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Mental
Mental SuperDork
4/14/11 8:48 a.m.

Paint the steelies red, buy cheap eBay lowering that you can re sell when you put it stock. Put a picture if the V8 Miata on the gauge cluster and put all the money you would spend on a 5 mile a day car into that.

You falling down the same trap you are trying to get out of. Pulling the badges is cool, but don't spend money on it, because it will always be a front driver auto.

A V8 Miata OTOH...

Sofa King
Sofa King Reader
4/14/11 10:57 a.m.

The ONLY thing I would even consider is wheels and tires! You are right, you will probably be obligated to replace them at the end anyway so switching now would give you the wheels and tires that you would prefer now. Let them keep the OEM ones. If you can keep the wheels as a spare for the Miata, that justifies the alloy wheels.

Otherwise I am in the "don't even bother with tint" camp!

DILYSI Dave
DILYSI Dave SuperDork
4/14/11 12:44 p.m.
Junkyard_Dog wrote:
Travis_K wrote: Good tires, leave the rest stock.
Pics later, but steelies with hub caps are FUGLY! Does anyone know if i can cheat the offset so I have extra alloys for the Miata when I'm done?

Should be able to. Miata's have what is typically considered to be a FWD offset.

Junkyard_Dog
Junkyard_Dog Dork
4/14/11 6:17 p.m.
92dxman wrote: How about a rear sway bar? Thats my first mod to my 07 Fit..
Maroon92 wrote: UMMM....Forced Induction! Duh!

No way, not on a mostly straight line commuter. Wheels I can justify, and I'll probably buy used ones anyway. Tint too because while I can't keep it on turn-in it keeps the interior cooler, keeps the fabric from fading (this is NOT getting a garage spot!) and keeps me from being seen driving a Fit. The de-badge took 5 minutes and I can stick it back on later. Springs are $140 a set new on fleabay, and I can install them and align it myself.

pres589 wrote: I would have never gotten into the thing.

There are some other, personal reasons to have a newer, warrantied car. Specifically the ability to jump in and drive 15 hours at a moments notice in bad weather should the need arise.

Derick Freese
Derick Freese Dork
4/14/11 7:11 p.m.

I will never go again without a car under 150,000 miles in the driveway. At the rate we're racking up miles, I'll be there with the current car at about the time it's payed off. It'll get bumped to second string and we'll get something else, either brand new or CPO.

On a lease car, I'd do tint (I live in Florida, so I fully understand window tint), and a wheel/tire package. As others have pointed out, you'll be on the line for tire replacement if you run the originals, so it's a wash, really. I'd leave everything else alone. I wouldn't want the lowering springs to cause the dampers to wear out before turn-in, which would be another expense. No stereo, but maybe some closeout speakers if I feel the need. Possibly one of those clear bras for the hood and bumper to keep it from getting rock chipped. Other than that, drive the wheels off of it, but don't break it.

Junkyard_Dog
Junkyard_Dog Dork
4/14/11 7:45 p.m.

I almost picked up an 05 Volvo V50 with AWD, 6 speed, turbo and navi, but the shiny happy person used car lot wouldn't budge on the price-even with an unreadable CEL. I'm much better off anyway I'm sure.

Feedyurhed
Feedyurhed HalfDork
4/14/11 10:20 p.m.

I couldn't agree with you more, in fact I am considering doing the exact same thing. I like keeping the fun/nice/interesting vehicles for the weekends and nice weather days and using an appliance type vehicle for commuting and to deal with the salt and pot holes here in Michigan. The Fit is an excellent choice and I also can't keep a car stock so............

I say..........wheels, tires, springs, CAI and CAT back. Shop around on Ebay, Craigslist and the Fit forums and save some money. Put 'em on and pull 'em back off before you turn the car in and you can always resell them. The icing on the cake is having access to a shop, lift and tools. You my friend have got it made.

Let us know how it turns out.

poopshovel
poopshovel SuperDork
4/15/11 1:31 p.m.
would you want to be seen in this turd?

I dunno. Then again, I'm not the one paying $200/month to drive it.

pilotbraden
pilotbraden HalfDork
4/15/11 1:37 p.m.
2002maniac wrote: 100 shot wet kit. Hoon the E36 M3 out of it.

This is great.

Junkyard_Dog
Junkyard_Dog Dork
4/18/11 7:26 p.m.

Tint is go.

Looks 1000% better and stays cooler to boot. Stupid stripes were from a bumper sticker I cut up to fit on the back glass. They won't last the week.

aussiesmg
aussiesmg SuperDork
5/5/11 8:27 p.m.

canoe attack

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