10,000 mile update

[jeebus]

Well, my SWP Premium MT BRZ hit the 10k mile mark this week. I figured I'd share a few steps along in the journey.

The car was delivered in August (yes, I drive 20k miles per year) and I was very excited to get it! Honestly, I'm still just as excited every time I get in the car. It's a very comfortable place to be, and my 6'3, 180lb frame fits perfectly.

Not long after I got the car I knew I had to hit up an AutoX but after seeing the factory 0° camber up front I had to make a change. I decided OEM crash bolts was the way to go, and that got me around -1° camber...better than nothing! Plus for $10 or so, you can't beat it. I got the car aligned after that, setting the toe up just how I thought I'd like it, and I was right...loved it!

The car has been my daily driver, to-from work each day and has seen 5 AutoX events. The stock tires were pretty terrible to AutoX on, but they did the job and I did a lot of drifting. Fun stuff.

As for issues...the car hasn't been perfect but (knocks on wood), it hasn't been terrible either.

- I had the chirping DI pump but after a few AutoX weekends and a few K miles, it seemed to go away. Maybe it will come back this summer when the fuel has more ethanol in it? Who knows.

- I had the creaky rear deck area but fixed it with a punch and some lube.

- I had a minor oil leak that led to the smell of burning oil at times, but that seemed to go away after tightening up the bolts on the plate that goes on the block where the auto trans pump usually resides.

- I had a rattle that I found was coming from the shifter. Fixed that myself too.

- And I got hit and had to have the fender and headlight replaced, and the front bumper resprayed...ugh. She'll never be perfect I suppose. At least it wasn't worse.

I have done two oil changes. One at 2k miles and one at 7500 miles. Both with OEM Subaru oil and filters. What an easy car this is to change oil on. The interior is stock, I've been through a handful of muffler delete configs, and I run a test pipe for the second cat. Other than those minor things, the car is stock. Eventually wheels will come, probably suspension too. But I'm not rushing things this time around.

Despite being a fairly quick driver and going to 5 AutoX events, the car's on-board MPG average shows 30MPG. In real-world calculations that's more like 28.5-29MPG...still, pretty good for a fun car.

I got a new set of tires the other day...managed to kill the stockers in less than 10k miles. Replaced them with Continental Extreme Contact DW in the stock 215/45/17 size. These tires weigh the same as stock (20lbs), have more tread life, are more comfortable, and are much grippier. The car probably should have come with these. They aren't as grippy as RS3 or Z1/Z2 but they are great for daily driving. We'll see how they do at the next AutoX. I don't expect them to be the top of the heap, but they will DESTROY the stock tires at that event.

So anyway, that's where I'm at. Loving this thing every day I drive it. I've owned around 20 cars, many of them nicer, most of them faster, but none ever hooked me the way this one does.

[l0aded]

Thanks for the 10k update. Glad to see there aren't any major issues.

[chandz05]

Nice! I'm about to hit 10k too. Also took delivery last August hehe. Although mine is still bone stock, and I haven't had any issues with her, as well as no scrapes or bumps (knock on wood). The more I drive, the more I love

[thatWESguy]

we're in the same boat, about to hit 10k in the next month or so and also purchased in Aug. Glad to see things are going well =]

[whataboutbob]

Nice, just hit 20K yesterday myself. :happy0180:

[sbxjap]

Got my car end of last June.... didn't even hit 3000 yet, lol

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by whataboutbob

Nice, just hit 20K yesterday myself. :happy0180:

Keep up!

[bestwheelbase]

@jeebus great recap. Just out of curiosity, what cars are you competing against in the autocross series?

[Sport-Tech]

I'd call an oil leak more than a "minor issue" for a driver not in the habit of checking the dipstick between oil changes.

With the idle problem, taillight moisture, rattles, chirps, smells, stuck windows, and rear deck pop the twins have more new car issues than a Toyota should have (more than my 98 Tiburon did, that's for sure). Hopefully Toyota and Subie are being proactive, monitoring their dealers and forums like this and aggressively going after these issues to fix them by the 2014 model year.

[jimbobrand]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

I'd call an oil leak more than a "minor issue" for a driver not in the habit of checking the dipstick between oil changes.

You might want to familiarize yourself with this link:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26197

The leak isn't as bad as it would sound. It's literally a couple drops at most and doesn't even leave noticeable drops/puddles. It seems to be affecting a number of cars at different mileages and doesn't even register as a loss of oil on the dipstick even over several thousand miles. Currently, there are some owners that are making this problem known to Subaru and Toyota but there are just as many who are afraid to take their cars to the dealerships to have the issue docummented. You might want to check your own vehicle and see if there is some oil staining that plate because it's becoming more common.

Edit: I guess this doesn't really apply to you since you own a Tibby but others reading it could benefit from checking.

[jeebus]

Originally Posted by bestwheelbase

@jeebus great recap. Just out of curiosity, what cars are you competing against in the autocross series?

I've been running with the BMWCCA for years because they have great events out here. I run in in X class, which is everyone not a BMW. So whether my times are competitive or not really depends on who shows up. I have a lot of fun though, because a lot of my friends run too.

[jeebus]

Originally Posted by jimbobrand

You might want to familiarize yourself with this link:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26197

The leak isn't as bad as it would sound. It's literally a couple drops at most and doesn't even leave noticeable drops/puddles. It seems to be affecting a number of cars at different mileages and doesn't even register as a loss of oil on the dipstick even over several thousand miles. Currently, there are some owners that are making this problem known to Subaru and Toyota but there are just as many who are afraid to take their cars to the dealerships to have the issue docummented. You might want to check your own vehicle and see if there is some oil staining that plate because it's becoming more common.

Edit: I guess this doesn't really apply to you since you own a Tibby but others reading it could benefit from checking.

well said.

[GNS]

I'm glad that you're driving this car the way it was meant to be driven instead of tucking it away in a garage under a car cover, or driving it frugally to eke out the last MPG. This is how you know that you love your car - when you actually use it.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

I'd call an oil leak more than a "minor issue" for a driver not in the habit of checking the dipstick between oil changes.

With the idle problem, taillight moisture, rattles, chirps, smells, stuck windows, and rear deck pop the twins have more new car issues than a Toyota should have (more than my 98 Tiburon did, that's for sure). Hopefully Toyota and Subie are being proactive, monitoring their dealers and forums like this and aggressively going after these issues to fix them by the 2014 model year.

to be completely honest, i loved my 2000 celica gts BECAUSE it rattles, creaked, and made funny noises

truthfully, the way i feel about it.... it gives the car character...

i LOVED my last car because of it... fell in love with this car because of it too

theres something about rattly 90's cars that make me happy, and even though my car is brand new, the noises make me feel like im back a 90's car again thats exactly what i wanted

I like women like my cars, pretty on the outside, tiny imperfections on the inside. My girlfriend is pretty and shes also a klutz and a dork. woo!