So what do you drive ?

[Greem]

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

How deep are your pockets? Sadly I think mine are coming up dry now but then again this thing is probably as fast as this old bugger is capable of managing, any more and disaster looms!

I have a 16 year old coming up towards 17, driving lessons, etc. They're not very deep hence replacing now. (No, he will *not* be learning in this!)

Realistically on this version (NC Facelift 2 aka Mk3.75) there's an induction kit that bumps it by about 15-20HP, and a road legal 'catback' which combines catalyst and silencer in the back box that adds about another 20HP so that makes it potentially around 200-205HP or about 140kW. Ish.

Given I'm plenty happy with the power a 2 litre engine provides in this chassis, I think I'll stick with stock. I can get myself in plenty of sillyness with that

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Greem

I have a 16 year old coming up towards 17, driving lessons, etc.

Just been through that - not cheap! We got insurance through Adrian Flux, they seemed to be the best option - black box supplied as part of the policy and there's an app that shows how your next premium looks based on your current driving (lockdown has seen my sons policy for next year dropping in price by about £1 a day!).

Originally Posted by Greem

I think I'll stick with stock. I can get myself in plenty of sillyness with that

The manufacturers spend a lot of money developing these cars - what they come up with is usually sufficient for giggles. Start tweaking things and it gets expensive quickly (and less reliable as it gets more tweaked).

[S griffin]

Exactly if you're happy with what you got, no need for an upgrade. If anything that can sometimes complicate things.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Greem

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

I'm about to get rid of my exceedingly rusty but oh-so-much-fun 2006 Mazda MX-5 2.0.

I'm going to get... Surprise! a 2014 Mazda MX-5 2.0 to replace it. And the first thing I'm doing is taking it to my local MX-5 specialist (who races the things too) and getting it treated with Waxoyl or similar from front to back underneath, and getting all the cavities wax filled so they don't hold water like my existing one has.

Delivered this morning. Lovely car, in great condition, but...

Needs a bit more work doing now, as I stuck it in a ditch after hitting oil or coolant at a junction in the rain

1. No, I wasn't being a loon
2. Yes, I've been round that corner many, many times
3. Yes, I know that makes people complacent
4. 15 minutes
5. Really; only 15 minutes after I signed for it
6. I'm fine thanks very much
7. Yes, I swore a lot; there's now a cloud of profanity locally which will be on tomorrow's weather forecast

I'll be Grover tonight.

[Adam43]

Bugger. Sorry to hear that. I hope it is all back to great condition soon.

[S griffin]

Hope you are able to get it cleaned and straightened out. Glad you are ok

[Lancsbreaker]

Not the best news I've heard - of course after prolonged dryness roads can be very slippery when first wet, and of course you don't know how old or good the tyres were on the new beast...... Things can only get better (optimism mode engaged).

[S griffin]

Yes, it can be very easy to caught out in those situations. It can happen to even the safest drivers

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Not the best news I've heard - of course after prolonged dryness roads can be very slippery when first wet, and of course you don't know how old or good the tyres were on the new beast...... Things can only get better (optimism mode engaged).

Ta. Was a new set of Falkens, so pretty decent (and right for the car) and they'd done 60 miles on the car being delivered, so the release compound will have long gone.

It had just scythed it down after a few days of no rain so yes, probably residue lifted from the surface

Still - in some decent news, it only needs the bumper skin replacing along with some ancillary aero trim pieces at the front, but I'm having it all aligned/tracked/wheels rebalanced along with wire brush, rust treatment and sealed underneath and in all the cavities. I was having the latter done anyway, this just brought it forward! More money than I intended to spend, but hey ho.

Attached pic of the aftermath... it's quite steep there (and it had stopped raining)!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Greem

Attached pic of the aftermath... it's quite steep there (and it had stopped raining)!

Attachment 62145

Impressive! Looks like you've planted it in the hope you'll grow a new one

Glad to hear it's mostly cosmetic - ditch/hedge combinations can do a lot of damage if you're unlucky.

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Greem

Still - in some decent news, it only needs the bumper skin replacing along with some ancillary aero trim pieces at the front, but I'm having it all aligned/tracked/wheels rebalanced along with wire brush, rust treatment and sealed underneath and in all the cavities. I was having the latter done anyway, this just brought it forward! More money than I intended to spend, but hey ho.

Just been to collect the new rocket. It's bloody lovely *and* I got home in one piece!

[chillibowl]

congrats...both on getting it back and on getting it home safe!

Originally Posted by chillibowl

traded in my 2014 Jetta the other day for the Golf Alltrack.

its the wagon life for me!

getting close to 1 year and honestly still could not be happier with the wagon life!

handled the move from the office to the office at home then back to the office, couple of covid stockpiling grocery trips, trips to the cottage. once the drive in theaters start opening up plan to lay the seats down, make a bed and watch a movie through the back window just like back in the day!

for camping...am looking for one of those tents that attach to the back of the boot though...anyone have any experience/knowledge with them?

[Greem]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

congrats...both on getting it back and on getting it home safe!

Ta took it out for a wee drive in the surrounding villages earlier. Oooh it's a sweet handling thing.




Mid-life crisis intensifies!

[275 GTB-4]

Originally Posted by Greem

Delivered this morning. Lovely car, in great condition, but...

Needs a bit more work doing now, as I stuck it in a ditch after hitting oil or coolant at a junction in the rain

1. No, I wasn't being a loon
2. Yes, I've been round that corner many, many times
3. Yes, I know that makes people complacent
4. 15 minutes
5. Really; only 15 minutes after I signed for it
6. I'm fine thanks very much
7. Yes, I swore a lot; there's now a cloud of profanity locally which will be on tomorrow's weather forecast

I'll be Grover tonight.

Been thru the same experience in an old banger...heavy rain and traffic three lane road...everyone being careful...gentle sweeper...I start correcting right and left tank slappers...slide gently into culvert facing the wrong way ....facing the rear wheel-less taxi that dumped its diff oil...some days are diamonds! Some days are stone!

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Greem

Ta took it out for a wee drive in the surrounding villages earlier. Oooh it's a sweet handling thing.

Attachment 62982
Attachment 62983

Mid-life crisis intensifies!

Nice rig!

It's only a mid life crisis if the convertible is red - so you're OK!

[Tanker62M]

Meanwhile, here I am, driving a Lada Niva... I initially bought it for cheap as a temporary car (as I was to work in Russia for 4 years) but it turned out to be a nice little 4wd working horse, you're not winning any speed-based race on it, but the only vehicle that negotiates mud, rocky terrain and snow better than a Niva is a helicopter!

[SSO]

Still driving a McLaren 650S Spider. Been my daily driver for the past 5 years.

[gert]

I recently changed my Ford Mondeo (2004, bought second-hand in 09/2007) for a Ford Focus (2018, bought second-hand in 08/2020).

The Mondeo was a diesel, had 248000km on its counter and I was no longer allowed to enter the Low Emmision Zones. So it had to go.
It served me well.

[Akrapovic]

I got fed up of trying to fix a broken Fiesta with a PSA engine, so switched brands.

[Adam43]

Nice. Looks smart and I applaud the color. Beat that grey and silver.

[Greem]

I'm with Adam - lovely colour.

In slightly related news we sold our venerable 2004, one careful owner Seat Leon TDi in October with just over 130000 miles on it. We now have a boring black Peugeot 2008 with a 3 pot 1.2 petrol engine.

Lockdown means we haven't been anywhere in it other than picking up shopping and a couple of short local round trips, but it's surprisingly nimble for such a comparatively large car.

[Akrapovic]

Not gonna lie - the wheels and colour were a big factor for me And the colour is on brand with my app.

[BudLightJaguar]

I'm still driving 2018 Mazda 3, but my wife traded her KIA Rio to 2017 Volvo XC60. That's actually a pretty nice car, four-wheel drive and a diesel with Webasto.

The Webasto is the best part of of it; 30 minutes and water temp is 80C, with my Mazda with by-wire pre-heater.. i'm not sure as it does not have water temperature gauge but I doubt it will be over 20C when outside temperature is -10C or lower.

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I got fed up of trying to fix a broken Fiesta with a PSA engine, so switched brands.

In one final act of defiance, I went to hand the Fiesta back today and it refused to start after 2 weeks of sitting in the cold. It was parked nose into a wall and the drums had stuck as well. I will not miss this horrible vehicle.

Dropped it off and the finance company did an inspection. He was muttering under his breath "No damage, no warning lights, starts fine" and I'm standing with my best poker face.

[chillibowl]

-25c here this morning and no trouble starting up my VW!

on my 2nd VW (14 jetta and now 19 alltrack) and have had the pleasure of driving a 94 golf, early 2000s beetle, and 2012 eos for extended periods.

all driven in winnipeg where it routinely ranges from +40c in the summer to -40C in the winter and never had any problems!

some scandals aside which did not affect me directly, but im a big fan of their cars.

congrats on your purchase!