevy Icon. That would be sad for them to change to Autos.
I have been told that the US car manufactures will focus on handling and sound. Since they have to have a fleet milage average of 36 mpg by 2014 there is not much they can do with performance. This is why in fords they brought back the Boss 302 Mustang. A car with handling and sound but less power than one would normally expect. It took Aermican car companies several years to get power back when the EPA power choking regulations started in 1968 and got tighter each year for awhile. I think any car sold in the US must comply, foreign or domestic. Lee
Possible but I think what you will see is American manufacturers do is go for higher RPMs to get power. The two overview ways to get power is higher rpm or higher torque. This is why my Ferrari 458 has a red line of 9500 rpm. If they gear it properly right thru the drive train the cars can still be explosively quick with okay gas milage. it may be a long change over because I suspect American manufacturers will have to retool to achieve the better machine tolerences required for such high redlines. On the other hand maybe they have been planning for this and are ready. Altho I am a engineer this is not my area so Please take this as an opinion Lee
A Corvette 427 vert just sold at BJ for $600k so I guess for 2013 they will still make them. Oh man would that be fantastic. Without question the only fun driving is above 7500 rpm's into a corner. Linear torque over quick bursts is the only way to properly drive a car at speed. I hope you are correct.
In support of your excellant point I just bought a Lotus Evora S, not much power but it can wind up rpms thru the gears and it is great fun. Lotus also makes a standard non turbo Evora that has alot less power but it even winds up to higher rpms. It was a tough call for me because the high winding engine was so much fun. As a black possibility I was told by a freind who designed engines for two major car companies that the engineers are not sure they can make the 2014 gas milage standards without automatic transmissions that can be computer controlled to help milage. My guess is engineers will figure out how to still sell manuals. I know Ferrari and lambo do not sell manual gear boxes and the newer Lotus cars coming out around 2014 will only be automatics. So we will see Lee
I'm a Corvette Not Know Anything guy. So the C5 C6 etc I don't know years. I just saw that the car sold.
William, what I am hearing is that the 5.5 DI is base engine, and the ZR1 will still be a bigger motor with Turbos or Supercharger. I am not sure about Z06, but I think this is the end of the small block 427, what a shame.
I think you're confusing "automatics" with dual clutch gearboxes. HUGE difference. and frankly the manual is as outdated as the typewriter.
Some one told me asking for a manual transmission is like asking for a car with a hand crank to start it I know I am showing my age but I like manual transmissions! I hope you are right. Isn't dual clutch just a fast automatic transmission? I know or was told the 458 is a dual clutch. I do not understand how dual clutch works with an manual transmission. Are you suggesting a preslection gear process like those used in the 1930's? If you are saying the cars will change to a dual clutch automatics. I can buy that at least for the car types that benefit. Lee
automatics have torque converters; dual clutches have two clutches, one for even and one for odd numbered gears. it is sort of a pre-selection for the gear cluster not in use. beyond that you'll have to get an engineer to explain things I have owned cars with manuals, automatics, and dual clutches; IMO dual clutch is the best of all worlds.
While I enjoy shifting like the next guy with Manuel's damn Ferraris dual clutch shifts stupid fast and so smooth. Awesome piece of engineering that thing is.
Thank you for explaining this to me. Well it is time to find my crank and start up old betsy with the manual tranny As the poster sfter you said the 458 transmission is very fast and smooth. I have called it a technical marvel. Lee
Lee, you should take yours in and have the Software updated to the 2012 Spec, it will give it an extra kick in Race Mode, more like the Scuderia had.
Great Idea! I will do that when I take the car in for an oil change. i always drive the car in race mode seriously Thank you Lee
Your very welcome, I think the 458 with this software update will give you the feeling you mentioned you missed, as the car prior felt more clinical than the earlier Ferrari's you owned. Sorry to the OP for going a bit off track.
