I have a 1999 Es with a couple mods, and running pretty strong. I was leaving work on my way home when I stop at a light at look to my right to see a guy jamming to his music in a show-off manner, so I told myself, this guy is mine. Mind you he was in a Toyota Tercel, looking kind of raggady. The light turns green and I peel out on 1st gear, I shift to second and look to my right hand side and he cherps second and flys by me, then cherps third, and then I barely see him. A few lights later I ask the guy what the hell he's running and he tells me a fully rebuilt 1.3l engine boosting 12 ilbs with a stage 3 clutch. I was so assamed that I said damn and rolled up my window. I think I've learned my lesson, and am not planning on challenging any raggady looking cars, beacuse their the ones that spend all their money under the hood instead of on the exterior.

 

That is the bread and butter in my hometown of Puerto RIco, the moment you less expect it somebody in a Suzuki Swift with a Vitara turbocharged block will pass you by like nothin.

I used to have, before making it turbo, a Escort GT... I mention it because it is has the Mazda notorious block BP05>>>\\

Anyway, one day I was doen visiting some friends and while heading back to my house this Mitsubishi Colt had tons of gauges with a rusty shell and crappy lookin exterior, one fender blue, the other one green etc.\

So, I decided, "MAN, let me show this kid some respect and show him gauges dont do BS for your car"...

I pass by him, rev it and downshift to second while rolling like at 18 mph...

I took off leaving him behind, and when I see him behind thru my rear view mirror I noticed what a big mistake Ihave I done... An intercooler the size of a bulletin board could be seen, and like expected I could forsee my next 10 seconds of mysery while I heard HIS turbo spool up and the sound of the WHeeeeee kicked in.

DEAD MEAt...thats all I can say, my car reviin up, and fffvvvuumm! he passed me like if I was just standin still.

Morale, NEVER NEVER judge the book by its cover. Dont feel bad, I have some victims under my belt like Honda Preludes, EX, SI, RSX, but always always be ready for that day when REALITY BITES. Its part of the daily grind. Now, you can say "Been there, done that".

 

eh.

I believe in balance. Don't spend all tha' ching ching on the bling-bling (POser) or all the ca$h on the motor - lookin' all hoopty-ghetto in yer primer gray/rust showing/dented heap.

balance.

 

there is a subaru wagon around here...looks basic. Older, like early 90's, maybe even late 80's. It's rust free, always clean, has stock rims painted black, and nothing visible in the front(not cooler).....cause it's also painted black. This thing is ***** to the floor fast, first time I underestimated it, was kinda like this. Me, look over, laugh, rev. Him, quick little barely rev to acknowledge....then, green...him launching his AWD...takes off, screech, hiss, chirp, all the while a nice low grumble from the exhaust...needless to say, I am so excited...I pull him over into a coffee shop to talk...he says he figures, a low estimate with his mods, is he's pushing over 300 easily. Took out the stock whimpy barely turbo...replaced with t3/4, forged the motor, everything imaginable...very sleeper, no visible guages, no flashy, everything clean and stock and grocery getter looking...exhaust tip is only a bit bigger then stock would be. A well built car. Everything is in pristine condition, so it's a nice car, with mounds of power...I've rolled with him a few times..and seem him really surprise some people. Sleepers are so much fun.I want one...thinking of some day hookin up a 323 GTX