Oddest 'what car' ever? What V8 to drive from UK to Vietnam?
Discussion
Hi folks, thanks for the general positiveness...
I've given up waiting for the sun to come out for photos of my new toy and taken some this afternoon anyway, in a lull between showers:
I've driven it about 80 miles so far, and still haven't got used to its combination of excessive width and wrong-hand-drive when combined with its new Dartmoor home. Narrow lanes are a chore, and passing manouvres are best dealt with by sticking the drivers side of the car as far into the undergrowth as possible and hoping for the best.
However, the more the road opens out, the more tolerable the 'Vette gets. In a straight line it's not lacking in speed (being comparable to my 4.0l Chimaera) and the ride isn't nearly as stiff as I'd expected, being less lively than the Chim; though the auto box and excessive 275-section tyres blunt any inclination to have fun in the corners. The interior seems comfortable enough for us to survive the trip, but the boot is sufficiently small that we'll be packing rather lighter than we did on the African Porsche trip. As for other road trip practicalities, I'm not sure I'll be able to put a roof tent on it due to the lift-out targa panel, and something will definitely need to be done about the loud exhaust, as it drones like nobodies business whatever speed you're doing. On the plus side, the car seems to be a good'un - everything except the heater blower seems to work and there aren't too many rattles or worrying noises...
I've ordered the Haynes Manual this morning so when that arrives I'll get properly stuck into checking the car over, but until then, I'm just enjoying having a choice of V8 Sports Cars at my disposal each time I open the front door (despite the fact that together, they still cost less than a new Golf).
PS- I think I've found the ultimate marmite car! Blokes love it; women won't go within ten feet of it...
I've given up waiting for the sun to come out for photos of my new toy and taken some this afternoon anyway, in a lull between showers:
I've driven it about 80 miles so far, and still haven't got used to its combination of excessive width and wrong-hand-drive when combined with its new Dartmoor home. Narrow lanes are a chore, and passing manouvres are best dealt with by sticking the drivers side of the car as far into the undergrowth as possible and hoping for the best.
However, the more the road opens out, the more tolerable the 'Vette gets. In a straight line it's not lacking in speed (being comparable to my 4.0l Chimaera) and the ride isn't nearly as stiff as I'd expected, being less lively than the Chim; though the auto box and excessive 275-section tyres blunt any inclination to have fun in the corners. The interior seems comfortable enough for us to survive the trip, but the boot is sufficiently small that we'll be packing rather lighter than we did on the African Porsche trip. As for other road trip practicalities, I'm not sure I'll be able to put a roof tent on it due to the lift-out targa panel, and something will definitely need to be done about the loud exhaust, as it drones like nobodies business whatever speed you're doing. On the plus side, the car seems to be a good'un - everything except the heater blower seems to work and there aren't too many rattles or worrying noises...
I've ordered the Haynes Manual this morning so when that arrives I'll get properly stuck into checking the car over, but until then, I'm just enjoying having a choice of V8 Sports Cars at my disposal each time I open the front door (despite the fact that together, they still cost less than a new Golf).
PS- I think I've found the ultimate marmite car! Blokes love it; women won't go within ten feet of it...
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
I know it's completely against the spirit of what you're trying to do, but I can't help thinking that a proper "Dakar Spec" Vette, with loads of ground clearance, knobbiles, spotlights etc, would look cool as hell!
Are you going to flog the performance bits to help the budget?
You mean something like this C3?: http://www.vetteweb.com/features/vemp_1007_1969_ch...Are you going to flog the performance bits to help the budget?
I've looked into it and the racier heads and cams aren't actually worth that much so they'll probably stay on. Exhaust is definitely going to need changing though, as deafness is way over-rated...
fivetenben said:
Hi folks, thanks for the general positiveness...
I've given up waiting for the sun to come out for photos of my new toy and taken some this afternoon anyway, in a lull between showers:
I've driven it about 80 miles so far, and still haven't got used to its combination of excessive width and wrong-hand-drive when combined with its new Dartmoor home. Narrow lanes are a chore, and passing manouvres are best dealt with by sticking the drivers side of the car as far into the undergrowth as possible and hoping for the best.
However, the more the road opens out, the more tolerable the 'Vette gets. In a straight line it's not lacking in speed (being comparable to my 4.0l Chimaera) and the ride isn't nearly as stiff as I'd expected, being less lively than the Chim; though the auto box and excessive 275-section tyres blunt any inclination to have fun in the corners. The interior seems comfortable enough for us to survive the trip, but the boot is sufficiently small that we'll be packing rather lighter than we did on the African Porsche trip. As for other road trip practicalities, I'm not sure I'll be able to put a roof tent on it due to the lift-out targa panel, and something will definitely need to be done about the loud exhaust, as it drones like nobodies business whatever speed you're doing. On the plus side, the car seems to be a good'un - everything except the heater blower seems to work and there aren't too many rattles or worrying noises...
I've ordered the Haynes Manual this morning so when that arrives I'll get properly stuck into checking the car over, but until then, I'm just enjoying having a choice of V8 Sports Cars at my disposal each time I open the front door (despite the fact that together, they still cost less than a new Golf).
PS- I think I've found the ultimate marmite car! Blokes love it; women won't go within ten feet of it...
You, dear boy, are not normal. I've given up waiting for the sun to come out for photos of my new toy and taken some this afternoon anyway, in a lull between showers:
I've driven it about 80 miles so far, and still haven't got used to its combination of excessive width and wrong-hand-drive when combined with its new Dartmoor home. Narrow lanes are a chore, and passing manouvres are best dealt with by sticking the drivers side of the car as far into the undergrowth as possible and hoping for the best.
However, the more the road opens out, the more tolerable the 'Vette gets. In a straight line it's not lacking in speed (being comparable to my 4.0l Chimaera) and the ride isn't nearly as stiff as I'd expected, being less lively than the Chim; though the auto box and excessive 275-section tyres blunt any inclination to have fun in the corners. The interior seems comfortable enough for us to survive the trip, but the boot is sufficiently small that we'll be packing rather lighter than we did on the African Porsche trip. As for other road trip practicalities, I'm not sure I'll be able to put a roof tent on it due to the lift-out targa panel, and something will definitely need to be done about the loud exhaust, as it drones like nobodies business whatever speed you're doing. On the plus side, the car seems to be a good'un - everything except the heater blower seems to work and there aren't too many rattles or worrying noises...
I've ordered the Haynes Manual this morning so when that arrives I'll get properly stuck into checking the car over, but until then, I'm just enjoying having a choice of V8 Sports Cars at my disposal each time I open the front door (despite the fact that together, they still cost less than a new Golf).
PS- I think I've found the ultimate marmite car! Blokes love it; women won't go within ten feet of it...
Living the dream mate. Although I think I might be physically sick
everytime I looked inside it but the rest of it is just awesome - love those 80s shaped vettes. Being a child of the era I thought they were impossibly cool and could not understand why there were none in the UK.
Shame about the boot...what is all that space between the end of the boot and the end of the car doing? Fuel tank?
I can see why they didn't sell many to mafia types...you can't drive around with a body behind your front seat
everytime I looked inside it but the rest of it is just awesome - love those 80s shaped vettes. Being a child of the era I thought they were impossibly cool and could not understand why there were none in the UK.Shame about the boot...what is all that space between the end of the boot and the end of the car doing? Fuel tank?
I can see why they didn't sell many to mafia types...you can't drive around with a body behind your front seat
famfarrow said:
Fantastic! At least the interior is a nice talking point amongst V8 startled locals!
I don't know what all the fuss is about. If it was an Alfa GTV or Honda NSX with a red leather interior and plasticy dash, I'm sure everyone would be swooning over it.Disclaimer - Okay, I lied about not knowing what the fuss is about; it's just I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm going to spend 3 months crossing Asia in a mobile brothel next year...
fivetenben said:
famfarrow said:
Fantastic! At least the interior is a nice talking point amongst V8 startled locals!
I don't know what all the fuss is about. If it was an Alfa GTV or Honda NSX with a red leather interior and plasticy dash, I'm sure everyone would be swooning over it.Disclaimer - Okay, I lied about not knowing what the fuss is about; it's just I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm going to spend 3 months crossing Asia in a mobile brothel next year...
irocfan said:
fivetenben said:
famfarrow said:
Fantastic! At least the interior is a nice talking point amongst V8 startled locals!
I don't know what all the fuss is about. If it was an Alfa GTV or Honda NSX with a red leather interior and plasticy dash, I'm sure everyone would be swooning over it.Disclaimer - Okay, I lied about not knowing what the fuss is about; it's just I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact that I'm going to spend 3 months crossing Asia in a mobile brothel next year...
Alfa GTV:
Honda S2000:
Corvette:
...then I had a moment of clarity and wondered what on earth I was doing. After all, this is Pistonheads. Speed matters and all that.
Why on earth are we discussing the colour of the interior when it cost not-a-lot and is propelled by a breathed-on 5.7 V8?! I feel sullied. If I hadn't had a few too many beers I'd rush out and do some burnouts to compensate...
Great trip plan.
I left Vietnam at the weekend and I did see a few interesting, low-slung motors both there and here in Phnom Penh where we are now.
Even saw a Tech Art Cayman and a 996 with a dodgy GT2 style bodykit yesterday!
The small matter of getting the Vette here from the UK will be amazing fun!
I'll be watching this thread/blog with interest.
I left Vietnam at the weekend and I did see a few interesting, low-slung motors both there and here in Phnom Penh where we are now.
Even saw a Tech Art Cayman and a 996 with a dodgy GT2 style bodykit yesterday!
The small matter of getting the Vette here from the UK will be amazing fun!
I'll be watching this thread/blog with interest.
rswift said:
Just finished the kindle version of your book .... loved it.
I can wholeheartedly recommend it to any PH'er to add to their xmas list (and therefore hopefully help fund V8Nam)
Hi, glad you enjoyed it - not sure I'm going to manage to pay for V8Nam through it, but still, every little helps, and I appreciate the thought!I can wholeheartedly recommend it to any PH'er to add to their xmas list (and therefore hopefully help fund V8Nam)
General busyness has meant I haven't really had much of a poke around the Corvette yet, but a sunny day on Sunday did mean it got it's first proper run, a 60 mile blat across Dartmoor from Plymouth to Hound Tor and back, roof off and in convoy with the TVR - a fun day, all in all!
Corvette was great - garish, wide, deafening but great. I probably should stop playing with it sometime soon though, and figure out how to raise the suspension and fit everything in it...
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