Current make/model successors to B13

[Ivan Chou]

Great suggestions.  The Mini Cooper base might be a tad slow with a 0-60
mph of around 8.4 seconds (according to Edmunds).  The Ford Focus ST specs
look great, and I love how far Ford has come around in the past 20-30
years. The Civic Si fits the criteria pretty well.  I've read that the
current model is a bit boring but I realize the journalists are comparing
to the stiffer, 7800 RPM redline Si's of the past (which they criticized
for having little off-the-line torque).  All told though, I think there
isn't anything worthy to serve as spiritual successor (yet).  :(

Looks like fun - Ford Focus ST first drive:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-ford-focus-st-first-ride-feature

Ivan

On Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 6:26 PM, Benjamin Rockwell <
benjamin_rockwell at yahoo.com> wrote:

> The upcoming Ford Focus ST...http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/focusst/
>
> Ford has come a long way since the B13 days. If you can get past the racer
> boy styling, it fits the punch list pretty well.
>
> On Wed, Mar 14, 2012 at 12:08 AM, Ivan Chou <chou.ivan at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Great thread, though we've gotten far away from the original NX2000 price
>> question. :)
>>
>> if I may ask, what are folks' opinions of a current spiritual successor?
>>  Something that continues on from the original BMW 2002 / Datsun 510
>> criteria - economy pricing, sporty, sips gas, deceptively quick / stealthy
>> looking.  Finally there are the "just right" criteria with the driving
>> experience.  I'm talking about buttery shifts, nice seats, and SR20-like
>> power band (I really miss the 3rd gear 4000-7500 RPM feel at WOT).
>>
>> To me, the closest thing is the Mazda3 sedan, and that's not saying much.
>>  If we include hatches, maybe the something like the Mini Cooper S would
>> apply, though they are relatively underpowered compared to vehicles in
>> equivalent model years (for those who don't keep tabs, most newer minivans
>> can do 0-60 mph in 7.x seconds!).  I've seen long-time list members with
>> cars like the Mazdaspeed3 and Lancer Evo, but these aren't econoboxes, and
>> don't have good fuel economy.  Is it so hard for car companies to replicate
>> the formula?  Or maybe just not profitable?
>>
>> The upcoming 2013 Subaru BR-Z / Scion FR-S probably have the right specs,
>> but they are way too flashy for me.
>>
>> Ivan
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 1:37 PM, <wc701lists at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On 3/13/2012 6:57 AM, Greg Amy wrote:
>>> > The Acura RSX-R is what the NX2000 *could* have been, had Nissan
>>> > delivered it to the USA with the SR20VE, a 6-speed, and a decent
>>> > interior.
>>>
>>> They changed the 2005 & 06 RSX "Type S" models a lot, and they were
>>> basically identical with the "R" in other countries.  The 1991 & 92 SE-R
>>> seats were superb, and Car & Driver called them the "best ever" in a
>>> production car till the Acura NSX (not RSX) came out.  One C&D writer
>>> even bitched they were "over bolstered" - this from the mag' that
>>> constantly complained about seats lacking lateral support.  The NX2k
>>> seats were not as great, but I have no gripes about the interior of the
>>> B13 SE-R & NX nor the RSX.  The classy yet austere interior of the RSX
>>> was a lot of was sold me on it.
>>>
>>> -Wayne
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>>
>>
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