jeff@oblio.UUCP (Jeff Buchanan) (01/28/85)
>Wow!! A 156 CID six banger! 245 HP! Oh my God, I can't conceive of >such horsepower!! I sure hope I don't get challenged to a race >when I'm cruising around in my '66 Corvette with open chambered 427 L-88 >engine. I tremble at the very thought! Yeah, I'd hope so, too. Do you have a firm suspension and chassis? Nah, a solid rear axle is an old muscle car favourite --- not exactly super handling. And sticky tires? Oh, old yankee-style L50-15 bias plys or something of the sort with cat-size white lettering. Your 'vette also likely gets about two miles to the gallon, instead of the respectable fuel economy of the Merkur (which is *not* available with the six). Oh, I'm sure you could blow a Merkur off at a stoplight, but how about around Sears Point? I'd be certainly interested (could you do a full lap without refueling? :-) ). Move over, grandpa --- the times have changed! There's more to life than the quartermile... \tom haapanen watmath!watdcsu!haapanen Dear Tom, What planet are you from? You think a '66 rat-motored Corvette with F-41 suspension ISN'T firm?! Solid rear axel? On a '66 Corvette?! Are you for real?!! L50-15 tires? How about T/A radials and Goodyear NCT's. Sears Point? The distance I'd put on the Merkur in the straights would be small compared to the hugh gap I'd open up in the corners as the Merkur LEANS around the corners and my F-41 suspension keeps the tires on the ground (as I lap the Porsches which have in turn lapped the "hot" new car from Ford:Europe). Gas mileage? Are we talking performance or economy here? Since they are directly opposed to each other, we can't have both. If I wanted to win the Mobil Ecomomy run, I would have bought the slowest Honda I could find. You are right, there is more to life than the 1/4 mile. That's why I have a '66 Corvette. The thing you lose sight of is that acceleration performance can be used on the street. To use cornering performance, you would have to simulate a street race Sears Point style. Clearly this is impossible on the street. Maybe someday you'll get a test drive in a car like a big-block Corvette. Then again, probably the feel of horsepower would be so foreign to you you wouldn't like it. I'm sure the Honda would be more your style. Jeff Buchanan
yosh@hou2e.UUCP (M.CHING) (01/29/85)
I saw the "hot" new Merkur at the Auto show a few nites ago, and putting all the performance questions aside, there's one thing that everyone is overlooking: It looks like garbage. I'm sick of all those "German engineered" road cars that have about as much sex appeal as the VW Rabbit. The way I see it, why have Martina Navratilova when you can have Christie Brinkley instead????? Dave Bloom Bell Labs, Holmdel "You keep the CRX, I'll keep the Camaro...."
mab@hou4a.UUCP (Michael Brochstein) (01/30/85)
I too saw the Merkur xr4ti at the NYC Auto Show. I on the other hand was very impressed. The interior (instrument panel, ergonimics, seats,...) is first rate. I don't mind the exterior one bit. What is truly nice about this car is that the performance, looks, and engineering are comparable to the best German (and Swedish) imports but that sales and service can be gotten at any lincoln-mercury dealer. Another strong point is that the car is competively priced and will be rarer on the streets than its competition for a long time to come. -- Michael Brochstein AT&T Information Systems, Holmdel, NJ ihnp4!hou4a!mab (201) 834-3482