Bye Bye CL500

So long the big white elephant. Letting it go gives me the freedom I long wish, as well as a void that my want wants to fill if I am weak. Life is definitely better with a void (an empty parking space and an absence of a third car).

My effort with the CL500 never came to a fruition. Still I have not resolved the ride issue as well as the gearing and there was no hope after a few attempts which had been costly but in vain. So I have to put a stop-loss to it. And I had dragged the painful decision for far too long as it had not been part of my passion for a very long time. It had expired. So letting it go was a right one, only if it did take too long and cost me extra.

Now I become more cautious of filling the void. It has to some combination of irresistible passion and great necessity. I am not sure there is such thing so I just let it hang in the air.

Bye Bye SLK

Finally the SLK left us. It was a rather reluctant sale. If not for the Evo IX obtained back in Jan I would not let go of the SLK in nearly perfect condition.

2003 Subaru WRX STI

This is a great drive, pound-for-pound an equal to the Evo 9 I have. It is fast, in the right color and spec. It has zero-mod, in mint condition. It feels heavier and not as nimble as the Evo 9, but the engine feels strong and powerful even in the face of the all-mighty 4G63. There is a tiny bit more refinement and sound insulation. But it isn't as hands-on and responsive as the Evo 9 in its latest guise, as the Evo 9 fits like a silky glove and a blast to drive fast. STI can do the same and is no less. I would love to keep the pair but what is the point. I don't want to be a collector. (It was sold on April 12th, 2012)

VW Golf R32

It was an unexpected Golf, with uncanny refinement of a luxury car. The handling is surefooted, perhaps too much so and not nimble enough like the Evo IX. The power delivery and smoothness are awesome. The ride is smooth and quiet, totally making the Evo IX outdated. It has a lot of space, and is extremely well and solidly made.  I feel it is much better than the current generation Golf which has been noisier and cheaply made.

Goodbye Evo X

Will be handing over the Evo X tonight. I don't miss it like i thought i would. It shows how easily my feeling and impression can change over time. It would be not right if i follow my feeling and impression in my decision making. I will certainly regret somewhat and it becomes something of a burden not only requiring a justification and means (money and resource) to keep but also an extra effort to rid of it. And it all boils down to a careful consideration when the decision is wholly driven by a bursting passion, an unexpected passing opportunity that is hard to ignore.

Evo IX and Jun Turbo Actuator

It was the last touch of the IX project. It is almost done.  Now the engine would revv smoothly and deliver the power. The drag and friction is gone. It even pops out a lot of steam while idling.

Evo IX GSR with RE11

RE11 is just this much better than the AD08.

Ride is firmer, handling more assertive. AD08 has shaper steering response still, but with the busy choppy ride. It is like replacing a new shock absorber.

Even if it is used and made in 09' with 90% and 80% condition, I am happy with purchase and I could not tell the difference between used and brand new.

Evo X GSR SST

Sigh. The Evo X is a more suitable car for me. All the right noise and the grunt. The X pales the IX in refinement and civility. The IX, even at the last iteration of the 4G63 tradition, shows its age. And of course the X has a lot more power 400ps, over the original 280ps of the IX. And the X does it effortlessly. The X has been modified in a very refined complete way. I can't help preferring the X.

Honda Civic with GR90 and TM Plugs

The GR90 and TM spark plugs from the Corolla really saves the day for the Honda Civic. The ride is much quieter and smoother, therefore much more tolerable. And the engine is even smoother like a little V6 with the addition of the TM spark plugs, as I think they work better in the Civic than in the Corolla.

Selling the Corolla was a mental block to me as I was not willing to. I cannot say I am glad that I have done it. I can only say it is a relief that I have done selling it. Now with the Evo IX as a manual transmission car I no longer need a Corolla. And with the Civic going to be seeing more use I will no longer practically need the Corolla as my 'foot car'.

I feel a kind of relief that even if I cannot keep the car I could get to keep the good parts I bought for the Corolla which I thought I would have kept for years to come. And of course with the coming of Evo IX my wish to keep change. And I am glad it did.