Hello everyone, my name is Chris and last week I took purchase of this 2009 Corolla S 5 speed.
It is in great condition, has 46K miles and I got it for 15.5K out the door, second owner.
Well, the car is spectacular. It is pretty well loaded.
So far I've purchased the GTACARKIT iPod adapter for my iPhone4. Hope to receive it soon as I was spoiled with iPod integration with my previous vehicle.
Nationally competitive SCCA Solo2 FSP car, My 00 Mirage. We had a good few years run... But I have a family now so it is time to grow up a bit.
I've had a few project cars but I will not bore you with those. If anyone interested in the history or mods of the Mirage just ask
Anyways I really like the car it drives well, almost well enough to drive me to sleep compared what what I drove everyday, for a good long while. I plan to keep this car, and it is the newest I have owned (and loaned). I do not like the handling of the car it has very strong understeer compared to my Mirage which I am used to having a little more rotation than usually normal. And grip from the 8 inch wide tires
Already planned a few upgrades. When the struts go I plan to change them out with stock (or something else) and TRD springs. I will get the car tinted 40%. Hoping to pick up the window visors (sides and rear). Maybe a set of wheels, and a sway-bar upgrade.
But that is pretty much it, I'll update things as they come so stay tuned
Can't wait to see what you done to it. For the struts, there are none besides OE replacements from either Koni or Tokico, forgot which.
If your looking for a subtle drop TRD is still the way to go, but I don't personally like the drop they offer. You have to do a double take to see if the car is even dropped.
For the window visors, I'd recommend the Weather Techs, I love mine! No 3M tape needed and they look great!
As for the rear visor, you can get 'em off eBay, but most of us here have color matched roof spoilers vs. the rear visor.
A nice set of wheels and sway bars will also compliment the drop you plan for.
Can't wait to see you in action!
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I saw that Koni makes OE replacement, I have a set of their yellows, revalved, on my Mirage.
I think that lack of a drop is what I really like about the TRD springs. In my photo of the Mirage up there, it is only dropped 1.2 inches at each corner, H&R Race springs.
The Mirage also had AVS Ventshades, I much prefer the clip on ones on this vehicle so I will check the Weather Techs out.
I saw that Koni makes OE replacement, I have a set of their yellows, revalved, on my Mirage.
I think that lack of a drop is what I really like about the TRD springs. In my photo of the Mirage up there, it is only dropped 1.2 inches at each corner, H&R Race springs.
The Mirage also had AVS Ventshades, I much prefer the clip on ones on this vehicle so I will check the Weather Techs out.
You did? I've been trying to work with Koni to make some replacement struts & they told me they have nothing yet available.
And to TN.
__________________ 89 Supercharged White MR2 5-speed / 09 Corolla S CSM 5-speed
07 Matrix XR Gray Pearl 5-speed (sold 11/23/11)/ 94 Corolla DX Red 5-speed / 95 Previa S/C White Auto/
07 Corolla CE CSM 5-speed/ 10 Prius III Blizzard Pearl
gotta remmeber, not everyone has the means to lower a car alot AND retain correct suspension geometry. He competes so cant really talk too much shit other than....a Mirage?....really?
Neon was too good for you?
lol
Welcome
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2003 Corolla
2011 Corolla S
1990 V8 monster miata
I will get the Koni part numbers from their site sometime today for you guys. If they make them, changes they CAN be revalved properly for a fee.
Unfortunately the "drop issue" is wicked common on our cars, since when the car is level, the bodyline for the front arch is about 2 inches higher than the rear. You will notice the same height gaps on stock Mirages too. The car is properly aligned and cambered as to not wear my tires.
freshlikesushi I see you have a swapped Miata. Oh man, that must go like stink! But I strongly dislike neons.... Although they do have a great (and strong) presence in the New England autocross scene!
I have always loved EVOs, but not the huge bloated 8 and newer version, I always wanted a III or V, so I decided to build one. Unfortunately this lead to me purchasing, and driving 4 Mirage coupes and a hatchback for periods of time, but this grey one I kept the longest. This particular car I've driven across the country for various meets, and events, the longest trip ranging 6 days and 3000 miles. The car has been stellar to me, since purchasing it at a junkyard many years ago. It is kind-of sad that I finally figured out the perfect formula for this particular vehicle when I decided I NEEDED a new car. The car got a new heart (1.5L > 1.8L) this past spring that was ultimately great but also it's demise. The old engine was having crankshaft failure at over 320K miles, I swapped in a newer, younger, bigger engine out of the LS model and used the existing harness and ECU plus a Greddy EManage to keep it all running, but the rear main seal would leak interminably, and then I started having ignition issues that these cars are sometimes plagued with, and having been the only 5G Mirage swap in the US using a distributor instead of coilpacks, I was pretty much SOL. The car lasted well over 120 autocross events, a dozen passes down the drag strip (both in various states, too), and a few track days.
This was last week, after selling off the bodykit on the mirage and a bunch of go-faster pieces, and dropping my S off to get re-detailed.
This is one of my favorite funnies...
Last edited by rpw00mirage; 12-15-2011 at 12:03 PM.
Hello everyone, my name is Chris and last week I took purchase of this 2009 Corolla S 5 speed.
Congrats on the purchase. IMO the car will look better without the white pinstripes though. Cuz the black-white contrast is so strong that the car looks as if it's ready to be chopped off the upper half of it
The pinstripe is gold. Personally i was thinking I would be removing it but it grew on me. Also, there are TONS of S cars in my area, and 3 at my office alone. It is the only thing that sets it apart from the rest, except for the color of the vehicle.
The pinstripe is gold. Personally i was thinking I would be removing it but it grew on me. Also, there are TONS of S cars in my area, and 3 at my office alone. It is the only thing that sets it apart from the rest, except for the color of the vehicle.
No no no, the thing that will REALLY set yours apart from them is not the pinstripes, but the mods that you will be doing to your car haha
Well, besides changing out the wheels I am unsure what you mean. I'm not going to do the retrofit for headlamps, and I'm not going to be changing out the OE lip spoilers. Besides the visors, the car is still going to look exactly the same...
I'm also trying to figure out if the vehicle has TPMS or not. I will most likely be getting winter tires loaded onto the OE wheels.
Already planned a few upgrades. When the struts go I plan to change them out with stock (or something else) and TRD springs. I will get the car tinted 40%. Hoping to pick up the window visors (sides and rear). Maybe a set of wheels, and a sway-bar upgrade.
All these, minus the sway bar, you mentioned are definitely things to set your car apart from them. I assumed the rollas near you are "pretty stock", if not stock. If they are modded, then what do the pinstripes alone do for you to separate yourself from them? Your car is not even close to stock anymore at least after these.
On a side note, you can always lower your car NOW if that's what you already planned , because the stock struts are going to last pretty long.
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2009 Toyota Corolla Xrs
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I've been trying to work with Koni to make some replacement struts & they told me they have nothing yet available. 
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2009 Toyota Corolla S
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