Hello everyone!

Well as most of the old timers know I've since moved to Colorado. I still consider this forum to be a home away from home, so I'd like your thoughts on an article I wrote! I'll paste the content below as well, but I also had it published online. Thanks for taking the time to check out my work!


Link: http://www.acceleration-media.com/accelerants/?p=124




Is Your Car Living To Your Expectations?

Long have I been an auto enthusiast, and I’m fortunate enough to have driven a variety of cars; however I have only owned a few. During my experiences I have grown weary of certain cars for one reason or another. These cars all drove well, and in some cases were a blast to drive; however some of them left a bad impression. Surely you have encountered a situation at some point in time.

We all have preconceived notions and opinions when it comes to cars, everything from looks, feel, and some form of x-factor. When torn between two possible candidates, it is this ‘x-factor’ that often is the deciding factor of why we chose only one car. It is the same factor that draws you to a car time and time again, weather it be a friend’s car, or perhaps a car on an auto lot. One could say this feels like a strong gravity or magnetic pull that makes you long to drive the car again.

This ‘x-factor’ has been an elusive component to my most recent car: a 1999 Subaru 2.5 RS-T. For several years this car has been draining my blood, sweat and my wallet. Each time I made some changes I moved it ever closer towards a smooth operating machine, yet I was never really satisfied with the car.

You see, this ‘x-factor’ is our expectations. Having just replaced my previous car, which happened to be a sports car I never felt truly connected to my little Subaru. My new car was supposed to be more capable, but the little RS just didn’t have the same ‘x-factor’ as my last car. After several years time I finally realized the Subaru never had a chance to win me over as I was comparing it directly against something the car wasn’t meant to be. Goals and plans were quickly changed and as a result I feel happier with the car now more than ever before.

Our expectations can be quite fickle and it can be of value to know where yours may lay. It can mean the difference from spending money on a car that will never fill the void, to enjoying a lower performing car and being in love. This is why some people trade something such as a Subaru WRX for a Mazda 3s. When comparing the two, you may have two very different expectations for the two cars. The WRX may be compared to a sports car, while the little Mazda 3s would be a grocery getter. If you have experience with true sports cars, the WRX may feel lacking, while the 3s blew your expectations away as it was compared against a stereotypical family wagon.

In the end, what decisions we make with our cars and their modifications have a great deal to do with our expectations. Be sure to have your goals aligned with what you expect of the car before you start to make changes. Otherwise you are not being fair to the car, nor yourself.

Having read that, take some time and enjoy what your car was originally made for. Turn the radio off, and go for a fun drive and feel how the car communicates with you. The car is always communicating; you just have to be willing to listen.

 

sounds good to me.. now go get another rx7!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

+1 Subies are bad juju

 

Thanks for the compliment Allen. And I plan to get back into another Rx7 in the future. Truth be told my Subaru has been more of a pain in my rear than my old FC.

You know the wisdom: don't buy a modified car. Well, I am living proof of that. Everything the previous owners touched needed to be redone, and its been a rough ride.

Build thread here: http://www.rs25.com/forums/f145/t134...eza-2-5rs.html

I hope to get this up and running in the near future.

 

It's a good read, fairly short but right to the point, just how i like it.

I like the comparision between the WRX and Mazda3 because it's so very true. You expect power, thrills and excitement from a "World Rally Car" but a Mazda3 looks like something your mom would buy because it looks fairly sporty and cool but has lots of room for grocerys and make-up. And then bam, it's a fun little car to drive too.

 

Great article. We miss you guys.

You should trade the subi for an evo

 

This article really does reflect the type of arguments/discussions we use to have some time ago when you lived here in Olympia

Always having those sunny days outside wrenching on the rx7 and arguing like we were top gear hosts because we all had different outlooks.

Just to add a thought to this thread if you dont mind Clay....

What ever happened to someone building an Rx7 for what it was originally designed for? The Rx7 is a true sports car, design base from a light weight, great handling, high reving, and of course rwd platform. Yes there were draw backs like not enough horsepower to compete with its comparison, the Porsche 944 which was much more expensive and the Rx7 became the best bang for your buck. The main point of the matter is an "x-factor" was left out of design but all i ever hear is people wanting some sort of crazy horsepower number with no idea how to do it or not taking care of other issues prior. People cut their springs or install some crazy coilovers that are so low the suspension geometry is all screwed up and has no ground clearance. Installing huge fart can exhausts that yield no true power gains then ripping everything off the motor and asking "why doesn't my car run?". We need to see more builds where people focus on updating the Rx7 by useful, non expensive methods like new bushings, sways, koni inserts, and good quality springs. You dont have to be pushing 400hp in your rx7 to have a good time. Restore the car back to its original factory form by replacing these old worm components but take advantage of aftermarket parts when you can to improve what Mazda gave the car 20+ years ago. Always remember not to cut corners and replace some vac lines along with drivetrain fluids before you think of "how big of turbo can i use?".

"x-factor" in my rant is a factor that is missing in the design of the car but everything else your practically in love with, this x-factor is the power output. Restore your car to a condition where its not falling apart and embrace the fact of rx7's not needing huge power numbers to be a popular fun car to drive.

.......now you can focus on improving rwhp

that is all........sorry just some rant that was on my mind