Draco-REX

Reposted from FT86Club.com: Reverse Impressions. So, it's one thing to go from one car to a new one. But it's very different going from the new one back to the previous car. The BRZ "Ghost" feels quick and tight and seems to be getting faster and faster as I drive it. But how much of that is the car and my ability to use it improving, and how much of it is just a shift in perception? In this case, I took my STI "Grip" out for a spin today. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3059/2624954895_63c07d8fbb_b.jpg I've had Grip since new. Power wise it's nearly stock with only a Stage 1 tune. I want to go Stage 2 eventually, but just haven't gotten around to it. Where Grip shines is in handling. There isn't a single piece of the suspension that I haven't had my hands on at one point or another. I'd put this car against almost anything when it comes to on-road handling. I've AutoXed, "canyon" carved and done quite a bit with this car, so I know it inside and out. It has been a long time since Grip has scared me. It scared me today. But I'll get to that in a second. First off, the clutch. I thought Ghost's clutch was getting heavier as I broke it in. I've gotten better at feeling the engagement and I've been feeling better with the clutch. In this case, it's all perception. When I first went to start Grip and push the clutch in, I had to double check that I wasn't pushing in the brake. The stock STI clutch has never really been called too-heavy and I've never felt that way. But compared to the BRZ clutch, it's like exercise equipment. I was amazed at the difference and thought something had failed in the clutch since I last drove Grip. Handling. While Ghost eagerly turns in and carves nice arcs through corners, there's still a slight feeling of effort. It's probably the Michelins scrubbing a bit. Grip on the other hand slices through corners so effortlessly. There's room to improve the BRZ suspension. However, while Grip changes direction quickly and with accuracy, it doesn't have the sense of eagerness that the BRZ has. Grip feels like it's following my commands to the letter like a soldier. Ghost feels like its eager to please and anticipates my steering inputs. Both are excellent aspects to have. Throttle response. The BRZ's N/A engine is very responsive. Keep it out of the torque valley and the power is there instantly. Even with the tune on Grip, the throttle response is nowhere near as direct. Throttle inputs are soft and I just don't get the feeling that it wants to leap ahead like I get from Ghost. But that's the downfall with turbos and why I don't think turbocharging, no matter how little lag, is not the choice for the BRZ chassis. Then I put my foot down. HOLY $#!+. I haven't feel that tossed back in my seat for a very long time. While Ghost is responsive and peppy with adequate acceleration, Grip is on a whole other planet. I put my foot down and wound Grip out and it frightened me for a moment because I wasn't ready for it. Driving Ghost has shifted my perceptions some. Is it a bad thing? I don't think so. It makes moments like above in the STI new again and a lot of fun. So driving Grip after nearly a week only driving Ghost has really put a perspective on things. Ultimately, my STI, "Grip", feel like a weapon compared to the BRZ. It's sharp, precise, and efficient. Kind of like the vehicular equivalent of a rifle. Ghost on the other hand feels more like a martial art. It has flow and form. Responses are more organic and natural feeling. If you want to stick with weapon analogies, Grip is like a broad sword, and Ghost is like a stiletto. Both will kill a man, but each in a different way. Do I regret my purchase? Not at all. Ghost is still a lot of fun, and has a lot to teach me as well. It will make a great daily and enjoyable AutoXer.

9" is too wide for a 235 tire, IMO. And I don't want to go wider as the car just isn't heavy/powerful enough to put wider rubber to use. 17x8 with a 235/40-17 is right where I want to be with this car. Additionally, going to such a low offset will increase the scrub radius and make the steering heavier/more numb. Believe me, I've considered the sizes. If I wanted to just go for looks, I'd increase the camber up front, put some 245s on a 9" wide tire and then some 265s on 10" rears. But that would ruin what I like so much about the car. That reminds me, I posted some Reverse Impressions on FT86Club, and didn't post them here.

Heh. Actually I meant that because someone recommended them earlier and I said no due to the need to powdercoat. Well, hopefully they'll reply to my message with a yes and I'll get them. Otherwise it's back to Tire Rack. Unless you know of some place that has 17x8+42 5x100 WedsSport TC105Ns in stock and ready to ship for $450 or less per wheel.

No problem. It was good to have it out at a C&C. To further send s15 into a tizzy, I may have found some WedsSports TC105N wheels in stock somewhere. They're bronze but I may jump on them if I can get the on-hand verified.

Nothing wrong with asking opinions.

I'll be there.

True WORK wheels.

LULZ.

Chicks dig sensitive guys. :lolguy:

None yet.. Right now I'm thinking of either the Nameless Performance or HKS Spec-L. The Nameless is 1/2 the price, so I'm pretty much decided...

Yes, but some took issue with my use of "rim"

To add to my post about wheels vs rims, I've been under the impression that while, yes, the wheel/rim has a "rim" the parts are usually referred to as the "Lip" for the visible part of the "Barrel" which has the "Face" attached to it with, at its center, a "hub".

Weird.. I always thought a car had *wheels*, which include rim and tire. When talking about the metal center of a wheel, you refer to it as a rim. Otherwise it's confusing since someone may mistake "wheel" as including the tire. Much like: a Magazine may include ammunition, but clip does not.

I know, but it's either a rim with a good shape and bad color or good color and bad shape. And I really don't want to wait until fall or later for a custom set of rims. So it's PF01s in black until I get them powdercoated a dark gunmetal. The STI can get away with it because of the gold calipers. But the BRZ doesn't have any inherent bling to offset the black on black.

Thanks. I appreciate it. But it looks like I'll be looking like this: (these are 18s, I'm going with 17s) http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/292134_298129036925601_247419668663205_705611_28633073_n.jpg ..unless I let Wheel Medic have at the rims.

At 18x9.5+32 as the smallest rim I'll have to "stance" the car to get them to fit or have an inch of poke up front. No thanks. Besides, I don't like chrome lips. No posted weights either.

Actually, I think I'll get the black PF01s and see how they look in person. If I don't like it, I'll see what Wheel Medic can do for me.

Unfortunately there's no good tire choices at 235/35-18. I really wish I could get into Tire Rack's wholesaler site. It really frustrates me that I can't just sort through offsets and sizes for all the rims. FOr being so enthusiast-oriented, they really don't make rim selection easy for the more advanced buyer.

The problem is that I have a reasonable cost/weight/strength balance in mind that quite a few rims meet, but either the color is wrong or they'll look like crap on this car. I called DT and they have to get the TSWs from the manufacturer, and I have yet to get a call back on when that might happen. So those are out. F-it. Maybe I'll just get a set of silver PF01s and risk powdercoating them.

I like the F14, but how light is "lightweight"? Not to mention they start at 18" which limits my tire choice.

Exhaust tips.

lol. I plan to only buy ONE set of rims for this car. I want them to be the right ones the first time. As for the Weds, they're a great rim and I would love a set. But they only come in silver and I'm concerned about powdercoating a rim with such skinny spokes. And while my $400/rim budget is flexible for the right rim, powdercoating Wedssports would put them into the $600 range. At that point I might as well go Volks. Can't find weights anywhere. Double-drilled and $140 per rim tells me these are probably pretty heavy.

As much as you could argue that they would lower my CG height, I'd rather my set of rims weigh less than the car they're attached to.

I don't like the inner ring on the RPF1. It makes the rim look 1" smaller than it is. If I had to get them, I'd get black to camouflage it. But I'm trying not to do another all black car. The more I drive this car, the faster it feels. I think I'm getting the hang of finding the power on the rev band when I want it. I like NT03s, but only if they have a concave face. The flat face looks really bad IMO. Also, the only 5x100 fitment is 18x8+35. Which will fit. But tire choice is limited, I'm not sure if I'll get the concave face, and it's over 19lbs. Expensive rims are on the STI. I'm trying to stay under $400. And the K1s would need powdercoating. I'm hesitant to powdercoat these lightweight rims because there's so little metal in the spokes that I'm worried they'll weaken. It's because of the mix. High feelings in both the Neck Snapper camp and the Side Loader camp. I guess it comes down to: Why am I not choosing one of these rims? For the TSW it's a couple reasons. One, it's a TSW. While the Nurburgring and Interlagos are solid entries into the Big Boy rim arena, they still have the TSW "wizzles" stigma attached to them. Second, I'm not sure on the availability. I'm always wary when a business has to order stock in. I really should just get my ass to Disco Tire and see what they say. Because I think the Nurburgring would look great on this car (with painted center caps). The Enkei PF01 is pretty simple. It only comes in silver or black. Both OZ rims I'm not crazy about the looks for this car. I'm being pretty picky here, but I think my tastes have worked in the past with the STI, so I don't want to compromise if possible. I think the TSW is the way to go despite it's bad parentage.

Stay happy. Even if you're making more money, life sucks if you're stressed out and don't have time to enjoy the more money. I'm currently at a position that I enjoy and am very content at. I could make more money as a GM but I don't want the extra hours or stress. The only exception here is future advancement. If turning down this job would make it difficult to get an even higher job that you DO want, then it's worth putting in the time. Just don't get locked into constantly trying to work your way up, or you'll never be in a position you like. Work to Live, don't Live to Work.