“The Trashcan”

Strut your greasy stuff!
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Dbest
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I bought a new car, one we affectionately call “The Trashcan”

First I stopped commuting to work via airplane. Now I can stop eating up expensive tires during a 47 mile round trip daily commute getting 13.7(ish) mpg and waiting for someone on their phone to hit and total out the 4Runner while in traffic. The 4R gets to sit in the parking garage waiting to come out and play, and The Trashcan now get driven everyday. 1 set of 4Runner tires and the fuel savings will pay for the new car in less than a year.

2006 Pontiac Vibe GT
It’s a Toyota Matrix (Corolla hatchback) rebadged for Pontiac. The GT is spec’d with the 8200rpm 180 hp 1.8L high output 2ZZ-GE engine, this one has the 6-speed manual.

154,000 miles, overall in really good condition for its age. Valve cover has very minor seepage, front right shock is leaking, blend door actuator is clicking, and the the dome light assemblies seem to have short connections inside.

Plans for the car are to basically refresh everything. New filters and fluid everywhere. Lube all the hinges, latches, and the shifter linkages. New wipers. Headlight restoration. New brakes all the way around (pads, rotors, calipers, flex lines, hardware). New suspension all the way around (struts, springs, mounts, boots and bump stops, end links, sway bar bushings, ball joints, control arms, inner and outer tie rod ends and boots). Valve cover gasket and oil pan. Replace the blend door motor. Take apart and fix the dome light connections. And install a new double din CarPlay radio, maybe with a back up camera.

From there it should be good to go for another 150k with just some routine maintenance and a clutch/flywheel when it’s time.

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max225
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How much was the trash can ? Also impressive :mahtroy: mobile his had similar miles when he sold it
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Dbest
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[user not found] wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 10:45 am :notbad:

Oil pan leaking, too? Or just doing dbest things?
The pan is not leaking but it’s literally $70 for a pan with a gasket and drain plug. It’s got a long history or Jiffy Lube oil changes so I’m sure those threads are plenty dickered.
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Dbest
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max225 wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 10:51 am How much was the trash can ? Also impressive :mahtroy: mobile his had similar miles when he sold it
$3,500 - not great but in this market and a few months of looking for something, I jumped on it.
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max225
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Dbest wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:04 am
max225 wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 10:51 am How much was the trash can ? Also impressive :mahtroy: mobile his had similar miles when he sold it
$3,500 - not great but in this market and a few months of looking for something, I jumped on it.
:notbad: for a running car with some character
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Dbest
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max225 wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:20 am
Dbest wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:04 am

$3,500 - not great but in this market and a few months of looking for something, I jumped on it.
:notbad: for a running car with some character
Originally I was looking for an old CRV, RAV4, Corolla, or B5 A4 1.8 preferably Avant. Specifically manual trans and decent condition. Originally I was hoping to spend $1500-$2000, but every asshole nowadays thinks they should get twice whatever blue book value is. Eventually I upped my search to $6,000 and then pointed out all the shit wrong with their clapped out beaters and tried to talk them down to lower end of blue book.
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wap
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:notbad: :mahtroy: -mobile
:wap: Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm I don't understand anything anymore.
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Tar
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wap wrote: Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:50 am :notbad: :mahtroy: -mobile
:dat: everyone I ever spoke with who owns one considers them to be an invincible tank. Nice grab!
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Desertbreh
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Also I like "The Trashcan"
Detroit wrote:Buy 911s instead of diamonds.
Johnny_P wrote: Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:21 pm Earn it and burn it, Val.
max225 wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 5:35 pm Yes it's a cool car. But prepare the lube/sawdust.
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Dbest
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Well, I spent lots of money on The Trashcan, because I’m an idiot. I bought parts for all of the following:

Engine
- Oil pan w/ plug
- Oil pan gasket
- Valve cover gasket
- Intake manifold gasket
- Throttle body gasket
- PCV valve
- Air filter
- Oil filter
- Oil

Transmission
- Fluid

Front End
- Tein Endura Pro Plus adjustable struts
- Tein H Tech springs
- KYB Strut mount w/bearing
- KYB Spring isolator
- KYB strut boot ellow
- Sway bar end links
- Sway bar bushings
- Control arms
- Ball joints
- Inner tie rod ends with boots
- Outer tie rod ends
- Brake calipers and brackets
- Powerstop brake pads
- Powerstop coated blank rotors
- Brake hardware kit
- Rubber flex brake lines
- DOT 4 fluid

Rear end
- Tein Endura Pro Plus adjustable shocks
- Tein H Tech springs
- KYB strut mount
- KYB shock boot
- Brake calipers and brackets
- Powerstop brake pads
- Powerstop brake rotors
- Brake hardware kit
- Rubber flex brake lines
- DOT 4 fluid

Interior
- Fresh air blend door actuator
- Alpine iLX-W650 7” touch screen CarPlay radio with install kit

Exterior
- Generic black license plate frames
- Bosch Icon Wiper blades

I still need trans fill and drain plugs and washers, interior LED dome/map light bulbs, coolant, spark plugs, power steering fluid, and some cheap floor liners.

All in all I’m $2,715.48 into parts for the car so far lol
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wap
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Dbest wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 9:27 am Well, I spent lots of money on The Trashcan, because I’m an idiot. I bought parts for all of the following:

Engine
- Oil pan w/ plug
- Oil pan gasket
- Valve cover gasket
- Intake manifold gasket
- Throttle body gasket
- PCV valve
- Air filter
- Oil filter
- Oil

Transmission
- Fluid

Front End
- Tein Endura Pro Plus adjustable struts
- Tein H Tech springs
- KYB Strut mount w/bearing
- KYB Spring isolator
- KYB strut boot ellow
- Sway bar end links
- Sway bar bushings
- Control arms
- Ball joints
- Inner tie rod ends with boots
- Outer tie rod ends
- Brake calipers and brackets
- Powerstop brake pads
- Powerstop coated blank rotors
- Brake hardware kit
- Rubber flex brake lines
- DOT 4 fluid

Rear end
- Tein Endura Pro Plus adjustable shocks
- Tein H Tech springs
- KYB strut mount
- KYB shock boot
- Brake calipers and brackets
- Powerstop brake pads
- Powerstop brake rotors
- Brake hardware kit
- Rubber flex brake lines
- DOT 4 fluid

Interior
- Fresh air blend door actuator
- Alpine iLX-W650 7” touch screen CarPlay radio with install kit

Exterior
- Generic black license plate frames
- Bosch Icon Wiper blades

I still need trans fill and drain plugs and washers, interior LED dome/map light bulbs, coolant, spark plugs, power steering fluid, and some cheap floor liners.

All in all I’m $2,715.48 into parts for the car so far lol
Almost what you paid for the car! :lolol:
It should last for decades, :doe: . Your son can drive it when he's ready!
:wap: Where are these mangos?
Detroit wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 1:19 pm I don't understand anything anymore.
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max225
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Dbest wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 9:27 am Well, I spent lots of money on The Trashcan, because I’m an idiot. I bought parts for all of the following:

Engine
- Oil pan w/ plug
- Oil pan gasket
- Valve cover gasket
- Intake manifold gasket
- Throttle body gasket
- PCV valve
- Air filter
- Oil filter
- Oil

Transmission
- Fluid

Front End
- Tein Endura Pro Plus adjustable struts
- Tein H Tech springs
- KYB Strut mount w/bearing
- KYB Spring isolator
- KYB strut boot ellow
- Sway bar end links
- Sway bar bushings
- Control arms
- Ball joints
- Inner tie rod ends with boots
- Outer tie rod ends
- Brake calipers and brackets
- Powerstop brake pads
- Powerstop coated blank rotors
- Brake hardware kit
- Rubber flex brake lines
- DOT 4 fluid

Rear end
- Tein Endura Pro Plus adjustable shocks
- Tein H Tech springs
- KYB strut mount
- KYB shock boot
- Brake calipers and brackets
- Powerstop brake pads
- Powerstop brake rotors
- Brake hardware kit
- Rubber flex brake lines
- DOT 4 fluid

Interior
- Fresh air blend door actuator
- Alpine iLX-W650 7” touch screen CarPlay radio with install kit

Exterior
- Generic black license plate frames
- Bosch Icon Wiper blades

I still need trans fill and drain plugs and washers, interior LED dome/map light bulbs, coolant, spark plugs, power steering fluid, and some cheap floor liners.

All in all I’m $2,715.48 into parts for the car so far lol
To be fair you’ll erase 150k miles of deferred maintenance. What about wheels and tires ?
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Dbest
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Wheels are amazingly clean. They aren’t curbed up or stained from brake dust, the tires have about 5K miles on them, a decent set of Continentals.
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Oh wow :notbad: overall.
Desertbreh wrote: Tue Oct 10, 2017 6:40 pm My guess would be that Chris took some time off because he has read the dialogue on this page 1,345 times and decided to spend some of his free time doing something besides beating a horse to death.
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Dbest
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[user not found] wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:40 pm I wasn’t aware Tein made shocks and struts these days.
I was surprised as well, it’s a newer product line, check it out.

https://www.tein.com/products/endurapro.html
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max225
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Dbest wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:29 pm Wheels are amazingly clean. They aren’t curbed up or stained from brake dust, the tires have about 5K miles on them, a decent set of Continentals.
I figured since you're revamping the entire suspension you may want to throw on a set of lightweight wheels/tires.
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Desertbreh
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Dbest wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:59 pm
[user not found] wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:40 pm I wasn’t aware Tein made shocks and struts these days.
I was surprised as well, it’s a newer product line, check it out.

https://www.tein.com/products/endurapro.html
Interested to hear how these work out.
Detroit wrote:Buy 911s instead of diamonds.
Johnny_P wrote: Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:21 pm Earn it and burn it, Val.
max225 wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 5:35 pm Yes it's a cool car. But prepare the lube/sawdust.
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Dbest
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max225 wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:04 pm
Dbest wrote: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:29 pm Wheels are amazingly clean. They aren’t curbed up or stained from brake dust, the tires have about 5K miles on them, a decent set of Continentals.
I figured since you're revamping the entire suspension you may want to throw on a set of lightweight wheels/tires.
Historically I put snows on OEM wheels and then get something aftermarket for the rest of the year, but I’ve also never bought a car this old with this many miles. There’s just other places to put the money at this point plus I’m in an apartment now so space is at a premium. Once I burn through these tires I’ll probably do some Nokian All Weather tires on some lightweight budget friendly Konig wheels or something.
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Dbest
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Well that happened sooner than expected. The tires on this thing are in good shape but fuckin horrendous in the snow. The worst all season I’ve ever driven on snow.

Time for some Michelin Cross Climate 2 all weathers and some wheels.

I’m thinking maybe Konig Hexiforms.
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Dbest
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[user not found] wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 6:54 pm
Dbest wrote: Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:54 pm Well that happened sooner than expected. The tires on this thing are in good shape but fuckin horrendous in the snow. The worst all season I’ve ever driven on snow.

Time for some Michelin Cross Climate 2 all weathers and some wheels.

I’m thinking maybe Konig Hexiforms.
16s or 17s?
They came with 16 or 17 stock, 215/50/17 is my OEM, I haven’t decided on 16s vs 17s yet.

Edit - After looking at some wheels I’m definitely gonna go with 17s. I’ve never shopped 16s before. Extremely limited selection.
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