NorCal (Bay Area) OFF-TOPIC Chat Thread

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by finch1750

I plan to get new gauge faces eventually that block it out, but I'll live with it for now. Dont really have a choice since I sold my tpms with my stock wheels lol

[sonnydelight]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

Welcome! Lots of people to meet around here. It's a great community. Do you like craft beer?

Thanks! I love craft beer.

Originally Posted by MisterSheep

We have a monthly dublin meet which is this Friday.
check out this thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=36028&page=36

We also have a meet today down in the San Jose Area.
Check out this thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=50749&page=72

We also have Bi-weekly Tuesday meets for the SF Peninsula.
Check out this thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=80683&page=17

For anything more on local track events/auto-x/meets etc. in the bay area check out; http://86drive.com/




And welcome to the Bay Area

This is awesome info. Thanks!

Any epic roads you guys can recommend me? I'm thinking Pebble Beach will be one of my first trips in the FRS.

Also, has anyone done track days at Laguna Seca or Sonoma?

Some quick pics:

[sonnydelight]

Originally Posted by PMok

Welcome to the Bay Area! @MisterSheep covered a lot of the local meet info. The SF/Peninsula group also does gokarting night every month, look for the gokarting thread for the details on that (or also on the Events calendar on 86DRIVE.com).

In terms of track days, you may want to mark Dec. 12-13 on your calendar. The final 2 rounds of our NorCal 86CUP time attack competition will be at Laguna Seca that weekend and all are welcome, whether track junkie, newbie, or just spectator.

Totally missed your post. Dec 12-13 sounds awesome. I'll probably just spectate. Will they be doing parade laps and/or ride-alongs?

[strat61caster]

Bah, sitting here thinking 'fuck it, I don't need to have savings, lets just do all the preliminary suspension work this winter, pickup the next deal on wheels I see and go racing STX next year, what's the worst that could happen?'

Actually did the mental math, wouldn't be fussed about dropping money on the coils and lca's asap, keep an eye out for a deal on wheels, get good rubber in the spring time...

[PMok]

Originally Posted by sonnydelight

Totally missed your post. Dec 12-13 sounds awesome. I'll probably just spectate. Will they be doing parade laps and/or ride-alongs?

86CUP is very much a grassroots amateur level competition so most of us don't take it too seriously... bring a helmet and ask one of us for a ride along anytime! Certainly I don't mind taking passengers along, I'm (mostly) out there to have fun and am happy to give rides and I think many others feel the same way.

last year we did a group photo at the end of the day out on track, and all 86s were welcome to join us out there for that. There's a good chance we will do the same this year I think.

Originally Posted by sonnydelight

Any epic roads you guys can recommend me? I'm thinking Pebble Beach will be one of my first trips in the FRS.

This list should get you started. It's a work in progress, but the first 2, Hwy 9 and Hwy 84 are some of the best roads in the Bay Area, and can be combined along with a drive down the coast on Pacific Coast Highway (aka PCH or Hwy 1):

http://86drive.com/roads/

[MyRx]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

Yeah, I think I'd rather spend a little more and get the FA's. What advantages does the Swift spring upgrades provide? They're an additional $325 I think, not sure if I can justify that for my needs. Would rather put that towards quality LCA.

So I should stick with LCA's? Bringing back the camber to neutral from the natural negative camber that results from lowering the car should also help bring the toe out back to neutral, right? If not, like you said, they can adjust the toe more from the stock toe arms?

Better quality and balanced spring rates with Swift.

Yes, LCAs. OEMs cambers on either side (rears) differs from side to side. Lowering your car will change all that and most beneficial are LCAs. Once lowered, adjustable LCAs and OEM toe arms will straighten you out. Saving your tires and improving handling.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by MyRx

Better quality and balanced spring rates with Swift.

Yes, LCAs. OEMs cambers on either side (rears) differs from side to side. Lowering your car will change all that and most beneficial are LCAs. Once lowered, adjustable LCAs and OEM toe arms will straighten you out. Saving your tires and improving handling.

But why upgrade to Swift springs? I get why to upgrade to roller bearings, which I will.

Cool, LCA only it is. I hate negative camber and toe out.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

But why upgrade to Swift springs? I get why to upgrade to roller bearings, which I will.

Cool, LCA only it is. I hate negative camber and toe out.

Swift is one of the best spring manufacturers around. Their coil design allows for more compression equalling a better ride with less noise. They also have rates that are way more consistant than other offerings. They are a worthy upgrade for sure.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Swift is one of the best spring manufacturers around. Their coil design allows for more compression equalling a better ride with less noise. They also have rates that are way more consistant than other offerings. They are a worthy upgrade for sure.

Oh, I know Swift is one of the best spring manufacturers, but if it's just a DD for me, wouldn't the regular springs that FA has on their 500 coilovers be sufficient? I'm just not seeing the value in the Swift springs to make me do the upgrade. I would think FA's regular springs would be of quality where the spring rates would be consistent. Unlike the RB upgrade, I can see the value in that since it'll mitigate spring binding/noise.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

Oh, I know Swift is one of the best spring manufacturers, but if it's just a DD for me, wouldn't the regular springs that FA has on their 500 coilovers be sufficient? I'm just not seeing the value in the Swift springs to make me do the upgrade. I would think FA's regular springs would be of quality where the spring rates would be consistent. Unlike the RB upgrade, I can see the value in that since it'll mitigate spring binding/noise.

Thats up to you, I was simply providing facts on why they are better. Personally I would run Swifts if I got the FAs (the car I drove had them). My Feal 441 come standard with Swift springs.

This link is to a guy who did spring dyno testing. Its with Megans but he mentions a lot of other brands he tested prior (non of which being very accurate). The more innacurate the more poor a match to the dampening and the worse the ride quality. FA is an entry level coil, I wouldnt expext their standard springs to be super impressive.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...gs-dynoed.html

But its up to you if you feel its worth the $400. It is to me and many others but its your car and not anyone elses. Just do as much research as you can beyond taking my word for it until your are confidant in whatever you choose.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Thats up to you, I was simply providing facts on why they are better. Personally I would run Swifts if I got the FAs (the car I drove had them). My Feal 441 come standard with Swift springs.

This link is to a guy who did spring dyno testing. Its with Megans but he mentions a lot of other brands he tested prior (non of which being very accurate). The more innacurate the more poor a match to the dampening and the worse the ride quality. FA is an entry level coil, I wouldnt expext their standard springs to be super impressive.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...gs-dynoed.html

But its up to you if you feel its worth the $400. It is to me and many others but its your car and not anyone elses. Just do as much research as you can beyond taking my word for it until your are confidant in whatever you choose.

When you say FA is an entry level coilover, are you referring to the 500? I just want to make sure it's a quality coilover, or is it pretty much the same as less expensive coilovers, such as Megan, KSport, etc? If that's the case, I might just go with the Tein Flex Z (even though they don't seem to go as low as the FA500).

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

When you say FA is an entry level coilover, are you referring to the 500? I just want to make sure it's a quality coilover, or is it pretty much the same as less expensive coilovers, such as Megan, KSport, etc? If that's the case, I might just go with the Tein Flex Z (even though they don't seem to go as low as the FA500).

Yes Im talking about the FA500 which is their entry level coilover. Starts around $1k and with all options it is still under $1500 i believe. They are better then Megan, Ksport, etc. I consider those below entry level honestly. These are a step above BC imo. They even had an engineer on the forum for a minute that gave us straight answers, shock dynos, and told us "that was marketting bs" stuff so got a lot of respect. I havent driven on Flex Z but they seem to be a great option and a fraction of the cost for sure.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Yes Im talking about the FA500 which is their entry level coilover. Starts around $1k and with all options it is still under $1500 i believe. They are better then Megan, Ksport, etc. I consider those below entry level honestly. These are a step above BC imo. They even had an engineer on the forum for a minute that gave us straight answers, shock dynos, and told us "that was marketting bs" stuff so got a lot of respect. I havent driven on Flex Z but they seem to be a great option and a fraction of the cost for sure.

Yeah, I would rather stay stock than think about Megan, KSport, etc.

As long as they're decent coilovers that won't crap out on me quickly, I don't mind entry level. But if the FA500 is not that much better in terms of quality than the Flex Z, I'd rather just go with the Flex Z. I still have to find a rear LCA. (-_-)

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

Yeah, I would rather stay stock than think about Megan, KSport, etc.

As long as they're decent coilovers that won't crap out on me quickly, I don't mind entry level. But if the FA500 is not that much better in terms of quality than the Flex Z, I'd rather just go with the Flex Z. I still have to find a rear LCA. (-_-)

The FA are quality, dont get me wrong. Just saying The Swift is an upgrade in quality (not just here but over a lot).

Like I said I havent driven on the Flex Z. I *think* the FA is probably a bit more performance oriented with the upgrades, but its probably pretty close. And if CSG vouches for the Flex Z I dont usually disagree with guys that have done so much hands on testing