Husky's Yard - Subaru Transmitted Infection

[Mini Stiggy]

You should do white with blue rims

 

[Aquarelle]

That's not a bad idea, I'll need to do some mock ups and decide on some rims.

White with black is a bit more plain but I quite like that look too, I was indecisive enough picking a car and now I have all the colour choices to go through..

 

[Bc4]

Must be hard to pick since this car looks good with pretty much any color scheme P

 

[Aquarelle]

It certainly doesn't help.

After drawing up a few mock ups I'm thinking my preference lies with white with black rims, perhaps with a slight window tint to make the body really pop.

It will be a nice contrast alongside my friend's R33 once it's painted black as well.

Update: Audi has been sold, some lunatic has paid 4 grand for it... so that's a 3,500 dollar profit.

 

[Mini Stiggy]

Update: Audi has been sold, some lunatic has paid 4 grand for it... so that's a 3,500 dollar profit.

Nice!

 

[Aquarelle]

Nice!

Right? the woman must be soft in the head to pay that much for an Audi 80. I was expecting 3 grand as the absolute most I'd get for it...

The good news is that means the R33 is paid off and I'm no longer in debt.. which means I can get underway with the mods!

 

[Aquarelle]

Went for a quick drive because the heat in the house is absolutely unbearable.. so while I was out I figured I'd take a couple of pictures.

(No I'm not neglecting my car, it's just impossible to keep it clean when I live down a gravel road and I can't stand driving slowly to avoid kicking up dust.)

Progressive springs will be in a couple of weeks to drop a few mm, after GT6 and a replacement wheel has been paid for

 

[Aquarelle]

Road trip!

I had intended on taking the skyline, however I'm having a lovely issue where the car is occasionally almost stalling if I coast downhill in Neutral.. it would seem the previous owners neglect didn't stop with the 'work' they did to the car, they also fed my RB exclusively on 91!! so it's time to get to polishing away the carbon build up.

I'm also being accused of doing "Burnouts, donuts and wheelies" so I'm keeping it in the garage because my neighbour doesn't know exactly where this mysterious 1,000 horse power black skyline is (No I haven't been doing any of these things, if you couldn't work that out from the fact I'm being accused of doing wheelies but I don't really want police turning up on my doorstep and wasting their time on account of a delusional mid 50s woman who's trying to enforce a 20 km/h speed limit on a public road with a 100 km/h limit that I travel down at 60 any way.)

ANYWAY! because of this I ended up taking the Maxima for this trip of drivers road paradise.. which is really quite disappointing so I'll need to do it again before summers end with the Skyline.


The roads:









260 km of fast cornering and flatout straights and didn't miss a beat once, the tread on these tyres are brilliant too, didn't let go even when I started getting more than a little yobbish (I want to clarify that I have not been speeding at any point, NZ currently has a 4 km/h tolerance which I completely respect and obey)

When we got to the beach for a break I figured I'd take a few nicer pictures than the driveway shots

 

[Bopop4]

"Burnouts, donuts and wheelies"

Rascal.

Packing my bags now.

 

[Mini Stiggy]

Road trip!

I had intended on taking the skyline, however I'm having a lovely issue where the car is occasionally almost stalling if I coast downhill in Neutral.. it would seem the previous owners neglect didn't stop with the 'work' they did to the car, they also fed my RB exclusively on 91!! so it's time to get to polishing away the carbon build up.

I'm also being accused of doing "Burnouts, donuts and wheelies" so I'm keeping it in the garage because my neighbour doesn't know exactly where this mysterious 1,000 horse power black skyline is (No I haven't been doing any of these things, if you couldn't work that out from the fact I'm being accused of doing wheelies but I don't really want police turning up on my doorstep and wasting their time on account of a delusional mid 50s woman who's trying to enforce a 20 km/h speed limit on a public road with a 100 km/h limit that I travel down at 60 any way.)

ANYWAY! because of this I ended up taking the Maxima for this trip of drivers road paradise.. which is really quite disappointing so I'll need to do it again before summers end with the Skyline.


The roads:









260 km of fast cornering and flatout straights and didn't miss a beat once, the tread on these tyres are brilliant too, didn't let go even when I started getting more than a little yobbish (I want to clarify that I have not been speeding at any point, NZ currently has a 4 km/h tolerance which I completely respect and obey)

When we got to the beach for a break I figured I'd take a few nicer pictures than the driveway shots

That first pic looks like a mini Eau Rouge!!! (Spelling?)

 

[Aquarelle]

That first pic looks like a mini Eau Rouge!!! (Spelling?)

Pick any paved road in New Zealand and chances are you'll feel like you're attacking a race track, how anyone can be satisfied with a people mover with such amazing and demanding roads baffles me

Rascal.

What can I say, I'm a rebel at heart.

Packing my bags now.

A convoy of performance cars on some of the greatest roads in the world? count me in!

 

[Bopop4]

A convoy of performance cars on some of the greatest roads in the world? count me in!

Yeah, a "performance" Focus.

A Hayabusa swapped Cappuccino on the other hand, would be quite a beast on that road.

 

[Aquarelle]

Yeah, a "performance" Focus.

A Hayabusa swapped Cappuccino on the other hand, would be quite a beast on that road.

Nothing wrong with a focus, my Maxima isn't exactly an Evo but it still gets a wiggle on.
I was racing with an E43 that was tail gating me on the straight open roads through the mountains on my way home in it, whether that was down to my ability or their lack of it is another story but y'know

Lightweightness is the best weapon on NZ roads, anyone can go fast on an open straight road with enough power and enough income to break the speed limits, a light and nimble car lets you bite back in the twisties using your own ability and bravery without breaking the law.


... I say as I drive two cars weighing somewhere in the 1,300 kg range and another two upwards of 1,600

 

[Bopop4]

Nothing wrong with a focus,

Yeah, my car would still be fun to drive through those roads, but it's no Miata.

Lol, good luck running from a BMW with a Maxima. (Unless you had x-ray vision and could see through all the trees.)

Although there was the time Dad was driving the 7,000lb truck, and a guy in a Merc full of girls spun out trying to keep up turning off the highway. Turbodiesel powwaahhhh!!

Yeah, that's why I'd want something like the little Suzuki, but with a 200hp bike engine.

 

[Aquarelle]

Yeah, my car would still be fun to drive through those roads, but it's no Miata.

Lol, good luck running from a BMW with a Maxima. (Unless you had x-ray vision and could see through all the trees.)

Although there was the time Dad was driving the 7,000lb truck, and a guy in a Merc full of girls spun out trying to keep up turning off the highway. Turbodiesel powwaahhhh!!

Yeah, that's why I'd want something like the little Suzuki, but with a 200hp bike engine.

I don't know about X-ray vision, but I used to live at the bottom of the mountain so it was a daily trip for me. Coupled with the fact I grew up driving in Waipu Gorge, I have the driving experience to be able to push the limits, not to blow my own horn of course, I'm no amazing driver - I just know my and my cars limits.

It was a nice change from being stuck behind a driver with no confidence following all the "Recommended Speed" signs

The Mountain (At least a part of it, it's the best video I could find. I really want to get a dash cam of some description)




Waipu Gorge

 

[Bopop4]

I don't know about X-ray vision, but I used to live at the bottom of the mountain so it was a daily trip for me. Coupled with the fact I grew up driving in Waipu Gorge, I have the driving experience to be able to push the limits, not to blow my own horn of course, I'm no amazing driver - I just know my and my cars limits.

Yeah, but without knowing what's around a blind turn, you could be driving right into a truck, or a cop.
(Although I'm talking about full road usage.)

Oh god, those people.

Even worse now over here because it's snowing, even when there is a fun section of corners, (Read: Never in Canada) someone is always going far too slow.

 

[Aquarelle]

Yeah, but without knowing what's around a blind turn, you could be driving right into a truck, or a cop.
(Although I'm talking about full road usage.)

Oh god, those people.

Even worse now over here because it's snowing, even when there is a fun section of corners, (Read: Never in Canada) someone is always going far too slow.

In NZ it's Rain that's the killer.. if you have any plans of having some fun in the rain you'd best be heading to a deserted road because 99 percent of the population are paranoid about the wet.

As for full road usage, it's just a case of knowing your limits.

I'll admit I'm no 'between the white lines' driver, I'll cut the corner if I know for certain that it's clear. If I can't be assured of that, I don't cut - simple as that really

.500 of a second off your journey isn't worth risking rounding the corner to headlights.

 

[Bopop4]

I'll admit I'm no 'between the white lines' driver, I'll cut the corner if I know for certain that it's clear. If I can't be assured of that, I don't cut - simple as that really

.500 of a second off your journey isn't worth risking rounding the corner to headlights.

Yeah, if a corner has good visibility then I'll take a chunk out of the other side.

I usually go fast around turn s to minimize braking and energy loss though, hypermiling ftw.


I've never seen a big animal on the road before, but one time I was dirtbiking on an old railway line that had all the tracks removed and was just a trail, I was running the thing flat out, the trail was just straight enough that you could keep it pinned at about 65-70mph the whole way through, coming around a blind section there was a deer standing right in the middle of the trail.

Pretty sketchy when you're trying to brake sideways on dirt.


That last shot of the road looks wicked cool, the way the road banks in.

 

[Aquarelle]

Yeah, if a corner has good visibility then I'll take a chunk out of the other side.

I usually go fast around turn s to minimize braking and energy loss though, hypermiling ftw.


I've never seen a big animal on the road before, but one time I was dirtbiking on an old railway line that had all the tracks removed and was just a trail, I was running the thing flat out, the trail was just straight enough that you could keep it pinned at about 65-70mph the whole way through, coming around a blind section there was a deer standing right in the middle of the trail.

Pretty sketchy when you're trying to brake sideways on dirt.


That last shot of the road looks wicked cool, the way the road banks in.

You can somewhat see from a couple of the photos how far across the road I get depending on visibility since all the photos were taken by my passenger



But yeah, safety is key at all times - though saving on braking is always an added bonus

We don't really get big animals, I absolutely nailed a pheasant coming out of a corner and I've killed a fair few possums on the road in my time but due to the lack of larger wildlife the roads are quite safe.

Doesn't stop the odd cow getting onto the road in the country side though dozy creatures.

Speaking of brakes I really must do my pads this weekend.. the squeaking when coming to a stop is not only driving me up the wall but frankly humiliating

 

[Bopop4]

You can somewhat see from a couple of the photos how far across the road I get depending on visibility since all the photos were taken by my passenger

I absolutely nailed a pheasant coming out of a corner and I've killed a fair few possums on the road in my time but due to the lack of larger wildlife the roads are quite safe.

Speaking of brakes I really must do my pads this weekend.. the squeaking when coming to a stop is not only driving me up the wall but frankly humiliating

Ah, that's not as bad as I was thinking.

I hit a bunny once.
Then the next day a small bird tried to fly through my front wheel and ended up getting ripped apart by the spokes.

For the Maxima or R33?

 

[Aquarelle]

Ah, that's not as bad as I was thinking.

I hit a bunny once.
Then the next day a small bird tried to fly through my front wheel and ended up getting ripped apart by the spokes.

For the Maxima or R33?

That's one bad week.. must be frightening hitting an animal on a bike.

The Maxima, I bought pads a month ago but I've never changed brake pads before - I asked my friend to help me put them on but he looked at my current pads and said "You should leave these on, they have plenty of life left in them"

Except they're really poor quality pads... and I have no brake feel until the pedal is depressed about half way.. I'd really prefer to put on high quality brakes and reduce the pedal travel so I can have some confidence under braking

I'm thinking I'll just have to do some research and do it myself.

 

[Bopop4]

That's one bad week.. must be frightening hitting an animal on a bike.

I'm thinking I'll just have to do some research and do it myself.

I had never hit anything since I was 5, and then 2 animals in 2 days.

It's not that bad if you hit a small animal, I was already on the brakes before the bunny ran in front of me, so I couldn't do anything else. It was only a small bump, but the poor bunny...

The bird I didn't even know if it hit, I had to come back and check when I found it laying there.


Yeah, that'd be good. Avoid the shop fees plus gaining experience.

 

[Aquarelle]

I had never hit anything since I was 5, and then 2 animals in 2 days.

It's not that bad if you hit a small animal, I was already on the brakes before the bunny ran in front of me, so I couldn't do anything else. It was only a small bump, but the poor bunny...

The bird I didn't even know if it hit, I had to come back and check when I found it laying there.


Yeah, that'd be good. Avoid the shop fees plus gaining experience.

I'm of the mindset that if you do it yourself, you know it's done.

Things like brakes and suspension I'm more worried about, my experience is in the engine bay, everything else I'm learning as I go - naturally messing with the stuff that keeps you safe is a daunting idea but I'd rather die from my own mistake than a shops mistake (Considering the XR6 got taken into a shop recently since the work was being paid for and after taking the car 500 meters it began overheating. Turned out the mechanic disconnected the cooling fan - when they were changing steering components..... go figure.)

 

[Bopop4]

I'm of the mindset that if you do it yourself, you know it's done.

Things like brakes and suspension I'm more worried about, my experience is in the engine bay, everything else I'm learning as I go - naturally messing with the stuff that keeps you safe is a daunting idea but I'd rather die from my own mistake than a shops mistake (Considering the XR6 got taken into a shop recently since the work was being paid for and after taking the car 500 meters it began overheating. Turned out the mechanic disconnected the cooling fan - when they were changing steering components..... go figure.)

Yeah, but I always have the fear that I might not have tightened the axle on properly, and that the back wheel will fall out in the first 5 feet.

Jesus...
At least it was a quick fix.

My friend picked up a dirtbike a few weeks ago, and he took it to a shop for them to check everything over and replace some stuff. I checked it over when he got it back, they only had 1 out of 2 radiator bolts on the left side, the right hand rad wasn't even bolted down. And one of the subframe bolts was missing, you'd think a bike shop would notice the damn rear subrame moving about.

Sometimes you need a shop for big stuff though, especially on a car.

 

[Aquarelle]

Yeah, but I always have the fear that I might not have tightened the axle on properly, and that the back wheel will fall out in the first 5 feet.

Jesus...
At least it was a quick fix.

My friend picked up a dirtbike a few weeks ago, and he took it to a shop for them to check everything over and replace some stuff. I checked it over when he got it back, they only had 1 out of 2 radiator bolts on the left side, the right hand rad wasn't even bolted down. And one of the subframe bolts was missing, you'd think a bike shop would notice the damn rear subrame moving about.

Sometimes you need a shop for big stuff though, especially on a car.

I suppose so, but if I don't make the leap to do it for the first time I'll never improve - I just need to rope my qualified friend in to supervise he's the type easily bribed by booze so that shouldn't be a big deal.

--

Update on the Skyline - It's now been accused of driving at speeds upwards of 150 km/h down the gravel road outside my house.

That's funny, considering I have the keys on me and I've been away for a few days and I know for a fact the car is still in the garage and hasn't been stolen..

Think I'm going to have to move before this psychos false claims start getting taken seriously.

 

[Aquarelle]

Diesel + Crap rear tyres + Wet = bad

The saddest part is I was driving incredibly slowly due to the car being full of souls.. so it's not even an exciting tale of reckless diving

 

[SVX]

Dayum, that sucks. Did you at least have insurance?

 

[Aquarelle]

Dayum, that sucks. Did you at least have insurance?

Nope, they wouldn't have paid out enough for it to be worth it - My insurance covers other cars.

Really it's a blessing in disguise, the maxima had a lot wrong with - I was about to sink another grand into it just to repair the suspension, the engine and trans was sickly and the chassis was pretty rooted anyway.

Add to that several hundred cosmetic injuries and it just wasn't worth repairing..

I'm looking at stripping it, in pieces the car is worth roughly 1.5k, barely short of what I could have gotten for it in the condition it was in when I woke up this morning.

So the question is, what do I get as my new 4 door daily - I'm thinking very seriously about a 4 door Skyline.

 

[SVX]

So the question is, what do I get as my new 4 door daily - I'm thinking very seriously about a 4 door Skyline.

SVX. *hides*

Oh, you mean four door?

My inner fan boy suggests a second generation Subaru Legacy, but good luck finding one that hasn't been to hell and back. For that reason, a third generation Legacy GT-B could be good. They're getting really cheap now!

Just buy a Subaru.

 

[Aquarelle]

SVX. *hides*

Oh, you mean four door?

My inner fan boy suggests a second generation Subaru Legacy, but good luck finding one that hasn't been to hell and back. For that reason, a third generation Legacy GT-B could be good. They're getting really cheap now!

Just buy a Subaru.

It's funny that you should say that, I was quite seriously thinking of getting a WRX wagon, they're a stupidly cheap way of gettin in on that turbo Subie action with practicality to boot, that or a normal 4 door.

But with so many horror stories of weak drive lines it's a bit of a risky move.