Newbie to EvoM.net
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Lansing, MI
Newbie to EvoM.net
Hello all,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I am 38 years old and have been a car nut my entire life. I also work in the automotive industry, somewhat indirectly. I currently own a 2005 Mazda3s 4-door (significantly modified), and a 2005 Honda Odyssey for the wife (yes, a minivan, but it's more fun to drive than most American and Toyota cars!).
I've been wanting to take my car to open track days at Grattan or GingerMan here in Michigan (I live in Lansing, MI), but I can't get over the fear of smashing my daily driver (I commute 170 miles round trip 3 to 5 days a week). So, I decided when our current vehicles are paid off in about 2 years, that I would buy a "toy" car. Initially I was leaning toward the Mazda MX-5 or Mazda RX-8/RX-7 (rumor is that they're going to replace the RX-8 with a new RX-7 for 2010 or thereabouts).
However, my wife, who can't drive a stick, argued, successfully, that if we are to have a third car, she must be able to drive it as a backup for when her van is in the shop, etc. My Mazda3 is a 5-speed manual, and I refuse to drive an automatic. However, I might be willing to drive a performance car with a good dual-clutch type auto-shifting tranny. That limits my choices considerably.
Initially I was planning to purchase the upcoming BMW 135i M-Sport, but from what I've read, the BMW paddle-shifting auto isn't particularly good, nor does it use the F1 style of right side upshifts, left side downshifts, which I would greatly prefer. Mazda's doesn't either.
So, I started thinking about the new VW R32. I like the car, but I know that I'd have to spend big bucks on an HPA turbo kit to get performance that I'd want out of it.
Then I remembered that the new Evo X will have an option for a DSG style tranny. Bingo! So that's why I'm hear. I want to hang out here for a while before I'd be purchasing a sports or performance car to learn as much as I can about the car, the community, and the options for performance upgrades.
My current car web site:
http://www.mattharrell.net/personal/cars.html
Just wanted to introduce myself. I am 38 years old and have been a car nut my entire life. I also work in the automotive industry, somewhat indirectly. I currently own a 2005 Mazda3s 4-door (significantly modified), and a 2005 Honda Odyssey for the wife (yes, a minivan, but it's more fun to drive than most American and Toyota cars!).
I've been wanting to take my car to open track days at Grattan or GingerMan here in Michigan (I live in Lansing, MI), but I can't get over the fear of smashing my daily driver (I commute 170 miles round trip 3 to 5 days a week). So, I decided when our current vehicles are paid off in about 2 years, that I would buy a "toy" car. Initially I was leaning toward the Mazda MX-5 or Mazda RX-8/RX-7 (rumor is that they're going to replace the RX-8 with a new RX-7 for 2010 or thereabouts).
However, my wife, who can't drive a stick, argued, successfully, that if we are to have a third car, she must be able to drive it as a backup for when her van is in the shop, etc. My Mazda3 is a 5-speed manual, and I refuse to drive an automatic. However, I might be willing to drive a performance car with a good dual-clutch type auto-shifting tranny. That limits my choices considerably.
Initially I was planning to purchase the upcoming BMW 135i M-Sport, but from what I've read, the BMW paddle-shifting auto isn't particularly good, nor does it use the F1 style of right side upshifts, left side downshifts, which I would greatly prefer. Mazda's doesn't either.
So, I started thinking about the new VW R32. I like the car, but I know that I'd have to spend big bucks on an HPA turbo kit to get performance that I'd want out of it.
Then I remembered that the new Evo X will have an option for a DSG style tranny. Bingo! So that's why I'm hear. I want to hang out here for a while before I'd be purchasing a sports or performance car to learn as much as I can about the car, the community, and the options for performance upgrades.
My current car web site:
http://www.mattharrell.net/personal/cars.html