No Mautovation

[evolutionmovement]

I have no motivation for this car anymore. I really want the car running, but it needs so much shit and it will still look like ass anyway until the bodywork is done. I've been spending all my time working on the house because I'll get money back from it and it's much cleaner work with much more impressive results I see everyday. I think marine mechanics partly turned me off to filthy work since you could wash your hands at the end of the day and actually have them clean. Though I'd much rather build a RWD '84 hardtop than this car also. If I didn't write this car into four books, I'd likely get rid of it. It's really lucky I can't bear the thought of it in a junk yard and keeping it is a way of relieving my guilt for having to junk my '84 wagon.

Once I trade my 3 in for a 'Speed 3 I won't really need a fast car, especially one that requires time I have too little of and too divided anyway. I'd also like to build my own car and just don't see where I'd have the room unless I pave the backyard and give in to the inner white trash I struggle to supress. I don't know, I'm not getting rid of the car, but I wish I had more motivation to finish it. Damn new cars just make it too easy.

[magicmike]

I feel your pain. I held on to my 87 gl wagon as long as I could. it finally got dangerous to drive because the brake lines were rotting and I'd lose the brakes all the time. What is it with the damn subaru curse? other poeple look at me like I'm an asshole because I like subarus. I mean sure I have a pretty nice infiniti sitting in the street and I chose to park my subaru in the driveway and drive it daily. Whats wrong with that?

[entirelyturbo]

Despite the cool things I'm hearing about the new MS3 around the dealership, make it harder on yourself... don't trade your current 3 in.

If you can transfer your thoughts of boost withdrawals to Duchess, you should have more motivation to build her into the car you want it to be.

You know you want to keep her anyway.

[evolutionmovement]

I read the review of the MS3 at Laguna Seca and they said you could hardly tell it was front wheel drive, which is what the regular 3 is like, also. I like that they made the speed version look only subtly more aggressive and I like that it's direct injection and a relatively high compression ratio. If these cars were RWD instead I'd have no use for anything else. These cars are better in the snow and rain than my fwd Legacy and handle in another class once adapted to the driving style. If a car handles well at Laguna Seca it has got to be well sorted. I also like the new blue color they have.

My Legacy is no longer under the radar like the 3s are. With it's body in bad shape, shitty looking headlight conversion I did, and age, it stands out to cops. I've sailed through several radar traps in the Mazda so far since it blends in and doesn't seem to have a speeder's car reputation. The speed 3 is a done deal once they come out and the probable mark up goes away. I have 32k on the current one with just under a year of ownership and would like to trade it before it's worthless.

The only reason I haven't imported an '84 from the west coast is a possible book tour in which I'll need the wagon.

[LaureltheQueen]

buy mine.

[evolutionmovement]

And do the Devil Bunny twin turbo EZ30 and fan system? Too much for me - I'll have to keep that fictional. I'd probably be done with these cars altogether if I didn't fix this one up.

[BAC5.2]

I know the feeling Steve. It's a rough thing to deal with.

The saving grace is the fact that the Legacy will always be something you did yourself. You'll never see the return on your time or money with it, but you will see the fruits of your labor when you drive it.

There is no better feeling than to cruise around in something totally badass that you built yourself.

The Speed3 will be fun, fast, and probably handle better than your Legacy, but it's different.

I prefered driving my Legacy to any number of ridiculous cars both stock and modified. It was because it was MY car, and it was MY blood and sweat that was in it (not like in the interior, but like in the making of what it is). I learned from it, I experienced it, and holy shit was it fun.

When you finally finish Duchess, the glory that will be once you finish it will be unbelievable. You'll drive around, knowing every quip and quirk of the car, you'll know that your the only one who can drive it to the best of its ability, and you'll be the only one who can say that you did something no one else has.

It's a good feeling, and I know you still feel it. It's why you still keep Duchess around. It's why you still own a Subaru when there are other cars out there that you like better. It's something that is definately a "disease" and it's something most of us are fairly proud of.

You are addicted, don't try to fight it.

Oh, and be sure to let us all know when the book is finally released, and plan a stop in Maryland when you go on tour!

Phil

P.S. The Speed3 has a hell of an interior. I'm on the fence about direct injection though.

[206er]

I'm in somewhat of the same place with my car, but at least it runs. most of the time.
now I'm just going to quiet the exhaust down some, do basic upkeep on the car and beat the shit out of it until something major happens. then its part the car out keeping the motor to put into something a lot lighter for a fast 30mpg DD, and get a samurai and a toyota parts truck to have something to beat on.
oh, new moto is coming today. 85mpg, ~300lbs wet, handles rather well, thumper, got it for less than a months rent.

[evolutionmovement]

The Speed3 interior isn't much different than the standard one, which I really like anyway.

Phil, what you said about having your own car is what I've written in the books several times. My problem is that the car's been out of action so long and getting it to a point where it's nice again or even runs at all is so much that I just don't know if I care anymore. It's a lot of work and in the end it's not like I've built something completely unique like one of the three-wheel WWII fighter- inspired cars or twin-engined modern tribute to old-school LSR cars. I don't have the skills for that yet, but it's something I'd rather put my time into.

Everything except the alignment I need to do myself on this car since no one else will do it right (like double galvanizing all the metal, for instance) and I don't have the time nor much of the interest for the effort involved. Really, the books are what's saving this car and two turbo engines from being sold off as an unfinished project. Though, I kind of wrote it in for this reason since I figured this may happen some day, but really I'd rather just buy something that I can just hop into and go. I really just don't want to get dirty working on cars anymore - I don't even feel like doing oil changes.

[93forestpearl]

Damn. You sound serious.


I say ditch the chassis, and keep both EJ22T's. Or just both blocks. The rest is trivial. Someday you'll be sick of messing with the house, and wish you still had at least one of the motors to play with. You could do a real slow buildup, and keep the faith. When you are ready for a project car, you could find a chassis, and do it right and proper from the get go.


Just don't be a quitter.

[evolutionmovement]

I've got no use for another chassis as it's this car in particular or no Legacy at all. It's really a sentimental thing that's keeping it around. I'd rather have any manner of weirdo car as a toy than another Legacy. If I was going to have something I need to work on I'd rather have a Saab Sonnet III, old Volvo, Lotus Europa, or Alfa Romeo.

Phil, what's wrong with direct injection? Better fuel metering, cooler combustion chambers for less knock. The only downside I can think of s high fuel pressure.

[jamal]

I went a pretty long time where I basically just changed my oil and filled it with gas and drove to work. Lately I've gotten back into it. I think sometimes you just need to take a break from the car stuff.

[BAC5.2]

Direct injection has it's drawbacks. Mainly, because you have to flow SO much fuel in SO little time that it's tough for the injectors to keep up. When you mod, it exaggerates this even more.

I drove one of the first Speed6's, and it was awful. You could feel the hesitation and sputtering as the injectors couldn't keep up with the RPM.

We haven't gotten to play with them yet. We might pick up the Speed cars for go-fast soon. But the direct injection is the biggest factor right now. If it cannot be worked around safely and efficiently, the mod potential of the car is in jeopardy.

Of course, the Speed6, and I'm sure the 3, was a total blast. It's a good supplement to a WRX. Pretty quick, quiet, and comfortable enough for a family. I wouldn't outrule buying one.

[entirelyturbo]

It is still new technology, and needs some kinks worked out, but I think it is advantageous overall.

Yeah, fuel pressure needs to be high. One of the techs that just got back from the school for that engine said the fuel pressure at the injectors is something like 800psi. Two fuel pumps, one regular one in the tank, and another before the rail I think he said that increases pressure some 700psi over the tank one.

And yes, this limits tuning abilities somewhat. However, due to the lower chance of detonation that Steve mentioned (these engines are 9.5:1 CR by the way ), boost can be turned up a bit without quite as many consequences.

[evolutionmovement]

Audi won how many championships and LeMans with the R8 much with the benefit of direct injection. I have no intention of modding the car so as long as it drives fine I'm happy. Though with the high compression ratio, it should respond well. I hope it isn't ruined by hesitation.

I think I may even be leaning towards Mazda and away from Subaru because of the newer association. Used to be all cool people like the ones on this site, but we're becoming a shrinking minority. Saw two diagonal hatters in STIs today. I'm getting embarrassed to be a Subaru fan. Anytime too many people are into something they ruin it. Mazda's not there yet. The car lacks the personality of the Subaru and the offroad capability, but it handles great, gets better gas mileage, and is a great price.

The other thing about the Speed 3 is the speed limiter doesn't kick in until 155. That 115 on the regular 3 is bullshit. I know, I know, I shouldn't be going that fast anyway, but I do, so it would be nice if it could accomodate me. The engine's certainly got the power at that point still.

[Richard]

IIRC, Mazda is to Ford as Saab is to GM? I know there's the Escape/Tribute thing.

[entirelyturbo]

Yes. Ford owns Mazda 100%, just as GM owns Saab 100%. That doesn't mean that every Mazda is a pure Ford product, Mazda still has factories in Japan, they still have their own engineer and design teams, etc. etc. But Ford writes the checks for all that stuff.

The Escape and Tribute are the same, as are the Ranger and B-series truck, those are Fazdas as we affectionately call them around the dealership... Fords with Mazda badges.

There are other Ford parts spread through the line of Mazda vehicles though.

In response to you though Steve, you don't have to be part of the Subaru crowd. Hell, I don't even hang out much with the non-F&F Subaru crowd here locally. Many of them compete in amateur motorsport in the interest of self-improvement and use some common sense when modding their cars, but they still don't seem to have the same enthusiasm that I feel I do. Even the 2.5RS guys still scratch their head when it comes to cars of our vintage. But I don't let it phase me, because I'm doing what I like.

[evolutionmovement]

The good thing about Ford as a parent is that they let their divisions run more independently. Aston Martin, for instance, is pretty much entirely removed from Ford as far as manufacturing goes, making it an easy sell for Ford if the rumors are true. The 3 is built in Japan and unless they upped their stake, they own 33% of Mazda and have put them in charge of developing their small car platforms.

GM as a parent would be terrible - look at Saab. They recently dumped their shares of Subaru to Toyota since Subaru refused to build shit like GM wanted. The attempted merger with Fiat was a disaster for them also. I imagine those board meetings were entertaining, though.

[thefultonhow]

I hate to say it, but the Mazdaspeed3 is itself going to become a favorite of the crooked-hatters. Large amounts of performance plus a cheap buy-in price equals lots of ricers.

[evolutionmovement]

Except they're not selling many.

[thefultonhow]

The question then is, will you be able to get one at or below sticker?

[evolutionmovement]

That's all the deciding factor on whether or not I get one. I won't pay over sticker for a car unless it's an Aston Martin and if I could afford one it wouldn't matter.

My other option is the Volvo C30 when that comes out unless they price it too high. I won't pay more than $24k for a car I'm going to have for two years or less and putting 40k+ miles a year on.

A friend of mine buys new Cavaliers every 5 years and junks them at the end since he puts 60k hard miles a year on. That's right, on a Cavalier! He said he got 295k out of an Escort and the Cav he was at 260 when I saw it last. I couldn't stand to be in such a shit box for that long a time, though, so pragmatism compromised and put a reasonable ceiling on price.