Driving impressions?????

[lasstss]

I have has my xrs for a few months now. I like driving it, especially after 6K on the tach!

Just a few gripes.. ride is a little choppy even with the 16's.. Turning and braking at speed is a little dicy. This car needs more swaybar, they are very inadequate. Biggest beef is the shifter, It is damn near impossible to quick shift this car. It hangs up in the gates. probably done intentionally.
Funny thing, I had a mechanic at Toyota tell me not to miss a 6-7k shift or it would do in the valves. 'Wrong' I missed a few times....No problems. Motor runs like a swiss watch.

Be carefull ALL of the nose on this car it sticks out far. I have already scraped up the valence on a parking curb.[/img]

[Mikey\'sXRS]

Parking valence... Thats what those ^&$^%$ things are called. Cost me 175 to fix the scrapes by a mobile paint guy.

I'm getting some Hotchkis parts in a few months so It should handle better. As for the mis-shift that's why the 2002 Celica GTS has a 7600rpm fuel cut off. Some people missed a shift and messed up the engine. Really pissed the 2002 owners off though, but there is a fix out now.

I'm finding the shifter is a little sticky but I'm 99% sure it's the cold. Never had a problem in the summer. I've some Amsoil synthetic 75W90 coming next week. I'm also getting the 0W30 from Amsoil as well. I was going to get their oil-bypass as well but the supplier doesn't carry them in Canada. Just have to get one from the US. A bypass oil filter keeps the engine oil 100% clean all of the time. Basically adds a big filter with a much finer mesh. They say you can go 100,000+ without an oil change (with a pure synthetic oil). Personally I'll do it once a year when I get one.

[lasstss]

What is Hotchkiss making?

Another thing i noticed is when the car is cold (just a few minutes after start up) it will go flat as you run it through the gears. Like the fuel is shut off.
Must be programmed in.

[mistamatrix]

Originally Posted by lasstss

What is Hotchkiss making?

Another thing i noticed is when the car is cold (just a few minutes after start up) it will go flat as you run it through the gears. Like the fuel is shut off.
Must be programmed in.

Hotchkis makes suspension components. http://www.hotchkistuning.com/
They really outdid themselves w/ their Celica.

They recently produced sway bars for the Matrix as well as springs and front strut bar w/ camber plates.

I'm not sure where you're located but if you're interested in Hotchkis products and in the Toronto area, looks like Mikey is the 'go to guy'.