ListerBell Stratos
Discussion
renmure said:
DJHay said:
Any updates? Photos? Video? Sound clips?
Entertain us.
Ummm. Perhaps an update of sorts.Entertain us.
I did a sort of PH type of readers car's thingy last week which may (or may not) see the light of day next month depending on how much of a prat I've made of myself.
Now I’ve got 43 pages of posts to read through.
So, a mini-milestone for the Jubilee holidays.
After a blast around the local roads this afternoon that's a whole 1000 miles on the clock. It really is a bunch of fun and I'm getting a bit more confident about getting it a bit out of shape on demand but need to reign in the temptation a bit.
A couple of observations... my "pop-bang-flames" switchable map for the engine is absolutely OTT, totally awesome and grin-inducing. It's probably also totally embarrassing and cringe-worthy depending on your point of view. I do get that, but it just seems right for the car. I use it lots. Perhaps I'll get a baseball cap so I'm in disguise.
I do need to sort out the air-con. I wasn't totally sure at first how effective it was since I got the car in the middle of winter and wanted heating up more than cooling down. The last few runs out now that we are in to summer have confirmed I need to do something (probably simple) to get it working properly. The car has behaved impeccably with steady temperatures, fans kicking in when they are meant to and solid oil pressures all the time. However, I got home today looking like I'd had a shower with sweat pouring off me. In saying that, the roof scoop vents do a great job of shifting (warm) air around the cabin so that has helped.
I'm getting a consistent 18 mpg. I've no real reference whether that's good or bad. It seems ok to me I guess. I'm pretty sure I could drive it far more conservatively and I suppose frequent use of what is effectively an over-fueling map isn't helping matters. I do have an issue with the fuel tank calibration which shows just under 3/4 full on the dial when totally brimmed then dropping to 1/4 full after about 50 miles before not doing much. The tank is a weird shape so I can see the problem and fortunately I can zero the rally trip computer at each fill-up to keep a track of the mileage and reduce my range anxiety.
Shift lights on the rev counter are very handy although I've bumped into the rev limiter on my way up the gearbox a couple of times. It feels like there's a lot going on very quickly.
It gets a lot of attention. So far, all positive. In only 1000 miles on what are fairly local countryside roads I've had everything from being chatted to at petrol stations, supermarket carparks, traffic lights and pretty much everywhere else I get caught stationary. I've been followed by bikers giving huge thumbs-up, by neds in souped-up Corsas with their mobile phones hanging out the window filming things (having been a ned in a souped-up Corsa I can relate to that) and goaded into silly stuff by middle-aged blokes (I can relate to that a bit as well) in their BMW M-whatevers into showing a brisk pair of heels around bends.
Downsides remain the same. It's an absolute bugger to keep clean. Yellow wheels seem to attract dirt and dust when stationary and the coffin-spoke design means it stays put.
Other than that... roll on the next 1000 miles.
After a blast around the local roads this afternoon that's a whole 1000 miles on the clock. It really is a bunch of fun and I'm getting a bit more confident about getting it a bit out of shape on demand but need to reign in the temptation a bit.
A couple of observations... my "pop-bang-flames" switchable map for the engine is absolutely OTT, totally awesome and grin-inducing. It's probably also totally embarrassing and cringe-worthy depending on your point of view. I do get that, but it just seems right for the car. I use it lots. Perhaps I'll get a baseball cap so I'm in disguise.
I do need to sort out the air-con. I wasn't totally sure at first how effective it was since I got the car in the middle of winter and wanted heating up more than cooling down. The last few runs out now that we are in to summer have confirmed I need to do something (probably simple) to get it working properly. The car has behaved impeccably with steady temperatures, fans kicking in when they are meant to and solid oil pressures all the time. However, I got home today looking like I'd had a shower with sweat pouring off me. In saying that, the roof scoop vents do a great job of shifting (warm) air around the cabin so that has helped.
I'm getting a consistent 18 mpg. I've no real reference whether that's good or bad. It seems ok to me I guess. I'm pretty sure I could drive it far more conservatively and I suppose frequent use of what is effectively an over-fueling map isn't helping matters. I do have an issue with the fuel tank calibration which shows just under 3/4 full on the dial when totally brimmed then dropping to 1/4 full after about 50 miles before not doing much. The tank is a weird shape so I can see the problem and fortunately I can zero the rally trip computer at each fill-up to keep a track of the mileage and reduce my range anxiety.
Shift lights on the rev counter are very handy although I've bumped into the rev limiter on my way up the gearbox a couple of times. It feels like there's a lot going on very quickly.
It gets a lot of attention. So far, all positive. In only 1000 miles on what are fairly local countryside roads I've had everything from being chatted to at petrol stations, supermarket carparks, traffic lights and pretty much everywhere else I get caught stationary. I've been followed by bikers giving huge thumbs-up, by neds in souped-up Corsas with their mobile phones hanging out the window filming things (having been a ned in a souped-up Corsa I can relate to that) and goaded into silly stuff by middle-aged blokes (I can relate to that a bit as well) in their BMW M-whatevers into showing a brisk pair of heels around bends.
Downsides remain the same. It's an absolute bugger to keep clean. Yellow wheels seem to attract dirt and dust when stationary and the coffin-spoke design means it stays put.
Other than that... roll on the next 1000 miles.
stickylabels said:
Been following your build/thread over the last few years. Just read that you have sold the Ultima (boo...hiss etc...!) and then whadayaknow, there it is parked in the middle of Brook St on the Scottish riviera this afternoon. Looks absolutely lovely, enjoy!
(potato cam pic)
Haha, It was the Ferry Riviera wasn't it (potato cam pic)
I'd actually just been for a blast up to the ski centre in Glenshee (photos to follow) and was probably sitting in Brambles Cafe just along from the car eating a bacon roll and wondering who was taking the photos
Up and over Glenshee to the ski center yesterday and stopped for coffee at the top.
Fun on the way up as I accidentally discovered that leaving the all the front lights blazing worked a treat in encouraging everyone else to pull over and let me through on the narrow twisty bits. Felt a bit of a plonker at the top tho as everyone I'd passed also stopped for coffee. They probably thought I was desperate for a wee.
Fun on the way up as I accidentally discovered that leaving the all the front lights blazing worked a treat in encouraging everyone else to pull over and let me through on the narrow twisty bits. Felt a bit of a plonker at the top tho as everyone I'd passed also stopped for coffee. They probably thought I was desperate for a wee.
Dazdot said:
My brothers and myself were certain we saw two of these today, you weren't anywhere near Uttoxeter this morning around 10am were you?
As an update... the jungle drums tell me that you were likely to have seen these two LB STRs heading to The Really Retro Show near Stafford Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff