Spun off of the GM thread: Wheel sizes have been creeping up, a lot. Knurled wondered whether it's possible to find an enthusiast-oriented GM car that rides on 14" wheels. I would like to ask if it's possible to find any enthusiast-oriented cars of recent vintage that ride on 14" wheels, period. Even in the '80s, tiny cars like the Omni GLHS used 15" rims.
So, what's the last car you'd consider an enthusiast car, that seats four or more, and came with 14" rims, that was sold in the US? I won't put any conditions on what exactly is an enthusiast car; we can use a Supreme Court obscenity definition here. You know it when you see it.
Sonic
Dork
11/21/10 6:03 p.m.
2nd generation Integra GSR had 14" wheels, as late as 1993
paul
Reader
11/21/10 6:03 p.m.
late 80s honda accord/prelude?...
parker
New Reader
11/21/10 6:10 p.m.
Might be pushing on "enthusiast car", but 1st gen Neons including ACR and R/T were on 14's.
JFX001
SuperDork
11/21/10 6:12 p.m.
Didn't the Achieva SC (X?) with the performance suspension come with 14's?
peter
New Reader
11/21/10 6:13 p.m.
Seats four? The Miata would might fit four. If two were small and dismembered... But yes, it ran on 14" wheels for many years.
In reply to parker:
My R/T rode on 15's off the dealership lot. It was on 15's when I rolled it to. :(
Spinout007 wrote:
In reply to parker:
My R/T rode on 15's off the dealership lot. It was on 15's when I rolled it to. :(
They weren't the factory wheels then.
mndsm
Dork
11/21/10 6:34 p.m.
parker wrote:
Might be pushing on "enthusiast car", but 1st gen Neons including ACR and R/T were on 14's.
I'd call the ACR an enthusiast car.
mndsm wrote:
parker wrote:
Might be pushing on "enthusiast car", but 1st gen Neons including ACR and R/T were on 14's.
I'd call the ACR an enthusiast car.
Me too. I thought they used 15" rims; looks like I was mistaken.
JoeyM
Dork
11/21/10 6:47 p.m.
MadScientistMatt wrote:
So, what's the last car you'd consider an enthusiast car, that seats four or more, and came with 14" rims, that was sold in the US? I won't put any conditions on what exactly is an enthusiast car; we can use a Supreme Court obscenity definition here. You know it when you see it.
My Geo storm has 14" wheels. Of course, that probably won't pass your "know it when you see it" test.
mndsm
Dork
11/21/10 7:08 p.m.
Joey- did the right front tie rod snap on that corner? You appear to have some SILLY steering angle there.
NX2000, ACR Neon, and low line F bodies until 85.
JoeyM
Dork
11/21/10 7:43 p.m.
mndsm wrote:
Joey- did the right front tie rod snap on that corner? You appear to have some SILLY steering angle there.
Nope, the problem is me, not the rod; I have a bad habit of using WAY too much steering input. That, obviously, makes it understeer BADLY through the corners. Even worse, last weekend I caught myself eliminating the understeer by tapping the brakes to put weight on the front tires.
Obviously, I'm hurting my times when I use the brakes too often. I know that the solution is to steer less.....but i have trouble remembering when I'm on course.
Oh, the jaguar club was amused by the amount of wheel lift in the geo has when I drive:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNOtDXO7wd4 (six seconds into the video)
Yes, I know that's also due to using too much steering and jerking the wheel when I do it.
So nothing for at least 15 years then...
Cavalier Z24 came with 14" wheels up to '94.
pretty sure the Sunbird variant was the same way.
Cavalier Z24 came with 14" wheels up to '94.
pretty sure the Sunbird variant was the same way.
1999 Neon would be the last i could think of.
Marty!
Dork
11/21/10 8:06 p.m.
'02 Lancer OZ rally edition.
I don't think it was a "real" enthusiast car but it was sure marketed as one.
In reality it was a less pricey alternative to the EVO for those that didn't know any better.
mndsm
Dork
11/21/10 8:07 p.m.
I have been unable to confirm whether or not the MINI was available with 14's, I suspect the 15" is the smallest.... though some did actually have steelies and caps.....