New member introduction / first sports car
02-12-2016, 11:28 PM
#1
New member introduction / first sports car
Since I need a couple more posts before I can graduate from the NMF, and new member introductions seem popular here...
I recently bought my first sports car, a 2009 R3 in Velocity Red with 63k miles. I was looking mostly at RX-8s, e36 ///M3s, and e46 ZHP coupes. I also looked some at Boxters and S2000s, but I don't really like convertibles, and never ended up test driving one. Initially, I was pretty focused on the BMWs--I actually first drove an RX-8 just for fun.
It was an extra clean 40k 2004 6sp I found on craigslist and really just wanted to drive because I was bored one weekend. I enjoyed it much more that I expected to. The tight handling, the composed ride, the high revving engine, the slick shifter--everything about it was fun. That owner and I couldn't arrive at a deal, but I found my R3 six months later.
I live in the North, so the car's in storage for a couple more months. I'm keeping my 4Runner for winters, long highway drives, camping, and so on. This car will be strictly for pleasure. I'll probably DD it during the summer, but I might skip rainy days.
I got some good help here during the purchasing process, and I look forward to trying out some recommendations to help alleviate it's less-than-perfect shifting. It has a few other issues besides the shifting--the steering wheel has pretty big abrasion, the shift **** has more wear than normal, the wheels are a little curbed (and one actually has a slightly bent lip), it needs new tires, and the plugs are a little fouled / fouling (I'm not very familiar with ignition systems, but this was discovered during the compression test and pre-purchase inspection). I got a pretty good deal on the car, and besides these issues, it runs great.
I'm planning on the following purchases this season:
1. Interior-- already bought an Autoexe steering wheel and **** along with new 40th anniversary floor mats. The rest of the interior cleaned up really well, but the wheel, ****, and floor mats were all beat up, so my thinking is that replacing the three oldest feeling parts with brand new parts will make the whole interior feel much newer.
3. Ignition--probably BHR, and I would like to install it myself if I can find a good DIY
4. Wheels--the local wheel guy (who came highly recommended on the BMW forums) recommended I have the bent one refURBished and the other three refINished. He told me they will have "no problem" getting a perfect paint match, but I'm thinking about telling him use BBS Anthracite if they have any doubts (the three refINished wheels can be done locally, but the fourth needs to be shipped somewhere).
5. Tires--summer performance tires, would probably like to keep them under $200 each... currently thinking S-04s or ExtremeContact DW or similar in 245/35 or 245/40, whichever is correct.
6. I will definitely do some of, but strive to do all of, the recommended new owner maintenance and mods (clean MAF, clean grounds, etc.).
7. Stereo--I don't want this thing to become too much of a money pit, but I'm really disappointed by the Bose stereo. I hate center channels in automobiles. My 4Runner had similar setup (JBL Synthesis 5.1), and I ended up gutting the system and starting from scratch. Years ago I made the mistake of doing a stereo upgrade a few years into ownership, and I don't want to do that again. If I'm going to do the stereo at all, I may as well just get it over with now.
Well, that introduction went much longer than I expected it to. I'm a big believer in forum knowledge--I've had great luck with Jeep and Toyota forums in the past, and I know this place will be a fountain of knowledge just like those two. And, really, I've already seen a great amount of high-quality content here--I've lurked quite a bit.
I look forward to learning more from all of you.
I'll post pics after it comes out of storage, but it looks the same as any other VR R3.
I recently bought my first sports car, a 2009 R3 in Velocity Red with 63k miles. I was looking mostly at RX-8s, e36 ///M3s, and e46 ZHP coupes. I also looked some at Boxters and S2000s, but I don't really like convertibles, and never ended up test driving one. Initially, I was pretty focused on the BMWs--I actually first drove an RX-8 just for fun.
It was an extra clean 40k 2004 6sp I found on craigslist and really just wanted to drive because I was bored one weekend. I enjoyed it much more that I expected to. The tight handling, the composed ride, the high revving engine, the slick shifter--everything about it was fun. That owner and I couldn't arrive at a deal, but I found my R3 six months later.
I live in the North, so the car's in storage for a couple more months. I'm keeping my 4Runner for winters, long highway drives, camping, and so on. This car will be strictly for pleasure. I'll probably DD it during the summer, but I might skip rainy days.
I got some good help here during the purchasing process, and I look forward to trying out some recommendations to help alleviate it's less-than-perfect shifting. It has a few other issues besides the shifting--the steering wheel has pretty big abrasion, the shift **** has more wear than normal, the wheels are a little curbed (and one actually has a slightly bent lip), it needs new tires, and the plugs are a little fouled / fouling (I'm not very familiar with ignition systems, but this was discovered during the compression test and pre-purchase inspection). I got a pretty good deal on the car, and besides these issues, it runs great.
I'm planning on the following purchases this season:
1. Interior-- already bought an Autoexe steering wheel and **** along with new 40th anniversary floor mats. The rest of the interior cleaned up really well, but the wheel, ****, and floor mats were all beat up, so my thinking is that replacing the three oldest feeling parts with brand new parts will make the whole interior feel much newer.
3. Ignition--probably BHR, and I would like to install it myself if I can find a good DIY
4. Wheels--the local wheel guy (who came highly recommended on the BMW forums) recommended I have the bent one refURBished and the other three refINished. He told me they will have "no problem" getting a perfect paint match, but I'm thinking about telling him use BBS Anthracite if they have any doubts (the three refINished wheels can be done locally, but the fourth needs to be shipped somewhere).
5. Tires--summer performance tires, would probably like to keep them under $200 each... currently thinking S-04s or ExtremeContact DW or similar in 245/35 or 245/40, whichever is correct.
6. I will definitely do some of, but strive to do all of, the recommended new owner maintenance and mods (clean MAF, clean grounds, etc.).
7. Stereo--I don't want this thing to become too much of a money pit, but I'm really disappointed by the Bose stereo. I hate center channels in automobiles. My 4Runner had similar setup (JBL Synthesis 5.1), and I ended up gutting the system and starting from scratch. Years ago I made the mistake of doing a stereo upgrade a few years into ownership, and I don't want to do that again. If I'm going to do the stereo at all, I may as well just get it over with now.
Well, that introduction went much longer than I expected it to. I'm a big believer in forum knowledge--I've had great luck with Jeep and Toyota forums in the past, and I know this place will be a fountain of knowledge just like those two. And, really, I've already seen a great amount of high-quality content here--I've lurked quite a bit.
I look forward to learning more from all of you.
I'll post pics after it comes out of storage, but it looks the same as any other VR R3.
02-13-2016, 09:04 AM
#2
Welcome. It sounds like you have a good grasp of things.
There are plenty of diy threads to help with the installation of coils. Furthermore, Charles at bhr is the man. He'll assist you with any questions you have.
And don't keep her stored on those rainy days! That's where some of the fun really shines...
There are plenty of diy threads to help with the installation of coils. Furthermore, Charles at bhr is the man. He'll assist you with any questions you have.
And don't keep her stored on those rainy days! That's where some of the fun really shines...
02-15-2016, 08:30 PM
#3
New Member
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Since I need a couple more posts before I can graduate from the NMF, and new member introductions seem popular here...
I recently bought my first sports car, a 2009 R3 in Velocity Red with 63k miles. I was looking mostly at RX-8s, e36 ///M3s, and e46 ZHP coupes. I also looked some at Boxters and S2000s, but I don't really like convertibles, and never ended up test driving one. Initially, I was pretty focused on the BMWs--I actually first drove an RX-8 just for fun.
It was an extra clean 40k 2004 6sp I found on craigslist and really just wanted to drive because I was bored one weekend. I enjoyed it much more that I expected to. The tight handling, the composed ride, the high revving engine, the slick shifter--everything about it was fun. That owner and I couldn't arrive at a deal, but I found my R3 six months later.
I live in the North, so the car's in storage for a couple more months. I'm keeping my 4Runner for winters, long highway drives, camping, and so on. This car will be strictly for pleasure. I'll probably DD it during the summer, but I might skip rainy days.
I got some good help here during the purchasing process, and I look forward to trying out some recommendations to help alleviate it's less-than-perfect shifting. It has a few other issues besides the shifting--the steering wheel has pretty big abrasion, the shift **** has more wear than normal, the wheels are a little curbed (and one actually has a slightly bent lip), it needs new tires, and the plugs are a little fouled / fouling (I'm not very familiar with ignition systems, but this was discovered during the compression test and pre-purchase inspection). I got a pretty good deal on the car, and besides these issues, it runs great.
I'm planning on the following purchases this season:
1. Interior-- already bought an Autoexe steering wheel and **** along with new 40th anniversary floor mats. The rest of the interior cleaned up really well, but the wheel, ****, and floor mats were all beat up, so my thinking is that replacing the three oldest feeling parts with brand new parts will make the whole interior feel much newer.
3. Ignition--probably BHR, and I would like to install it myself if I can find a good DIY
4. Wheels--the local wheel guy (who came highly recommended on the BMW forums) recommended I have the bent one refURBished and the other three refINished. He told me they will have "no problem" getting a perfect paint match, but I'm thinking about telling him use BBS Anthracite if they have any doubts (the three refINished wheels can be done locally, but the fourth needs to be shipped somewhere).
5. Tires--summer performance tires, would probably like to keep them under $200 each... currently thinking S-04s or ExtremeContact DW or similar in 245/35 or 245/40, whichever is correct.
6. I will definitely do some of, but strive to do all of, the recommended new owner maintenance and mods (clean MAF, clean grounds, etc.).
7. Stereo--I don't want this thing to become too much of a money pit, but I'm really disappointed by the Bose stereo. I hate center channels in automobiles. My 4Runner had similar setup (JBL Synthesis 5.1), and I ended up gutting the system and starting from scratch. Years ago I made the mistake of doing a stereo upgrade a few years into ownership, and I don't want to do that again. If I'm going to do the stereo at all, I may as well just get it over with now.
Well, that introduction went much longer than I expected it to. I'm a big believer in forum knowledge--I've had great luck with Jeep and Toyota forums in the past, and I know this place will be a fountain of knowledge just like those two. And, really, I've already seen a great amount of high-quality content here--I've lurked quite a bit.
I look forward to learning more from all of you.
I'll post pics after it comes out of storage, but it looks the same as any other VR R3.
I recently bought my first sports car, a 2009 R3 in Velocity Red with 63k miles. I was looking mostly at RX-8s, e36 ///M3s, and e46 ZHP coupes. I also looked some at Boxters and S2000s, but I don't really like convertibles, and never ended up test driving one. Initially, I was pretty focused on the BMWs--I actually first drove an RX-8 just for fun.
It was an extra clean 40k 2004 6sp I found on craigslist and really just wanted to drive because I was bored one weekend. I enjoyed it much more that I expected to. The tight handling, the composed ride, the high revving engine, the slick shifter--everything about it was fun. That owner and I couldn't arrive at a deal, but I found my R3 six months later.
I live in the North, so the car's in storage for a couple more months. I'm keeping my 4Runner for winters, long highway drives, camping, and so on. This car will be strictly for pleasure. I'll probably DD it during the summer, but I might skip rainy days.
I got some good help here during the purchasing process, and I look forward to trying out some recommendations to help alleviate it's less-than-perfect shifting. It has a few other issues besides the shifting--the steering wheel has pretty big abrasion, the shift **** has more wear than normal, the wheels are a little curbed (and one actually has a slightly bent lip), it needs new tires, and the plugs are a little fouled / fouling (I'm not very familiar with ignition systems, but this was discovered during the compression test and pre-purchase inspection). I got a pretty good deal on the car, and besides these issues, it runs great.
I'm planning on the following purchases this season:
1. Interior-- already bought an Autoexe steering wheel and **** along with new 40th anniversary floor mats. The rest of the interior cleaned up really well, but the wheel, ****, and floor mats were all beat up, so my thinking is that replacing the three oldest feeling parts with brand new parts will make the whole interior feel much newer.
3. Ignition--probably BHR, and I would like to install it myself if I can find a good DIY
4. Wheels--the local wheel guy (who came highly recommended on the BMW forums) recommended I have the bent one refURBished and the other three refINished. He told me they will have "no problem" getting a perfect paint match, but I'm thinking about telling him use BBS Anthracite if they have any doubts (the three refINished wheels can be done locally, but the fourth needs to be shipped somewhere).
5. Tires--summer performance tires, would probably like to keep them under $200 each... currently thinking S-04s or ExtremeContact DW or similar in 245/35 or 245/40, whichever is correct.
6. I will definitely do some of, but strive to do all of, the recommended new owner maintenance and mods (clean MAF, clean grounds, etc.).
7. Stereo--I don't want this thing to become too much of a money pit, but I'm really disappointed by the Bose stereo. I hate center channels in automobiles. My 4Runner had similar setup (JBL Synthesis 5.1), and I ended up gutting the system and starting from scratch. Years ago I made the mistake of doing a stereo upgrade a few years into ownership, and I don't want to do that again. If I'm going to do the stereo at all, I may as well just get it over with now.
Well, that introduction went much longer than I expected it to. I'm a big believer in forum knowledge--I've had great luck with Jeep and Toyota forums in the past, and I know this place will be a fountain of knowledge just like those two. And, really, I've already seen a great amount of high-quality content here--I've lurked quite a bit.
I look forward to learning more from all of you.
I'll post pics after it comes out of storage, but it looks the same as any other VR R3.
Actually I won't be for much longer. My 98' was t-boned last week and I'm getting an RX8 next week from a family member who was saving it for me for when I graduate college. I miss the 4runner every day lol. Very few cars that will get to the 300k mile range from the factory. I ended up with 292056 miles. It never let me or my family down once in the 15 years we owned it and the 200k miles we put on it. The rx8 will be much more exciting to drive though! These engines are a work of art. Creativity and engineering at its finest.
02-22-2016, 02:39 PM
#4
Life After 8K RPM....
Fellow 4runner owner! Actually I won't be for much longer. My 98' was t-boned last week and I'm getting an RX8 next week from a family member who was saving it for me for when I graduate college. I miss the 4runner every day lol. Very few cars that will get to the 300k mile range from the factory. I ended up with 292056 miles. It never let me or my family down once in the 15 years we owned it and the 200k miles we put on it. The rx8 will be much more exciting to drive though! These engines are a work of art. Creativity and engineering at its finest.
Actually I won't be for much longer. My 98' was t-boned last week and I'm getting an RX8 next week from a family member who was saving it for me for when I graduate college. I miss the 4runner every day lol. Very few cars that will get to the 300k mile range from the factory. I ended up with 292056 miles. It never let me or my family down once in the 15 years we owned it and the 200k miles we put on it. The rx8 will be much more exciting to drive though! These engines are a work of art. Creativity and engineering at its finest.
02-22-2016, 04:04 PM
#5
Fellow 4runner owner! Actually I won't be for much longer. My 98' was t-boned last week and I'm getting an RX8 next week from a family member who was saving it for me for when I graduate college. I miss the 4runner every day lol. Very few cars that will get to the 300k mile range from the factory. I ended up with 292056 miles. It never let me or my family down once in the 15 years we owned it and the 200k miles we put on it. The rx8 will be much more exciting to drive though! These engines are a work of art. Creativity and engineering at its finest.
Actually I won't be for much longer. My 98' was t-boned last week and I'm getting an RX8 next week from a family member who was saving it for me for when I graduate college. I miss the 4runner every day lol. Very few cars that will get to the 300k mile range from the factory. I ended up with 292056 miles. It never let me or my family down once in the 15 years we owned it and the 200k miles we put on it. The rx8 will be much more exciting to drive though! These engines are a work of art. Creativity and engineering at its finest.
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