Modified cars, who hasn't owned one?
Poll: Modified cars, who hasn't owned one?
Total Members Polled: 167
Discussion
I spent a lot of time and effort modding Mini's in the eighties. Basically because the stock engine/suspension/brakes/wheels tyres were 50's relics. After a lot of sweat I realised I could have just bought an Alfasud off the shelf. So I did
Having said that ended up doing the odd Alfasud engine and g/box transplant (after things had gone pop).
Got back into modding with a 200 SX. I got rid of the turbo lag which was good but ended up with slightly mis-matched springs and dampers which was annoying. I created a car that would have been great on a track (poly bushes all round) never went on one. I had a lot of fun but eventually decided that enough was enough.
Bar an upgrade to the sound system in my second Merc and the addition of some DVD headrests on the current one I haven't had to do a thing to my three Mercs as I like them the way they come.
Having said that ended up doing the odd Alfasud engine and g/box transplant (after things had gone pop).
Got back into modding with a 200 SX. I got rid of the turbo lag which was good but ended up with slightly mis-matched springs and dampers which was annoying. I created a car that would have been great on a track (poly bushes all round) never went on one. I had a lot of fun but eventually decided that enough was enough.
Bar an upgrade to the sound system in my second Merc and the addition of some DVD headrests on the current one I haven't had to do a thing to my three Mercs as I like them the way they come.
I've had 16 cars so far, and I don't think any of them have been completely standard. The first couple had mods limited to colour coding of parts and aftermarket stereos. One had an engine swap, one had a full interior swap, one was stripped with a roll cage. About half had suspension upgrades, and a few had brake upgrades too. A few had remaps. One of my favourite mods was fitting paddle shift to my 330ci Auto.
I've ruined a few too. I had a pretty much mint condition AX GT for about 18 month. By the end it was stripped out with a half roll cage, running on 16" wheels which caught the arches, and had more tyre flex than suspension travel. My once-comfortable Golf Mk3 cabriolet ended up not being able to go over speed bumps with anyone other than me in the car. I fitted Porsche boxster wheels to my Mk4 Golf TDI and absolutely ruined the handling (which admittedly wasn't great to start with).
The current one (Puma) is standard apart from an Alpine head unit. Hopefully this weekend the rear bushes will be replaced with a set of powerflex poly bushes, and that's only because the current ones are worn and powerflex are easier to fit! I'm not sure if I'll do anything else - I'm enjoying cheap motoring at the moment.
I've ruined a few too. I had a pretty much mint condition AX GT for about 18 month. By the end it was stripped out with a half roll cage, running on 16" wheels which caught the arches, and had more tyre flex than suspension travel. My once-comfortable Golf Mk3 cabriolet ended up not being able to go over speed bumps with anyone other than me in the car. I fitted Porsche boxster wheels to my Mk4 Golf TDI and absolutely ruined the handling (which admittedly wasn't great to start with).
The current one (Puma) is standard apart from an Alpine head unit. Hopefully this weekend the rear bushes will be replaced with a set of powerflex poly bushes, and that's only because the current ones are worn and powerflex are easier to fit! I'm not sure if I'll do anything else - I'm enjoying cheap motoring at the moment.
I have a foot in both camps
Merc and BMW are std
Carlton is apart from OE equivilent parts (improvement where you can't get original parts for it anyway)
Track Monza - well that's so far from std it's silly
Rally Monza - going back to std for 1987 COI event.
Donor Monza - Std and parts for above only
Commodore - sort of std for a rolling shell
Mitsi FTO - Std and after 5 years and 18 miles leaves my care this week - hopefully
Merc and BMW are std
Carlton is apart from OE equivilent parts (improvement where you can't get original parts for it anyway)
Track Monza - well that's so far from std it's silly
Rally Monza - going back to std for 1987 COI event.
Donor Monza - Std and parts for above only
Commodore - sort of std for a rolling shell
Mitsi FTO - Std and after 5 years and 18 miles leaves my care this week - hopefully
Not sure what constitutes modified but in my day I've had...
Hillman Imp lowered, decambered, widened, twin carbs etc etc
Ford Anglia, 1650 Cortina GT engine, lowered etc
Mini Cooper 998, Richard Longman engine, lowered etc
and a few more as well.
Probably wouldn't bother now though. There's enough well sorted performance stuff about without spoiling them by taking some of the above actions.....(not that the above were spoilt, but you probably wouldn't do that to them now).
Hillman Imp lowered, decambered, widened, twin carbs etc etc
Ford Anglia, 1650 Cortina GT engine, lowered etc
Mini Cooper 998, Richard Longman engine, lowered etc
and a few more as well.
Probably wouldn't bother now though. There's enough well sorted performance stuff about without spoiling them by taking some of the above actions.....(not that the above were spoilt, but you probably wouldn't do that to them now).
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