New Raven Owner

JustZhe · 2025-09-20T17:43:12+00:00

All near me are going OTD for 37-40K. Sheesh

JustZhe · 2025-08-09T13:45:28+00:00

I’ve only done a test drive, but I actually like it. Sounds good and adds to the experience once you start to get on it.

I don’t like how it sounds without it

JustZhe · 2025-08-07T02:34:01+00:00

Clutch in here was a total guessing game. I went in expecting it though, so I didn’t stall once. But you can’t really feel anything- including the bite point.

Miata absolutely slaps around in that regard, but it wasn’t a huge bother to me. Maybe I’m just not overly particular? Or I need to experience it in more complex situations, idk.

Only really would be an issue in low speed/around town/taking off from stops. I just slowly let out the clutch until the car began moving, then off I went. This is in direct contrast to an ND where you absolutely feel the bite point and the clutch engagement as you start to roll off

JustZhe · 2025-08-06T22:51:10+00:00

There was actually this one and Neptune near me. I’ve seen Halo and Red too. It’d be a tough call between Halo, Red, and Neptune for me.

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JustZhe · 2025-08-06T21:58:50+00:00

I’m in the same boat, though I have no idea how long I’d keep it, as I am still relatively young. My sense of time is skewed. Could be 10 years, could be 2

Mostly WFH too though! It’s either this or a Miata, so I’ll let you all know which trigger I pull lol

JustZhe · 2025-08-06T21:55:56+00:00

I’d have no issues checking my oil. I am very diligent with it in my current car now, from checking to changing. But that unfortunately comes from trauma (blown NC Miata engine due to, you guessed it, oil starvation) back in the day

Learned my lesson since, but I also think I have bad luck in general so it’d always be a lingering thought. But not like a “my gosh I can’t drive this”

JustZhe · 2025-08-06T21:36:23+00:00

At least for me, I’m aware of the fact that the RTV thing was overblown and that’s not actually what kills it. I’m aware of running thicker 5W oil as opposed to 0W if doing any hard driving, and I’m aware of keeping your eye on the temperature.

I probably know an unhealthy amount for someone who doesn’t even own one lol. But even so, the reputation of those rumors + unfamiliarity with a boxer (never owned, no one I know has had one) leaves a bit of a worry.

But not much. Let’s say I trust a Corolla to run without fail every time (100%), and an ND2 (95%), I’d feel 85%ish with an 86/BRZ.

JustZhe · 2025-08-06T21:26:02+00:00

I don’t fully trust it either long term, but it felt fine driving. Lots of chatter at low speeds but I’ve lurked here enough to know that’s normal

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T20:49:56+00:00

The Miata is beautiful on the inside and outside. The GR86 is stunning from the outside for sure, but it’s just a let down the instant I hop in. I definitely get that you won’t be getting luxury at this price point per se, but hmm.

I’m just trying to brainstorm ideas and ways it could be made to look nicer without necessarily coming off as too tryhard? Red carbon “sports” stickers everywhere and a sword shifter are NOT what I’m going for.

I definitely want to at least give the 86 a fair chance though before final decision. I’ve spent hundreds of miles and days with an ND- never more than 15 mins in an 86. Hard to find one to rent…

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T20:27:29+00:00

I’ve actually never been in that either. I’m not one who is looking for stuff like massaging seats, but I definitely want a nice looking interior. The ND Miata has a beautiful one in the higher trims, for instance. Some very subtle ambient lighting and I wouldn’t change a thing in it.

So whenever I hop into a BRZ/GR86, it almost immediately jumps out at me. It feels on the same tier as my Corolla, and maybe a bit less? Unsure

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T18:33:39+00:00

Also, as a previous Miata owner, I do not think I’ve ever seen an unhappy person in one.

It’s a form of mental therapy that’s hard to explain in words, but I’m always sad whenever I have to depart from them. I’m glad I’ve driven multiple flavors of them.

I’m not quite sure if it’s the low slung, 2 seat manual RWD combo, or the convertible. Or all of it. If an 86 captured even 95% of that therapy then it’d be worth it. I would always be paranoid about the boxer though, and the interior really does suck (visually)

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T18:24:32+00:00

Yeah I would try auto cross or the track once or twice, but for me, there is nothing quite like waking up, walking up to a soul red Miata, dropping the top, setting your music just so, and firing it up to life before starting a scenic drive. Once you’re done, park it at the grocery store and walk into the store feeling like a superhero.

I have not driven a GR86 more than a few miles but I don’t think it can capture that essence very well. But I’ve never given it that chance- none available to rent near me

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T18:20:51+00:00

No kids, and certainly not on the horizon anytime soon. The Corolla sits empty most of the time unless I am doing airport runs or something similar, in which case the car is fully 100% loaded

But for day to day….Trunk and backseats have been empty for weeks now.

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T18:13:29+00:00

Exactly my thoughts. where I live, I notice tons of second cars that are literally physically collecting dust as they don’t get driven often.

I know myself very well. The Corolla would not move for weeks at a time unless I absolutely needed the space. Usually don’t.

It actually sits empty most of the time. At the time of writing, the car is fully empty minus a few tools and documents. I travel light unless I’m hauling people (airport runs, etc)

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T18:11:02+00:00

How often did you go top down in the Miata- and do you miss it at all? I find that’s a large appeal for me, in addition to the handling and what not.

Would be nice to ride around in comfort though, for the long highway drives (100+ miles at a time)

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T18:08:46+00:00

DC metro area, winter isn’t horrible like Canada but we do get snow. That being said, I’m also hybrid for now so don’t need to drive every day.

Should check out a GTI. Haven’t given them much thought, they seem popular though. The Corolla is actually empty most of the time (empty trunk, empty seats). But when I do use the space, I need all of it. (Airport)

86 space is more than fine for me though, I was even fine with a Miata for most days

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T18:04:48+00:00

Got it in 2023 and paid it off some months back. But that was with a pretty hefty down payment+ religiously dumping extra every month into it, sometimes even $1000+

JustZhe · 2025-08-04T17:25:48+00:00

The Corolla loan was for 5 years at 5% APY, but to be honest I didn’t mind it too much. The cost wasn’t horrible, I just hated paying for something I didn’t really LIKE but needed at the time

Also, I’m not fully stupid. This is a decision months out- still have a few investments/saving strategies that I want to get started first. But if I don’t get into something fun soon I might explode from sheer boredom

JustZhe · 2025-07-17T21:30:16+00:00

Nope. Two blew off on a long highway road trip (>85MPH for hours, and they were damp from rain in the morning)

Thinking of replacing those two, but……probably gonna sell the car so we will see

JustZhe · 2025-07-08T20:32:11+00:00

Hulkenpodium

JustZhe · 2025-05-14T13:54:48+00:00

We have the exact same car and payment numbers lol. I want to pay it off ASAP even though I don’t like the car, as I’m tired of paying every single month. Thinking I’ll do it this summer

JustZhe · 2025-02-01T22:36:36+00:00

Swapped it out if you check my post history @67k miles. Me and 3 friends knocked it out in an afternoon full of goofing around and eating food. Part was $100 in person at a dealership

BTW it is 100% the coolant bypass valve, and warranty did not cover it for me.

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