MDifficult’s E82 1M Coupe & Ariel Atom 3

[MrTouring]

MDifficult said:

Time for another update…

I see you found my photo spot!

Enjoyed chasing you into the rising sun this morning! Pops, crackles and bangs spurting out the backside of the little mini!

[steve-5snwi]

MDifficult said:

Not sure I understood this? I’m really puzzled - been back to the car to have another look but can’t see what you’re referring to?

EDIT: Ah, I’ve figured it out, you mean the leather and red stitching at the top of the glovebox! You’re right, it doesn’t follow on behind the steering wheel. Never noticed it before (probably always will now!). Guess it’s because it’s a moulded bit of the dash rather than the easy-swappable glovebox.

Edited by MDifficult on Saturday 25th November 10:14

You can get them trimmed, some have alcantara at the top and leather at the bottom or just leather or just alcantara, i'm tempted to wrap mine in alcantara but then i think alcantara with a blue stitch to match the handbrake and gearstick. (LG trimming did mine)

[MDifficult]

MrTouring said:

Enjoyed chasing you into the rising sun this morning! Pops, crackles and bangs spurting out the backside of the little mini!

Was a cracking run-out if not a little slippery

Love that shot - that’s two pieces of genuine rocking-horse ste in one picture!

(Plus, a big rusty can of actual ste)

[MDifficult]

steve-5snwi said:

You can get them trimmed, some have alcantara at the top and leather at the bottom or just leather or just alcantara, i'm tempted to wrap mine in alcantara but then i think alcantara with a blue stitch to match the handbrake and gearstick. (LG trimming did mine)

Cheers. If it bugs me now I might look into it. Hopefully it won’t!

[NeilAndHisMini]

Always enjoy reading your updates, especially about the GP.

I recently acquired an Akrapovic downpipe for mine, and am awaiting a suitable opportunity to have it fitted. Took a group from my club (Surrey New MINI) to Mulgari for a little tour on Saturday morning, and to say we came away impressed would be an understatement, so it will probably be going back there to be done. Will have to consider the Powerflex engine mount as well.

And agree with you about the ICON 02 MINIs, first F series MINI I actually want.

[MDifficult]

NeilAndHisMini said:

Always enjoy reading your updates, especially about the GP.

I recently acquired an Akrapovic downpipe for mine, and am awaiting a suitable opportunity to have it fitted. Took a group from my club (Surrey New MINI) to Mulgari for a little tour on Saturday morning, and to say we came away impressed would be an understatement, so it will probably be going back there to be done. Will have to consider the Powerflex engine mount as well.

And agree with you about the ICON 02 MINIs, first F series MINI I actually want.

Cheers Neil, really glad you enjoy it.

Can't recommend Mulgari enough - there's something about a group of guys who're constantly surrounded by the best the supercar/exotic-track-car world can offer but are so obsessed about the fun of driving that they also love Minis! Make sure you do the engine mount - it really is good.

[Jimbo NW]

MrTouring said:

MDifficult said:

Time for another update…

I see you found my photo spot!

Looks a great photo spot! I see you are based in Reading is it local?

[MDifficult]

Jimbo NW said:

Looks a great photo spot! I see you are based in Reading is it local?

MrTouring won't thank me for giving it away but it's the back of the Uni campus off Wilderness road. His photography skills make a lot more of it than it is in reality!

If you've any other good suggestions yourself, we're always looking for more around the area.

[rallyeS2]

I think I may have had a passenger ride in your Exige round Oulton park. I was there with my 106 Rallye... not sure if it was during your ownership or the previous owners...

Fantastic collection past and present! (Micra excluded!)

[MDifficult]

rallyeS2 said:

I think I may have had a passenger ride in your Exige round Oulton park. I was there with my 106 Rallye... not sure if it was during your ownership or the previous owners...

Fantastic collection past and present! (Micra excluded!)

Cheers,

Sadly, I think it must have been the previous owner, I never took it to Oulton. The guy I sold it to shipped it out to Belgium although it may have come back at some point. Was an amazing car - used to go into the garage and take the cover off just to stare at it!

[MDifficult]

Two small things of note,

Firstly, my GP passed a small milestone the other morning... 33,333 miles! Please tell me I'm not the only person who takes pictures of this stuff?


Secondly, talking about the downpipe and showing pictures is all well and good but why not let you all hear it? Here goes...

(Trust me, you'll want to turn your volume up!)
https://youtu.be/c2Hkj08Piq0

[illmonkey]

that'd be addictive!

[MDifficult]

illmonkey said:

that'd be addictive!

It certainly is! With no back seats it pretty much sounds the same in the driving seat.

[Mike1990]

That sounds lovely! Never get bored of that noise.

Yours must be one the highest mileage GP’s out there ? Kudos to enjoying it

[MDifficult]

Mike1990 said:

That sounds lovely! Never get bored of that noise.

Yours must be one the highest mileage GP’s out there ? Kudos to enjoying it

Cheers, there definitely seems to be three types out there (on the rare occasions they come up for sale). There’s those that have been ‘dailies’ so have 60k or so, those that are barely used ‘investments’ with 10k or less and then the weekend cars like mine. They seem to be between 25 and 40k.

Too many miles on mine to get top money, but if I keep it down to <5k a year I’m pretty confident it’ll keep its value. If the next GP (GP3?) isn’t a manual then I think values will increase steadily. Fingers crossed!

[Aftershox]

Interested to hear your thoughts on the engine mount? Which one did you go for in the end and what differences are there?

I am toying with the idea of getting an engine mount or something hopefully to give slightly better throttle response.

Loving my GP, it's nearly on 22k miles now and purely my weekend car

If there is ever a GP2 meet around surrey/M25 let me know!

[MDifficult]

Aftershox said:

Interested to hear your thoughts on the engine mount? Which one did you go for in the end and what differences are there?

I am toying with the idea of getting an engine mount or something hopefully to give slightly better throttle response.

Loving my GP, it's nearly on 22k miles now and purely my weekend car

If there is ever a GP2 meet around surrey/M25 let me know!

Hey,

I went with the Polybush insert (the big yellow one that goes into the big end of the lower mount to firm it up). Didn’t bother with the little one in the lower mount, nor either of the upper mounts. Supposedly they’re a step too far.

I’ve done about 200 miles on the car and it feels great. Throttle and gear shift feel more connected, but it also makes the clutch more sensitive, especially when pulling away from a standstill. I think that the clutch is probably more immediate because the lower mount now has much less slack - so you’ve got to be a smidge more delicate. Not a problem (unless you’re some kind of ham-footed ape), but something to be aware of.

So far, would definitely recommend, especially since it’s cheap as chips and a doddle to undo if you don’t like it

Not come across any GP specific meet ups but if any come up, I’d certainly attemp to be there!

Edited by MDifficult on Thursday 11th January 19:16

[NeilAndHisMini]

MDifficult said:

Aftershox said:

Interested to hear your thoughts on the engine mount? Which one did you go for in the end and what differences are there?

I am toying with the idea of getting an engine mount or something hopefully to give slightly better throttle response.

Loving my GP, it's nearly on 22k miles now and purely my weekend car

If there is ever a GP2 meet around surrey/M25 let me know!

Hey,

I went with the Polybush insert (the big yellow one that goes into the big end of the lower mount to firm it up). Didn’t bother with the little one in the lower mount, nor either of the upper mounts. Supposedly they’re a step too far.

I’ve done about 200 miles on the car and it feels great. Throttle and gear shift feel more connected, but it also makes the clutch more sensitive, especially when pulling away from a standstill. I think that the clutch is probably more immediate because the lower mount now has much less slack - so you’ve got to be a smidge more delicate. Not a problem (unless you’re some kind of ham-footed ape), but something to be aware of.

So far, would definitely recommend, especially since it’s cheap as chips and a doddle to undo if you don’t like it

Not come across any GP specific meet ups but if any come up, I’d certainly attemp to be there!

Edited by MDifficult on Thursday 11th January 19:16

I'd be up for a Surrey/M25 GP2 meet, perhaps I should try to arrange something? My friends from Reading might be persuaded to bring theirs, though it only comes out on dry days.

Also ordered the big yellow engine mount bush after your earlier post. Looking forward to getting it fitted.

[MDifficult]

NeilAndHisMini said:

I'd be up for a Surrey/M25 GP2 meet, perhaps I should try to arrange something? My friends from Reading might be persuaded to bring theirs, though it only comes out on dry days.

Also ordered the big yellow engine mount bush after your earlier post. Looking forward to getting it fitted.

Hey Neil, sounds great! Let me know how you get on on both counts?

TBH, mine’s a bit of a ‘fairweather’ car at the moment but that more just trying to avoid having to clean the dried salt off two cars every five minutes.

[Aftershox]

MDifficult said:

NeilAndHisMini said:

I'd be up for a Surrey/M25 GP2 meet, perhaps I should try to arrange something? My friends from Reading might be persuaded to bring theirs, though it only comes out on dry days.

Also ordered the big yellow engine mount bush after your earlier post. Looking forward to getting it fitted.

Hey Neil, sounds great! Let me know how you get on on both counts?

TBH, mine’s a bit of a ‘fairweather’ car at the moment but that more just trying to avoid having to clean the dried salt off two cars every five minutes.

Mine is all weather, actually have a slight confession as I love it covered in muck more than being clean!