What fun car do you have and what have you done to it ?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › What fun car do you have and what have you done to it ?

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340 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1071182 20-Jun-2014 17:28

I'll join the trend that seems to be forming, I drive a 2000 jdm wrx wagon. Only changes are a decent head unit, speakers and some decent rubber.
Found out after the fact that I should have bought mag's for it as the stock 16's are an uncommon size here so the cost was not far off 17's with new mags.

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Coil

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#1071224 20-Jun-2014 18:22

Poll: I'll join the trend that seems to be forming, I drive a 2000 jdm wrx wagon. Only changes are a decent head unit, speakers and some decent rubber.
Found out after the fact that I should have bought mag's for it as the stock 16's are an uncommon size here so the cost was not far off 17's with new mags.

WRX, Whew bro. Subi power aye :)

Cool tho, Is it proper JDM or have you done JDM like mods.

Jaxson

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#1071226 20-Jun-2014 18:34

White Mazda MPV family wagon. I added a cigarette lighter usb charger, which has a blue LED on it.
And I put some coins in the dash coin holder, for use in parking meters.
Oh and it's got 2 ceiling overhead lockers, so I can put my sunglasses up and there the wife can put hers in the next slot. That reads back dodgy...

MikeB4

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#1071233 20-Jun-2014 18:43

Our vehicle for fun is a Suzuki Grand Vitara. Added a tow bar, Prorack roof racks, camera box, Fishing rod rack. Our day to day vehicles are stock standard except mine which also has a tow bar and roof racks.

geoffwnz

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#1071270 20-Jun-2014 20:01

1998 Ver 5 STI. Slowly being turned into a full race car.
Engine blew in September so it got a full ground up rebuild.
Gearbox replaced with a DCCD box out of a coupe.
Saving up for the roll cage which will hopefully get fitted in August. Followed by gravel spec bits (underbody protection, mud flaps, rally rims etc). Then the real fun begins. :-)

MotorDrive Rallying

JamesL

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#1071309 20-Jun-2014 21:23

I recently sold my 2008 WRX STI Spec R

Driving a Mazda Demio, auto no less, at the moment :D

DravidDavid

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#1071324 20-Jun-2014 22:02

This is our 1997 Toyota Caldina GT-T ST215. It looks great on the outside, but we are in the process of "unstuffing" it.

Some boy racer guy in Christchurch painted it and screwed a crappy boost gauge to the dash, put the stock shocks on king springs and low profile tyres as well as strapped a big bore exhaust tip to the end with number eight wire. Someone paid to have it shipped up from Christchurch and we picked it up for $3,500. The exhaust actually fell off while my girlfriend was driving to me to remove it! About the only good modification made was the custom paint job. Cheap paint for sure, but everything has been sprayed bar the engine bay. We are considering re-spraying it the same colour with better paint and clear coating it properly!

- So far the exhaust has been replaced with straight pipe until I get the quad exhaust tips custom made.
- Literally just came back from having new performance suspension installed on proper shortened shocks and custom made springs to keep the height the same...Better ride and cheaper than adjustable suspension!
- It's getting a Mongoose alarm installed tomorrow or very soon.

Planning on:

- Ripping out the Japanese computer that does not work and either installing a storage compartment like on other models or molding a custom housing for gauges or GPS unit. (Anyone know where I can get that done?)
- Manual conversion...Not until my partner learns how to freakin' drive one though!
- Custom leather interior/or interior restoration starting with the steering wheel.
- All Gaskets, cam belt, battery to be replaced
- Bigger intercooler, possibly front-mount...Don't want to screw with it too much though.
- Split exhaust, because it's cool.
- Restoring the mag wheels (last guy didn't seem to have a clue when it came to parking it) (Does anyone know where I can get this done too? Or are new mags cheaper)
- Clean everything down and monitor for leaks...ect
- Custom manifold before the stock one has a chance to warp!
- Bigger brakes

The turbo pushes 1 BAR on full boost, which is slightly more than stock since we believe it is not the stock turbo...But nobody (even Caldina enthusiasts) argue about what the freakin' turbo's name is and what they look like.
When you put your foot down (manual mode or not) it wants to rip your face off. It hits 0 to 100 in about 4.5 to 5 seconds if pushed (not great for the AWD kit, but fun to do) and stops on a dime. Could be better though.

When I get my Octocopter and DSLR in the air, the girlfriend and I will be taking it down to the desert road to get some beauty shots and video from the sky. :D

Inphinity

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#1071343 20-Jun-2014 22:50

MY08 WRX, reflashed to bring it more on par with the MY09's power output.

Mark

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#1071926 21-Jun-2014 23:36

Jaxson: White Mazda MPV family wagon. I added a cigarette lighter usb charger, which has a blue LED on it.
And I put some coins in the dash coin holder, for use in parking meters.
Oh and it's got 2 ceiling overhead lockers, so I can put my sunglasses up and there the wife can put hers in the next slot. That reads back dodgy...

A BLUE LED ? Wow that must look so sweeettt!!!!

;-)

Dynamic

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#1071935 22-Jun-2014 00:25

TimA:
MikeAqua: The only down side is that high grip tyres not only cost more but seem to wear faster. Especially if you do a lot of km's on winding roads.

Softer rubber compound :)

I used to commute between Porirua and Upper Hutt on my bike over the Haywards Hill road... was training as an Electronic Engineer at the now closed Central Institute of Technology (awesome memories). Fantastic way to end the day blasting up and over the hill and around the bays. Bike shop suggested I try a dual compound tyre on the front for better cornering grip. The result after a few months was a nice V shaped front type with the harder centre still having plenty of tread but the softer sides chewed out. Those were the days...

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Dynamic

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#1071938 22-Jun-2014 00:58

My daily driver is my fun car, and I had wanted one since I was a teenager. 2002 Subaru GT30 Legacy Wagon with the 3 litre 6 cylinder boxer engine that had just ticker over 50,000km when I got it. Not the fastest thing off the line, but plenty quick enough for me. Unfortunately that engine wasn't released with a manual, but in hindsight with Auckland traffic an auto is just easier. Partly picked that engine because it seemed to have the best power vs reliability, and I've still not heard a bad word about that engine. I picked the metallic copper paint as it appealed and I thought it was quite unique.... until I drive it off the caryard and started seeing that colour everywhere!

I've only fitted LED running lights, reverse parking sensors, and a decent Pioneer headunit (with the best bluetooth handsfree kit I have ever used) so far after ripping out the Japanese DVD head unit with 7" display and integrated SatNav that looked pretty cool but was was useless here.

I've had it for 5 years now and still love driving it and occasionally playing in it. I have chosen not to update it for now.... wouldn't mind the new 3.6l engine of course but the latest body shape doesn't do anything for me. Not to mention mortgage repayments feeling like a slightly higher priority these days.

Considering a quality respray to get rid of all the jolly supermarket carpark marks on it. Sub-woofer planned but has not yet made it off the 'maybe' list. Towbar might be next as I just bought a small trailer rolling chassis that I'm turning into something practical.

I did consider a converted VW beach buggy as a summer toy, but with limited parking space I ended up buying a motorcycle instead. Been from Auck to Kaitaia, and the next trip planned is to Invercargill for the Burt Munroe this year. :)

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Fred99

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#1072084 22-Jun-2014 16:11

We have an old ('99) MX5. It's just a bog standard 1.8 / 6 speed. Some of the things it doesn't have are height-adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable seats, dash-light dimmer, cruise control, keyless entry and/or fancy security system (if desperate - a Stanley knife will get you in). There is no faux wood-grain trim, no exposed carbon fibre detailing (it does however have a wooden steering wheel and gear knob - but I wouldn't care if it didn't. There's no trip computer, reversing camera, touch screen, climate control, automated hood opening/closing mechanism. When it rains, there's no automatic windscreen wiper system - and you even have to stop to put the hood up - manually.
Depreciation loss is more or less nil, I've bought one set of tyres ($520), and replaced one rear axle diff seal ($25).
Since buying it - very cheaply about 5 years ago - I've done nothing in particular to it at all - a lack of action that I'll continue with until we get bored with it, or inspired to buy something else as a fun car.
As it was a bit of a problem for garaging after our house was munted in the Chch quakes, I decided to sell it on trademe. I managed to find a buyer easily - however he was so keen about buying it and raved on so much about how much he liked it, that I warned him that he was talking us out of selling it. He continued, and that's what happened.

MikeB4

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#1072086 22-Jun-2014 16:42

Took a Mitsubishi Outlander Plugin Hybrid SUV for a test drive today, really good vehicle, could well become my new fun vehicle.

bonkas

297 posts

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#1072119 22-Jun-2014 17:37

This is my baby.

Not much but I love it.

Just a standard 1600 at the moment with about 70hp or so.

I have another 1600 enging in my shed running about 140hp destined for it one day.. one day...

has no electronic gozmos or anything reallly electronic which is a large reason why I love it so much, easy to work on and fun to drive.
Lancer EX

Dynamic

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#1072126 22-Jun-2014 17:59

bonkas: This is my baby. Not much but I love it.

Wow that is in beautiful original condition by the looks. Starting to become collectible I would think.

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