Are You an Underdog?

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Dec 1, 2010 at 7:39 am

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Exodus_10
May 27, 2009 at 1:21 am

You want to talk about underdogs. I own and built up a 2005 Saturn Ion with cold air intake, body kit and graphics. But if you ask me the car culture has always been defined by that original thinker rather than the guy that builds the same car everyone else does.

bigboi08
May 4, 2009 at 10:13 am

i have a 98 grand cherokee 4.0. imo i think it sounds bad ass and the low end torque is just amazing.

RedGtr
May 4, 2009 at 10:06 am

Definitely an underdog. 1987 Accord LX…looks like a piece of junk. It’s got a 2.0 4cyl, but packs a lot more punch than people think. It recently had a crapload of ice fall on it (Wisconsin baby), so it’s a bit dented now, and the exhaust got loud from sitting and having all the road salt eat away at it, but it can still hold it’s own in a race. Most recent race was against a 97 VW Golf…smoked the guy.

subcero
May 4, 2009 at 10:04 am

Man I look at it like this. Be proud of what you own. Not everyone is able to own a top of the line vehicle (yet at least). I used drive a 93 cavalier and I thought it was the greatest thing on earth because it was my first car and I enjoyed it. You can’t please everyone and I most definately won’t try to. As long as you are happy with it that’s all that matters. People will always hate no matter what you drive just because they want to feel good by putting someone down. I am not lying when I say this but I standing with a group of folks surrounding a lamborghini in the parking lot and heard some idiot say,”Man he’s stupid for buying that car cuz he can never go that fast on our roads anyway. Also our roads are so bad you would be a fool to buy a car like that.” Man when I heard the guy say that I just looked at him and laughed. People will hate on anything.

kbevere
May 4, 2009 at 8:25 am

So how about you? Are you an underdog? Or do people look at your car and cower in its presence? Um i have to say no!

DynastySign27
May 4, 2009 at 8:25 am

Alex, I was talking about engine horsepower because it is the most common way to rate a stock car. Secondly, the black emlem on the fender caught my eye along with alloy wheels, fog lights, and everything blacked out from the door up made it appear to be a Z28, my bad.

Firehawk94
May 4, 2009 at 7:10 am

I am the proud owner of a 3.4L powered Firebird and Camaro. I also USED to own a LT1 powered Formula. IT WAS JUNK!! It had the dreaded opti problem, abs unit failure, rearend was whinning like a cat with its tail cut off, rocker arms would loosen causing them to pop off the valvestem, and it went through 2 transmissions!!(automatic) Granted it did have some power, but for the cost of maintenance and personal circumstances i got rid of it. I dont consider myself and underdog, nor would i consider an owner of a 1972 Ford Fiesta an underdog. Its the will of the driver to make his or her car “unique” that makes the ultimate difference. And for the record for the lifetime of tuneups i have performed on my camaro and firebird and the little bit of maintenace that i performed on the 3.4 bird doesnt even come close to what i spent on the formula. My wife drives a 98 Saturn SC2 and i have to say it has some power to be a 4…I enjoy driving it.

02chevymaro
May 4, 2009 at 5:32 am

People aren’t all necessarily laughing at cars that the people drive. I think they are laughing at the owners. Whoever commented and said,”Cavaliers are just like Hondas” is a complete dumbass. No Cavalier ran 11 seconds. Half of you commenting on hear sound like bitches. Quit bitching, get a job, and buy a decent car so you and your car don’t get made fun of.

green89
May 4, 2009 at 5:29 am

TRY this, I just bought a new pontiac…ill be king of the underdogs, I’ll put the whole smokey and the bandit look on it..
PONTIAC, goin out in style.

A_train_08
May 4, 2009 at 5:12 am

I HAD A 93 CAMARO WITH THE V6 5SPEED
AND I SOLD IT LIKE A JACKASS!!!!!!!! I USE TO BEAT THE BREAKS OFF EVERYTHING ELSE, NOW I DRIVE A CAVAILER CAMARO OWNERS DONT KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TILL ITS GONE TRUE STORY

lordfeef
May 4, 2009 at 4:52 am

yeah i drive a buick so it’s automatically labled grandpa car but they seriously underestimate the 3.8 liter in the ’90 regal limited
it’s a 3.8 and has 170hp but they all see the buick emblem and hear the sound from my cracked exhaust and push it off as a sucky car

Gerkn
May 4, 2009 at 3:59 am

I’m in a Cavalier Team and people always laugh whenever we have a meet and no one has ever been “afraid of us” or even really respected us for any reason. I have a friend with a 2.2L Eco who runs low 11s with nothing but a supercharger and some strengthened internals, and I’ve seen people with OHVs running low 12s without any weight reduction and a Turbonetics super 60 turbo with low/mid boost. Needless to say these guys walk all over Mustangs. Cavys are just like Hondas but people haven’t embraced it the same. Cavys even have a JDM crowd!

chaztheoccultist
May 3, 2009 at 10:12 pm

I OWN A CADILLAC CIMARRON. NO ONE LIKES THESE CARS AND SAY THERE NOTHING LIKE A CADILLAC. WELL WHAT MAKES AN ESCALADE SO DAMN GOOD. MY CAR DRIVES LIKE A CADILLAC. IT SOUNDS LIKE A CADILLAC AND IT HAS EVERYTHING A CADILLAC HAS. BESIDES THAT ITS AWSOME ON GAS.

BiG_BoB_87273
May 3, 2009 at 9:55 pm

i have a 99 neon 2dr and of course alotta people look down on these cars. I’m not one of those guys who buy a muscle car and and act like its the sh!t. where is the fun in that? id rather build a car that goes just as fast if not faster. I built my car and its keeps up with other v8 cars out there. I even get way better gas mileage . i have completely stripped this car down to its shell and then rebuilt it the way i wanted it. I bought a dohc engine took it apart then upgraded the internals (flat top Wiseco pistons, bigger cams, knife edged/balanced crank) and machined the block .20 under. these cars are light and have 155hp stock with a dohc engine (135 hp w/ sohc). I don’t mean to offend all the muscle car owners out there but its personal preference

Alex Vickers
May 3, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Thanks LedZeppelin!

The reason the Mustangs put out such low ratings at the wheels was that they had fairly heavy driveshafts and massive pullies. Heavier parts makes for more parasitic power loss. Add to it they were heavier with that larger engine, I think a twin cam Saturn with a manual could easily beat it in a drag race, not to mention out-handle them. They could hold their own with Corvettes and such on test tracks, which really surprized the drivers and witnesses alike.

cmonlunchbox
May 3, 2009 at 7:37 pm

I drive a 2004 mitsubishi lancer ES. Def. an underdog. 120 horsepower single cam 2 liter, hauling around 3000 pounds. My favorite question i get when i say i drive a lancer, “o an evo right?” no mother fucker. a goddamn lancer es. thank you.

zeroGT
May 3, 2009 at 7:22 pm

a 99 grand am working on the third motor after the second went its time to get serious like 450hp check it out

Flyboy_Surfer
May 3, 2009 at 6:48 pm

i enjoy being a UnDerDoG…its even one of my Nicknames…its actually fun when people dont even pay attention to you, your ride, etc. then SuRpRiSe! Adrenaline…or with a JetChip…helped take 5 seconds of my 0-60 time!
Fellow UnderDogs…its the True Courage within Us & our Rides!!!
Like a Dog…its not the SiZe of the Dog…its the SiZe of the Fight in the Dog!!!
So lets have fun with what we got & use it to our best!

frostyking4lyf4
May 3, 2009 at 6:10 pm

i drive a cavailer and a firebird with the 5 speed 3.4…definitely feel like the underdog but its cool

LedZeppelin
May 3, 2009 at 6:05 pm

I know of a Camaro that is impeccaply maintained. It looks factory fresh every day, is used as a daily driver, and looks mean enough to rip past you on the causeway. The Pipe out the back is shiny chrome.
Yes I said *PIPE* singular. Its a lowley v-6. Doesn’t matter to the owner though. He treats it as if it were an SS with a firebreather under the hood.

So leave Alex alone. The Mustangs achieved 115 *at the wheels*, no matter what your home spun dyno tests told you. Ever wonder what your big bore V-8′s did? Yeah you were told that you were getting 300 hp out of the car. Perhaps you were at the crank. But what if I told you the Hp where the rubber meets the road was only 240…..or less. Youtube a Top Gear episode where Reggie Hammond dynos his 67 (?) Mustang Shelby GT 350. He thinks he has 350 HP as advertised. Search *Top Gear Hammonds GT 350 Dyno Test*

redmilitaryjeep
May 3, 2009 at 3:36 pm

I get crapped on all the time for having a Jeep Liberty, granted it isn’t stock anymore. I love my Liberty and I don’t care what the guys say at the University, especially those with stock Jeep Wranglers and those with 2wheel drive trucks (did I mention the University is in VT). LOL. Totally know where you’re all coming from. I’m proud of the fact that I took something different and made it just as nice.

wes_silverado
May 3, 2009 at 1:52 pm

I drive a Jeep Liberty to a school full of rednecks. They all drive lifted pickups with tires bigger taller than my hood. I get alot of crap for it but I love my KJ and I’m working towards making it more appealing, but I totally understand where you’re coming from.

jis02wrx
May 3, 2009 at 1:51 pm

I own a 02 wrx wagon and before any upgrades I would get alot of negative comments but now after mods and a bigger turbo it’s not mistaken for a ordinary grocery getter.

dna5-9
May 3, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Ford Probes get no love. We are seen as bastards that wanted to be a Mustang…lol

96Cavyz22
May 3, 2009 at 9:42 am

I would have to agree with Boltz22 I also drive and mod a z22. I think that alot of people consider me an underdog but I can peel rubber in first and second gear on dry pavement with a factory engine so I know otherwise. lol!

99SSArcticWhite
May 3, 2009 at 8:41 am

There will always be some separation between the V6 owners and the V8 owners – it goes with the territory. GMs new Camaro has closed the gap with the old V8 Fbodies though – 300 hp V6, that is more HP than most V8 Camaros came with (LS1s are exception, as are the 1st and early 2nd gen Camaros).
While I own the V8 LS1 SS, I still appreciate seeing anyone who takes pride in their car and performs all the work to it themselves – as I do as well.

JRMX5
May 2, 2009 at 11:48 pm

I drive a merlot mica(purple) 95 miata everyone assumes i’m slow, but the nitrous says other wise

Alex Vickers
May 2, 2009 at 9:47 pm

slpelesabre,

At one point it put out 200+ with an intake and performance chip and tune. That was a long time ago. Now with the condition it’s in, it’s lucky if it can last long enough on a dyno to get a reading. The entire drivetrain is original, and completely shot to hell. It can only be driven in third gear.

So yeah, in its glory days, you wouldn’t stand a chance. But you’d pretty much kill it with how it runs now.

FRC99
May 2, 2009 at 9:40 pm

Well my car does not look like a underdog. But it def is! 1984 corvette Vs 1999 Buick, vette v8 205 hp 15.5@88 mph. My daily driver Buick v6 160 hp 17.5@80mph……something wrong there!!!!!

slprlesabre
May 2, 2009 at 9:37 pm

I drive a 1995 Buick LeSabre and I’ll whip your ass! 160hp 3.4 in a Camaro? My car came stock with a 170hp 3.8! I added a Cherry Bomb and a performance intake. What do you get? Honda owners about to commit suicid after reading “Buick” on my trunk! Hahaha! …but seriously guys race me and see what happens. lol

Carewcars
May 2, 2009 at 6:54 pm

I drive a miata. Nuff said.

the94camryman
May 2, 2009 at 6:43 pm

people always dog the camry’s out. i love my 94, and its still able to beat civics, si or not.

Biggunna
May 2, 2009 at 6:41 pm

I have a nice little sleeper, not really an underdog. Doesn’t look like much because it’s 20 years old stock interior and paing. But people always seem to mistake my 5.0 mustang for the four cylinder variety because of it’s age and absent emblems.

huff1939
May 2, 2009 at 6:11 pm

Saturns were built to a price, and you get what you pay for. I agree on the GM 3800, ditto the 4.0 straight six in the Jeeps — it surprises a lot people who don’t realize how low rpm the torque comes on.

10secondsflat
May 2, 2009 at 5:57 pm

someone once called my 1992 ford flareside a farm truck once.. if anyone is curious go to my page and have a look. tell me if a farm truck can look as good and roast the tires like my truck

95BlckFirebird
May 2, 2009 at 5:04 pm

got me a 1995 firebird 3.4L….and yea, its badd A$$!!! No underdog here, just simply dump lots of cash in the motor (like anyone else does to their car) and this bird becomes a beast…respect to the F-body owners.

cknarf
May 2, 2009 at 4:56 pm

88 Camry FTW! It’s now requires a hill to be started!

RockstrMentality
May 2, 2009 at 12:17 pm

ive always been an enthusiast but ive never had a respectable car
Previous cars:
00 VW Passat
06 Pontiac G6
79 Olds Delta 88
95 Land Rover Range Rover
but im gettin a 92 Foxbody next week. have the deal all worked out. run and hide, ricers of Iowa

bbccaprice89
May 2, 2009 at 12:09 pm

i get mixed reactions about my caprice. people at car shows dont like the cheap shitty paint job, people at local cruises usually look at me like “really, why bother?”because nobody suspects the 454 in it. but at the light, and at the strip, i really get to shine! i love sleeping!

troutster52
May 2, 2009 at 11:29 am

My buddy and I put a lot of time and money in a 1980 Accord. Everyone thought we were bozos. Clearly cardomain feels the same since the rating is like 2 stars.

Jesus0509
May 2, 2009 at 10:36 am

Ok i just stumbled on to this page and first i have to say DynastySign27 that is not a z28 cause if it was it would have had a z28 decal on the finder but it doesn’t it says camaro the put that on the v6 model’s i would know cause i own a z28 and a 3.4 v6… And for Alex Vickers the mustang is at 145hp, i would know that cause i used to work at a ford dealership, as for the the v6 camaro it can me made faster if you really do some hard research, i have found a way to make mine faster…

KustomKiely
May 2, 2009 at 9:16 am

Im a GM guy and I really care less for saturns. However I own an Sl2 and its Faster than most people think. I origianly did a Saturn to be different. I didnt want to have a Honda civic like everyone else and buy a bunch of autozone crap for it. I hated the saturn brand but saw a vision with the body style and went with it. In my process I managed to take off anything on the car that said saturn the only thing left is the steering wheel. My car has no problem puttin a hurtn on alot of cars. I never would have never considered myself the underdog my car may not be most peoples type but its different, fast and will surprise you. Its not what you have its what you do with it.

KustomKiely
May 2, 2009 at 9:15 am

Im a GM guy and I really care less for saturns. However I own an Sl2 and its Faster than most people think. I origianly did a Saturn to be different. I didnt want to have a Honda civic like everyone else and buy a bunch of autozone crap for it. a hated the saturn brand but saw a vision with the body style and went with it. In my process I managed to take off anything on the car that said saturn the only thing left is the steering wheel. My car has no problem puttin a hurtn on alot of cars. I never would have never considered myself the underdog my car may not be most peoples type but its different, fast and will surprise you. Its not what you have its what you do with it.

satty12
May 2, 2009 at 9:06 am

I roll a 95 saturn with a fugly body kit its my little under dog but under the hood is a sweet power plant in the works slowly, i eat my friends 4bangers all the time namely civics sorry civic crowd but lighter car and more ponies from the factory plus under the hood mods keep trying.

Alex Vickers
May 2, 2009 at 9:04 am

And I meant it at the wheels, by the way. My blog was edited before it was posted. I’ve seen both cars dynoed in Florida IN person, the Camaro was stock and the Mustang was also. I know what I’m talking about, if I didn’t, I’d research it until I knew it by heart.

Alex Vickers
May 2, 2009 at 8:51 am

DynastySign27,

First of all, I’ve seen modified V6 Mustangs dyno at 110 HP, at low elevation. Second of all, that’s not an LT1 Camaro in that photo, it’s my mother’s old Camaro, I can promise you it’s a 3.4 litre V6. You can see it on my CarDomain page if you don’t believe me.

Honestly, I do my research. I looked everywhere, and not one ’94 to ’97 could pull more than what I said.

DynastySign27
May 2, 2009 at 8:20 am

Car Domain needs to find new people to write. Alex messed up twice writing this and I’m surprised no one else caught either of them. First of all 94-95 V6 Mustangs had 145 hp not 110, believe me I own a 1994 V6 Mustang. Second of all he put in a picture of an LT1 V8 Camaro when talking about the 3.4 6ers.

DavidLaMattina
May 2, 2009 at 7:50 am

I used to own a 1998 Saturn SL1 and I absolutley loved that car, very reliable and was the most practical/fun/easy to maintain car i’ve ever owned. I own a Grand AM now, and still get some sneers from people, but most of the time i can beat them in a 1/4 mile ha.

EricShoHo
May 2, 2009 at 6:27 am

First of all I am a lover of all automotive…I eat,breath,and sleep it,its been that way since I was a kid..As far as my car choice goes I drive a ’92 Taurus SHO mtx(and my project is a ’94 SHO atx)…under dog…maybe,…under the radar,…yes…under appreciated(especially from the muscle car crowd)…yes…,but I love to see the looks of amazement at the next stop light…makes it all worth the questions like “SHO,why a SHO,I didnt know that people build those cars up?”‘and then you get the people who just say “your building what kind of car?”,and dont even know what a SHO is,but my personal favorate is the people with a blank look on there face when you tell them what your up to,you know that they are clueless,and cant figure out what to say next.

as far as the saturns go I have worked on a couple of them…and no matter what I do to them(repair wise)it seems to blow up in my face…stuff that is not even connected to what I was repairing in the first place will go wrong…one time I was replacing a radiator…simple R&R,right…wrong,the trans lines where frozen…so I needed to get trans lines as well,then when the job was all finished I started the car and it runs like total $hit,missing…I didnt touch no sensors,or wireing harnesses,or any of that kind of stuff…I hook my scan tool to it,and find nothing wrong…no DTCs at all.The person that I fixed it for took it to a shop and they told him it needed a tune up…yeah ok..and an air cleaner…Im still shaking my head over that one,because before I started the job the car ran fine,it might have needed a tune up,but it still ran fine….I think that saturns and me just dont get along!

luthoro
May 2, 2009 at 2:42 am

Underdogs for sure. Most Mitsubishi/DSM tuners only work on the 4g63. Granted, its a bad ass engine capable of just about anything. But, myself and a handful of other guys have decided to take on the challenge of tuning the 4g37, the 1.8l SOHC engine that came from the factory with 92bhp. This is what Ginsu, the first guy to turbo a 4g37, had to say about it and I completely agree:

Anyone can BUY a turbo car. No research, no development. These people have installed aftermarket parts and turbo systems someone else spent countless hours and dollars to R&D – and have the nerve to act like they’re “superior” because they make higher time slips than the guy who built a turbo setup in his garage. You’re standing on the shoulders of geniuses and talking down on people like me… What a concept. And to anybody who cant respect what we’re doing, I say F@#K YOU. And I say it with this car.

helloSIRjeremy
May 2, 2009 at 12:14 am

i get a lot of people who try to pass me on the freeway cause i drive a 93 tercel.
i mean, come on, it may only have a 90hp engine, but the fact that it is only 2k lbs makes up for that.

oldscoob
May 2, 2009 at 12:03 am

if it is an under dog, why dish out complaints, jokes buyers aren’t engineers, buyers are victims. If you self declared not an under dog. Whip out some facts…and they best be godly. Because there is a real winner, and there really is a real loser.

LedZeppelin
May 1, 2009 at 10:51 pm

Yes of course! Saturns have been the domestic version butt of auto jokes. Daewoo and Kia handle the import jokes….

There is nothing wrong with these cars. I love my Saturn. I know Daewoo, and Kia owners who love thier rides.

What about Easter Europeans adn thier Trabants? Remember the Yugo?

There is a saying that revolves around super hot looking women.

*She may be super hot, but somewhere there is a guy tired of her Sh*t”

By the same school of thought,

These cars may suck, but somewhere, there is are enthusiasts that love them……

4YOUTONV
May 1, 2009 at 10:17 pm

I drive a 2003 Pontiac Grad Prix GT sedan. First off when I got it everyone made remarks about the 4 doors, I personally think the sedan looks nicer than the coupe. But the biggest remarks are about GTP’s. I will never get tired of hearing people tell me I should have bought the GTP. It does get annoying. But anyone driving a GTP that meets me at the lights is in for a surprise, as I’ve often left them wide eyed

Csp713
May 1, 2009 at 10:02 pm

Me underdog? Yes. I drive my pops mazda 3 hatch… some people get a kick outta it but I find it lacking. Trying to find an old dat 510 to fix up and have

mexicanfezmonkey
May 1, 2009 at 8:26 pm

I have the best underdog car of them all, a 1991 Toyota Tercel DX coupe haha. Only 83 horsepower, maybe, or maybe some of the horses have escaped. Oh well, it still goes 180 km/h in fourth. Great mileage too. I love my car.

Bad-Newz
May 1, 2009 at 6:27 pm

AS it stands, I have one of those 3.4 V6′s – only I took it out of a ’95 Camaro and stuck it into my ’91 Camaro RS (its a direct swap). Im sure I get ridiculed from those who are aware… but u’d never tell from the sound coming from the Pacesetter headers, crane cam and lifters, 1.5 roller rockers, and Dynomax exhaust. Add to that the fact that my plates read ‘BADDNEWZ’… other drivers don’t pick on me one bit. They just smile, stare… and drive off. BAD NEWZ

RavenAegis45
May 1, 2009 at 5:20 pm

I suppose I am, My 98 Celica GT looks amazing in my own opinion but it lacks in the power department. I mean for a 2.2L Inline 4 only making around 130-135 Hp its not especially fast. I think many 6th Gen owners feel that way (Especially the 1.8L ST guys). But it more than makes up for it in other areas. Its amazingly comfortable, Easy to drive, Handles better than many expect and has amazing Brakes. Honestly I love My Celica No matter what others say or think

cobhc530177
May 1, 2009 at 3:48 pm

My 97 toyota tercel redhawk, 1.5L engine, 5 speed manual, 93hp, completely stock and sounds like a complete underdog, and it is.
0-60 is not that bad for a 4cyl but after that it seems like forever before it gets to 100 and it tops out right after that around 110.
But I will give it credit, almost 200,000 miles and still no problems at all. plus excellent gas mileage (I average about 43mpgs)

94_PGDSE
May 1, 2009 at 3:37 pm

I would probably have to say that my car is an underdog, people that comment it have positive things to say, but I know there’s people out there who would blow up a Geo if they had a chance. Not all Geos are slow, my Storm has stock 140 HP. Also, it looks like the headlights on that Camaro are replicas of the headlights on my Storm.

Richter-Scale
May 1, 2009 at 3:36 pm

I can relate, people in Toronto have no respect for the car that I drive, 03 Buick Rendezvous CXL. I think the stereo type is that it is just a family car. However even though I do use it for the entire family, the fact that I am tricking it out, and doing unique things to it, well it’s getting the attention of some people. I luv my ride, it’s a reflection of who I am, and will continue to work on it and update my Cardomain page as I go, and continue to be different, unique, and set trends.

Trae_T89
May 1, 2009 at 3:36 pm

I’m considered an underdog in the Saturn Community! Let alone the entire car community! I’ve tried to earn respect and have gotten it from some but not others. Everyone has opinions and it just depends if you care about them. I didn’t choose my car but I made the best I could out of it. Next ride is coming in 09 and will be a better platform. I know plenty of Saturns that are underdogs that definatly could smoke plenty of the “overdogs” I guess you could say.

Legacy_camaro
May 1, 2009 at 3:05 pm

hmmmmm. am i an underdog?? well. not really. some people immediately back off when i revv my engine, but a lot of them think they could mess with me……

However, at car shows, me and my car club are totally the underdogs. How can a bunch of High School kids beat out guys who have spend 50 grand and a marriage on their cars? Sometimes we win, but the Young Guns car club has more than you would expect from a bunch of high school hooligans.

MYIROCDAYTONA
May 1, 2009 at 2:33 pm

My Neon, underdog in some respect… and I seem to get NO respect from my friends in it, haha but when they are rolling in a cavi, a four door “granny” civic and a cougar… I can own them anyday.

CDub0917
May 1, 2009 at 1:58 pm

i consider my SUV an underdog…the Chevy Trailblazer…man have i won some races in this thing with an all stock engine. Really people r like bullshit that thing is not that good at acceleration…then i pull off the line quicker than my friends 04 Audi A4 (yeah he got me pretty quickly after a few seconds) other than that i want to put lots of money in mine because its not to often to see a TB with stuff more than just rims and a lift and some lights.

Keller1989
May 1, 2009 at 1:43 pm

My 89 cavy is the laughing stock of my town, which is the center of the automotive world, Summit County Ohio (home of Summit Racing)

D-BOI
May 1, 2009 at 1:34 pm

sorry but i hate camaros they look like plates

BoltZ22
May 1, 2009 at 11:33 am

I drive & mod a Cavalier with a 2.2l OHV. Enough said…. lol.

Alex Vickers
May 1, 2009 at 7:28 am

Not as far as I know. They just look extremely similar. The old Saturns use a space frame, which allows it to use the polymer body panels since they aren’t bearing any loads. I don’t think the Cutlass is built like that.

Besides, they had their own design team until 2002 when the Ions came out.

lejourinator
May 1, 2009 at 6:27 am

Uhhh…If im not mistaken the SL2 had the same platform as the Olds Cutlass.

pttransamdriver
May 1, 2009 at 4:34 am

Cower especially when they find out what its running

ILLY-Sase
May 1, 2009 at 12:40 am

Underdog..my 1st car, a 85 Olds toronado. Not an underdog. My 96 caprice 9c1.

Austin Gaddis
Apr 30, 2009 at 10:26 pm

Hey, glad to see you are blogging. I feel like an underdog almost all the time. From my EXP, to both of my four eyed Fox chassis cars (Mustang and Capri). Even my Cherokee is a bit of an underdog because it doesn’t have a big burly V8.

FordRulesAll
Apr 30, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Thank you Alex.

88eurotrash
Apr 30, 2009 at 4:22 pm

I give credit where it’s due. I had a 92 saturn SL2. that thing moved. I remember making my brother almost cry when we reached 140 in it. I wanted to keep going but it had a really bad alignment up front so at that speed the whole car was shaking like crazy. it had the stock twin-cam ecotech 4 cyl with a stock header and an automatic trans. I love eating hondas for breakfast with it. it was a fun little car.

retroman
Apr 30, 2009 at 4:17 pm

Depends what you mean by underdog. Like I_Luv_Dusty, I too own a k-car. Actually, I own two, both of them Spirits, definitely not all that sporty looking, and thanks to a vast majority being equipped with TBI motors, they also have the reputation of being extremely slow, but reliable; however, my Spirit R/T is not an underdog in the engine department. Chrysler blessed it with the highest hp to cube ratio they ever developed thanks to help from Lotus and Garrett.

I_Luv_Dusty
Apr 30, 2009 at 2:53 pm

Yeah, I’d say my Plymouth Duster is a bit of an “underdog.” Most people on CarDomain like it, though.

MoparRob07
Apr 30, 2009 at 2:28 pm

Hey Alex,

Go check out LedZeppelin! He can hook your Saturn up!

Alex Vickers
Apr 30, 2009 at 1:20 pm

FordRulesAll, I like it to be honest. I haven’t seen many people do too much to those without trashing them unless it’s an SHO. I like your route.

FordRulesAll
Apr 30, 2009 at 12:57 pm

I’m customizing a 2001 Ford Taurus, easily an underdog, but people still give respect to what I do.

___nes___
Apr 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm

I believe I am an underdog, but I love my MN12 too much to care!

bigfazolie
Apr 30, 2009 at 11:59 am

definately an underdog!! How many q45′s outhere do u know of that are driven by a teenager??? none! People think its a grandma car untill they see whats under the hood

camarofreak30721
Apr 30, 2009 at 9:58 am

The only thing that I’ve had that I really felt like I was an underdog in was the 1990 Ford Ranger that I had. 2.3l two plug per cylinder and an automatic. It would barely pull its own weight. It ran great, just no power. Saturns really aren’t bad cars. I think part of the bad rap they get is from being mostly plastic. The 3.4 in the base Camaro gets a bad rap too. It’s a good engine. I have to disagree on it being the best sounding V6 though. For older GMs I would have to go with either the 3800 or the 4.3. Both very good engines but the 3800 is probably the best motor GM ever made. They will run forever and take a beating. And get very reasonable gas mileage doing it. The ’98 Camaro that I had with that motor got 19/27 city/interstate. I loved it. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy anything else with the 3.8 under hood. As of right now, though, I don’t see my NorthStar going anywhere.

GlamismanTJ
Apr 30, 2009 at 9:30 am

Sometimes I feel like an underdog because a lot of people mistake my firebird for having a V8 when I’ve only got the V6. Its not a bad engine by any means, it still makes over 200hp, and gets great gas milage without having to burn premium. Plus, the insurance on a Trans Am for any guy under 25 is rediculous. About Saturns though, my sister has one and its not that bad.

Alex Vickers
Apr 30, 2009 at 7:49 am

Brivan, I forgot to ask, is it the Ion that they bought? Those had plenty of problems, not to mention they hardly sold.

Alex Vickers
Apr 30, 2009 at 7:47 am

Brivan, it’s likely because they’re based off another car. The older Saturns weren’t on a global design, they were unique. The only problems they had were the seat’s reclining mechanism would break, and GM recalled them. The engines also start to burn oil after about 150 thousand miles, but not everyone has that problem.

The automatic transmissions are total junk, though. The one in mine is already starting to go, and not even at a hundred thousand miles yet. You’d barely notice it, it only does it when cold, or it sits for a day or two. The manuals are great, the stock clutch lasts for almost 180 thousand miles driven like Hell.

brivan
Apr 30, 2009 at 7:19 am

The thing is,i know two different people that have newer Saturn models..and they hate them now,peculiar problems with them here and there.It sticks in my mind! Know what i mean!? I’d prefer to here the good things,but their few and far between.

Alex Vickers
Apr 30, 2009 at 6:38 am

I should add that none of them are actually mine, the red Ford is mine, though.

Esoteric18
Apr 30, 2009 at 6:21 am

People hate on my 3.8 all the time i plan on a swap but for the time being i love everything my car has to offer so to me who cares what neone else thinks it may be a auto 3.8 but its what i love

1992CaddyDeville
Apr 30, 2009 at 6:11 am

I use to be an underdog driving a 1992 Cadilllac Deville which is a great car. It has style, luxury, and is the last of the Cadillac Tanks!

Now people cower at my presence in my Torch Red V8 CORVETTE!

lejourinator
Apr 30, 2009 at 3:20 am

Honestly saturns aren’t bad on paper, but I have yet to drive one that doenst feel like tuperware.

buickboy92
Apr 30, 2009 at 2:24 am

I don’t know if people say anything bad about my Impala, But I do like Saturn’s Alex, encase you were wondering. I like the Vue mostly.