106 to 911 car history

[ashgt4]

Hello
I have Been a member on here for a while and have attended a few local meets over the years but never really posted much

I always find myself reading the car history threads, I think it's great reading people's experiences and cars over the years so thought I would start my own as I'm currently sitting here feeding a new born for the 5000th time!

My 1st bit of freedom at 16 was a 50cc aprilla rally, which was quickly derestricted.



Before i passed my test i brought a pug 106XS 1.4 completely standard sub 90 bhp power house. Cost me £1,500 quid in 2002 and the same to insure when I passed.

After a few weeks of ownership the modifying started backbox with twin exit tips, lowered, k&n, debadged and delocked boot and a stu-pedous-ly loud sound system gti wheels
Similar to this



After a years no claims it was time for an upgrade

Enter the Almera GTI with only 54k miles again completely standard which didn’t last long! Wheels, lowered, full exhaust system from engine back with both cats removed and the stu-pedous-ly loud sound system transplant from the pug (which you needed to hear the radio over the exhaust!)

After a couple of years I got the itch for something else so I sold her to my brother who only recently sold her on now with 158k miles and still running the original clutch!!



Now that I had built up a couple of years no claims I could upgrade to something more powerful so after a few months of searching I purchased a 1994 Celica GT4 WRC 49k miles near standard. I owned this car for 6 years and she underwent a number of different looks and modifications. The final specification was:

Engine

Greddy Turbo TD-07
Greddy 4 branch manifold
Greddy external wastegate and screamer pipe
K&N induction kit
Front mounted intercooler
Custom front exhaust section and down pipe to aussie and blitz centre. Straight through no cat and silencers removed
Turbosmart Supersonic dumpvalve
Blitz icolour boost controller
SARD ECU
Battery relocated to boot

Transmission
Clutch masters FX300
TRD short shift

Suspension
TRD coilovers
TRD front strut brace

Brakes
Front - EBC dimpled and grooved disks
Yellow stuff pads

Exterior
Carbon fibre front splitter
Original TRD skirts, wrapped in carbon fibre
TRD rear sprats, wrapped in carbon fibre
Ultra light 17” white wheels
Rear number plate surround filled and smoothed and number plate relocated
Clear fuel cap cover fitted
Rear window spoiler fitted
Head light removed and grille added
Clear front indicators and 3rd brake light
TRD mud flaps

Interior
Cobra Dayton seats
Sparco 3 point harnesses
Rear seats removed
Pillar pod with greddy boost, oil pressure gauge
Drivers air vent removed and oil temp gauge installed
Carbon effect dials and blue led back lights

This was my favourite car to date and such a learning curve as i carried out all the modifications myself except the clutch fitting





While I had the gt4 I also bought a house which required a major refurb/extension and the GT4 wasn’t the most practical car so I purchased a truck, a 1993 mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 SWB. As with my previous cars I got bored after a few weeks and started modifying! Bigger tyres, steel wheels, 4” lift, winch bumper ETC and started doing some light off





When the house was complete I kept the truck as my daily and the GT4 as a toy. This worked well for a few years until my wife found out she was expecting, she drove a two door golf 1.8t GTI so none of the cars were really ideal with a baby. So we agreed to sell all 3 and get 2 family friendly sensible 4 doors with big boots, there was only ever one option for me so after viewing 6 cars (all over priced dogs) I purchased a 1999 Mitsubishi EVO 6 and astra diesel Sri as the family wagon for the wife

The evo was completely standard car...... for a few months it ended up running stage 1 dynoed to 320. I was happy with that as I did all the mapping myself on the road via a laptop and Afr gauge.



After 18 months in the evo and a good few trackdays it was time to get sensible and save a bit of money. I was given the astra and bought the missus a bmw 120d.

I managed 3 months in the diesel astra before I missed the petrol car

So the search began again. It needed to be baby friendly (3 seats min and decent boot) and be fast-ish and as my missus put it not a modified Jap track car. So I thought i would go down the sensible German route so after a good 6 month search I purchased the next family wagon

Porchse 911 996 3.4 with factory aerokit, sports exhaust, induction kit and upgraded option wheels. I love this car completely different to anything I have owned before. I do miss the Acceleration of a turbo Jap car but once it's moving it just wants to keep going!

Only thing I didn't like was the height so I spend a weekend lowered it





When I had the evo I caught the track day bug but really didn't want to take the porsche on the track so my brother and I brought a mazda eunos 1.6



Good little car in the corners but on the straights just wasn't enough. We did look at going down the turbo route but I haven't really got the time to fit it so we sold the mazda fairly quickly.

After a few months of searching I found the perfect track car replacement e36 328i which I have slowly track preped over the last 2 years. Great track car and last year did a track day a month, think it's safe to say I'm hooked!



Recently I've started to miss the joys of a turbo car. So 8 months ago I started to search for a project and this popped up in November. Wide arch rx7 needs some work but had a full respray a few years ago then was garaged so is low mileage and great condition but did need some work and after 3 months of late nights it's got the MOT next week!





Alive

After a few months and some late nights

More to follow on the rx7 build as I go!

[BricktopST205]

ST205 vs Evo 6. How did they compare?

[ashgt4]

I'll always have a soft spot for the 4 as it was my first fast car and personally I think it's a lot better looking but to drive the evo was alot better in everyway

[alec.e]

Lovely garage! The 996 and rx7 are two cars I would love to own

[ashgt4]

cheers mate having lived with the rex all of 10 miles, the seals have gone on the rear turbo and it died on the way home from the test centre then sprung back into life. On the plus side it passed the MOT!