4/16/2005 

So I had some money saved up for for doing something to my car, and some other money saved up for a computer upgrade. I decided my PC didn’t really need the upgrade so I put it all into my car. I finally got around to buying a Cobb Tuning AccessPORT. Basically the AccessPORT allows me to download new “maps” for my car’s computer that are appropriately tuned for other modifications I’ve made. Since I have a “Turbo Back” exhaust I was able to go with the “Stage 2″ map. Stock the WRX makes about 170HP at the wheels (for those non car people most HP numbers given by the manufacturer are at the engine’s crank shaft, you can subtract about 25% to estimate what your car makes at the wheels). A Stage 1 map can take a stock WRX and put it up to 195HP at the wheels. My stage 2 map utilizing my Turbo Back Exhaust brings it up to 224HP at the wheels. Which puts it in STi territory, not only that my car weighs a bit less and because the turbo is smaller the power arrives sooner. I got the AccessPORT in on Thursday and finally got around to Re-flashing my car with it today. I spent way too much time trying to get it to work with my desktop (to download the maps from the website), mostly because it uses the serial port. Once I got that squared away, hooking it up to my car was a breeze. It’s pretty cool too it allows me to store up to 10 other maps for things like legal Auto-cross maps, Valet Mode (can’t drive above 3500RPMs), Security mode (allows the car to start and idle but not drive), As well as economy maps so if I find myself in a place without 93 octane I can fill up with a lower grade and not worry about it. It also works like a OBD-II reader and code clearer which is always handy.

Oh and as for how it drives, I’d definitely say it was worth it.

Jamie sent me a listing for a house in Tilton earlier this week. I recognized it immediately as something we’d seen listed before, I seem to remember seeing it in a search and then us not liking it for some reason (what reason I have no idea why). This time there were more pictures included and we looked a little deeper and decided we really liked it. We looked at it Friday night, and needless to say we made an offer. Let’s just hope all goes well. The bed rooms are moderately sized as well as the kitchen. The living room is smallish but half of the basement has been sectioned off and finished into a “Family Room”. Which when we went there consisted of a large stereo system, pool table, gun rack, and bar (definitely a NH family room if I ever saw one). Unfortunately the Pool Table doesn’t stay but the bar does which is cool. We’re going to make the place into our theater room. Another great plus is there are 2 garages, one of which is separate from the house and rather spacious, which is great for working on cars (It will be SOOO nice to have my own garage for once). The way the house is decorated now is kind of blah but we’ll be re-painting most everything and bringing in our own furniture so that’s not exactly an issue. We really like this place, keep your fingers crossed for us.