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Phaedrus29's DGM Premium BRZ
Pic showing new tails and bumper light:
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps80e6809c.jpg Great pic taken by M-17 on the top of the Trop during the AC meet (4/6): http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps076822f1.jpg Clean car with Colins (2/14): http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...psaa12f078.jpg Red Colin Tails installed (on dirty car) (1/31): http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps904550a2.jpg PIC (11/29): (dropped on RCE yellows, 5axis wing installed, Perrin CBE) http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...30sdropped.jpg PIC (9/22): (clear sidemarkers and frameless mirror installed) http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps6b55d4de.jpg ----------- Well, it's time to start my car journal. The whole short experience of this car so far has been very emotional, filled with high peaks and deep valleys. Currently, I'm in a very sour mood (which you'll understand at the end of this post), so I hope that doesn't affect my initial comments too much. As some may know, based on a thread I started on the car (http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7186), I was initially unsure of whether to buy the car once it arrived at the dealership. I did a very short test-drive, to fill up the gas tank, and I immediately fell in love. My main concern with the car (coming from being a Mustang guy) was the low torque number, but it really felt lively and powerful...my worries quickly disappeared. So why the hesitation? Well, as I was about to return to the dealership later in the day to pick up the car, I was informed that the detailer found a scratch above the passenger rear wheel (that I'm fairly certain wasn't there earlier in the day). I took a look and it was a pretty deep scratch with some chips in it. To buy or not to buy????? (As I mentioned in the other thread, this is my very first new car purchase ever, so I had no idea whether these are normal issues people deal with when buying new.) Well, fast forward two grueling days and I went to see the car after the dealer fixed it up. The paint looked perfect from all angles, the dealer gave me a lifetime warranty on the paint on that panel, and a $250 gas card for the trouble. OK GIMME THE CAR! The dealer later emailed me saying that driving out I had the biggest smile he's ever seen. OK, it's dealerspeak, but it was probably true. I'm no expert driver or anything...pretty unexperienced driver, so my comments will not be technical at all. But before any comments, here are some pics of the car after a 30% tint (my first quick mod the day after taking delivery): http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...oto/mybrz1.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...oto/mybrz2.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...oto/mybrz3.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...oto/mybrz4.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...oto/mybrz5.jpg OK, now on to some more words. The car just handles amazing. Tonight I drove my friend's G37s and on one fairly sharp turn I was like woahhhh massive understeer. This is something I probably wouldn't have even recognized a week ago. But after the BRZ, which just goes exactly where I want it to, it was VERY noticeable. I have to say, the BRZ really didn't feel much slower than the G37s...go power of lightness! Another thing I love about the BRZ so far is that it just feels so exciting and fun at any speed. I mean, this is a bit of an exaggeration, but I was driving by a school zone at 25 mph and it still felt fun! I set the rpm light and buzzer to 4k rpm for the break-in, which is super useful. It's real nice with the buzzer, not having to watch the rpms but still respecting the break-in. Man I can't wait until 1k miles to really start seeing what she can do. After my day of driving today, I'm at around 250, but more on that in a bit. OK, this isn't the most important thing in the world, but the amount of attention this car is getting is kinda fun haha. Basically wherever I go people want to talk to me about it. "Woah is that the BRZ?" or..."What the hell is that?!?!?" "BRZ????, never heard of it??" "AWD right?" "Woah, how much did that cost, if you don't mind me asking?" Etc, etc, etc. It might get old at some point, but right now it's kinda fun sharing my excitement. Some other rambling points: I'm coming from a 1993 Mustang GT, so the BRZ has an amazing amount of fancy tech to me, not to mention a working AC haha. The bluetooth phone integration is super cool and I was able to really easily and instantly import all the contacts from my phone. Using my ipod touch through the nav unit is super easy and cool. Even stuff like auto up/down windows is new to me and nice to have. OK, more comments later, but here's the "deep valley" I was referring to that really has me in a horrible mood right now. Out driving tonight (two days after getting the car) with a friend we hit a raccoon that darted out in front of the car!!!!!! NOOOOOoooooooooooo!!!! I can take some very depressing pics later, but it appears that the front bumper has to go. :barf::iono::mad0259::cry::cry:. There aren't really sad enough emoticons to express how I feel right now. OK OK...at this point I'm hoping it's simply the bumper and that I'll be able to get it fixed ASAP. OK, back to crying. Wait, I don't want to end on a sour note, so...while on the topic of the bumper I have to say that while I didn't like the "moustache" in pics, it looks great in person. For a moment I thought...oh well, broken bumper, I might as well wait and upgrade to an aftermarket one. But then I realized how much I really enjoy the stock look. Never thought I would after the pics I'd seen. So, word to all those who aren't sure about the front bumper...wait to see it on your very own BRZ! |
OK, snapped some pics of the damage. Here is a wider shot...as you can see, it doesn't look HORRIBLE from a distance:
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/raccoon1.jpg But as you can see, after a closer look it gets really depressing...you can even see some hair from the damned raccoon: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/raccoon2.jpg Here I'm pushing the pieces up a bit so you can see the damage: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/raccoon3.jpg Another shot: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...o/raccoon4.jpg Oh well...at this point I just hope it's only the bumper. I did notice that the radiator is not straight up and down but is tilted inward at the bottom...is that how it comes stock? Please say yes. |
The Radiator is tilted as stock. It is likely fine.
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Phew ok thanks.
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Looks like we're DGM brothers. ;)
And noooooooooo! to the damage. I would feel exactly the same way. :(( |
Geeze, what the hell kind of raccoon did you hit? That seems like some pretty serious damage for such a small animal.
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Damn. Just damn.
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Awww man gratz on the car but damn does that suck about the bumper.
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Another comment about the car came to mind: The headlights are awesome, but there's one issue. Driving around I've had a bunch of people flash their brights at me when I didn't have my brights on. All I can think is that these headlights are so nice and bright that they are annoyingly bright to other drivers. Perhaps a small downward adjustment would help.
--------- Yes I have full coverage on the car, and a $250 deductible (although I'm not sure if they will even charge the deductible for this sort of incident). I'll be in touch with them first thing tomorrow and will report back. |
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http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1335297170 |
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sorry man <--dgm owner myself and i would be furious..
like 4 cars ago i bought a new mazda 3 and the windshield cracked on my way home from the dealer from some giant rock that fell |
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Actually, as per the Quick Reference Guide, it says: "To lower the beam, turn the knob to the higher numbers." So maybe I should try raising the beams from 0 to a higher number. I'll have to play with this. |
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Congrats on the car, but man....bad luck with that damage. Hopefully it can be repaired soon. After seeing this color, I'm now almost on the fence between that and the WRB. Looks good man.
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Congrats, and sorry at the same time! And here I was upset that I had a small knick on the front already from highway driving...
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brutal!
...nailed a turtle and something already dead in back-to-back days in my rsx. Just thought I'd throw that out there. |
damn! sucks about the raccoon!
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Sorry to hear about and see the damage that sucks BUT there is good news!!!! You have the first brz with front end damage i think anyone can chime in to correct me on this! How many people can say that in the world... Only you see always a bright side to everything!
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Wasn't a huge fan of this color at first, but like SWP and LR, it is really growing on me.
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What is it with DGM being the two first hit BRZ's?
Yesterday, I had someone back into it or something at the parking lot and dented/bent my bumper and busted my headlight assembly. http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...22824483_n.jpg |
Got my car back with the new bumper cover. What is wrong with this picture?????????????
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../newbumper.jpg |
did the holes in the bumper for a plate come pre-drilled?
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I kinda like it!
Any other pictures with better angles? |
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Some holes in the bumper...I'm not sure what there is to really like about it. But here's some more pics I snapped: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...urobumper2.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...urobumper3.jpg |
For one, it's original. It's quite possibly the only one in the country. that's pretty awesome!
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Lookin good! Hope you can make it out to the next KOP meet now!
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Yup I should be around now. Did you schedule another meet? |
First Brz to hit a raccoon!
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Sorry to hear about you hitting the coon! I hit one with my FR-S the other day as well. Had the car for 3 days. Luckily it was a baby and nothing was damaged...
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Installed some temp exhaust tips today to replace the dinky stock ones. Some quick pics:
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...hoto/tips1.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...hoto/tips2.jpg I posted more info on page 2 of this thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7275 |
I almost hit a cat once :( I shoulda honked the horn, it was walking really slow.
P.S. wanna see a pic of this driver... smexy. |
An Unluncky Day
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Some updates:
Installed some 18x8.5 +44 Volk RE30's. I found them used nearby and in minty condition for a great price: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../sunvolks3.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u.../sunvolks2.jpg The tires are 225/40 Michelin Pilot Super Sports. The grip is crazy improved over stock. Only thing I have to say is that it was super fun spinning those stock tires very controllably and I can't do that anymore...GRIP GRIP GRIP. Had a bit of an issue finding hubcentric rings for the wheels. First I tried some 67mm Gorilla ones...too big. 66mm Gorilla ones also too big. Then ordered some aluminum ones that are 65.1mm...also seemed too big but I was able to hammer them into the wheels. The next size down I found is 64.1mm, which is probably too small. Very odd, but I think the 65.1mm ones will work....they certainly aren't going anywhere! I have some centercaps on order and will update with new pics when they arrive. ----- I also just did my first oil change at 2500 miles. Man was it easy and clean, and it'll be even better next time now that I have a Fumoto installed. I went with the regular non-nipple version to avoid any clearance issues. And I used the Napa 0w-20 oil...I think/hope the oil quality is good enough, but the $3.50/qt seemed too good to pass up. I also sanded my lame dipstick which I suppose makes it slightly less lame. ----- I bought the 3-ton jackstands from Harbor Freight which do a nice job of clearing the pinch welds at the side jack spots. The only thing I don't know is how reinforced the car is on either side of those welds. MAYBE we are supposed to actually put the jack stands on the pinch welds, but they just seem so puny: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...mage_19651.jpg I also got the 2-ton Low Profile jack from Harbor Freight. It's pretty heavy but it works great with no clearance issues: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...mage_12360.jpg I tried the 2-ton lightweight aluminum racing jack first and I would NOT recommend it...it has some clearance issues in front. ----- I just swapped out the amber turn signals for chrome bulbs...very easy to do. Here's a before and after of the front: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...hromebulb1.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...hromebulb2.jpg And a before and after of the back: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...hromebulb3.jpg http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u...hromebulb4.jpg It's definitely a nice cleaner look, but the bulbs are noticeably dimmer than stock. I have some clear sidemarkers on order (and some chrome bulbs for those too)...will post pics when they arrive! |
Love it! :thumbup:
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