Car Talk 6: Best of times and Worst of Times

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I know they would. I don't get it. I really like the truck, but it's a truck. The days of waxing with diapers are over for me, and the thing was basically totaled when it was delivered in Northern Michigan, so it's not like I can preserve resale at all.

I am in this camp as well. I like to keep my cars clean (especially the interior) but I'm not going to cry over scratches/chips here and there. It's a tool for a job. I am cool with a thing that looks great from 10 feet and I am not scared to take on trips, occasional track days, you name it.

[max225]

It really depends on the vehicle. A Tacoma that is meant to be driven 500k miles... hell yea. Just use it brother.

A Veyron with scraped up bumpers/road rash"ed" to shit is

[ChrisoftheNorth]

It really depends on the vehicle. A Tacoma that is meant to be driven 500k miles... hell yea. Just use it brother.

A Veyron with scraped up bumpers/road rash"ed" to shit is

100%. If I were buying a new Porsche or something like that, I'd absolutely go with PPF.

[coogles]

The main reason I want to ppf the GR86 is because I'm hoping to actually take it to some HPDEs. Without ppf the front will get absolutely chewed to shit, and I'd have a major .

[D Griff]

The main reason I want to ppf the GR86 is because I'm hoping to actually take it to some HPDEs. Without ppf the front will get absolutely chewed to shit, and I'd have a major .

Yep, the track will 100% fuck up your paint. It just is what it is, PPE would reduce that by a ton. I'd just You're not really the type, you'll likely have it a while and having that will keep you from ing out of HPDE perhaps.

[D Griff]

My Corvette was mint when I got it and after 20-30 days on track it was pretty much a POS from a diaper perspective.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

The main reason I want to ppf the GR86 is because I'm hoping to actually take it to some HPDEs. Without ppf the front will get absolutely chewed to shit, and I'd have a major .

This makes a ton of sense. I'd do the same in that situation. Track days can be brutal to paint.

[max225]

I guess I never posted about the BMW track day I went to where I drove all of the new M cars... damn I need to catch up. Also I would NOT drive my own car on a real track. Around parking lot sure... real track fuck no... it was just BAD. And especially a brand new pretty car too. IMO it's best saved for the streets/canyons etc.

[razr390]

I know they would. I don't get it. I really like the truck, but it's a truck. The days of waxing with diapers are over for me, and the thing was basically totaled when it was delivered in Northern Michigan, so it's not like I can preserve resale at all.

I am in this camp as well. I like to keep my cars clean (especially the interior) but I'm not going to cry over scratches/chips here and there. It's a tool for a job. I am cool with a thing that looks great from 10 feet and I am not scared to take on trips, occasional track days, you name it.

I considered doing PPF on the GTI when it was new. My car has a bunch of rock chips and whatnot. I don’t really give a fuck when it’s a run of the mill mass produced thing. Every chip has a story, and my mentality has been to be more about shit outside of my control and enjoy what I can.

A highlight of this mentality was a purple 991.1 GT3RS at a a local car show here. Full of chips, tire rubber on the fenders, tow hook mounted. Owner was 5/7 and encapsulated the just enjoy it mentality. And his car was getting ogled over more than a condom wrapped red c8 corvette with white new balances that was 3-4 cars next to him.

[max225]

I am in this camp as well. I like to keep my cars clean (especially the interior) but I'm not going to cry over scratches/chips here and there. It's a tool for a job. I am cool with a thing that looks great from 10 feet and I am not scared to take on trips, occasional track days, you name it.

I considered doing PPF on the GTI when it was new. My car has a bunch of rock chips and whatnot. I don’t really give a fuck when it’s a run of the mill mass produced thing. Every chip has a story, and my mentality has been to be more about shit outside of my control and enjoy what I can.

A highlight of this mentality was a purple 991.1 GT3RS at a a local car show here. Full of chips, tire rubber on the fenders, tow hook mounted. Owner was 5/7 and encapsulated the just enjoy it mentality. And his car was getting ogled over more than a condom wrapped red c8 corvette with white new balances that was 3-4 cars next to him.

That’s because people want to see how much someone raped one of the best porsches ever made whistling diesel style. Unlike a run of the mill truck engined sports car

[D Griff]

I guess I never posted about the BMW track day I went to where I drove all of the new M cars... damn I need to catch up. Also I would NOT drive my own car on a real track. Around parking lot sure... real track fuck no... it was just BAD. And especially a brand new pretty car too. IMO it's best saved for the streets/canyons etc.

It is definitely really hard on everything. Once you do it , canyon driving really doesn't compare. Both are fun but they are very different. Part of why I've shied away a bit from the track is that - cosmetics aside, it tears up EVERYTHING. You are not only spending a weekend at the track, but also the entire next weekend maintaining/fixing everything you broke. I just don't have the desire to invest that much time. I'll probably do 3-5 Track Nights this year and that's it.

[razr390]

I considered doing PPF on the GTI when it was new. My car has a bunch of rock chips and whatnot. I don’t really give a fuck when it’s a run of the mill mass produced thing. Every chip has a story, and my mentality has been to be more about shit outside of my control and enjoy what I can.

A highlight of this mentality was a purple 991.1 GT3RS at a a local car show here. Full of chips, tire rubber on the fenders, tow hook mounted. Owner was 5/7 and encapsulated the just enjoy it mentality. And his car was getting ogled over more than a condom wrapped red c8 corvette with white new balances that was 3-4 cars next to him.

That’s because people want to see how much someone raped one of the best porsches ever made whistling diesel style. Unlike a run of the mill truck engined sports car

I guess what I’m trying to say is getting in a car and expecting it to be 1,000 percent flawless but you drive it on a road is a futile battle. Obviously don’t be careless with a car, but you also don’t need to baby it at all costs. It’s just a car. I would probably be that guy that owns expensive cars and drive/own them completely anti-the old fart way.

[razr390]

Canyon driving > track days. Not even from an enjoyment standpoint but from a time spent doing said things standpoint. You can hit a canyon road during a Sunday drive or as a longer commute. Track day you’re pretty much writing off the whole day or weekend

[coogles]

It is definitely really hard on everything. Once you do it , canyon driving really doesn't compare. Both are fun but they are very different. Part of why I've shied away a bit from the track is that - cosmetics aside, it tears up EVERYTHING. You are not only spending a weekend at the track, but also the entire next weekend maintaining/fixing everything you broke. I just don't have the desire to invest that much time. I'll probably do 3-5 Track Nights this year and that's it.

Having never done a track day I can't at all speak from experience, but it 100% is something I want to try out. Realistically I'm only going to be able to do one or two HPDEs per year, but that's fine.

The 86 should hopefully be a less expensive thing to track too. New so no worn parts (yet), light, and what should be less expensive consumables relative to other some other options.

I pick up the car tomorrow and will be basically driving it straight to the detail shop for an appointment Thursday morning. We're doing PPF, but only the hood (full) and front bumper. I figured those were the two spots most likely to take damage and would give me the best bang for the buck. Then a buddy of mine and I are going to coat it in CSL and Exo on the paintwork, Halo on the PPF, and top it all with C2V3.

'sgonna look goooood.

[D Griff]

It is definitely really hard on everything. Once you do it , canyon driving really doesn't compare. Both are fun but they are very different. Part of why I've shied away a bit from the track is that - cosmetics aside, it tears up EVERYTHING. You are not only spending a weekend at the track, but also the entire next weekend maintaining/fixing everything you broke. I just don't have the desire to invest that much time. I'll probably do 3-5 Track Nights this year and that's it.

Having never done a track day I can't at all speak from experience, but it 100% is something I want to try out. Realistically I'm only going to be able to do one or two HPDEs per year, but that's fine.

The 86 should hopefully be a less expensive thing to track too. New so no worn parts (yet), light, and what should be less expensive consumables relative to other some other options.

I pick up the car tomorrow and will be basically driving it straight to the detail shop for an appointment Thursday morning. We're doing PPF, but only the hood (full) and front bumper. I figured those were the two spots most likely to take damage and would give me the best bang for the buck. Then a buddy of mine and I are going to coat it in CSL and Exo on the paintwork, Halo on the PPF, and top it all with C2V3.

'sgonna look goooood.

I think you're right, put some dece fluid in there and you should be good to go for a while. I'd maybe change fluids a bit more frequently with occasional track use but nothing crazy.

It really starts adding up as you get fairly good at it and get the tires the go with that. Skill + sticky tires will make you go way faster, which will in turn work the brakes and cooling much harder which will in turn tear shit up.

There are good reasons why everyone tracks Miatas and FR-S, lower power is better in most ways.

[Johnny_P]

That’s because people want to see how much someone raped one of the best porsches ever made whistling diesel style. Unlike a run of the mill truck engined sports car

I guess what I’m trying to say is getting in a car and expecting it to be 1,000 percent flawless but you drive it on a road is a futile battle. Obviously don’t be careless with a car, but you also don’t need to baby it at all costs. It’s just a car. I would probably be that guy that owns expensive cars and drive/own them completely anti-the old fart way.

I enjoyed my STI and drove it hard. Washed it, I think, 3x in the whole time I had it. But I dunno some people really like to do that so whatever floats your boat.

I'll get a fun vehicle again some day. When I move out of the Philly area and have good roads to drive it on. Even "going for a good drive" was an immense time suck.

[adoob]

Went to go look at a today for the brother. Was doing mostly good mechanically, motor sounded healthy, shifts were crisp taking it around the block, only downside being clutch bite point was way up at the top of pedal travel. Might just be characteristic of a . Also had 113k miles on it.

Got it up in the air and got a good look at the underside. Looked mostly clean, some surface rust that might've been on the verge of becoming deeper, but no real big deal. Power steering reservoir or pump was leaking some.








And then came the interior. All checked out until we moved the passenger seat.





Window seal or some other thing on the car is leaking water onto the passenger footwell when it rains.

Was listed for 8300, we offered 6500 as a bit of a lowball because our lack of a garage would make this impossible to keep dry until we fix it, seller came back with 7k. We walked away because while the 7k price was decent, it didn't make it a good enough to make it worth the hassle. To top it off, the Massachusetts title listed it at 137k miles, which doesn't match up to the odometer in the car.

And as I type this up, it is raining incredibly hard outside. If this isn't a sign of a dodged bullet I don't know what else is.

[wap]

So, I rented an HR-V.

[max225]

What car was that ? Miata ?

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Canyon driving > track days. Not even from an enjoyment standpoint but from a time spent doing said things standpoint. You can hit a canyon road during a Sunday drive or as a longer commute. Track day you’re pretty much writing off the whole day or weekend

Yea, but canyons don't really exist in flyover country. Detroit was miserable, I suspect Indy is similar. Just straight flat boring roads everywhere. In these areas, driving on the track is the only option.

I really miss Sundays spent tearing up canyons. Agreed 100% it's preferred to track days. Just extremely location dependent.

[Desertbreh]

I considered doing PPF on the GTI when it was new. My car has a bunch of rock chips and whatnot. I don’t really give a fuck when it’s a run of the mill mass produced thing. Every chip has a story, and my mentality has been to be more about shit outside of my control and enjoy what I can.

A highlight of this mentality was a purple 991.1 GT3RS at a a local car show here. Full of chips, tire rubber on the fenders, tow hook mounted. Owner was 5/7 and encapsulated the just enjoy it mentality. And his car was getting ogled over more than a condom wrapped red c8 corvette with white new balances that was 3-4 cars next to him.

That’s because people want to see how much someone raped one of the best porsches ever made whistling diesel style. Unlike a run of the mill truck engined sports car

Is this PC for Whistling Dixie?

[Desertbreh]

Went to go look at a today for the brother. Was doing mostly good mechanically, motor sounded healthy, shifts were crisp taking it around the block, only downside being clutch bite point was way up at the top of pedal travel. Might just be characteristic of a . Also had 113k miles on it.

Got it up in the air and got a good look at the underside. Looked mostly clean, some surface rust that might've been on the verge of becoming deeper, but no real big deal. Power steering reservoir or pump was leaking some.








And then came the interior. All checked out until we moved the passenger seat.





Window seal or some other thing on the car is leaking water onto the passenger footwell when it rains.

Was listed for 8300, we offered 6500 as a bit of a lowball because our lack of a garage would make this impossible to keep dry until we fix it, seller came back with 7k. We walked away because while the 7k price was decent, it didn't make it a good enough to make it worth the hassle. To top it off, the Massachusetts title listed it at 137k miles, which doesn't match up to the odometer in the car.

And as I type this up, it is raining incredibly hard outside. If this isn't a sign of a dodged bullet I don't know what else is.

Standing water and this problem are just a NO.

[D Griff]

Went to go look at a today for the brother. Was doing mostly good mechanically, motor sounded healthy, shifts were crisp taking it around the block, only downside being clutch bite point was way up at the top of pedal travel. Might just be characteristic of a . Also had 113k miles on it.

Got it up in the air and got a good look at the underside. Looked mostly clean, some surface rust that might've been on the verge of becoming deeper, but no real big deal. Power steering reservoir or pump was leaking some.








And then came the interior. All checked out until we moved the passenger seat.





Window seal or some other thing on the car is leaking water onto the passenger footwell when it rains.

Was listed for 8300, we offered 6500 as a bit of a lowball because our lack of a garage would make this impossible to keep dry until we fix it, seller came back with 7k. We walked away because while the 7k price was decent, it didn't make it a good enough to make it worth the hassle. To top it off, the Massachusetts title listed it at 137k miles, which doesn't match up to the odometer in the car.

And as I type this up, it is raining incredibly hard outside. If this isn't a sign of a dodged bullet I don't know what else is.

Standing water and this problem are just a NO.

Although $7K car isn't much these days... that is like one step above non-running.

[D Griff]

Canyon driving > track days. Not even from an enjoyment standpoint but from a time spent doing said things standpoint. You can hit a canyon road during a Sunday drive or as a longer commute. Track day you’re pretty much writing off the whole day or weekend

Yea, but canyons don't really exist in flyover country. Detroit was miserable, I suspect Indy is similar. Just straight flat boring roads everywhere. In these areas, driving on the track is the only option.

I really miss Sundays spent tearing up canyons. Agreed 100% it's preferred to track days. Just extremely location dependent.

Hell, I go to the mountains a lot and live in a wonderful state but it's still a good 90minutes each way to any kind of fun roads. Plus, post COVID things are way more crowded so you have to work a bit harder to get off the beaten path.

I love track driving as it's really a learning experience every time, you truly become a better driver, learn the most about vehicle dynamics and tuning. That said, from a fun perspective a canyon drive can be just as good - it's way more chill, great scenery, much less expensive in both fees and consumables.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Yea, but canyons don't really exist in flyover country. Detroit was miserable, I suspect Indy is similar. Just straight flat boring roads everywhere. In these areas, driving on the track is the only option.

I really miss Sundays spent tearing up canyons. Agreed 100% it's preferred to track days. Just extremely location dependent.

Hell, I go to the mountains a lot and live in a wonderful state but it's still a good 90minutes each way to any kind of fun roads. Plus, post COVID things are way more crowded so you have to work a bit harder to get off the beaten path.

I love track driving as it's really a learning experience every time, you truly become a better driver, learn the most about vehicle dynamics and tuning. That said, from a fun perspective a canyon drive can be just as good - it's way more chill, great scenery, much less expensive in both fees and consumables.

Yep, a different experience. Track driving has no pedestrians, bicyclists, oncoming traffic, etc other distractions. 100% focused on going around the course as fast as possible. Certainly gets you way more in tune with your vehicle, but it's the focus that I really enjoyed. Getting in the zone with the car pushing 10/10 is just awesome, and those are limits you simply cannot (or should not) find on canyons.

One day I'd love to do track driving again, but there's just so few tracks around to take advantage of. Driving where I am just kinda blows, and while I live in an area with the most twisty roads in the state probably, it's still not as fun as a tight twisty road or track.