The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T(Vol XVIII)

[joesnow]

L100NYY said:

Joe;

Ref the 3cyl Aygo.....they are great fun arent they. A friend has one (her 2nd now) and she still doesn't believe me when I tell her how much fun it is to drive. Love the thrum of the engine.

I've always been a fan of small cars, just love the thrashability and grin factor of them.....back to Cinq and Seiecento Sportings!

I might have pulled the panel filter out...
S'like half a flat 6.

[L100NYY]

Oooh I might try that later! Easy to do?

I did similar with my 197 F1 funnily enough

[joesnow]

Pop a few over-centre clips and give the lid a tug upwards. There's a breather hose on the underside which needs reattaching afterwards.
The paper filter fits nicely in the glovebox.

[L100NYY]

Sounds no more complicated than the one on my 197

[Diesel Meister]

Lovely DC2. Always liked them (since a certain game by Polyphony Digital and also a cheeky test drive in 99). Less of a bargain relative to a few years ago (what isn't, other than 986s!) but they are worth every penny.

Also, CTEKs rock. I swear by my MXS 5.0 that as saved me hundreds of pounds in the years I've had it. I used to go through a couple of car batteries a year before it - ideal for charging / conditioning batteries of all sizes. Keeps the AW11 tip-top.

Loon - great selection of small cars as usual. I do love a compact vehicle. Why take up more space?!

[Baked_bean]

Having just driven an UP! GTI for the first time I have to agree with the small car sentiment! I usually drive faster and ‘better’ cars but I ended up taking the scenic route home for once.

Nothing beats the fact you can use all of the performance without the worry of losing your licence or life at every bend.

[joesnow]

Cheers for the DC2 love.
Note, lack of comma.

[ferrisbueller]

Looking at the R32 appreciation, I wonder what other Jap stuff could benefit from the 25 year rule. R33, obviously, but that's already shifting. DC2 could be a good shout. DC5 and S2k too far down the line. Not well enough informed about the "scene" in the US to know about S14 and things of that ilk.

[joesnow]

ferrisbueller said:

Looking at the R32 appreciation, I wonder what other Jap stuff could benefit from the 25 year rule. R33, obviously, but that's already shifting. DC2 could be a good shout. DC5 and S2k too far down the line. Not well enough informed about the "scene" in the US to know about S14 and things of that ilk.

S2000s were sold in the US. I suppose there are some European cars that would be desirable (Rover 75, anyone? ), but the desire for Japanese stuff seems similar to the following of USDM muscle in America.

Little civic hatches are rising fast I hear.
To me they look like a really clean design. No fluff.

I know this looks quite modded, but I think that's the appeal, they're light and such is the way of Hondas, that parts swap easily.

Edited by joesnow on Thursday 1st February 11:34

[ferrisbueller]

joesnow said:

ferrisbueller said:

Looking at the R32 appreciation, I wonder what other Jap stuff could benefit from the 25 year rule. R33, obviously, but that's already shifting. DC2 could be a good shout. DC5 and S2k too far down the line. Not well enough informed about the "scene" in the US to know about S14 and things of that ilk.

S2000s were sold in the US. I suppose there are some European cars that would be desirable (Rover 75, anyone? ), but the desire for Japanese stuff seems similar to the following of USDM muscle in America.

Little civic hatches are rising fast I hear.
To me they look like a really clean design. No fluff.

I know this looks quite modded, but I think that's the appeal, they're light and such is the way of Hondas, that parts swap easily.

Edited by joesnow on Thursday 1st February 11:34

I think S2k had a different engine in the US (2.2?). The Civics are already 6k for a VTi!

[Chris Stott]

I remember having a Civic Vti on an extended test drive in the mid 90's - they were on our company car list, and the leasing company sourced one for a weekend for me.

The engine was monumental for a 1.6... just revved its head off and didn't feel that torque light one up. Took my brother for a trash in it down some b roads around our parents house in Derbyshire and terrified the life out of him. Brakes were a bit iffy though - when I pulled up on my parents drive smoke was pouring off the fronts.

Didn't get one in the end, as although it was great on the back roads, the 350 motorway miles I did in it were pretty rubbish. Plus Impreza popped on to the list, and I just had to have that.

[joesnow]

Chris Stott said:

I remember having a Civic Vti on an extended test drive in the mid 90's - they were on our company car list, and the leasing company sourced one for a weekend for me.

The engine was monumental for a 1.6... just revved its head off and didn't feel that torque light one up. Took my brother for a trash in it down some b roads around our parents house in Derbyshire and terrified the life out of him. Brakes were a bit iffy though - when I pulled up on my parents drive smoke was pouring off the fronts.

Didn't get one in the end, as although it was great on the back roads, the 350 motorway miles I did in it were pretty rubbish. Plus Impreza popped on to the list, and I just had to have that.

Yes, based on experience with my first Integra, my brother had a Civic VTI around the same time. It was black, although he did look at the bright yellow 'Jordan' edition. I wonder if Eddie has one tucked away? From there he went for an RB5 Impreza. Great car.
Anyway, I can concur that the motor was pretty impressive. 160bhp in a 1.6. It did have horrendous fabric on the seats though - black with flashes of turquoise and purple.

[Chris Stott]

joesnow said:

Chris Stott said:

I remember having a Civic Vti on an extended test drive in the mid 90's - they were on our company car list, and the leasing company sourced one for a weekend for me.

The engine was monumental for a 1.6... just revved its head off and didn't feel that torque light one up. Took my brother for a trash in it down some b roads around our parents house in Derbyshire and terrified the life out of him. Brakes were a bit iffy though - when I pulled up on my parents drive smoke was pouring off the fronts.

Didn't get one in the end, as although it was great on the back roads, the 350 motorway miles I did in it were pretty rubbish. Plus Impreza popped on to the list, and I just had to have that.

Yes, based on experience with my first Integra, my brother had a Civic VTI around the same time. It was black, although he did look at the bright yellow 'Jordan' edition. I wonder if Eddie has one tucked away? From there he went for an RB5 Impreza. Great car.
Anyway, I can concur that the motor was pretty impressive. 160bhp in a 1.6. It did have horrendous fabric on the seats though - black with flashes of turquoise and purple.

The Vti I had was dark blue with (IIRC) a blue cloth interior... the interior was pretty good compared to the Impreza. I had a Series McRae (mk1, mica blue, gold forest speedlines). Wouldn't have one today, but still one of the best cars I've ever had. Pretty much uncrashable

[joesnow]

Chris Stott said:

The Vti I had was dark blue with (IIRC) a blue cloth interior... the interior was pretty good compared to the Impreza. I had a Series McRae (mk1, mica blue, gold forest speedlines). Wouldn't have one today, but still one of the best cars I've ever had. Pretty much uncrashable

Ha, well, if in doubt, flat-out, right?
I recall the Top Gear test of the McRae model, back when the Impreza was quite a pure shape. Lovely thing.
How about a McRae period Legacy. They sounded so good didn't they!

Edited by joesnow on Thursday 1st February 14:48

[Chris Stott]

The Legacy... '92 1000 Lakes... barrel rolling it and still finishing. He only had one speed.

I was rally mad in the 90's... marshaled on the RAC at Chatsworth most years, and then off in the car to spectate in Wales and Kielder. Slept in the car

Saw Colin win the WC in '95... which was the main motivation to get the Impreza in '96. Then got a passenger ride with him at a sponsor day in Wales in '97 that my local dealer sorted.

Still follow the WRC, but it's not really the same now.

[Crook]

O/H had the ESi which from memory had more power than an 8v Mk 2 Golf but less then the 16v. That engine was unburstable. The chassis had such a lovely way about it; the back end would gently step out, happly following the front around the corners but in a slightly greater arc.

Would love to have a go in the proper JDM R.

[L100NYY]

I do remember Performance Car magazine et al giving good reviews of the Civic Esi and Vti

Amazing to think how Hondas hot Civic has morphed from a subtle 3 door hatch into the current version......

==============

Some interesting fodder in the upcoming Silverstone Auction, incl some ex toys of JK, Bruce Willis, Rowan Atkinson etc.

My Top 3 (had to limit myself somewhere)

1. For Sunday blasts:
http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/suzuki-sports-b...



2. For a trip to The Revival
http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1964-austin-min...



3. For the Euro vineyard jaunt
http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1993-mercedes-b...

============

And in other news......I rather fancy one of these. Roof off, heater on and an early morning 'blast' down to Goodwood for brekkie all for the cost of a weekend away:

A little bit tweedy,

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C956441

[ferrisbueller]

Crook said:

O/H had the ESi which from memory had more power than an 8v Mk 2 Golf but less then the 16v. That engine was unburstable. The chassis had such a lovely way about it; the back end would gently step out, happly following the front around the corners but in a slightly greater arc.

Would love to have a go in the proper JDM R.

123 vs 112 and 139.

VTi was 158.

[Diesel Meister]

Crook said:

O/H had the ESi which from memory had more power than an 8v Mk 2 Golf but less then the 16v. That engine was unburstable. The chassis had such a lovely way about it; the back end would gently step out, happly following the front around the corners but in a slightly greater arc.

Would love to have a go in the proper JDM R.

ESi was ~124bhp iirc and was indeed a smirksome steer with a nice engine (standard Honda of the time imo). The VTi was an animal. Still Iike the exterior styling of that generation (interior was ergonomically excellent as well as just nicely unfussy in the Honda style too). These must be silly money now considering anything uninteresting seems to be 2-5 times as a expensive as only a few years ago...

/heads off to browse old Hondas

[L100NYY]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It is yes, probably not the one you think it is though.

"This particular car is the second 500E owned by renowned comedian, actor, and classic car enthusiast - Rowan Atkinson. He retained wonderful memories of his first 500E, bought new back in the 1990s, and always harboured a desire to own another one so, in 2015, he set about finding the very best example of the breed"