The expensive things

Kinja'd!!! "Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/19/2016 at 10:06 • Filed to: None

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If I didn’t spend so much money ricing my car, I could probably afford them, but it frustrates me that a set of wide steelies and some decent tires for my Miata will be around $700 or more, plus another $300 in suspension (NB stock shocks + ebay sleeves + summit racing springs), plus another $200 for a front sway bar and solid end links. Blech. I just really want to see the old fogeys in their immaculate NAs and NBs get all kinds of confused at a riced-to-hell Miata rolling on a decent autocross setup. I’ve got the riced-to-hell part done, now I need to get started on the more expensive part...

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DISCUSSION (29)


Kinja'd!!! Textured Soy Protein > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 10:15

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You’re getting off easy. My wallet recently became about $5k lighter thanks to all the crap I just bought for my 335xi. I probably should’ve tried to find a way to do stuff cheaper but hey it’ll be really nice when it’s done.


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Textured Soy Protein
05/19/2016 at 10:18

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Yeah, I’m hoping for springs to happen within the next two weeks to replace my 25 year old stockers. That will be nice. So will the height adjustibility and you BET I’m gonna drive around for a week or so with that damn car an inch off the ground.


Kinja'd!!! PS9 > Textured Soy Protein
05/19/2016 at 10:20

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$5K? Holy shit. Engine swap?


Kinja'd!!! Scary__goongala! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 10:22

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I’m buying the FM Tokico Stage 1 package later today and I’m pretty excited about that.


Kinja'd!!! Textured Soy Protein > PS9
05/19/2016 at 10:24

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19" wheels & tires = $2200ish

Shocks, springs, shorter bump stops, rear upper & lower shock mounts, sway bars+adjustable end links, front camber plates, front control arm (a.k.a. “tension strut”) bushings, rear subframe bushing inserts = also $2200ish

That number on the suspension is before the assorted shipping costs being added, so between that and paying my mechanic to put all that crap on the car I’ll be over $5k.


Kinja'd!!! Future next gen S2000 owner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 10:37

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Alloys are the way to go.


Kinja'd!!! Arrivederci > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 10:40

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I wish I could get off that easy! I’m feeling fortunate that I’m able to get some 6ULs for my BRZ now ($1150ish shipped) and ordered some rubber ($600) as well. I’ve been working to make my car more track-ready, so I’ve also got stainless brake lines, aggressive pads and Motul fluid on the way, as well as Motul gear oil for the transmission and rear end. Should be good to go after all that.


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Future next gen S2000 owner
05/19/2016 at 10:47

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Yeah, if you’re rich, but if you want wide wheels with low offset the only option on a budget is Diamond Racing Wheels steelies.


Kinja'd!!! Slant6 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 11:09

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You seem to think riced auto-x Miatas arent already a thing.

The purists arent going to drop their jaws at you or get worked up about it, they’ll just shrug you off as another idiot kid.

It’s OK if you like the rice look. Just don’t justify it like you are, embrace it.


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Slant6
05/19/2016 at 11:13

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Eh, around here it’s not really a thing. There’s a huge chasm between the autocrossers and the guys that have stickerbombed body panels and other such visual mods. I’m probably gonna ditch the stickerbombed door at some point though. Not really my style.


Kinja'd!!! MarquetteLa > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 11:23

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How wide are you looking to go and how much are those steelies?


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > MarquetteLa
05/19/2016 at 11:42

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15x8 with 0 offset, 4x100 pattern, $80 apiece with free shipping.


Kinja'd!!! S65 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 11:47

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I Like The Stickerbombed Door


Kinja'd!!! Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 14:31

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Why such a low offset?


Kinja'd!!! Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Arrivederci
05/19/2016 at 14:33

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The car is good to go with just some pads and a brake fluid change! ;) You’re fine the way it is now, just get out there! I ran OE engine, trans, and diff oil for my first three track days, two of which were at Road America. I’m just now switching to Motul fluid in the trans and diff tomorrow for my weekend at the track.

But if you’re looking for some power mods, I’ve got a JDL EL catted header with thermal coating and brand new OE gaskets I’ll give ya for a good deal. haha


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
05/19/2016 at 14:58

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I want an excuse to buy fender flares.


Kinja'd!!! Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 15:02

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Lol ah okay.


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
05/19/2016 at 15:06

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Yes pls.


Kinja'd!!! Arrivederci > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
05/19/2016 at 15:23

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I ran it at VIR on stock pads and fluid and vowed to never do so again. After about two laps, the pedal went very mushy. Fluid never went cloudy so I haven’t swapped it, but am about to with the Motul and better pads (Project Mu). I honestly need the wheels/tires to be competitive in STX for autocross - I’ve managed to finish mid-pack on stock rubber, and everybody else is running RE71s or similar on wider wheels.


Kinja'd!!! Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Arrivederci
05/19/2016 at 15:38

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Oh yeah, I’d never recommend tracking on the stock pads. Nice, I had Project Mu’s for my first set of track pads. I’ll be installing Winmax W4 pads tomorrow. I get the wheels/tires for STX too. Ideally I’ll eventually have 4 sets for various types of driving/motorsport activities:

1) My 17x8 RS-Watanabe F8s for daily driver duties
2) 17x8 RPF1s with 225 ZII Star Specs for HPDE (currently have two brand new in boxes, just need two more)
3) Some set of 17x9s with 245/40 RE71-Rs for autox, most likely another set of RPF1s or 949Racing 6ULs
4) My OEM Bugeye wheels with Blizzaks for winter driving/rallyx

Being into cars is expensive... lol


Kinja'd!!! Arrivederci > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
05/19/2016 at 16:17

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Yeah it is - I’d love multiple setups like that as well, but am lacking in space to store it (and I doubt I’d be able to convince my fiancee that I needed it, lol).

Why’d you switch from Project Mu to Winmax? What do you think of the Winmax so far?

I think I’ll be okay with the stockers for DD/winter and the 6ULs for autox/rare HPDE. I’d eventually like to have three sets - something nice for DD/summer, stockers for DD/winter and the 6ULs for autox/track. I think my chances of selling the fiancee on three sets of wheels is between slim and none. At least not until we have a bigger garage.

Then I can hide ‘em ;-).


Kinja'd!!! Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Arrivederci
05/19/2016 at 16:33

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Lol yeah, my girlfriend wasn’t thrilled about the two sets of wheels/tires in my room when we first started dating. I now split a storage unit with another friends/fellow Toyobaru owner/fellow Oppo now.

TBH, my Project Mu’s are chunking and a bit glazed after 3 track days (the first two of which were at Road America), I didn’t bed them properly. I’m sure they’d be fine for this weekend, but I prefer not to take chances with brakes. I wanted to get a new set of pads by tomorrow, my local shop didn’t have any so I went online. I’ve heard good things about the Winmax, which are just slightly cheaper than Club Racers, and Rally Sport Direct had $18 next day air shipping on them. So I ordered front and rear sets. I’ll be changing my brake fluid with Projecy Mu G-Four 335 (what’s currently in there now, just new stuff), and putting Motul 300 in the trans and diff. I’ll let you know what I think of the Winmax pads after this weekend. ;)

Yeah, my Watanabes are doubling for nice dialies and track wheels right now. Unfortunately, I’m running 225s on them, which is a little narrow for an 8", because it’s more responsive on the track. Because of this, the lips of the rims are a bit more exposed and I curb rashed both passenger side wheels parallel parking. I’m going to get those repaired, put some wider decent 245 tires on them for daily, and get two more gold 17x8 RPF1s and swap my ZII Star Specs onto that set.

Thankfully for me my girlfriend understands my irrational automotive obsession. Well, perhaps she doesn’t understand it , but she does understand that I’m passionate about it and do my best to maintain some rationality in my purchases. (Although she really dislikes the word “tires” now. hahaha)


Kinja'd!!! Arrivederci > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
05/19/2016 at 16:46

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Looking forward to the write-up! Have fun this weekend and keep the shiny side up :)


Kinja'd!!! BayAreaMiataBoi > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 16:56

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You are going to need track pads and hi-temp brake fluid too.
I’m going to put Carbotech ceramic brake pads ($$) on my Miata so I don’t have to resurface or swap the rotors when switching between street pads and track pads.
Trust me.


Kinja'd!!! Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > BayAreaMiataBoi
05/19/2016 at 17:29

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For 60s autocross runs? Huh.


Kinja'd!!! BayAreaMiataBoi > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 20:56

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OK, don’t believe me, look here for other ideas:

http://forum.miata.net/vb/forumdispla…


Kinja'd!!! BayAreaMiataBoi > Scary__goongala!
05/19/2016 at 21:00

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I hear really good things about the Tokico Kits. happy trails to you!


Kinja'd!!! Scary__goongala! > BayAreaMiataBoi
05/19/2016 at 21:04

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pretty sure thats what I’m going to get.


Kinja'd!!! BayAreaMiataBoi > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
05/19/2016 at 21:12

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I think you got the smokin’ deal here! Wheel on!