looks like im leaving the speed crowd and joining the skyactiv crowd

[nasa779]

Well guys im 22 and ive been a mechanic for about 2 years now, and the work isnt steady enough and the pay kinda sucks so i decided reluctantly to go back to school for my second love which is computers and IT. i had been trying to figure out how to just be able to afford gas with the speed and only working 2 days during the week and 1 on the weekend, and it simply couldnt happen (18,200 miles a year for school@23mpg). now id work more, but since my parents are basically paying 85% of my tuition, i have to follow how much they say i can work so it doesnt interfere with school. luckily enough im paying my car payments for the speed from my stocks during school, but gas was still too much of a problem, and stupid me, i took a 6 year loan on the speed. So, after going over the numbers over and over again, and realizing I will probably get myself hurt or do something stupid with the speed I decided on a skyactiv sedan for practicalities sake.

I really really wanted to stick with a manual, but i couldnt stand the clutch when i test drove it, so ill be picking my automatic up on wednesday. ill miss my 280hp and 300ftlbs, my 6 speed, and my LSD. although, i never did like 1st or 2nd gear on the speed.

now i have to stock out, CDFP internals, intake, turbo inlet pipe, RMM, i may leave the downpipe in...

TL;DR: going back to school, cant afford gas, selling speed, buying skyactive sedan

 

[GoBackToSleep]

I did the same exact thing because the insurance, gas, and maintenance expenses were overwhelming me every month with my '08 MS3 (I have a dead-end full-time job right now and I really want to finish the two years I have left of school to help me move up in the world). I traded for a graphite mica SKYACTIV Touring 6MT last night and couldn't be happier. Since I spent two years in the Speed, I was shocked with how light and smooth the clutch and shifter action was. The Speed, of course, had a more abrupt catch point on its clutch which was amazing for performance, but not so forgiving in daily driving. I know you mentioned your gripes with the SKYACTIV's clutch, but I'm already getting used to it and it reminds me of the feel my previous Mazda 6i Sport had, which is a car I should've just held on to all these years (never gave me any issues other than a battery replacement). Poor 6 would be paid off by now if I had kept it, but the SKYACTIV 3 hatch reminds me of it a lot, yet it's actually even smoother and more refined. The lower weight helps as well.