View Poll Results: Would you buy one ?
Yes, I'd buy one `if gas gets over $5 + a gallon
1
4.76%
Yes, I would buy one NOW & have Fun : )
0
0%
No Way would I be caught driving one 4-Sure
9
42.86%
No ~ No ~ No, I'd walk first or ride my bike : )
11
52.38%
Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll
Would you ever buy/drive one ?
#31
08-03-2011, 04:12 PM
huh across the pond in england they are toyota's not scions! i was watching top gear the otherda and James May was driving one...
Only Pic i could find from the episode
O yeah and the awncer is not in this life time i'd rather stick a 4 cyl in the monte....
Only Pic i could find from the episode
O yeah and the awncer is not in this life time i'd rather stick a 4 cyl in the monte....
#32
08-04-2011, 06:22 AM
..LOL `Justin, At first I thought the dog was driving 
I know that FORD produced a 4 Banger Turbo 4 the Thunderbird...
Ford Thunderbird - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
<BUTTON class=vspib type=submit></BUTTON>
<CITE>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird</CITE> - CachedSimilar
The Thunderbird ("T-Bird"), is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor ... the Thunderbird entered production for the 1955 model year as a sporty two-seat .... Ford billed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car, putting a greater ..... 2.3 L OHC 4-cylinder engine featured in the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. ...
<BUTTON class=vspib type=submit></BUTTON>
<CITE>en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird</CITE> - CachedSimilar
The Thunderbird ("T-Bird"), is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor ... the Thunderbird entered production for the 1955 model year as a sporty two-seat .... Ford billed the Thunderbird as a personal luxury car, putting a greater ..... 2.3 L OHC 4-cylinder engine featured in the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. ...
<TABLE class=table_detail_inside border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="90%"><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#e1dcb6 width="50%" align=right>1/4 Mile ET:</TD><TD bgColor=#e1dcb6 width="50%">12.310</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#e1dcb6 width="50%" align=right>1/4 Mile MPH:</TD><TD bgColor=#e1dcb6 width="50%">110.000</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
1987 Ford Thunderbird TurboCoupe 1/4 mile Drag Racing timeslip specs 0-60 - DragTimes.com
That would be a wild conversion `Mod 4 a Monte Carlo...to put in a 4 Banger Turbo in2 one : )Those times 4 the T-Bird are amaz'in : )
Thanks `Justin for all your super contributions 4-Sure
Last edited by Space; 08-04-2011 at 06:48 AM.
#33
08-05-2011, 07:20 AM
Member's, which one you your choose if you had to choose between the two below 
Small Wonders: MINI Cooper vs. the Fiat 500
We pit the upstart 2012 Fiat 500 against the 2012 MINI Cooper hardtop in a battle of the flyweights.
<CITE sizcache="29" sizset="82">By Kirk Bell of MSN Autos</CITE>
Click to enlarge picture
MINI Cooper / Fiat 500
In the early 1960s, a band from Liverpool, England, called the Beatles was quickly becoming a rock 'n' roll sensation throughout Britain. By 1964, the force of the quartet's popularity had brought them to the United States to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show." With the Beatles' rousing television performance and steady radio play, America was hooked. Soon the British Invasion was going full-tilt, importing such acts as the Rolling Stones, the Who, Herman's Hermits and the Kinks.
A few years earlier, the European auto industry had introduced a new style of automobile. In 1957, the Italian automaker Fiat released a small car for the masses. At just 10 feet long, the Fiat Cinquecento (500) Nuovo was one of the first city cars and was ideally suited for tight European streets. Two years later, British Motor Corp. released a microcar of its own. Originally marketed under two brands as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, this small car gave birth to the sportier and more powerful Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper in 1961.
Bing: City Cars
While America had proven itself ready for British music, it wasn't ready for tiny European cars. Consequently, the 500 and Mini never came to the U.S. in any appreciable quantity.
Fast-forward 40 years. In 2001, BMW, having bought British Motor's assets, launched a reimagined MINI Cooper hardtop in both Europe and the U.S. Its retro good looks and surprisingly fun driving character made the car a hit, even here in the land of the SUV. The MINI went without any direct competition until 2007, when Fiat relaunched the 500 as a retro-styled small car in Europe. The economic crisis of 2008 gave Fiat an opening to come to the U.S. Fiat took partial ownership of the wavering Chrysler Corp., and finally brought the 500 to these shores through the Chrysler dealer network in early 2011.
With two cars so closely matched in concept and execution, a head-to-head matchup was inevitable. For comparison purposes, we'll consider only the hatchback versions, as the convertibles are substantially different. The 2012 Fiat 500 starts at $15,500 and is offered with only one engine, while the 2012 MINI Cooper gets a base engine and two more powerful versions in the S and John Cooper Works models, but its base price starts at $20,200.
So, which of these European flyweights is right for you?
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ROUND ONE: DRIVING CHARACTER
The MINI Cooper introduced Americans to a new driving experience. Its small size, light weight and BMW suspension tuning created a Go-Kart-like character that has become the basis for the car's appeal. Until the introduction of the Fiat 500 earlier this year, no other car besides the Mazda Miata had approached the MINI's fun factor.
Both the MINI and the Fiat react quickly to steering input, dive willingly into corners and generally feel like sports cars in hatchback packages. Of the two, the MINI has quicker moves, with sharper steering and less body lean in turns. The 500's steering is lighter, but it firms up nicely at speed to increase stability in high-speed corners.
While both cars ride well, they also suffer for their short wheelbases. The rear tires react to bumps shortly after the front tires, making the ride busy on rough roads and tossing occupants from side to side. The problem is worse in the Fiat, because the torsion-beam rear suspension means bumps that affect one side of the car transfer to the other side. The MINI has an independent rear suspension that isolates bumps side-to-side. The Fiat is also tuned a little softer, even the firmer Sport trim, so it doesn't pound as much over sharp ruts.
Compare: Fiat 500 vs. MINI Cooper vs. Honda Fit
Power is limited in both cars. The 500 is motivated by a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes a modest 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft of torque. It is offered with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. The MINI employs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that puts out 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. It can be paired to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.
Both of the manual transmissions are easy to shift. The automatics work well enough with each engine, but Fiat drivers especially will find themselves needing to downshift to maintain speed on long grades. Despite a nearly 200-pound weight advantage for the Fiat, the MINI is quicker, accelerating from zero to 60 mph in a little over eight seconds, while the Fiat is in the mid-nines. Both have Sport modes that increase throttle response and hold gears longer when equipped with the automatics. We preferred driving in Sport mode most of the time in the city, but didn't find it useful at highway speeds.
Winner: MINI Cooper
Watch Video: First Drive: Fiat 500
Continued: Fuel Economy & More
Small Wonders: MINI Cooper vs. the Fiat 500
We pit the upstart 2012 Fiat 500 against the 2012 MINI Cooper hardtop in a battle of the flyweights.
<CITE sizcache="29" sizset="82">By Kirk Bell of MSN Autos</CITE>
Click to enlarge pictureMINI Cooper / Fiat 500
In the early 1960s, a band from Liverpool, England, called the Beatles was quickly becoming a rock 'n' roll sensation throughout Britain. By 1964, the force of the quartet's popularity had brought them to the United States to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show." With the Beatles' rousing television performance and steady radio play, America was hooked. Soon the British Invasion was going full-tilt, importing such acts as the Rolling Stones, the Who, Herman's Hermits and the Kinks.
A few years earlier, the European auto industry had introduced a new style of automobile. In 1957, the Italian automaker Fiat released a small car for the masses. At just 10 feet long, the Fiat Cinquecento (500) Nuovo was one of the first city cars and was ideally suited for tight European streets. Two years later, British Motor Corp. released a microcar of its own. Originally marketed under two brands as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, this small car gave birth to the sportier and more powerful Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper in 1961.
Bing: City Cars
While America had proven itself ready for British music, it wasn't ready for tiny European cars. Consequently, the 500 and Mini never came to the U.S. in any appreciable quantity.
Fast-forward 40 years. In 2001, BMW, having bought British Motor's assets, launched a reimagined MINI Cooper hardtop in both Europe and the U.S. Its retro good looks and surprisingly fun driving character made the car a hit, even here in the land of the SUV. The MINI went without any direct competition until 2007, when Fiat relaunched the 500 as a retro-styled small car in Europe. The economic crisis of 2008 gave Fiat an opening to come to the U.S. Fiat took partial ownership of the wavering Chrysler Corp., and finally brought the 500 to these shores through the Chrysler dealer network in early 2011.
With two cars so closely matched in concept and execution, a head-to-head matchup was inevitable. For comparison purposes, we'll consider only the hatchback versions, as the convertibles are substantially different. The 2012 Fiat 500 starts at $15,500 and is offered with only one engine, while the 2012 MINI Cooper gets a base engine and two more powerful versions in the S and John Cooper Works models, but its base price starts at $20,200.
So, which of these European flyweights is right for you?
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript src="http://autos.msn.com/resources/ymmall.js"></SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> ymmInitialize(document.forms['YmmForm'], '', 0, 0, 'Make', 'Model', 'Trim'); function userReview(parent) { var oYear = parent.ymmYears.options[parent.ymmYears.selectedIndex].text; var oMake = parent.ymmMakes.options[parent.ymmMakes.selectedIndex].text; var oModel = parent.ymmModels.options[parent.ymmModels.selectedIndex].text; window.location = 'http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/reviews.aspx?year=' + oYear + '&make=' + encodeURIComponent(oMake) + '&model=' + encodeURIComponent(oModel) + '&trimid=-1'; } </SCRIPT>
ROUND ONE: DRIVING CHARACTER
The MINI Cooper introduced Americans to a new driving experience. Its small size, light weight and BMW suspension tuning created a Go-Kart-like character that has become the basis for the car's appeal. Until the introduction of the Fiat 500 earlier this year, no other car besides the Mazda Miata had approached the MINI's fun factor.
Both the MINI and the Fiat react quickly to steering input, dive willingly into corners and generally feel like sports cars in hatchback packages. Of the two, the MINI has quicker moves, with sharper steering and less body lean in turns. The 500's steering is lighter, but it firms up nicely at speed to increase stability in high-speed corners.
While both cars ride well, they also suffer for their short wheelbases. The rear tires react to bumps shortly after the front tires, making the ride busy on rough roads and tossing occupants from side to side. The problem is worse in the Fiat, because the torsion-beam rear suspension means bumps that affect one side of the car transfer to the other side. The MINI has an independent rear suspension that isolates bumps side-to-side. The Fiat is also tuned a little softer, even the firmer Sport trim, so it doesn't pound as much over sharp ruts.
Compare: Fiat 500 vs. MINI Cooper vs. Honda Fit
Power is limited in both cars. The 500 is motivated by a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes a modest 101 horsepower and 98 lb-ft of torque. It is offered with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic. The MINI employs a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that puts out 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. It can be paired to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic.
Both of the manual transmissions are easy to shift. The automatics work well enough with each engine, but Fiat drivers especially will find themselves needing to downshift to maintain speed on long grades. Despite a nearly 200-pound weight advantage for the Fiat, the MINI is quicker, accelerating from zero to 60 mph in a little over eight seconds, while the Fiat is in the mid-nines. Both have Sport modes that increase throttle response and hold gears longer when equipped with the automatics. We preferred driving in Sport mode most of the time in the city, but didn't find it useful at highway speeds.
Winner: MINI Cooper
Watch Video: First Drive: Fiat 500
Continued: Fuel Economy & More
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