You Don't Know What You're Doing: '15 WRB BRZ

[CFC BRZ]

I am not a car guy.
***
Hmm…probably not the best way to open a car journal on a forum dedicated to all things 86, but it is a true statement. I am what some may call a novice- a freshman, a noob, a know-nothing. If you ask me what a catch-can is, I’d likely say it is a recycled vegetable container used to collect draining oil. And don’t even bother asking me about the differences in various exhaust systems… I think one of my favorite football chants (usually reserved for the refs) is very appropriate:

I don’t know why I am not a car guy to be honest. Growing up, I had a massive Hot Wheels collection and raced them for hours on end down neon-orange tracks. My team of blue cars always won by the way (which I guess partially explains my current color selection). I also played around with some pretty sweet RCs and even collected die-cast models from Burago.

Maybe my interest died with me learning to drive in a Honda Odyssey or constantly stalling my dad’s Volvo 740 Turbo. Perhaps it was due to my first car being a reliable Honda Civic Hybrid which I deemed uncool and not worth the effort to explore. In any case, I never bothered to learn the intricacies of driving and maintaining a car. Car jargon, even what is found on this very site, is sometimes a foreign language to me despite the fact that I actually do speak a foreign language. Given a recent life changing purchase, it now behooves me to find my inner car guy…or at least learn enough to act like one.

Enter the 2015 WRB BRZ Limited

The day she arrived at the dealership. For the full story, check out the next post.

***

This car log, therefore, has a very important purpose and it involves you, the reader. This shall be a place for me to post my ramblings, research, and efforts as I attempt to make the BRZ my own. I will learn about maintenance, upkeep, and modifications. Most importantly, I hope to acquire the assistance of the community in the form of encouragement, admonition (because I will do something stupid), advice, and helpful internet linkage. In return, I promise to provide photos and some lame attempts at humor.


***

In my other non-car-guy life, I am a historian. I teach history at the University of New Hampshire and specialize in Late Medieval England as well as the Swedish Empire. If you are having difficulties falling asleep, I encourage you to watch one of my

.

I reenact as well:

If you think car buffs are an interesting group, try hanging around reenactors. Make one anachronistic mistake...

Alright, enough digression.
On With The Show!

[CFC BRZ]

The Epic Car Acquisition Story

Having completed my graduate studies in England, I returned to New Hampshire to begin the job hunt. Unlike England, where I could walk to and from anywhere, the nature of American expansion made that a less promising prospect. My girlfriend at the time (now wife) was on the hunt for a new car herself so we swung by the local Toyota dealership. Rows and rows of Corollas, Camrys and Rav4s. But alas! One thing was definitely not like the other and I made a straight line to what turned out to be a Scion FRS in Firestorm Red. What on earth was this thing? Keep in mind, I was living in England exploring castles and dusty archives so I had no TV and thus no access to all the commercials. Perhaps the salesmen smelled blood in the water as they immediately surrounded me. They definitely didn’t have to bend my arm to take it for a test drive! To be honest, I loved the look of the car but the drive threw me for a loop. It felt…odd. Perhaps it was due to me not driving anything for a year or perhaps I just had no clue how to drive a rear wheel sports car. I left with no urge to investigate further…

Time passed and I eventually settled on a used Ford 500 (it is a bloody Taurus, Ford! Hey, who let the Mercury Montego in?). At one point, however, I mentioned my FRS interaction to a friend of mine- a self-professed Subaru WRX fanatic. His immediate and natural response was: “Scion sucks, look at the BRZ”. Great, another acronym for a car.
I looked up the BRZ and saw it in world rally blue. Wow. I loved everything about it. It is almost like I forgot my FRS driving experience entirely and I decided to give the BRZ a try. Long story short, I test drove it and absolutely loved it. Going from a Ford 500 to the BRZ can definitely do that, I think. And in January 2015, the deposit payment was made.
***

“Three months”…that is what the dealer said. The car had to be ordered and it would take three months. The largest Subaru dealer in New England has that kind of pull, y’know. Then I got the call that delivery was pushed out to the end of June (1 BRZ for every some odd FRS nonsense). Then the California dock strike hit and my delivery date hopped all over the place.
I received a call on May 15th telling me my BRZ arrived (how, I don’t know) and asking me if I wanted to pick it up. If the salesman actually looked at his notes or recalled any conversation with me, he would’ve known I was up in the White Mountains getting married. I politely declined saying it wasn’t an option and he promptly followed up with the plan of him bringing it to me. What part of “I’m at my wedding” could not be understood?!! Still, it was quite the nice wedding present.
***

I left specific instructions that the car not be touched- that all the tape and wrapping stay on and that they don’t even think about adding their dealer stickers or license plates. The plan was to pick it up and immediately drop it off for Opti-Coat. My research suggested that there was no better time to opti-coat a car than when it is brand-spanking new. I arrived at the dealer and all the wrapping was off and the stickers on. Well hey, at least they didn’t wash it…although I did get one very confused text asking me why I wouldn’t let them. Ugh.


Pick up at the dealer (with my new wife's new Rav4 behind it)


First day home- May 18th, 2015

But now I have her and she is opti-coated. Whew!

Glorious, glorious opti-coat

[D_Thissen]

Sub'd!

[Ultramaroon]

ditto!

[Chad11491]

Originally Posted by CFC BRZ

If you ask me what a catch-can is, I’d likely say it is a recycled vegetable container used to collect draining oil.

I worked at an aircraft restoration shop that specialized in vintage aircraft my last year of college, and one time an aeronca champ came in with a baby bottle as a catch can. it was a prepurchase inspection and we all got a laugh out of it after the initial shocked double take lol.

but welcome! looking forward to where this goes

[Tectoniic]

subbed just because I drove my parents Honda Odyssey in the past and don't tell anyone but I actually really liked that van

[kuczynskika]

I may not be into the medieval, but I'm down with early modern literature i.e Shakespreare, Spencer, Moore, Sidney etc. (recently graduated with a BA in Literature) and I own a BRZ too! You made a good purchase right there. From one newb to another, enjoy the the journey. The learning is rewarding!

[RobertPaulson]

don't worry, even if you knew what you were doing, thousands of people on the internet will tell you that you've done it wrong .

good choice on the color

[CFC BRZ]

Many thanks for the warm welcome!

The Epic Car Acquisition Story is now posted above. Writing it made me anxious, angry, and stressed all over again.
Could've simply driven an FRS off the lot *grumble grumble.


First Discussion Point!

I've noticed that when I accelerate after a cold start (usually after reversing out of a parking spot), my car rumbles for a few seconds. The vibrations seem to emanate from the rear of the vehicle. It definitely didn't seem right to me.

To the interwebz! My search-fu brought up countless forum posts about knocking, humming, vibrating, rumbling and countless other sounds.

Thank goodness for Youtube and all the amateur videos recording every kind of sound coming from cars. Given the multitude of verbiage, I tried to abridge the vernacular down to a single word- it was definitely rumbling.

My dealer said it was the breaks not releasing quick enough and not to worry. My search-fu said it was the Limited Slip Differential and that it is quite normal.
Have any of you experienced the LSD rumble from a cold start? Is it, in fact, the LSD or something else entirely?

Cheers!

[Ultramaroon]

You may not be a car guy but the search-fu in you is strong. You are correct. Note that it only happens when you are accelerating through a sharp turn.

Feel the wheels resist turning at different speeds. You are beginning your journey well, young padwan.

[JellyForSale]

Loved reading what's here so far! Your style of writing as well as pacing made me sad the journal is only as long as it is thus far! Please keep us posted

[CFC BRZ]

Well...it happened...

2 months in and it happened...

Condensation in the light fixture:



But thankfully not in the head or tail lights as occurred too often in the first production year.

I own Helix light smoke side markers ordered from FT86SpeedFactory. After some torrential rains, I noticed the left side was full of water. A quick email later, the guys sent me a new side marker free of charge. Props to them!!!

I pulled out the old light and took a look. No major cracks from what I could see. My guess is a seal or joint wasn't fully closed and water just seeped in over time.

Regarding the side markers, they were my first mod to the car. I couldn't stand the orange plastic. Yes, yes, for all of you out there with art degrees I know blue and orange are complimentary colors...
I ordered the light smoke because I thought it best matched the front lights. I was pretty close and am very happy with them. Also added some amber LED bulbs so the swap is technically legal!



Speaking of legal, I live in NH. Our state motto is "Live Free or Die". I tend to say "Live Free AND Die" because of how lax some of our rules are. You don't need a helmet to drive on a motorcycle (one of three states) and we don't have a seat belt law for adults (dumb if you ask me).
AND YET, we have rules for side marker color, tinting, tail lights, etc...

I would love to get some Valenti tail lights but I want to make sure I can have an all-red light. Are Valenti's legal in most states anyways? I see quite a few on the forums.

Cheers!

[racing_reject_001]

I also live in nh and some of the rules are insane -_- im not overly sure about the taillights being legal or not,but nice car man hoping to pick a wrb brz soon myself (saving up for a down payment now)