Turbo's former cars + Current Car

[CodeRedR51]

Forgot I had these! Couple videos I made of my car when I had it. The first is a video is an autocross video I made shortly after I installed the turbo. And the second video is a short one I made to show what my corksport exhaust sounded like.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Currently awaiting a decision from a local Mazda dealer to see if I can qualify for a used car. I don't have much to put down with my salary, and the bad economy was hard on my whole family so a co-signer is out of the question.

Patiently waiting for a return phone call.

Apparently I don't make enough money.

 

[eSZee]

That sucks.
Buy a TREK and stuff an LS1 in on it...

 

[Crispy]

So are you still looking in to Austin as a place to live, or has that long gone?

Did you install the Turbo yourself? I'd love to learn how to install one of those Flyin' Miata ones. I still need a car, and a license, but my dad said he was going to give me his NB. I'd love the sound on that blowoff valve too BTW.

 

[JCE]

Looks like you have an affinity for SE-R's like I do. I had a '98 200SX SE-R too. Mine was blue with a 5spd manual. I loved that car, wish I didn't get rid of it...

 

[Perfect Balance]

Currently awaiting a decision from a local Mazda dealer to see if I can qualify for a used car. I don't have much to put down with my salary, and the bad economy was hard on my whole family so a co-signer is out of the question.

Patiently waiting for a return phone call.

Apparently I don't make enough money.

Why not quit looking for used cars from dealerships that require you to make payments, and simply buy a cheap car from somebody?

If you don't make any money, don't get a car you will need to make payments on.

 

[CodeRedR51]

So are you still looking in to Austin as a place to live, or has that long gone?

Still looking to move there, I just can't go anywhere without a car.

Did you install the Turbo yourself? I'd love to learn how to install one of those Flyin' Miata ones. I still need a car, and a license, but my dad said he was going to give me his NB. I'd love the sound on that blowoff valve too BTW.

A friend and I installed it in one day with basic hand tools. They're not hard to install at all. Not recommended to do on your own, but certainly doable with a friend.

Looks like you have an affinity for SE-R's like I do. I had a '98 200SX SE-R too. Mine was blue with a 5spd manual. I loved that car, wish I didn't get rid of it...

Yeah, I love my SR20 powered Nissan's but I've never really felt bad about getting rid them like I have my Miata or my RX-7's.

Why not quit looking for used cars from dealerships that require you to make payments, and simply buy a cheap car from somebody?

If you don't make any money, don't get a car you will need to make payments on.

I can afford payments, and need a car NOW which is why I am looking at dealerships. If I attempted to save up the money it would take me MONTHS to save up at least a couple grand. As stated, I need something ASAP so I can start putting my "want to do" life plans in gear. Without a car I'm stuck.

 

[JCE]

Yeah, I love my SR20 powered Nissan's but I've never really felt bad about getting rid them like I have my Miata or my RX-7's.

You know what I loved most about my SE-R? The grunt on the lower RPM range was a satisfying aspect of driving that car on the daily grind. Something my Focus lacks.

That '88 RX-7 you had was beautiful, I would of hated to get rid of that too. That shape is just too good.

 

[GDII]

I really like that MX5 you had. The engine looks great. Great build.

 

[CodeRedR51]

You know what I loved most about my SE-R? The grunt on the lower RPM range was a satisfying aspect of driving that car on the daily grind. Something my Focus lacks.

The one SE-R I miss the most is the one I painted flat black. It had a JDM highport SR20 swap because the original engine hydrolocked and threw a rod. That engine was a factory misfit or something, because it pulled like no other even at an elevation of almost 5,000ft. I ran a 15.9 with it at our local drag strip in Colorado, which is unheard of for a stock SE-R at that elevation. And it was bone stock (to my knowledge) except for a Pop Charger intake.

 

[JCE]

The one SE-R I miss the most is the one I painted flat black. It had a JDM highport SR20 swap because the original engine hydrolocked and threw a rod. That engine was a factory misfit or something, because it pulled like no other even at an elevation of almost 5,000ft. I ran a 15.9 with it at our local drag strip in Colorado, which is unheard of for a stock SE-R at that elevation. And it was bone stock (to my knowledge) except for a Pop Charger intake.

Jesus, that's one hell of a good ¼ mile time for a stock SE-R and with that altitude. Considering the '03-04 "baby-Skyline" (my second favorite SE-R) model did the ¼ mile in 15.6 you time is awesome. Hell, the factory rating for my SVT is 15.9! But like you I think I've got a mutant on my hands since my 0-60 time is 0.6-0.8s faster than the usual MotorTrend/Car and Driver nonsense (during any season other than a typical Texas Summer).

The best thing I can remember about my SE-R besides the crisp way it builds the revs is the almost 6cyl line exhaust note.

 

[CodeRedR51]

The best thing I can remember about my SE-R besides the crisp way it builds the revs is the almost 6cyl line exhaust note.

They can get kind of "buzzy" if you go too far though. My 2000 SE (SR20) had a header, gutted cat and eBay muffler but was still really quiet and had a nice tone because I kept the stock midpipe/resonator on it.

Turbo SR20's on the other hand sound like sex.

 

[SkylineObsession]

The exhaust on your MX-5 (sorry - i hate the name 'Miata' sounds really weird, they are all called MX-5's in NZ) sounded quite nice (second vid). Almost sounded a bit like a rotary.

I've been wanting to record the sound of my NA and Turbo Skylines by boosting it up the road (in car and out of car) - but don't want the Police to come knocking at my door for 'Unnecessary display of accelleration' or anything. Even though theres heaps of vids on YouTube of NZ boy racers drifting/doing burnouts etc in Skylines, Cefiros and heaps of other cars.

So the only vids of my cars on my YouTube page are of me competing in motorsport events or just driving around. Chur.

 

[CodeRedR51]

^^^ You just have to find a not so public place to do it. I made that exhaust video on a street by my old neighborhood, which was a dead-end and the only building on the road was a pallet factory which was closed for the weekend.

Update on the car situation: A Mazda dealer that I called a couple months ago looking for a 2010 Mazda2 called me back this morning. One of their salesmen is going through old contacts and/or old deals that never went through. He's trying his hardest to make deals out of them. They know my credit history (which has several paid off cars) and that my salary isn't great, (might get a raise soon anyway) but they're trying really hard to get me into something.

He said he's got a nice, used Mazda3 sedan with a 5-speed manual that might be perfect for me, so I have an appointment to go look at it tonight after my nephew's birthday party.

Wish me luck.

 

[eSZee]

Dude, best of luck. I'm positive it will work out.

 

[SkylineObsession]

Make sure you co-sign it right away this time.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Delete.

 

[CodeRedR51]

New ride added to the bottom of the first post. Not my photo, I'll take one over the weekend and get it up on Monday.

Plans for this car at the moment are to get it paid down a bit, then some simple suspension modifications are in order. The car has enough power as it sits for me, so right now the modifications I have planned are:

15" Wheels/Tires
Cobalt SS Turbo shocks/struts
Eibach Pro-Kit springs
Eibach 25mm rear sway bar
TWM short shifter + knob

...and that's it. Don't want to do much, just make it more enjoyable to drive.

Edit: Forgot to add that the car had some issues when I purchased it from the dealership. It was stalling when returning to idle with the A/C on and cutting out when driving over large bumps. The front end also had a nasty clunk when going over bumps. The crankshaft sensor harness was the culprit for the stalling/cutting out, and the dealership replaced the front struts/sway links/sway bar bushings which silenced the clunk. 👍

 

[TheBook]

Hardly the worst thing you could get. At least it's not an automatic Sebring convertible. Actually, it doesn't look all that bad. Good buy. 👍

 

[CodeRedR51]

Haha, thanks. 👍

 

[Perfect Balance]

When I saw "clunk over bumps" I automatically thought "God I hope he didn't buy a Cobalt".

Don't worry too much about the clunks, they'll be back.

Also, how are you liking the parking brake lever underneath the armrest, so it's awkward to use, and if you pull on it in an upwards to the rear motion like you do on most RWD cars, your elbow hits the hard, textured plastic on the bottom of the armrest?




Sorry, I've just had to work on so many of them at work, which lead them to ending up on my "most hated vehicles" list. Along with Chevy Blazers, Ford F-xxx, Pontiac Grandam/Grandprix, Pt Cruisers and VW Beetles. In that order.

I will agree though, not hardly the worse thing you could have bought. It could have been a Blazer.

 

[Thatman]

^^^
I cant believe PB and I are agreeing on something.

My GF has one of those and guess what she wants; a miata.

Also Have you had the joy of putting the rear windows down and having the back piece act like a massive sub-woofer with all that buffeting?

Well either way, at least the oil changes are a breeze. And engine response is nice. And you get 3 more mpg with the manual.

 

[Perfect Balance]

Well either way, at least the oil changes are a breeze. And engine response is nice. And you get 3 more mpg with the manual.

Don't forget you need that you need a large, short socket (because a long socket, which is typical for the size it needs to be, hits the intake manifold) with a long extension to get the plastic cover on the cartridge filter on the top of the motor off. And then even with a short socket, you need to make sure you loosen it, and then remove the socket, and then unscrew the plastic cap, because with the socket still on, you don't get enough clearance to pull the entire thing up and out of the car. GM actually makes a special, low profile socket to make oil changes easier.

Honestly though, I just hate them because I know if I owned one I'd do any work on it myself, and I would hate to work on it. They are generally reliable vehicles.

 

[Thatman]

^^^
I did forget, since we just used some large locking pliers. And then everything was really easy.

Another thing I like doing is when we are in her blue cobalt I like to point out that there are, silver,red, and yellow cobalts. All colors I have never heard of. Then again that likely doesn't annoy you Turbo.

 

[Punknoodle]

^^^
I did forget, since we just used some large locking pliers. And then everything was really easy.

Another thing I like doing is when we are in her blue cobalt I like to point out that there are, silver,red, and yellow cobalts. All colors I have never heard of. Then again that likely doesn't annoy you Turbo.

Locking pliers on a sump plug? O_o

 

[Thatman]

That.^ They are like 10 bucks and couldn't get any of said job specific tools in there.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Is it just me, or have you lost every single one of the nice cars you've had..?

 

[CodeRedR51]

When I saw "clunk over bumps" I automatically thought "God I hope he didn't buy a Cobalt".

Don't worry too much about the clunks, they'll be back.

I just had the dealership deal with it for now as they should have fixed it before putting the car on the lot. If they do come back I'll take care of it for good by not replacing, but upgrading everything.

Also, how are you liking the parking brake level underneath the armrest, so it's awkward to use, and if you pull on it in an upwards to the rear motion like you do on most RWD cars, your elbow hits the hard, textured plastic on the bottom of the armrest?

This car is a super base model (crank windows, manual everything) so it doesn't have an arm rest on the seat. No issues there.

Also Have you had the joy of putting the rear windows down and having the back piece act like a massive sub-woofer with all that buffeting?

Haven't run with the rear windows down yet. In the mornings we just run with the front windows down, then in the afternoon the A/C gets used.

Well either way, at least the oil changes are a breeze. And engine response is nice. And you get 3 more mpg with the manual.

The warranty from the dealership includes free oil/air filter changes for the next 3 years. 👍

Is it just me, or have you lost every single one of the nice cars you've had..?

Don't remind me.

I was hesitant to purchase the car at first. But everyone knows I like to be different, and after some research I've made a list of items that could make the car more fun/reliable in the near future. It could turn out pretty nice, so I'm OK with it for now.

 

[Crispy]

Remember, crank windows for teh supar light ridez of dooom!!!

Hardly the worst thing you could get. At least it's not an automatic Sebring convertible. Actually, it doesn't look all that bad. Good buy. 👍

My neighbors have one of those. Though I could see someone getting ahold of the body and turning it into an Aston.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I think I've decided to leave the car alone and just drive it. Any extra money I come across will go into building up a Miata engine in my spare time.