theSportwagon

Cars. Car Culture. Motorsports. Things that go Vrooom...

Royal Purple for Porsches

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Friday, 09 December 2011 @ 23:08

I stumbled upon an interesting new post by Jim Morrissey of Royal Purple in the epic Ultimate Motor Oil Thread thread on the Pelican Parts Technical BBS. Jim discusses some formulation changes in Royal Purple oils that may affect owners of older Porsches who depend on higher ZDDP levels for engine longevity.

I just wanted to pass on some information related to this thread topic since we (Royal Purple) recently reformulated our SAE/API street oils and although both old and new formula are still often able to be found, a little checking of the back label for the API license will be worth doing.

Due to the reduction in anti wear from the API-SM cap of 800ppm phosphorus our SAE/API-SM and SN street oils are no longer the best choice for flat tappet performance engines with lifts above .500". We do not recommend our SAE/API-SN 20W-50 (part #01250, quart bottle) or SAE/API-SN 10W-40 (part #01140, quart bottle) for those applications any longer.

You can go straight to the post for the details of which specific formulations have changed. I'd also recommend checking back with this thread for further discussion on what's bound to be a controversial topic.

If you want some background on why ZDDP levels are important for Porsches in particular and older cars in general — some would argue all cars — go back to the first post in that Ultimate Motor Oil Thread and follow the links.

Hats off to Royal Purple for being up-front about the formulation change and bringing a clear explanation to the folks most likely to be affected.

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Jumpstarting The Sportwagon

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Tuesday, 09 August 2011 @ 02:01

Apologies for the letting The Sportwagon sit idle for so long. I've pulled the old girl out of the barn, and restored her with a sleek new coat of paint and a faster, more efficient engine under the hood.

Now I'm working on getting her on the road and plan to report back much more often on our adventures.

I'm a little older and wiser this time around and, rather than trying to take on the whole automotive world, the current plan is to focus just on what excites me about cars and motorsports. There's plenty of industry news already out there. I'm more interested in individual car nuts doing their own thing and sharing their enthusiasm.

Happy motoring!

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Check the Air in Your Spare

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Friday, 09 October 2009 @ 15:55

Public service announcement: before heading out for the holiday weekend (Monday is Columbus Day here in the US), make sure to check the air pressure in your spare tire. Actually, go do it right now!

Embarrassing as it is to admit, I don’t recall the last time I checked the spare in our wagon. I topped up all the tires today, and it turns out the spare was under 20 lbs. Not good.

So go check your tire pressures, and make sure to check the spare, too!

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Oil Burners, the Smart Choice

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Thursday, 03 September 2009 @ 15:55

We’re rolling on a diesel theme this week, apparently…

Today’s New York Times Wheels blog quotes Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America, dissing the forthcoming Chevy Volt:

"No one is going to pay a $15,000 premium for a car that competes with a Corolla. So there are not enough idiots who will buy it."

(Actually, the quote comes originally from an MSN Autos interview with Lawrence Ulrich, published yesterday. Both articles are worth a read.) Now, it’s worth noting that De Nysschen has a vested interest in this subject since Audi has a significant technical and marketing investment in diesel powertrains. As in bringing several new diesel models to the US in 2010.

And winning Le Mans.

But, aside from the incendiary quote most commentators will focus on, De Nysschen makes a good point about diesel cars being more relevant to buyers than EVs.

Diesel provides better efficiency at lower costs right now for consumers. The infrastructure is in place to refine, distribute, and sell diesel. US refineries and local oil sources are well positioned for making diesel efficiently. The technology is well known so both dealers and independent garages can service the cars. Plus diesel drivetrains are legendarily reliable and long-lived.

You can buy a diesel car today in both sporty and utilitarian models (or sporty and utilitarian at the same time if you like sportwagons).

You can find diesel fuel easily at reasonable cost. (As I write this, the AAA Fuel Gauge Report of national average prices shows roughly equivalent costs for diesel and gasoline. In fact, diesel is currently less expensive than premium gas and MPG/BTU-corrected E85 prices.)

You can get your diesel car serviced wherever you like (lowering cost of ownership), and if you’re so inclined (as I am), drive it for a decade or more.

How does the EV stack up? How long do the batteries last? What will it cost to replace them? What is the environmental cost of decommissioning or recycling battery packs?

We don't know and, so far as I can tell, nobody in the business wants to talk about these hidden costs of EV technology.

That said, there are other mitigating factors that need to be addressed in debates over diesel versus EV. Diesels tend to have lower CO2 emissions, but can have higher NO2 and particulate emissions than comparable petrol engines. Diesel fuel is broadly available, but not ubiquitous. EV recharging infrastructure  – particularly away from home – needs to be built up still, and one has to wonder how much greenhouse gas gets emitted when generating the electricity for these cars. The batteries contain heavy metals that come from where and go to where? And so on.

In the longer term we need to move away from dependence on single-occupant vehicles altogether. I firmly believe that, even though I’m a long-time, dedicated automobile and motorsport enthusiast. Our sustainable future depends on making cars a weekend hobby rather than a necessity of modern life. Although diesel is a readymade step toward better efficiency, does it reinforce our continuing reliance on cars and roadway infrastructure? Does diesel undermine change toward a more sustainable transportation environment? Would a faster transition to EV – even with its current constraints on driving distance, recharging time and infrastructure, and cost versus lifetime – increase momentum toward a carless future?

I dunno. In the meantime, there aren’t any EV wagons, so it’s a moot point.

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VW Could Make a Better Porsche

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Monday, 31 August 2009 @ 15:52

AutoObserver this morning has an article discussing likely product reshuffling that will occur due to VW taking control of Porsche (Porsche's Off-Message Models Axed in VW Takeover). This story is sure to incite handwringing and angst in the blogosphere, and loud complaining among Porschephiles.

But they’re wrong to complain. This is a good move, and I’ll explain why.

First, from a business standpoint, the Cayenne and Panamera were always about making Porsche less reliant on the 911. (In a nutshell, they can sell a second, more practical car to existing Porsche owners, or get a foot in the door with customers for whom an $80k sports car is impractical.) Big picture, it was a strategy for keeping Porsche independent in good markets and relatively flush if things turned bad (as they did in the early ‘90s).

Unfortunately, Porsche overreaching for control of VW sunk that ship. Second, the Cayenne and Panamera have somewhat dubious relevance in Porsche’s story (which I’ll get to later) and overlap with existing VW offerings in more vehicle-relevant brands.

OK, I’ll admit to not getting the whole sport-SUV concept – it’s a truck, after all. But VW already offers the Touareg and Tiguan to cover the rugged, utilitarian end of the SUV spectrum and Audi offers the Q5 and Q7 on the sporty, luxurious extreme.

That said, even in the current economic environment, Cayenne sales in the US match Touareg and Q7 sales combined and is the strongest selling “car” in the Porsche lineup. Tiguan and Q5 sales come in at around 1,000 units each, roughly equaling Cayenne sales. So with Cayenne making up about a quarter of combined VW and Porsche SUV sales, it would take some engineering and marketing work to move potential buyers over to an equivalent VW or Audi offering.

So it’s not all upside in killing off the Cayenne.

Then again, the current models have a few years to run. We don’t know what the market will look like in 2011 and VW may rethink its strategy if Cayenne continues to be a hot commodity.

Third, and I think most important, is the history. Porsche history is inextricably tied to motorsport. And with all due respect to the legendary prototypes – think 917 and 956/962 – the true Porsche racing heritage has roots in production-based racers. No other marque has raced cars based so directly on production chassis for as long or as successfully as Porsche. From the 356 right up to the current 911 GT3 RSR, there is a deep and real connection between the boulevard cruiser and the Le Mans competitor.

That, in a nutshell – and more important than the quaint-but-still-effective rear-engine design – is the essential Porsche DNA.

So where, exactly does an SUV or a six-figure sedan fit in that story? Is Ferrari missing a truck from its lineup?

That’s not to say every Porsche needs to be a race car. Or perhaps the upstart Cayman should be given a chance at stardom on the track, dropping the flag on a new generation of competition Porsches.

Fourth, and finally, is what I think will be the deepest and most strident objection: A VW-tinged Porsche is not a real Porsche.

Unfortunately, there’s very little for that prejudice to stand on. VW + Porsche cooperation goes back 40-something years, and it’s unfortunately taken almost that long for the unloved offspring of that relationship to get the respect they deserve.

The 912 (with a VW-derived Type IV engine in its last incarnation) was a lighter, more nimble version of the venerable 911 and has a cult following of its own to this day.

Likewise, the 914 provided a small, light, mid-engine platform that still sets FTD at autocrosses to this day. If you haven’t noticed, prices are on the rise for good examples and many are seeing full rotiserie restorations.

Moving on to the ‘80s, we have the front-engine 924/944/968 series. Legendary for 50-50 balance, sublime handling, and great styling. This car has Audi roots, you know.

OK, I’ll admit that the 911 has something shared by no other car: true beauty, timeless design, and a history – no, legend – shared by no other car. But all of those other pseudo-Porsches, demi-Porsches, quasi-Porsches… all had that essential Porsche DNA.

That is Porsche.

I don’t see where trucks and sedans fit. VW will do Porsche a good turn by putting the focus back on the marque’s heritage as they have with Audi, Bugatti, and Lamborghini.

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Ultimate Wagons: AMG Hammer

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Monday, 13 July 2009 @ 15:49

Via Bring A Trailer, an object of lust from my youth: a 1987 AMG Hammer wagon for sale on eBay.

Based on the Mercedes Benz W124 chassis, the AMG Hammers received a hand-built 6-liter V8 engine, fully AMG body kit, and suspension upgrades to handle the power.

Zero-to-60 times under 5 seconds… in a wagon with an automatic transmission! In the ‘80s! Seriously, I thought this was the coolest. Sylvester Stallone had a Hammer. Rambo! But no one had a Hammer wagon.

It’s maybe a little weird that, as a teenager, I thought a 375 HP converted Benz wagon was cooler than a Lamborghini Countach. Practical and fast has always been my thing.

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Diesels Hot (or Not?)

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Wednesday, 01 July 2009 @ 15:48

Volkswagen reports today (also via LA Times and Autoblog) that their  clean diesel TDI model sales are on the rise, posting sales in June that were the highest since VW started importing diesel models again earlier this year.

In total, 5,072 TDI models were sold in June, of which over 1,500 were Jetta TDI Sportwagons (80 percent of all Jetta wagons sold).

The news gets better as Jetta Sportwagon sales were up 620 percent over June 2008. I’m guessing there was some pent-up demand for those diesel wagons – I don’t think there are too many other small cars out there that offer the same utility, performance, and economy.

This should not have been too surprising, though. At the 2009 NY Auto Show unveiling of the Mk VI Golf and GTI, Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of VW North America, made much of the fact that, while sales were down from 2008, the company had gained worldwide market share primarily on the demand for their economical and sporty TDI lineup.

VW not fancy enough for you? In a previous post I pointed out that Audi plans to bring an A3 TDI sportwagon to the US later this year as a companion to their Q7 TDI SUV. Given the demand seen for the Jetta so far, timing looks good for the A3 TDI.

However, some other manufacturers don’t have the same love for diesels. Autoblog also brings news today that Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are all canceling plans to produce future diesel models.

Too bad for them. True that diesel has some perception hurdles to overcome in the US, but those Jetta TDI sales numbers show there must be interest. Not everyone wants anemic hybrid performance, and I can’t be the only person who prefers the handling of a wagon for hauling kids/strollers/groceries/etc., but doesn’t want a truck.

Time will tell. I’m watching with anticipation.

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A Club for Station Wagon Enthusiasts

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Tuesday, 23 June 2009 @ 15:46

Love classic station wagons? Having a hard time finding friends that share your enthusiasm? The American Station Wagon Owners Association may be the club you’ve been looking for.

Founded in 1996, the ASWOA has members across the United States and around the world. They publish a quarterly newsletter called the Wagon Roundup and hold a national convention (this year’s was held June 19-20 in Cincinnati).

You’ll also find classifieds for cars, parts, and services.

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Did Ford Build a Mustang Wagon?

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Monday, 22 June 2009 @ 15:45

Over the years, a small number early Ford Mustangs have turned up wagon/shooting brake configuration. Were these factory prototypes exploring a possible design direction for the classic pony car, or were they customs wrought by ambitious owners?

Last year Hemmings sought to untangle some of the mystery surrounding these cars. Short story: all of the Mustang wagons are customs. The Intermeccanica designs were reportedly submitted to Ford for consideration, but both Ford and the factory-backed Holman and Moody operation declined to follow up.

However, that’s not all of the story. Be sure to check out the Hemmings blog post and comments for a more detailed picture of how these custom Mustang wagons were born and how many are still out there in the hands of collectors and enthusiasts.

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Drive-Ins Making a Comeback

posted by Terrence Dorsey on Wednesday, 17 June 2009 @ 15:43

Back in the day, my parents used to take me, my sister, and piles of our friends to the drive-in in our ‘67 Pontiac Catalina station wagon (complete with faux wood paneling – but that’s a story for another day). Later on, when I had my license, we used to meet up with high-school friends at the Solano drive-in for horror flicks, beers, and fun.

The Solano is still open and showing movies, by they way, but many drive-ins around the country have shut down. The NY Times Wheels blog today notes that “guerilla drive-ins,” or mobile movies, are on the rise, bringing the drive-in experience to communities that no longer have working theaters, and in some cases to people who’ve never experienced the old-time drive-in… er… experience.

Bryan Kennedy, founder of MobMov.org, is promoting grassroots efforts around the country to get folks in their cars and out to the movies. Bryan uses readily available digital projectors, a portable DVD player, and a small FM transmitter as  the technology behind his show.

Want to try it yourself? Brian provides a part’s list and instructions on the MobMov.org site, including information about securing permissions for the movie and the site, as well as abiding by FCC radio transmission rules. Several MobMov chapters have set up around the world, so check the site for an event near you.

Of course, like the Solano, there may be an real drive-in still in operation near you. To find out, check Drive-ins.com for a searchable database of theaters.

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