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11-16-2012, 03:14 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 222565
Join Date: Sep 2009
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Vehicle:2004 WRX STi WRB |
Lessons from Daily Driving
What are some lessons you've learned from years of daily driving your car, that you think should be put out there so that other enthusiast can benefit?
Did some parts seem like a good idea, even for the long run, but ended up being a pain or not worth it after a few years? Was there a different path you would have taken in making modification, perhaps done "this" in stead of "that" first? Has daily driving a modified (or even stock sports car) shaped your perspective of car ownership and what a good street car should be? Those are just a few idea I want to know from you guys that have driven a modified Subaru... or any other performance street car as a daily driver over a number of years. What's it like now that the honeymoon is over, and these parts and cars have gone through the wringer? I want to start by saying I'm not best fit to contribute a whole lot to this thread. The longest I've owned a car that I've driven just about every day is 2 years. That was a Nissan 240SX. The biggest thing I learned were, a) feel is more important than any superlative could ever measure and b) when it comes to suspension, stiffer isn't really better. This thread is different from these: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...=street+driven http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...ighlight=daily |
11-16-2012, 07:49 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 282701
Join Date: May 2011
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: New York
Vehicle:2008 FXT WRB |
If you have a budget and can afford to buy 3 mods, buy one and save the rest of the cash for maintenance and incidentals.
Like you said, stiffer isn't always better, for a dd I have to keep comfort as a priority. It's been good reading on how to maintain the car, saves money. But it really helps to have a friend that knows more about cars than you at least the first few times you're trying something new. Make friends with your local dealership, if not the service attendant then the parts counter. This has come in handy for me because the nearest specialty Subaru shop is 7x further than my nearest dealer. Keep records of your car. Ignore the creaks, a big one for Subarus! |
11-16-2012, 07:52 PM | #3 |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:OK buy Nates beans westcoastroasting.com |
the very vast majority of people are STUPID and are mindless, bleeting, sheeple who blunder blindly about aimlessly
and get in my ****ing way when i wanna go somewhere |
11-16-2012, 09:49 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 304299
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Nor'East
Vehicle:2018 2018 sti, black 2014 Crosstrek, tangerine |
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11-16-2012, 10:54 PM | #5 |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:OK buy Nates beans westcoastroasting.com |
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11-16-2012, 11:11 PM | #6 |
Medium Frank
Moderator Member#: 140114
Join Date: Feb 2007
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Common Sense, VA
Vehicle:2020 Subaru Outback |
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11-17-2012, 07:47 AM | #7 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 94283
Join Date: Aug 2005
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Mt. Washington Valley, NH
Vehicle:'19 Ascent |
I wish I never discovered NASIOC and "modding", left my first WRX stock ('05 wagon), enjoyed it for what it was, drove it for 200K miles, and then got something new. Instead I wasted money on modifications and went through 4 different cars. Could have used that money way more constructively.
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11-17-2012, 07:51 AM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 275640
Join Date: Mar 2011
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Dupont, WA
Vehicle:2012 WRX hatch Silver |
Coilovers are a stupid purchase unless you actually need to change the height of your car for races. A good set of adjustable struts/springs is far better.
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11-19-2012, 12:25 AM | #9 | |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:OK buy Nates beans westcoastroasting.com |
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11-19-2012, 12:36 AM | #10 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 272675
Join Date: Feb 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: West Haven, CT
Vehicle:2011 WRX 2002 Corvette Z06 |
Quote:
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11-19-2012, 12:52 AM | #11 |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 16200
Join Date: Mar 2002
Vehicle:OK buy Nates beans westcoastroasting.com |
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11-17-2012, 08:36 AM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 329543
Join Date: Aug 2012
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: NC
Vehicle:2003 WRX Wagon Sonic Yellow |
I've learned you have to be a defensive driver and always have to be aware of who's passing you, merging, turning, etc. Just yesterday I passed a slower car in the right hand lane and the utility van behind said slow car decides he's going to merge with me in the left hand lane. Needless to say I layed on the horn for 5 seconds, braked hard and the ******* still got in front of me.
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11-19-2012, 12:59 AM | #13 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 166085
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Houston, TX
Vehicle:1989 Skyline GTR 2005 Forester XT |
I learned lots of things but the one that sticks out the most is that most people are fukin morons...literally brain dead idiots who have no concept of anything outside of their own mindless shell of an existence. With that said, I learned to be completely aware of my surroundings. Never know when one of the sheeples will try to occupy the same space at the same time as you
I believe it is far too easy to obtain a license in this country. Some of the idiots I run into on a daily basis truly make me question the direction in which the human race is headed....the doomed direction. It's not just people I run into on the road either. /rant |
11-19-2012, 04:20 AM | #14 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 251804
Join Date: Jul 2010
Chapter/Region:
SWIC
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Vehicle:05 WRB STi |
Quote:
We sir have a very similar mindset, most people need to wrap their car around a pole, darwinism needs to take effect NOW |
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11-19-2012, 02:07 PM | #15 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 166085
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Houston, TX
Vehicle:1989 Skyline GTR 2005 Forester XT |
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11-19-2012, 10:29 AM | #16 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 303906
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Porter Square, Slumerville
Vehicle:2011 WRX Sedan Spark Silver Metalic |
Quote:
Seriously though, the best thing I think is to take it slow and make sure to do the legwork when it comes to research with modding. Don't buy something because person X says its his favorite mod and 'it's how the car should have come from the factory'. Just make sure you know what you're doing and keep your stock parts in case you change your mind. |
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11-19-2012, 02:06 PM | #17 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 166085
Join Date: Dec 2007
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Houston, TX
Vehicle:1989 Skyline GTR 2005 Forester XT |
Quote:
People I encounter on a daily basis, oh slow one |
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11-19-2012, 07:15 AM | #18 |
Add Lightness
Moderator Member#: 13699
Join Date: Dec 2001
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Hopkinton, MA
Vehicle:2021 Building It Better |
In my street car, I've always run in stock classes for autocross and showroom stock for track. That limits the legal mods. And thus.....I limit myself to the very few upgrades that I can stay legal with. Really good shocks, good tire choice......I'm done here. When it's time to sell the car, I can tell the next owner that I've made no mods ever.
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11-19-2012, 10:32 AM | #19 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 190891
Join Date: Oct 2008
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Marysville, Wa
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Quote:
That and big cams, a big stall and stiff suspension really dont make good dd. |
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11-19-2012, 10:42 AM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 136314
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: A$$achusetts
Vehicle:2014 Grand Cherokee |
What I've learned is if you ever lower your car, do it right and buy coilovers. Lowering springs just make your stock struts die quicker, and give a rough ride.
That and never buy/perform a mod to your daily driver that you can't later easily bring back to stock in the future...and save all your stock parts. |
11-19-2012, 12:37 PM | #21 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 190891
Join Date: Oct 2008
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Marysville, Wa
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11-19-2012, 12:59 PM | #22 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 136314
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: A$$achusetts
Vehicle:2014 Grand Cherokee |
Quote:
You further prove my point about having to buy new struts to go with my new lowering springs...I'd rather just buy the coilovers and be able to adjust the height. |
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11-19-2012, 01:33 PM | #23 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 190891
Join Date: Oct 2008
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Marysville, Wa
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Quote:
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11-19-2012, 10:50 AM | #24 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 334030
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Mokena, IL
Vehicle:2009 OTS Stg 1 WRX Dark Gray Metallic |
Quote:
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11-19-2012, 10:56 AM | #25 |
Merci Buckets
Moderator Member#: 88606
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:2018 Grand Cherokee Velvet Red Pearl |
Things I learned from daily driving...
1.) Don't be in a hurry and drive like an ass, it doesn't really benefit you or anyone else. You eat up gas and money and if you do the math, arriving at your destination 2 minutes sooner probably isn't worth it. 2.) Expect everyone else to drive like an *******. Expect that people will cut you off without a turn signal. Expect that people will slam on their brakes as soon as they see brake lights because they are too busy texting to know what is going on. Expect that people will slow down, gawk at an accident, and likely cause another one. When it happens you aren't surprised or unprepared and can react calmly and appropriately. 3.) Don't get upset and angry while driving. They can't usually hear you yelling. Even if they can they won't care and won't change. It's easier on your own health to refer to #2 and just accept the fact that the world is full of idiots with a license to drive. As for parts... Kartboy Short Shifter and bushings make the drive more fun TiC differential bushings get rid of rear axle wind-up Rear swaybar evens out the handling balance a bit and makes the car feel better Sparco Evo L seat is more comfortable and supportive than the stock seat A competitive autocross suspension is not a comfortable daily driving suspension in Michigan |
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