Stuff that cant be fixed by the aftermarket in cars

[12,000 RPM]

More power, more brakes, more tire, better suspension, easy fixes.

Theres some other shit though that just cant be fixed by the aftermarket, but still bothers me. In the Z the steering, clutch and shifter were comically heavy. Helped make inputs deliberate when pushing it, but for just tooling around it seemed pointless. Wifey's Rabbit has W123 Benz grade slow steering, and 6th gear is tall to the point that it's barely usable. Pretty much everything I don't like about the Civic can be fixed so I'm happy about that.

Any shit you dont like about your car that the aftermarket cant fix

[Rich]

Steering feedback. 

Been thinking about going to a manual rack on the Miata, to get somewhere near as an Elise or Atom as I can get.

but it can't really be fixed in newer cars.

[SJ_GTI]

More power, more brakes, more tire, better suspension, easy fixes.

Theres some other shit though that just cant be fixed by the aftermarket, but still bothers me. In the Z the steering, clutch and shifter were comically heavy. Helped make inputs deliberate when pushing it, but for just tooling around it seemed pointless. Wifey's Rabbit has W123 Benz grade slow steering, and 6th gear is tall to the point that it's barely usable. Pretty much everything I don't like about the Civic can be fixed so I'm happy about that.

Any shit you dont like about your car that the aftermarket cant fix

Pretty sure clutch and shifter can be "fixed" in the aftermarket to some extent, but maybe not to the level you want. Gear ratios can certainly be altered.

[Byteme]

Anything can be "fixed" if one is willing to throw enough money at it. 

[12,000 RPM]

Pretty sure clutch and shifter can be "fixed" in the aftermarket to some extent, but maybe not to the level you want. Gear ratios can certainly be altered.

Aftermarket clutches and short shifters in the Z just make them heavier. Stickier wider tires make the steering heavier. And there arent any gear options for wifey's 6AT Rabbit in the aftermarket (or OEM)

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Just about anything can be fixed, except weight(we miss you Colin). So while it all can be fixed, if you start out with a heavy overweight turd you're pretty much screwed.

[SJ_GTI]

Aftermarket clutches and short shifters in the Z just make them heavier. Stickier wider tires make the steering heavier. And there arent any gear options for wifey's 6AT Rabbit in the aftermarket (or OEM)

OK, but the rabbit comes with a stick shift too. Not to mention there is an OEM option: the GTI. 

[280Z Turbo]

Just about anything can be fixed, except weight(we miss you Colin). So while it all can be fixed, if you start out with a heavy overweight turd you're pretty much screwed.

Some of us like to color outside the lines of Stage I, Stage II, etc.

[MexicoCityM3]

The driver.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

The driver.

Huh? That's the easiest and cheapest thing to mod.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Some of us like to color outside the lines of Stage I, Stage II, etc.

I don't know what you mean by stage 1,2, etc. I don't think anyone even uses "stages" any more in modifying vehicles(GM Probably, because it's still the 60's at the corporate office).

[AutobahnSHO]

column Shifter in 03 Odyssey <<< console shifter on 04 Sienna

Good luck fixing that..

[280Z Turbo]

I don't know what you mean by stage 1,2, etc. I don't think anyone even uses "stages" any more in modifying vehicles(GM Probably, because it's still the 60's at the corporate office).

Z32 guys

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Z32 guys

Was that a poor attempt at some sort of joke? I haven't seen a stage package listed for a Z in 10+ years.

[Payman]

Pretty soon I don't think you'll be allowed to mess with the proprietary coding of electronic steering, shifting or braking systems in new cars. This is being discussed in another thread.

[SVT666]

G37:  The 7spd auto transmission sucks in normal mode.

[MX793]

Was that a poor attempt at some sort of joke? I haven't seen a stage package listed for a Z in 10+ years.

Only "stage" packages I hear of these days are turbo upgrade kits (from Cobb and the like) for Subarus.

I think Roush has various stages for their tuner Mustangs.

[280Z Turbo]

Was that a poor attempt at some sort of joke? I haven't seen a stage package listed for a Z in 10+ years.

http://www.zdriver.com/forums/300zx-z32-tech-tips-273/stage-charts-14070/

[12,000 RPM]

G37:  The 7spd auto transmission sucks in normal mode.

I really didn't mind it in the 370Z, though I wish it had more kick. Nissan just can't figure out how to make a nice shifting manual transmission though, it's a catch 22.

[Madman]

The first thing that comes to mind is the proprietary software, available only via download from the manufacturer by way of the dealer, that all modern cars depend on.

[SVT666]

Stereo systems.

[68_427]

Stereo systems.

I know I've mentioned this thing before but I'll do it again. 

http://www.jbl.com/car-amplifiers/MS-8.html

I've heard the results first hand and if I had the cash I'd buy one without thinking twice.

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-MS-8-Series-Digital-Processor/dp/B003KN2TQ2

[12,000 RPM]

Wish that thing had an Android/iOS app so I didnt have to put another ugly ass box on my dash. I guess I could set it and forget it.

[68_427]

I'd probably just wire it so I could disconnect it and keep it in the console or something.

[Raza]

In the Z the steering, clutch and shifter were comically heavy.

Really? I always thought the clutch was a bit light and springy in the Z. And the shifter was just notchy, as I recall, I wouldn't call it heavy. I can't remember anything noteworthy about the steering. I think perhaps you've spent too much time in Japanese cars where controls are so featherweight a sneeze could simultaneously accelerate you, push the clutch in, and steer the car off the road.


Anyway, pedal weight is one of those things. So many cars have really light pedals, and I find that very uncomfortable, especially on long drives where there's too much traffic to use cruise control. I like a pedal that I can rest my foot on and it barely moves. My brother's S4 (and the 350Z, too, since we're on the subject) is a victim of too-light-gas-pedal syndrome. Not the worst, but it could be a lot better.

[Raza]

Only "stage" packages I hear of these days are turbo upgrade kits (from Cobb and the like) for Subarus.

I think Roush has various stages for their tuner Mustangs.

I think some of the ECU tunes I was looking at for my Jetta came in stages.

[Payman]

I know I've mentioned this thing before but I'll do it again. 

http://www.jbl.com/car-amplifiers/MS-8.html

I've heard the results first hand and if I had the cash I'd buy one without thinking twice.

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-MS-8-Series-Digital-Processor/dp/B003KN2TQ2

Don't those work off existing car audio systems? We were talking about whole stereo replacements.

[veeman]

Stupid cover our ass legal bullshit beeps and chimes the cars make when you don't put on a seatbelt.  There are situations like in a parking garage I prefer mine off and there should be a way to turn them off.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

http://www.zdriver.com/forums/300zx-z32-tech-tips-273/stage-charts-14070/

That was posted 10 years ago, I'm not surprised by that.

[12,000 RPM]

Really? I always thought the clutch was a bit light and springy in the Z. And the shifter was just notchy, as I recall, I wouldn't call it heavy. I can't remember anything noteworthy about the steering. I think perhaps you've spent too much time in Japanese cars where controls are so featherweight a sneeze could simultaneously accelerate you, push the clutch in, and steer the car off the road.

Well, wifey's Rabbit doesnt have heavy steering... just slow.

You may be right. Still though, I will take feedback over heft any day. Z steering, like pretty much all the controls in it, got the job done, but didn't really provide much feedback or inspire a ton of confidence. I got a feel for how much grip the car had and worked up against those limits. Never really grew to "trust" the car though. Civic controls are toy light but I always have a complete sense of what is going on.