What would you change?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,001
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From: SF
I think it's interesting that so many would like to make this car more *practical*.
It seems to me this car is *inherently* impractical; that, in fact, many of the things that make us all love this car so much result from a design brief that simply ignored practicality.
My belief is that most if not all *practical* changes would decrease the attributes that we find attractive in this car.
Some examples:
- put a V6 with a lot of low end torque in the car. while this would make the car easier to drive, easier to launch and more powerful it would increase weight, destroy the 50/50 split and most likely remove the "rev it high and work that shifter" character that seems to be half the fun. Given that we all talk about how much we love the quickness, the "go cart" feel and the balance of this car I can't see us liking the end result of this trade-off.
- add traction control. while this (again) would make the car easier to drive and easier to transition to from a FWD car it would also destroy the neutral handling of the car and increase weight. one of the things that all of us, again, seem to love about this car is that it has true sportscar character. it's basically a track car that you can drive on the street on nice sunny days. making it so you *can't* get the rear end around is in direct conflict with what we like about this car.
I know that I, personally, love the fact that this car is uncompromising. I love the fact that it doesn't coddle the driver like so many cars sold in the US. I love the fact that it EXPECTS you to know how to drive. I love the insane and over the top minimalism of the car.
Perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way - but I know I'd rather remove more from this car than add to it.
It seems to me this car is *inherently* impractical; that, in fact, many of the things that make us all love this car so much result from a design brief that simply ignored practicality.
My belief is that most if not all *practical* changes would decrease the attributes that we find attractive in this car.
Some examples:
- put a V6 with a lot of low end torque in the car. while this would make the car easier to drive, easier to launch and more powerful it would increase weight, destroy the 50/50 split and most likely remove the "rev it high and work that shifter" character that seems to be half the fun. Given that we all talk about how much we love the quickness, the "go cart" feel and the balance of this car I can't see us liking the end result of this trade-off.
- add traction control. while this (again) would make the car easier to drive and easier to transition to from a FWD car it would also destroy the neutral handling of the car and increase weight. one of the things that all of us, again, seem to love about this car is that it has true sportscar character. it's basically a track car that you can drive on the street on nice sunny days. making it so you *can't* get the rear end around is in direct conflict with what we like about this car.
I know that I, personally, love the fact that this car is uncompromising. I love the fact that it doesn't coddle the driver like so many cars sold in the US. I love the fact that it EXPECTS you to know how to drive. I love the insane and over the top minimalism of the car.
Perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way - but I know I'd rather remove more from this car than add to it.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Glen Ellyn
This is like Christmas!
17-18 inch wheels
Glass rear window
Better carpet
Classier console (Rick's leather really helped)
Better leather on the seats
A higher red line because 9000 RPMs just isn't enough
17-18 inch wheels
Glass rear window
Better carpet
Classier console (Rick's leather really helped)
Better leather on the seats
A higher red line because 9000 RPMs just isn't enough
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 341
Likes: 0
From: West Bend
What I would really like to see improved effects me every time I drive the car and I didn't really notice it until driving it over the last month. (Prior to that it was parked in the garage since it's been winter here since early November). Trying to put your seatbelt on with a coat (especially a heavier coat) is a HUGE PITA!! If they could just have extended the "plug in" end another inch or two I wouldn't have to wrestle around in my seat trying to get myself locked in the damn seat. Granted, I am 6'2" 210, but I'm in pretty good shape. I can only imagine the PITA it would be with another 30 or so pounds on myself. I don't have any trouble getting to the "glove box" or the secret compartment but I sure do with the seatbelt.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 0
From: Dana Point, CA
1. Honda blew it with the top. A simple, manual top with a glass window and defroster would have made the car a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10. (As it is now, it is merely an 11.) Give us a smaller window, fine. Just make the thing simple, light weight and practical (a la the MR2 Spyder, Miata, and 2003 Viper).
2. The ability to unlock both doors from the drivers seat.
3. A decent stereo. While I honestly don't drive with the radio on very much, I would appreciate a decent set of tunes when I do chose to listen in. The fact that my better half's CR-V has a stereo that is 400% better just rubs salt in the wounds.
4. A tilt wheel. Minor inconvenience but I am a short guy (5'5") and I sit pretty close to the wheel. As such, I need to slide the seat back every time I get out of the car.
5. More gauges.
6. Run flat tires so I could forgo the silly spare.
That's it. Given the engineering and tech. in the car, I think it is an incredible value as is. I think Honda should have given us 1-4 and 5 and 6 would have been nice.
2. The ability to unlock both doors from the drivers seat.
3. A decent stereo. While I honestly don't drive with the radio on very much, I would appreciate a decent set of tunes when I do chose to listen in. The fact that my better half's CR-V has a stereo that is 400% better just rubs salt in the wounds.
4. A tilt wheel. Minor inconvenience but I am a short guy (5'5") and I sit pretty close to the wheel. As such, I need to slide the seat back every time I get out of the car.
5. More gauges.
6. Run flat tires so I could forgo the silly spare.
That's it. Given the engineering and tech. in the car, I think it is an incredible value as is. I think Honda should have given us 1-4 and 5 and 6 would have been nice.
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