Updated 3 car garage - Porsche, Jag, Volvo
Discussion
Evening all
It's been a while since I updated the forum on the current garage which, if Im honest, seems to be in a continuous state of change!
In the past 12 months a Range Rover Vogue L322 and R56 Mini Cooper S (N18) have been and gone and the current fleet is now quite multinational!
My aim is to have something for each occasion.....so here they are;
VOLVO V70 R 2.4T AWD
I picked this up about a month ago, having decided that the L322 may soon to need a torque convertor.......it was still driving OK but starting to slightly judder on hills. An additive would have been probably given me another year or two but I decided to cut my losses. Plus, at 145K miles on original turbos, I think I had done well.
The L322 was my daily - 80 miles round trip to work and back plus used to take the kids to school and all their paraphernalia........
We also have a 2 year old labrador and I do like a good trip to the tip......
Fast estate was called for.
I've always liked the look of the V70 R and despite all the horror stories of split blocks and difficult gearboxes and 4C suspension, I did wjhat every PHer would do and bought one of the cheapest ones in the country.....and the first one I looked at
Here she is.....
The car was imported into the UK from Japan in 2022 and since then has had two new driveshafts, custom stainless exhaust, lowered suspension (retains the 4C), a good service and a few other bits and pieces.
The guy I bought it off didnt really know much about them and had bought it as a go-between car whilst he looked for a 4x4. Engine light was on and suspension warning light but it went well and I had a good feeling. The wheels had been painted black and it needed a good detail.
However, it felt like a bargain and had FULL Japanese history. Mileage is just 60K miles (100K KM).
Its an auto which robs a bit of the performance but the 5-pot and turbo work well together and produce 300 HP.
First thing I did was detail it (machine polish) and repaint the wheels to antracite. Car looked transformed. I then added roof bars from a scrapped car and it started to look a bit better!
DVLA provided a £400 quid plate which I quite like!
I then went on to tackle the fault lights - I always buy ICARSOFT diagnostics for the cars I purchase and it has saved me a fortune over time.
3 faults showing - air leak, fuel trim, turbo leak - basically too much air going through the engine.
Try as I might I could not find any leaks anywhere so took it to my local Volvo specialist. He confirmed no leaks and that the car had been remapped safely but the maf was showing higher than spec airflow due to the change in fueling/air/boost pressure. He has suggested visiting a remap specialist to check things over and try to remove the alarm.......Mmmmm, the car drives spot on and only occasionally throws a code - it's not doing it all the time. However live data shows a change to factory settings on fueling and air.
The 4C code turned out to be a sensor so all good.
Whilst the car was there it sprang a radiator leak (I hadnt noticed) and I also asked them to change a window regulator.
Interior is nice - tan leather. I've removed the Japanese satnav that sat right on top of the dash and replaced with UK spec speaker grill.
Overall it's a lovely ride - enormous amounts of room and boot space, fast enough and very very comfortable.
JAGUAR XK8 - S 2005 4.2
So the Jag replaced a modified R56 Cooper S Works believe it or not!
The Mini was great but just hard work - coilovers and 250 HP remap was a bit much and I am clearly getting old!!
I think the X100 Jag has really aged well and is starting to get popular in classic circles.
The one to have in my mind is the final edition facelift in 2005 with bigger bumpers, side skirts etc.
I toyed with an XKR but a 2005 is at least 10K for a nice one and the 4.2 n/a is plenty enough with 290 HP.
I looked at lot so of these cars and so many are rust buckets - arches, sills, subframes - everything can go.
I found my car on Car and Classic and was drawn to it because of the R extras - big brake kit, 20 inch Detroit wheels, R lowered suspension etc etc. I also love the 3 dial dash rather than the horrid sat nav that some cars have.
This is a great car - beautiful engine, can be nicely hustled along thanks to the lowered R spec suspension and will get going with 0-60 coming in 6.4 seconds - so not bad. Lovely torque from the big V8 makes overtaking a doddle.
So far mods have included:
Adamesh mesh front grill - much nicer than the toothy plastic one
Adamesh Stage 1 exhaust - basically straight pipes the rear boxes but retains the middle resonated section
Dont judge me but I've also forgotten (honest, officer) to put the front plate back on - looks so much better in my view.
Interior is lovely too - the dash is sublime
PORSCHE 911 (997) C4S 3.8 (2006)
Finally to the pride and joy - summer car.
I bought this a couple of years ago now and it replaced a lovely Maserati Quattroporte 4.7S
I had a 964 C4 around 20 years ago and always fancied getting back into a 911 - there is just something about the engineering and the way it drives.
It's not that quick (355 HP and 0-60 in around 5 secs) but the theatre and the poise on fast A and B roads is amazing. Grip is spectacular and build quality is amazing for a near - 20 year old car.
Every time I drive the car, I smile and it feels like an event.
The car has done 78K miles and I recently had it fully serviced by a well known Northamptonshire based Porsche specialist where it was given a clean bill of health. It is an ex - RSJ retailed car and I am not seeing any symptoms of bore scoring.......yet!
No mods on this yet other than two very recent ones:
1) Red S badge on the Carrera 4 S at the rear
2) 15mm rear and 7mm front spacers to improve the overall track and look of the car
Bodywork and wheels are absolutely mint - it must have had some paint in the past because it is blemish free.
Plans at some point this year are:
Full set of Continentals all round (current tyres tread levels are fine but are 2017 and looking a bit cracked)
Possible lowering springs - not sure......
Thanks for looking guys!
It's been a while since I updated the forum on the current garage which, if Im honest, seems to be in a continuous state of change!
In the past 12 months a Range Rover Vogue L322 and R56 Mini Cooper S (N18) have been and gone and the current fleet is now quite multinational!
My aim is to have something for each occasion.....so here they are;
VOLVO V70 R 2.4T AWD
I picked this up about a month ago, having decided that the L322 may soon to need a torque convertor.......it was still driving OK but starting to slightly judder on hills. An additive would have been probably given me another year or two but I decided to cut my losses. Plus, at 145K miles on original turbos, I think I had done well.
The L322 was my daily - 80 miles round trip to work and back plus used to take the kids to school and all their paraphernalia........
We also have a 2 year old labrador and I do like a good trip to the tip......
Fast estate was called for.
I've always liked the look of the V70 R and despite all the horror stories of split blocks and difficult gearboxes and 4C suspension, I did wjhat every PHer would do and bought one of the cheapest ones in the country.....and the first one I looked at
Here she is.....
The car was imported into the UK from Japan in 2022 and since then has had two new driveshafts, custom stainless exhaust, lowered suspension (retains the 4C), a good service and a few other bits and pieces.
The guy I bought it off didnt really know much about them and had bought it as a go-between car whilst he looked for a 4x4. Engine light was on and suspension warning light but it went well and I had a good feeling. The wheels had been painted black and it needed a good detail.
However, it felt like a bargain and had FULL Japanese history. Mileage is just 60K miles (100K KM).
Its an auto which robs a bit of the performance but the 5-pot and turbo work well together and produce 300 HP.
First thing I did was detail it (machine polish) and repaint the wheels to antracite. Car looked transformed. I then added roof bars from a scrapped car and it started to look a bit better!
DVLA provided a £400 quid plate which I quite like!
I then went on to tackle the fault lights - I always buy ICARSOFT diagnostics for the cars I purchase and it has saved me a fortune over time.
3 faults showing - air leak, fuel trim, turbo leak - basically too much air going through the engine.
Try as I might I could not find any leaks anywhere so took it to my local Volvo specialist. He confirmed no leaks and that the car had been remapped safely but the maf was showing higher than spec airflow due to the change in fueling/air/boost pressure. He has suggested visiting a remap specialist to check things over and try to remove the alarm.......Mmmmm, the car drives spot on and only occasionally throws a code - it's not doing it all the time. However live data shows a change to factory settings on fueling and air.
The 4C code turned out to be a sensor so all good.
Whilst the car was there it sprang a radiator leak (I hadnt noticed) and I also asked them to change a window regulator.
Interior is nice - tan leather. I've removed the Japanese satnav that sat right on top of the dash and replaced with UK spec speaker grill.
Overall it's a lovely ride - enormous amounts of room and boot space, fast enough and very very comfortable.
JAGUAR XK8 - S 2005 4.2
So the Jag replaced a modified R56 Cooper S Works believe it or not!
The Mini was great but just hard work - coilovers and 250 HP remap was a bit much and I am clearly getting old!!
I think the X100 Jag has really aged well and is starting to get popular in classic circles.
The one to have in my mind is the final edition facelift in 2005 with bigger bumpers, side skirts etc.
I toyed with an XKR but a 2005 is at least 10K for a nice one and the 4.2 n/a is plenty enough with 290 HP.
I looked at lot so of these cars and so many are rust buckets - arches, sills, subframes - everything can go.
I found my car on Car and Classic and was drawn to it because of the R extras - big brake kit, 20 inch Detroit wheels, R lowered suspension etc etc. I also love the 3 dial dash rather than the horrid sat nav that some cars have.
This is a great car - beautiful engine, can be nicely hustled along thanks to the lowered R spec suspension and will get going with 0-60 coming in 6.4 seconds - so not bad. Lovely torque from the big V8 makes overtaking a doddle.
So far mods have included:
Adamesh mesh front grill - much nicer than the toothy plastic one
Adamesh Stage 1 exhaust - basically straight pipes the rear boxes but retains the middle resonated section
Dont judge me but I've also forgotten (honest, officer) to put the front plate back on - looks so much better in my view.
Interior is lovely too - the dash is sublime
PORSCHE 911 (997) C4S 3.8 (2006)
Finally to the pride and joy - summer car.
I bought this a couple of years ago now and it replaced a lovely Maserati Quattroporte 4.7S
I had a 964 C4 around 20 years ago and always fancied getting back into a 911 - there is just something about the engineering and the way it drives.
It's not that quick (355 HP and 0-60 in around 5 secs) but the theatre and the poise on fast A and B roads is amazing. Grip is spectacular and build quality is amazing for a near - 20 year old car.
Every time I drive the car, I smile and it feels like an event.
The car has done 78K miles and I recently had it fully serviced by a well known Northamptonshire based Porsche specialist where it was given a clean bill of health. It is an ex - RSJ retailed car and I am not seeing any symptoms of bore scoring.......yet!
No mods on this yet other than two very recent ones:
1) Red S badge on the Carrera 4 S at the rear
2) 15mm rear and 7mm front spacers to improve the overall track and look of the car
Bodywork and wheels are absolutely mint - it must have had some paint in the past because it is blemish free.
Plans at some point this year are:
Full set of Continentals all round (current tyres tread levels are fine but are 2017 and looking a bit cracked)
Possible lowering springs - not sure......
Thanks for looking guys!
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