Loss of Focus
In the March 2008 magazine is an article entitled 'Project Focus SVT Part 7'. On page 78 is a list of prior installments; Part 5 is said to be in the April 2006 issue. I have this issue and the article isn't there. Would you let me know which is the correct issue that has Part 5 of this series?
J. Ugarte
Pasadena, CA
Oops, our mistake. To all our loyal Focus fans who have been following Project Focus SVT, Part 5 can be found in the May 2006 issue. -JL
Ahead of the curve
I've been looking for the perfect suspension setup. To do a little research, I hit the internet. What I came up with is a big mess. I got people putting shocks on the shock dyno (mostly the Koni guys doing the tests), saying the suspensions from non-European companies are garbage (Tein, Tanabe, Cusco, Silk Road, etc). I was wondering if you would do an article testing different companies, such as Koni, Bilstein, Tein, KW, Cusco and so forth to end the internet shock war.
Quang
via e-mail
Interestingly enough, this letter arrived about a week after we finished at the track with our S2000 suspension comparison. What perfect timing. Quang, we were thinking the same exact thing. Check it out in this issue on page 38. -JL
Lifestyle, schmifestyle
I almost got depressed when reading the new Scion tC racer article (March 2008 issue). You are the lifestyle mag for me and everyone in the compact sports car world. If your people don't realize what they're putting together, then just give it up and drive off in your V8. OK, so he did apologize later in the article. I just hope I don't read many more of these sorts of pieces, because it wouldn't be worth paying for something where people put down the very cause they're trying to promote.
Andrew Williams
Nashville, TN
I think you missed the point of what Mike Kojima was saying in that piece (Scion Racer). Kojima wasn't trying to put down Scions or sport compacts, he was attempting to get the point across that not all Scions are built to be pimped-out, customized show cars like in the TV ads. Many, such as the tC from that piece, are modified to be real performance vehicles that are capable on track. Speed is the only lifestyle we understand around here. -JL
Neon spotlight
Just picked up the March issue and saw that you wanted comments on the SRT-4 shootout. As a Neon owner, I'd love to see anything Neon-related in the mag. I'm not a big fan of the Caliber, but would like to see a comparo of the old Neon with the new Caliber. I'm also waiting anxiously for your wheel/tire article you've been teasing about. I've been looking at Enkei RPF1 and Motegi Traklites, probably the 15-inch variety, for my low-powered Neon SXT. I wouldn't go any larger than 16 inches, though. My main concern is the continued availability of good 15-inch tires as the rims keep getting bigger and the choices in that range keep decreasing.
I'd also love to see more buyers guide-type info. Maybe pick a different, cheap, readily available used car and outline its tuning possibilities and the resources available. Unfortunately, not all of us can afford an Evo, STI, or even the Neon SRT-4-some of us have to settle for regular Neons, Lancers or Sentras and build them up slowly (very slowly).Jerome AdamsBiloxi, MS
The wheel and tire sizing test is still coming along nicely. Engineering Editor Chen has been chipping away at a few wheel companies, coercing them to cough up all sorts of information and test samples so we can carry out the test. It won't be too far off and we're sure it'll help justify lightening your wallet for whatever wheels you end up choosing. -JL