Project Shaguar XFR

[WRXtranceformed]

I'm balls deep into writing my first 6 professional articles that apparently may be published in some form, so to alleviate the brain wracking I figured I would post an update here since it's been 6 months. I went through a phase at the end of last year when we were looking at Jeeps and I strongly considered trading my car in on a loaded Overland or Summit (I even talked to Jeff about it). No dealer is going to want to touch my car for a fair price due to the accident history despite it being mechanically and cosmetically (<- nearly) flawless. So I resigned myself to enjoying the car and the massive car payment that comes along with it for a few years It's one of my major stress relievers now that I have been sober for over two years (!) and honestly probably costs less every month than my old bar tabs averaged out to be.

Since that resignation I have started to really fall in love with the car more. Every time I sit in it (Dan and those who have ridden in it can attest) I realize it is perfect for nearly every thing you need it to do. This car absolutely eats up cool air; running an errand the other morning I was on the open interstate (with jersey barriers and no on ramps) and with the kick down you are at 110 from 70 in literally the blink of an eye. It makes all the right sounds. Since I won a gift certificate at my local tuner shop, I am debating cutting out the stock x-pipe and resonators and replacing them with Magnaflow or equivalent. I'm a little nervous that it would make it sound like an F150. And then I hear it and it definitely makes it move:
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I haven't put any miles on it since I started working from home shortly after the last update, so it really hasn't needed any maintenance at all. The battery went flat a few times so I have it off and on a tender every now and then. Rex and I half-seriously talked about handing him over the keys in a few years when I am ready for something different but in the meantime I am still in love with the car. Maybe by the time I am ready to get rid of it the F-Types will be a reasonable price
If I could change anything about it? A little more power (always) would not suck, or at least a tune that would push the power band left a little. From the factory the torque seems to be intentionally turned down to prevent me from turning my tires into smoke every time I drive to Publix....once you hit 4k+ and the car shifts into that band in every gear you are going way too fast for the conditions!! So more usable power I guess. And for spirited driving the springs could stand to be just a little stiffer; the car definitely plows and you feel the weight when you are pushing it in the turns. Nice for daily driving, not so nice for when an M6 is on your six.
I'll post up maybe after my birthday if I decide to do something fun to it~~