Have you noticed?

[Michael C Henry]

Have you noticed that more and more of us are concerned about the small nicer creature comfort stuff ? self parking wipers, heater defrosters,seat heaters, air cleaners,Chrome, carpet, leather.and my favorite convertable top. What happened to the bare bones style?

[CRZN427]

I have found that I like to spend more time in the car and take it to more places all the time. It is not a "Garage Queen" and I expect to get lots of practical use out of it. (Since my new car is not done yet, part of my response is from my seven years experience with my LAE.)

The extras are for the same reason I don't order a "Bare Bones" car in any other catigory. I like to be comfortable while getting the use out of it.

To be completely capable of "Daily Use", which includes the Wife being in the car (including long vacation trips) and driving the car, it has to have some level of creature comfort.

The idea that a car like this has to be a "Macho Wagon" makes about as much sence to me as the tomato can exhausts in the ricers.

I have wanted one since they came out, I can have one now, I'm going to use it, enjoy it all I can and be comfortable while doing it.

[maxrpm]

I have noticed that too. Sort of reminds me of those 60s-70s era musclecars that were ordered with the top engine, then watered down with a/c, power everything, 2something open rearend etc. Made me wonder what were they thinking, I want a 15sec. Hemicuda?
The silliest thing I've seen so far is power seats in a Cobra.

[Ron61]

Guess I don't belong to this bunch. I have no extras in my car, not even a sound system.

Max,

We have one person here hat has 6 way power recaro bucket seats in his Cobra plus a good sound system. Another has almost every option that can be stuck on one including a 6 disk DVD movie player that the screen pops out of the dash. Remote control and a sound system that cost more than my car. And I am by far the oldest of the bunch up here.

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

I have wipers but they were necessary to pass the safety inspection. The same inspection required a workable defroster so I installed a heater which really works, only problem is I don't have a top so in cold weather you only feel the heat from the knees down.

No extras on this car. The only thing electronic is the ignition box.

Wayne

[clayfoushee]

I hadn't noticed that either. In our Capital Area Cobra Club, out of 25-30 active members and cars, probably 90% are "bare bones." Even in our winter cold climate, probably only 20% have tops, and we had 23 cars show up for our last New Years Day Cruise in Wash, DC.

[anchor2]

One of the things I like best about my car is that it is so bare. Who needs a stereo with the sound like a Cobra? The car is just a motor and a body....what a high performance car should be.

[Karl Bebout]

My car, too, has a wiper motor thought needed to get through title inspection but the arms are long gone and I've put black plastic caps on the splined stubbs. (anyone know where to get either some aluminum, stainless or chrome caps for these?) I didn't even go with a column mounted turn signal but rather a dash mounted toggle, just have to remember to turn it off. Really the only two creature comforts I have are my Hughes TH 400 transmission for consistancy and my stump pulling Chebby engine to make me smile. Couldn't hear a sound system, if I had one and certainly don't need a heater out here in the desert. Supposed to hit 86° today.

[Roscoe]

I'm still trying to figure out where to put the 8 track!!!

Wipers? What dat?

Roscoe

[uncltodd]

My BDR on order will have an aftermarket heater and a vinyl ragtop. That's it!

...But with them I can probably squeeze in another two months' driving in my climate each year.

Oh, and a passenger-side rollbar. My College Girl insisted on that- said it would give me something to hang onto when she was driving. (Never! Well, not until she's 30. Maybe 40.)

UT

[TimG427]

I have the extras on my everyday car. When I get into a Cobra or Corvette, I don't want A/C or any other fancy stuff. The only thing that I have changed opinions on over the years is gear ratios. I used to love a 4.11 rear in any car. Now I just don't get into those steep gears any longer.

[hog]

Check out this web site for chrome covers for the windshield wipers. Hot Toppers are used on Harley's to cover the bolts. They come in different sizes. There is sure to be one that will work as a cover for the wiper posts. http://shop.store.yahoo.com/midnight...hromhott1.html

hog

[Michael C Henry]

What ever happened to Hi-Tech?

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by Karl Bebout


...Really the only two creature comforts I have are my Hughes TH 400 transmission for consistancy...

Have you, or anyone else for that matter, looked seriously into the new Moon paddle-shifter for automatics. Just learned of it. Looks promising. I'm assuming would work best with a trans with a hard shift kit installed. Just curious.

[Wayne Maybury]

Roscoe
They are little devices on the front side of the windshield made of metal and rubber that are supposed to remove moisture from the windshield but were really there to satisfy the needs of the government safety inspector. They may, or may not actually work since I haven't tried them in a long time.

Wayne

[rdorman]

For my own taste I like the create comforts so long as they are really not noticable. I like the OEM type of style best. Seat heater, can't see them. Heat/defrost, you can see the defrost ducts but some originals had them. Stereo, don't really see the point but for long drives it might be nice, but I still would not want to see it. Same goes for interior, trunk and engine lighting, lumbar support, cup holders, radar/laser detection, etc. If I can work them in without having them obvious or looking 'hung onto the car' then I am tempted. I enjoy driving mine, a lot. Race cars don't have this stuff because, well, you just don't need it. But I drive mine on the street. I would love to go to a new set of seats, twin/full width rollbar and bigger rims and tires but the cost in how I want the car to look is just to high for me at this moment (don't fit my taste).

Rick

[RallySnake]

Mike,

I'll admit that I'm getting pretty bad in this respect. I was driving my Arntz to work every day for awhile and needed a radio to keep up-to-date with the news as I creep up and down the 405.

The 16 hour rally last November had me worried enough to install a second heater on the driver's side. Those things will fry your ankles if you leave them on more than 5 minutes, but when a rally takes you through snow and ice they are very welcome.

I have installed a 10 inch computer monitor on my dash which links back to a laptop in the trunk. We scan the rally instructions and maps into the computer and also use it with GPS maps to keep track of where we are.

I rebuilt my Alfa Elite rally computer to fit under the dash so all you see is two little control panels. The Monaco rally computer sits on top of the dash next to the Valentine1.

So yeah, it's about comfort, but it's also about winning! Every race team make sure that the driver is as comfortable as possible. A more comfortable driver is a more focused driver. Why should we be any different?

Paul

[Art Burtt]

Funny! I put a heater in ,but never plan to use a top. I've been told I'll appreciate it on those late fall nights. I also put a radio and six CD player in. I turned it on while the car was idling in the drive way and I couldn't hear it. Oh well it's good to listen to while I'm working on the car. Wipers came with the kit and work
real good. I have an '88 Vette which has never had it's wipers turned on LOL.

[TimG427]

Hi-Tech went out of business in about 1999.