Just bought a new (used) car!

[Vinsanity]

I could've sworn I thought the Subie was a stickshift

[Eye of the Tiger]

Start heel-n-toe practice early. Get ahead of the game. That's the only way I drive the Swift.

[the Teuton]

I could've sworn I thought the Subie was a stickshift

Unfortunately not.  The next Subie probably will be, though, but I don't expect that one before 2012 or so.

[Raza]

Today's the first whole day I've ever spent driving stick, and I have to say this:  There are some inherent flaws about this car (stereo sucks, headlights don't go off automatically, etc.) but I absolutely love my plastic car.  It's fun to drive.

Headlights don't go off automatically?  You mean an economy car from 1995 doesn't have automatic headlights!?  I'm shocked and appalled!

[dazzleman]

It was dark.  Here's what I got from Autotrader.

Good luck, man....

Now, start beating that thing up.

[the Teuton]

Headlights don't go off automatically?  You mean an economy car from 1995 doesn't have automatic headlights!?  I'm shocked and appalled!

Now you realize why my Impreza was the bomb.

Good luck, man....

Now, start beating that thing up.

I've driven it 70ish miles in the past two days.  I absofuckinglutely love driving it, and stick is really easy now.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Headlights don't go off automatically?  You mean an economy car from 1995 doesn't have automatic headlights!?  I'm shocked and appalled!

[dazzleman]

Now you realize why my Impreza was the bomb.

I've driven it 70ish miles in the past two days.  I absofuckinglutely love driving it, and stick is really easy now.

Have you stomped down on the accelerator yet, whipped around turns, or taken it off-road yet?  What's the top speed you've done in it so far?

[r0tor]

i had a coworker that loved those thing... he's buy them with like 100k miles, drive it to the junkyard at 200k miles (he had like a 150 mile daily commute) and rinse and repeat

[the Teuton]

Have you stomped down on the accelerator yet, whipped around turns, or taken it off-road yet?  What's the top speed you've done in it so far?

Uh, no.  I'm going to try to keep this one until 2012 or so after I am out of college and somewhat established.  As for the top speed I've taken it so far: 75.

[dazzleman]

Uh, no.  I'm going to try to keep this one until 2012 or so after I am out of college and somewhat established.  As for the top speed I've taken it so far: 75.

75?!?!?!  That's it?  Oh man, you need to put those lead shoes on and get out there...75 is nothing, man....

I'm just kidding about kicking the crap out of the car.  It's fun to do, but I know you need to nurse it along.  That's what rental cars are for....(oops, I forgot you work for a car rental company... )

I remember when I was 25 I went on vacation and rented a Chevy Cavalier.  Man, I kicked the crap out of that car.  It was great...

[the Teuton]

This car is in surprisingly good condition.  I can truthfully say I'm proud to own it.  It has nothing in it, but then again, it'll serve me well until something better comes along.

[dazzleman]

This car is in surprisingly good condition.  I can truthfully say I'm proud to own it.  It has nothing in it, but then again, it'll serve me well until something better comes along.

You don't need a lot of accessories.  You need reliable and cheap transportation.  If it provides that, it's a great find.  Good luck with it, man.

[The Pirate]

Have you stomped down on the accelerator yet, whipped around turns, or taken it off-road yet?  What's the top speed you've done in it so far?

Saturns do very well off-road, in case you were wondering. 

[the Teuton]

I'm not going to find out for myself.

BTW, all indications I'm getting are listing the 0-60 time for this car at between 8.6-9.1 seconds.  Compared to my Subaru (12.4 for the sedan of same spec, according to Motor Trend), that's positively blazing.

[AutobahnSHO]

Speaking of headlights-

The Subaru headlights are just OFF if the car is off. You have to use a separate switch to turn on the parking lights. And apparently people bump that switch and run the battery out every once in a while..

My SHO, Dodge and Toyota vans have had the packages with auto headlight off. All the others just "bing" at you and stay on.

[Raza]

Now you realize why my Impreza was the bomb.

I've driven it 70ish miles in the past two days.  I absofuckinglutely love driving it, and stick is really easy now.

Who gives a fuck about automatic headlights?  I actually prefer manually turning the lights on and off to automatic light systems like the ones on my mom's Mercedes and my dad's Lexus. 

[the Teuton]

Speaking of headlights-

The Subaru headlights are just OFF if the car is off. You have to use a separate switch to turn on the parking lights. And apparently people bump that switch and run the battery out every once in a while..

My SHO, Dodge and Toyota vans have had the packages with auto headlight off. All the others just "bing" at you and stay on.

My dad called me when he accidentally turned the parking lights on because he had no idea what he did to turn them on in the Legacy.  Subaru started getting rid of those with the 2008 Impreza.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Saturns do very well off-road, in case you were wondering. 

+1

[Eye of the Tiger]

So... did you put that cold air intake on yet?

[the Teuton]

So... did you put that cold air intake on yet?

And do a big smokey burnout, too?

May I ask what the point would be to get that thing from 124 hp to 130?

[Eye of the Tiger]

And do a big smokey burnout, too?

May I ask what the point would be to get that thing from 124 hp to 130?

If I have to tell you.... nevermind 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Maybe you should just throw on a restrictor plate and bring it down to a Swift-like 75 hp. Too much air really is bad for engine.

[the Teuton]

Maybe you should just throw on a restrictor plate and bring it down to a Swift-like 75 hp. Too much air really is bad for engine.

If I wanted that, I would have picked up an SL1.

It's hard to believe that this car really isn't much slower than the vaunted 2.5 RS I want.  Now THAT car needs a turbo.

[2o6]

If I wanted that, I would have picked up an SL1.

It's hard to believe that this car really isn't much slower than the vaunted 2.5 RS I want.  Now THAT car needs a turbo.

Open Diff, FTW! 

[Eye of the Tiger]

If I wanted that, I would have picked up an SL1.

It's hard to believe that this car really isn't much slower than the vaunted 2.5 RS I want.  Now THAT car needs a turbo.

It should actually be right on par with your silly 2.5 RS. I posted a 1996 SC2 test in the Swift thread that did 0-60 in 8.3.

[the Teuton]

It should actually be right on par with your silly 2.5 RS. I posted a 1996 SC2 test in the Swift thread that did 0-60 in 8.3.

Oh shizz...wow.

And my car is lighter than the newer bodystyle SC2, I believe.

On paper, my car would still be beaten by an RS.  The DOHC RS was a little slower.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Oh shizz...wow.

And my car is lighter than the newer bodystyle SC2, I believe.

On paper, my car would still be beaten by an RS.  The DOHC RS was a little slower.

Of course, you wouldn't know, because I'm sure you haven't revved it over 2,500 RPM yet, and most likely never plan to.

[the Teuton]

Of course, you wouldn't know, because I'm sure you haven't revved it over 2,500 RPM yet, and most likely never plan to.

I've had it up to 3,200 RPM, thanks.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I've had it up to 3,200 RPM, thanks.

Let's try for 6,000. It won't blow up, I promise.