tweeder82o

Left the tire shop, drove home and snapped these on the driveway; no tire shine, no wash and waxed (that was 2 weeks ago), not even a quick wipe down. At least I photoshopped these camera phone pictures.









Aspec drop and Aspec kit were recent additions as well.

Miro 398
18*8.5 et 35
Michelin Pilot Super Sport
235/40/18

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Very nice!

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

Love this color.
Rims sits at nice offset, I like that look... but thinking of lowering it with Tein springs?

Any mod planned?

rossv1

The new wheels look nice.

Titanium2k2

iTrader: (2)

Looks good! Great tire choice too! I just bought the exact same tire and size for my summer wheels.

tweeder82o

thanks guys, the tires are nice; still wary of this 500 mile break in period that I've heard about.

the aspec suspension was just installed (less then 1000 miles ago); so maybe when those are shot? I had debated between neuspeed, and teins along with the OEM aspec. it's still more of a daily driver, so I stayed conservative and went with OEM upgrades where available.

well, with the apec kit and drop, and the new wheels and tires all purchased and installed in the last 3 months, any big money mods are to be put off until later; late 2012 -2013.

The one big one

will better (better looking, at least) brakes: my girlfriend commented on how you can really see the brakes and that they're ugly.

since I've just replaced all of the pads and 2 rear rotors 20000 miles ago, I've got a while until brakes are due.

Medium ones

Exhaust: still on the fence, I'd love to hear something when I'm driving but still keep it classy. I've heard people talk about how the g37s sound, but I've never heard it in person. But I like the idea of having it sound like a factory tuned aggressive exhaust note.

research shows a stage 2 exhaust mod using a good resonator will do it, but my friend's saying if I am going to do it I should do it right and go cat-back.

Rear Sway Bar: this one I'm really looking forward to. I've heard that the front sway is a pain to swap out; so if I want to keep that stock at 25mm, I don't know if going all the way to 24mm in the rear would be too big. Other options are 22mm and 20mm which is OEM.

Cheap DIY (cosmetic, so I won't really notice as the driver):

Home Depot Lip: really curious on how that will look. It's cheap and reversible. I am thinking of putting them under the side skirts too, and on the sides of the rear lip.

debadging: thought about rebadging the "TL" with the "3.2" from 2nd gen (mimicking BMWs); but NO.

I might not debadge altogether.

Black: blacking out the center bar in the grille, leaving the (/\).

And this just occur to me, as I am staring out the window at work at my car. the black rims are really dictating that I need to black out the lights too. definitely wasn't planning on that.

I was actually considering "ambering" out the front side markers.

Stockies: maybe touch up and paint the stockies. since these are so black, I might go really bright with stockies (winters). like the original silver or even a bit lighter but really shiny.



p.s. speaking of the nice offset, they are sitting nice at that offset and width! LOVE it! But there's this "ping ping ping" when I am driving, the tires are flinging crap all up my car... are you guys experiencing the same thing?

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Congrats on the wheels! Simple and clean

As for exhaust, I went from stock to catback and I don't regret it at all. At the time I was pretty bored with my car and the exhaust made me fall in love with it all over again.

You're entitled to your opinion but I can't stand the Home Depot Lip. Spend your money elsewhere

ebelp

Call me crazy, but I much prefer the look of stock TL wheels on a stock suspension. Aftermarket wheels with oem suspension look out of place, unless they're A-Spec wheels (IMO). Everything else looks good.

tweeder82o

I'd love a set of OEM Aspec 18*8.5..... not all of us are blessed though, I'd love an Aspec badge too!


Thanks

Which cat-back did you go with? from the youtube clips I saw, I think I might like the greddy evoII (discontinued).

Have you tried it, or seen it in person? what do you think is wrong with it? other than that it's not meant for a car, and it's not functional. I am more curious than anything, and it's purely aesthetic. so let me know what you think aesthetics wise.

I might end up just mocking it up with painters tape or clamps and see and then return it if it's whack (do kids still say 'whack'?)

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I have the non-resonated ATLP Base. Search my username on YouTube and you'll see some of my videos.

I've never tried it, I have no desire to, but I've seen it in person many times. It's hard to describe but I feel like it doesn't flow, like it's tacked on and looks out of place. Just my

And yes, we still say "wack"

tweeder82o

sounds nice, good clips!

I guess I just have always associated expensive cat-backs with ricey-sounding-fart-cans and that I always assumed that if people are paying over $1000 they'd want the loudest most obnoxious exhaust available.

I may have to really re-evaluate that assumption and give the cat-backs another look. Though that would move the exhaust mod into the "big money" category.

ebelp

I've seen the HD lips on TL's in person and they're just blah. I think it's the fact that you're attaching a piece of rubber meant for a garage door onto the bumper of a $40k luxury/sport sedan is what turns most people off. I like to leave those kinds of mods for the Civic crowd.

tweeder82o

Couple of months ago, aspec kit and suspension installed



A month ago, washed, clayed, and waxed



Today



taken with camera phone, zoomed in, through a dirty window

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

RSB
20mm is oem for MT... you got MT? Nice
Go with 22or24
I have 20 with stock suspensions

Don't listen tothe, he actually hates his exhaust
Try XLR8, from the videos it sounds nice but haven't heard it in person.
Heard ATLP base in person, loved it but tone is kind of stockish I mean my stock is Stage II sooo......Magnaflow resonator

Try Stage II exhaust, it's cheap
To be honest ok money is one thing that keeps me away from getting a Catback but also big reason is the tone I have on the car with Stage II

Home depo lip might look good since will match with second color of your car...try

tweeder82o

no, I have AT, I meant that the 22mm is OEM for MT; so I can upgrade to a 22mm from 17mm.



definitely will give it go, home depot is like 2 miles from me. maybe if I make the lip more blaaack. I've seen people with the Subaru lip...

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

lookin' pretty good!

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

20mm is OEM for MT as I know..

tweeder82o

right, typo! 20 is OEM for MT. 22mm I believe is the next size in aftermarket, then the 24mm after that.

So with only the 25mm stock fsb, I need to find the right size upgrade. The OEM is a fraction of the price compared to aftermarket though.

tweeder82o

Discovered a leak on the passenger rear tire on Saturday.

Hopefully it's just a valve stem or something as the shop doesn't keep the tire in stock.

Titanium2k2

iTrader: (2)

Hopefully you don't need to replace the tire. Those PSS Michelins are not cheap!

tweeder82o

oh, I know! but I did get the hazards plan my shop offered, the only catch is that they don't stock those tires. so that'd be an inconvenience.

tweeder82o

beautiful day (68 degrees, low humidity, and no clouds) stuck at work

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Looks good.

zachlone

Nice wheels! I love black on our color car

tweeder82o

not too much excitement to post.

first of all, I know of at least 2 bent wheels so far
I reckon that it could have been any of the following:

1. Miro is not as reputable as, say, enkei (considering the T6S's).

2. I got my wheels/summer tires on too early, and because of the frigid mornings the tires are too stiff and thus transferred more of the wheel-bending force from the potholes.

3. I got lazy at avoiding potholes.

Just replaced coolant, power steering, transmission, and brake fluids; and also the drive shaft since it was rusted through

Also washed, clayed barred, and waxed using the black-wax. I think on my anthracite, it looks better than just using regular wax. I guess tire black makes a big difference too!

I've also been toying with the idea of trading her in for either a 2012 WRX hatch, or a new 2015 WRX sedan. The interweb suggests that I'd be getting ~$5000 for a dealer trade in ('04 155,000 miles).

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Sorry about the wheels

A coworker has a 2012 STi and it's a blast. My TL feels incredibly slow after being in that car. What's making you want to get rid of the TL?

tweeder82o

I am chalking up the wheels as a lesson to always buy a more reputable brand. but then Miro isn't necessary a bad brand, is it? so I don't know. But I knew going in that I had chosen those because they were cheaper (buy 3 get 1 free, so $150 each).

I don't necessarily want to get rid of the TL, more like I just wanted to splurge and get something new. Especially something as fun as a WRX.

Also, I've always thought that when possible, I would buy the car I had in high school as a second (fun) vehicle. this was exactly like the one I had, but when it came down to it I just wasn't into it anymore. Plus we have a tandem two car garage with two cars already. so having three cars, really wouldn't work. we tossed around the idea of getting rid of the TL for the trans am, and I realized that I didn't care much about the Trans Am anymore.

So I wondered what would I want if I got rid of the TL. first I looked for a type-s, not much luck and it's too similar. second I wanted a late model used Audi A4 avant s-line, not much luck either. then finally I came across the WRX and that really had me considering.

part of me wants to splurge, because life. part of me wants to stay loyal, because TL.

ATLS_666

Miro wheels are known to bend easily.

tweeder82o

good to know that the brand has that reputation, i don't have to second guess myself.

I am considering the Enkei T6S as replacements. or the Kojins.

would 9.5" be too wide on a-spec suspension and 235/40/18 with 15 or 30 offset (235/40/18 at 8.5" at 35mm is the current setup)

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Sorry about the wheels but nice pic!

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

2015 WRX is a good choice

tweeder82o

I just saw that you got a BRZ! just curious, did you sell or trade in your TL?

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

Yup with a BRZ now
Sold the TL
Trade was toooo low

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

^^^ .....and we're still sad the TL is gone.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

After tha National Meet, I started to miss the TL Steven haha

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

I bet you did, buddy......

tweeder82o

well, I just ordered a 2015 WRX for lease... estimated delivery is 2-3 months. While I still have my TL, she should be gone by the time the WRX arrives.

I had a great time with the TL since 2008, and I really had a lot of fun looking on the forum at others' TLs. I'd have to say this is a really good forum, everything is organized and well done; everyone is real good and helpful.

My original plan was to hold on to the TL forever, but as much as I would want to have the TL forever (she looks good for a 10 year-old car, and all of her technology is still really relevant) I feel that she's keeping me from enjoying something different (wrx) more than I would be enjoying having the TL.

So I'll be looking to my friends and their friends to see if anyone would want the TL. Then I'd probably end up trading her in to the dealer, because I'd be too lazy to try and sell it myself to strangers.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Dude, we are all have those same plans. At some point, our TL's will have to go.

Best of luck with the WRX-anxious to see it.

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

Congrats and welcome
What color?

tweeder82o

thanks, black.
I've never had a black car!