In November 2003, I purchased some nice car stereo equipment (Alpine CD/MP3/WMA, XM Radio ready head unit, Infinity Kappa component systems, capacitor, etc) and moved over my Infinity sub and amps from my old car to my WRX myself.  I had assumed that it would be fairly easy to do, since I had installed these in my previous car.  Boy, did I regret doing this as I would be without music in my car for 2.5 years.  Lesson learned: Only attempt something like this if you know what you’re doing. 

Last Saturday, I took it upon myself to rip out all the wiring and amps, and head unit (preamp only, so have to use my factory stereo) and tried to fix the front speakers (no sound) to no avail (back speakers worked, but there was a lot of static (i.e., usually due to bad wiring).  Bought some Sony 6.5 inch speakers for the front and back (turns out that my back speakers were 4 inch ones so had to return one pair).  Circuit City had a promotion where if I bought one pair ($69.99), I’d get the second pair for half off (34.99).  When they told me that it wouldn’t fit for my back speakers, I then returned a pair and their computer system somehow refunded me 56 dollars which meant that I actually made 15-20 bucks from buying two pairs and then returning one!  Too bad I was already outside before I realized what had happened.  Total for front speakers + installation (front) and rewiring of existing rear speakers + wiring harnesses came out to about $128 dollars (saved almost $95 from what I originally had planned to spend there). 

It’s great to be able to listen to music while driving again.       

Bought some Axxis Ultimate brake pads (front and rear) for my ‘02 WRX.  The stock rear pads are wearing thin (can hear squeak every now and then) and my front EBC green (decent pads) installed 2 years ago probably are getting there as well. 

From reading the online reviews, the Axxis Ultimate pads makes for pretty good stopping ability and is cheaper than most aftermarket brake pads in its category (e.g., Hawk HPS).  The only complaint I’ve come across is a lot of brake dust (non-asbestos) compared to other brands.  Total with shipping for the pads came out to a little over $100.  (Hawk HPS would’ve cost $150). 

Originally, I was going to install these myself (i installed the EBC greens on the front brakes 2 years ago).  It’s not that hard to do except when you screw up and it can be real mess.  A few years ago, my friend and I worked on my brakes for my Honda and the next day I nearly wrecked my car (apparently, there was a leak somewhere; took it to a shop and mechanic said that the master cylinder needed to be replaced.  hmm).  So spending $200-300 dollars for brake service isn’t too bad.  Plus I wanted to get my rotors resurfaced.  Got a few quotes from my dealership and other shops and decided on Meineke (saved ~40 dollars by going there instead of dealership).  Cost of labor: ~$211.  

I’ll get my brake fluid replaced in a few months (included in the 60,000 maintenance) as well as fuel system, spark plugs then.    

Just kidding about the girls (i’ll save that for another conversation).  Since some have commented on my last post. 

I sometimes kick myself for not getting the STI (additional 13k) back in 2003, but looking back, it would have been the incorrect move since I made a career switch a year earlier from science to corporate life (the transition phase was buying used textbooks for really cheap at libraries and book fairs across Florida and Georgia and selling them online for a profit).  I had only been in the company for 4 months then and was on the bottom of the pay scale.  The money I saved that day eventually went to pay for my sister’s college tuition–a much better investment.  So in the end, I’m happy with the decision not to go with the STI. 

I’ve got my eyes on possibly another Subaru, a VW GTI (sport), Audi A4/S4, Saab 9-3 Sport, Lexus IS 250/350 (manual transmission only in the 250…).  A car with personality that’s also not on everyone’s wish list (BMW, Mercedes, etc). 

I’ll need to replace my stock brake pads (front and rear) with some aftermarket (Axxis Ultimates) ones for better braking.  After that, get my stereo fixed (hasn’t worked since late 2003). 

I’m not a huge soccer fan, but I do like wearing soccer apparrel (preferrably without team logos).  Usually very lightweight and breathable for outdoors stuff and not too thuggish-looking (unlike basketball apparrel) for casual wear.  But I sense that Italy will win on Sunday. 

While the officiating during the Finals wasn’t all that great (though not nearly as bad as that of the SuperBowl), what did the Mavs in was their passive play in the second half of Games 3,4, and 6, where they just settled for the jump shot.  The fact that they didn’t drive to the basket all that much also meant that they missed out on some opportunities to get some calls, since the odds of a player driving to the basket getting a call is greater than someone taking a jump shot (the article on 82games misses this point).  The ‘touch’ foul in Game 5 was questionable, although I thought the call in Game 6 where they called a foul on Nowitzki when it seemed like Wade initiated the contact was more dubious.      

Maybe it started with poor rebounding which meant less fast breaks (the Mavs’ offense is built on medium-fast tempo).  It was ripe for the Mavs’ taking, considering how ineffective Shaq was in the series.  If Dirk had been a tad more aggressive on the offensive end down the stretch (not sure why he was seen guarding Wade towards the end of ballgames…a clear mismatch), perhaps the Mavs probably would’ve won the series.  

I personally wasn’t a big fan of the J.J. Redick selection (especially coming off a DWI).  DeShawn Stevenson (who they’re trying to re-sign) is a pretty good defender though, so maybe that’s a good balancing act?

 

Date: 1/9/2006

Observations: Noticed gasoline smell while driving (more pronounced when the A/C is one). Thought it was because I hadn’t changed the oil filter in over 8,000 miles (gas smells like motor oil). Switched out the oil filter last week but the smell’s getting stronger.

Good thing I’m not a smoker.

Current mileage ~ 51,000 miles. Called up Subaru dealership to have them service the vehicle. Towing service costs around 62 bucks 185 bucks! Most likely due to a leak in the fuel system.

Update: Canceled towing service. Signed up with roadside assistance for one year (90 bucks/year). But will have to wait three days for my account to process.