For this episode of Project Car Garage, we gave the keys and keyboard over to our new copy editor, Colin Ryan, who is fresh off the boat from jolly Ol' England. Having cut his teeth at Britain's #1 car magazine, Top Gear, Colin is a certifiable car nut.
As you can imagine, we were pretty interested to hear what he had to say after driving our impressive fleet of steel and rubber. After all, Colin used to drive around in Astons, Bentleys and Jaguars.
Psssh. Yeah, that's exactly what we said.
Project TC
Firstly, I'd like to thank you all for welcoming me to your country. I've only recently arrived and I'm still learning the words to the American national anthem. And, frankly, I'm having a bit of trouble getting my head around your so-called football. But then again, I come from a country that has cricket. Diversity's great, right?
One of the particular joys of being in the US is that I finally get to drive a Scion (they don't exist in Europe), which I've been intrigued by since first hearing about them. Maybe I'm unimaginative, but I like the looks of the tC coupe most of all. When SCC's editor handed me the keys to the magazine's project car, I tried not to hurt his hand in the snatch.
After all, this is not just any old tC, it's been worked on by guys who have deep and extensive experience in making stock machines better. This has new alloy wheels, low-profile tyres; sorry, you guys spell them tires-what's that about? But the piece de resistance (yeah, I used to live next door to France) is the supercharger.
Now, I usually pootle around in my wife's 2.0-liter PT Cruiser with an automatic transmission, so I decided to take things slowly in getting acquainted with the five-speed manual Project tC.
Jeez, what is that noise? I've just started the car and the exhaust system sounds like it's as compact and well-fitting as a suit of armor (every Englishman lives in a castle). Apparently, it's fine; it's meant to rattle. OK.
The freeway on-ramp sees the first real stab on the gas pedal. Nice helping of torque as the supercharger spools up, more exhaust noise. Not too disagreeable.
I get up to speed and select fourth. The replacement aluminum gearknob probably looks a lot cooler than the stock (plastic?) item, but it's actually quite cold to the touch and soon becomes uncomfortable in the hand. Up to fifth, then I soon need sixth. Oops, I forgot, it's a five-speed. But fifth gear is rather short and freeway driving shows up the need for a higher ratio. The engine's spinning quite fast and there's no other way to put this: the car's thirsty.
After a buzzy ride home, I pull into my condo complex to be greeted by looks of disdain from the security guy and the neighbors. They're not impressed by the noise. Like a typicaI Brit, I smile sheepishly and say sorry a lot. That evening, me, Mrs Me and tC go to a restaurant. Being new to Los Angeles, the whole valet parking thing is still novel and fun. After the meal, I can hear the valet bringing back the car from a block away. That exhaust rumble/supercharger whistle is unmistakeable. Valet parking dudes have seen everything, they're a blas bunch. But before this young guy lets me go, he wants to know what's different about this tC. "Nice car, man. You've fitted a supercharger, right?" Yeah. "How much power does it have now? I bet it's quite a lot." Weeell.
To be honest, 230 wheel-hp from a supercharged 2.4-liter engine isn't going to impress my mother, let alone a valet. So instead of looking like an idiot, I decide to just come across as absent-minded and reply that I can't remember and, anyway, there's still more work to be done on it. But here's the thing: there's a lot to like about the tC. The driving position is great, the steering is light but fast and precise, and the ride quality is good, especially considering how low the suspension is and how thin the tire sidewalls are. I like a ride that's on the firm side. Project tC has seen some interesting choices. They just wouldn't necessarily be my choices.
Project WRX
I said I like a ride on the firm side, didn't I? Project WRX rides on the firm side of firm. I'm assuming the stock suspension has been junked and replaced with something that doesn't involve springs or anything with any give whatsoever. I've known more forgiving roller skates.
Imprezas I know about. We get them in the UK. I have this theory: you're either a dog person or a cat person, Mac or PC, Evo or WRX. Put me down for dogs, Macs and Evos. I like the sharpness of an Evo and find a WRX lacking in finesse by comparison. It's a little soft, a little blunt, a little vague.
Project WRX rides lower than stock, a step in the right direction. And on a smooth surface, the car is great fun. Using the power from the 227bhp turbocharged flat-four to accelerate out of corners is made all the more satisfying by the scarcity of body roll and the tightened-up steering. It's just that... well, I'm sorry to criticize your country, but good luck finding that many smooth road surfaces in California. Brits already have a reputation for poor dentistry without fillings being shaken loose from my head on the daily commute.
One more thing about the enhanced cornering thrills: Sparco Milano sports seats. They're figure-hugging and side-supporting and they make you feel like you're in something special. Which Project WRX is. This is still a rally-bred, all-wheel-drive sedan, right? All that's missing is the embarrassingly large wing on the trunklid. And the new front seats don't allow the airbags to work. Oh, and this car is still waiting on a replacement driver's side mirror. If you remember, the original was knocked off by another car and our local Subaru dealers have had the new part on order for quite a while now. That's another Britain and America have in common.
Project 350Z
This is an animal. I love it. Despite the feelings of one motoring writer who said the 350Z has a whiff of Brut to it (wish I'd come up with that line), I like Nissan's coupe anyway. Even in stock form, I love the revvy 3.5-liter V6.
And sticking a supercharger on seems so over the top. A repressed Englishman like me would never have had that idea. It whistles like a bunch of construction workers at a Miss World pageant.
The Nismo suspension is lower and stiffer (again, but more bearable than the WRX), and there are some lovely fat tires (OK, spell it your way) on the BBS wheels. In town, this car is disjointed: the throttle's too eager, the gearchange too clunky, the brakes too sharp. Time to get out of Dodge, as I'm sure all Americans say. Project 350Z comes into focus the quicker you drive. It all starts to make sense and flow. This is so great that you want to drive fast all the time, which really isn't the wisest course of action-for so many reasons.
I've been warned the Z's 330-plus wheel-hp will send its rear end away from you with alarming ease if you have the traction control off. And the electronic arse-saving system takes its sweet time giving full throttle back - a trait most SCC staff have found really irritating.
Me, I think I'd rather be annoyed by the TCS than be facing the wrong way on the I-405. It's a personal taste thing.
Somewhere along the line, though, the bug has bitten me. I'm now wondering how to talk my wife into fitting stiffer springs onto her PT. After sampling three cars in SCC's project garage, I'm looking forward to having a go in the MR2. But to stop me from getting homesick, I have an idea: perhaps we need something British in there. Do you think the guys would entertain the idea of a Project Aston Martin V8 Vantage?