JDM101

on v98

Somehow I always find myself back in a Toyota of some kind - mostly a Corolla. However this is the first time I've owned something this new'ish.

I'm up at car #16 since I first started buying (06'). Most recently my daily was a little AE102-RV that ended up going to my younger brother. I still enjoy driving that nugget though lol, such a little weapon to chuck around.

Anyways, my daily drivers have primarily been Corollas, have had 3 Hondas too: 07' Vti-L FD Civic, 07 Accord Euro CL7 then the last one 09 FD Civic Sport. (awaits vtec jokes).

Don't get me wrong, I quite enjoyed the last one - leather seats were nice and driving position was spot on I reckon.

Loved the dash layout - could keep the phone in a nice discrete spot too.

The problem though, the older I get - the worse my OCD tendencies become. This Civic had some hail damage repair, I suppose it would've been OK to deal with if I could clean it up the way I wanted but that'd have been a bit of $$. I would've end up getting front bar re-sprayed, the drivers side doors needed to be replaced (the previous repair was visible with ripples that I started noticing more and more whenever I'd leave/approach the car).

I enjoyed how it drove though, 17's might have been a little too firm at times or annoying on certain roads. So I went ahead and made a carsales ad. Much to my surprise, I put it up on Thursday evening, had an email later that evening to see it next day. Then the following Tuesday pending an RACQ inspection, the car was good to go to it's new owner. Meanwhile I was doing my own searching around and an 09 Levin ZR had caught my attention.

I went to view the car at the dealership (Motorama clearance yard) - originally up at 14k, had been down to 11.9k by the time I went, no sale as a result of being manual lol...

The first modded Corolla I ever sat in was a fella around the older forums - Snowflake, white Sportivo and I quite liked that one. My own Corollas, always been 90 spec lol. Took the above for a drive and I liked it.

Seating position isn't as good as the Civic but it ticked off more positive for me vs the Civic in the end

- no hail damage

- complete service history from Toyota (every single receipt in the car, both keys)

- no rattles, creaks or anything that seemed like I need to replace straight away

- the audio seems a little weaker than the Civic - not sure if HU amp is pov? the Civic just seemed it could be louder?

Anyways, placed a deposit and added on an extra year of warranty - yes I know it's a Corolla, it should be fine, parts are cheap enough, can source etc - but I just don't have time these days to deal with it. So something plays up, here fix it and let me know when it's done.

Civic left Tuesday and Corolla made it's way home on Wednesday :)

Can't be mine if it's not all OCD clean, did them in pairs. Fronts then rears - pictured are rears:

Foam lanced/decontaminate and hose off underbody too:

Bonnet + front guards:

got oem mats + boot mat via Toyota Melbourne.

Needs decent droppage - Lovell springs ? or King Springs? can anyone recommend either please?

Gearshift knob and the boot needed replacing (thanks Jesse Streeter + Amayama)

so do 2010 tail lights fit the 09 one?

Still love this stuff!

Fellas,

Looking for lowered springs, sway bars, strut brace for my current daily.

Feels too damn high on standard setup :p

Discontinued stock :( lol..

It's actually getting new front and rear screens :p I don't feel confident enough doing the dash thing myself yet >.<

Guys, I've been searching all morning and I read about a fella from Dashboard Restorations - only thing is, can't seem to find any details for him?

It's for my lil daily AE102 - dashboard has some lift at the front and I'll be replacing the windscreen so figured get the dashlift fixed same time.

Any one know of this restorations guy or can recommend another place?

Cheers

R

Firefighters and Paramedics thought the same lol .. Still recall the firefighter touching my left leg at various points and going 'HOLD UP still here, we got him whole' - 75mins to get me outta there >.<

Paramedics going in my ear 'if you feel pain, you TELL me' - by the end of it, couldn't see or feel but hear them, felt like it was ages... til it all went quiet and then getting lifted up.

It's f'n so weird as the drugs lay off and your brain starts getting back to its processing speed, the slow motion pictures start gaining pace, then boom you're back like live HD haha. Wouldn't wish it upon my enemies >.<

The story continues here

Thanks Trent and Jeffy - appreciate you fellas looking out for me at that time.

Was meant to be a simple arvo returning from work but when this stuff happens, it happens so quick that you don't realize. Approximately 4:45ish pm on the 2nd of September I lost control of the car while taking a left turn as some plastic sheeting and cardboard pieces came under the rear wheels, leading the car to step out and without reacting in time - slingshot me into a power pole.

Not that I ever claimed to be the best driver but I tell ya when this sort of stuff happens, unless you're like a race car / rally driver, the reaction time is what counts. Unfortunately for me, I didn't even get to the brakes in time and as such this is how I ended up.

I didn't hit anyone and well the car (as you can tell) was gone.. car vs pole, car always loses.. dump truck drive behind me witnessed it all and confirmed no hooning was involved, I don't drink and my passenger walked away too (wouldn't have been going the path I did, had his dang Ralliart not keep kicking up the engine light >.<, we were going to pick it up). I broke my my lower left tibia and a hairline fracture in the right leg so all up the damage was 6 nails and a sweet titanium rod. Not exactly where I'd like to have had titanium (rather on the car, than IN me) but that's life. I had a bit of time out as I healed, I'm super grateful for what the paramedics and firefighters did, to my family, company and all. I was working from home 2nd week I was back and in the office by the time I had crutches.

I thought long and hard of what I was going to do now, do I get into something modern? and just not mod any more? something newer from Japan? Lots of thoughts went through my head.

In the end, it was clear - I had to do what satisfied me the most and this is where the search began...

**to be continued

Sorry guys, haven't been on much.

Hiro has been answering spot on though :) - this is the kind of service you'd use where time is not really a key factor, if I'm honest.

I have had certain parts delivered very soon, but then some times there is a delay. As mine is just a weekender so I've not been fussed.

Hopefully you had a response by now though.

Agreed - looks HAWT

Still gotz it lol - lacking updates but I've been super busy with my detailing side gig lately. In other news the 110 has gone to it's first official owner :)

What do you think, does the overseas Corolla (earlier gen) kinda look like a mini Mark2 ?

I've got an Airtrek @ my place now too - so someone BUY it :D

Did my defensive driving course. Admittedly I hadn't ever done this, so it was a good thing to cover and do in the JZX.

Can't wait til I'm manual and go for some track days (noob day courses til I feel ready for proper sprint days)

BUY BUY BUY

http://page10.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/m117296527

Sold the Estima and hello Lexus ownership :)

PS. Not mine, it's my old man's car :) - but ... ' yes Dad, Lexus said old exhaust was causing issues, so now they fitted this new exhaust, I swear! they did the tints too to preserve interior wear and keep it cool plus they spent a weekend detailing it' haha .. can't wait!!

As for JZX updates.

- bought a manual footrest, (yup this is gonna be the most comprehensive auto-manual conversion babeh!)

- booked in for a defensive driving session, I believe a skidpan session happens too. True story, I sometimes feel I could know how to control it better :p.

- Only clutch to buy now..

Cheers mang! The Caldina was a little side thing - imported it for a friend :) detailed it and it's gone to it's new home now. Was very fun to drive though!

Plates sold :) - back to my old ones, once they get redesigned.

This is why in Jesse I trust - only Jesse <3

No one likes near new scratchless wheels?

@ $120 this is massive saving !! Love this product myself - use it on all my cars.

Over the many year of dealing with Jesse and never being let down - I wanted to share his story behind what he does best. Please excuse the very simplistic approach with the editing (I couldn't teach myself inDesign quick enough..)

I hope you enjoy reading Jesse's side of the story, as much as I have writing it. Spread the word ++ :)

shiet sakes - been a while since update lol.

So passenger side rail turned out to be from a JZX90 ... returned/refunded and got Jesse to send me a new one (still pending delivery).

Picked up a lil AE92 as a daily since I don't need a fancy daily + I quite enjoy the nugget rolla lol

Ain't nobody got time for replicas <3