My Garage Is Now Completely Yamaha Powered

[slapnpop]

We decided it was type to get the woman a new to us car. She's always liked my car, but it's 5spd transmission wasn't good on her left knee in traffic. Long story short, we end up with an automatic version of my car, and our garage now consists of:

'03 FJR (my bike)

'86 Radian (her bike)

'94 Taurus SHO 5spd (my car)

'95 Taurus SHO Auto (her car)

For those of you not familar with the SHO:

In '89 the Taurus was released in a "super high output" package. It included SHO specific options such as full leather and a moonroof, and had stiffer suspension, larger brakes and such. The main feature, however, was the 3.0L yamaha built DOCH engine. Lightspeed as ford went at the time. It put out a stock 220hp and 214 ft/bls of torque, with a 14.5 sec 1/4. It is definatly a highway beast, redlining at 7300 rpm. The engine without accessories was sustained at over 10k rpm. If you're still reading this paragraph, click here.

Anyway, the woman's new car came pre-farkled with eibach springs, tokico struts, aluminum subframe bushings, subframe connectors, 11.6" brake upgrade on all 4 corners, and that's just the suspention/chassis/braking upgrades. The thing feels like a go-kart. It's a world different than my more or less stock machine. I digress again...

I find a lot of similarities in the SHO and the FJR. Both are small number of production vehicles, both are kinda in-between genres, and in nearly the same respects. Both are just enough luxury to make it nice, but underneath the quasi-cushy shell is a speed demon.

Pictures to follow, when I can get some taken of all the pretty vehicles out together. My SHO also has Yamaha logos instead of the ford ones, just to confuse people.

So here's the dicussion part:

Does YOUR car remind you of your bike? Or rather, do you see similarities in why you chose each? Let's see some pics y0!

 

[Vulcan]

My car is a diesel VW Jetta.....Totally different animal than my FJR but I am in love with the mileage of the car.......I get around 800 miles per tank in city driving.

 

[BlueWing]

Does YOUR car remind you of your bike? Or rather, do you see similarities in why you chose each?

Now there is a distinct possibility in this train of thought; my car is an '05 350Z that is a blast to drive in hilly/curvy areas, and is still enjoyable for everyday cruising. :clap:

 

[nusman68]

Hey Slap-

All you need now is a Yamaha generator! My 4Runner doesn't really remind me of my bike...but I admit I had to have their quad-cam motor that was the hot-ticket years back before the SUV HP wars....

A Radian? wow...what a great all-around machine...I learned to ride on one of those....if you ever want to sell it......

 

[snowmonkey]

Got a silver 2004 Mazda 3, which also has a Yamaha 2.3 mill and Ford suspension. Some people say that I bought the car to match the bike.

Our other car is a 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate stationwagon without the woodgrain panels. The LT1 350 makes this an excellent interstate ride. It's more like my FLH than the FJR.

 

[lawinter]

I've got an '02 Pontiac Firebird Formula in the garage.

IT'S got a 6 speed transmission.

It is the last model year for a great American sports car.

I've got an 03 FJR1300 in the garage.

IT'S got a 5 speed transmission.

It is the first American model year of a great Japanese Motorcycle.

The Firebird is blue, FJR is silver.

Both are EXTREMELY fast.

I also have a 04 Montero but it's just a SUV

 

[ionbeam]

Yet another topic is taking a left turn from the original post :lol:

I have a '95 Impala SS that like the FJR is pretty quick, very comfortable, carries a big load, handles darn good for what it is and is a blast to drive.

Snowmonkey with his Buick Roadmasher has some idea what the ol' LT1 can do.

Slapnpop sez

It put out a stock 220hp and 214 ft/bls of torque, with a 14.5 sec 1/4.

Meet ya at the drags and demonstrate that your e.t. is a bit optimistic. Of all the miles on my car I must have a couple of hundred miles all done 1/4 mile at a time :blink:
Alan

 

[slapnpop]

Slapnpop sez

It put out a stock 220hp and 214 ft/bls of torque, with a 14.5 sec 1/4.

Meet ya at the drags and demonstrate that your e.t. is a bit optimistic. Of all the miles on my car I must have a couple of hundred miles all done 1/4 mile at a time blink.gif

I said the car would do it, not me. Mine has 177k miles, so it's running no where near top speed. 14.5 was the published "magazine" statistics when the car was new. I've seen 14.7 out of a stocker with my own eyes.

Drag strip time slips

The slowest clocked time they list on an SHO is 15.5, and that was an automatic.

 

[FJRocket]

I have an '05 Outback LTD XT...wagon. Not a bad car Blacked out black. Not your mother's grocery getter, but still not quite a blown sleeper, either. It is fun, though, to hit the gas while rolling a bit and catch the turbo lag and tranny at just the right time. Then it PULLS real nice. Much better than the '01 Outback I had. And about as close to the FJR as it gets. And that really ain't all that close...It does not, remind me of the FJR.

Neither does my Husqvarna tractor... OR my Chevy 1500, which is "granpa gray, and boring blue". Different mission capabilities.

 

[ionbeam]

Well, yahoo slapnpop!!!!!

I've seen 14.7 out of a stocker with my own eyes.

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Been there, done it! To hel*, err, heck with published reports -- y'all get out there and just *do it* :lol:
Advertised times for my Impala SS were 14.5 to 15.2 in the 1/4 mile. Actual times varied from 14.5 to 15.3 for a bone stock car. With bolt on exhaust and intake, times dipped to 14.2 in the 1/4

All I can say about Feejer is that I have put my '04 through the traps at an easy 11.2 @ 121.x mph. I am proud of 1.6x 60' times and I am proud of being able to launch Feejer consistently with <.050 sec. reaction times because Feejer leaves the line so predictably. Lenn (hi Lenn!) runs quicker and faster times on his '04 but spots me a few thousands off the line making it a race!

Alan

BTW, on topic, Yamaha makes the FJR

 

[Jetmaker737]

Dude! I have an '85 Radian that I bought brand new in '86. It was my first and only street bike before the FJR. It was a great machine and I only paid like 2 grand out the door with a helmet. lol. B)

 

[Vulcan]

Got a silver 2004 Mazda 3, which also has a Yamaha 2.3 mill and Ford suspension. Some people say that I bought the car to match the bike.Our other car is a 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate stationwagon without the woodgrain panels. The LT1 350 makes this an excellent interstate ride. It's more like my FLH than the FJR.

Buicks are a lot like Harleys....Never noticed that until I read your post.

PS Thank God for the no fake wood!

 

[gr8eyes]

I've got an Acura NSX which is almost as fun as my FJR was. It is almost as fast and handles as well as the FJR but not quite.

Glenn

 

[slapnpop]

mmmmmmm..... nsx