Sleeper (car)

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:Cleanup-date

Image:Merge-arrows.gif It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Q-car. (Discuss)


A sleeper (US English) or Q-car (British English) is a car that hides high performance beneath an unassuming exterior.

Some cars come like this from the factory to suit the tastes of those who want performance without drama, whether understatedness suits their chosen image or lifestyle, or simply because they do not wish to attract the attention of the police. Many high-performance sedans, for example, look hardly different from the lower-powered models in the range; for example, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9, Mercury Marauder, Volkswagen Passat W8, 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, and the Ford Taurus SHO.

Owners may, in fact, reduce the evidence that their car is of high-performance by removing characteristic letterings and trimmings. Sleepers often contain stock body parts, a dull paint job, or stock or lookalike stock wheels.

Others deliberately create sleepers by hot-rodding a car's engine and drive axles and leaving the external appearance exactly the way it came from the factory. Sometimes hints of the car's true nature show if one looks and listens carefully: wider tires, a lower stance, or a different engine note.

Some simply like having performance without show, but a more predatory use of the sleeper is in street racing, where it is used to fool an opponent into under-estimating a car's performance. Some have even gone so far as to leave their cars' exteriors banged up and rusting, and sometimes even causing additional rusting with the use of battery acid. Often sleepers will be cheaper on insurance than an equally fast sports car.

[edit]

Some sleeper models

Provided is a list of some "sleepers" as well as some notes about them. Most cars on this list either have a dual overhead cam V8 engine, or some form of forced induction (supercharging or turbocharging), plus there are a few that deserve honorable mention for being so common or looked over.

General Motors decided it wanted to pack a lot of punch into everyday sedans. Thus the Series I, Series II, and Series III 3800 supercharged engine was born. This engine has a good size aftermarket and provides cost-effective horsepower increases compared with most naturally aspirated engines. The Series II and Series III are the primary choices for many reasons, but especially because of the stronger internals and extra horsepower from the factory.

Below is a list of cars that carry the Series II and Series III 3800 supercharged engines. When identifying them, the plastic engine cover visible after opening the hood will clearly read "supercharged" near "Series II 3800".

Other GM high-performance sleepers:

  • 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix McLaren Turbo
    • 3.1L McLaren turbocharged V6.
  • 1990's Pontiac Grand Prix STE
    • 4-door Grand Prix GTP.
  • 1988-1989 Pontiac 6000 STE
    • All-wheel drive
    • Fairly quick with a 3.1 OHV V6, but can be made much quicker by swapping in any GM engine with the same bolt pattern, namely the 3.4 liter DOHC V6, 3800 S/C, Quad4 HO, Cadillac 4.9 liter, or Northstar V8s.
  • 1990 Pontiac 6000 SE
    • All-wheel drive

Here are some other sleepers, with specifications that give them that qualification:

  • 1989-1990 Mercury Cougar XR7
    • Supercharged
    • 3.8L V6
    • 210 hp @ 4000 rpm
    • 315 ft·lbf. @ 2600 rpm
    • Aluminum head / iron engine block
  • 1993+ Lincoln Mark VIII
    • 1993-1996 first generation, 1997-1998 second generation
    • Aluminum 4.6L DOHC V8 (Ford modular)
    • 280 hp, 280 ft·lbf torque (base model)
    • 290 hp, 290 ft·lbf torque (LSC model)
    • 32 valves
    • Different intake manifold than 96-98 Mustang Cobra.
    • 3.08 rear gear in base model
    • 3.27 rear gear in 1995+ LSC model
  • 89-95 Ford Taurus SHO V6
    • 5-speed transmission option
    • Yamaha-built DOHC 3.0L V6
    • 220 hp, 200 ft·lbf torque
    • 24 valves
  • 96-99 Ford Taurus SHO V8
    • Yamaha-built DOHC 3.4L V8
    • 235 hp, 230 ft·lbf torque
  • 85-88 Ford Thunderbird Turbocoupe
    • Turbo 2.3L Lima
    • Very similar engine to the Mustang SVO, Merkur XR4Ti, and Sierra Cosworth 2.3 Turbo
  • 1989+ Ford Thunderbird Supercoupe
    • 3.8L supercharged V6
    • Brother to the Mercury Cougar XR7 3.8L SC
  • 1994-1998 Ford Mustang V6
    • Same engine as the Thunderbird Supercoupe and Cougar XR7, thus can use the supercharger and intake parts from it.
    • 94-98 Mustangs with V6s are notoriously slow; nobody would ever suspect a V6 of having a blower.
    • Superchargers can be had for very little money, and are readily available.
    • Lighter than the Thunderbird S/C and XR7, and can be found with a 5-speed.
  • 1986+ Turbo Volvos
    • Any gasoline engine that comes with a turbo can be modified cheaply to make respectable hp in most cases.
  • 1995+ Nissan Maxima 5-speed
    • 190 hp
    • With the 5-speed these can really take off.
    • Shares engine with the 300ZX.
  • 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
    • 5.9L V8
    • All-wheel drive
  • 1996+ Ford Taurus DOHC
    • Powered by the Duratec 30.
    • Porsche designed the heads on this engine, Ford built the short block. It is similar to the Roush tuned twin turbo engine in the Noble supercars.
    • All-aluminum 3.0L V6 that makes 200 hp and 200 ft·lbf torque
  • 1996+ Mercury Sable DOHC
    • Same as the Taurus but with the Mercury logo and more options. A very luxurious, fairly-priced sleeper when all the options are added.
  • 2003+ Mercury Marauder
    • Same engine as the Mach 1 Mustang
    • Features an all-aluminum DOHC 4.6L similar to the one in the Mark VIII but with a good deal more power and better styling.
  • 1985+ Dodge Omni GLH, Shelby Charger, Chrysler LeBaron, Chrysler New Yorker, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Spirit, Dodge Shadow, Mitsubishi Lancer, Dodge Caravan, Dodge Aries, 600, Plymouth Acclaim, Volkswagen Caravelle, Plymouth Sundance, Plymouth Voyager
    • Features the Series I, II, and III turbo Dodge engines.
    • Follows the rule that anything with a turbocharger from the factory can be made fast for cheap and these are plentiful in junkyards.
    • Most of these are lightweight and extremly ugly.
    • Some of them, like the New Yorker, are heavier, but are possibly the most stealthy cars on this list.
    • Cheap to insure
  • 88-92 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 AWD
    • The least popular AWD 5-Speed DSM
    • Turbocharged
    • Far stealthier than its Talon TSi AWD and Eclipse GSX counterparts.
  • 1985+ Merkur XR4Ti
    • Same thing as the Mustang SVO, but far less known.
    • Often can be purchased for half the price as well.
  • Lexus SC300 (Toyota Soarer) 92-00
    • Comes with the same 3.0 225hp I-6 as the Toyota Supra NA
    • Large aftermarket
    • Can be turbocharged using Supra parts.
    • Rear-wheel drive
    • Can also be found with a 4.0L V8 (SC400)
  • Infiniti J30 93-97
    • Basically a 4-door, naturally-aspirated 300ZX (Z32), along with many accessories.
    • Features the 210hp 3.0 DOHC V6 from the 300ZX, thus can be turbocharged and use the same engine parts.
    • Looks unique, nobody would suspect it.
    • Offered with high performance touring package, which incorporates SUPER-HICAS 4-wheel steering.
    • Rear-wheel drive
  • 1984-1989 Dodge Colt GTS Turbo
    • Turbocharged
    • 4G61t early Lancer Evolution engine
    • Lightweight
  • 1988-1989 Mazda 323 GTX
    • Turbocharged
    • All-wheel drive
    • Lightweight
  • 1985+ Saab cars equipped with a turbocharger
    • Follows the rule that turbos can be made fast for cheap, and often feature intercoolers.
  • 1980s Subaru Loyale
    • Can easily have any modern Subaru powerplant transplanted into it. (See Sport Compact Car Hybrid How-to #14 [1])
    • Extremely ugly.
    • All-wheel drive
  • 1993+ Cadillacs
    • 32 Valve Northstar V8
    • Looks like, and often is, a car that elderly people drive.
    • Usually produces between 260-300hp in stock form.
  • 1991-? Isuzu Impulse RS
    • Handling engineered by Lotus
    • All-wheel drive
    • Turbocharged by Lotus

Starting in 1987, Toyota begin producing what they called the Celica All-trac. It featured a turbocharged 3S-GTE DOHC 185hp I-4 and a new AWD system. Although a handful of All-trac Celicas were produced in the US, only a few thousand were ever imported. However, the same engine was used in the 1991-1999 Toyota MR2 turbo models, and the naturally aspirated version of the engine appeared in the Camry and a variety of other vehicles in their lineup, as well as the AWD system. The Toyota Camry came with a 3S-FE DOHC I-4 standard. The Camry All-trac was run as part of the line-up for a few years. In addition to the Camry All-trac, there were Previa minivans with All-trac AWD as well.

  • 1989-1991 Toyota Camry All-trac
    • All-wheel drive; same drivetrain setup as the Celica GT-Four/All-trac.
    • The stock 3SFE engine is not much of a performer; however the turbocharged 3SGTE engine from the MR2/GT-Four can be swapped in fairly easily, excluding wiring issues.
    • Extremely stealthy.
    • Very rare, but can sometimes be found in wagon form, making it even stealthier.
    • 2.0L 115 hp I4, 122 tq
  • 1986-1989 Toyota Celica GT-Four/turbo All-trac (ST165)
    • Rare turbocharged and all-wheel drive Celica; only 10,036 known produced worldwide
    • Only visual difference from a normal Celica is the mild body kit and front bumper with integrated fog lights.
    • 2.0L 190 hp I4 (3SGTE), 190 ft/lb torque at 8 PSI.
  • 1996-1997 Toyota Previa S/C All-trac
    • All-wheel Drive.
    • Supercharged
    • 2.4L 161 hp I4, 201 tq
    • Mid-Engine, AWD like a Porsche 959 or 911 GT4.
    • Low center of gravity
    • Extremely stealthy
[edit]

See also

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Sleeper_%28car%29"