Baja complaints

dragonglen · 07-03-2003, 09:03 AM

What are your biggest complaints about the Baja so far? My only one is the tires. I'm coming from driving a 95 Dodge Dakota Sport and a 2000 Celica GT-S. Now in the truck, if I came on a turn too fast, the body roll would be uncomfortable enough for me to slow down, so the problem was solved. In the Celica, if I came on a turn too fast, well, that's never really happened since I modded the suspension quite a bit, but typically I could still control the slide a bit. In the Baja though, I get almost no body roll, but the tires will easily break loose before anything. Even on smaller turns taken a little fast, there's not much body rolls, but the tires like to squeal like a pig.

Any other things anyone else has noticed?

skiwee · 07-03-2003, 02:00 PM

Had my dealer agree to change the tires before I bought the Baja. I had read that the Potenzas' main purpose was to protect the rims from the road. Riding on Dunlop Wintersport M2s now. Highly recommend them. Love the Baja. My few complaints are the same as everyone elses. More power, winter package, hill holder, etc.
Mike

jeffm · 07-03-2003, 02:11 PM

If I'm at a cheap gas station, sometimes the Baja won't fill (or spills). Even at good gas stations I have to mess the nozzle around a bit. Noticed that new Dodges have the same problem, maybe it's just new stuff.
*btw if you are wondering, that switch on the gas door is connected to nothing. I was going to add an anti-siphon to my alarm but there are no wires on it.

Big people have trouble fitting in it, and tear up my pillars in doing so. I'm used to getting into it, but it's always a bit of a dance. Of course the only option is to get an SUV and kiss my 25+ mpg goodbye

Cruise control gets a little stoned sometimes, but someone already covered that.

If you are folding down the back seat, you need to scoot the front seats up a little first.

Not many hiding spots for adding big aftermarket stuff (2nd battery, radio equip, OBC, inverter, misc). Actually space for roadside gear is kind of sparse also. Behind the backseat/under drivers seat are your main resources, but I'm working on more >:} When you trade your trunk for a bed that's what happens. *However if you are adding an alarm there are several great nooks and crannies you can hide stuff in, and it becomes pretty inaccessible w/o some ten+ minutes of tedious dissassembly

But that's all nitpicky stuff, nothing's perfect. It's fun to drive and work on

A nice little car. With a bed!

BTW anyone get/like the roof bike rack? I was thinking of getting one.

spacemonkey · 07-03-2003, 10:07 PM

My #1 complaint is this

whilst driving speeds of 70 and above i experience this god awful buzzing sound from the from left part of the windshield. well after much trial and error i have it down to the fact that on my baja for some reason the exterior window molding was creating a channel for air to pass through at high speeds and when the air would escape it would act similiar to a read and vibrate and inturn vibrate the windshield and make the horrible sound. However after what seems like siloconing the entire drivers side of the car i got it to go away

. but at least the sound is gone.

#2 with larger wheels aka 17-18 the tires sidewalls aren't deep enough so every bump you go over feels like a freaking curb.

#3 the firewall is too close to the engine can't fit the big intercooler in their perfectly with out mashing down on the brake resovior. oh well i made my own bracket and now it hits the hood

but hey it's a price we pay

monkey-

dragonglen · 07-07-2003, 08:51 AM

Hey spacemonkey, are you installing your own turbo? If so, are you using pieces from an existing Subaru, or are you custom fabricating everything yourself? I was actually thinking about doing this sometime down the line, but not for another 3 years or so.

spacemonkey · 07-08-2003, 12:44 AM

turbo WAS installed currently enjoying 7k of happy boosting in my 15k baja.

pics here
baja t

so far the parts i've found that don't work are

kartboy wrx shorthrow shifter (though a machine shop will be fixing that shortly)

large intercoolers hit the brake resivoir and make the peddles vibrate you have to make some custom bracket to keep it off the booster.

Large intercoolers when pushed up off the brakes resivoir hit the hood. I ended up "modifing the hood w/ my dremel" two minutes work and NO MORE vibrating noises cool

make sure the aftermarket exhuast you use does not bump the rear diff when going in reverse. Very annoying. though for the record the sound it makes is SOO cool! even before the turbo it sounded like a pissed off rally car.

make sure you get a ecu pinout Before adding any piggy backs i would reccomend you save the time and engergy and just get a standalone put in when you get the turbo.

walbro fuel pump has a hard time fiting. custom work needed to be done.

other than that 2.5rs parts all the way (turbo wise i'm curently looking into an offroading suspension package (agx's and higher spring rates))

good luck to you. Baja t's are fun!

dragonglen · 07-08-2003, 10:24 AM

Nice, don't be surprised if I come to you with more questions in the future, but like I said, it probably won't be for a while.

About offroading stuff, the only liftkit I've seen so far is 2", and I'm assuming you're looking for something a bit more beefy than that. Are you planning on modifying the wheel wells to fit bigger tires underneath, or are you planning on lifting the vehicle to the point where that won't be an issue? Damn, it's too bad you live so far away!

spacemonkey · 07-08-2003, 10:46 AM

no problem i like questions and i think i've taken apart my car enough times do to mistakes so that hopefully others won't have to make them.

as for suspension goes i'm looking for a good rally cross setup

since i'll be moving back to the upstate NY area this coming months. I want increased travel but very good rebound, essentially the ability to squat and go after hitting a berm.

as for wheels stick w/ the stock size. so far everything else seems like a mistake. Larger wheels smaller sidewalls while they do fit make the ride crappy. Esentially you "bottom out" on every small bump or crack. I have the rims with dents to prove it.

ah well enough for me know
off to the dmv for a motorcycle liscence.

monkey-

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07-03-2003, 09:03 AM	#1
dragonglen Scooby Newbie Member#: 38692 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Outside of Philly Vehicle: 2003 Baja Sport Silver	Baja complaints What are your biggest complaints about the Baja so far? My only one is the tires. I'm coming from driving a 95 Dodge Dakota Sport and a 2000 Celica GT-S. Now in the truck, if I came on a turn too fast, the body roll would be uncomfortable enough for me to slow down, so the problem was solved. In the Celica, if I came on a turn too fast, well, that's never really happened since I modded the suspension quite a bit, but typically I could still control the slide a bit. In the Baja though, I get almost no body roll, but the tires will easily break loose before anything. Even on smaller turns taken a little fast, there's not much body rolls, but the tires like to squeal like a pig. Any other things anyone else has noticed?

07-03-2003, 02:00 PM	#2
skiwee Scooby Newbie Member#: 26920 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New York City Vehicle: 03 Baja yellow	Had my dealer agree to change the tires before I bought the Baja. I had read that the Potenzas' main purpose was to protect the rims from the road. Riding on Dunlop Wintersport M2s now. Highly recommend them. Love the Baja. My few complaints are the same as everyone elses. More power, winter package, hill holder, etc. Mike

07-03-2003, 02:11 PM	#3
jeffm Scooby Newbie Member#: 34478 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St Louis Vehicle: 2003 Baja yellow!	If I'm at a cheap gas station, sometimes the Baja won't fill (or spills). Even at good gas stations I have to mess the nozzle around a bit. Noticed that new Dodges have the same problem, maybe it's just new stuff. btw if you are wondering, that switch on the gas door is connected to nothing. I was going to add an anti-siphon to my alarm but there are no wires on it. Big people have trouble fitting in it, and tear up my pillars in doing so. I'm used to getting into it, but it's always a bit of a dance. Of course the only option is to get an SUV and kiss my 25+ mpg goodbye Cruise control gets a little stoned sometimes, but someone already covered that. If you are folding down the back seat, you need to scoot the front seats up a little first. Not many hiding spots for adding big aftermarket stuff (2nd battery, radio equip, OBC, inverter, misc). Actually space for roadside gear is kind of sparse also. Behind the backseat/under drivers seat are your main resources, but I'm working on more >:} When you trade your trunk for a bed that's what happens. However if you are adding an alarm there are several great nooks and crannies you can hide stuff in, and it becomes pretty inaccessible w/o some ten+ minutes of tedious dissassembly But that's all nitpicky stuff, nothing's perfect. It's fun to drive and work on A nice little car. With a bed! BTW anyone get/like the roof bike rack? I was thinking of getting one.

07-03-2003, 10:07 PM	#4
spacemonkey Scooby Specialist Member#: 16435 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chattanooga TN	My #1 complaint is this whilst driving speeds of 70 and above i experience this god awful buzzing sound from the from left part of the windshield. well after much trial and error i have it down to the fact that on my baja for some reason the exterior window molding was creating a channel for air to pass through at high speeds and when the air would escape it would act similiar to a read and vibrate and inturn vibrate the windshield and make the horrible sound. However after what seems like siloconing the entire drivers side of the car i got it to go away . but at least the sound is gone. #2 with larger wheels aka 17-18 the tires sidewalls aren't deep enough so every bump you go over feels like a freaking curb. #3 the firewall is too close to the engine can't fit the big intercooler in their perfectly with out mashing down on the brake resovior. oh well i made my own bracket and now it hits the hood but hey it's a price we pay monkey-

07-07-2003, 08:51 AM	#5
dragonglen Scooby Newbie Member#: 38692 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Outside of Philly Vehicle: 2003 Baja Sport Silver	Hey spacemonkey, are you installing your own turbo? If so, are you using pieces from an existing Subaru, or are you custom fabricating everything yourself? I was actually thinking about doing this sometime down the line, but not for another 3 years or so.

07-08-2003, 12:44 AM	#6
spacemonkey Scooby Specialist Member#: 16435 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chattanooga TN	turbo WAS installed currently enjoying 7k of happy boosting in my 15k baja. pics here baja t so far the parts i've found that don't work are kartboy wrx shorthrow shifter (though a machine shop will be fixing that shortly) large intercoolers hit the brake resivoir and make the peddles vibrate you have to make some custom bracket to keep it off the booster. Large intercoolers when pushed up off the brakes resivoir hit the hood. I ended up "modifing the hood w/ my dremel" two minutes work and NO MORE vibrating noises cool make sure the aftermarket exhuast you use does not bump the rear diff when going in reverse. Very annoying. though for the record the sound it makes is SOO cool! even before the turbo it sounded like a pissed off rally car. make sure you get a ecu pinout Before adding any piggy backs i would reccomend you save the time and engergy and just get a standalone put in when you get the turbo. walbro fuel pump has a hard time fiting. custom work needed to be done. other than that 2.5rs parts all the way (turbo wise i'm curently looking into an offroading suspension package (agx's and higher spring rates)) good luck to you. Baja t's are fun!

07-08-2003, 10:24 AM	#7
dragonglen Scooby Newbie Member#: 38692 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Outside of Philly Vehicle: 2003 Baja Sport Silver	Nice, don't be surprised if I come to you with more questions in the future, but like I said, it probably won't be for a while. About offroading stuff, the only liftkit I've seen so far is 2", and I'm assuming you're looking for something a bit more beefy than that. Are you planning on modifying the wheel wells to fit bigger tires underneath, or are you planning on lifting the vehicle to the point where that won't be an issue? Damn, it's too bad you live so far away!

07-08-2003, 10:46 AM	#8
spacemonkey Scooby Specialist Member#: 16435 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chattanooga TN	no problem i like questions and i think i've taken apart my car enough times do to mistakes so that hopefully others won't have to make them. as for suspension goes i'm looking for a good rally cross setup since i'll be moving back to the upstate NY area this coming months. I want increased travel but very good rebound, essentially the ability to squat and go after hitting a berm. as for wheels stick w/ the stock size. so far everything else seems like a mistake. Larger wheels smaller sidewalls while they do fit make the ride crappy. Esentially you "bottom out" on every small bump or crack. I have the rims with dents to prove it. ah well enough for me know off to the dmv for a motorcycle liscence. monkey-