There is a TSB out for putting the electric Focus rear mount in. It looks solid compared to the hollow ST hopes and dreams mount. I'll swing by the dealer later and see if I can get it done. Some guys have reported dealers making the customer show that the car has loud banging under hard shifts. Others say the dealer just does the swap. We'll see.

I really am surprised by how far front wheel drive has come. Not saying the car is perfect, but it hides the lack of mechanical lsd well in the twisties. Still needs one. I wish it was AWD. So far driving it like a fun car we are averaging 25-26mpg according to the dash thing. Coming from 14mpg, on a good day, driving the Jeep it is a large jump up. It is a huge leap forward in ammenities from my '97 Miata without AC and PS.

EDIT: Forgot to mention 15min after I got home from the dealer I de--badge'd it. :giggle: White is my favorite. Wife wanted Black and I swore after my SE-R I would never maintain a black car again.

The interior is absolutely amazing. I really considered the car for a while just because of that.

Turn that engine to be RWD, good shifter and steering and I'd have to buy one yesterday.

The biggest thing about the interior I like is it feels small and compfy. The Recaro's are great. I don't like how new cars feel huge and spacious. I like feeling like I'm in a car. Not a living room with a steering wheel.

Exactly. It all feels pointed at you, like a cockpit.

The new 911/Cayman feels much the same way, it's a really nice change there too.

I wanted to trade my Mustang in for a new ST, but unfortunately it has depreciated enough that even a base model ST would still cost a few grand. Not to mention that most of them seem to be loaded up to like 28k sticker price.

That's because you drive a Miata ;) < insert joke about everything else feeling cavernous >

I do feel like a hot dog in a hallway in new cars. Has anyone seen the size of the new Taurus? Things are freaking huge. I swear every model year bridges half the gap to the next size up. The Fiesta is the size of the older Focus, Focus is the size of older Taurus, and the Taurus is the size of the Death Star. Mmmm Death Star SHO?

Really nice, and I love the white. Did you get the ST1 or ST2 Recaros? Care to share details on the pricing?

What year SE-R did you own, and were you on sr20forum or sr20-forum.com?

C

ST2 with grey/black Recaros. At 5'9" 195lbs the seats are comfy. Wife is a bit smaller, but nice hips and still likes them. Only other option was moon roof due to limited 2013 availability. I can deal with that I guessed and she liked the option. Was quoted $22,900 and gave up 2k in rebates for 0% finance. I'm a big fan of chowing down on principle and didn't change the monthly much. As in $7-8 a month. Taxes sucked bad. Think 10% bad. To be honest if $20 a month makes or breaks buying a car LEAVE THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY! You have no business buying a new car if $20 is a deal breaker. Bonus is I'm 32 as of Wednesday and have a clean record. Insurance is cheap plus I'm up to 5 vehicles now.

As far as the old SE-R. '96 SE-R and loved it. Did a bunch of poor kid mods and tried stuff. Wasn't on forums back in '00 to '04. Sadly I've got a serious internet gap. Grew up in the '90s with it and then was too ignorant/poor, then none, and post military '10 I joined the modern age. Still playing catch up.

I was just complaining how cars are so big lately.

I want to get a smaller sedan for my wife, but i also dont want a shitty car.

To get a nice car in a lower brand, you need to buy a boat; else you get the cheapest sedan in a luxury brand.

They all get bigger to the next model size up, then they make a new small model. Like Audi is introducing the A3 sedan because the A4 got so big. And BMW with the 1 series. Etc. etc.

Blame the gov't. All those safety standards means bigger/heavier.

I think crash test standards are for idiots. Who the hell plans on being in an accident?

the worst is what the pedestrian safety stuff has done to the snout and window lines.

never forget:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378473698


today:

http://www.realclearscience.com/blog...e%20window.jpg

jeez, even since the e46:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1378473961

the e36 wheelbase was 106in.

the e39 (5 series) was 111in. same as today's 3

Those drawings are not done in the same scale. It's exaggerated to enhance the size difference.

Better:

http://www.f30post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1261515954

I thought I was the only one who felt this way. I actually DON'T want crap loads of head room. Leg room is nice though..

Someone in a white Focus ST wouldn't stop staring at me from across an intersection today. I'm pretty sure he was jealous of my miata.

So far the car has been a blast. Wife is really enjoying it. I can get the car to rotate into a corner now. It does take more speed than I'm comfortable with on the road though. I really needs a stiffer rear motor mount. THe mount hit bang hard on the bottom of the car on angry shifts and I swear I can feel the engine move on throttle tip in. There is a Ford TSP for it. The entertainment screen is a bit wonky, but also there is a firmware update for that too. Torque steer is manageable. Just pay attention when throttling it. No anywhere neard as bad as the Mazdaspeed 3 or others. Car does need a mech lsd though.

I got my lab report back from Blackstone the other day. First time I had ever used them and found this pretty funny.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1388667553

LOLZ

Apparently one or more people at Blackstone have a pretty good sense of humor. I enjoyed that.

Good report. Read twice, would read again.

Wow, nice. I get 13 mpg in my 750i.