my Honda Civic (don't worry - it's not totally bland)
Discussion
CoolHands said:
I seem to suffer less 'road rage' feelings in it. In my normal car I'm rather road-ragey and impatient, but in this I go into chilled out cruise mode.
I had one about 15 years ago (a three door) but back then it was just a regular old shonker (300 quid jobbie) and no-one cared about them, including me. Now of course I wish I'd kept it as I feel very nostalgic about it.
Amazing how a car can change your view, I would say i'm the same in a normal car, but when i had my buick I just chilled out with not a care in the world. I had one about 15 years ago (a three door) but back then it was just a regular old shonker (300 quid jobbie) and no-one cared about them, including me. Now of course I wish I'd kept it as I feel very nostalgic about it.
Lovely little car by the way.
Got it running and tried to take a few more pics today. Couple of shots of things like the gear selector since some of you young'uns have probably not sat in a car this old 
The headrests go up and down(!) So I might move them back low after looking at this pic. Don't like the gap (I was playing around with them). It's two-speed semi auto so you pull away in L (low) and change into 'Star' at approx around 30mph by simply pushing the lever - you don't let up the accelerator or anything. It then moves into it's second gear. I find it amazing to think an engine can be flexible enough to not warrant more gears, but it really does drive fine.
Steering feels good - very positive, no play or anything (like old landrovers). Acceleration is fairly sedate, but certainly good enough to be 'normal' with modern traffic - it doesn't hold anyone up.
I'll probably try disassembling the seats in the summer and add more / or replace the foam to firm them up. You can feel the seat springs through the foam (feels ok but I think we're used to much firmer seats in modern cars. These are more like a couple of easy chairs at your Grandma's house).
Overall my aim with this is to keep it very standard (I know the wheels are different), so I won't be damaging anything original, or trying to 'soup up' the performance. It is what it is.
Got an invite to a car show at Crystal Palace in May (I think it was?). Not sure what the car show is i.e Japanese or what but I will investigate and possibly take it there.
The headrests go up and down(!) So I might move them back low after looking at this pic. Don't like the gap (I was playing around with them). It's two-speed semi auto so you pull away in L (low) and change into 'Star' at approx around 30mph by simply pushing the lever - you don't let up the accelerator or anything. It then moves into it's second gear. I find it amazing to think an engine can be flexible enough to not warrant more gears, but it really does drive fine.
Steering feels good - very positive, no play or anything (like old landrovers). Acceleration is fairly sedate, but certainly good enough to be 'normal' with modern traffic - it doesn't hold anyone up.
I'll probably try disassembling the seats in the summer and add more / or replace the foam to firm them up. You can feel the seat springs through the foam (feels ok but I think we're used to much firmer seats in modern cars. These are more like a couple of easy chairs at your Grandma's house).
Overall my aim with this is to keep it very standard (I know the wheels are different), so I won't be damaging anything original, or trying to 'soup up' the performance. It is what it is.
Got an invite to a car show at Crystal Palace in May (I think it was?). Not sure what the car show is i.e Japanese or what but I will investigate and possibly take it there.
Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 22 January 15:25
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