Batlground: Which car should we build next

[Dr.G35]

i say r33 or something not ordinarily seen/done.

[ranger250x]

Voted other .... being a ford guy ...... lincoln MKVIII
pros: N/A cobra engine(4.6 DOHC)
RWD
Excellent sleeper
Looks (some like it.....
Cons: Rear Suspension(dont see it being to much of a problem for btlgrnd)
Transmission(easy fix)
Aftermarket support
Looks ....and some dont)

[Vteckidd]

I like to think I know dan decently from the small time I worked with him. I can't see him buying a $70000-90000 car and putting that kind of money in it to make 1000 whp. I mean this isn't an evo or a 240.

But then again I suppose the supra back in 99-00 was not a cheap car either but even brand new it was $40000.

These cars are a whole different price range and not as friendly to mods IMO (price wise)

but maybe he's bored and this is the challenge something you guys have never done.

Either way I know it will be nasty. I still vote for the vette personally

[TIGERJC]

Build
Hyundai genesis
or
Evo X

and develop parts for those cars

[Vteckidd]

Build
Hyundai genesis
or
Evo X

and develop parts for those cars

Evo x I think that ship has sailed.

Genesis is a risk right now market won't be big for 2 years

[greasemunkey]

4g63t awd dodge colt, not hard to do and its like having a civic hatchback with a s13 silvia front end and turbo!! haha

[greasemunkey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTwOcIeK3SA&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL-JGBSSty8 <local ga shop. seen the car in person, had a snapped rear axle from the strip he said. I think

[Tracy]

Did we read the 6 cyl or more requirement?

[Jenson]

I voted CTS-V2 cuz they are just ballin, stock luxo runnin 11's is just amazing. Thats a much higher end market compared to what ya'll do now I guess, or atleast the perception. The next more logical step would be the 5th gen Camaro and work your way into the LSx community. Those high end GM owners mostly go to tried and true shops that they have been using since they owned their LT1's or longer.

From all the cars on the list it seems you want to move up the ladder though from current builds which is good since your customers will probably be moving up as well. If it was my shop, I'd build a 10' Camaro. Of all the cars on the list, the C6Z and GT500 have the most potential for customers. The G8 will probably become something along the lines of the old Turbo buick's and could still potentially come back as a chevy (I dont care what Lutz says).

[Tracy]

I voted CTS-V2 cuz they are just ballin, stock luxo runnin 11's is just amazing. Thats a much higher end market compared to what ya'll do now I guess, or atleast the perception. The next more logical step would be the 5th gen Camaro and work your way into the LSx community. Those high end GM owners mostly go to tried and true shops that they have been using since they owned their LT1's or longer.

From all the cars on the list it seems you want to move up the ladder though from current builds which is good since your customers will probably be moving up as well. If it was my shop, I'd build a 10' Camaro. Of all the cars on the list, the C6Z and GT500 have the most potential for customers. The G8 will probably become something along the lines of the old Turbo buick's and could still potentially come back as a chevy (I dont care what Lutz says).

Bingo. We are almost in our mid 30's. I would love to have a clientele that appreciates Dan's experience as an REAL EDUCATED ENGINEER. He's not some kid who build cars in the back of his parents house or with his parents money. He is a car BUILDER and unfortunately most of our current clientele doesn't showcase that. He just seems like a run of the mill tuner to be compared with places like Killswitch and Mainstream (no offense to their credentials they just aren't engineers). This was all cool when we first started when we were street racing 20 somethings, but I have to be honest, I left because of all of the whiners who don't understand this.

[speedminded]

Bingo. We are almost in our mid 30's. I would love to have a clientele that appreciates Dan's experience as an REAL EDUCATED ENGINEER. He's not some kid who build cars in the back of his parents house or with his parents money. He is a car BUILDER and unfortunately most of our current clientele doesn't showcase that. He just seems like a run of the mill tuner to be compared with places like Killswitch and Mainstream (no offense to their credentials they just aren't engineers). This was all cool when we first started when we were street racing 20 somethings, but I have to be honest, I left because of all of the whiners who don't understand this.

So you want to step your game up, something like Underground Racing in Charlotte? http://www.undergroundracing.com/ Specializing in twin turbo and supercharged Vipers, Lamborghini's, and Ford GT's...

[Tracy]

So you want to step your game up, something like Underground Racing in Charlotte? http://www.undergroundracing.com/ Specializing in twin turbo and supercharged Vipers, Lamborghini's, and Ford GT's...

GAH! I hate flash intro websites! Takes too long to load and TERRIBLE for SEO purposes (even though it's pretty cool that you can paint your car and honk your horn on this site)...but yes, just like them. Stepping the game up.

[Sammich]

MAXIMA...

[Vteckidd]

10 Camaro, that would be baller

[Tracy]

10 Camaro, that would be baller

We should have added that to the poll. We were actually considering it. I think it looks so bad ass.

[Vteckidd]

yeah it is pretty good looking and i think if you did work to that you could kinda capture the domestic crowd eyes.

And its very reasonably priced .

I have a feeling not only are you doing this for you, you are doing it for the business. Of course this is JUST MY OPINION, but id rather have a $30,000-60000 (Vette, Camaro, G8) car to build then some overcomplicated $70000-90000 car.

werd

[Tracy]

yeah it is pretty good looking and i think if you did work to that you could kinda capture the domestic crowd eyes.

And its very reasonably priced .

I have a feeling not only are you doing this for you, you are doing it for the business. Of course this is JUST MY OPINION, but id rather have a $30,000-60000 (Vette, Camaro, G8) car to build then some overcomplicated $70000-90000 car.

werd

Yea, that's why Dan mentioned bang for the buck. The R35 is awesome to the fan boys, but way expensive. The Viper ACR is amazing just as it is, but probably too much for us unless we find a flood or crashed.

[greasemunkey]

we forgot 6cyl requirement...

[Tracy]

we forgot 6cyl requirement...

Then you are all fired from the consulting team dang it!!!!!!

[southside]

Then you are all fired from the consulting team dang it!!!!!!

lmao was too lazy to read in that cash do a maxima!

[greasemunkey]

Then you are all fired from the consulting team dang it!!!!!!

the little green things I have require my to not be taken lightly!! go vette or go home!

[southside]

Camaro or the new 09 stang would be hot fire

[atlxpat]

datsun 240/280z with a ls1 !!!!

[atlxpat]

double post

[BKgen®]

Z06

[Tracy]

Z06

reps for joo

[AirMax95]

I voted G8, but also say a Z06. Both cars seem to have a younger and older market.

Hell, do both and show BG's domestic prowess.

[Tracy]

I voted G8, but also say a Z06. Both cars seem to have a younger and older market.

Hell, do both and show BG's domestic prowess.

You never know..........

[AirMax95]

You never know..........

...and an Audi Please don't make me

[ejohnson88]

I'd say G8 just since it is a newer car and its a 4 Door... and to give Pontiac credit for doing something right even though they went bankrupt...

[Tracy]

I don't think we would ever do Audi. Dan doesn't like the maintenance.

[speedminded]

I don't think we would ever do Audi. Dan doesn't like the maintenance.

Parts for Audi and VW are ridiculously expensive!

[Tracy]

Parts for Audi and VW are ridiculously expensive!

eggggggggggzactly

[speedminded]

Without giving away any secrets, what's your thoughts on the direction you think you should go? Obviously you want to upgrade the clientèle. Have you seen a specific market in Atlanta that you see needs attention?

If I were a middle aged to older gentleman looking to upgrade a CTS-V or Vette who would I go to? MTI Racing? I'm guessing they pretty much have the market cornered in Atlanta and the Southeast when it comes to GM Performance and I don't foresee anything ground breaking happening beyond what they already do...plus that is their sole specialty for 15 years.

Basically, what would you say your "niche" is now and where do you want it to be...1 year, 5 years, 15 years down the road. Batlground has the resources and ability to take it wherever you want.

[Tracy]

Without giving away any secrets, what's your thoughts on the direction you think you should go? Obviously you want to upgrade the clientèle. Have you seen a specific market in Atlanta that you see needs attention?

If I were a middle aged to older gentleman looking to upgrade a CTS-V or Vette who would I go to? MTI Racing? I'm guessing they pretty much have the market cornered in Atlanta and the Southeast when it comes to GM Performance and I don't foresee anything ground breaking happening beyond what they already do...plus that is their sole specialty for 15 years.

Basically, what would you say your "niche" is now and where do you want it to be...1 year, 5 years, 15 years down the road. Batlground has the resources and ability to take it wherever you want.

Hrmmm. That's a lot to type. I'll see if I can sum it up.

In 2000, everyone laughed at Dan when he said he wanted to buy a dyno. They laughed when he said he would teach himself to tune his AEM. They laughed when he said bigger IS NOT necessarily better. They called him a liar when he posted his dyno charts. They said we were running nitrous when we weren't (flattering?). Don't underestimate my baby. He has done what others have laughed at and called impossible more times than I can count. Things that became norm not long after...even when it seems it has been done before.

I was there when he thought his car was broken because the turbo was spooling and we didn't know what that sounded like. He drove it all the way from Miami at 45 mph because we thought something was wrong with it. It really WAS just the turbo spooling. The car was fine. I was there when THAT car made 9xx hp for the first time in TX 1 YEAR later. I was there when THAT car ran 8's 2 years after that.

I couldn't tell you HOW he learned how to build cars. I never saw him research it for a long time. It always seemed natural. His brain just works that way.

I know that our current high end customers love us—even though there aren't a ton of them. I know they appreciate Dan's perspective and they leave us the eff alone when we are working. They never mention that they read their car should make xxx whp with xxxxx mods. I'm not really concerned with who is doing what as far as all of that goes—simply because I know Dan's talents (although I fully understand the need to know your competition. It just doesn't concern me other than for marketing strategy/analysis purposes...oh and shit talking purposes, obviously ).

Where do I see us in 5 years? Living in Jamaica with barefoot babies Living a simple life, loving cars—just like they do. Everything we have is paid for except real estate—even that will be paid off in no time. Until then, I see us doing what we do. Making some noise, pissing some folks off—as usual and as expected.

I see us not only having a talented crew that is tried, tested, true—but still together after almost 8 years. As far as I am concerned, we can build/do anything we want. I'm not sure what that is right now. We are just trying to stay fresh. The only thing we are lacking: A SHIT TON OF MONEY! So, whatever it is, we will have to take it slow and do it right, but in the end—good things happen to good people. I know that for sure. That's what I bank on.

Sappy enough?

[CMO]

awww, nice post Tracy!

[koukis14]

It will be EXPENSIVE but I would go with a gutted and blown Audi RS4. RS4 minus 1000 lbs with about 600 HP would be oh so sick.

[speedminded]

It will be EXPENSIVE but I would go with a gutted and blown Audi RS4. RS4 minus 1000 lbs with about 600 HP would be oh so sick.

RS4 is still nimble enough stock and 600hp will help it get down the road. There are plenty of successful German car builders in the southeast though and highly doubt a field they want to get into.

[koukis14]

4 rotor miata...............that would be interesting.

[speedminded]

4 rotor miata...............that would be interesting.

Dan in a miata lol! The purpose of a "shop car" is to draw in business. They built a badass Supra and they got Supra business. They build several badass 240's and they have 240 customers. A 4 rotor would be ridiculously expensive for what you get despite it sounding badass. I highly doubt it would catch on and be desired enough for people to seriously want it. Downing is already in Atlanta anyways...