My French Bread and others.
Discussion
Was thinking earlier, I've not done one of these threads for quite a while and fancied doing one. I'd say my current car is worthy.
I shall however start from number one.
In the beginning I had a few thousand to spend on buying an insuring my first car. For some reason I was originally looking a getting an MGTF (don't ask me why) but the insurance was rather expensive on them. Bare in mind at the time I was driving my Mum's Panda 100HP (epic car and I learnt to drive it in)
(My Mum's Panda 100HP at the Evo Triangle
)
So anyway back to where we were, the MGTF was off the cards due to being too expensive to insure. I was racking my brains trying to think of interesting cars to get as I really really didn't want the typical Corsa, Polo, Clio etc. So while browsing ebay with distance nearest first I came across this...
A 1995 Toyota MR2 2.0GTI-16 T-Bar, also known as a Rev 3 NA, my first thought was "oooh MR2, I'd forgotten about those", my second thought was "Hang on thats my house in the background". It was an absolute nail cosmetically but mechanically it was spot on(ish, the power steering didn't work and they couldn't fix it so I got £100 off).
For the grand some of £850 (and £2500 to insure it) I now owned a Sports Car!
First order of business was get some tyres that were actually the right size.
After driving the Fiat it felt like an absolute revelation, felt like it cornered so flat and was quick to boot. 18 year old me was both infatuated with and terrified of the thing at the same time.
With some persuasion for a few people I knew I decided to book a track day at Oulton Park, I was by far the slowest car on track and was getting overtaken by everything (including many of those pesky Clio's... (We shall come to that later) but I was absolutely loving every minute of it, my racing simulator experience meant that while I wasn't fast I knew how to correct a slide of which I had a few big ones.
A couple of tanks of fuel later my fun was cut slightly short when on my cool down lap, slowing to go into the shell hairpin the brake pedal suddenly went to the floor. Literally no braking effort however much you pressed (damn good job it wasn't the lap before or there is a good chance I wouldn't be here to post this now as I was doing 90 into the corner), they gradually came back on the rest of the cool down lap but still didn't feel great. I tried one more run and decided to leave it as it felt dangerous.
A week later I took it into an MR2 specialist expecting pads and fluid...
How wrong was I, the front 2 brake callipers had burst their seals and one rear one was seized, to make matter worse I was in the middle of Wales and kind of up s
t creak without a paddle. Very luckily one of the guys I went to college with was kind enough to drive all the way to Wales to come and rescue me. The next week I picked the car up with shiney new callipers, new discs and pads all round, it felt awesome!
I gradually did a few little bits and pieces to the car, fitted an induction kit and a silly exhaust, your usual first car stuff, but it was cool because Jap. I even crashed it once too, cheap tyres, an idiot pulling out on a roundabout and the famous MR2 Snap oversteer resulted in a Kerb wheel interface. It did result in some new wheels though which was good
Remember earlier I mentioned those Pesky Clios...
One of my friends (SkylineCrazy) on here was on his second... I made the mistake (or brilliant decision depending on how you look at it) to go out as a passenger with him at Donington in his 172 Cup.
3 days later... YES! 3 days later I may have slightly kind of bought the worst Clio known to man. I mean seriously the thing was a bag of crap, in hindsight I should have bought a better one but I wanted a 172 Cup. Loved it! It went through 3 gearboxes and the belts were overdue by about a year but that didn't matter, it was still an awesome car. Had a load of fun with it and started to realise I preferred aiming for laptimes and not going sideways.
The next car was and still is my biggest financial mistake and I genuinely wish I'd never bought the thing, I literally spent so much on it that I'm still reeling from it now financially, it literally ruined my finances and is now causing me to not be able to do half the stuff I want to do to my current car.
Ladies and Gents I present, how not to buy an MR2 Turbo...
We shall skip that thing I still can't stand the sight of it...
Even if it does look like this now
Part of the reason I am screwed financially is because I decided to buy a sensible daily. By far the best and worst car I've owned. Best in the sense that it was the cheapest to run, the newest, the best condition and the most comfortable, the worst because when the MR2 went bang I was left with a boring diesel that I ended up modifying just to try and keep myself interested which didn't work. Awesome car though, haven't missed it once.
A 2006 Fabia VRS 1.9 PD130. I put a set of my favourite tyre the Federal 595 RSR on it, fitted a H&R 25mm rear anti roll bar, a Darkside developments EGR delete and an Airtec front mount intercooler, after a map it made 180hp and was as fast straight line as a MK7 Fiesta ST.
Before the power mods I took it to the ring and managed a 9:47 BTG time, I even did a video of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av_e8Eed3GA
Anyway, I wasn't planning on selling that car...
Just a tip, never browse ebay when you don't really have any attachment to your car and aren't too fussed about losing money on it...
Enter Car number 5, Clio number 2. So yeah, browsing eBay while bored at work, came across this Clio and thought ooh thats nice.
I wasn't going to look at and had a job interview the next day infact. I turned up the job interview, wasn't too fussed if I got it just fancied a change. They wanted me to park a mile away...
Wouldn't you know it I'm on the way to cannock to pick up a friend and then on my way to Brize Norton to look at this Clio. Definitely the best test drive I've had, got chucked the keys and told to go have some fun. After a ehem very sensible test drive without ever exceeding the speed limit
, I decided I had to have it. To be fair I'm pretty sure both myself and the salesman had decided I was having it the minute I saw it!
So I was back home in a Clio, however unlike with the first one I knew what I wanted to do, (I would say I had an idea in my head but I've literally got my friend's current and absolutely ridiculous Clio that I'm pretty much copying). First mod I actually did was to fit a stud conversion because I'm lazy and have had numerous wheel bolts snap on me before.
My next modification and still one of my favourites was a Genuine Sabelt RenaultSport wheel, its tatty as hell and has definitely done some miles but its such an improvement from the huge wheel they have standard.
I also fitted a KTEC induction kit at the same time, a red hose wasn't exactly my first choice but it was second hand and it was £100 less than they are new so I overlooked it.
As I was starting to get into trackdays more and more I decided that the standard seat just wasn't going to cut it. After a trip to the brilliant GSM Performance in Nottingham I made the brilliant purchase of a Mirco RTS Bucket Seat and TRS 4 point harness, this completely transformed the feel of the car for me as it meant no longer was I having to hold on as well as steer, I could now focus all my energy on driving the car as no way are you moving anywhere with this setup.
Next on the list was a pair of Clio Cup racer brake ducts as in my opinion these completely change the look of the car.
I also acquired a set of £60 wheels which I use on the car, they are meant to be track wheels however I am too lazy to take them off the car.
One thing I'd been tempted by for a while was Gordini Stripes as I've never seen it done on a 172 Cup.
Well... It has been now.
As you can see in that rear shot, I've fitted some camber bolts and am running about -2.5 degrees of camber. Turn in is awesome.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing though. Unfortunately the engine has developed a seriously high level of oil consumption, think a litre over 300 miles. I do however have a PH1 engine ready to drop in with belts 6000 miles old.
I also fitted some bonnet pins due to seeing pictures of an immaculate Racing Blue 182 Written off by a failed bonnet catch. I figured a new bonnet was cheaper than a new car!
The eagle eyed amongst you may notice a blue box there with CL written on the side. My latest upgrade is a set of Carbon Lorraine RC6 racing pads. Amazing pads and I'd recommend them to anyone.
The new engine is going in between the 17th - 19th June and I've also got a pair of modified hubs to fit at some point. I'm also entered into the Javelin Sprint Series and will be doing Croft, Anglesey and Snetterton (Competing against PH Staff member Ben Lowden) so that should be fun.
I shall however start from number one.
In the beginning I had a few thousand to spend on buying an insuring my first car. For some reason I was originally looking a getting an MGTF (don't ask me why) but the insurance was rather expensive on them. Bare in mind at the time I was driving my Mum's Panda 100HP (epic car and I learnt to drive it in)
(My Mum's Panda 100HP at the Evo Triangle
)So anyway back to where we were, the MGTF was off the cards due to being too expensive to insure. I was racking my brains trying to think of interesting cars to get as I really really didn't want the typical Corsa, Polo, Clio etc. So while browsing ebay with distance nearest first I came across this...
A 1995 Toyota MR2 2.0GTI-16 T-Bar, also known as a Rev 3 NA, my first thought was "oooh MR2, I'd forgotten about those", my second thought was "Hang on thats my house in the background". It was an absolute nail cosmetically but mechanically it was spot on(ish, the power steering didn't work and they couldn't fix it so I got £100 off).
For the grand some of £850 (and £2500 to insure it) I now owned a Sports Car!
First order of business was get some tyres that were actually the right size.
After driving the Fiat it felt like an absolute revelation, felt like it cornered so flat and was quick to boot. 18 year old me was both infatuated with and terrified of the thing at the same time.
With some persuasion for a few people I knew I decided to book a track day at Oulton Park, I was by far the slowest car on track and was getting overtaken by everything (including many of those pesky Clio's... (We shall come to that later) but I was absolutely loving every minute of it, my racing simulator experience meant that while I wasn't fast I knew how to correct a slide of which I had a few big ones.
A couple of tanks of fuel later my fun was cut slightly short when on my cool down lap, slowing to go into the shell hairpin the brake pedal suddenly went to the floor. Literally no braking effort however much you pressed (damn good job it wasn't the lap before or there is a good chance I wouldn't be here to post this now as I was doing 90 into the corner), they gradually came back on the rest of the cool down lap but still didn't feel great. I tried one more run and decided to leave it as it felt dangerous.
A week later I took it into an MR2 specialist expecting pads and fluid...
How wrong was I, the front 2 brake callipers had burst their seals and one rear one was seized, to make matter worse I was in the middle of Wales and kind of up s
t creak without a paddle. Very luckily one of the guys I went to college with was kind enough to drive all the way to Wales to come and rescue me. The next week I picked the car up with shiney new callipers, new discs and pads all round, it felt awesome!I gradually did a few little bits and pieces to the car, fitted an induction kit and a silly exhaust, your usual first car stuff, but it was cool because Jap. I even crashed it once too, cheap tyres, an idiot pulling out on a roundabout and the famous MR2 Snap oversteer resulted in a Kerb wheel interface. It did result in some new wheels though which was good
Remember earlier I mentioned those Pesky Clios...
One of my friends (SkylineCrazy) on here was on his second... I made the mistake (or brilliant decision depending on how you look at it) to go out as a passenger with him at Donington in his 172 Cup.
3 days later... YES! 3 days later I may have slightly kind of bought the worst Clio known to man. I mean seriously the thing was a bag of crap, in hindsight I should have bought a better one but I wanted a 172 Cup. Loved it! It went through 3 gearboxes and the belts were overdue by about a year but that didn't matter, it was still an awesome car. Had a load of fun with it and started to realise I preferred aiming for laptimes and not going sideways.
The next car was and still is my biggest financial mistake and I genuinely wish I'd never bought the thing, I literally spent so much on it that I'm still reeling from it now financially, it literally ruined my finances and is now causing me to not be able to do half the stuff I want to do to my current car.
Ladies and Gents I present, how not to buy an MR2 Turbo...
We shall skip that thing I still can't stand the sight of it...
Even if it does look like this now
Part of the reason I am screwed financially is because I decided to buy a sensible daily. By far the best and worst car I've owned. Best in the sense that it was the cheapest to run, the newest, the best condition and the most comfortable, the worst because when the MR2 went bang I was left with a boring diesel that I ended up modifying just to try and keep myself interested which didn't work. Awesome car though, haven't missed it once.
A 2006 Fabia VRS 1.9 PD130. I put a set of my favourite tyre the Federal 595 RSR on it, fitted a H&R 25mm rear anti roll bar, a Darkside developments EGR delete and an Airtec front mount intercooler, after a map it made 180hp and was as fast straight line as a MK7 Fiesta ST.
Before the power mods I took it to the ring and managed a 9:47 BTG time, I even did a video of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av_e8Eed3GA
Anyway, I wasn't planning on selling that car...
Just a tip, never browse ebay when you don't really have any attachment to your car and aren't too fussed about losing money on it...
Enter Car number 5, Clio number 2. So yeah, browsing eBay while bored at work, came across this Clio and thought ooh thats nice.
I wasn't going to look at and had a job interview the next day infact. I turned up the job interview, wasn't too fussed if I got it just fancied a change. They wanted me to park a mile away...
Wouldn't you know it I'm on the way to cannock to pick up a friend and then on my way to Brize Norton to look at this Clio. Definitely the best test drive I've had, got chucked the keys and told to go have some fun. After a ehem very sensible test drive without ever exceeding the speed limit
, I decided I had to have it. To be fair I'm pretty sure both myself and the salesman had decided I was having it the minute I saw it!So I was back home in a Clio, however unlike with the first one I knew what I wanted to do, (I would say I had an idea in my head but I've literally got my friend's current and absolutely ridiculous Clio that I'm pretty much copying). First mod I actually did was to fit a stud conversion because I'm lazy and have had numerous wheel bolts snap on me before.
My next modification and still one of my favourites was a Genuine Sabelt RenaultSport wheel, its tatty as hell and has definitely done some miles but its such an improvement from the huge wheel they have standard.
I also fitted a KTEC induction kit at the same time, a red hose wasn't exactly my first choice but it was second hand and it was £100 less than they are new so I overlooked it.
As I was starting to get into trackdays more and more I decided that the standard seat just wasn't going to cut it. After a trip to the brilliant GSM Performance in Nottingham I made the brilliant purchase of a Mirco RTS Bucket Seat and TRS 4 point harness, this completely transformed the feel of the car for me as it meant no longer was I having to hold on as well as steer, I could now focus all my energy on driving the car as no way are you moving anywhere with this setup.
Next on the list was a pair of Clio Cup racer brake ducts as in my opinion these completely change the look of the car.
I also acquired a set of £60 wheels which I use on the car, they are meant to be track wheels however I am too lazy to take them off the car.
One thing I'd been tempted by for a while was Gordini Stripes as I've never seen it done on a 172 Cup.
Well... It has been now.
As you can see in that rear shot, I've fitted some camber bolts and am running about -2.5 degrees of camber. Turn in is awesome.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing though. Unfortunately the engine has developed a seriously high level of oil consumption, think a litre over 300 miles. I do however have a PH1 engine ready to drop in with belts 6000 miles old.
I also fitted some bonnet pins due to seeing pictures of an immaculate Racing Blue 182 Written off by a failed bonnet catch. I figured a new bonnet was cheaper than a new car!
The eagle eyed amongst you may notice a blue box there with CL written on the side. My latest upgrade is a set of Carbon Lorraine RC6 racing pads. Amazing pads and I'd recommend them to anyone.
The new engine is going in between the 17th - 19th June and I've also got a pair of modified hubs to fit at some point. I'm also entered into the Javelin Sprint Series and will be doing Croft, Anglesey and Snetterton (Competing against PH Staff member Ben Lowden) so that should be fun.
Just a quick update.
In the last post I mentioned the engine change. This went perfectly, from the point of driving in to driving out it took 9 hours work in total spread over 2 days. The new engine runs really sweet too and feels like it makes slightly more power.
13406796_10208597438346376_1603763733242432768_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
13406931_10208599080787436_7704767370251146214_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
13432378_10208597944079019_7900354152019618389_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
(Excuse my belly hanging out haha, was an old T-Shirt that didn't quite fit properly.)
13466171_10208599026306074_2096145483885137053_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
13450965_10208598734018767_6986238665646469226_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
13413550_10208599081507454_4617172842424368368_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
13466491_10208599476157320_2229121768432886919_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
13445380_10208599476597331_4741440805731996994_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
I was at Croft yesterday for my first ever event...
13439234_10208733548109035_6831717093906738732_n by LukeSi, on Flickr#
13592825_10208733547749026_5646145640643164028_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
It went horribly wrong. Car had been out for a shakedown at Curborough the week before and all seemed ok. Was fine on the drive up and then on the first practice run disaster! The high pressure power steering pipe failed and due to having no way of fixing this at the track unfortunately my day was over before it began. My one run where the car broke almost ended badly due to powersteering fluid getting onto the tyres but luckily I was able to save it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv_wLo9m24E
Pulled the numbers off so it didn't look like I'd been competing and just chilled for a bit before sorting recovery.
13606705_10208733548269039_2080098404346104711_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
Managed to limp the car away from the Circuit and call the AA to come rescue me. We tried flipping the O Ring round but it was still leaking out at an alarming rate so the decision was made to recover it. Got replacement fluid and O Rings this morning and despite putting a brand new, thicker O Ring in the fluid was still flying out. So what I've done as a temporary fix is to fit a shorter aux belt which misses out the powersteering pump and since there is no fluid left in the system anyway I've left it dry.
13620031_10208733549669074_6180939770215386610_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
13615450_10208733550669099_758738149678602840_n by LukeSi, on Flickr
On the cards now is an EPAS (Electronic Power Assisted Steering) conversion, this is done using the Steering Column and Rack from a 1.5 DCI and an Ebay kit to talk to the EPAS ECU which allows you to control how much or little assistance it gives you.
I've also agreed to buy some Gaz GHA coilovers to replace my, ehem, very dubious Apex Springs. These should make a nice difference to how the car drives. The new hubs will be fitted when I do the EPAS conversion. Just gutting that it broke how I did but I suppose it was a sign that I should bin the standard powersteering. Currently got a short belt on so I can at least drive it until doing the conversion.
In the last post I mentioned the engine change. This went perfectly, from the point of driving in to driving out it took 9 hours work in total spread over 2 days. The new engine runs really sweet too and feels like it makes slightly more power.
13406796_10208597438346376_1603763733242432768_n by LukeSi, on Flickr13406931_10208599080787436_7704767370251146214_n by LukeSi, on Flickr13432378_10208597944079019_7900354152019618389_n by LukeSi, on Flickr(Excuse my belly hanging out haha, was an old T-Shirt that didn't quite fit properly.)
13466171_10208599026306074_2096145483885137053_n by LukeSi, on Flickr13450965_10208598734018767_6986238665646469226_n by LukeSi, on Flickr13413550_10208599081507454_4617172842424368368_n by LukeSi, on Flickr13466491_10208599476157320_2229121768432886919_n by LukeSi, on Flickr13445380_10208599476597331_4741440805731996994_n by LukeSi, on FlickrI was at Croft yesterday for my first ever event...
13439234_10208733548109035_6831717093906738732_n by LukeSi, on Flickr#13592825_10208733547749026_5646145640643164028_n by LukeSi, on FlickrIt went horribly wrong. Car had been out for a shakedown at Curborough the week before and all seemed ok. Was fine on the drive up and then on the first practice run disaster! The high pressure power steering pipe failed and due to having no way of fixing this at the track unfortunately my day was over before it began. My one run where the car broke almost ended badly due to powersteering fluid getting onto the tyres but luckily I was able to save it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv_wLo9m24E
Pulled the numbers off so it didn't look like I'd been competing and just chilled for a bit before sorting recovery.
13606705_10208733548269039_2080098404346104711_n by LukeSi, on FlickrManaged to limp the car away from the Circuit and call the AA to come rescue me. We tried flipping the O Ring round but it was still leaking out at an alarming rate so the decision was made to recover it. Got replacement fluid and O Rings this morning and despite putting a brand new, thicker O Ring in the fluid was still flying out. So what I've done as a temporary fix is to fit a shorter aux belt which misses out the powersteering pump and since there is no fluid left in the system anyway I've left it dry.
13620031_10208733549669074_6180939770215386610_n by LukeSi, on Flickr13615450_10208733550669099_758738149678602840_n by LukeSi, on FlickrOn the cards now is an EPAS (Electronic Power Assisted Steering) conversion, this is done using the Steering Column and Rack from a 1.5 DCI and an Ebay kit to talk to the EPAS ECU which allows you to control how much or little assistance it gives you.
I've also agreed to buy some Gaz GHA coilovers to replace my, ehem, very dubious Apex Springs. These should make a nice difference to how the car drives. The new hubs will be fitted when I do the EPAS conversion. Just gutting that it broke how I did but I suppose it was a sign that I should bin the standard powersteering. Currently got a short belt on so I can at least drive it until doing the conversion.
Good write up - Ive just fitted an EPAS setup to my 172, highly recommended.
Make sure you get a 2.75 turn DCI rack - some of them are 3.25 turns and slower. Kat at Renparts can get you the right one.
For the wiring, theres 2 kits on ebay, one of them comes with all the right plugs and a blank plug and new pins for the power to the ECU - lots easier than wiring it all and splicing into stubs. Cups actually have the wiring for EPAS tucked in the dash, but the live ends at the bulkhead plug so you need to add a new pin and wire to the engine fusebox to supply it.
Make sure you get a 2.75 turn DCI rack - some of them are 3.25 turns and slower. Kat at Renparts can get you the right one.
For the wiring, theres 2 kits on ebay, one of them comes with all the right plugs and a blank plug and new pins for the power to the ECU - lots easier than wiring it all and splicing into stubs. Cups actually have the wiring for EPAS tucked in the dash, but the live ends at the bulkhead plug so you need to add a new pin and wire to the engine fusebox to supply it.
Current rack is going in the bin anyway so running it dry isn't a worry.
In regards to the stripes i honestly have no idea. They were cheap though so I'm not complaining.
I bought a rack sold as a 1.5 dci one and the ad even had the right part number however it seems to be 3.25 turns annoyingly.
Might just fit it anyway as I've not got the money to buy anothe. Half a turn can't make that much difference surely?
Can always source another at a later date.
Ooh you say they've got the wiring in the dash already? That the power wire and earth. Absolute win if it is.
Might try and do it when I'm off work in the week.
In regards to the stripes i honestly have no idea. They were cheap though so I'm not complaining.
I bought a rack sold as a 1.5 dci one and the ad even had the right part number however it seems to be 3.25 turns annoyingly.
Might just fit it anyway as I've not got the money to buy anothe. Half a turn can't make that much difference surely?
Can always source another at a later date.
Ooh you say they've got the wiring in the dash already? That the power wire and earth. Absolute win if it is.
Might try and do it when I'm off work in the week.
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