dAVE

well it was actually 42 volts.. here is more info for ppl interested. You probably thought nothing could be simpler than an automobile battery -- 12 volts the world around. But like many other things under the hood of your car, that, too, may soon change. That square black box next to your car's engine -- along with the electrical system it supports -- will more than triple its voltage to a whopping 42 volts, if a group of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and their industry supporters get their way. They're called the MIT/Industry Consortium on Advanced Automotive Electrical/Electronic Components and Systems. The name is a mouthful -- but its membership is a who's who of international automobile manufacturers and their electrical components suppliers: everyone from General Motors, Ford, BMW, Daimler-Benz and Renault to Motorola, Bosch, Delphi, Siemens and Yazaki. At a conference in Detroit this week (October 19th-21st, 1998) on transportation electronics, members of the 20-company consortium lined up solidly behind the 42-volt standard in a series of engineering presentations -- as they had done at a similar conference in Germany two weeks ago. Why a new, higher-voltage standard for automotive electrical systems? We asked MIT research scientist Thomas Keim -- a co-director of the consortium: "The electrical demand on the electrical system in automobiles is increasing -- because of the new and energy-requiring features which are found on new automobiles." And what are some of these features? Some of them, says Thomas Keim, are creature comforts -- like electrically-heated seats. But many of them are more substantive, and would significantly enhance engine reliability, power and cleanliness: "For example, electrically controlled valves. If you can actuate the valves electrically then you can vary the valve timing under computer control and maybe get an engine that produces a lot more power for its size and at the same time runs cleaner." Electrically-actuated valves would open and close more precisely and be less mechanically cumbersome than current systems, which are driven either hydraulically or by push-rods contacting the engine's camshaft. Catalytic converters -- which chemically remove harmful pollutants from the engine's exhaust system -- function more efficiently when their precious metal catalysts are hot. Mr. Keim says electrically heating the catalysts would reduce exhaust emissions during those critical first seconds after the engine has been started. "There are also new systems that sort of fit into the safety and comfort arena, like, for example, electrically-assisted power steering." Experts believe electric motors would drive power steering systems much more efficiently than the current maze of hydraulic pumps and hoses that are prone to leaks and mechanical malfunctions. So the question now becomes: why a 42 volt standard? Why not 100? Mr. Keim says the reason is safety: "Essentially at today's 12 volt level, if you touch the positive terminal of your battery and touch the frame of the car, it's not a threatening event for the person who does that. We want to retain that." We asked Mr. Keim whether an anticipated push toward total electric vehicles would bypass the need for higher voltage systems serving internal combustion engines: "First off, let's recognize that even if the world goes to all electric transportation there is going to be a substantial period of transition... if the internal combustion engine goes 10 years, you're going to need 42 volts. Personally I suspect it will go longer than that. But whether it does or not we... need 42 volts." Thomas Keim believes the 42 volt system could be implemented within five to ten years -- with more expensive, feature-laden vehicles as the first candidates.

EVO & Subaru both more expensive and not as fun. Also, the r34 gtt will kill a MY02 STi... I took a MY 02 STi on a cruise and even the r33 gtsts could easily keep up. I would highly reccomend you dont buy your car from a dealer. Those warranty's are pretty useless and you have to follow thier guidelines of servicing every 10,000kms or 6 months.. so if you are away for a while and you dont service your car the warranty can be void. Also, payouts are not big and dont cover the things that usually break. I had a warranty on my Surf and blew the head. Tried to claim it but in the fine print heads are not included in warranty. I beleive you can save up to $10,000 buying a r34 privately as dealers are currently charging way to much. For example, cheapest r34 gtt on carpoint is $35,000. That is private.. cheapest dealer r34 gtt is $41,900.

Well, i was chatting to my dad tonight who is a journo in the auto industry and he was telling me that recently the industry had decided to change to 48 volt batteries on all new cars made after a certain period... mainly to power all the new computer equipment the cars run.. just wondering if anyone has heard about this and if u have other info. Dave.

Both can be had for similar prices (40,000) but in the end a GTR will cost you a lot more. Things to consider is that there is 2 of lots of things on the gtr (twin turbo) so fixing anything in that area will cost u at least 2 x what a 34 GTT would. Also, both are claimed to be 205kw, but I think the GTR has a fair bit more go in it.. Umm, the GTT is also a newer car so you would expect it would cause less problems. Also insurance is going to be a lot cheaper on the GTT. Depending on your age you might not even be able to get insurance for the GTR. Or you could get an insane R33 GTST for 40k.. or a 32 GTR and spend some $$$'s on it. They are all good but i think out of them all the 34 GTT will be the cheapest to maintain, as long as u get a clean example.

all the importers on this board have a good rep (prestige, upi & j-spec) In term of performance, i dont think the sII is any better, maybe worse becuase the turbo cant be boosted as much.. but u get a better interior , dual airbags etc.. and less k's It all really comes down to how much you want to spend.

so was the cab driver charged for reckless driving?? ie, failure to give way..??? also, someone should follow this casey gimp and write story on him.. I bet he drives like a tool. Watch him speed and do illegal stuff, then write a strory and send it to editor

me too.. how do i make flash come on in day? i so dont know how to use it. all i do is point and click. ummm... all i can think of when looking at that r34 is ..... DROOOOOOOOOOOL!:wassup:

r33 gtst intercooler is tiny and can be picked up for under $50. $2000 will get you a very nice frount mount

http://products.suncorpmetway.com.au/ins/p...pages/motor.asp then go down a bit and click online quote..

its just there quote system. its a nice way of telling you they r not interested in Victorian business. When I do a quote, for my NSW its about $900, for my melb address they want $25,000.

hey, u r friends with the subzero guys right.. is it true that the workshop got shot up by some gang recently.. or was that just someones rumour to stir trouble?

100% of gts4;s in the r33 are non turbo, unless it has been modified after leaving the factory.. there is still plenty of fun to be had with the 4wd, ask any gtr driver, but its definately not worth it if its going to be a non turbo.

thats it Birty.

all HUDs i have seen have been projected from the dash up onto the windscreen.. never seen one quite like that before.

Size: 6cm(H) x3.5cm(w)x1.8cm(D)Alkaline 1.5v(AAA)-.Silver Colour

beleive its 2years on the parts & the installer should supply a warranty too.

dude, personally i reckon give it a try. Its cheaper than my black widow cost me and thats a pretty basic system. I just wanna try it becuase an alarm is still an alarm in the end. If it notifies you it does the job. Also, I cant afford a boomerang anyway!

reason I am getting it is becuase I think its worth saving the $600, and putting that to something better. Other than that, the boomerang is still a good system - dont know about the wires tho.. must have been a bodgy install

carmate so far the cheapest at $450.. anyone know about these guys?

anyone know where i can buy a copy veilside kit. phone numbers / webpage will b good. thanks

belt driven. you will find the 'S' alot quicker than the rb20 20 na. If your looking for something abit closer in power, try the r32 25gts or the R33 na.

very sexy

i doubt u will get them for free tho as ppl are getting up to $400 for a set... so i doubt anyone really just wants to chuck $200 away.

i think they are illegal.. but your best bet would be to make a custom cold air box with cold feed.. then it would A) keep cooler, and therefor have bette performance, and B) would hide it from the cops if they ever looked.

u serious?? anyway, if u want to see what it looks like on a gun metal grey (thats what yours is right?) - go to SDU and search the forum for a car that user BenL is selling. It has the same type of grille on it. p.s - i have 1st dibs on this.