Dadhawk's FR-S (6AT Firestorm)

[Dadhawk]

(Fuel log and mod list updated in my original post)

Originally Posted by Koa

Look at that TAIL OFF! that's what I like to see. You're going to need to revise future graphs with a new y-axis internal set ha

Well, @Koa predicted correctly that I had to change my y-axis as gas prices continue to drop. If it follows previous year trends, it will level off at the end of Dec and maybe climb up slightly. Let's hope not!

[Bergen23]

@Dadhawk I love going to the US, gas is dirt cheap anytime compared with the prices Canadian's are paying. The summer of 2013 gas was steady between 1.30 to 1.40 per litre, so that works out to almost 5 dollars per gallon for REGULAR (87 octane). Right now, I've been paying about 1.16 or 1.17 for premiuim (94 octane), for about 4.43 per gallon, but you guys are obviously doing far better haha

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Bergen23

@Dadhawk I love going to the US, gas is dirt cheap anytime compared with the prices Canadian's are paying. The summer of 2013 gas was steady between 1.30 to 1.40 per litre, so that works out to almost 5 dollars per gallon for REGULAR (87 octane). Right now, I've been paying about 1.16 or 1.17 for premiuim (94 octane), for about 4.43 per gallon, but you guys are obviously doing far better haha

I wonder how much is the difference in taxes more than the actual price of the fuel? I know you can't really separate the two but it does explain in most cases the variance. I know in the US the variance from one state to the other is almost all fuel tax.

In the US, for example, the state sales tax on fuel ranges from below 40cents per gallon to 50cents or more. On average, if the fuel was completely free, it would still cost you around 49 cents per gallon in federal and local taxes.

I realize that pays for the infrastructure to drive on, and I'm good with that, but it does explain a lot of the variance I believe.

[Bergen23]

@Dadhawk from what I remember off the top of my head (I could google it but I'm also lazy), we have the base price of the gas, plus a 10 cent federal tax, and where I live, a 13% harmonised sales tax on top.

EDIT: Upon a quick Google search, Petro-Canada (one of the big gas retailers here) said in 2012, the National average was 39.3 cents per liter, so that works out to about 1.49 on every gallon for tax. We really get screwed.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Bergen23

..EDIT: Upon a quick Google search, Petro-Canada (one of the big gas retailers here) said in 2012, the National average was 39.3 cents per liter, so that works out to about 1.49 on every gallon for tax. We really get screwed.

Yep, looks that way but I suppose someone has to pay for the roads!

[Dadhawk]

(fuel log updated in original post)

Since I was at the last oil change before the end of the 60K warranty I decided to go and have the fuel pump TSB done on Olivia.

Mind you, I have no clue if I have "crickets" or not. I don't think I did, and if I do I wrote it off as "character" and ignored it. I think every car I've ever owned had some kind of quirky noise that I managed to tune out but others would notice.

Regardless, I made an appointment with the dealer and dropped off the car the night before. Having read the TSB I knew the proper words to say and they dutifully jotted it all down on the work order.

Next day by Noon, the car is ready, all the parts changed out. Go to get the car and the service cashier inadvertently hands me both copies of the invoice (mine and the warranty copy). So, I get to see that I just had a little over $1,600 worth of parts and labor done to my car.

Go out, check the parts, and see the work appears to have been done. Start the car, and it sounds the same to me. That's OK because Mission Accomplished since I went from parts with over 50,000 miles on them to 0 mile parts.

Still no idea if I have crickets or not.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Yep, looks that way but I suppose someone has to pay for the roads!

That would be a great thought if the tax was actually used for the roads! It isn't though as it just goes into the general coffers and road work doesn't always happen when it should due to "budget issues". A few years back Ontario (that collects the gas tax) pushed the majority of the road work onto the individual counties (that do not collect the gas tax) so that provincial funds were not being used.

Sorry back to the regular scheduled build thread!
Do you have a model number for the new HU you installed? I am still trying to figure out what the heck I want to do with mine.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That would be a great thought if the tax was actually used for the roads! It isn't though as it just goes into the general coffers and road work doesn't always happen when it should due to "budget issues". A few years back Ontario (that collects the gas tax) pushed the majority of the road work onto the individual counties (that do not collect the gas tax) so that provincial funds were not being used.

Yea, that happens in the States as well.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Do you have a model number for the new HU you installed? I am still trying to figure out what the heck I want to do with mine.

The radio is the Pioneer AXCP-Q14U T10015 with the PT296-00142 GPS module.

This is the standard radio in the US I believe in 2014 and up. It is also available across most of the Scion and Toyota line so they aren't difficult to find. The GPS module is stupid expensive as an option but you can find one or both on eBay pretty readily.

So far, I've been happy with it. In the end, it was less costly than any aftermarket solution I could find, and took less than 30 minutes to install. I'm sure I won't be happy with it the first time I decide I need a map upgrade.

One kind of detail I really like is it has a curved area on the bottom that sticks out of the dash. You can use that by extending you pointer finger from your fist and resting your fist under it for support when the car is moving. I've gotten to where I can use the touch screen pretty easily even on a relatively rough road.

[civicdrivr]

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the head unit and GPS module?

Sent from my XT1095

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the head unit and GPS module?

Sent from my XT1095

It cost me about $600 total. I bought the radio from one person, and then the GPS module on eBay. I managed to catch a good deal on both pieces. I have seen both pieces from one vendor on eBay in and around that range, but some folks ask over $1000 for the GPS unit alone.

[Dadhawk]

Well, at 59,389 miles I have finally been bit by the "early release" bug. I came out at lunch to taillight condensation. (see photo below).

I'm still under 3 years but WAY over the mileage. I did call the Scion Experience line and much to my surprise they didn't completely dismiss me. Didn't even try a dealer because I knew what they would say. They are discussing an out-of-warranty repair since it is a TSB and really isn't mileage related. I guess we will see.

In my case, I know exactly what threw it over the edge. The car was filthy so I took it through a brushless car wash. This showed up within a few hours immediately afterward.

So, if Scion doesn't cover (which they are purely in their right not to) I will most likely be buying some aftermarket tail-lights which I wanted anyway (I really don't like the clear). The question is which ones. I think I'll do a poll once this is all decided to help with the selection.

I will keep the originals though. 40 years from now, if you want to have one of these in "concours" shape, wouldn't you technically need to have weepy tails to be purely authentic?

[wheelhaus]

That sucks, but its an easy fix. I posted some simple instructions to fix it without having to replace the light on the main tail light condensation thread. The light itself is fine, but the gsaket to the body can fail from wear (dirty water flows directly onto it).

[civicdrivr]

I got bit by that but hard as well. I ended up picking wdninja gaskets and Tom's lights. I think the all red Tom's would look great on your car.

Sent from my XT1095

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

I got bit by that but hard as well. I ended up picking wdninja gaskets and Tom's lights. I think the all red Tom's would look great on your car.

Yea, I like the reds, but have been thinking about blacking out emblems and such so think smoked might work better.


My biggest problem is the one's I like best are the Buddy Club Lambo look alikes and just because they look like them, I can't bring myself to buy them.


The Toms are my second choice and most likely what I'll go with if I decide to go that route.