Car (or bike) Chat! [Archive] - The Art of Sound Forum

walpurgis

06-09-2013, 21:11

I'll kick off.

Who drives what? Don't be shy!

I've got a 2005 Suzuki Ignis 1.3 GL Estate which goes like the clappers, quickest 1.3 I've had by a long way, but it's on its second dodgy gearbox in six months. I've been unlucky, they're usually reliable! It goes tomorrow, I'm selling it!

Also, I own a 1997 Golf 1.9 Diesel estate. Nice simple car, 50 to 60 mpg, no turbo, no DPF, no electric windows, no electric sunroof, no aircon, manual box, steel wheels, so nothing to break or go wrong really. At 87k miles it has another 200k left in it (with luck). Due to the flexiblity, it does the motorway bit nicely without constantly going up and down through the gears. It's a lazy drive.

And there's my 2004 Suzuki Carry 1.3 van, great little tool. Good on juice, just big enough to be useful and very nippy. I've had it nearly seven years and it's still only got 42k on the clock.

This is the 2.7 V6 Hyundai Coupe I had, it was rather good fun and quite rapid, sold it last year:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2eyjpmb.jpg

Roy S

06-09-2013, 21:19

Citroen C1. That is all.

southall-1998

06-09-2013, 23:17

My car are my bloody feet :)

walpurgis

06-09-2013, 23:44

My car are my bloody feet :)

Have they got an MOT? :eyebrows:

Roy S

06-09-2013, 23:51

Isn't the cost of insurance etc. on three vehicles prohibitive Geoff? Why not just have one that does all you need it to do?

joey

06-09-2013, 23:53

This is my daily car (truck) complete with a trailer i built.

https://sphotos-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1069383_10153044813535343_445409201_n.jpg

and this is my other car which rarley comes out the garage, is a mk1 golf convertible

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/577669_10151754931205343_907347629_n.jpg

seoirse2002

07-09-2013, 01:22

http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10525&d=1378516901

Audio Al

07-09-2013, 05:21

http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10525&d=1378516901

Is that your steed George

Looks like it lives in a country far far away :)

Audio Al

07-09-2013, 05:45

My fleet

Fiat Panda diesel ( Cheap mile muncher 65mpg £30 road tax group 2 insurance )

Street glide

10526

Camper

BMW R1100RT

Hardy Fishing 20

10529

21 Foot yacht

10530

Thats it I think :hmm:

walpurgis

07-09-2013, 08:32

Isn't the cost of insurance etc. on three vehicles prohibitive Geoff? Why not just have one that does all you need it to do?

My renewal quote, due next week is £1500. the Suzuki Ignis sells this morning which will bring the cost down. Still around £1000 I guess, due to the high rated postcode (and the thieving, vandalisng, accident prone and uninsured scumbags around here, no doubt). The van is useful and the VW estate is the family car.

walpurgis

07-09-2013, 08:34

this is my other car which rarley comes out the garage, is a mk1 golf convertible

There's a bit fallen off! I can see it on the floor. ;)

Gromit

07-09-2013, 08:50

Hers: Skoda Fabia 1.2 HTP
His: Peugeot 107, Honda CBR1100 Blackbird

We've had a few 'nice' cars over the years but have come to the conclusion that all we need is a tin box for carrying people/stuff around in. We certainly won't buy another diesel car - chatting to an old friend of ours (ex-Head Technician at a Mercedes main dealer some years ago) he stated that modern diesels are turning into 'ticking time bombs' and he certainly wouldn't buy one. Older ones (pre-DPF/DMF etc) are loads better.

Our little cars are cheap to run, both have chain-driven cam engines, and fulfil our needs perfectly. The 107 is a proper giggle to drive too and surprisingly able on long journeys.

The Blackbird - I've had this for 7 years now, the longest I've owned a bike in 32 years' riding. It's done 79000 miles, runs like a Swiss watch, is beautifully built, and still goes like the clappers. I really cannot think of what I'd replace it with...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8692329584_d5d42930f6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/93875151@N07/8692329584/)

walpurgis

07-09-2013, 08:57

I agree about modern diesels. Getting more complex by the day. That's why I want to hang onto my Golf 1.9D.

Yes, the Blackbird is a fine bike. Too big for me though.

Here's my last bike:

http://i39.tinypic.com/978qdh.jpg A 'mere' GS500. But a useful tool.

seoirse2002

07-09-2013, 10:01

I wish...
belongs to my bro in Florida, he even uses a trailer with it when travelling to gigs

pjdowns

07-09-2013, 20:48

My current car :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/AudiA4_Front_zps4fc9291a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/AudiA4_Front_zps4fc9291a.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/AudiA4_Rear_zps774d899c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/AudiA4_Rear_zps774d899c.jpg.html)

My favourite car :) :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/Pug205_Front_zps5c80b0c9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/Pug205_Front_zps5c80b0c9.jpg.html)

What happened to my favourite car :( :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/Pug205_Damage_zps959c1823.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/Pug205_Damage_zps959c1823.jpg.html)

Roy S

07-09-2013, 21:31

What happened to my favourite car :( :(

Ouch. What flavour GTI was it Paul, 1.6 or 1.9?

pjdowns

07-09-2013, 21:43

Ouch. What flavour GTI was it Paul, 1.6 or 1.9?

1.9 and it went like 'beep' off a shovel!!

Roy S

07-09-2013, 21:52

1.9 and it went like 'beep' off a shovel!!

Friend had a chipped 1.9 309 GTI, used to scare the life out of me

AlexM

08-09-2013, 00:06

In Andre`s other thread, I alluded to my miserable but character-building early history of car ownership. Here are the edited low-lights (and the odd highlight amid the misery) for your enjoyment.

Fiat 500 £15.
Broken seat runners allowed sit in the back seat (I'm 6'7"). Navy blue, no rust. Broken exhaust manifold stud fixed by me for a fiver - god, I loved this car.. My mum wrote it off a week after I fixed it.

Renault 4 - £25
A rusty deathtrap. Drivers side sliding window would drop into your lap if you hit a bump going around a corner. Ciggie lighter got stuck and melted out of the dash, and I found it on hanging by the wires on fire. Windscreen wipers fell off twice, brakes failed twice, engine detonated firing the dipstick through the bonnet due to petrol explosion in sump. Hand painted in dulux white gloss with skull and crossbones on the bonnet. Good for scareing BMW drivers. No starter motor, so every trip began with a push-start. Incredibly, someone was stupid enough to steal it!

Mk.1 astra estate - free
190k miles, repaired write-off (whole rear of body smashed flat to the floorpan. Electrically haunted - using the rear wash wipe would allow the engine to carry on running when the keys we're taken out of the ignition.
the horn would sound randomly on its own, would sometimes sound for 5 mins or more, making a sound like a dying goat, which got me some funny looks. Total collapse of the rear suspension, carrying eight people. Front wheel fell off. Also stolen!

Renault 5 GT Turbo.
A total disaster. Rebuilt engine with big valve head, hybrid turbo, bigger intercooler, electronic boost controller and about 1.3-1.4bar boost producing about 160bhp (a lot in a 850kg car). Wheelspin in 4th gear in the wet and quite scary!. Gearboxes and driveshafts were replaced more often than the engine oil. Constant breakdowns, engine bay fires, turbo failures but god, I loved it when it ran, but that was far, far too infrequently. I wasted a fortune on this car.. What on earth was I thinking?.

Subaru Impreza turbo bought new
I absolutely loved this car. Link ECU, hybrid turbo, AP racing brakes and prodrive suspension.Utterly dependable and fabulous to drive across
country. I ran it for eight years, and still miss the flat four rumble now.

Now - Mercedes E320CDI estate and mk1. Focus Zetec shed for the au-pair.

The focus is progressively being demolished by a sucession of au pairs, but is simple, fun to drive and has never had more problems than a blown tail light. It refuses to die.

Mercedes E320CDI was bought new. It is the duresta sofa of cars, but suits me when I feel lazy and can be suprisingly fun if you hoof it. Now starting to go wrong expensively wrong, so time for something new...

Very tempted currently by a black 2006 SL55AMG in a dealer showroom. It looks to be in immaculate condition, and the dealer doesn't want to part with it as he has been running it for the summer. It could be the next instalment of my largely disastrous car ownership, and to hear it is to want it. It screams mid-life crisis, and it will undoubtably end up in tears.We shall see... :eyebrows:

Cheers,
Alex

Ali Tait

08-09-2013, 02:37

I run two Alfas, a 164 and 166, both 3.0 V6's. Drink petrol like it's going out of style, but both have been totally reliable and are a hoot to drive.

bobbasrah

08-09-2013, 06:32

Having been a convert to Citroen's hydraulic suspension for many years, I am probably on my last Citroen, a C5 2.0hdi diesel estate. I hear that the bean counters have finally had their way, and hydraulics will cease to be used in due course...
Having had everything from Mercs to Volvo in my many years of driving, only the Alfas and Caterham got the adrenalin going, and only the Citroens gave that feeling of total comfort and agility.
The new C5 has not quite the comfort of the other hydraulic Citroens I have owned but gets close. The ability to take on roads more suited to 4WD is as delightful as wafting along in absolute comfort at high speed, whilst straining to see the radar brigade.... It may not get to motorway speed like a bat out of hell, but it's no sluggard either.

The increasing complexity of these machines with the march of the environmental lobbies (DPF etc) and computerised control of everything is making self-repair an impossibility and diesel a potential disaster over common sense... An old DS/CX/XM rebuild is likely unless I build a kit car to test the vertibrae in my declining years, but I refuse point blank to wear a flat hat and smoke a pipe if I do...

Would love to go back to motorbikes again for the sheer fun, but would likely kill myself or be killed by my other half for being so stupid....

pjdowns

08-09-2013, 10:40

Friend had a chipped 1.9 309 GTI, used to scare the life out of me

Yep mine was chipped... Which was a lot of fun when I destroyed other GTI's off the lights :)

Pity that I forgot that red lights mean stop really!!

pjdowns

08-09-2013, 10:48

Very tempted currently by a black 2006 SL55AMG in a dealer showroom. It looks to be in immaculate condition, and the dealer doesn't want to part with it as he has been running it for the summer. It could be the next instalment of my largely disastrous car ownership, and to hear it is to want it. It screams mid-life crisis, and it will undoubtably end up in tears.We shall see... :eyebrows:

Hi Alex,

Go get it, I love SL55, great cars :)

joey

08-09-2013, 22:02

There's a bit fallen off! I can see it on the floor. ;)

Not even sure what that was on the floor! when i bought it off ebay last year it had been off the road for 6 years did some work to it and got it Mot'd ect, Only used it 4 times this year so far!

julesd68

09-09-2013, 18:02

I've got a 1997 Honda Civic which has now done 99,960 miles and never given us a single cause for concern. Will definitely keep it as long as I'm just paying for regular services and no pricey repairs ...

Don't really know what I would replace it with when the time comes, but if we move up to Yorkshire moors area I'm told a 4x4 is fairly handy for winter!

pjdowns

09-09-2013, 22:31

I've got a 1997 Honda Civic which has now done 99,960 miles

There is something about Japanese cars, they just seem to go on and on!!

If it weren't for me being a snob... i'd probably buy one myself

Roy S

09-09-2013, 22:38

chris@panteg

10-09-2013, 13:09

Used to have one of these, excellent handling but needed a bit more power

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss68/Lodger56/pumaside.jpg

And this was fun for such a big car

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss68/Lodger56/DSCF1679.jpg

I had a black puma , great little sporty car , weedy brakes though.?

Would love an ST220 but will have to settle for a zetec .

Beobloke

10-09-2013, 13:30

I run two Alfas, a 164 and 166, both 3.0 V6's. Drink petrol like it's going out of style, but both have been totally reliable and are a hoot to drive.

I have a 1994 Range Rover Vogue SE with the 3.9 V8 engine and I'm willing to bet it drinks more than your two combined! :D

I've had it four and a half years and have loved every second of it but I'm getting a bit tired of its appetite for fuel and the last service highlighted the dreaded r*st creeping into the sills and suspension mounts, so its days may be numbered.

I will miss it like crazy when it does go, though...:(

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa428/Beobloke/RangeRover1s.jpg (http://s1197.photobucket.com/user/Beobloke/media/RangeRover1s.jpg.html)

Ali Tait

10-09-2013, 13:41

I doubt it!

An S Type R - 4.2 V8 Supercharged - has a better consumption than the Alfas. :D

shane

10-09-2013, 13:42

Currently running a 2003 Punto 1.3 diesel. Good points are average 63.5 MPG without really trying, and accelerating rapidly up Devon hills in 4th. Bad points? Since last Christmas 1 new injector pump, £700, one new horrid electric steering column, with new clutch at the same time, £950, one broken front road spring an associated strut top bearing, £150. Best part of two grand on a car worth £1500. Madness...

All time favourite:
http://www.thepippin.plus.com/Misc/ranger1small.jpg

Greatest regret, not buying this for £850:

http://www.thepippin.plus.com/Misc/Cars1026-2.JPG

What I'd have now if I could:
http://www.citroen-sm.org/static/image4.jpg

and
http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3161/4901/20402450001_large.jpg

Ask me tomorrow and you'd get a different set of answers, except for the E-Type!

walpurgis

10-09-2013, 14:14

And all of the above need constant fettling, especially the Mini, they always need something doing! Bits for the Citroen SM ain't cheap. :)

shane

10-09-2013, 15:26

True, but apart from the SM they're all pretty simple. I had a mate who could take the engine out of his mini and replace it in his lunch break.

walpurgis

10-09-2013, 16:27

Bit like me. I had thirteen Minis of one sort or another and rebuilt nearly all of them to an extent. Tuned many of them too.

Reffc

10-09-2013, 16:58

I used to do the same with Mk1 VW Golfs...had a few starting with a 1979 1.1 Golf, then an '83 Scirocci 1.8GTi. All of the early VWs used to crack/warp the heads eventually and I got tired of having to skim the heads and rebuild the things once they'd covered 80K miles or so. Great fun to drive though and at least all the work I could do myself bar sending the heads off for professional skimming.

I then moved to tinker with Opel Mantas and had several including the original Manta GT followed by the later fuel injected GT/E. Lovely cars to drive, simple but bodywork not so good and they all eventually rusted away!

The rest have been fairly boring/competent...a lot of volvos, a few mercs and several years ago, an E46 BMW 325 as I wanted one of the last proper 2.5 litre 6 cylinder machines. That was lovely to work on, dead reliable and drove like new up until the day I sold it to swap for a car easier on my ailing back and hip (before surgery intervened on my behalf!).

I've ended up with a D5 S60se, the very last of the old shape from 2009, mildly tuned it kicks out well over 400 ft-lbs torque which is a huge amount for a 2.5 turbodiesel and over 200BHP. It's way quicker in a straight line than my old 325i...surprisingly so, but it has an appetite for tyres which the Beemer never did. The BMW was far better balanced and being RWD helped too. The S60 can be made to hustle across country but it's a bit hairy if pushed too hard on the twisties. For all that, it has to be the most comfortable car I've ever sat in, and also the most reliable....utterly bomb-proof unlike my wife's Merc 220Cdi which seems to go through sensors like they're going out of fashion. Mechanically very robust and has done big miles, but sensor failures have been very expensive so not the most reliable motor on the market. Most Merc owners I know who've owned them for big miles as we have also say the same. We wouldn't own another for that reason.

For fun, the motorbike gets the vote every time, but the roads are becoming more lethal (condition and traffic) every day so how long I'll continue to ride a litre sportsbike I don't know.

Canetoad

11-09-2013, 10:37

I have a 400 cubic inch small block Chevy motor in a crate in my garage looking for a home. One of these days... :)

shane

11-09-2013, 10:42

Got to love the Americans. When we were all running around in 850cc minis (that's 52 cu in to the imperialists), they go and make a 6 litre v8 and called it small!

walpurgis

11-09-2013, 12:27

I then moved to tinker with Opel Mantas and had several including the original Manta GT followed by the later fuel injected GT/E. Lovely cars to drive, simple but bodywork not so good and they all eventually rusted away!

I had a few Mantas and as you say they were nice to drive, good Recaro seats, lovely handling balance and quick enough to be fun. Big heavy engine and gearbox, if you pulled the gearbox out from underneath onto your chest you knew you had a big lump of metal there. They were somewhat prone to rust, but all treatable. Very reliable car though. A Manta would make a good choice for a modern Classic.

Stubies

11-09-2013, 12:57

If I think of all the cars I have had - it's a bit nuts

At a school I fixed up cars to make some cash - so had lots.

Mercury marque - engine the size of a small planet. Press the gas and it sounds like a jet engine- straights were ok but didn't do corners - 500 usd - mine was canary yellow w avocado green seats! Sold for 800!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/1968_Mercury_Marquis.jpg

Chrysler convertible - bought this from a guy going bankrupt for 2000 usd to fix it up and make a bit of cash - fixed up the broken seat and other stuff - very quick with a turbo - Stolen and used in a bank robbery, yes they got away! It was found in a river and totalled - insurance paid 5k so that was probably my best cash project deal!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/%2785-%2786_Chrysler_LeBaron_Convertible.JPG

Mercedes 200D 1969 - just ran and ran, had original Becker radio - everything worked! Even original AC!
only Sold it at break even after 1 year, after replacing the window seals and welded some new floorboards in.
http://wallpapers.alafoto.com/albums/Cars/Mercedes%20Retro/Mercedes-Benz_200D_28W11029__1965_68.jpg

Audi 5000 (100 in Europe) bought it at an auto auction for 500 - everything fell apart, replaced the head the power steering rack - the master break cylinder - made no money at all, in fact lost in the end...
http://www.typ43.eu/Datenbank/Ellerbrock/Audi%205000.jpg

Polski fiat - modeled on the fiat 500, worked mostly, but someone bumped it - leaving just a small dent but it ruptured the gas tank! - leaked when more than 1/2 full - never knew if it would be a pile of cinders when I returned. Gave it away!
http://www.autopictu.com/images/polski-fiat-126p-01.jpg

Canetoad

11-09-2013, 14:37

Got to love the Americans. When we were all running around in 850cc minis (that's 52 cu in to the imperialists), they go and make a 6 litre v8 and called it small!

There's an old saying... "There's no substitute for cubic inches".

bobbasrah

11-09-2013, 14:48

There's an old saying... "There's no substitute for cubic inches".

CC ?
Sorry Bernie, couldn't resist...

There were a couple of guys over your neck of the woods in the early eighties that had the last version of Morris Minor with the Rover V8 in them, straight line take off was just incredible at the time, cornering was a case of clenching cheeks and reciting biblical verse....
Another lad over Crail way had the same engine wedged into a BDA Escort shell which was even more interesting....
Being a petrolhead is a touch more expensive these days.....

walpurgis

11-09-2013, 21:22

Yeah, we had a guy round our way with a 'MustAnglia'. 289 Mustang V8 in an Anglia. God knows what it was like to drive.

Mothman

16-09-2013, 18:48

I take the train to work during the week but have been looking for a banger to use at weekends as sharing my missus car isn't always practical. Anyway ended up buying this a couple of weeks ago. Dont laugh but it's a Rover 75 diesel :eek: ,

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/okmothman/Hi-Fi/R7501_zps9e2b6945.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/okmothman/media/Hi-Fi/R7501_zps9e2b6945.jpg.html)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/okmothman/Hi-Fi/R7506_zps89993e8e.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/okmothman/media/Hi-Fi/R7506_zps89993e8e.jpg.html)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/okmothman/Hi-Fi/R7504_zpsb76643f6.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/okmothman/media/Hi-Fi/R7504_zpsb76643f6.jpg.html)

Not everyones cup of tea and has a definite image problem I know, but thats OK as it keeps prices depressed for what essentialy appears to be a pretty solid motor. Seems lot of car for £950 especialy given it's got a BMW engine. I guess time will tell whether ownership is to be a pleasure or a pain, but I'm happy so far :)

bobbasrah

17-09-2013, 10:18

Not bad nick for less than a grand, what's not to like.... For reasons which elude me, a lot of Italian plated Rovers appear in Romania when they come home for the holidays... Always amused me that a Romanian in Italy bought a British car for some reason, particularly given the usual BMW/Merc obsessions there...

hifilover

17-09-2013, 10:23

This is my project currently; a nice 2000 BMW E38 728i ;)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/danbutterworth/20130813_164911_zps745c2dc7.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/danbutterworth/media/20130813_164911_zps745c2dc7.jpg.html)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/danbutterworth/20130813_164853_zpsd7379bf3.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/danbutterworth/media/20130813_164853_zpsd7379bf3.jpg.html)

Bought it after I decided that my MG ZT V6 was too small as I was struggling to get passengers (unless they were an utter short-arse) in behind me! But I do miss the ZT... :(

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a226/danbutterworth/IMAG0005.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/danbutterworth/media/IMAG0005.jpg.html)

hifilover

17-09-2013, 10:25

Mothman

17-09-2013, 11:52

Very nice that :)

Are you on the relevant forums: http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/

Worthwhile if youre not; a lot of advice on there for all the 75's and ZT's :)

Hi Dan
Yes, that's where I found the car. It's a brilliant forum with some great knowledge and lots of friendly people, a kind of motoring AOS ;)

Stubies

17-09-2013, 20:40

I take the train to work during the week but have been looking for a banger to use at weekends as sharing my missus car isn't always practical. Anyway ended up buying this a couple of weeks ago. Dont laugh but it's a Rover 75 diesel :eek: ,

Not everyones cup of tea and has a definite image problem I know, but thats OK as it keeps prices depressed for what essentialy appears to be a pretty solid motor. Seems lot of car for £950 especialy given it's got a BMW engine. I guess time will tell whether ownership is to be a pleasure or a pain, but I'm happy so far :)

Looks like a shrewd deal! -- let us know how it holds up!!!

wee tee cee

23-09-2013, 15:37

Both me and the missus bought poverty spec/pre registered mitsibushi colts.......lovely wee triple cylinder engine/50mpg/jap reliability.

I run a KTM 990 Adventure/ stripped the stands and hand rails off it, re-rimmed it 19/17 in GS sizes to get supersport rubber on it/gpr 2-1-roughly 30kg stripped out it, shortened the gearing and wheel base a smidge by running a slightly shorter chain and flipping the rear blocks 32k on it ride all year round/cut down screen open face with full visor/glasses. Ran like shit initially but got they're eventually, snatchy enough to have you off in the wet coming back on the gas......

miss my supermoto but accrued 6 points in two years, 60hp 625smc 130kg.......if it had less than half a tank wheelied everywhere, the vibes got to me in the end had to go but would have another(or maybe a 660) in a heart beat....

My son just sold his 125 duke......too many sorry didnt see you mate moments.......texting /eating/drinking coffee/big obstructive A pillars!!!!!! Park it up son/dont throw yer leg over it again/polished it up and put it in the paper buyer collects on Wednesday! Never been so relieved in my life.....I don't mind the risks for myself but I have 25 years hard fought experience.......different story when its you're only son.

julesd68

23-09-2013, 17:39

Well they haven't always been this reliable, but a great story here about a 1966 Volvo doing 3,000,000 miles and riding into the Guiness Book of Records ...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1966-volvo-clocks-three-millionth-mile-010546046.html#mh8wJqN

hal55

24-09-2013, 09:02

Any tyre recommendations members want to share. Need a full set in the next few months and have been very happy with Goodyear Assurance Amorgrips (about $130 each so not really pricey) and living on wet Tamborine Mountain I need a very assured tyre in the damp and drizzle - not to mention the annual flood as well. Any good recommendations that I should look at? Must be quiet on rural bitumen, roads aren't "third world" up here but they're not that flash either.

Hal55

PS must be able to steer around ducks and all assorted dopey widlife, plus equally dopey rubbernecking tourists not watching where they're going.

Hal55

bobbasrah

24-09-2013, 10:24

walpurgis

24-09-2013, 10:42

Well, my (new) ancient VW Golf 1.9D estate goes in for its MOT this afternoon.

I've just welded a patch in the n/s sill where a rust hole was developing and I've been round the whole of the underneath waxoiling and undersealing. Amazing how much crap can store up BEHIND the plastic front wheelarch liners, about half a kilo of damp muddy debris on each side. 15 years worth, done now and rust proofed.

I've only had the car about six weeks, I just fancied something simple, reliable, comfy and roomy with good economy. It is basic to say the least, SOHC 8 valve diesel lump, no turbo, no dreaded DPF, wind up windows, no sunroof, manual box, no aircon and basically little to go wrong. These are mechanically as near everlasting as you'll find and with only 87k miles on the clock I reckon it may put another 200k+ on that.

It's only an old banger, but it drives very well, quite happy on the motorway and being very flexible there's none of the changing up and down all the time that many petrol motors require. Current impressions are that it uses even less juice than my little Suzuki Carry van, I seem to be getting between 50 and 60mpg!

http://i41.tinypic.com/s2876r.jpg

hal55

24-09-2013, 13:12

Oz supplier ? http://new.bigtyre.com.au/tyres/otr

They'd look wild on m Mazda 323!

Hal55

wee tee cee

24-09-2013, 14:47

Evo recently did a tyre test......Yokos did really well in the wet testing.......worth a look if you can get it on line or in the shops your neck of the woods.

Ali Tait

24-09-2013, 15:01

walpurgis

24-09-2013, 15:12

Well, my (new) ancient VW Golf 1.9D estate goes in for its MOT this afternoon.

http://i41.tinypic.com/s2876r.jpg

Hooray, it passed. The only glitch was an intermittent rear No. plate light which they sorted with a new wire length above the door hinge and only charged me a tenner to do.

Glad that's done. I'm doing a 1000 mile round trip/break to Cornwall at the end of the week.

wee tee cee

24-09-2013, 17:10

Avon ZZ3. Have them on my Alfa, great in the wet. Not too pricey either.Used AVONS on the bike for years, highly under rated brand......bet you get through a few with the v6 music egging you on......"The induction roar made me do it, honest!!!!"

Ali Tait

24-09-2013, 17:50

Yeah, it roars baby!!

Sadly it failed it's MOT, needs two lower wishbone/balljoints, two front springs and new handbrake cables. Still, could have been worse I suppose. :(

Marco

24-09-2013, 18:58

Me current jelopy, known in some quarters as 'the hearse' :D

2007 Mercedes C320 CDI Avantgarde SE (estate):

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2047/lyou.jpg

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3246/wffp.jpg

Recently re-mapped with a TDI tuning box to achieve 285bhp and a top speed of just under 170mph. It goes like the wind! However, I'm thinking of doing the job 'properly' and having it kitted out with the Brabus engine performance kit from Mercedes: http://www.brabus.com/en/raster.php?page=4&sub=5&modell=3644&klasse=149&kategorie=9

Interior:

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4587/pht5.jpg http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/6981/2lj7.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/1875/wvcg.jpg http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1176/cjb2.jpg

Certainly puts a smile on my chops every time I get behind the wheel! :)

Marco.

wee tee cee

25-09-2013, 06:33

Yeah, it roars baby!!

Sadly it failed it's MOT, needs two lower wishbone/balljoints, two front springs and new handbrake cables. Still, could have been worse I suppose. :(Ali,
there is a very good alfa/fiat independent not far from me very reasonable rates and really knows his potatoes.......did my cambelt and major stuff when I was running ma poverty spec punto.......he had all sort including an SZ sitting waiting to be fixed have a google near east kilbride......If you fancy it gies a bell I can drop you up and back from my place a fit in a wee session while yer sledge is gettin sorted!!!!!

Ali Tait

25-09-2013, 09:25

Cheers Tony, it's in a garage round the corner from me, a good bloke and doesn't charge the earth, even lets me source my own parts and fits them for me. For anything specialist like cam belt etc. I usually take it to McLennans in Loanhead, who've looked after my Alfas for the last couple of years. Typical back street garage, but they know Alfas and do a great job. One of the best Alfa indies in the country.

A sesh sounds good. Are you mobile yet? Gaz was on about having one soon, and I'll have one after Owston when I've hopefully got the black stuff up and running.

Gaz has his new server with all linear supplies up and running I believe. Be interesting to hear it.

wee tee cee

25-09-2013, 13:12

aye the saw doctor has fixed me up good and proper......next week my place any use or will we pester Gaz and spill more stuff on his nice carpets!!!!! I will bring the battery dacs wee frenchie and BM MK2......Good to all get together again, brian and gaz were at mine last week good laugh.......

Ali Tait

25-09-2013, 14:28

Aye sounds good. Gaz?

wee tee cee

30-09-2013, 07:46

Was out for a walk with my good lady on Saturday and bumped into one of my neighbours that stays across from me.......said he was glad to see me working away on the motorbike ( oil change took 4 hours-bloody KTM ) Missus wasn't too pleased, meant to be recuperating from spinal surgery! My neighbour was mortified he had grassed me up!

Still should be good for an MOT this week.......me and the Bike.

hal55

04-10-2013, 21:59

Still deciding on tyres (the ever diminishing tread will force a decision pretty soon) and I was keen on Yokohama C4s for a while but the new revised version, which incorporates eco friendly orange oil, isn't getting anywhere near the positive feedback that the older ones did. Continental has a well regarded tyre, the Premium Contact 2, that gets both good results in road tests and also plenty of good buyer feedback. If any of the members here have experience of the Premium Contact 2, or indeed of the brand generally, I'd love to hear your comments.

Hal55

bobbasrah

05-10-2013, 05:26

ADAC in Germany do good tyre reviews every year, quite informative if you have a root around....

hal55

05-10-2013, 08:30

Bugger. Good review site alright, but it goes and rates the Cdrive2s that I'd disregarded as very very good in two of the areas that are important to me (wet grip and comfort). Pity wear seems a bit poor.
Still, good to be informed.....any Cdrive2 owners out there???

Hal55

Alex_UK

06-10-2013, 19:19

My beloved Chrysler 300C "mafia-mobile" is no more, I just got fed up with the running costs, and replaced it with something a bit more sensible - but still a little bit different - is going to save me about £250 per month - Insurance £310 vs £650, tax £125 vs £290 and 55mpg vs 32mpg... The boot and interior space is hardly smaller, and it has plenty of toys - my lovely Volkswagen CC: :)

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/HighResImage1_zps2a734339.jpg?t=1381057474

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/HighResImage2_zps36649704.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/HighResImage5_zps316dc4a8.jpg?t=1381057587

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/HighResImage12_zps7a57a374.jpg

Part of the reason for "downsizing" is because Maggie - my beloved Land Rover 110 Defender is going to be completely rebuilt onto a brand-new galvanised chassis, with a replacement bulkhead and all new lifted suspension - should then out live me... Here she is, in last year's snow:

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/IMG_4020a.jpg

I've also got a 1998 Kawasaki ZX6-R Ninja - owned since new in immaculate condition, 8k on the clock and as fresh as when she left the factory...

http://staging2.centricwebs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/zx6r.jpg

Straff

07-10-2013, 23:32

Beemer 840. Lovely cruiser, more than sporty enough for me.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/10146493056_ccbc2f2e99_m.jpg

Marco

08-10-2013, 18:08

Piccy no worky!!

Marco.

Straff

08-10-2013, 18:49

Bummer - no Beemer :scratch:

Blurdy Flickr :punch:

Marco

08-10-2013, 18:56

Lol... Use Photobucket or Imageshack, dude! :)

Marco.

Anti Meep

12-10-2013, 06:58

True, but apart from the SM they're all pretty simple. I had a mate who could take the engine out of his mini and replace it in his lunch break.

Yup, real easy. Great wee cars along with the 1100's 1300's and 1800's. BMC made some great cars.

walpurgis

12-10-2013, 22:32

I always used to forget to undo the speedo cable on minis (hidden low down at the back) and wonder why the engine would not lift out! :eyebrows:

walpurgis

15-10-2013, 21:54

Well my 'new' old banger is going rather well. I'm still not sure why I bought it, it just appealed to me because of it's simplicity. It's a 16 year old VW golf 1.9 D estate and I've just used it for a holiday in Cornwall and covered 1000 miles without missing a beat and got around 60mpg too. It is happy to cruise at anything up to an indicated 90mph on the level whether empty or fully laden, more than adequate for my needs. I wouldn't be surprised if the old thing has got another twenty years left in it, its only done 88k miles and these are good for 250k plus.

I may end up getting a fancy motor to use alongside this car, but this is meeting all my needs really.

tommy6206

15-10-2013, 22:57

I picked up my new Ford Kuga Titanium today,2lt TDI but that new smell was a little over powering tho.
And no ashtrays in it wtf not that I use them.Not taken any pics as yet

Canetoad

16-10-2013, 13:23

These days I can't stand the smell inside a new car. It smells like curing plastic! :(

walpurgis

16-10-2013, 17:08

These days I can't stand the smell inside a new car. It smells like curing plastic! :(

I can't stand the smell in my car. The dog keeps farting.

shane

16-10-2013, 17:10

I always used to forget to undo the speedo cable on minis (hidden low down at the back) and wonder why the engine would not lift out! :eyebrows:

My favourite trick was to forget to put the earth strap back between the gearbox and the front subframe, then wonder why the choke cable glowed red hot when I tried to start it.

Roy S

16-10-2013, 17:11

I can't stand the smell in my car. The dog keeps farting.

(they always blame the dog)

walpurgis

16-10-2013, 17:39

My favourite trick was to forget to put the earth strap back between the gearbox and the front subframe, then wonder why the choke cable glowed red hot when I tried to start it.

I've heard of that one, but not done it myself.

It was a right fiddle changing speedo cables on minis, fortunately I've got small hands and slim wrists and could just about reach in to do it.

walpurgis

17-10-2013, 11:08

Well my 'new' old banger is going rather well. I'm still not sure why I bought it, it just appealed to me because of it's simplicity. It's a 16 year old VW golf 1.9 D estate and I've just used it for a holiday in Cornwall and covered 1000 miles without missing a beat and got around 60mpg too. It is happy to cruise at anything up to an indicated 90mph on the level whether empty or fully laden, more than adequate for my needs. I wouldn't be surprised if the old thing has got another twenty years left in it, its only done 88k miles and these are good for 250k plus.

My timing belt and tensioner kit arrived yesterday along with a set of heater glow-plugs. If I get a dry day or two this weekend I may have a bash at installing this lot!

walpurgis

23-11-2013, 20:33

Six hours to change a set of heater glow plugs!! With unobstructed access it would have taken 15 minutes, but the injector pump is right in front of the left pair meaning you need fingers nine inches long and half an inch thick to reach them. What a bugger of a job, got it done in the end (and in the cold). Fiddliest car job I've ever had to do and I've done some tricky ones in the past!

Effem

23-11-2013, 21:38

Changed cars recently, more by accident than by design.

Had a Volvo V40 for just over 5 years and although it had a 1.6 engine and wouldn't pull a pussy off a piss pot, it never once let me down so had no real notion of getting rid of it. Then I was given a 2 berth caravan and no way was that poor old Volvo going to haul even a small two berth tin tortoise without causing worse tailbacks behind me than a tractor with four flat tyres. Fitting a towbar wasn't cheap either and had nightmares about the Cornish hills impeding rapid progress. A chance conversation by the missus resulted in swapping the V40 for a Honda CR-V, already fitted with a towbar :) Got 130k on the clock and it still runs like a swiss watch, jolly comfy too and no more thirsty than the Volvo was surprisingly.

The missus has a Kia Rio of 2003 vintage and just had (as many on here have read) a heap of aggro over poor running and an MOT failure on emissions which I promised that once it was fixed I would wave it goodbye, even though it runs really well now it's fixed. Once I got the MOT pass sheet I showed it to the wife and said "This isn't an MOT certificate, it's an Eviction Notice for you to hand back the keys to my Honda" :lol: She saw an advert yesterday for a lady wanting a swap for a smaller car for her Freelander, so negotiations are underway to see if she wants a Kia instead of a Freelander :eyebrows:

MartinT

23-11-2013, 22:22

Avon ZZ3. Have them on my Alfa, great in the wet. Not too pricey either.

Seconded. Great tyres.

MartinT

23-11-2013, 22:27

My favourite trick was to forget to put the earth strap back between the gearbox and the front subframe, then wonder why the choke cable glowed red hot when I tried to start it.

I did that in a Mini and it was the poor throttle cable that suffered, sticking at a lot greater than idle :eek:

MartinT

23-11-2013, 22:34

BMW 335d M-Sport Coupe. 3.0l twin-turbo, remapped for 350bhp and 700nm torque. Gives 34mpg which is pretty reasonable. My third BMW, lovely to drive and handles beautifully.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5441/10085440893_0e17fb135d_o.jpg

Ali Tait

23-11-2013, 23:30

Nice Martin.

wiicrackpot

24-11-2013, 03:41

BMW 335d M-Sport Coupe.3.0l twin-turbo, remapped for 350bhp and 700nm torque. Gives 34mpg which is pretty reasonable. My third BMW, lovely to drive and handles beautifully.
Absolute beaut Martin and enjoy, hard to believe the spec and official MPG figures equate, :scratch:
maybe post your findings in real world driving condition and not in a BM controlled enviroment. :lol:

MartinT

24-11-2013, 10:46

LOL! I've verified the onboard computer a few times by filling up and checking the mileage. For a performance car, I'm pleased with the mileage. My old 540i would barely get me 21mpg.

wiicrackpot

24-11-2013, 11:05

LOL! I've verified the onboard computer a few times by filling up and checking the mileage. For a performance car, I'm pleased with the mileage. My old 540i would barely get me 21mpg.
Ah...i see, there i thought your were taking it strictly from sales brochure bumpf, apologies. :lol:
must say i had a 318 and it was the best i ever owned, this will be something.

Alex_UK

24-11-2013, 23:22

Absolute beaut Martin

Yeah, I've been in it, and it is indeed a beaut - I've strayed from German marques over the years, but never again - well, apart from Land Rover, but I guess they're no longer British anyway, albeit being built here.

Roy S

24-11-2013, 23:27

This was fun (if a bit difficult to park with no power steering)

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss68/Lodger56/DSCF0037_zps2d8174ff.jpg

walpurgis

24-11-2013, 23:40

This was quite a laugh too, with 2.7 litres of 24 valve V6 to shove it along it was a pretty rapid beast, 120mph cruising a doddle. Amazing handling & roadholding, at the price of a rock hard ride. Strangely, I found it comfortable, it was the first car in years that didn't give me backache on a long run. Sold it about a year and a half ago, not sure why really, it was a damn good car and in great nick!.

http://i39.tinypic.com/6z0c9e.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/9ifw9f.jpg

wiicrackpot

24-11-2013, 23:48

Yeah, I've been in it, and it is indeed a beaut .
Were you grinning like Garfield stuck to the window Alex, like this :D'ley,
if i was planted in that i'd get Martin to take the scenic route and refuse to get out if he doesn't comply. :lol:

@ Roy and Geoff ~ both are smart buys with big fun factor them two motors. :clap:

MartinT

25-11-2013, 07:08

Ah...i see, there i thought your were taking it strictly from sales brochure bumpf, apologies.

You did clock that it's a diesel? I love the power delivery: it's a wall of torque, and smooth being a classic BMW six-pot!

MartinT

25-11-2013, 07:10

This was fun (if a bit difficult to park with no power steering)

I have memories of the belt failing in my 540i (twice). That was an absolute bugger to steer without power steering. Big 4.4l V8 lump over wide front tyres :eek:

Marco

25-11-2013, 10:43

I love the power delivery: it's a wall of torque, and smooth being a classic BMW six-pot!

Nice one. That's also a rather succinct description of the performance of my 'hearse' (although your Beemanto currently has the edge on horses)... :D

Six-pot diesels are just so super-smooth, giving you effortless power delivery and venomous levels of torque!! :eek:

I'm looking forward to getting the Merc Brabus tuned (and unlimited) in the New Year, which will take the engine performance up to around 300bhp, with a top speed of over 170mph. It should certainly make it one of the quickest estate cars on the road....!!! :eyebrows:

Marco.

Arkless Electronics

25-11-2013, 12:43

Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird here.... Now that's quick! 186 MPH 0 - 60 2.9 Seconds ;) It's no longer the quickest bike in the world but plenty fast for me!

MartinT

25-11-2013, 12:51

Give us a photo then, Jez!

Arkless Electronics

25-11-2013, 13:10

Give us a photo then, Jez!

Someone put up a photo of one early in the thread.... mines like that but Blue :)

Marco

25-11-2013, 14:39

Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird here.... Now that's quick!

Hehehehe... Have you ever had any, erm, 'little accidents' in your pants, when going that fast on two wheels? :eek: :eek:

Man, that must be a total adrenaline rush.... If anything should go wrong (even slightly), the consequences don't bear thinking about!!!

Marco.

walpurgis

25-11-2013, 20:35

Modern bikes put 'fast' cars into perspective. Even the little CB-1 400cc Honda I had years ago would comfortably match a local Ferrari F40 up to 120mph.

Any decent 600 has acceleration that car owners can probably not even envisage. It's quite good fun being on a fast road and having a big Jag or Mitsubishi EVO come up behind and flash you at 85mph, then just opening the throttle without even changing down and watching them disappear backwards in the mirrors.

Then you have 'the big boys'! 1000cc and over. Not even a Veyron matches them for acceleration.

I've had a hankering for a Suzuki SV1000S for the last couple of years myself. Nice 1000cc V twin midrange grunt , 150mph+ top end and a standing 1/4 mile in under 11 secs at over 120mph ain't bad at all. Very quick off the mark, quoted as 3.1 secs 0-60 in some tests. And it's light and compact, nice.

Marco

25-11-2013, 21:08

I do agree... However, it's not ALL about speed - comfort is also important for some of us, too! Belting along the motorway at high speeds is all good and well, but these days I prefer to do it effortlessly in a car designed to take it in its stride, whilst remaining warm and cosy, listening to some quality choons!

On holiday, on the way back from Italy this year, I was doing just under 150mph on a deserted stretch of the Autostrada, with the cruise control and air-con on, in total comfort, listening to some Bert Jansch, whilst Del fed me bits of a rather nice Parma ham sandwich, as the world swished gracefully past us.... Lurvely!

Try doing that on a motorbike.... :eek: ;)

Marco.

Roy S

25-11-2013, 21:16

Of course all this BHP has to be held in reserve in a country where the speed limit is 70 mph (said the bloke who drives the C1)

walpurgis

25-11-2013, 21:41

I find riding a fast bike quite relaxing and surprisingly comfortable. As long as you're not actually trying to race somebody and are just covering the ground at a good pace and assuming one is kitted out in decent riding gear and on a good machine, the way the miles and four wheeled traffic just flash past and into the dust behind you is quite something, sheer effortlessness.

Arkless Electronics

26-11-2013, 02:23

Hehehehe... Have you ever had any, erm, 'little accidents' in your pants, when going that fast on two wheels? :eek: :eek:

Man, that must be a total adrenaline rush.... If anything should go wrong (even slightly), the consequences don't bear thinking about!!!

Marco.

"Tena-Biker" ;)

Arkless Electronics

26-11-2013, 02:26

Andrei

26-11-2013, 03:11

Marco

26-11-2013, 08:27

Yup - 'kills two birds', as it were!! :D

Marco.

synsei

26-11-2013, 09:59

Talking of fast estate cars as we were, does anyone remember the bonkers TWR Volvo T5 BTCC cars from the early 90's?

http://www.botbnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/btcc_1994_rydell.jpg

StanleyB

26-11-2013, 10:50

Talking of fast estate cars as we were, does anyone remember the bonkers TWR Volvo T5 BTCC cars from the early 90's?
They then changed the rules to stop those estates from competing.

walpurgis

26-11-2013, 10:52

Yeah I really love bikes! never yet owned a car and somehow doubt I ever will... It's the best fun you can have with your clothes on.... and even then.. Hmm... sometimes 180 is more orgasmic :fingers:

Almost. The best fun you can have with your clothes on is aerobatics in a small agile plane. Done that a few times (not me at the controls though). Amazing fun!!

shane

26-11-2013, 10:58

I've had the privilege to know a couple of RAF Harrier pilots. Both drove Volvo estates, and never had any desire to drive anything quicker. Didn't seem much point!

StanleyB

26-11-2013, 11:00

I'm looking forward to getting the Merc Brabus tuned (and unlimited) in the New Year, which will take the engine performance up to around 300bhp, with a top speed of over 170mph. It should certainly make it one of the quickest estate cars on the road....!!!
Just don't get suckered into taking on a Saab 9-5 estate diesel. Some of them have been tuned to 400BHP, but look as docile as a turtle.

If you are having your car tuned up, consider adding LSD (limited slip differential), bigger brakes, and wider tires. I had to do all of that after I had my engine tuned up.

MartinT

26-11-2013, 13:06

Some of them have been tuned to 400BHP, but look as docile as a turtle.

All that power through the front wheels will give you some interesting tramlining and torque steer.

bob4333

26-11-2013, 13:22

Been watching this thread and some great cars so far, but it’s been getting far too serious and the OP did say "anything". So, this is what you buy when your knees don’t bend quite so easily and you have to sell your motorbikes.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee481/bob4333/Mog/6-Optimized.jpg (http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/bob4333/media/Mog/6-Optimized.jpg.html)

It’sgotnopowersteeringnoairbagsnoairconditioningno satnavnoantilockbrakesnotractioncontrolnorainsensi ngwipersnotripcomputernolowwasherfluidwarninglampa ndnolittlelightthingytotellyouwhenitneedsaservice. .......

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee481/bob4333/Mog/4-Optimized.jpg (http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/bob4333/media/Mog/4-Optimized.jpg.html)

........but it does have a 4.0L Tornado chipped V8, weighs 970kg and would probably make you smile even on a very dull day.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee481/bob4333/Mog/3-Optimized.jpg (http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/bob4333/media/Mog/3-Optimized.jpg.html)

Goes faster than a meat pie in a health farm until you reach the corners and then it’s NIGHTMARE TIME unless you’re ready for it. Full concentration is mandatory and a combination of steering wheel and right foot gets you round most corners: sweat, fear and brute strength gets you round the rest. Suspension and technology is generally on a level with a Sopwith Camel – and no, the chassis isn’t made of wood (you’re thinking of the brakes).

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee481/bob4333/Mog/5-Optimized.jpg (http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/bob4333/media/Mog/5-Optimized.jpg.html)

Strangely though, I love it to bits................... (but definitely a Marmite car).

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee481/bob4333/Mog/1-Optimized.jpg (http://s1230.photobucket.com/user/bob4333/media/Mog/1-Optimized.jpg.html)

MartinT

26-11-2013, 13:58

I've driven a powerful Caterham and recognise those traits. Not for the faint hearted :eek:

StanleyB

26-11-2013, 14:18

All that power through the front wheels will give you some interesting tramlining and torque steer.
I have been driving standard and souped up Saab cars for about 18 years now, and once you have a LSD fitted, it drives perfectly OK.

MartinT

26-11-2013, 15:15

I have been driving standard and souped up Saab cars for about 18 years now, and once you have a LSD fitted, it drives perfectly OK.

Good to know!

Marco

26-11-2013, 15:52

Talking of fast estate cars as we were, does anyone remember the bonkers TWR Volvo T5 BTCC cars from the early 90's?

http://www.botbnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/btcc_1994_rydell.jpg

Mental... That must handle about as well as a shopping trolley!! :D

Gromit

26-11-2013, 15:59

Mental... That must handle about as well as a shopping trolley!! :D

Actually, the old 850 was a fine-handling car - Volvo finally 'got it' where decent driving dynamics were concerned and with a decent FWD chassis (as opposed to the live-axle horse carts of before) it was a damn nice motor. 'Car' magazine stated at the time something along the lines of 'we finally have a Volvo that's great to drive'.

The estate was used as it had better aero qualities than the saloon version, and of course showed us that the Swedes had a sense of humour. :)

Marco

26-11-2013, 16:15

Just don't get suckered into taking on a Saab 9-5 estate diesel. Some of them have been tuned to 400BHP, but look as docile as a turtle.

If you are having your car tuned up, consider adding LSD (limited slip differential), bigger brakes, and wider tires. I had to do all of that after I had my engine tuned up.

I've always loved Saabs. The sporty ones were rather underrated, IMO, with most folk opting instead for Beemers, Mercs and Audis. They were built like tanks and had fantastic engines. The turbos were superb! Sadly, however, a lot of the older ones will have lost a few of their 'gee-gees' with age (which happens with all cars), so the 400bhp you speak of will probably now be rather less...

Noted on the LSD, etc. The Merc will be getting the full BRABUS treatment (as applicable to my specific car), so along with engine tuning, all the other 'bits' that need to go along with it :)

For those of you unfamiliar with what Brabus tuning is about, here are a couple of vids to whet your appetite:

Bo4bIevdyww

_dfff-s2OMc

:eek: :eek: :wow:

One day I will own that car (Rocket 800).... I just LURVE the total insanity of it!!

Marco.

Marco

26-11-2013, 16:33

Actually, the old 850 was a fine-handling car - Volvo finally 'got it' where decent driving dynamics were concerned and with a decent FWD chassis (as opposed to the live-axle horse carts of before) it was a damn nice motor. 'Car' magazine stated at the time something along the lines of 'we finally have a Volvo that's great to drive'.

The estate was used as it had better aero qualities than the saloon version, and of course showed us that the Swedes had a sense of humour. :)

Hehehehe, indeed... Fair enough on the handling thing. I just looks a little, shall we say, 'ungainly'! :eyebrows:

Marco.

MartinT

26-11-2013, 17:37

Whereas AMGs are a gentleman's performance vehicle, Brabus are mad loon rocketships. I've seen a few in Germany. Subtle they aren't.

Marco

26-11-2013, 17:50

Lol - you're probably not wrong, but I just love the sheer insanity of the volcanic power they produce. My own car, of course, won't be anywhere near as 'brutal' (in every sense), as what is shown in the above vids!

Therefore, it will still retain the essence of a being a 'gentleman's performance vehicle/long-distance cruiser', but with a feral animal lurking underneath the hood... :eyebrows:

Marco.

synsei

26-11-2013, 18:05

A mate of mine owns a Smart Roadster which has been breathed on by Brabus. Tiny engine plus big turbo equals lots of laggy fun, it's a bit of a handful in the wet though :lol:

shane

26-11-2013, 18:40

My favourite Brabus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMzBFZ0Lvr4

not forgetting when they put two Smart engines together to make a V6:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWzmFpsmD4k

Marco

26-11-2013, 18:42

That is actually rather cool! :)

Marco.

synsei

26-11-2013, 18:52

not forgetting when they put two Smart engines together to make a V6:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWzmFpsmD4k

Same as my friends except his is matt black and as a consequence it looks very stealthy ;)

shane

26-11-2013, 19:46

He had a V6? Cor!

synsei

26-11-2013, 19:50

He had a V6? Cor!

Sadly not, it's still a bit of a pocket rocket though and is good for 130ish miles per hour, which in something so small feels more like 200... :lol:

walpurgis

26-11-2013, 20:13

Here's a good place for a V6:

http://i39.tinypic.com/xfz5hw.jpg

In a bike. As per seventies Laverda 1000 V6!

Or if you fancy a straight 6:

http://i44.tinypic.com/ildgg3.jpg

As per eighties Honda CBX-1000!

shane

26-11-2013, 20:40

I always had an urge to build a light-weight mid-engine special using a CBX engine. It's such a gorgeous bit of engineering! Don't think my engineering skills are up to it, sadly. Did get as far as some rough sketches of a chassis once. Fantasy really, and I'd probably have killed myself if I'd done it.

walpurgis

26-11-2013, 21:44

Years ago I saw a swedish drag race competitor blow up his monstrously powerful 'turbo, nitrous, top fuel' CBX-1000 based drag bike at Long Marston. He was on the line waiting to go and revved it too high. There was a big bang and a huge cloud of smoke. Once the smoke cleared you could see that the entire left half of the engine was missing and scattered across the track in bits. Oooh, so expensive!

On that day I also saw the legendary Henk Vink on his rocket bike:

http://i44.tinypic.com/ou2xaq.png

He blasted off the start like lightning and got into a speed wobble halfway down the 1/4 mile strip, then shut the motor off. But he still coasted the last 1/8th mile to go through the timing lights at over 200mph in around five seconds. Amazing!

StanleyB

26-11-2013, 22:02

Fantasy really, and I'd probably have killed myself if I'd done it.
You might have survived, like I did. But I have never fully recovered physically and mentally. It took me about five good years of my life before I could do anything useful. Haven't sat on a bike since then. Not even ridden a bicycle since the early 90's. After that I bought my first Volvo.

Jonboy

26-11-2013, 22:34

My little run around, a 1954 series 1 86 inch land Rover fitted with a Rover p5 high compression 3.5 v8 , drum brakes all round , slightly worn steering box original hard seats and no heating but great fun to drive around especially on a sunny day with the top off, it plays a nice tune as well, got some rewiring to do and general sorting out, it is £100 a year to insure and mot and tax exempt although i have put it through a mot for piece of mind

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp272/jonboy_01/DSC_0411_zps54959756.jpg

http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp272/jonboy_01/DSC_0410_zps544c2473.jpg

Andrei

27-11-2013, 09:41

Talking of fast estate cars as we were, does anyone remember the bonkers TWR Volvo T5 BTCC cars from the early 90's?

http://www.botbnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/btcc_1994_rydell.jpg
The photo seems a bit strange: The front wheel has motion blur and the back wheel looks like it is standing still ??

MartinT

27-11-2013, 12:56

It's front wheel drive and they might be spinning while scrabbling for grip?

Gromit

27-11-2013, 14:54

The photo seems a bit strange: The front wheel has motion blur and the back wheel looks like it is standing still ??

Not unusual for FWD cars to 'cock' an inside rear wheel when cornering hard - Golf GTi's were well-known for it, for example. No weight on the wheel = it stops turning.

Alex_UK

27-11-2013, 15:15

Jonboy

27-11-2013, 17:24

Love your Series 1 Jonboy. Wish I still had my 80" - such fun with the tilt off and screen folded down. Mine was a '52 and no locks of any kind - I bought 10 foot of heavy chain and a big padlock and always parked next to a lamp post or railing! :lol: Must be great with the V8 in it... let me know if you ever think of selling...

Cheers Alex, i had an 80 inch fitted with a Essex v6 25 years ago and was sorry to let it go, yes no door locks fitted just got a steering wheel lock and a ignition isolator fitted for a bit of security, manage to pick up a truck cab the other week so will be fitting that soon for the winter months, might be a tad warmer inside as well :D

Good luck with your rebuild :cool:

tubehunter

27-11-2013, 19:00

For pure speed it's got to be a bike, get on a track day and forget all them limits!

http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/20_zpscd1921f8.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/20_zpscd1921f8.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/19_zps6f973941.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/19_zps6f973941.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/18_zps91625d11.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/18_zps91625d11.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/14_zpsde61f1de.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/14_zpsde61f1de.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/10_zps9fe897f1.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/10_zps9fe897f1.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/17_zps4a042d75.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/17_zps4a042d75.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/20_zpse42680ab.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/20_zpse42680ab.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/12_zps06396843.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/12_zps06396843.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/9_zps7a47197f.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/9_zps7a47197f.jpg.html)
http://i514.photobucket.com/albums/t350/halx00/1_zpsd6ca6e71.jpg (http://s514.photobucket.com/user/halx00/media/1_zpsd6ca6e71.jpg.html)

MartinT

27-11-2013, 19:38

I quite agree...

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/11089186955_7b44bf1c8b_o.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/11089186315_aab1dbdfce_o.jpg

walpurgis

02-12-2013, 20:36

Bugger! Typical how things catch you out. I bought a timing belt and tensioner kit for my ancient (but good) VW Golf diesel estate. But now I can't fit it. My back is giving me problems and I can't stay bent over more than five minutes without seizing up. It's an easy enough job, but I suppose now I'll have to get the local workshop to fit it. Bum and double Bum!

StanleyB

02-12-2013, 21:20

For pure speed it's got to be a bike, get on a track day and forget all them limits!
Unless your name is Sabrina Schmidt. I rate her timed run around the Nürnberg ring in a Ford transit van the most hair raising drive ever on Top Gear. And she passed a bike or two on her record setting lap.

MartinT

02-12-2013, 21:25

Unless your name is Sabrina Schmidt. I rate her timed run around the Nürnberg ring in a Ford transit van the most hair raising drive ever on Top Gear. And she passed a bike or two on her record setting lap.

She was utterly compelling viewing driving that Transit around the ring. Not hard to look at, either.

MartinT

02-12-2013, 21:27

Here it is...

5KiC03_wVjc

walpurgis

02-12-2013, 21:45

Most fun I ever had on two wheels was my old Kawasaki H1F from 1975. A modified and truly mad 500cc two stroke triple with an engine note like nothing else on earth. That shrieking three cylinder wail was incredible. Mind you so was the fuel consumption, 25mpg! A set of Denco racing exhaust expansion chambers added to the formula. I gave it a port gas flow and advanced the port timing midly and it went like stink! It was quite fun trying to keep the front wheel on the deck whilst cutting through traffic, it was very prone to wheelies. I've ridden faster bikes since, but nothing as crazy!

11118

The thumbnail isn't of mine but mine was not much different apart from the colour.

Marco

04-12-2013, 10:38

Just got this little run-around as a 'shopping trolley'/workhorse for Del:

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/9189/2qxp.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9510/o4f8.jpg

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/6402/ak49.jpg

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/7858/s2lz.jpg

It's TOTALLY minty inside and out! Not bad, I thought, for £1250 (my SPU costs more, lol :D) with an MOT until Nov 2014 and taxed until June 2014, together with a full service history.

Yesh, oi loikes a bargain - and not just with hi-fi either!! ;)

Marco.

Macca

04-12-2013, 10:43

What's the mileage, Marco?

Marco

04-12-2013, 11:09

59k. Not bad for a 2001 model, eh? And fook all for a Merc engine which has been well looked after all its life (basically used as a glorified 'shopping trolley' by an old couple, who were its previous owners from new) and kept in a garage :)

Marco.

Macca

04-12-2013, 11:25

Yep, good buy that. Looks mint outside and in.

Marco

04-12-2013, 15:24

Cheers, dude. We're very pleased with it. It just shows the bargains you can find with cars if you're willing to put in the hours trawling through HUNDREDS of used car websites!! :doh:

Still, it was worth it in the end! We set aside a max budget of £2k, and this has come in well within that, so the job's a good 'un :cool:

Marco.

Macca

13-12-2013, 13:18

Return of the Ford Capri! :

http://autonewsworld.com/the-legendary-ford-capri-returns-in-2013/

There's a new Ford Mustang coming out too that will be available in the UK for about £30K and it will have proper independant rear suspension and 350BHP...

Audio Al

13-12-2013, 18:28

Well spotted pishanto find Marco , see its easy if you know where to look ;)

Alex_UK

13-12-2013, 20:14

There's a new Ford Mustang coming out too that will be available in the UK for about £30K and it will have proper independant rear suspension and 350BHP...

And allegedly in Right Hand Drive... Temptation...

The Grand Wazoo

13-12-2013, 20:28

You're safe enough Alex - it'll be a while before they start to get listed on Ebay!

Alex_UK

13-12-2013, 21:33

LOL! :)

Although there is always the danger that the Ford website will be accepting deposits for pre-orders... hmmmm. back in a mo! ;)

MartinT

14-12-2013, 13:18

I hope it's better than American Ford chassis of old - although I've only driven a powerful T-Bird, not a Mustang. That was... agricultural.

walpurgis

31-01-2014, 22:01

New tax disc! Did you know you have to change it at midnight? If your vehicle is kept on the public highway there is no discretionary period. If you display only the old disc after midnight or the new one before midnight the 'meanies' can bust you! Crazy isn't it.

I've got one starting tomorrow and that's when I'll display it.

Alex_UK

16-02-2014, 21:46

Now I was never a fan of these, but this is the epitome of "time warp" - deserves to go in a museum IMHO...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1982-AUSTIN-MINI-METRO-L-GREEN-/261399887415?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

MartinT

16-02-2014, 21:53

If you mean "it was a shit car then", well yes I'd agree. It's still shit.

walpurgis

16-02-2014, 22:04

Depends what you mean. They never had a 'desirable' image, but I had a couple and got on alright with them. They were reliable, dead easy to maintain, good on juice and the supple suspension made them ride quite well. Same applied to the Allegro that everybody slated. I had a BMW 316 back then and when I sold it I got a cheap Allegro 1300. It did everything well and was quicker off the mark than the BMW. Much cheaper to run too.

Marco

16-02-2014, 22:05

Nah, fire some BP Ultimate into it and it'll be fab!!

Marco.

MartinT

17-02-2014, 06:54

The Mini Metro was a death trap. Rates pretty high on my "reasons to avoid" list :eek:

Marco

17-02-2014, 09:43

Can you not chip the engine, then? :eyebrows:

Marco.

MartinT

17-02-2014, 10:23

You could chip the bodywork...

Macca

17-02-2014, 10:31

They weren't that shit - my old man had one for a bit he said it was like driving a go-kart. He had it 4 years from new and sold it to my uncle he must have run it for about another 6 years with no troubles.

Bidding has gone quite high on that one linked to, up to £900 with a day to go...okay it only has 4K on it but it doesn't start! Not worth that kind of money, I would give £100 tops.

The Allegro gets slagged off too much - they were quite well built and good engines too. The later ones were better. Anyone recall the Triumph Acclaim? real old man's car that one but again reliable and you could buy them cheap in the nineties, always low mileage one owner from new and kept in a garage. Bargain motoring.

walpurgis

17-02-2014, 10:41

The Acclaim was a decent car. All Honda under the skin if I recall, the engines just kept on going. If that eBay metro won't start with only 4k on the clock, it has to be something very simple to sort. 'A' series 998 engine, so simple. Just plugs/points I reckon. The coil should be OK.

Alex_UK

17-02-2014, 21:38

The Acclaim's follow up - especially in Vitesse form were great. (One of only 3 left in the world (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1986-ROVER-216-VITESSE-EFI-31-000-miles-ex-bl-faster-than-XR3i-hot-hatch-/191070260067?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2c7caccb63)?) Fortunately, Maestro and Montego virtually died off with the follow up Rover 200 and 400 series - which were brilliant (I had a '95 216 GTi Three door in white - great car. My Dad had a 414 which was great too - that 1400cc engine was ground-breaking...)

Unbelievably, the Maestro carried on in China, and although reskinned, still exists today! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Maestro

MartinT

17-02-2014, 22:05

The Rover 600 was great, too. I had a 620ti turbo and it was a pocket rocket.

Alex_UK

17-02-2014, 22:13

The Rover 600 was great, too. I had a 620ti turbo and it was a pocket rocket.

Yes it was - I had one too for a short while. I know a guy at work who still runs a 620D on an 'N' Plate that has done nearly 300k miles and is still going strong!

walpurgis

15-03-2014, 20:11

Just spotted a little runabout for pocket money in a local dealer. A 2001 Suzuki Alto 1.0 GL, with FSH and 33k on the clock and only one lady owner. Quite tempted to get it as a shopping car, as these are brilliant in traffic. It runs sweetly and looks like it's been garaged as there's not a sign of corrosion. I had the 1.1 GL a while ago and it was a useful little motor, they have a great reliability record. I'm tempted, even though I've already got a van and estate car.

Dan W

19-03-2014, 22:49

Marco

24-03-2014, 08:12

Respect, Dan - very nice! :smoking:

Marco.

nat8808

25-03-2014, 02:16

nat8808

25-03-2014, 02:22

I've had so many cars over the years. In fact I bought my first car (mk2 golf gti) when I was sixteen then realised I had no hope of insuring it once I'd passed my test :doh:

This is my current car, another mk2 golf (I'm a massive VW lover!) I've had this for about 11 years now and it's my baby

I take it to a few shows and have done the odd show and shine with it. It's my daily car and celebrates its thirtieth this year! It certainly looks better than me at 30 :)

Yes very nice. My girlfriend has a mk1/2 caddy (same B reg as yours but before the minor body re-style of the caddys that came after with their side skirts and stuff). Parked at a service station we decided to park up next to a couple of MK2s like yours on their way to a show - they so looked down on her caddy with it's 90s black alloys, far from neat paintwork and slight moss around the roof etc what with their tens of thousands spend on perfect interiors and body work. They then preceded to tell me what I should do to mine... because it must be my car ? Yawn! Hope you're not like that :lol: !

I've always fancied the Mk3 VR6 - an old school friend's mum has one, sadly was her husband's before he died many many years ago. Also sadly she's always driven at about 25 mile per hour.. have been patiently waiting for someone to tell me that she wants to sell it, but it's still there.. being used err wrongly.

nat8808

25-03-2014, 02:31

Dan W

25-03-2014, 13:32

Don't get a Quattro unless you really need four wheel drive, they cost more to buy, run and service and are heavier on tyres and fuel. That age A6 is pre PD engine (the newer type diesels) which isn't a bad thing, the earlier engines are fantasticly reliable and near bullet proof. Avoid high mileage 1.8t. They all have very complicated front suspension setups so have a good listen for knocks and bangs over bumps, there's 8 front suspension arms alone so many joints to wear out!

Gordon Steadman

25-03-2014, 14:06

My Alfa 155 (a forgotten excellent drivers car) seems to have had a bit of a dodgy MOT when I bought it and has serious rust troubles meaning I'll have to sell if to an enthusiast.

So, I'm looking for a new car which MUST qualify for classic insurance for me to afford it, meaning probably 1997 or earlier, might stretch to 1998.

Am looking at Audi A6 Avants (estate) at the moment.. that's a C4 version, pretty much an Audi 100.

Does anyone have any experience of them?

I've seen stories of them lasting for 500k miles, many reviews of people being comfortably into the late 200s or even 300k miles - they seem to be unburstable in petrol form at least.. Some say that the interiors of this era are more solid than recent (C6?) versions too.

And Quattro.. what difference does that make for every day driving? Does it make an A6 more unreliable and so a 2WD version the better bet?

Your thoughts please :)

Can't speak for the A6 but we have just bought a 1998 A4 with 140,000 on the clock for €750 ie about £600! It drives like new, very quiet, no knocks and bangs and seems good on petrol. Its a 1.8!! This is the first Audi I have driven and if its typical, they have to be a good bet. Much as I hate the front wheel drive (Used to old Alfas too:() its a pleasure to travel in. I wouldn't describe it as a driver's car by any means but as a method of getting around in comfort its great.

Reffc

25-03-2014, 16:14

Volvo 850 T5 Estate? Good for 250 to 300K if looked after; cheap servicing, great performance and build quality. Should be a few around from 1996 or 1997. Fuel costs are the major consideration. 35mpg on a run or 20 to 25mpg around town. Way better imho than earlier A6 estates...far more of a drivers car and with genuine performance.

For lower insurance on the same theme, later S60 Diesels are great vfm and have real go. D5 is as quick as the older T5 (mine has been fettled by Superchips to 215BHP/360ft-lbs torque yet still returns 50+mpg on a run)

nat8808

26-03-2014, 00:28

Thanks for those opinions and suggestion. I've never really checked out Volvos before.. oddly at first look they appear to be more expensive than Audi A6s which I somehow wouldn't expect.

Reffc

26-03-2014, 16:03

S60's are wolves in sheep's clothing. Very individual styling too and a massive boot space. Mine has more load space when the rear seats are folded down than our estate car can muster. The only changes I intend to mine are to up-rate the suspension to something a little firmer. Other than that, good build, reliable, fast and relatively frugal. Possibly the most comfortable car I have ever sat in too. Adjustable everything. Not so keen on the newer 4 cylinder models though.

nat8808

26-03-2014, 18:37

Bit too recent for me personally, the S60.

Have been spotting A6's with full or almost full service histories for between £500 and £700, the former a private sale with 2.8 Quattro although a bit away from me and with leather seats which I don't actually like.. 2.8 Quattro might be a little too much fuel wise, maintanance wise and insurance wise. So perhaps a 2.6SE might be a better bet even if a little more.

Will start to research some 850 prices..

nat8808

26-04-2014, 23:00

Have changed my mind about the classic insurance bit, Im hoping that something as recent as 2000 might afford me low enough insurance..

The volvo suggestion ended up getting me looking at Saabs, first 9-3s then I realised how similar priced some 9-5 estates are compared to 9-3s, no brainer between the two!

So, anyone had a Saab 9-5 estate? Anyone experienced using LPG either?

Have seen one for £650 with LPG conversion but the damned long weekend means I cant sort out insurance with my favoured broker to test drive it! I hate weekends and bank holidays.. so unproductive (Im freelance so weekends and holidays mean nothing to me other than over-crowded public spaces..)

Ninanina

26-04-2014, 23:19

So, anyone had a Saab 9-5 estate? Anyone experienced using LPG either?

Nat, I had a 93 convertible for a little while which had nearly 200,000 on the clock and it ran like a train, it was the HOT version, 'High Output Turbo', and it really did shift

However i got rid of it as i kept getting the lights on the dash saying something was wrong with it, and I don't think there was anything really wrong, but it annoyed me!

A neighbour has the 95 with LPG conversion..... now you have to watch out with LPG conversions, they need to have the 'Valve Saver Oiler System' fitted otherwise if they've done about 50-60,000 on the LPG the valves tend to burn out apparently

Hope that helps

We looked into a Toyota Amazon petrol with LPG but decided it was safer to go with the petrol without LPG fitted....

goraman

27-04-2014, 16:39

It doesn't quite go with the current topic but I have been bringing an old Raliegh 3 speed from 75-76 up to a nice functional daily rider.
I have been robbing the U.K. of parts via ebay as most of the parts I have needed seem hard to get here,it is easier to find rusty complete bikes than a 22 tooth rear cog or the red R nuts or crank pins.
Not that I haven't visited this before but no local bike shop will touch them as most of the bike is Witworth or British Standard Fractional and when I sold my Triumph Bonneville I gave the new owner my complete set of Snail Witworth wrenches and sockets to go with it ,so I am buying wrenches on ebay too. I don't like using an adjustable wrench but it has got me by.
When did the U.K. fully switch to Metric? I thought by early 70's but this bike is dated 12/75 frame 76 rear hub.
There must still be a lot of pre metric stuff in the U.K. I would think?
I still run into U.S. fractional or SAE hear all the time but it is becoming lesser and lesser.

MartinT

28-04-2014, 06:10

When did the U.K. fully switch to Metric? I thought by early 70's but this bike is dated 12/75 frame 76 rear hub.

Early 70s, yes (I learned decimalisation of our currency and metrication at primary school), although some die-hards would have you believe the UK still hasn't converted.

Reffc

28-04-2014, 08:35

Britain never went truly metric AFAIK.

"Decimalisation" occurred on February 15th, 1971, but we retained 1bs/Oz, tons, Yards, Miles, Pints and Gallons. I remember it as a nipper, especially the loss of things like the Thruppeny bit and Shilling the emergence of the new fangled decimal coinage system.

A lot of manufacturing retained Whitworth and other Imperial thread sizes (and for micrometers and thread gauges, thousands of an inch) for some years afterwards, notably the bicycle industry.

MartinT

28-04-2014, 10:18

As far as I understand, the pint and the mile are the only remaining sanctioned imperial units.

goraman

28-04-2014, 12:47

Thanks I was surprised to find so many Imperial threads on a 1976 cycle.
In the 1980's most U.S. cars where 50% SAE (Society of Automotive Engineering) or AF (American Fractional) and 50% metric, now only the military uses SAE.
We still do everything else in fractional s though when I was 10 and 11 they tried to convert the whole country from U.S. Gallons of gas to liters.
The public had a coniption fit.
Some dishonest gas stations used the confusion to over charge since the units where much smaller.
And it was declared a failure, we stopped learning metrics in school and things returned as before but slowly new cars did become all metric.
We did it in 76-77 ,I thought you guys did it in the early 70's but seems there where some hold outs over there too.
It's tuff to move a whole country in the same direction on anything especially if it costs money.

nat8808

29-04-2014, 10:44

Nat, I had a 93 convertible for a little while which had nearly 200,000 on the clock and it ran like a train, it was the HOT version, 'High Output Turbo', and it really did shift

However i got rid of it as i kept getting the lights on the dash saying something was wrong with it, and I don't think there was anything really wrong, but it annoyed me!

A neighbour has the 95 with LPG conversion..... now you have to watch out with LPG conversions, they need to have the 'Valve Saver Oiler System' fitted otherwise if they've done about 50-60,000 on the LPG the valves tend to burn out apparently

Hope that helps

We looked into a Toyota Amazon petrol with LPG but decided it was safer to go with the petrol without LPG fitted....

Thanks for the tip and experience! I think that the number of miles I drive, LPG will probably a good buy - not enough to put too many more miles on it to go wrong but enough to be financially better off AND of course the whole reason of it is that it's more environmentally friendly. Looks like you can easily fit a valve saver fluid system yourself (it drips into the throttle body - you drill and tap a thread for the pipe.) so it will depend on how the valve seats are in the Saab and how many miles it's done on the LPG.. Still, for £650 and 10 months MOT, as long as it works for 10 months, it does seem a no-brainer and will get me jobs paying me more than that over the same 10 months, of course some of it tax deductable. That is as long as a car works for that long! Aargh hate buying cars..

MartinT

29-04-2014, 12:59

Well, I've gone and done it. I had my DPF removed and replaced with an EcoTune SportsCat. I've also had the swirl flaps blanked and the ECU remapped to take advantage of the faster inlet and exhaust flow. The engine feels very free-revving, especially for a diesel, and pulls with a shove in the back that's very satisfying. I also had to change insurers, because of the mods, and the new insurance I found is slightly cheaper than what I had before! £445 fully comp is way below what I expected.

The figures: 376bhp and a tyre shredding 740nm torque.

Marco

29-04-2014, 13:45

Lol!! :respect:

Just try and keep hold of your licence... ;)

Marco.

CageyH

29-04-2014, 15:25

On the subject of pocket rockets, currently sat on my drive/ in my garage, are these two examples.

1221912221

MartinT

29-04-2014, 15:41

Very nice. Which engine is in the 7? I drove one around France a couple of years ago, great fun.

CageyH

29-04-2014, 15:53

It's a 1.8 VHPD K series, which now develops 210 BHP.
Great fun in a car just over 500Kg

Alex_UK

29-04-2014, 17:06

Garage depending, my Land Rover should be back on the road at the weekend - this is the state the poor thing was in a month ago after nearly 2 years sat under a tree!

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/IMG00096-20140115-1344_zpsbff8c5f9.jpg

Virtually everything underneath is either being replaced or refurbished: Brand new galvanised chassis, refurbished and galvanised bulkhead, complete suspension replacement with +2" lift and pro Terrafirma kit, new fuel tank and system, brake lines and hoses, axles refurbed, electrics rewired etc. etc. - Here's a few pics of the progress so far:

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/Off%20Roading/IMG_1502_zps3cb43456.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/Off%20Roading/IMG_1507_zps2ff682bf.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/Off%20Roading/IMG_1529_zps3b979e32.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/Off%20Roading/IMG_1521_zpsd2ef8460.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/Off%20Roading/IMG_1526_zps9a473164.jpg

Must admit I am looking forward to getting Maggie back - but not settling the final bill!!!

Ali Tait

29-04-2014, 17:11

MartinT

29-04-2014, 18:29

Indeed and the K series is a sweet unit.

MartinT

29-04-2014, 18:30

You'll be going through a few clutches then! :-)

I hope not, since it's a Steptronic box!

walpurgis

29-04-2014, 18:46

Indeed and the K series is a sweet unit.

Isn't that the same 'K' series engine they had in the Austin Metro? :eyebrows:

Macca

29-04-2014, 18:49

Why does the Landy have curtains in the windows? I mean I know it belongs to Alex and all but that just looks wrong. It's not a VW camper!

Alex_UK

29-04-2014, 18:51

Ha ha! Was originally converted for expedition use, so was sort of a camper. but yes, it will be curtains for the curtains! (Or get some lilac ones!)

CageyH

29-04-2014, 18:52

Isn't that the same 'K' series engine they had in the Austin Metro? :eyebrows:

Yes, but this one is a little bit bigger, on the inside.

MartinT

29-04-2014, 19:17

Isn't that the same 'K' series engine they had in the Austin Metro? :eyebrows:

Later ones - it's a Rover engine. I think the Metro started with the A series from the Mini?

CageyH

29-04-2014, 19:21

Updated to the "A-Plus" series.

Ali Tait

29-04-2014, 19:25

I hope not, since it's a Steptronic box!

Steptragic? Oh dear.. :-)

Still, no clutch to worry about then..

MartinT

29-04-2014, 20:12

There is no manual version of the 335d. Six speed flappy paddles and the option of lazy D mode are just fine with me. I shall never buy a car with crude manual gears again.

Alex_UK

29-04-2014, 21:05

There is no manual version of the 335d. Six speed flappy paddles and the option of lazy D mode are just fine with me. I shall never buy a car with crude manual gears again.

+1 (for my daily driver) - spend too much time sitting in traffic jams and before I went DSG in 2005 my left calf was nearly twice the size of the right! :D

goraman

01-05-2014, 00:52

Alex that Rover is Awesome ,I am actually in Awe,that thing is a true Bog Beast.

Alex_UK

01-05-2014, 20:55

Alex that Rover is Awesome ,I am actually in Awe,that thing is a true Bog Beast.

Cheers buddy! :) Already planning the next phase... including bigger wheels for bogs!

Alex_UK

01-05-2014, 20:58

R.I.P. Ayrton da Silva - 20 years today since his tragic loss - still so fresh in my mind it could have been yesterday that Senna paid the ultimate price for his passion. :(

CageyH

01-05-2014, 21:00

It was a bad weekend for F1.

Alex_UK

01-05-2014, 21:12

Indeed Kevin, should of course never forget Roland Ratzenberger who also perished that meeting, nor the injuries of participants and spectators.

pjdowns

28-06-2014, 21:09

Just got this yesterday and rather impressed :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/imagejpg1_zps4adcb673.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/imagejpg1_zps4adcb673.jpg.html)

Macca

29-06-2014, 07:10

what is it? I mean I can see it is a car but I don't recognise make or model. Looks a bit like an Audi A5?

pjdowns

09-07-2014, 20:00

Hi Macca,

Yes it's an Audi A5 3.0 TDI - Black Edition :)

P.

Marco

09-07-2014, 20:11

Nice car, Paul, but did you pick the colour? Looks like a kind of 'dirty plum'! :eyebrows:

Marco.

pjdowns

09-07-2014, 20:24

Thanks Marco, it is Shiraz Red and I love it, although pictures don't do it credit...

:)

Marco

09-07-2014, 20:34

Yeah, thought it might be the pics... With 3L under the hood it should go like shit off a shovel! :D

Marco.

Roy S

09-07-2014, 21:31

Just got this yesterday and rather impressed :)

19 inch rims? Coolio Gangsta!

Marco

09-07-2014, 21:42

Yesh, it's to make up for his 3" cock! :lol:

You know I'm only kidding, Paul!! :eyebrows: :D

;)

Marco.

pjdowns

10-07-2014, 13:47

Yesh, it's to make up for his 3" cock! :lol:

You know I'm only kidding, Paul!! :eyebrows: :D

;)

Marco.

2" I might argue LOL - yeah it has the high BPH (245) so literally goes like shit off a shovel :) ... and not too bad on the MPG either - getting 38-40 MPH (but then again I didn't buy it for it's fuel efficiency :)

pjdowns

12-07-2014, 17:15

Couple of other pics of the new car :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/IMG_0047_pjd_zpsd7f69df6.png (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/IMG_0047_pjd_zpsd7f69df6.png.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/pjdowns/IMG_0046_PJD_zps3d8e8481.png (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/pjdowns/media/IMG_0046_PJD_zps3d8e8481.png.html)

Ali Tait

17-07-2014, 12:22

Got a new bus last weekend, mainly needed something with plenty room so Michelle can transport all her wares to various craft fairs. Has two sets of variously configurable back seats, which can make a double bed, or fold up and clip to the sides to give loads of boot space. Good for taking the dog out too. It's a proper 4x4 also, being a Pajero under the skin, so can have some offroading fun too.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/280x200q90/661/326e59.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/661/326e59.jpg/)

Marco

17-07-2014, 12:27

Handy for taking all manner of stuff to Owston, too! ;)

Marco.

Ali Tait

17-07-2014, 13:06

Aye, she did mention that! :-)

Ali Tait

22-08-2014, 16:42

The Alfa is dead. :-(

Cambelt has gone. The car is toast, not economically viable to repair. My own fault, been putting off changing it for ages, as the cost approaches what the car was worth.

On the upside, have put a deposit down on a nice Jag.

Marco

23-08-2014, 08:01

Sorry to hear of the demise of your ‘Italian Stallion’, dude… Never mind, the Jag should act as an even better babe magnet :eyebrows:

Marco.

Ali Tait

23-08-2014, 09:19

Think Michelle would have something to say about that!

The Jaaaag will be good if we get a bad winter though, being 4wd.

walpurgis

23-08-2014, 10:03

Sorry to hear your Alfa has 'had it' Ali. Is there no cheap way to sort it? Maybe an engine swap or if the damage is not too bad a cylinder head replacement? Any Alfa is worth sorting, as eventually every model they made becomes a sought after 'Classic'!

Which Jag are getting?

dimkasta

24-08-2014, 11:03

My carriage is an Audi A3 1.8t 180PS Quattro (8L)

I got it second hand 8 years ago with ~50000 kilometers (metric here :) ) and it runs perfectly

Unfortunately with crisis banging as hard here in Greece and our moronic leaders that are just increasing taxes, I am mostly using my little ninja these days... The Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

I only use the car on dates, when it is raining, or when I have to carry something big. Still love it though... I really like the tight sensation of it... suspension, steering wheel, stick... feels awesome...

Andrei

24-08-2014, 11:14

Sorry to hear of the demise of your ‘Italian Stallion’, dude… Never mind, the Jag should act as an even better babe magnet :eyebrows:

Marco.

'Babe magnet' very good! Some years ago I had an 18 year old client - a skinny little prick, runt of the litter - who drove a Valiant Rebel. He almost needed a telephone book to see over the steering wheel. I asked him why he had this gas guzzler and his answer was, and I quote, "It's a chick puller"!

walpurgis

24-08-2014, 11:29

Given up driving fancy motors. I just keep a couple of little runabouts now!

Ninety percent of the time it's only me (and the dog) in the car and I don't have to go anywhere fast. The latest one is smooth and quiet, as quick as a BL Mini Cooper S, has free tax, very low insurance, does an claimed 74 mpg (nearer 65 I reckon) and uses a timing chain instead of a dubious belt.

walpurgis

09-09-2014, 12:19

Are you all aware that as from 1st October, you cannot sell a car with tax on!

It has to be retained by the seller and redeemed. That should make for some inconvenience when buying a used motor. That's at least two trips you'll have to make one to view and buy the car. Then coming away with the paperwork so you can tax it, then returning to collect the car once taxed. Unless of course you can do it online at the seller's home/showroom.

Macca

09-09-2014, 12:50

There is, nowadays, a thing called a 'smartfone' that will let you do it from anywhere there is a signal....

walpurgis

09-09-2014, 14:26

True, but not everyone has one, I don't and there are a lot of places where you can't get a signal.

Macca

09-09-2014, 15:46

Well we are increasingly moving into a world where it is assumed that everyone has access to this technology as the defualt situation. That may not be a good thing in many ways but that is the way we are headed. Give it five years, ten at the very outside and only fringe, oddball people will not have mobile internet access. It will be assuemed that everyone has it in the same way we assume that everyone in the UK has cold running water.

Eagle owl

09-09-2014, 16:45

Are there any Honda Type R owners on the forum ? come and join us on this forum http://type-r-owners.co.uk/forums/

You'll be very welcome, I'm known as Rapid 17 over there.

Geoff. :)

Techno Commander

25-10-2014, 23:37

Just spanked my finances on this little beasty. :)

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/sillystuff99/Bikes/S10/DSC02288.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/sillystuff99/Bikes/S10/DSC02291.jpg

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg116/sillystuff99/Bikes/S10/DSC02314.jpg

Makes the morning commute just soo much more civilised. :)

walpurgis

25-10-2014, 23:41

My legs are too short for one of those. :)

spendorman

26-10-2014, 19:44

Bit like me. I had thirteen Minis of one sort or another and rebuilt nearly all of them to an extent. Tuned many of them too.

I still have three original type Minis. A 1961, owned by me since about 1968, has a 1275 cc engine from a Vanden Plas 1300, a 1968 Mk2, owned by me since about 1974, this has the original 998 cc engine, but brought up to near Cooper spec. using skimmed Cooper 12G295 cylinder head, Cooper AEA630 cam and duplex timing gear, Hi-Lo adjustable suspension with Spax adjustable dampers. The third Mini is a 1968 Riley ELF Mk3 automatic, owned by me since 1979. I had to do extensive bodywork to the front end, not quite finished. As a young lad I worked as an engineer for Janspeed. This was a long time ago! I'm in my 60's now.