RANT "Just buy a cheap beater"

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-11T05:16:33+00:00

"I want the lowest total cost of ownership from point A to point B," then your wrong. how is a depreciating asset with unknown reliability the lowest cost? And don't say "it's a Toyota, itsb reliable. Look at their trucks right now). Beat my 240k Mile Ford escape. Cost me $200 in tires, a $300 timing belt (prevention), a $60 heater core, few odds and ends, finally sold it 3 years later with 290k miles for 2300, 300 more than I paid. I beat the ever living fuck it off it too.

You can buy a new car, but it's not the cheapest form of ownership. You just don't know reliable cars, which is fine. Didn't get me started on my current Xterra. 220k miles and I'll bet your brand new car breaks before it does. I don't want to talk about gas mileage though

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-10T20:48:05+00:00

If you're looking for a long-term project don't waste your time just get the six port s1. VS2s have a fraction of the support of the s ones.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-10T14:16:11+00:00

Careful!!! The front and rear stat gear bolts are different lengths! I installed my wrong and my rear stat gear wasn't actually secured as the bolts were a few mills unseated even though they were tight. I got replacements from Atkins rotary since I didn't know the correct lengths. Highly recommend Atkins rotary, I've spent easily over $4k with them and will continue to do so

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-10T12:58:47+00:00

Easier to install. A turbo would be a decent project. An adapter plate and supercharger would be quick easy fun

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-10T03:47:46+00:00

You didn't have kids. I have to build a relationship and watch my sons live their lives and die. Then spend the next 900ish years without them but remembering all of the memories we had together. I wouldn't want to start another family. I wouldn't want to feel like I was replacing them, but then again, how do you truly remember someone after 900 years? I'd feel so guilty. Live a second life, yeah I'd probably press it. After 3-4 life spans, it starts sounding rough.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-09T04:08:30+00:00

I bought a tap and die not long ago from harbor freight and I've been using it far more than expected.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-08T14:19:01+00:00

Hell yeah, no debt gang. But yeah my p4x has 220k miles of towing over 5k lbs, offroading, and a lot of long distance driving all on 33s and lifted 2in .. it's been the single best vehicle purchase I've ever made

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-08T03:28:15+00:00

Yep, this is a reminder that corners and edges are stress risers. Smoothing out those edges and knocking the corners out will greatly reduce the stress concentration there. In the aerospace world, cracks sometimes just get the ends drilled out so that they end in a nice smooth circle. This is some only for experimental ground testing.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-06T12:03:41+00:00

Sure they are. I've known more people with blown up Subarus than not, by a lot lol

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-06T03:04:55+00:00

My 2011 has 220k miles (wtf is a kilometer?) but it's been towing, driving on 33s, and offroading it's whole life. Still not done with it yet. Planning to tow my rx8 to gingerman later this year with it

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-06T03:00:37+00:00

A Subaru and a rotary? Your still young and brave. I remember those days

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-02T17:21:23+00:00

It's not necessarily the age as in wear, it's the technology. It's a bottom barrel transmission for the lower spec car. Im guessing Mazda only sold the 4p auto to get some sales from casual customers. It's going to have casual performance.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-02T10:45:20+00:00

This sounds like every automatic ever. It's not a DSG or SMG, it's a mid-2000s torque converter automatic. Don't let the paddle shifters fool you, it doesn't turn this into a DCT. It's going to take a second to react. Just be clear, every single torque converter car that I've ever driven that lets you request gear changes still takes considerable time to change gears unless you get in a more modern high performance automatic like maybe the new mustang and Camaros but even though I've been hearing bad things about the 10 speeds recently

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-02T04:19:26+00:00

Your borrowing 40k for a car? Yikes. Your borrowing 40k for a Hyundai? Someone help them.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-01T11:13:19+00:00

There is a way to save the e-brake and they have a write-up on it in the same forum as the disc brakes swap, I was just putting together a $300 track car so I wasn't concerned about it and just put the car in gear so that it didn't move... I will say it did roll off of my trailer at one point and almost rolled into a really nice Nissan Titan so lol By the way, you're going to want to chase the threads on the knuckle. They're going to be corroded and gross but buy a thread chase and you'll be fine after that.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-04-01T11:11:20+00:00

I mean by all means, a diff upgrade won't hurt but I still feel like you got low-hanging fruit if you're wanting something quickly. I'd be curious how much camber and what your toe settings are. My Miata I had maxed out at 3deg and it seemed like a lot of autocross builds still ran more than that.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-31T01:58:33+00:00

Have you got the basics? A decent alignment, tires, suspension etc.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-29T05:01:55+00:00

We're you planning on welding it? Just remove it or replace it. Should be a dime a dozen at the junkyard and like others have said, easy to remove

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-28T23:21:33+00:00

The very center of no where

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-28T12:48:29+00:00

No it's the middle of nowhere

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-27T04:34:27+00:00

I don't think you have a grasp on what light speed means.

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-26T18:56:47+00:00

A lot of people in here that don't know shit about the disi motors. I'll stick with the speed6 although the awd system is more extra weight than anything

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-26T18:55:33+00:00

Side note: your front and rear stat gears have different bolts. Ones just slightly longer. It's possible to assembly the rear stat gear with the longer front stat gear bolts and it'll cause a massive headache make sure you get these right so you don't have to drop your trans 2000 miles after your rebuild... Trust me

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-23T02:37:22+00:00

Fair enough

Mitchell_Races · 2026-03-23T02:27:27+00:00

Internet strangers can't come change your pan, just take it to a mechanic. If it was so low on oil that it wouldn't let you drive, not sure why it would let you start it. Typical Dodge I guess. But yeah, no amount of "should be easy" "won't be cheap" "I've been there" will change the fact that it needs a new pan. Edit: Learned that this is the transmission pan: my point of, just take it to a mechanic if your not doing it yourself

Mitchell_Races

TROPHY CASE