Dadhawk's FR-S (6AT Firestorm)

[civicdrivr]

I share the same sentiment regarding the dealers and only purchasing the car due to the First 86 program.

Congrats on a year DH, here's to many more!

Sent from my Nexus 4

[thill]

Dadhawk,

I have followed your car and and thread since the beginning and have loved reading through your car journal. We are quite similar (I have three kids, but much younger than yours with the oldest turning 8 this July). I loved reading the stories about your MR2 as I can totally relate, with my MR2 being a 1984 Mazda RX-7 GLS that I worked my tail off for in the mid 80's mowing grass and doing construction from the age of 14-17 (got the car in 1988 from a middle age woman who garaged it the whole time and took perfect care of it). I still miss that car and the other 2 RX-7's that preceded it.

Like you I have owned lots of cars since then and the BRZ is the first car that almost makes me forget those Mazda's. Almost...

So thank you so much for putting your thoughts into words and sharing your experiences. So many people look at a car as a machine that gets them from point A to point B, but you don't, and neither do the vast majority of folks who buy and appreciate the twins and that makes these cars something special.

Cheers!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by thill

I have followed your car and and thread since the beginning and have loved reading through your car journal.

Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad that my postings have provided some entertainment to you and others.

I came very close to buying an '84 RX-7 before the MR2. In fact, if hadn't been for a decision to go back to school at about that time, I would have probably owned one, and no doubt I would have loved it as much as you loved yours. I know I most have test driven one at every dealer in the DC area that sold them at the time!

[thill]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad that my postings have provided some entertainment to you and others.

I came very close to buying an '84 RX-7 before the MR2. In fact, if hadn't been for a decision to go back to school at about that time, I would have probably owned one, and no doubt I would have loved it as much as you loved yours. I know I most have test driven one at every dealer in the DC area that sold them at the time!

I lived in DC for a little over 7 years (1999-2006), when were you there?

When I was about 13 I got a subscription from my family to Car And Driver and just fell in love with the RX-7. Started saving my money then and there.. I would love to pass the BRZ down to my son, but you better believe he will work for it

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by thill

I lived in DC for a little over 7 years (1999-2006), when were you there?..

I was there 1983 - 1988.

[Dadhawk]

Started a new job about 30 days ago. One of the perks is this is the view out of my new office.

[Dadhawk]

I just recently passed the 20,000 Mile mark so thought it was time to update some of my projections on mileage. Based on my current average miles/day of 50, here are some milestones I should hit:

Once Around the Earth 24,901 09/21/2013
Warranty 32,000 02/10/2014
PowerTrain 60,000 08/24/2015
100,000 11/01/2017
200,000 04/24/2023
To the Moon 238,857 06/09/2025
2001 Astro Miles 289,000 03/08/2028
Goal 300,000 10/14/2028

As documented in the original post of this thread, I'm also averaging 32.5 MPG, and have "saved" $1,678 in fuel over my previous daily driver so far. That's about $4 a day, so if I do get to 300,000 miles the FR-S will technically be just about 7 months shy of "paying for itself" discounting any repair costs.

[Pbrown]

HID or H9 by philips.

First off nice thread. I am in the process of recording the lumens of the stock headlights. I am going to then install a brighter set of low beam lights, The H9's are 31% more bright than stock. after this is done I am going to install the 17% lamin X smoked protection over my headlights and document the results. If I am ever pulled over I will be able to show the police officer that what I have done to the headlights has not diminished the safety of the vehicle. I have a few officer friends in Canada and they have said I will probably still get a ticket but will win in court as I can prove I have actually made the safety of the vehicle better.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Pbrown

HID or H9 by philips.

First off nice thread.

Thanks! Wish I had hoped to actually contribute more but honestly after you sum up the car is a joy to drive, I have had no issues, and I'm leaving it stock for now, not much more to say!

Originally Posted by Pbrown

I am in the process of recording the lumens of the stock headlights. I am going to then install a brighter set of low beam lights, The H9's are 31% more bright than stock. after this is done I am going to install the 17% lamin X smoked protection over my headlights and document the results. If I am ever pulled over I will be able to show the police officer that what I have done to the headlights has not diminished the safety of the vehicle. I have a few officer friends in Canada and they have said I will probably still get a ticket but will win in court as I can prove I have actually made the safety of the vehicle better.

Most likely, when the time comes, I will replace the OEM bulbs with aftermarket of some sort, but not sure I'll go brighter. I'm quite happy with the throw of the OEM ones.

What I really want is built-in HUD night vision!

[Dadhawk]

My new route to work includes a Sunoco station that sells "pure" 90 Octane gasoline. I happened to be very close to empty near the station so I decided to pull in and give it a try even though it was a bit pricey (about $0.60 more per gallon than 93 Premium sold in the area).

Honestly, I couldn't tell an appreciable difference in the way the car ran. It didn't seem more or less peppy, and didn't make any strange noises. I don't have the crickets (at least that I can tell) so couldn't judge that. It didn't make them come alive in any case.

I did see a slight bump in fuel economy over previous tanks, up to 34.31 as calculated at the next fill-up. That's higher than my 21K mile average of 32.58, but not outside of the range I have seen at times. I would have to try 3 or 4 tanks before I could call it a "trend" but unfortunately, that isn't practical for me because of where the station is located in relationship to my driving patterns. I'm also a little leary of using too much "under spec" octane in the car.

It would be interesting to try some 93 in it, but I can't find any place that sells "pure" 93. Guess I'll keep looking.

[JR007]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

My new route to work includes a Sunoco station that sells "pure" 90 Octane gasoline. I happened to be very close to empty near the station so I decided to pull in and give it a try even though it was a bit pricey (about $0.60 more per gallon than 93 Premium sold in the area).

Honestly, I couldn't tell an appreciable difference in the way the car ran. It didn't seem more or less peppy, and didn't make any strange noises. I don't have the crickets (at least that I can tell) so couldn't judge that. It didn't make them come alive in any case.

I did see a slight bump in fuel economy over previous tanks, up to 34.31 as calculated at the next fill-up. That's higher than my 21K mile average of 32.58, but not outside of the range I have seen at times. I would have to try 3 or 4 tanks before I could call it a "trend" but unfortunately, that isn't practical for me because of where the station is located in relationship to my driving patterns. I'm also a little leary of using too much "under spec" octane in the car.

It would be interesting to try some 93 in it, but I can't find any place that sells "pure" 93. Guess I'll keep looking.

Thank you for all your posts in this thread; helpful information. I think I'll be ordering the trunklid liner and exhaust tips...all from your posts.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by JR007

Thank you for all your posts in this thread; helpful information. I think I'll be ordering the trunklid liner and exhaust tips...all from your posts.

Thanks. I'm always happy to help someone else spend their money! Maybe some of the vendors here could throw stuff my way if I told everybody how great it is (hint, hint).

[Dadhawk]

(I posted this in one of the "reactions to your car" threads but then remembered I had others in this thread so it seemed like for consistency I should post this here)

I went out to grab a quick lunch last week at the Waffle House near work. As I was leaving, a man in his early 20's was standing near my 86 with what turned out to be his Grandmother, a frail little whiff of a lady walking with a cane that was most likely in her mid to late 80's (should have asked if she was 86, but you don't ask a lady's age, particularly when she is carrying a cane). I assumed she was tolerating her grandson while he checked out my car. Boy was I wrong.

As I walked up this was the conversation. We'll call her Ethyl....

Ethyl: That sure is a nice little red car you have there young man. (I like her already)

Me: Thank you Ma'am.

Grandson: We should go now Grandma.

Ethyl: Yes sir, your little car brings back a lot of memories for me.

Me: How so?

Ethyl: Well, let me tell you...

We then spent the next 15 minutes or so with her telling me about her husband, and how when they met in the early 60's he was a "handsome young fella" driving a '57 Torch Red Thunderbird. They dated in that car and drove it away at their wedding. She even had a black and white picture of the two of them with the car she was kind enough to share.

She shared they owned several "little red cars" over the years besides the Thunderbird, including a mid-60's Corvette, a Mustang, a 240Z and a few others she couldn't remember what they were.

As she talked about it, you could see her straighten up, remembering her more youthful days, and the love of her life (her husband and his little red cars).

As we parted ways, and her grandson helped her up the steps, she looked back one more time at my car, the way you always hope a young lady looks back when you know she's "the one" and smiled and waved goodbye. Perhaps the twinkle in her eye meant she had seen her dear, departed husband reflected in the windshield.

If no one ever compliments my 86 again, I'll be OK with that, because it will never get any better than that moment.

[thill]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Thanks. I'm always happy to help someone else spend their money! Maybe some of the vendors here could throw stuff my way if I told everybody how great it is (hint, hint).

Yeah, I got the exhaust tip idea from you too. Pretty inexpensive and made a big difference.