Discussion
The 1600M is the best handling car of all (balance-wise) and can be quicker than 3000 but to do that it has to screeeam, kristian P posts on here and will give a fair appraisal....That said everyone does not hanker after a turbo, but as people will of heard me say before, the later the car the better they get.
Adrian@
Adrian@
Yep, it has to scream 
Adrian's looked after my car for the best part of 7 years now and in that time Its had pretty much everything done to it at one time or another. Some things, such as the diff, more than once
. It's now got a 1700 lump in it with 234 cam and twin webers which help to push out about 145bhp-ish, giving ~ 110 at the rear wheels, more than a standard 3000 in a significantly lighter car. However, it is not, I'll warrant, even half as tractable as a 3000 at low revs. To drive it fast, you have to keep it on cam, and that means keeping it above 3500rpm and preferably above 4000rpm. If you do keep it in the power band and use all the revs, (safe top end is 6500 for regular use...), it's an absolutely brilliant A-road machine and never fails to put a smile on my face. The handling is very seat of the pants and was described by a Caterham-owning friend of mine as being very much like a big Super Seven.
To be honest, yes, I'd like more power, and occasionally think silly things such as sourcing a BDA/BDR or Vegantune lump for it, or maybe even a supercharger, but the things that would really make the most difference now are a 5-speed box, to make high speed cruising a little less painful on the ears, and maybe an LS/ATB diff to help rear-end traction. I've got a pretty well sorted car now and, although I have been tempted by more powerful machinery, I would almost certainly now get something to run alongside the 1700, rather than a replacement. It's too much fun
Kris.
& Very Yellow 1975 1600M with Screaming Xflow.
Adrian's looked after my car for the best part of 7 years now and in that time Its had pretty much everything done to it at one time or another. Some things, such as the diff, more than once
. It's now got a 1700 lump in it with 234 cam and twin webers which help to push out about 145bhp-ish, giving ~ 110 at the rear wheels, more than a standard 3000 in a significantly lighter car. However, it is not, I'll warrant, even half as tractable as a 3000 at low revs. To drive it fast, you have to keep it on cam, and that means keeping it above 3500rpm and preferably above 4000rpm. If you do keep it in the power band and use all the revs, (safe top end is 6500 for regular use...), it's an absolutely brilliant A-road machine and never fails to put a smile on my face. The handling is very seat of the pants and was described by a Caterham-owning friend of mine as being very much like a big Super Seven. To be honest, yes, I'd like more power, and occasionally think silly things such as sourcing a BDA/BDR or Vegantune lump for it, or maybe even a supercharger, but the things that would really make the most difference now are a 5-speed box, to make high speed cruising a little less painful on the ears, and maybe an LS/ATB diff to help rear-end traction. I've got a pretty well sorted car now and, although I have been tempted by more powerful machinery, I would almost certainly now get something to run alongside the 1700, rather than a replacement. It's too much fun
Kris.
& Very Yellow 1975 1600M with Screaming Xflow.
Edited by krispy on Monday 18th September 20:10
Majo,
I've had mine since last November, they are brilliant handling little cars and still make the modern cruisers look a bit silly if they want to. They are a good everyday practical car if you need it to be.
Mine is coming off the road during the winter for an engine re-build and minor tinkering, it may be for sale in the spring but you would probably have to prise it away from me with lots of money - they are getting very rare! or you could buy it in pre winter strip down condition for slightly less if you catch me in the right mood!
I've had mine since last November, they are brilliant handling little cars and still make the modern cruisers look a bit silly if they want to. They are a good everyday practical car if you need it to be.
Mine is coming off the road during the winter for an engine re-build and minor tinkering, it may be for sale in the spring but you would probably have to prise it away from me with lots of money - they are getting very rare! or you could buy it in pre winter strip down condition for slightly less if you catch me in the right mood!
Hi Majo,
May I ask why specifically a 1600M as apposed to a 3000M as in my opinion your choice of purchase would be more limited if you are searching for the 1600 - I owned / restored / ran a 1600M (unmodified) for a few years a couple of years back and although I loved it and only had to let it go due to personal reasons I always felt it was underpowered in comparison with the 3000M. Also everyone who admired it always seemed somewhat dissapointed when they asked "whats under the bonnet" everyone assumes TVR = Lots of cc's.
Whatever your choice I am sure you will enjoy it as they are great cars - I have an S3 at the moment which I really like but I know I will return to an M at some point in the future.
As for advice on buying - you have come to the right place as the guys on this forum are a great source of friendly helpful information.
Cheers
Graham
May I ask why specifically a 1600M as apposed to a 3000M as in my opinion your choice of purchase would be more limited if you are searching for the 1600 - I owned / restored / ran a 1600M (unmodified) for a few years a couple of years back and although I loved it and only had to let it go due to personal reasons I always felt it was underpowered in comparison with the 3000M. Also everyone who admired it always seemed somewhat dissapointed when they asked "whats under the bonnet" everyone assumes TVR = Lots of cc's.
Whatever your choice I am sure you will enjoy it as they are great cars - I have an S3 at the moment which I really like but I know I will return to an M at some point in the future.
As for advice on buying - you have come to the right place as the guys on this forum are a great source of friendly helpful information.
Cheers
Graham
I have always liked the smooth M shape I think the chassis was an improvement from the vixen in terms of strength and running gear.The price of petrol is never coming down and with greenies trying to tax large inefficient engines I thougth I would start looking at a 1600(open minded thougth).
CHRIPES.....they havn't all got the VISION John or the BUDGET ....if mine is not running 320 BHP and I'm not at least chasing you around next year then I'll screeeam, for after all mine is a Std road car John! (320bhp fully ECU controlled, one piece front wishbones, AP four pots, quick rack, bigger ARB,leda suspension, rear ARB, rear discs, Leda suspension, 16 inch rims S03's, veneered dash with chrome dials leather seats, new carpet set, trick fuel tank, trick rad, inter-cooler.........bla, bla)
Adrian@
Hey it's almost what you've done for 30 years!
Adrian@
Hey it's almost what you've done for 30 years!
Edited by adrian@ on Tuesday 19th September 19:55
adrian@ said:
CHRIPES.....they havn't all got the VISION John or the BUDGET ....if mine is not running 320 BHP and I'm not at least chasing you around next year then I'll screeeam, for after all mine is a Std road car John! (320bhp fully ECU controlled, one piece front wishbones, AP four pots, quick rack, bigger ARB,leda suspension, rear ARB, rear discs, Leda suspension, 16 inch rims S03's, veneered dash with chrome dials leather seats, new carpet set, trick fuel tank, trick rad, inter-cooler.........bla, bla)
Adrian@
Hey it's almost what you've done for 30 years!
Adrian@
Hey it's almost what you've done for 30 years!
Edited by adrian@ on Tuesday 19th September 19:55
I have always said that John's car is the best sounding diesel I have ever heard
lets face it though do you really think he would be any slower in a 1600??? me thinks he would still find away of extracting every last bit of power...
Are you at croft tomorrow John??
neil.
Edited by heightswitch on Tuesday 19th September 20:03
GAjon said:
Whats wrong with making a 3000M screeeeeam.
I always thought it was the rest of the car screaming in pain not the engine (or one of the driveshafts!) and not forgeting the twisted propshaft at Blackpool, or the smoke out of the engine bay at Benson.
I reckon John's car goes best when its got an Impreza up its arse!!! Watching him wrestling with it was most entertaining round Cadwell as we changed CDs at every corner and had a civil conversation in the Impreza!!!! Even his brother-in-law was impressed with how hard John worked at the wheel, muttered something about it being the hardest he'd worked all his life!
Get it going again John!
davidy
Edited by davidy on Wednesday 20th September 05:59
Oh on the subject of this thread:-
Get a standard 1600M if you want to go slowly, if you significantly mod the engine you might as well have bought a 3000M/Taimar (of which there will be loads more to choose from and later cars) as they will cost the same to buy and run. (A well tuned 1600M on twin carbs will drink about as much fuel as a standard 3 litre). A standard M is very relaxed at low engine revs as they are torquey engines. The car initially isn't as well balanced as a 1600M as you have to use the power to remain netural in the corners.
If you love a small four pot and its not your daily driver, get a Vixen
davidy
Get a standard 1600M if you want to go slowly, if you significantly mod the engine you might as well have bought a 3000M/Taimar (of which there will be loads more to choose from and later cars) as they will cost the same to buy and run. (A well tuned 1600M on twin carbs will drink about as much fuel as a standard 3 litre). A standard M is very relaxed at low engine revs as they are torquey engines. The car initially isn't as well balanced as a 1600M as you have to use the power to remain netural in the corners.
If you love a small four pot and its not your daily driver, get a Vixen
davidy
davidy said:
Oh on the subject of this thread:-
Get a standard 1600M if you want to go slowly, if you significantly mod the engine you might as well have bought a 3000M/Taimar (of which there will be loads more to choose from and later cars) as they will cost the same to buy and run. (A well tuned 1600M on twin carbs will drink about as much fuel as a standard 3 litre). A standard M is very relaxed at low engine revs as they are torquey engines. The car initially isn't as well balanced as a 1600M as you have to use the power to remain netural in the corners.
If you love a small four pot and its not your daily driver, get a Vixen
davidy
Get a standard 1600M if you want to go slowly, if you significantly mod the engine you might as well have bought a 3000M/Taimar (of which there will be loads more to choose from and later cars) as they will cost the same to buy and run. (A well tuned 1600M on twin carbs will drink about as much fuel as a standard 3 litre). A standard M is very relaxed at low engine revs as they are torquey engines. The car initially isn't as well balanced as a 1600M as you have to use the power to remain netural in the corners.
If you love a small four pot and its not your daily driver, get a Vixen
davidy
Yep. Totally agree. 1600m has rarity factor but if you want a nice relaxing torquey road car with a good turn of speed and no headaches then a 3000m is the way to go.
If you want a 1600 then a vixen is better than an M (running for cover
) N.
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