MDifficult’s E82 1M Coupe & Ariel Atom 3
Discussion
mattf93 said:
One of my favourite ever drives, the hill the second time was somewhat fun, overcooking it on the wide left uphill section, 
Sadly mines had a new heart since last time so Im not sure I ever want to sell it!
What happened with the 'heart'? Tell me more! Sadly mines had a new heart since last time so Im not sure I ever want to sell it!
With the potential sale of mine looking to be months away at minimum now, and little or no chance to drive it due to the lockdown, beyond polishing all I'm able to do is read and write about it
Into the fourth week of lockdown, time to add some updates if just to keep myself entertained! So here's some things that have happened:
M5
Prior to lockdown, the big blue one continued to pile on the miles. I managed to catch the big Eight-Zero perfectly timed:
But, as we all know - the most important figure to capture comes a few hundred miles later and..... I missed it by one f
king mile. bd Only been waiting 4 years for that one!
Mini Cooper S Electric
Well, I paid the deposit, chose the spec, even went for the all important 'put up or shut-up' test-drive. I absolutely loved it - the reviews are spot on.. if anything the move to EV has made the MINI a really entertaining prospect (if the relatively low range fits with your lifestyle, which it does for us). However, the whole COVID kick-off happened on exactly the same weekend as the test-drive and, like a lot of other people I decided that, right now, a new car and a big outlay of cash (I decided I wasn't going to finance) just wasn't the right thing to do. I apologised to the salesman and got my deposit back. Gutted.
When this is all over, should the world go back to some semblance of normality and should my financial position be okay.. I'll definitely revisit.
So close, but yet so far...
Lockdown Car Stuff
We're very fortunate to be able to work from home, and with our local shop just a 5 minute walk away we've had no real justification to use the cars or bike for the last few weeks (apart from a very enjoyable run to my parents to drop off some much-needed bog roll!).
So, with the cars literally 'gathering dust' I decided the only real thing I could do was clean them - again. If nothing else, it means the GP (which is still up for sale... could I have picked a worse date to try to sell it?) will one-day go to it's new owner probably as clean and shiny as it's ever been.
Two days of work...
That brought me to the bank holiday. With just about every possible chore completed around the house, every bit of reasonable DIY completed, I reached the point of boredom where I offered to detail Mr Touring's Clio. He was round like a flash, leaving it on the drive with the keys. Good job there IS a lock-down or I'd have been pretty tempted to take it for a squirt
Started out reasonably 'clean' but had been sat gathering it's own covering of COVID dust and cobwebs
Detailed the engine bay (sorry no before pic... but was bloody filthy!):
Light paint correction (it's not my car, and it's a daily and a track car - so wasn't going to go mental):
Waxing...:
Tyres dressed and job-jobbed:
Really enjoyed doing it - never detailed a white car before (white products on white paint is a challenge) but there's nothing like really really cleaning a car to get a proper appreciation for it. My favourite bit? The front wings - absolutely pure porn.
Did he like the result? Well he stopped for a photo on the way home!
And that's it. I'm really running out of things to do. If this keeps going I think the next update will end up being about my remote control car and a gaming-chair set up!
Hope everyone who reads this is still safe and well - cars are important stuff, but being fit and healthy matters most.
M5
Prior to lockdown, the big blue one continued to pile on the miles. I managed to catch the big Eight-Zero perfectly timed:
But, as we all know - the most important figure to capture comes a few hundred miles later and..... I missed it by one f
king mile. bd Only been waiting 4 years for that one! Mini Cooper S Electric
Well, I paid the deposit, chose the spec, even went for the all important 'put up or shut-up' test-drive. I absolutely loved it - the reviews are spot on.. if anything the move to EV has made the MINI a really entertaining prospect (if the relatively low range fits with your lifestyle, which it does for us). However, the whole COVID kick-off happened on exactly the same weekend as the test-drive and, like a lot of other people I decided that, right now, a new car and a big outlay of cash (I decided I wasn't going to finance) just wasn't the right thing to do. I apologised to the salesman and got my deposit back. Gutted.
When this is all over, should the world go back to some semblance of normality and should my financial position be okay.. I'll definitely revisit.
So close, but yet so far...
Lockdown Car Stuff
We're very fortunate to be able to work from home, and with our local shop just a 5 minute walk away we've had no real justification to use the cars or bike for the last few weeks (apart from a very enjoyable run to my parents to drop off some much-needed bog roll!).
So, with the cars literally 'gathering dust' I decided the only real thing I could do was clean them - again. If nothing else, it means the GP (which is still up for sale... could I have picked a worse date to try to sell it?) will one-day go to it's new owner probably as clean and shiny as it's ever been.
Two days of work...
That brought me to the bank holiday. With just about every possible chore completed around the house, every bit of reasonable DIY completed, I reached the point of boredom where I offered to detail Mr Touring's Clio. He was round like a flash, leaving it on the drive with the keys. Good job there IS a lock-down or I'd have been pretty tempted to take it for a squirt
Started out reasonably 'clean' but had been sat gathering it's own covering of COVID dust and cobwebs
Detailed the engine bay (sorry no before pic... but was bloody filthy!):
Light paint correction (it's not my car, and it's a daily and a track car - so wasn't going to go mental):
Waxing...:
Tyres dressed and job-jobbed:
Really enjoyed doing it - never detailed a white car before (white products on white paint is a challenge) but there's nothing like really really cleaning a car to get a proper appreciation for it. My favourite bit? The front wings - absolutely pure porn.
Did he like the result? Well he stopped for a photo on the way home!
And that's it. I'm really running out of things to do. If this keeps going I think the next update will end up being about my remote control car and a gaming-chair set up!
Hope everyone who reads this is still safe and well - cars are important stuff, but being fit and healthy matters most.
For a few seconds there I thought you'd bought Mr Touring's Clio! Those white wheels must be a nightmare to keep clean. Do you offer a collection service for your detailing? 
Is that still the original smiley on the back of the GP that I put on? Has lasted well if so! Shame about the electric but at least you've kept your options open for the time being.
Is that still the original smiley on the back of the GP that I put on? Has lasted well if so! Shame about the electric but at least you've kept your options open for the time being.
BenLowden said:
For a few seconds there I thought you'd bought Mr Touring's Clio! Those white wheels must be a nightmare to keep clean. Do you offer a collection service for your detailing?
Is that still the original smiley on the back of the GP that I put on? Has lasted well if so! Shame about the electric but at least you've kept your options open for the time being.
Hahah, no way he’d sell it - to me in particular! Is that still the original smiley on the back of the GP that I put on? Has lasted well if so! Shame about the electric but at least you've kept your options open for the time being.
Yup - that’s the original smiley, still in pristine condition. Partially because I feel duty-bound to look after it and the car is always garaged, but mainly because of the embarrassingly small amount of miles it’s done since I bought it from you!
MDifficult said:
Hahah, no way he’d sell it - to me in particular!
Yup - that’s the original smiley, still in pristine condition. Partially because I feel duty-bound to look after it and the car is always garaged, but mainly because of the embarrassingly small amount of miles it’s done since I bought it from you!
Very good. No need to be embarrassed about the small about of miles; I'd take quality over quantity everyday... Yup - that’s the original smiley, still in pristine condition. Partially because I feel duty-bound to look after it and the car is always garaged, but mainly because of the embarrassingly small amount of miles it’s done since I bought it from you!
With the GP2 off with its new owner, I though it would make sense to put up the last couple of photos and round out the story properly.
Thankfully, after lockdown was lifted I managed to get a couple of really good early morning runs in with MrTouring which, in hindsight, seem like the perfect swansong to a brilliant ownership experience.
All-in-all, I really can't fault the car and I'd struggle to think of anything I'd have changed about it. The Akrapovic downpipe and poly bushes remain absolutely 'must have' mods for me, but I'm really glad I didn't add any more power. Would it have been more fun with more power? I doubt it, and the additional worry of it going 'pop' just wouldn't have been worth it.
If i'd kept it, I think a proper mechanical diff would have been the only change I would've considered, but otherwise - it was absolutely perfect.
Would I recommend one? The phrase 'future classic' is bandied about with every car these days but I'm genuinely convinced that the GP2 will be looked back at as a real high water mark for the MINI brand. Small enough, light enough and fast enough. Certainly will be for me
Thankfully, after lockdown was lifted I managed to get a couple of really good early morning runs in with MrTouring which, in hindsight, seem like the perfect swansong to a brilliant ownership experience.
All-in-all, I really can't fault the car and I'd struggle to think of anything I'd have changed about it. The Akrapovic downpipe and poly bushes remain absolutely 'must have' mods for me, but I'm really glad I didn't add any more power. Would it have been more fun with more power? I doubt it, and the additional worry of it going 'pop' just wouldn't have been worth it.
If i'd kept it, I think a proper mechanical diff would have been the only change I would've considered, but otherwise - it was absolutely perfect.
Would I recommend one? The phrase 'future classic' is bandied about with every car these days but I'm genuinely convinced that the GP2 will be looked back at as a real high water mark for the MINI brand. Small enough, light enough and fast enough. Certainly will be for me
Not one to hang about, I've just paid the deposit on the MINI's replacement - to be delivered in a week's time.
Keeping it a secret until it's actually delivered but, suffice to say, I'm EXTREMELY EXCITED.
Literally no idea how I'm going to be able to wait a week. The only plus is that hopefully the rain will have packed-in by then!
Keeping it a secret until it's actually delivered but, suffice to say, I'm EXTREMELY EXCITED.
Literally no idea how I'm going to be able to wait a week. The only plus is that hopefully the rain will have packed-in by then!
MDifficult said:
Not one to hang about, I've just paid the deposit on the MINI's replacement - to be delivered in a week's time.
Keeping it a secret until it's actually delivered but, suffice to say, I'm EXTREMELY EXCITED.
Literally no idea how I'm going to be able to wait a week. The only plus is that hopefully the rain will have packed-in by then!
We shall see. I do hope it is something interesting...Keeping it a secret until it's actually delivered but, suffice to say, I'm EXTREMELY EXCITED.
Literally no idea how I'm going to be able to wait a week. The only plus is that hopefully the rain will have packed-in by then!
charles-uc3v2 said:
Really enjoyed reading this thread, so much so I now own a GP2!
Quick question re the Akrapovic downpipe, did this trigger your Engine Management Light? If so did you code it out or just put up with it?
A simple thing can sort this.... A nice remap.... DMS will do one for you (for a price Quick question re the Akrapovic downpipe, did this trigger your Engine Management Light? If so did you code it out or just put up with it?
). Trust me its worth it - had the legs on the other 3 I was with when we went for a drive No doubt MD has bought something silly and much faster now knowing him... how many Cylinders is it Tom? Give us a hint!
mattf93 said:
A simple thing can sort this.... A nice remap.... DMS will do one for you (for a price ). Trust me its worth it - had the legs on the other 3 I was with when we went for a drive
No doubt MD has bought something silly and much faster now knowing him... how many Cylinders is it Tom? Give us a hint!
It took me a while to work out why I couldn't keep up away from roundabouts. ). Trust me its worth it - had the legs on the other 3 I was with when we went for a drive No doubt MD has bought something silly and much faster now knowing him... how many Cylinders is it Tom? Give us a hint!
I have the Akrapovic electronics module with mine to stop the EML warning, still pondering a remap for more power.
Eagerly awaiting the announcement tomorrow, but in the mean time, one more pic from that drive.
charles-uc3v2 said:
Really enjoyed reading this thread, so much so I now own a GP2!
Quick question re the Akrapovic downpipe, did this trigger your Engine Management Light? If so did you code it out or just put up with it?
Hey really? Wow - I'm really glad you enjoyed it and even happier it caused you to buy one! Quick question re the Akrapovic downpipe, did this trigger your Engine Management Light? If so did you code it out or just put up with it?
Yes, the downpipe would cause the emissions management light to pop on about every 1 in 10 drives. I always had my Carly in the car so i'd either put up with it or just clear the fault in a minute before setting off.
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