The 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

One of the Meanest, Most Bad-Ass SUV's...

  I figured since my last two posts were about two of Chevy's nastiest SUV's, I'd throw in a new post about Chrysler's big boy, the SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Synonymous with off-road capability, brawn, and just about everything military-related, performance isn't the first thing one thinks of when he hears the name Jeep. That being said, the SRT8 Grand is a wake-up call who thinks a Jeep is simply a little 4wd truck with a 6 foot wheelbase.

Features:

  The first thing one notices when looking at the SRT is the fact that, hey, it doesn't have huge tires and it isn't two feet off the ground. On the contrary, the SRT sits low, with a stance that looks like its ready to pounce at any moment. Also fairly evident is the fact that the entire front end has one huge cooling duct that runs under the grill, and the dual exhaust meets right in the center of the car, under the rear bumper. That's right; it has a dual center-exhaust. Other than the disgustingly sexy and extremely arousing looks of the body, the Jeep has some other goodies inside and out. These include:

• a 420 hp, 420 ft/lb trq 6.1 liter Hemi engine
• a 5 speed automatic transmission with Autostick
• upgraded track suspension
• AWD for those ridiculous launches, on any surface
• center, sport exhaust
• 20-inch SRT rims
• Brembo brakes (for serious stopping power)
• SRT-badged leather seats with suede inserts (so you don't slide when you're cornering at 60)
• Premium sound, navigation, and other goodies
• Extremely aggressive looks, and brawn to back it up

Performance and Comparison:

  Basically, the SRT is the king of the American sport SUV's. It's faster than the Trailblazer SS, Torrent GXP, and anything Ford can throw at it. The SRT runs low 13-sec quarter miles right out of the box, and with a little tuning, could be in the high 12-secs and better. That's fast for a 5000lb truck. That being said, the Jeep is the only one of my SUV's that has a legitimate future, because the 2012 Jeep SRT8 was just released.

The Future of the SRT8 Grand Cherokee:

  Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the Future!  The newly-released 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 includes everything the 2010 got right, as well as some new goodies, power, and improvements on the old design. The 2012 includes:

• 6.4 Liter Hemi generating 456 hp, and 465 ft/lbs trq
• 0-60 mph in 4.6 secs
• Brembo six-piston brakes
• 5,000 lb towing capacity
• 13% overall boost in fuel economy
• Steering wheel mounted Magnesium Paddle-Shifters
• New Selec-Trak system for suspension adaptiveness

Conclusion:

  I will do anything for either of these cars. No questions asked, if you have one, and want to get rid of it, I will gladly take it for whatever you want me to do. I sat in one of these cars the other night, and nothing has ever felt so...right. Oh lord. Sigh. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, while pricey, is an amazing example of true American Muscle in an SUV. They're beasts on the road, and off, and not many other trucks their size could handle them in a one-on-one. All in all, I give the Jeep a 10/10, for styling, power, and sheer sex appeal. 4wd? Yes. Manly? Yes. Brawny? Yes. Little 4wd with a 6ft wheelbase? Hell no. 

The 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS

"The Corvette SUV..."

  Another of my absolute favorite vehicles is the 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer Super Sport. Like the GXP in the previous post, the Trailblazer SS is an SUV with a little extra..."somethin-somethin." 

Background:

The Trailblazer SS was born during Chevy's big period of "muscle-mania," that is, when the emphasis on performance and big horsepower was brought back between 2004-2008. The Trailblazer SS, or Super Sport, is a nod back to classic Chevy muscle when only the best wore SS badges (Think Chevelle SS, Nova SS, and Camaro SS.) The Trailblazer SS was Chevy's first entry into the performance SUV market, a field usually dominated by names like BMW and Mercedes Benz. Needless to say, the Trailblazer SS was a huge hit.

Features:

  The Trailblazer SS was an entirely different animal than a normal, run-of-the-mill Trailblazer LT or EXT. The differences between the normal and SS variants of the truck included:

• A 395 hp, LS2 V8, pulled straight out of the Chevy Corvette
• AWD, for that intense launch when the driver mashes the gas pedal
• Aggressive styling; absence of roof rails, body color bumpers, and giant air scoops on the front
• Performance suspension and exhaust
• SS-trimmed heated leather seats
• Optional DVD navigation
• 20-inch Chrome 6-spoke rims
• High performance tires

Overall:

  The Trailblazer SS was one bad mother shut-yo-mouth. I've driven them, I've seen them race, and I know they are capable of being called "The Corvette SUV." They have an attitude toward anything not badged "SS," or "Chevy," and the 400-horse motor backs up what the Trailblazer says with its looks. A word of warning to the foolish; If you come upon a Trailblazer, and it has vents and "SS's" on either side, don't mess with it; your ass will lose. 

             

The 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP

"The Pontiac Torrent GXP"

 Only a year before my favorite automaker went extinct, Pontiac decided to jump into the SUV market with its midsize crossover, the Torrent. Based on the Chevy Equinox platform, the Torrent boasted Pontiac's unique styling, AWD, and a lesser-known option that increased the sportiness of the car by a huge degree; I'm talking about the GXP package.    

The GXP Line...

 Pontiac's line of GXP vehicles were the best the company had to offer during its final years. Equivalent to Chevy's Super Sport models, and Dodge's SRT models, the GXP family of cars offered higher-performance vehicles, usually based around a bigger, more-powerful engine. The Torrent GXP was no exception. Built around the new, revolutionary Camaro V6 motor, the Torrent GXP offered drivers a 264 bhp, 24 mpg powerplant, All-Wheel-Drive, aggressive styling, sporty, yet upper-class interior, and an attitude that said "Bring it on Honda."

Features: (You won't find these on a normal Torrent...)

• 264 bhp, 3.6 Liter DOHC, V6 engine
• 6-speed Automatic Transmission with Auto-Stick
• AWD with Stabilitrak Traction Control
• 24 Mpg highway
• Aggressive, sporty styling to include sculpted hood, larger cooling vents, and body color panels
• A 0-60 time in 6.9 seconds, faster than most SUV's and some sports cars
• 18 Inch chrome rims
• A performance suspension that enable the SUV to grip the road like a true sports car
• A throaty exhaust note that drivers will appreciate   
• A description of the GXP
• Another review of the GXP

   The Torrent GXP also features a redesigned interior, including red gauges, sporty leather seats, and piano black dash inserts.

Summary and Opinion:  

 That being said, I absolutely love this truck, and it's my personal choice for my next vehicle when I get back from Army Basic/Advanced Training in January. A great mix of muscle, sport, and economy, the Torrent GXP is an all around exceptional vehicle, doomed to be killed off way before its time. R.I.P. Pontiac.

 

Rewriting for the Web Final Draft (Any words highlighted in red signify a link)

“A writer does not exist without a reader.”

Aside from speaking, writing is perhaps our most important method of communication. Powerful writing transcends time. Some of man’s earliest writing, cave drawings, are still some of our most important writings. They were created so man could tell a story, his story, history. These drawings still live on today, and still tell us amazing stories. They are the dawn of history, and were designed for readers so they could understand the message the artist wanted them to receive from the work. Writing evolved from these drawings, as well as speaking, as a means to tell a story. A story needs an audience. Without an audience, the story does not exist, because it cannot be told. 

"The author is a modern figure, a product of our society..."

Even as time has passed, and man has become more modern, great writing still exists today. The literary masters of the past are still held to the highest levels of praise. We set our standards by their level of writing. He who cannot emulate these standards is a bad writer. A bad writer cannot convey the message he wants a reader to understand effectively. Roland Barthes believed that the author was an entity created by the world around him. The writer responded to the events, people, and ideas that surrounded him/her on a daily basis. It is up to the writer, though, to give his or her piece meaning; to give it a purpose. Writing can have several different purposes.    

Writing:

• can convey a message                                 
• can mean something
• can entertain
• can hurt
• can heal

   "Writing is almost like a child; you create it, raise it, and release it."

   When I write, I hope my reader feels the emotion I put into my paper. I want my audience to understand the effort I put into the piece, to know that the essay in their hand is as much a part of me as an arm or a leg. I pour myself into my writing; I take it very personally. Like Victor Frankenstein's monster, I create my writing with a purpose in mind, and when I'm done, I hope that my piece fulfills the purpose I've intended for it. It's almost a being; I raise it from nothing, give it life and meaning, and then i release it into the wild. When there is nobody to accept the being, to enjoy it, to help spread its meaning, it is nothing. The being does not exist; it has no purpose. 

"Without an audience to accept it, the message a piece presents goes unheard, and its purpose remains unfulfilled. It is, in essence, nothing."

1967 Chevelle Super Sport

     So my dad's latest restoration project is a real classic muscle car; a 1967 Chevelle Super Sport. The Chevelle was Chevy's bruiser back in the late 60's and early 70's, tough styling, huge amounts of horsepower, and surprisingly good handling for a car that weighs almost 4000 lbs. The Super Sports were the cream of the crop, with the smallest engine rated at around 325 horsepower, while the big-daddy motor, in 1967, was the 375 horsepower 396 cubic inch big block. The engine in my dad's car is a 396, but it's modified to push out around 425 horsepower...at the rear wheels.
     The car is going to be Marina Blue, a light, bright, amazing color that really shows off the body lines and long curves the Chevelle has to offer. It's also a 4-speed manual, so driving it is all that more fun. The car was started for the first time last night since having the new engine dropped in, and boy, it's a beast. Loud, proud, and 100% American Muscle. Beat that Toyota.

Excited

   This weekend was, for the most part, amazing. Friday night was awesome; got to watch the Flyers win with my friends, and we took a good ol' bro trip to Red Robin and ate man food. Saturday was the Wilmington St. Patrick's Day Parade, and we all drove different cars in memory of my Uncle Johnny, who loved to drive in the parade every year. I even got a standing ovation when i restarted the stalled Mustang behind me; gotta love Wilmington.
   Saturday night was a little iffy; reflecting on the day's events made me realize how much I missed my Uncle Johnny, but being with my friends Drew and Jason, and spending a few hours in Newark looking at new cars definitely cheered me up. Of course, it also made me want a new 5.0L Mustang GT.
   And then, as always, we have Sunday. Today was pretty mild weather-wise, so I borrowed the 89 Mustang 5.0L Convertible and just cruised for awhile. I also found out I'm down to 219 lbs, only have 14 more to go before the Army says I'm not fat anymore.
   All in all, it was a good weekend, full of ups and downs, but also full of good times with family, friends, and five-liter Mustangs.

Future Plans

      Have you ever wanted to do something really great with your life? I've been contemplating that a lot lately, and thus I've decided to join the National Guard. I need a way to pay for my own school, and take the burden off of my parents. I also need to get out of Delaware for while; travel somewhere on my own and be independent. That's the biggest reason I'm joining the Guard in Massachusetts.
     I plan on transferring schools this summer, starting next spring semester, and during the in between time, I'll be at BCT, or Basic Combat Training, and AIT, or Advanced Individual Training, learning my Army job. I'll be a stronger person, a more independent person, and a person with a little more money.
      I'm really excited to finally have my life on track, and I can't wait to see what the future holds. One thing's for sure though, I will be buying a new car when  get back with a nice big paycheck.

The WS6: Redux

So I got to start the WS6 in the driveway for the first time tonight, and HOLY GOD, the SLP's are the tastiest thing since Nutella. They have this deep, throaty, almost-cammed bellow that originates deep within the belly of the LS1 that exits into the crisp, cool night air like fire leaving the mouth of a friggin Dragon. That car just growls. Yet again, I'm reminded of the fact that it isn't mine, will never be mine, and is in fact, going to be a 16 year old girl's first car.

The Scamp is Being a Gremlin.

So after weeks of electrical issues, we thought we had finally fixed the Scamp. It was discharging for no reason, so we put a new alternator on it. Since that didn't fix the problem, I decided the other day to put a new regulator on the firewall. Again, no go. My dad noticed last night that one of the electrical connections strapped to the firewall was absolutely fried, so we rewired that, and of course, that was the problem. Or so we thought. On my way to school this morning, the Scamp was charging fine, but, as soon as I pulled into the parking garage on campus, I noticed again that the car was discharging. So here's a few theories. A) The Scamp is in fact a demonic being sent here to plague me. B) The wire burnt out again. C) The new Sylvania halogen headlamps I put in two weeks ago had something to do with this. D) None of the above. Regardless, my biggest concern is making it home after class today. Should be interesting.

The Tempest

Pontiac Nostalgia

Sitting in English class today, I found myself describing my Pontiac collection to one of my classmates. It brought back a lot of memories, good and bad, about the cars I've owned and sold over the years. My first car was a 1966 Pontiac Tempest my Dad bought for me. It was bright, "Arrest Me" Red, with a white convertible top and red leatherette interior. We dropped a 400 c.i. Pontiac big block in it, and I absolutely adored that car. Pulling into the school parking lot on nice days was great, because the top was down and I could see the looks of envy on every one of my classmates faces. Nobody else in the parking lot had anything close to what I had; and wouldn't you know it, the year I started driving that car was the year the yearbook dropped the category for "Best Car." Well, fate being the cruel bitch she is, I ended up selling that car the year after I graduated from high school. I will have that car again one day. Until then, I think about it all the time, especially on days like today.

Feeling down.

I guess this will be my first non-automotive post on here and hopefully it won't happen too much. I'm just feeling a little down right now. It almost feels like I'm a slot car on a track, going around and around on the same never-ending circuit. I'm definitely not as happy as I should be, but eh, I'll get over it.

In other news...how about the new Camaro Convertible?

Snowy Morning

So I wake up this morning to roughly 4 inches of snow on the ground. Now, seeing that I live in Delaware, the weather loves to throw fastballs; last week, the temperatures were in the mid 60's. That being said, I've been thinking lately about what kind of car I want to buy. I'm torn right now between anything in the 12-16k dollar range, and my two big picks at this point are the 2004 GTO and the 2006-07 Monte Carlo SS. The GTO is rear wheel drive, 350 horse, either manual or auto, and is a Pontiac, but frankly, it looks plain. Even with hood scoops, it looks like a Grandma car. The Monte Carlo, on the other hand, looks a little tougher, is only automatic, is FWD, or Front Wheel Drive, and has 303 horsepower. It's a tough decision, and with the random snow, it's made all the harder. Comments or suggestions are welcome.

This is What a WS6 Should Look Like:

The WS6

 Above: The Trans Am

Above: The Trans Am's hideous green interior

First Post!

Hopefully, this is the first post of many. Regardless of the fact that I have to create a blog for my English class, I think I can have a little fun with this, and maybe even earn some money. Considering that this is a car blog, I feel I have to start out with how my day started; that is, how I was shocked and disappointed this morning to see one of my dream cars in my driveway when I woke up.

You see, I had 1996 Trans Am. I loved that car, but I ended up selling it because I wanted something faster. At that point in time, I wanted a newer Trans Am, preferably an early 2000's WS6. Well, it turns out, when I opened my door this morning, there it was. A WS6 right in front of me. Only the gods could be so cruel as to punish me for loving cars too much; giving me this taste of what I refer to as "my unicorn." (Anybody who has seen Gone in Sixty Seconds can relate to this). So, thinking this was some cruel joke, I called my Dad up, and sure enough, the car wasn't for me. He has to paint it for a guy, LIME GREEN, by the way, who will then proceed to give it to his 16 year old daughter for her birthday. Girls get all the fun cars.

Thus, I continue my horsepowerless existence, saving up in hopes of that elusive Trans Am, or GTO, or other assorted high-performance variant of an otherwise normal car. Donations are greatly appreciated.

Pictures of the WS6 after the jump.