The New Car Fanatic Thread

[Buzzrock 14,870]

Any idea wtf this is? Seen today in Atlanta:

[Brew 3,045]

Based on the graphics, it’s a DDR.

[ChickenSandwich 9,798]

33 minutes ago, Buzzrock said:

Any idea wtf this is? Seen today in Atlanta:

Kit car

http://www.ddrmotorsport.com/gt8.php

[PittsburghTiger 6,137]

On 7/8/2018 at 12:25 PM, davidg said:

Didn't see it posted anywhere else but Porsche set the record to end all records on the Nordschleife

 

 

EPIC!

[Anton Chigurh 3,318]

Any idea wtf this is? Seen today in Atlanta:

The rear end looks like it’s doing this:

[Prepuce of Doom 20,985]

5 hours ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Kit car

http://www.ddrmotorsport.com/gt8.php

This is the last item on the list of things that you have to provide to complete the kit:

• 1992 2002 Mazda RX-7 door rear view mirror

Seems oddly specific to me. 

[Buzzrock 14,870]

Forgot to put “without Googling”

That “what you need” list is nuts.

[PittsburghTiger 6,137]

From today's Wall Street Journal.

 

 

By 

Tim Higgins

Updated July 22, 2018 9:50 p.m. ET

476 COMMENTS

 

Tesla Inc. TSLA -5.78% has asked some suppliers to refund a portion of what the electric-car company has spent previously, an appeal that reflects the auto maker’s urgency to sustain operations during a critical production period.

The Silicon Valley electric-car company said it is asking its suppliers for cash back to help it become profitable, according to a memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal that was sent to a supplier last week. Tesla requested the supplier return what it calls a meaningful amount of money of its payments since 2016, according to the memo.

The auto maker’s memo, sent by a global supply manager, described the request as essential to Tesla’s continued operation and characterized it as an investment in the car company to continue the long-term growth between both players.

While Tesla said in the memo that all suppliers were being asked to help it become profitable, it is unclear how many were asked for a discount on contracted spending amounts retroactively. Some suppliers contacted about the request said they were unaware of such a demand.

Tesla declined to comment on the specific memo. But it confirmed it is seeking price reductions from suppliers for projects, some of which date back to 2016, and some of which haven’t been completed. The company called such requests a standard part of procurement negotiations to improve its competitive advantage, especially as it ramps up Model 3 production.

The surprising requests raise further questions about Tesla’s cash position, which has dwindled after it struggled to boost production of its first car designed for mainstream buyers, the Model 3. After months of delays, Tesla last quarter reached its longstanding goal of making 5,000 Model 3s in a single week, which, if sustained, will help it generate cash.

 

Auto makers and suppliers have complicated relationships, each fighting for the best deal under immense pricing pressure. Supply-chain consultants say sometimes auto makers will demand a reduction in price for a current contract going forward or use leverage of awarding a new deal to get upfront savings on a contract. But they say it is unusual for an auto maker to ask for a refund for past work.

Dennis Virag, a manufacturing consultant who has worked in the automotive industry for 40 years, said a solicitation like Tesla’s could put suppliers in financial peril and jeopardize its future supply of car parts.

“It’s simply ludicrous and it just shows that Tesla is desperate right now,” he said. “They’re worried about their profitability but they don’t care about their suppliers’ profitability.” 

Tesla has sought to balance its desire for rapid growth with paying for the expensive launch of new vehicles and building out infrastructure to compete against much larger auto makers.

Chief Executive Elon Musk has said he wants to avoid raising additional cash, promising the company can become cash-flow positive with the continued Model 3 build rate and turn a profit in the second half of the year. Many analysts expect Tesla eventually will need to raise more money.

Tesla has been burning cash at a rate of about $1 billion a quarter, and finished the first quarter with $2.7 billion in cash on hand. Tesla pledged to pare back planned capital expenditures this year to less than $3 billion from $3.4 billion last year. Its loss attributable to common shareholders in the first quarter was $710 million, the fifth consecutive quarter of record losses. 

Tesla will need to pay down a $230 million convertible bond this November if its stock doesn’t reach a conversion price of $560.64, and a $920 million convertible note next March if the stock doesn’t reach $359.87. Shares closed Friday at $313.58, and are down about 4.5% over the past 12 months. 

As part of Tesla’s bid to become profitable, Mr. Musk cut Tesla’s workforce by 9% in Juneand promised to slow other spending as well. He’s become focused intently on becoming cash-flow positive, a person familiar with his thinking said. 

Last month, he told employees in an email: “What drives us is our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable, clean energy, but we will never achieve that mission unless we eventually demonstrate that we can be sustainably profitable. That is a valid and fair criticism of Tesla’s history to date.”

As a younger company, Tesla indicated it had trouble getting the attention of some of the most important suppliers. Mr. Musk has complained in the past that he wasn’t getting parts makers’ best teams, but he has said that changed with the Model 3.

Tesla has made changes with its suppliers in the past to help preserve its cash position.

In August, Mr. Musk told analysts Tesla was able to negotiate longer payment terms to about 60 days for Model 3 parts, in what he described as “the nirvana” that would allow the auto maker to make the car and get paid for it before the bill is due to suppliers.

“Obviously, that’s like the promised land right there,” he said.

 

Write to Tim Higgins at Tim.Higgins@WSJ.com

Appeared in the July 23, 2018, print edition as 'Tesla Asks Suppliers for Cash Back.'

[elfenix 34,171]

sergio marchionne died

 

http://autoweek.com/article/people/great-leader-sergio-marchionne-dies-left-his-mark-formula-1-ferrari-f1-race-team

[PRONG HORN 3,107]

Lambo is king of the ring again.

The Lamborghini Aventador Super Veloce Jota has lapped the Nurburgring in 6 minutes 44.97 seconds. In doing so, it undercuts the time posted recently by the Porsche 911 GT2 RS by just a few seconds to set the production car lap record.

 

 

[milkman 428]

My 2004 svt cobra torch red.  Major mods are a 2.3 whipple, fuel system, RXT twin disk clutch, runs 93 octane at 17psi or E85 at 22psi.  The motor is factory original.  Rims are polished bare aluminum CCW sp500 18x9.5 up front and 18x11 out rear.  
 





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Very nice! I have started to get the itch for a similar year model cobra.

[Prepuce of Doom 20,985]

If you can offer me any tips or insight on installing lifts (for storage more than maintenance/access) in my garage, I would very much appreciate your contribution to the thread here:

http://www.surlyhorns.com/board/index.php?/topic/3663-lifts-for-storing-extra-cars-in-garages/

 

[Pato del Muerto 52,342]

Anyone know anything about this buggy?

[Anton Chigurh 3,318]

Anyone know anything about this buggy?

It’s a Land Rover Defender 110 3 door.

[Pato del Muerto 52,342]

You can barely see it, but it’s got like a slant nose  it’s a factory defender?

 

[Anton Chigurh 3,318]

You can barely see it, but it’s got like a slant nose  it’s a factory defender?
 

No, I missed that. Interesting. I have no idea.

[Pato del Muerto 52,342]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMM_(União_Metalo-Mecânica)

its one of these Portuguese jalopies

[Anton Chigurh 3,318]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMM_(União_Metalo-Mecânica) its one of these Portuguese jalopies

 

 

 

The link doesn’t work.

 

 

Good find! Looks like it was supposed to be a cheaper alternative to the Defender, which explains why it looks similar (except for the front).

 

[TwiceHorn 31,269]

Any of you fuckers drive/n a Cadillac ATS?  It's got pretty decent reviews and resale falls off a cliff, making it a seeming real steal in the <2 years, 15K miles gently used category.

[Pato del Muerto 52,342]

No, but Cadillac resale has always been like that. Half price after 3 years type depreciation. 

I think it might be because people that buy new cadillacs like driving new cadillacs and not 3 year old cadillacs, so there’s good inventory. 

Edited July 31, 2018 by Pato del Muerto

[Prepuce of Doom 20,985]

I drove an ATS-V on an autocross-ish course before they hit the dealer lots. It's a fun, capable, versatile car. 

The one I drove had a half-baked CUE entertainment system that was even more unreliable than the production versions. The GM rep was embarrassed and just turned it off, basically telling me to pretend that I didn't see anything. 

I'm not in the market for a midsized sedan, but if I ever was, the ATS-V would be a strong contender. 

[TwiceHorn 31,269]

20 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

No, but Cadillac resale has always been like that. Half price after 3 years type depreciation. 

I think it might be because people that buy new cadillacs like driving new cadillacs and not 3 year old cadillacs, so there’s good inventory. 

Very true of American cars in general these days, at least the bad resale.  But this seems to be a super-special case for whatever reason.  I'm in a CTS coupe now and it wasn't nearly as bad (referring to the sedans, though).  The CTS has been one of the best cars I've owned, both in terms of fun to drive and reliability.

Edited August 1, 2018 by TwiceHorn

[G650 14,104]

21 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

No, but Cadillac resale has always been like that. Half price after 3 years type depreciation. 

I think it might be because people that buy new cadillacs like driving new cadillacs and not 3 year old cadillacs, so there’s good inventory. 

I suspect you are correct.

[elfenix 34,171]

Inside the 23-Dimensional World of Your Car’s Paint Job

Hue. Saturation. Luminance. Sparkle. Fixing a door ding is about way more than color. (Also: Why the sky is blue and clouds are white.)

 

https://www.wired.com/story/car-paint-colors/

[Bozo_Casanova 26,279]

Prove me wrong

[Anton Chigurh 3,318]

I like them, but the Audi, Merc, and Bimmer bros will chastise you.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,279]

21 minutes ago, Anton Chigurh said:

I like them, but the Audi, Merc, and Bimmer bros will chastise you.

I have a 335i, but I need something luxurious and sporty for the 200 days a year it spends in the shop. 

[gasman 114]

1 hour ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

I have a 335i, but I need something luxurious and sporty for the 200 days a year it spends in the shop. 

I haven't been in one, but most reviews seem to be solid. I think the hatch/sportback makes it a pretty practical option as well. Maybe also consider the Genesis? If you are willing to go with the turbo 4, the G70 will offer a MT option for 2019.

[52-80 19,086]

2 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Prove me wrong

 

G70 looks better

[elfenix 34,171]

2 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Prove me wrong

you'll probably get t-boned.

[Buzzrock 14,870]

Audi bro here, I think they look cool. And aside from being just generally impressed with Korean quality (mostly in rental cars) I don't know much about them.

[Chewbacca 7,730]

I like them, but the Audi, Merc, and Bimmer bros will chastise you.

I do think they are overpriced for what you get, at least new, but drive what you like.

When you get up in the 50k range, you have lots of great options.

[Pato del Muerto 52,342]

On 8/3/2018 at 12:22 PM, Bozo_Casanova said:

I have a 335i, but I need something luxurious and sporty for the 200 days a year it spends in the shop. 

Get the giulia. That should cover maybe 100 of those days. Then you’d only have to spend 100 days driving a Kia. 

Though why not genesis instead?

[Okie State 3,788]

I want this.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,279]

Get the giulia. That should cover maybe 100 of those days. Then you’d only have to spend 100 days driving a Kia.  Though why not genesis instead?

 

Responding to multiple people here. I might actually look at the G70. I’m extremely impressed by the quality/performance of these cars and Genesis so far has great styling. That being said, the Stinger seems like it will be the better value, and is longer, heavier and apparently quicker.

 

[pepper brooks 579]

On 8/3/2018 at 1:22 PM, Bozo_Casanova said:

I have a 335i, but I need something luxurious and sporty for the 200 days a year it spends in the shop. 

That’s way more reliable than my x5m ever dreamed of being. It once spent 243 consecutive days in the shop.   That thing was like owning a boat  two happy days  the day I got it and the day i got rid of it  

New 911 coming soon.  

https://jalopnik.com/2020-porsche-911-here-it-is-way-before-you-re-supposed-1828036559

Edited August 5, 2018 by pepper brooks

[Bozo_Casanova 26,279]

I should add: I love my e93. No screens, no integrated electronics, 0-60 well under 5 seconds with the top down and a moderate tune subtracts a second from that.

It’s just not a daily driver.

[52-80 19,086]

3 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Responding to multiple people here. I might actually look at the G70. I’m extremely impressed by the quality/performance of these cars and Genesis so far has great styling. That being said, the Stinger seems like it will be the better value, and is longer, heavier and apparently quicker.

 

if you want longer and heavier, why not the g80? 

or one of the predecessor hyundaikia like the equus.  you get v8 or large v6 and executive wheelbase for peanuts-price due to resale

[G650 14,104]

19 hours ago, Okie State said:

I want this.

Yessir.

[Okie State 3,788]

Yessir.

Had just watched this earlier that day. I think it's a sign.

[Buzzrock 14,870]

The finish on my "phantom black metallic" 2012 A6 is still in really good shape. A couple small white scratches here and there but in general most people can't believe it's six years old. I'd like to have a hardcore detail to get it as like-new as possible and then do one of those ceramic seals or some other long-term polish. Anyone have any experience with that?

[Okie State 3,788]

No experience as I do all of my detailing myself, but be ready to spend some money to have it done right. I think it depends on what condition your paint is in. A lot of guys on the board I read use Ceramic Pro.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,279]

You ever use a clay bar? I need to get some swirls out of the Bimmer.

[Okie State 3,788]

Yes, but clay bars don't remove swirls. You clay before you polish which removes the swirls.

[Okie State 3,788]

To follow up on that, the clay removes the deposits that are embedded in the paint. Should feel like glass after you do it. It's really a pretty simple process if you have the time. I wash the car, apply Iron-X, wipe down and rinse. I then use the Clay Magic blue bars and Chemical Guys clay lube purchased on Amazon. Keep the paint wet and move the clay in straight lines. Wash and rinse again before polishing. Use a Porter Cable 7424XP or equivalent with a medium to mild pad and Meguiars Ultimate Compound. Watch YouTube videos and work in small sections. Rinse and wipe down with a diluted isopropyl mix. Apply Zaino or some other type of synthetic sealant afterwards.

 

That's about as easy and cheap of a detail as you can get although it's still a lot of work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Buzzrock 14,870]

I’m willing to pay for the detail and I have a guy. My question was really more around the ceramic coatings. Are they as good as they say?

[G650 14,104]

57 minutes ago, Buzzrock said:

I’m willing to pay for the detail and I have a guy. My question was really more around the ceramic coatings. Are they as good as they say?

I just had some other guy ask me about them. I've done several boats with the stuff, it's pretty good from my experience. You won't get quite the depth of shine that traditional sealant and wax will, but close enough no one would notice outside real detail geeks. The key is to make sure you have a capable installer. The paint has to be prepped for it, and you don't want some clown wrecking your shit,

[G650 14,104]

10 hours ago, Okie State said:

To follow up on that, the clay removes the deposits that are embedded in the paint. Should feel like glass after you do it. It's really a pretty simple process if you have the time. I wash the car, apply Iron-X, wipe down and rinse. I then use the Clay Magic blue bars and Chemical Guys clay lube purchased on Amazon. Keep the paint wet and move the clay in straight lines. Wash and rinse again before polishing. Use a Porter Cable 7424XP or equivalent with a medium to mild pad and Meguiars Ultimate Compound. Watch YouTube videos and work in small sections. Rinse and wipe down with a diluted isopropyl mix. Apply Zaino or some other type of synthetic sealant afterwards.

 

That's about as easy and cheap of a detail as you can get although it's still a lot of work.

Makita rotary if you are feeling brave bro.

[Bozo_Casanova 26,279]

To follow up on that, the clay removes the deposits that are embedded in the paint. Should feel like glass after you do it. It's really a pretty simple process if you have the time. I wash the car, apply Iron-X, wipe down and rinse. I then use the Clay Magic blue bars and Chemical Guys clay lube purchased on Amazon. Keep the paint wet and move the clay in straight lines. Wash and rinse again before polishing. Use a Porter Cable 7424XP or equivalent with a medium to mild pad and Meguiars Ultimate Compound. Watch YouTube videos and work in small sections. Rinse and wipe down with a diluted isopropyl mix. Apply Zaino or some other type of synthetic sealant afterwards.
 
That's about as easy and cheap of a detail as you can get although it's still a lot of work.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Quality post

[Buzzrock 14,870]

I just had some other guy ask me about them. I've done several boats with the stuff, it's pretty good from my experience. You won't get quite the depth of shine that traditional sealant and wax will, but close enough no one would notice outside real detail geeks. The key is to make sure you have a capable installer. The paint has to be prepped for it, and you don't want some clown wrecking your shit,

Thanks. It’s either that or a color-shifting carbon fiber wrap. So many decisions.