Letter Of The Month
This month's Letter of the Month will receive an exclusive eurotuner T-shirt for his effort. If you'd like the same, email us at eurotuner@primedia.com or write to: eurotuner Magazine Letters, 6420 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
Drag Racing
I loved your take on drag racing in the 12/05 editorial. Bravo. I think it's cool to drag, but not for the Euros - it's not what they're about at all. I'll help you wave that flag!
Here's one of my Euros on the track, like it should be... There's also a photo of my Mercedes 500E - another car that's better on the autobahn than the drag strip.
James R Norris
East Hartford, CT
Drag Racing 2
I'm writing in response to your 12/05 editorial. There's no need to set out icepacks in preparation for a verbal beating - I'm on your side. There are quite a few local VWs with big turbos. These guys are dumping unreal amounts of money into (mostly) heavy Mk4s and running mediocre quarter miles. I'm curious to see what the maximum useable horsepower numbers are for FWD VWs. I mean, how much power is wasted through these set-ups? Sure, you can run slicks, a gutted interior, LSD, etc to help transmit the gobs of power, but for what? Quarter mile times that rival those of a $3k motor-swapped Civic, while throwing your handling out the door? I'm sorry, but I don't understand the fascination. For example, my roommate had a 2003 GTI 1.8T with every bolt-on possible, a gutted interior and carbon fiber seats. Traction wasn't even an option through the first two gears. He recently replaced the VW with a mint 1993 240SX with a SC61-turboed SR20DET for a little more than the cost of the "go-fast goodies" on his 1.8T, and the Nissan is quicker than his 1.8T could ever dream of being, while still retaining a full interior and decent handling. Good move? I think so.
I'm not bashing drag racing at all, just a bit confused as to why one would waste time and money on such a chassis when there are so many other cheaper and faster options? The only real way I can express my thoughts is to say that drag racing a FWD VW is like entering Rosie O'Donnell in a beauty pageant. Sure you can take weeks and spend bags of money to turn her into a beauty queen, but wouldn't you rather start out with Angelina Jolie? I know I would.
One last thing I find amusing: I get ragged on by the "all-go-1.8Tcanneverlose" crowd for choosing to run deep-dish wheels, dialed-down coilovers and Euro styling bits. To my critics I say, I'll take my $4k wheels over $20k wheelspin any day.
Bill Cosby
Email
Hmm, I don't think I was advocating we all go out and buy Nissans. I was simply suggesting that our cars are built to handle and perform, rather than drag.
Drag Racing 3
I like drag racing. I'm part owner of a '67 drag Bug. It doesn't corner well but it runs like stink for its mildly warmed-over 1679cc motor. The first VW racing I saw in person was drag racing. Drag racing does expose VW's weakest component (besides wiring) - the transaxle. Even our tough old swing axles snap the spider gears and axles like twigs. My '71 Super with wider tires and lowered struts handles better than my wide-tired '97 Jetta and '79 Rabbit. It's not as fast since I only have a stock carb and heads on a 1641cc.
Not to ramble on, but if you are aiming at VW owners, drag racing sells. If you're aiming at Audi, Bimmer and Benz owners, they're not gonna go for it. Basically, Bimmers and the rest are for affluent people and VWs for us poor schmucks. The raw brute force of drag racing doesn't appeal to their refined sensibility and bling-bling lifestyle. A true tuned car should be able to perform all the tests and succeed, but to succed at drag racing it probably won't handle well and these people want to drive them daily. Go to www.cal-look.com and see how drag racing jump-started the VW performance aftermarket.