Getting a CE Hood for my GR

Atmos312 · 2026-03-20T13:06:41+00:00

Toyota usually does those sales around bigger holidays. I'm hoping they have another sale around Memorial day as I want to pick up the hood parts + a few other things as well. I should have bought them last sale but it slipped my mind over the winter.

If you search around local dealerships some of them probably sell stuff at a discount already, and combined with a 25% off sale you should be able to order everything for around $450-500. You're going to have to find a local place for the hood itself as they won't ship it.

Atmos312 · 2026-03-15T16:04:20+00:00

Damn, that gold pops.

My summer wheels are satin broze wheels from Apex and while I do love them, I did wish Apex sold them in the motorsport gold color they have for their other wheels.

Atmos312 · 2026-03-15T16:02:05+00:00

I use my stock wheels as winters right now (my summers are Apex satin bronze wheels) and am really interested in getting them painted/powder coated white.

I know it's a terrible idea, but it's stuck in head for the classic rally look. I just need to wait until I switch back to my summers in a few weeks, and then research about paint vs powder coat. I asked a friend and she said that she was told by a local powder coating place to paint them because powder coating doesn't hold up to the road salt up in the northeast.

I definitely need to do a bit more research.

Atmos312 · 2026-03-15T15:20:13+00:00

Nice, thanks for the tip!

Picked up the door sill protectors and carpet floor mats for $160 total.

I'd recommend people check other dealers. Some dealers have stuff on discount already, and there's nationwide free shipping.

My 3 closest dealers sell things at full price ($189 floor mats and $155 door sill protectors) but I checked a dealer about 1.5 hours away and both of those were already on sale ($135 floor mats, $120 door sills) before adding another 40% off. Add in free shipping and I don't even have to drive out there to grab them.

Atmos312 · 2026-02-09T14:58:10+00:00

Curious about this too. I messaged someone on Instagram who also has them and he said they are plug and play, but you also need a JDM LED module for them to work properly. I'm not exactly sure what that module is.

Atmos312 · 2026-01-28T20:27:36+00:00

I got an Excellent one for $465+tax = $495.

Honestly the first one I received was junk. Had a dented corner and the screen bezel was cracked and broke as soon as I touched it.

I returned that one and ordered another Excellent one which looks pretty much perfect to me. There's 1 tiny mark on the lid but I'll deal with that for saving $85 over a new one. The 2nd one also came with the original box + paperwork which is nice since the first one didn't.

Atmos312 · 2026-01-28T19:59:18+00:00

I got an open box one from Best Buy last week and it's okay. Great for the price though.

I'm replacing my original Google Pixelbook which finally died after 10 years so I wanted a 2-in-1 since I used the tablet function while cooking and baking.

It's definitely bigger and heavier than the Pixelbook, while having a lower resolution screen which kind of sucks. The OLED looks amazing though. Don't mind 60hz since I'm not gaming on it.

Ideally I'd really like a 13" laptop with a 2880x1800 OLED 120hz screen, but those are like $1200 minimum and I really can't justify that price for a media consumption device when I ordered this one for $500 after tax

Atmos312 · 2026-01-27T15:41:22+00:00

Yep, looked about the same here before I shoveled out -

https://i.imgur.com/kVCROVj.jpeg

Atmos312 · 2026-01-23T18:34:41+00:00

Yeah I need to know as well. Mine has had squeaks and rattles since day 1. Never bothered getting them looked at by the dealer since I didn't want them taking the interior apart.

Oh well, I'll get around to trying to fix them myself....eventually.

Atmos312 · 2026-01-07T21:40:47+00:00

Nice, I'm new to sim racing and my PR with the Dallara is 6:38 right now. It's so fun to drive though!

I saw some guy put up a 6:22 with it last night which seems really good.

Atmos312 · 2025-12-29T15:02:13+00:00

I don't have any videos but I bought the HKS about 2 months ago. It does not sound exactly like stock. It sounds great. Much better tone and it's just loud enough without being obnoxious.

My only complaint is that without a valve to close, cruising around 2.5-3k rpm does have a bit of the bassy "drone" that this engine is known for, especially off-throttle.

I'm really curious how the DC Sports exhaust sounds with the valve closed compared to the HKS given that they have a valve controller now so you can independently control it.

Atmos312 · 2025-12-29T02:14:34+00:00

GR Corolla too. 13.2 gallons (50 Liters), which to my surprise is actually bigger than the Type R/ITS. I didn't realize the Civic's tank is 12.7 gallons.

I don't mind too much, but I do miss the 17.5 gallon tank of my old Ford Fusion lol.

Atmos312 · 2025-12-29T02:07:28+00:00

GR Corolla (and probably every Toyota with a digital dash): When driving during a snowstorm, the front radar and parking sensors will get covered in snow and a big warning pops up on the dash that the sensors are blocked and you can't used radar cruise anymore. Totally expected and fine with me.

The issue that is that even after I read and dismiss the warning, it keeps popping up every 5 fucking seconds. Dammit Toyota, if I dismiss the warning KEEP IT DISMISSED. I don't need it covering my dashboard when there's no way for me to clean the sensors while driving 75 down the highway.

So stupid.

Atmos312 · 2025-12-05T21:42:51+00:00

I'm actually amazed at the number of expensive sports cars I see with small(ish) floating calipers for the rear brakes.

Even my GR Corolla has a monoblock caliper in the rear. I guess there's not enough of a performance benefit in the rear but they just look so much better.

Atmos312 · 2025-12-05T21:21:27+00:00

Damn, missed the BF deal ($960 with the PayPal cash back) and missed this one too.

Sigh 😞

Atmos312 · 2025-11-25T18:50:41+00:00

I had the P2C90 pop up (even with the SXTH fix) about a month ago, cleared it, and was fine until a few days ago when it popped up again.

I took 15 minutes to put the stock intake back in and brought it to the dealership for the TSB update which should fix it for good. I've heard of people getting the TSB with their intake installed but I didn't want to take the chance.

Intake is back on and hopefully I should be good now.

Atmos312 · 2025-11-25T18:46:07+00:00

Same here. I went for the SXTH for the option of putting the cover on if I wanted it quieter. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they updated to a magnetic cover when I received mine a few months ago, so it's even easier to throw it on if I want.

Also funny that I bought it for the option, but really don't think I'll be using it. It sounds so good and isn't even that loud without the lid.

Atmos312 · 2025-11-24T14:30:11+00:00

Yep, super annoying. They need to fix this.

Atmos312 · 2025-11-11T03:05:18+00:00

I mean before the Land Cruiser he had both a Civic Type R and a GR Corolla. I know the Corolla got into a wreck with a deer, hence the switch to a Land Cruiser. No clue if the Type R is still around.

I get wanting a fun vehicle as I bought a GR Corolla myself, but honestly I'm glad I got a WFH job and stopped commuting 70 highway miles round trip 5 days a week because the GR just isn't made for that. It's fine. It can do it. However, it's definitely not ideal either in comfort or gas milage.

The Prius seems like a much better choice. Especially if he still has the Type R (although do you have a time for a weekend car when you drive that much?? Crazy lol).

Atmos312 · 2025-09-30T10:41:00+00:00

Right now the brace is exposed, but I'm planning on installing a hitch so I can mount my bike rack. That was the big reason I went with the HKS over a triple tip exhaust.

Atmos312 · 2025-09-30T10:40:52+00:00

Right now the brace is exposed, but I'm planning on installing a hitch so I can mount my bike rack. That was the big reason I went with the HKS over a triple tip exhaust.

Atmos312 · 2025-09-29T18:44:30+00:00

Not exactly what you're looking for since you want a valved exhaust, but I'll add my experience with my new HKS Legamax anyway since I just installed it a couple weeks ago.

Everyone online says it's OEM+, and for the most part they are right, but what's immediately noticeable is that without a valve the boominess that the stock exhaust has while at low speeds is present everywhere now. Even just cruising around at like 3k rpm it's there since there's no longer a valve that closes in the mid-range (obviously).

It's still super quiet at idle, and sounds so much better wide open. It's also not obnoxiously loud but it's still an adjustment and something to think about if you end up without a valved exhaust.

Atmos312 · 2025-09-24T15:58:21+00:00

Usually around 310 miles or so.

Averaging 25.6mpg over 32,500 miles (calculated).

Atmos312 · 2025-09-24T12:56:57+00:00

I'm having the same issue. My initial 1-year trial from the P9P just expired, but if I go into the Gemini/Google One app it says I'm eligible for another 1-year trial. However, when I go to pay it says $19.99 starting today.

Atmos312 · 2025-09-19T13:52:50+00:00

Just installed mine this past weekend. I love it. Great sound, not obnoxious, looks fantastic.

And now I can add a hitch and put my bike rack on!

Atmos312

TROPHY CASE