Watching the clock - V8S stylee
Discussion
Yes, I am the chap lined up to purchase Pete Struck's V8S, a car amongst others that I have admired (in a PH lurker's sense) for several months. I was amazed when I viewed his ponderings on whether to sell and immediately raised my hand in the air.
After a good look round the car on Saturday and an equally good test drive, during which Pete was kind enough to let me loose along a thankfully quiet road (though I stalled it several times and couldn't find reverse), I was suitably impressed enough to proffer a deposit cheque while Pickles rubbed on my leg. I hasten to add that Pickles is not Pete's missus.
He's putting a 12 month MOT on it, which I find very helpful. An inspection is being conducted at the same time because, even though Rob Ingleby had conducted one previously, I thought it prudent to get an thoroughly up-to-date report before I incapacitated Pete's hands with a large wedge of cash - or banker's draft.
I am procuring a small loan to bridge the gap between my bank balance and the price agreed. A necessarily evil but one would I rather not have had to resort to.
Hopefully by mid-next week I will be the very, very proud owner of a lovely Tiv that has more or less everything that I hoped for when I began seriously looking for one. I've come a long way in the last few months and this has been in no small measure attributed to the good advice in many related posts, pictures and links on Pistonheads. And the Bible of course by Saint Steve of Heath.
After a good look round the car on Saturday and an equally good test drive, during which Pete was kind enough to let me loose along a thankfully quiet road (though I stalled it several times and couldn't find reverse), I was suitably impressed enough to proffer a deposit cheque while Pickles rubbed on my leg. I hasten to add that Pickles is not Pete's missus.
He's putting a 12 month MOT on it, which I find very helpful. An inspection is being conducted at the same time because, even though Rob Ingleby had conducted one previously, I thought it prudent to get an thoroughly up-to-date report before I incapacitated Pete's hands with a large wedge of cash - or banker's draft.
I am procuring a small loan to bridge the gap between my bank balance and the price agreed. A necessarily evil but one would I rather not have had to resort to.
Hopefully by mid-next week I will be the very, very proud owner of a lovely Tiv that has more or less everything that I hoped for when I began seriously looking for one. I've come a long way in the last few months and this has been in no small measure attributed to the good advice in many related posts, pictures and links on Pistonheads. And the Bible of course by Saint Steve of Heath.
GI said:
Yes, I am the chap lined up to purchase Pete Struck's V8S, a car amongst others that I have admired (in a PH lurker's sense) for several months. I was amazed when I viewed his ponderings on whether to sell and immediately raised my hand in the air.
After a good look round the car on Saturday and an equally good test drive, during which Pete was kind enough to let me loose along a thankfully quiet road (though I stalled it several times and couldn't find reverse), I was suitably impressed enough to proffer a deposit cheque while Pickles rubbed on my leg. I hasten to add that Pickles is not Pete's missus.![]()
He's putting a 12 month MOT on it, which I find very helpful. An inspection is being conducted at the same time because, even though Rob Ingleby had conducted one previously, I thought it prudent to get an thoroughly up-to-date report before I incapacitated Pete's hands with a large wedge of cash - or banker's draft.
I am procuring a small loan to bridge the gap between my bank balance and the price agreed. A necessarily evil but one would I rather not have had to resort to.
Hopefully by mid-next week I will be the very, very proud owner of a lovely Tiv that has more or less everything that I hoped for when I began seriously looking for one. I've come a long way in the last few months and this has been in no small measure attributed to the good advice in many related posts, pictures and links on Pistonheads. And the Bible of course by Saint Steve of Heath.
Welcome to the S fold.
I can see that you're excited and unable to sleep from the time of your post!

Thankyou for the welcome. Like I've said elsewhere, I've lurked for several months but not for any other reason than having nothing really to contribute to discussions about throttle pots and ECU intricacies.
I've grown up with Tivs owned by my step-brother and have been a club member for a total of around 8 years, so purchasing my own P&J is a natural step that I can finally take. It's been a dream for a long long time.
Does anyone know how accustomed you should be with your car before attempting a Ride Drive course, to get the maximum benefit from it? I will have a lot of getting used to driving a Tiv over the next few months but I fear getting into trouble and not having the experience to get myself out, which is why I intend doing a Ride Drive and some track days. Obviously I don't want to waste my money if the course is suited to those with at least a year behind them, who can concentrate less on smooth gearchanges than about 'making progress'.
Any ideas?
I've grown up with Tivs owned by my step-brother and have been a club member for a total of around 8 years, so purchasing my own P&J is a natural step that I can finally take. It's been a dream for a long long time.
Does anyone know how accustomed you should be with your car before attempting a Ride Drive course, to get the maximum benefit from it? I will have a lot of getting used to driving a Tiv over the next few months but I fear getting into trouble and not having the experience to get myself out, which is why I intend doing a Ride Drive and some track days. Obviously I don't want to waste my money if the course is suited to those with at least a year behind them, who can concentrate less on smooth gearchanges than about 'making progress'.
Any ideas?
Welcome GI. You'll find a very knowledgeable bunch on here.
Word of warning though. I drove my S for several years before discovering PH...and was more than happy with it. Since PH, I've recently upgraded the suspension, and am now thinking about a Tornado chip, rolling road tune-up (a full Podie), tarting up the interior (doing a Mike), carbon-fibre plenum etc etc.
PH will cost you.....but it's value for money
Word of warning though. I drove my S for several years before discovering PH...and was more than happy with it. Since PH, I've recently upgraded the suspension, and am now thinking about a Tornado chip, rolling road tune-up (a full Podie), tarting up the interior (doing a Mike), carbon-fibre plenum etc etc.
PH will cost you.....but it's value for money

Thanks again. I've read about the minor(!) improvements that seem to be de rigeur in the S fraternity. I'm not sure I have the cash to keep up with you all.
BTW, is the top bit of the V8 dash a dark colour as standard? All the pictures I've seen are thus.
Pete's, however, seems to be the only car that has the top the same shade as the rest of the dash.
Perhaps this was changed when the previous owner had a major theft attempt...?
I like the dark top. It seems to set off the wood bits nicely. But I'm not sure I'd pay money to have it changed. I guess it would depend on the price and, above all, the quality I could expect.
BTW, is the top bit of the V8 dash a dark colour as standard? All the pictures I've seen are thus.
Pete's, however, seems to be the only car that has the top the same shade as the rest of the dash.
Perhaps this was changed when the previous owner had a major theft attempt...?
I like the dark top. It seems to set off the wood bits nicely. But I'm not sure I'd pay money to have it changed. I guess it would depend on the price and, above all, the quality I could expect.
bridgdav said:
V8Smith said:
hope you drive it faster than Pete did
Absolutely Pissed myself laughing....
Petes V8S....Even beaten round the track by a V6...
Oi you lot... that's enough of kicking me while I'm down! So I drive like a girl. Good news for GI as he gets a car that hasn't been thrashed!

bridgdav said:
Sorry Pete....
Its not a laughing matter.
What with the V8 going and your short right leg not being able to push the accelerator all the way down.......![]()
You'll bounce back soon.. Of that I have no doubt.
Bounce back I will!
Maybe I'll get me a pair of these too...
...might help with reaching the loud pedal.
(Cheeky bu66ers!)
To be fair, Pete did engage the rampant wildebeest mechanism a few times last Saturday. I was already aware of how these cars have a fascination with licking the horizon with their wheels, so we didn't need to go nuts.
Thankfully he was not wearing those hideous boots - they look like Satan's 70's glam hooves! Yuk.
Pete- if the dash was like that to begin with, then it'll probably stay that way.
Thankfully he was not wearing those hideous boots - they look like Satan's 70's glam hooves! Yuk.
Pete- if the dash was like that to begin with, then it'll probably stay that way.
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