squidmotion
Member
just made 12k on ours, and purrs like a kitty... only mods it has is a super-dark tint (doctors note in glove box) and a k&n filter.
a few tiny nicks in the front bumper area, and one on the hood... it is a daily driver and sees the firing squad every day, sadly. and it appears the paint is thin (as usual) but the car still feels very solid, even after constant use on concrete freeways, drives straight as an arrow, pulls strong. still smells like a brand new one...
haven't had any issues with it, other than a check engine light that came on, then went off a day later... guy at my dealer said don't worry about it unless it comes on again, and they'll look at it next chance i get to come by...
the good:
most fun i've had driving to work in a long time... and the drive to austin last week was a blast. got 27mpg. pretty good for the 80+mph speeds, up and down the hills (any slower and you get run over)....
nice seats. very comfy for me... and lotsa room for a bigger/taller guy... i'm 6'4" and 240lbs, and i have to move the seat forward a bit. impressive.
hatchback.
torque. i love the chatter from the other seat after a quick ride.
handles great. feels connected, never sloppy. and loose when it should. forgiving... i don't push it that hard, but it feels like it works just fine. turns in like a dream, hard to straighten up if you give it too much out of a corner. not so much understeeer, but the torque steer. gotta pay attention with this thing..... just my lame impression.
exhaust. i've really grown to like it a lot.. just right.
the minor pickies:
#1... BRIDGESTONES..... granted these tires grip well, and work very well in the rain. but they don't look like they are going to last, and i have NEVER had tires this noisy... i've had jeeps with mud tires that weren't this loud. for my use, i would gladly give up a bit of performance on the twisties for a bit more peace and quiet and the ability to listen to the radio. which brings me to my next one...
ride.. it does ride pretty rough for around town, crummy road driving. thankfully, i don't have to do much of that, but if you lived in the city, in pothole and man-hole cover train track land, it would feel a bit rough if you mind that kind of thing (i don't)... it can get a mind of it's own sometimes (more tires probably) on uneven pavement...
i'm getting the barely noticeable dash buzz/rattle or whatever it is, haven't searched yet, but i'll figure that one out when it gets on my nerves enough (tomorrow)...
i think the clutch on this car is a bit touchy, but i can manage that for more pressure plate.
i wish second gear was a bit longer... it goes by so quick.
thin paint. yes, i know. but i don't know why it is so hard to put on an extra coat of clear or something... every mid or lower level japanese car i've owned was like this, so i'm used to it.
mrs. squidmo likes it, but would rather drive it than ride, as she said it is like a bucking bronco without a steering wheel to hang on too ....she's never happy ..... as our first FWD performance car, we're still pretty happy. bang for buck, not too flashy, stupid fun to drive, decent mileage, hatchback, different.
now if it will just last for 300,000 miles...
a few tiny nicks in the front bumper area, and one on the hood... it is a daily driver and sees the firing squad every day, sadly. and it appears the paint is thin (as usual) but the car still feels very solid, even after constant use on concrete freeways, drives straight as an arrow, pulls strong. still smells like a brand new one...
haven't had any issues with it, other than a check engine light that came on, then went off a day later... guy at my dealer said don't worry about it unless it comes on again, and they'll look at it next chance i get to come by...
the good:
most fun i've had driving to work in a long time... and the drive to austin last week was a blast. got 27mpg. pretty good for the 80+mph speeds, up and down the hills (any slower and you get run over)....
nice seats. very comfy for me... and lotsa room for a bigger/taller guy... i'm 6'4" and 240lbs, and i have to move the seat forward a bit. impressive.
hatchback.
torque. i love the chatter from the other seat after a quick ride.
handles great. feels connected, never sloppy. and loose when it should. forgiving... i don't push it that hard, but it feels like it works just fine. turns in like a dream, hard to straighten up if you give it too much out of a corner. not so much understeeer, but the torque steer. gotta pay attention with this thing..... just my lame impression.
exhaust. i've really grown to like it a lot.. just right.
the minor pickies:
#1... BRIDGESTONES..... granted these tires grip well, and work very well in the rain. but they don't look like they are going to last, and i have NEVER had tires this noisy... i've had jeeps with mud tires that weren't this loud. for my use, i would gladly give up a bit of performance on the twisties for a bit more peace and quiet and the ability to listen to the radio. which brings me to my next one...
ride.. it does ride pretty rough for around town, crummy road driving. thankfully, i don't have to do much of that, but if you lived in the city, in pothole and man-hole cover train track land, it would feel a bit rough if you mind that kind of thing (i don't)... it can get a mind of it's own sometimes (more tires probably) on uneven pavement...
i'm getting the barely noticeable dash buzz/rattle or whatever it is, haven't searched yet, but i'll figure that one out when it gets on my nerves enough (tomorrow)...
i think the clutch on this car is a bit touchy, but i can manage that for more pressure plate.
i wish second gear was a bit longer... it goes by so quick.
thin paint. yes, i know. but i don't know why it is so hard to put on an extra coat of clear or something... every mid or lower level japanese car i've owned was like this, so i'm used to it.
mrs. squidmo likes it, but would rather drive it than ride, as she said it is like a bucking bronco without a steering wheel to hang on too ....she's never happy
..... as our first FWD performance car, we're still pretty happy. bang for buck, not too flashy, stupid fun to drive, decent mileage, hatchback, different. now if it will just last for 300,000 miles...
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