>
> > The problem with putting these cars in Stock are that they had special
> > competition suspension options that are Street Prepared oriented;
> adjustable
> > front camber plates, special brake discs, Grupe N adjustable suspension.
> As
> > delivered standard they came with special trunk kits; baffled oil pan and
> > dual oil pump pickup, adjustable rear spoiler, and front subframe
> crossbrace.
> > Installing trunk kit items automatically voids the warranty. Engines
> were
> > dyno'd & handpicked from std. assembly line, plus BMW specifically stated
> > that theses vehicles were made for competition. Aluminum door skins,
> stiffer
> > suspension springs with 1" lower ride height, sound padding removed,
> special
> > seats, and a lower rear gear were also std.
> >
> > Hardly the type of vehicle to be classed in Stock.
>
> Arguably, so is the Neon ACR. OK, so Dodge doesn't hand pick each engine.
> But they do many of the same things that BMW does to the LTW. Before the
> Neonites jump in, yes, I'm aware that the Neon R/T has most of the same
> performance upgrades as the ACR. But the ACR came first, by several years.
> The R/T is basically an ACR without the adjustable Konis and with all the
> comfort items most people require in a daily driver that the ACR eliminates
> for weight savings. And if memory serves (I'm sure someone will be quick to
> correct me if I'm wrong), doesn't ACR stand for American Club Racing? If
> that isn't "made for competition," I don't know what is.
>
> Thanks for the extensive description of what differentiates an M3 LTW from a
> "normal" M3. I've been wondering that myself. Compare that to what
> differentiates a Neon ACR from a Neon Highline or a base model. Relatively
> speaking, the basic grocery getter Neon gets an even more extensive makeover
> to turn it into the class dominating performer it is than the M3, which is a
> high performance car to begin with in its "basic" form. So are its non-M
> siblings, if you want to trace its history back that far.
>
> Again, I'm not suggesting that this is right or wrong, or that anything
> needs to be changed. I don't have much of an opinion on the matter myself,
> mostly because I don't compete against M3s or Neon ACRs. :) I just find
> this comparison interesting.
>
> - Justin
>
>
>
--
Jeffrey D. Blankenship Senior Technical Consultant
jblanken@itds.com ITDS - TRIS
neon enthusiast #478 Champaign, IL, USA
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