Random thoughts thread

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by Porsche

Wow. That's low. That was in PR, right?

Here in the Midwest, our cars come in with about six miles. I have no idea why it's so much, but it's typically between 4-7 for all the cars we've bought for decades here. I like 2 miles better, but ...

yep... like I said, the fuel gauge didn't even move when I turned the car on... it literally ran in fumes to the gas station about 1.5 miles away... I drove it no passing 2K cause I didn't want to run out in the middle of the road

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

Tell them to not place the car where it's visible for people to window shop it... my dealership was actually nice enough to hide my car behind the work bays where it was away from prying eyes... of course it was part of the perk of me forcing them to allow me to make a 1K deposit to hold my car...

They already knew it was sold the second it arrived, and they where only getting one.

Yes! Excellent.

You don't want some family with their kids climbing all over your new car.

Lookieloos...

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by IntotheOcean

Yes, I can do this! Haha, Ill be sure to be assertive but also friendly too.

'Atta girl!

That's what we like to hear.

Think of your new career. Present yourself with a serious, self-confident mien, just as you will in the years to come in your new SERIOUS profession when you meet your customers. The ones who are alive...

I like this new-found sound of confident assertion, Ashley.

We have every confidence in you.

[Porsche]

A recap and more:

Do not test drive the car. It is not to be driven off the lot. You will drive it around the block quietly and just make sure it steers and brakes straight, the clutch, shifter, and brakes all work normally and there are no unusual sounds. Once you sign for it, it's yours. So, before signing, make certain that there aren't any obvious problems that would cause you to reject this car.

Do not fill the gas tank; you will drive it to the station and fill it with the salesman or yourself. Otherwise, they can contribute some money to you filling it on your own dime. The point is that they almost certainly do NOT have a 91- or 93-octane pump at the dealership. This car's engine can be DAMAGED by fuel with an octane rating less than 91.

Do NOT wash the car.

Do not remove the plastic protective material on the paint. You'll remove that when you pick up the car. There's not that much actually, and it'll only take around five minutes.

Peel the white plastic off and examine each body panel for damage. Eyeball the gaps along the seams. The gap around doors, hood, and trunk should be reasonably uniform. The panels should lie flush without any panel protruding in or out relative to adjacent panels.

Confirm that they installed the rubber grommets (found in the glove box) into the holes under the side sills just in front of the rear wheels. Take a hand mirror along to check them, or have the car put on the rack to see them. Search the forums here for photos. They're here.

How you doing?

You still with me?

It's good to have friends, don't you think?

[IntotheOcean]

Yes Haha, Ill be sure to do this thanks again!!

[Porsche]

Moving right along...

What? You thought we were done?

Noooo...

Before you drive your new car on your gentle test drive, perhaps to the gas station, first do a basic check: Oil, coolant, brake fluid, clutch fluid, and there is NO power steering fluid reservoir because this has electric power assisted steering, not hydraulic, unlike your current car. Check the accessory belt tension. Look for any oil or fluid leaks.



Now, check the tire pressures. For about $1 you can purchase a simple pencil gauge at WalMart. Get one if you don't have one.


Those four fist-sized rubber contact patches are what connect me to this earth, and they're the only thing standing between me and St. Peter. I take care of mine as you should yours.



Cars come off the transport trucks with around 45+ psi pressure for protection purposes. You'll want to lower that to the proper tire pressures of 35 psi front/rear. (That's my BRZ, and probably the same for your FR-S.) You'll find the recommended tire pressures inside the driver's door jamb, on your right as you stand facing the driver's seat.


Any questions so far?

[IntotheOcean]

Check fluids and make sure tire pressure is what it's supposed to be

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by IntotheOcean

Check fluids and make sure tire pressure is what it's supposed to be

Aye, y're a good lass, ye are.

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by IntotheOcean

Check fluids and make sure tire pressure is what it's supposed to be

Also keep your fluids in check... you might dehidrate when you start drooling over it

[Porsche]

Note well:

Oil is your car's lifeblood. The car's brand new. Sometimes things can leak. Check your oil level EVERY DAY for the first few hundred miles at least. You do not want to learn that you've been running on only one quart of oil because it leaked out, and/or was consumed in the combustion chambers. Our BRZ consumed a bit less than ½ quart of oil during the break-in period, and none since. This is normal, for a number of reasons.

Don't be like the young fellow with his new Civic Si a few years ago, who never checked his oil ... until the oil light came on. He had only one quart left in his new engine. Those Hondas had oil like Baby Oil and they just consumed it ferociously.

He wanted a new engine from Honda. They told him, "No."

You don't want to do that, right?

It is not unusual for gaskets to leak after a while following assembly. They probably won't, mine didn't, but some do. Be alert and responsible. It's up to you to check. You're the one footing the bill if things go awry, right?

Okay, then...

Also, check the pavement right beneath your engine, gearbox, and differential for oil drops. It will serve as an early warning alert. After taxes, you've got a $30,000 investment there. Take care of it.

[Luis_GT]

Our car has a common place where it leaks oil... don't know if they fixed it in newer models, and so far mine hasn't leaked... but it's good to know that if you see a leak, to check this part.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26197

[Porsche]

Something you can do before taking delivery:

Download the owner's manual and read the section towards the back that outlines pages of options that the dealer can change from their default values to something you might prefer by connecting to the car's ECU. These are not changes the owner can make. You may prefer to change some of the default settings, but again it must be done by the dealer with their electronic hook-up to the car; we cannot do it.

There's a lot of neat stuff there.

Dealers should offer to set these to the customers' wishes, but they never mentioned it to me (I don't think they even knew since mine was one of the first few ever delivered there), and I've only seen one other owner on the forums say the dealer showed him this stuff.

If you take it back later, they will almost certainly charge you for time and labor. That's expensive. Do it now for free.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

Our car has a common place where it leaks oil... don't know if they fixed it in newer models, and so far mine hasn't leaked... but it's good to know that if you see a leak, to check this part.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26197

Yes. Make a note of that, Ashley. You can reach the spot easily from the rear of the passenger fender area.

This is one of the few possible leak areas that are common to our cars. Maybe yours has been "fixed."

You need to keep checking it, though, over time.

Do you have some basic tools, some sockets?

[Luis_GT]

Originally Posted by Porsche

Something you can do before taking delivery:

Download the owner's manual and read the section towards the back that outlines pages of options that the dealer can change from their default values to something you might prefer by connecting to the car's ECU. These are not changes the owner can make. You may prefer to change some of the default settings, but again it must be done by the dealer with their electronic hook-up to the car; we cannot do it.

There's a lot of neat stuff there.

Dealers should offer to set these to the customers' wishes, but they never mentioned it to me (I don't think they even knew since mine was one of the first few ever delivered there), and I've only seen one other owner on the forums say the dealer showed him this stuff.

If you take it back later, they will almost certainly charge you for time and labor. That's expensive. Do it now for free.

You can!

with this magnificent lil tool!

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35530