It is okay to wax a factory painted vehicle when you purchase it. The factory bakes the paint usually around 300 degrees which provides a solid cure.

If you have your car painted at a body shop or anywhere else, or if it doesn't have a clear coat then you must usually wait around 1 month or so.

Just some information for you.

 

I have a ton of family in MN. They (apparently) use very strong road salts that will eat metal on cars, hence rusting and deterioration. There is a warranty on the paint, ect on the car, but if you can afford it the undercoating and paint protectant may be a great investment, although, dont just take the dealers word for it, check with a 3rd party, because you could save 100 or so, and as I like to quantify, 100 buys alot of keystone light or whatever yall drink up in Minnesota (eh).

 

Yep.. I work for the company that sells all of that salt :D I am an IT Project Manager, but still work for that business unit, so we love the snow! But it is no stronger than any other road salt (normal road salt is just rock salt) as far as corrosion goes, and some types (yes, there are other salt based deicing products.. I know way more than I thought I ever would about salt!) actually have corrosion inhibitors in them to reduce damage. And believe it or not, there is only about 200 lbs per lane mile applied to the roads when it snows.

But people here in the twin cities actually drink more expensive beer most of the time.. there is a good amount of money here I am from OK, and have drank a lot of budweiser (although my beer of choice is guiness or murphys) and I wouldnt pour keystone in my toilet in fear it would offend my pee But, 100 would buy me a nights worth of capn cokes at the bar, so I agree on the savings!

 

Why, oh why do they always pick on me and my keystone light. Hell, its in a specially lined can, tastes as good as warm Coors light and its cheap as hell. Further, college taught me that the only guy who actually gets to drink his beer at a party is the guy who brings the worst beer. If you show up with a couple 6ers of micro brew, you have to hold it all night. With my sweet baby keystone, I can set down the ol 30 pack anywhere and no more than 3 or 4 get taken. Its like ghetto insurance.

 

^^

Thats pretty good. I hung out with a lot of fins and norweigans in college, who got me addicted to guiness, murphys and other dark beers.. its hard to drink anything else when you get used to that. But I must say.. if you ever see Lucifer beer, try it (if you like a strong taste and around 8% alcohol)... GOOD stuff

 

Sounds like some darn good times!

Hey engifineer,

Do you have different exhaust on your tC? I am debating on which one to go with for mine....

 

I am running the TRD axleback, so no performance gain. But for sound I love it, nice and deep. It is a little spendy though, but I got it with the car when I bought it. Most bolt on power mods provide minimal gains really, so I focus more on handling, which is more useful to me on city streets. But I may look into a catback at some point. My thing is I am on the fence as to whether I will boost this car, so I really want to hold out until I get into a house and start making those decisions. My thought is to buy a short block and build it up, swap it out and then boost.

Just for reference, my mods are:

TRD Springs
TRD Rear Sway
Hotchkis strut bar
Avon TECH M550s
Dr Isotope Short Shifter
LLC Grills
S2k antenna
TRD Axleback
Blue Gauges/Red backlit needles
Blue HVAC/Gradient effect on temp ****
Interior blue light kit
OEM Fogs

So if you have any questions on those mods I can certainly offer some input or let you check out mine to make a decision on what you are looking for.

 

Thanks! I will have to get together with you sometime and check it out! I was thinking of the TRD I can get one for about 350.00 and I use to be a medchanic way back when so I think I can handle installing it. How do you like the 5spd in traffic? I ended up getting an auto just because of traffic and all that. I only have about 325 miles on it so I can't wait till it gets broken in more so I can actually drive it! ;). Well should get my butt to work here. Take care and talk to you soon.

Caz (Zac)

 

I love the 5spd. But most of my cars have been, including my winter car. Our 4Runner is an auto, which is great for her, and really is my preference for off road anyway most of the time.

I will probably stick to TRD as long as I can on suspension. Good parts, and once I get this car into autox this year I should fare better on which class I enter since they are available OEM parts