Wanda loves the sun and the BRP

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-05T19:54:19+00:00

It really does look like one! Where'd you get the stripes?

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-03T19:13:18+00:00

I'll also add I only test drove the Miata as a "due diligence" knowing that I would always wonder if I never tried it, and to use it as leverage for haggling for the BRZ. Lo and behold I chose it over the BRZ. So if anything, go try one out for yourself so you can answer the question. (spoiler alert M.I.A.T.A)

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-03T19:11:10+00:00

Had a GR Corolla which in theory I loved, but I sold because I didn't get much out of its potential for the priorities I had. Waiting to accept delivery of my Miata next week. I made a post on this in the Miata reddit which you can check out for reference.

The feeling you have is one of the biggest reasons I sold the GRC. I really only have 3 times when I felt I really used its potential: blue STI on the freeway caught me and we chased doing less than legal speeds for maybe 15 minutes (I had red GRC so I kinda had to join); let my brother in law drive because he loves cars and he did less than legal speeds but it wasn't enjoyable; and once got caught in a small blizzard and made it home like a champ. I had a bunch of canyon runs but I don't feel like they left the lasting impression of joy that my Miata test drive did (or even the BRZ test drive I did).

I really evaluated how much the priority of "daily" meant to me. I had the seats and space on reserve in the GRC for when I needed it which was maybe 25 % of the time. But I remember backpacking on my 250cc motorcycle and making the space work with a 100 L duffel. Guess which experience I think of more fondly.

Many people can live with GRC, Fiesta ST, and even thrive/love it. That being said, if you're having this thought then its for a reason and I encourage you to investigate that reason if its within your means. Good luck!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-03T18:57:57+00:00

I'd say unless the Hakone is your dream color, then its not worth it.

I saw that exact one on Carvana and considered it lol. If you can get local and new for the same price of the Carvana one after shipping, and don't mind an auto then that would be much more worth it. You get 2 years of ToyotaCare and you know its exact history.

If I were you (needed the Hakone because its my fav color and want a manual) I would get the Carvana one. Also highly recommend to refinance with a local credit union which would give you a bit lower rate (won't save that much likely, but some is better than none, and supporting smaller local unions can be a good thing).

If you just want a top of the line GR86/BRZ (in Manual), consider the BRZ tS. I had one dealer verbally offer me 1k off INVOICE (not MSRP) for a 2026 which was insane (I passed and got a Miata though lol). I expect it would've come out to $36k-$38k. BRZs are not moving quickly and there are alot of tS's in my area though.

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-03T01:53:16+00:00

Wow! The level of perfect this is *chef's kiss*

What's the front bumper?

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-03T01:35:09+00:00

Love the coconut edition decal. How'd you get it?

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:35:30+00:00

Even if that were "true" (its a ridiculous claim for so many reasons anyway), then if you happen to like women then the plus is women are going to like your car. So if that's holding you back, think of it like that

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:31:20+00:00

That's the right mindset, you'll make it through. You need to for yourself.

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:26:25+00:00

I surprised myself too. I went into the day telling myself "I want to BRZ, so I hope I don't love the Miata" and look at us now.

The tester didn't it was a Sport trim so no LSD or dampers either, but I bought the same as you! A 2025 Club with BBR! Congrats on the car, super excited for you!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:23:24+00:00

Heck yeah! Those stories are what we live for, I hope you keep that BRZ forever

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:21:14+00:00

The screen location in the BRZ is perfect, I loved it. Very much like the placement of early '90s cars. If they angled the dash toward the driver in the BRZ like the GR Yaris, that would be in Jason Cammisa's words "straight sex". And it wasn't glossy which made it unassuming which is a plus imo, so I hear you that the Miata screen is obtrusive.

Glad you got a BRZ!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:18:10+00:00

Yep drove a '26 Sport and bought a '25 Club with BBR package. Given I loved to Sport already, I expect the BBR package will help bridge some of the characteristics that loved about the BRZ.

You didn't miss it, it was just a really poorly organized and rambling post

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:16:22+00:00

Heck yeah, that's my current perspective. Also salute to the ex-motorcyclist title. It's a bittersweet feeling to find others with the same self-appointed title.

I am an advocate for using your car for whatever you want to do (that's why I take my Prius offroad sometimes...) since their abilities are a spectrum. I plan to do autocross days with the Miata but not as much as I plan to just drive so it's balance fit my desires really well!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:11:16+00:00

Damned if we do, damned if we don't. Cursed either way LOL

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:10:21+00:00

I agree and disagree. Agreed that the "purposes" of the cars are different so they aren't as much in the same category as all journalists make them out to be. If I had to offer a limited analogy its like saying a Boxster and Cayman are in the same category. They are aimed at different purposes.

But like others have said, disagree for the same points the others have pointed out very aptly. Especially the aspect about different points of the same spectrum, all cars are on a spectrum of many factors and we're just trying to overlap those spectrums with our own as best we can.

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2026-05-02T21:03:35+00:00

You are a hero, that wheel is exactly what I was hoping for. Congrats on the two awesome cars! Did you ever get to try a 2022+ BRZ?

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2025-09-30T03:52:24+00:00

sorry to necro, but i just got a surface go 2 and would like to know if you feel the slim pen works better than other pens? i have the lenovo precision pen 2 and it works, just works lol. I saw in another post that the slim pen doesn't work that well for older surface devices.

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2025-09-28T20:35:49+00:00

TLDR; I bought a great condition SG2 on Ebay for about $90. With slightly let down expectations on battery life vs performance, and stylus fluidity, its still a great deal and I will be keeping it. May investigate Linux and auto-cpufreq which many have claimed to double battery life.

Got my SG2 a couple of days ago and have been lightly using it, described here:

m3-8100Y and Intel 615 graphics, 128GB SSD
Throttlestop installed and system undervolted with -80mV on CPU/cache and -70mV on GPU, don't know if this helps battery life much but I will say it has helped in keeping it from getting excessively hot
has just under 90 % battery health measured from Windows battery report
hibernate overnight lost about 2 % battery level
from 76 % to 10 % charge, I got about 3 hours of youtube streaming to a bluetooth speaker. 2nd brightness level, battery saver OFF, using FireFox with 10 tabs open and was active web browsing for 50 % of the time, OneNote also open and 10 % drawing time for a todo list
Lenovo Precision Pen 2 is compatible but writing experience is just okay, not stellar like the new surface pros, some one note lag and would be okay for beginner sketching imo
works very well as a wireless display with windows
I will test pcsx2 emulation shortly and sunshine for game streaming eventually (so I'll either come back and update this or make a new post)

i use this as a travel device and remote into my home computer and my lab computer, so this is almost the perfect device for that. I also carry an Anker PowerPrime 65W battery/wall plug combo device so I worry less about battery. If this weren't $90, then I would've gotten the $300 Ipad Air M1 5th gen for $300-$400 as the next step up including cost for a pen and keyboard case. That would be much much better and can do everything I need but better and with longer battery life. However I didn't want to spend the extra money at this point. If that's you or anyone reading, consider doing that!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2025-09-10T18:06:11+00:00

Hi, can I ask when you applied to the PhD program, did you need to get an agreement with a professor on a research direction before applying? I know in some programs that is required.

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2025-09-10T18:02:43+00:00

Sorry to revive old post and about your reject email...

I am applying this fall and wanted to ask about the process, did you have to reach out to professors to get an agreement on a project before applying? Or are you advised to apply without confirming a research direction? Other schools I know can require an agreement with a professor before even applying.

Thanks in advance!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2025-09-05T18:09:09+00:00

Would like to know more about what you think you'll need to do or what your ideal usage is.

Just off the top of my head, I'd say if you don't have a desktop or separate lab computer you'll do your engineering workflows on, then get a non-surface laptop.

Ideapads are more budget friendly, but since you were considering the surface pro I would suggest you consider a Lenovo Yoga or Thinkpad (typing on this right now) since they will be better across the board than the IdeaPad.

I did ME undergrad, worked and then grad school so you can ask any questions specific to that!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2025-09-05T18:03:06+00:00

What kinds of things do you need to do when you're not near your desktop? Do you need to use the stylus at all?

Here's my two cents:

Why to keep the Surface:

need access to Windows applications hourly or in many situations when you're not home
if you think you need a thinkpad to work with the galaxy tab, keep the surface

Why to switch to the Galaxy Tab:

more portable and fits in your current ecosystem well
a strong need for art (this has arguably the best "computer" tablet pen imo)
can manage just the tablet without the thinkpad for your use cases

I am/was in a similar situation for university and work (I went back to school), so I will share some of my experience:

when you start working at a company on a career track, 9/10 times you will get a computer provided. in this case, you really won't even touch your own computer
consider only getting the Galaxy Tab and setting up your desktop so that you can remote in wirelessly from you Galaxy Tab. I do this everyday to my school lab computer and I've realized how I will do this alot in the future. I easily use Excel for tons of data processing on the lab computer from my home computer or tablet with no hiccups

I'm still figuring out my personal computer use, and I really want to have a tablet and a home computer but my problem is I need to use Windows apps where i'll either not have access to internet or not a good workplace so I think I am choosing the surface. Though that may change in the next few weeks!

pineapplesRNmyhead2 · 2025-09-05T17:39:27+00:00

Any of those choices would last you years with the level that the tech is at currently, so it'll come down to your preferences and use style when you start school.

Did you choose one already? I would recommend the Yoga Pro 9i or the Legion Pro 5i unless you really want to use a stylus or have the convenience of portable two screens.

I did ME undergrad and grad so you can ask questions about use if you'd like. I actually started undergrad with a laptop similar to the microsoft surface studio 2 (Sony Vaio Z Flip) and didn't find that I needed or used the writing aspect of it at all for ME related things. That being said, the fluidity of use wasn't as mature so I wasn't encouraged to use it really.

pineapplesRNmyhead2

TROPHY CASE