Really? That slow?

I knew the BMW was slow. I mean it only had around 100 hp's back in 1980 and likely less than that now. But I had no Idea just how slow it was until I just got schooled by an Echo.

I was behind him and when the car in front of him turned of he punched it. He pulled me from a second gear roll of about 15mph untill redline when I had to let off to make a turn.

I can safely assume that the overall driving experiance is worlds better for me than him. Plus a E21 will always be much cooler than an Echo.

At least thats what I keep telling myself

The later Echos aren't too slow, modern 1.5 and low-2000s weight...

I remember reading at one point when looking into both that an echo was quicker than a contemporary Focus to 60...

ransom wrote: I remember reading at one point when looking into both that an echo was quicker than a contemporary Focus to 60...

Not really making me feel much better

Actually they are pretty close specs wise. I'm at about 100 hp 101 ft. lbs and a little over 2k lbs. I get a consistant 30 mpg's too.

Echos are fun in the same way that rental scooters are fun, cheap plastic thrills are sometimes the best.

I bought a brand new 1982 Mazda GLC years ago. It was the Sport model, which meant interior and exterior trim changes over the base model. It weighed over 2000 lb (IIRC) and had 67 thundering horsepower. So nicsta43, you win !

ansonivan wrote: Echos are fun in the same way that rental scooters are fun, cheap plastic thrills are sometimes the best.

What's that joke about mopeds, fat girls and now Echos?

jrw1621 wrote: What's that joke about mopeds, fat girls and now Echos?

How insensitive can you be? Mopeds, fat girls and now Echos?

A moped was my first taste of real freedom.

carguy123 wrote: How insensitive can you be? Mopeds, fat girls and now Echos? A moped was my first taste of real freedom.

Mine was a fat girl. It didn't actually taste like freedom though, unless freedom and low tide have something in common.

What I learned was that large things are like melting ice cream and don't want to stay where you want them

Jaynen wrote: What I learned was that large things are like melting ice cream and don't want to stay where you want them

You actually said that just before I go to bed? Now what kind of dreams will I have?

the real question here is "why were you racing an Echo in the first place?"

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

carguy123 wrote: How insensitive can you be? Mopeds, fat girls and now Echos? A moped was my first taste of real freedom.

Mine was a fat girl. It didn't actually taste like freedom though, unless freedom and low tide have something in common.

Dude, seriously, let's get married.

Jaynen wrote: What I learned was that large things are like melting ice cream and don't want to stay where you want them

Please, somebody, put that in the mag. In extra large type.bold

Also, the only thing you have to do to get your self esteem back is to yell after him (because he's pulled ahead of you) "ECHO Echo echo echo echo echo"
Buddy of mine had to drive an echo throughout school because his s13 was roont, and he was not fond of that=]

Also, I fully expect the kia will be quicker than the z car, until the z car gets three rotor power. lol

nicksta43 wrote:

ransom wrote: I remember reading at one point when looking into both that an echo was quicker than a contemporary Focus to 60...

Not really making me feel much better Actually they are pretty close specs wise. I'm at about 100 hp 101 ft. lbs and a little over 2k lbs. I get a consistant 30 mpg's too.

100 hp, 2000 pounds- and you think 30mpg is good?

i was getting that kind of mileage with a 4000 pound car with 35ish more HP than that (1986 Caprice). i never raced and Echo with it, tho, since i had never seen one until i went on a blind date with a woman that had one a few years ago- now i see them everywhere..

I imagine an Echo experience is much like the greatness I had in a Ford Aspire. It's a piece of E36 M3, but it just keeps running, and you can beat the heck out of it for fear of nothing.

novaderrik wrote:

nicksta43 wrote:

ransom wrote: I remember reading at one point when looking into both that an echo was quicker than a contemporary Focus to 60...

Not really making me feel much better Actually they are pretty close specs wise. I'm at about 100 hp 101 ft. lbs and a little over 2k lbs. I get a consistant 30 mpg's too.

100 hp, 2000 pounds- and you think 30mpg is good? i was getting that kind of mileage with a 4000 pound car with 35ish more HP than that (1986 Caprice). i never raced and Echo with it, tho, since i had never seen one until i went on a blind date with a woman that had one a few years ago- now i see them everywhere..

I think 30 mpg's with my foot always burried in the throttle is excellent. Foot to the floor, power shifting at redline, yes consitant thirty mpg's is damned good.

And I get to drive like that without actually breaking too many speed laws.

Bet you couldn't do that in the Caprice without treating the throttle like it was an eggshell.

Irish44; I wasn't racing him he was in front of me and punched it, I went full throttle through second gear which put me somewhere around 50mph when I had to let off to turn. I was just shocked to see the little echo pulling away.

Cripple fight!

I'm impressed that someone's driving style allowed a 1986 Caprice to get better than 19mpg.

nicksta43 wrote:

novaderrik wrote:

nicksta43 wrote:

ransom wrote: I remember reading at one point when looking into both that an echo was quicker than a contemporary Focus to 60...

Not really making me feel much better Actually they are pretty close specs wise. I'm at about 100 hp 101 ft. lbs and a little over 2k lbs. I get a consistant 30 mpg's too.

100 hp, 2000 pounds- and you think 30mpg is good? i was getting that kind of mileage with a 4000 pound car with 35ish more HP than that (1986 Caprice). i never raced and Echo with it, tho, since i had never seen one until i went on a blind date with a woman that had one a few years ago- now i see them everywhere..

I think 30 mpg's with my foot always burried in the throttle is excellent. Foot to the floor, power shifting at redline, yes consitant thirty mpg's is damned good. And I get to drive like that without actually breaking too many speed laws. Bet you couldn't do that in the Caprice without treating the throttle like it was an eggshell. Irish44; I wasn't racing him he was in front of me and punched it, I went full throttle through second gear which put me somewhere around 50mph when I had to let off to turn. I was just shocked to see the little echo pulling away.

Do that all the time in my Jetta TDI, of course when I drive the crap out of it I only get 39mpg :(

It's a perfect example of time marching on. That was a GRM article with the Honda Odyssey vs the classic sports cars, right? You still have the cool points, though.

rotard wrote: I'm impressed that someone's driving style allowed a 1986 Caprice to get better than 19mpg.

Some people just don't math very well. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I'm saying it's impossible. MAYBE if he cruised at 55mph on the highway, with a 305, 700r4, and 2.73 rear gears, in which case, he would most certainly have a slower car than an econohatch.

Otherwise, no. It's just that mpg seems to go up the longer time it's been since owning the car (weird eh?)

HiTempguy wrote:

rotard wrote: I'm impressed that someone's driving style allowed a 1986 Caprice to get better than 19mpg.

Some people just don't math very well. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I'm saying it's impossible. MAYBE if he cruised at 55mph on the highway, with a 305, 700r4, and 2.73 rear gears, in which case, he would most certainly have a slower car than an econohatch. Otherwise, no. It's just that mpg seems to go up the longer time it's been since owning the car (weird eh?)

Yes, it is impossible. I doubt the car could get 30mpg if it were idling in neutral and rolling down a mountain. I just find myself rewording what I write on here fairly often since there seem to be more crybabies around.

I had an 87 Caprice, 305 with 700r4. When I got 20 mpg on a fill up, I was ecstatic.

Whenever I'm driving the M10-powered e30 (which will get smoked by minivans, SUVs, econoboxes, and most everything else), I just fall back on the thought that :

(facetious) 1. I'm driving a BEEEE EMMMM DOUBLE-U and they're not 2. I have a lot of stickers and a roll bar, so my car is cooler than whatever they're driving. 3. "If I was in the WRX, that guy would be toast!"

I can assure you a full size GM from the early 80's can get 30 mpg. All you need is the Olds 307 with computer controlled carb, TH200r4, an old guy driving, and the last, most important ingredient: Imperial gallons.