It's been another 4 months. Let me update you on what I've done.
First up, thanks to a 124spider.org forum member who goes by the name ameridan, I tweaked the radio/head unit/infotainment software. This allowed me to remove a few of the safety nannies, change the accent color from red to blue, add a couple of functions, and change the background to a sweet side profile outline and badge. Everything works well, but I still wish that the system had a better processor. It's really slow and glitchy, especially during startup.
While browsing the internet, I discovered that Goodwin Racing had a sale on their wheels. I was originally going to get some Sparco wheels from Tire Rack for my summer set, but the sale meant that I could get higher quality and lighter wheels for only $25 more per wheel with lug nuts. I settled on a set of Koing Ampliforms in bronze. They are 17x8" which will allow me to run a 225 tire (stock is 205).
Unsurprisingly, they fit well. And I love the black lug nuts. Silver would have looked odd. I love the details on the spokes: scallops to reduce weight and the way they connect with the rim is cool.
But what really convinced me that these wheels were my wheels: according to the stickers on the barrels they were made on my birthday two years ago. Nice! These wheels will be my "summer" set and will likely get a set of Continental DWS06 all-season UHP tires. I'm just waiting for a sale or rebate offer before I buy them. I've got until spring, so I'm not worried.
Speaking of tires, the car now has Pirelli Sottozero 3 winter tires in the stock size on the stock wheels. I haven't driven them in snow yet, but they have an aggressive, directional tread pattern that wasn't as noisy as I expected. There hasn't been much of a fuel economy penalty either.
I found an extra sheet of sound deadening in the garage and decided to add it to the bottom well in the trunk. Not a ton of difference now, but I'm told that it will help with drone once I switch to an aftermarket exhaust.
Now for the not so happy experience: while driving with my wife through central Michigan to look at the changing leaves an oncoming semi truck threw a rock or sugar beet at me and managed to hit the very edge of my windshield, cracking both the inside and outside panes of glass.
$500 for Safelite to replace it without involving my insurance (my deductible was higher than that). Unfortunately for me the 124 and the ND MX-5 have snap in trim around the outside of the windshield that has a habit of breaking if not removed properly. I warned the tech of this and even provided the Mopar instructions for removing the trim. I handed over the key and wished him the best, trusting that a well known company like Safelite would treat me well. Cue forboding music...
Yep, you guessed it; the Safelite tech broke the upper trim piece. He called me out and said "We're not going to go any further until we have replacement trim available. Oh, and that trim is at your cost." Wait, what? You break my car while doing your job and you want me to pay for it? Yep, that is their policy. Even better, that piece of trim is $550 from Mopar. And the side pieces are another ~$400 each. Needless to say, I was pissed. I called the manager and he was un-moving in his position. I tried their national customer hotline. It doesn't exist anymore. It directed back to the local manager.
Ultimately I removed the rest of the windshield trim myself, without breaking it, then had them replace the windshield. They put it on slightly off-center, but I was too burned out from fighting them about the trim to yell at them for that. I fixed the broken trim and reinstalled it myself. It's holding up so far. And the manager apparently took pity on me and knocked $65 off the price. But I will NEVER use Safelite again and I tell anyone who asks to avoid them at all costs. They've installed other windshields for me before, and I've been happy with them. But I cannot continue to support a company that refuses to take responsibility for the damage they cause to customer's cars while doing the job they have been paid to do. ...ok, I'm done ranting. On to happier news.
My wife and I did a 5 hour drive around the thumb of Michigan (east side of the state that borders Lake Huron, for those of you who don't live here). Beautiful two lane, 55 mph roads on a beautiful day. Lighthouses. Ice cream. Endless vacation homes. Marinas with expensive boats. And I managed to get 41 miles per gallon on that tank of gas. Life is good.
The weather has been in 70's recently here in Michigan and I've had the top down to enjoy every moment of it. Winter is coming soon. I hope this is as good in snow as I imagine it to be. Time will tell.
-Sean