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      12-08-2019, 04:58 AM   #1
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What’s the first thing you check out when you open a car’s hood for the first time?

It could be a new car or just a car that you've never been under the hood of so the engine is new to you.

For me it's the layout and neatness of the electrical system.
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      12-08-2019, 05:27 AM   #2
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If it has a dipstick....the fluids. Then like you just the general layout.

I've seen people try to sell cars with so much Armor All on plastic engine pieces, but it's like they only cleaned the very top as if the rest isn't visable.
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      12-08-2019, 07:23 AM   #3
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The intake manifold is always a big deal to me, and those cars where I can't see it, I just don't even bother opening the hood. I'm an 80's kid really, and miss the cool intakes of that era.
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      12-08-2019, 07:25 AM   #4
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How much of the engine I can actually see.
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      12-08-2019, 07:28 AM   #5
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Is the question in the context of buying the car, or looking out of curiosity?

If buying, I look at overall cleanliness, for fluid leaks, fluid level and general disrepair.

If out of curiosity, I look at the induction and fuel system, then go from there.
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      12-08-2019, 07:36 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by chassis View Post
Is the question in the context of buying the car, or looking out of curiosity?

If buying, I look at overall cleanliness, for fluid leaks, fluid level and general disrepair.

If out of curiosity, I look at the induction and fuel system, then go from there.
As a car enthusiast w/curiosity.
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      12-08-2019, 07:44 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VisualEcho View Post
The intake manifold is always a big deal to me, and those cars where I can't see it, I just don't even bother opening the hood. I'm an 80's kid really, and miss the cool intakes of that era.
The intake tract was my first response I wrote as an answer, but then changed it; but it's sort of tied with the electrical layout/layout of the engine compartment. When I looked at the then new Cadillac ATS, the engine compartment layout is quite nice and tidy. Modern turbo BMWs are hideous.

In the past 15 years, the Ford GT is my favorite car. I seriously looked at buying one when they came out in '05/'06, but the financial situation would have taxed me too much. I thought I'd pick one up a few years later for half price (it being a Ford and all). Boy, was I wrong on that
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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      12-08-2019, 09:26 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
The intake tract was my first response I wrote as an answer, but then changed it; but it's sort of tied with the electrical layout/layout of the engine compartment. When I looked at the then new Cadillac ATS, the engine compartment layout is quite nice and tidy. Modern turbo BMWs are hideous.

In the past 15 years, the Ford GT is my favorite car. I seriously looked at buying one when they came out in '05/'06, but the financial situation would have taxed me too much. I thought I'd pick one up a few years later for half price (it being a Ford and all). Boy, was I wrong on that
I think my love affair with intake manifolds started with the Corvette's 5.7 L tuned port injection intake runners. Damn I loved seeing those, and the top of the tires when the whole hood came up.

And yes, we all missed the boat on those original Ford GT"s. I know a guy that has made himself a millionaire on literally nothing but buying and selling Ford GT's.
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      12-08-2019, 09:28 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VisualEcho View Post
The intake manifold is always a big deal to me...
^This...and never overlook how tidy (or un-tidy) things are.
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      12-08-2019, 09:36 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by 3798j View Post
^This...and never overlook how tidy (or un-tidy) things are.
Absolutely, I like my engine bay's like I like my vagina's.

I'm a sucker for ITB's as well.
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      12-08-2019, 10:57 AM   #11
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The first thing that I look for whenever I open a hood/bonnet is a bee/hornet/wasp nest by the radiator support, followed by rodent nests or snakes on the engine, and finally the prop rod to hold the hood up if it doesn't have gas struts or springs.....
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      12-08-2019, 05:24 PM   #12
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Mainly if I can see the engine, the headers, the valve-covers, and it's not some dipshit plastic covering it. My LS3 had a stupid cover over the intake manifold that was patterned similar to the intake manifold..

This is a good example on the LS7, dumb valve-cover covers and the intake cover in the middle is actually patterned kind of similar to the actual intake...but why put a cover on it, just show off what already looks good!

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      12-08-2019, 05:57 PM   #13
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      12-09-2019, 05:27 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes View Post
Mainly if I can see the engine, the headers, the valve-covers, and it's not some dipshit plastic covering it. My LS3 had a stupid cover over the intake manifold that was patterned similar to the intake manifold..

This is a good example on the LS7, dumb valve-cover covers and the intake cover in the middle is actually patterned kind of similar to the actual intake...but why put a cover on it, just show off what already looks good!

My C6 was the same. When I installed the ported FAST LSXR 102 intake, I left it exposed. I also did an alternator cover.
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      12-09-2019, 07:05 AM   #15
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First thing I did after in supercharged my C6 was remove the beauty covers. Not such for for the looks of them but to not trap the extra heat produced. I know it’s marginal but every bit helps. It is a pain to get some leaves caught in the mass of wires and fuel rails but usually uncoiling the compressor hose and giving it a couple blasts takes care of it. It does force me to clean the entire engine bay more often then I normally would have which is good.

When I’m checking out a new car for purchase I count the cylinders, 8 is the preferred number and if only 6 I need to see F/I. Nice to see a dip stick also. My 135 is the first car own without one and it irritates me.
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      12-11-2019, 07:53 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N54Yankee View Post
First thing I did after in supercharged my C6 was remove the beauty covers. Not such for for the looks of them but to not trap the extra heat produced. I know it’s marginal but every bit helps. It is a pain to get some leaves caught in the mass of wires and fuel rails but usually uncoiling the compressor hose and giving it a couple blasts takes care of it. It does force me to clean the entire engine bay more often then I normally would have which is good.

When I’m checking out a new car for purchase I count the cylinders, 8 is the preferred number and if only 6 I need to see F/I. Nice to see a dip stick also. My 135 is the first car own without one and it irritates me.
Annoying that my HC has no trans dipstick
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      12-11-2019, 09:15 AM   #17
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Depends on the car. If it's a performance car, I look at the induction system. If it's a daily driver or a tow vehicle or work truck, I look at all the fill caps and dip sticks to see what the "hassle factor" will be for routine maintenance.

Second thing I look at on a performance car is the front of my pants. If the hood's been open for at least a minute and I don't have a woody, I close the hood back up. Nothing more I need to see at that point.
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      12-12-2019, 09:40 AM   #18
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coolant reservior..., that's a joke since my car warned me on low coolant, typical BMW now...
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      12-12-2019, 10:36 AM   #19
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I try to see if there’s even any ‘hood’ to open to see the engine. More and more of the cars i like (Porsche, McLaren) don’t even let you see it
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      12-13-2019, 09:37 PM   #20
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I always make sure there is plenty of blinker fluid in the reservoir.
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      12-14-2019, 07:02 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darth One View Post
I try to see if there’s even any ‘hood’ to open to see the engine. More and more of the cars i like (Porsche, McLaren) don’t even let you see it
In late 2014 when I started looking for a use sports coupe, I test drove the Cayman. It was a 2008 IIRC. It didn't fit me well. I didn't find it handled as magically I expected it to, being a mid-engine Porsche. But when you open the decklid and don't get to see the engine, well, that really kinda killed it for me.
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      12-23-2019, 11:04 PM   #22
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How much plastic covers have been used to tart up the engine bay. Then the metal work.
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