"B_dol" (bdolan40)
12/01/2014 at 11:45 • Filed to: None
3
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"B_dol" (bdolan40)
12/01/2014 at 11:45 • Filed to: None | 3
| 20 |
It's official, late Friday night I achieved 'tuner' status by flashing the FR-S with a Stage 2 tune. "Warning: Danger to Manifold" soon to appear followed by the failure of a useless sheet metal panel loosely bolted to the chassis (note - watch The Fast & The Furious if this comment makes no sense…).
My parents will tell you this transformation happened overnight, however those close to me see it as no surprise. I entered the treacherous fold of the tuner scene in early 2013, picking up a few seemingly innocuous TRD parts. The exhaust and intake were OEM parts, covered by factory warranty I told myself. Little did I know, these would prove to be but a gateway drug…
Things were good. For a while I enjoyed the minute change in exhaust tone and peppier engine, yet a more voracious hunger was growing deep down inside. I needed another taste... Click. UEL headers ordered. A 12 week backorder, good, that'll keep my demons at bay.
Soon enough the headers were installed and I blasted through the canyons, albeit to a much more raucous and rumbly tone than before. Life was good, I finally felt I had achieved (read: ordered enough parts) modified status amongst the sea of Honda Civics and Toyota Prius/Prii?.
A couple weeks later I found the hunger fighting its way towards my wallet again. Inconceivable, I just installed new headers and a suspension package! I called my friend up, he said "focus on driving the car bro, I know what you need...track day". Track day, bro?
Track day. I couldn't run a track day on the stock 17x7.5 Prius summer tires could I? enter new wider and lighter wheels, wrapped in expensive summer performance tires. So it was I completed my first track day, and it was the most thrilling driving experience of my life to date.
Like all addicts though, my addiction had left some scars that would no doubt resurface again. A Check Engine Light appeared while driving home on a cold tuesday night, my heart sank. 31,000 miles and the factory warranty coming to its end, I feared the worst. I took it to the dealer and offered up my wallet as penance. Low and behold it was only a P0420, code name for you modified the exhaust/CAT didn't you, bro? "Welcome to modified life," chimed my friend. A few weeks went by, and bam it popped up again and again… and again. Fine, i'll tune the car (which I planned all along fyi) and submit myself to the likes of internet forums to find the best option.
And so folks, enter the Open Flash Tablet and a Stage 2, 91 pump UEL header tune. Night and Day , having a blast driving the car now. Torque and HP is slightly improved, more noticeable is the lack of torque dip between 3500-5000 rpm and improved throttle response.
Brian Silvestro
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 11:48 |
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As long as stance isn't in your future plans, then yes. I agree with this post.
Tohru
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 11:53 |
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You're on the border between tuner and ricer, all because of the wheels. You put TE37's on (tuner), but they're Rotas (ricer as fuck).
Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 11:56 |
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Nice wheels. I wish my FiST had 4x100 bolt patterns.
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Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 11:57 |
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WHYYYYYY?
ACESandEIGHTS
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 12:02 |
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Nice ride. I was ready to see a post about a bunch of Auto Zone add-ons, but this is better.
With that slammed Scion up ahead I can see the appeal of that scene, but kudos to you for not falling into the trap.
MHunter905
> Tohru
12/01/2014 at 12:22 |
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Rotas are also very poorly made wheels that I have witnessed breaking at track days several times. The outer rim separated from the spokes the same way in all cases. Weak metal methinks.
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Tohru
> Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
12/01/2014 at 12:24 |
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B_dol
> Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
12/01/2014 at 12:27 |
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5X100, yes. It was a pain at first to find options with the correct offsets, however, the wheel community has embraced the GT86/FRS/BRZ platform.
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B_dol
> ACESandEIGHTS
12/01/2014 at 12:28 |
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Thanks! Yeah the shop does great work and knows the FRS/BRZ platform well, but I don't share the same passion for the hellaflush scene....
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Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 12:29 |
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I'm hoping the same will happen for the fiesta, but I'm not holding my breath.
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B_dol
> MHunter905
12/01/2014 at 12:31 |
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I ran 175 miles at the track with zero issues, heard of plenty people who have done 5000 track miles on the wheels. It's true, you can let internet rumors influence purchasing decisions.
I figured I can go through 3 sets of Rotas before 1 set of Rays, so its worth a try.
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B_dol
> Tohru
12/01/2014 at 12:34 |
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Matter of opinion. Rotas have been getting a lot better reviews recently and my experience has been extremely positive. No need to spend $3200 instead of $700 just to please the internet.
Someday I'll get the real deal...
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Tohru
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 12:40 |
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It's not a matter of pleasing the Internet - I've just heard a lot of bad things about Rotas.
Honestly, I haven't spent $700 in wheels across all 18 cars I've owned. If I put different wheels on it, they're factory wheels off a different car. OEM wheels are built to handle 200k+ miles of the most tortuous driving imaginable.
Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 12:44 |
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Those wheels look FANTASTIC
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B_dol
> Tohru
12/01/2014 at 13:01 |
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I agree OEM is nice, unfortunately Toyota/Subaru has yet to provide a 17x9 option for the cars. Those looking for more tire/grip are forced to look elsewhere.
Get informed before you succumb to all the talk...
http://custompinoyrides.com/2012/03/questi…
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MHunter905
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 14:03 |
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Enkei RPF1's, They are cheap, light, while not the strongest they bend instead of cracking and snapping at the spokes causing the wheel & tire to separate from the car while the center of the wheel is still bolted on. I don't know what the internet thinks of Rotas but the techs at the local race shop told me they would become weak after repeated use and just break without warning due to their low quality metal and manufacturing process. Saw a girl tear up the front of her newish STI when she nicked a curb entering a corner and the wheel broke apart just like they said it would and took the passenger side fender, door, hood, front bumper, RF headlight, grill and windshield with it. Food for thought.
deekster_caddy
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 14:44 |
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Just be careful what you wish for... a broken wheel at the track could cost you the car or your life if it happens in a bad place. I understand the desire to save money but wheels for a track car aren't a place to go cheap...
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B_dol
> deekster_caddy
12/01/2014 at 15:59 |
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Agreed. I was very cautious in my selection thus far, and if/when I do start racing more I will have to reassess the stress/wear on the wheels and other components.
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Tohru
> B_dol
12/01/2014 at 16:02 |
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To be fair, the person I hear the most bitching about "knockoff wheels" from is my roommate, who runs authentic RS Watanabes 8-spokes on his G35 Coupe.
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B_dol
> Tohru
12/01/2014 at 16:05 |
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No worries. There is a lot of chatter and debate (some constructive).
To be fair most people only consider weight/looks/cost in a wheel purchase, when use needs to be a factor as well. If/when I track the car more I will start to upgrade those components most stressed and most vital to my survival (in ohh shit! scenarios).