The Daily Automotive Grind

Calibre Bossnut Evo Unboxed USA

Could this be the final special release of the Subaru WRX STi?

With the introduction of the Limited Edition 2018 WRX STI Type RA® and the BRZ tS®, enthusiasts will have to wonder at least with the STI RA, if there is a Swan Song due for the this current generation? Subaru Tecnica International (STI)developed both of them with production limited to 500 vehicles each.
The 2018 WRX STI Type RA has the same EJ2.5-liter turbocharged Boxer engine, but delivering 310 horsepower with its new cold air intake, high flow exhaust, stronger pistons and re-tuned ECU. A new 3rd gear ratio and a short-throw shifter are installed in the six speed manual transmission. A carbon fiber roof panel, spare tire removal, help save weight with a carbon-fiber pedestal wing and lightweight BBS® 19-inch forged alloy wheels that improve acceleration. The Type RA also has high-performance Bilstein® STI sport-tuned suspension with Brembo® performance brakes, Brembo calipers in Silver with a Black STI logo. There is Special badging with Crystal Black Silica finishes that accentuate the exterior. The interior sports Recaro® performance front seats, red stitching on the steering wheel and a Red STI-type illuminated engine start/stop switch which all enhances the sportiness.
The 2018 BRZ tS enjoys enhanced handling with STI-tuned front and rear SACHS® dampers and coil springs. Eighteen by seven and half inch black finish STI alloy wheels wrapped in 215/40 R18 85Y Michelin summer performance rubber encases the Brembo performance brake system, with red Brembo calipers with a White Brembo logo, and STI. A carbon fiber wing completes the handling package. New levels of handling are further achieved with an STI Flexible Draw Stiffener on the front suspension cross-member and a STI Flexible V-Bar on the front suspension strut tower. finally, the The 2018 BRZ tS enjoy enhanced handling with STI-tuned front and rear SACHS® dampers and coil springs.The (Tuned by STI)Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)/Traction Control System (TCS) is optimized for control and handling. Cherry Blossom Red accent stripes and Black BRZ badging make the BRZ tS special. The interior is highlighted with Black leather and Red stitching trim throughout. The Black Alcantara® seats have a White and Red embroidered tS logo on the front seatbacks.

Call for pricing and reserve yours today. Mauricio 253-473-6200 Ext 1215

The Nissan Leaf - Because Relationships Matter

The first time I drove my girlfriend in my Nissan Leaf she was astonished when I told her not to turn on the heat. Whaaat? What kind of car did you buy here? We were kind of new in our relationship and I was new in a two year stint with a vehicle that was purely electric with a limited range. Eventually we would come to realize that we could use the heater, air conditioner and drive it all over the place. There was a definite learning curve as to the range and the anxiety that it came with but it would fade the more we lived with the car. She would wonder how much it was costing her for me to charge overnight at her house and I told her that it was about a buck. Hard to fathom, but then she would see it on her utility bill and figure out how much time I was spending with her. "Hmmm", I guess we're getting serious as she would see the $20-$30 extra on her bill. "You jerk" she said. "You said it was only a dollar!!". I reasoned with her that for every one hundred dollars you spend on gas, you would only spend twenty on electricity. I had to pay her of course but a funny thing happened. She started borrowing my Leaf. Yes, she started liking this very inexpensive car to drive. Comparatively speaking, it only costs about two to three cents a mile to drive a Leaf compared to a conventional gas powered vehicle which costs about eleven cents a mile.
She used my Leaf to go grocery shopping and various errands and the funny thing she admitted. "I really like your Leaf". You see, when you drive the Leaf you realize how quiet it is and how you can have a conversation pretty easily. It's eerily quiet. We would notice as we'd drive about on the town merrily fraternizing out about our favorite spots that people just didn't hear us coming up to park as they crossed the street. As a matter of fact, dogs didn't hear us either or they didn't expect this quiet car to be ready to send them flying into the bush. We had to watch that. There is a bit of intimacy with the Leaf because you have to plan your day with it. You have to know where to charge it if you venture on the fringes of it's range. It really isn't a big deal because there are plenty of places to charge it out here in the Pacific Northwest. We had fun with the Leaf. We would travel and have dinner at places within it's range and gamble to see if we could make it home on one charge laughing and talking all the way back. We never once stranded ourselves but had a great time with it. Eventually my lease expired and I decided to get another Leaf but they couldn't make me the same kind of deal so I went back to a gas car.
Nissan initially had high residual value hopes on the Leaf that where a little optimistic. For what ever reason the values dropped considerably and this made a nice pre-owned Nissan Leaf a great buy on the used car market. Many can be found at a great price for a late model modern car that uses no gas, has unbelievably low maintenance costs and had all the engineered safety with eleven air bags! A run-around town car that is very reliable, is perfect for a new driver or as a second car. Of course we have one. Offered at $5450.00 253-473-6200 Ext 1215 Mauricio

A Steel Safety Ring For Your Protection

It's long been known that Subaru has been making cars for many years that score consistently at the top of the heap for safety ratings. The IIHS ( Insurance institute for Highway Safety) just recently awarded four Subaru vehicles IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards. This falls in line with the traditional safety virtue of Subaru and proves time and time again why people gravitate towards the brand and that it's cars are no stranger to safety.
With all the safety technology employed that is visible and and electronically programmed to help you avoid a crash(active safety). There is the passive safety features built into each and every Subaru that is not visible that you don't even think about. Every Subaru has it's boxer motor mounted on break-away motor mounts so that in the event of a front- end collision, the engine will break free and travel downward, under the passenger compartment. This helps direct energy from the passenger compartment by acting as part of the front crumple zone. High -strength steel beams are integrated in all four doors to protect against side impact collisions. These side impact beams integrate with with what Subaru calls the Steel Safety Ring. The ring-shaped frame design has steel beams installed in all the structural pillars and connects these beams with horizontal and vertical rings of steel that provide excellent protection around the driver and passengers. All these connections link rings of steel across the floor and roof which help manage impact energy around and away from the passenger compartment during moderate to severe impacts. The Steel Safety Ring is an engineering foundation for every Subaru vehicle built.
I was a witness to this passive safety feature recently when my girlfriend was T-boned at an intersection. Other than having some whiplash and being sore for days afterward, she was perfectly fine in the aftermath. The firemen wouldn't let her out of the car until later. I can't say the same for the lady who hit her though, driving a larger vehicle. She had to be carted off to the hospital on a stretcher. The Steel Safety Ring demonstrates Subaru's commitment to safety and is just one of many passive safety features built into every Subaru that you don't see and probably don't think about.

BTW my girlfriend's Subaru was built in 1998 and is for sale. $500. Mauricio

A Little Sugar and Spice make this Porsche Nice!

Sometimes you run across a vehicle that you remember from your past that brings back memories because it was special. You remember the feeling it evoked when you first saw and heard it. It somehow contained a luscious, curvaceous body and glorious exhaust note that brought back even earlier memories of your youth when giants raced cars in dangerous events like the Targa Florio. Every once in awhile you can find these cars available to experience and purchase at an astonishingly low purchase price. We happen to have one here available. It's a 2001 Porsche Boxter S in black with a hard-top. When the mid-life crisis kicks in and you don't want to spend a fortune on a proper sports car, this might be the little gem to dig out a place in your garage and drive on Sunday.
Since 1952 Porsche has given the "S" badge to their top models and this Boxter is no exception. It displacement is 3179cc pumping up 250 hp @ 6250 RPM. This translates into a rush of speed from zero to sixty at 5.2 seconds. A 13.8 second quarter mile run at 101 MPH will tickle the sprouts on top of your head if you dare to take the hard top off. A 160 MPH top speed is expected according to publications which make this car a bargain in the scheme of things that are wonderful to own and sport about. Don't take my word for it. Come see and drive it for yourself. Offered at $10450.00 253-473-6200 Ext 1215 Mauricio

The New 2018 Subaru Crosstrek Improves Upon Itself.

Subaru has freshened up the Crosstrek and improved a successful formula that has defined the X-vehicle genre. The look of it is very familiar to the first-generation Crosstrek with similar size and shape proportions but has some important improvements. The new Crosstrek rolls on the new global platform which had it's first debut on the all new Impreza. This new platform will also be the underpinnings to the all new 2019 three-row Subaru Ascent(debuting early summer 2018) and the all-new 2019 Subaru Forester coming out the latter part of 2018. The 2018 Crosstrek is designed with higher levels of both comfort and capability than ever before. It has a sleeker more dynamic styling look with a larger interior volume. New Driver Assist Technologies are available. The all-new interior has Orange stitching with simulated carbon-fiber finish trim, depending on model. The newest generation of STARLINK multimedia systems on all models include Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™.
The 2.0-liter, four cylinder has been bumped up from 148hp to 152hp providing enough "oomph" to get you to your destination on time. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the base and premium levels. If you go off-road, the X-Mode button is optimal for enhanced off-road traction. It has 8.7 inches of ground clearance which is plenty to get you up that slippery slope, hill or muddy trail. Entry and exit are easy thanks to the over-sized doors. It has an elevated stance but easy step-over height. The seats are comfortable and re-assuring. The interior controls are super easy to use and all models have Apple Car Play and Android Auto. These cars have a "Cult Like Status" and we have them here for you to test drive and purchase. Call me. 253-473-6200 Ext. 1215.