The CLS Dinger - A Build Of Mingebaggery & Tightness
Discussion
Hello Pistonheads.
First of all I’ll get the title out of the way! Cheekily named in the style of my lottery win car. But in this case it stands for “The Crappy Little Silver Dinger” and this will be a build/project on a shoestring budget and corners cut in every possible way. The total opposite of its namesake.
I’ve loved reading this section of the internet iver the past few years. I love the variety of vehicles and interests, approaches and ideas. Absolutely love reading through and watching the development of things. So I thought I may well contribute. My approach here is to have as much fun as possible, whilst simultaneously trying to part with as little money as possible. Everything here will be DIY’d and lashed up on a driveway, no fancy workshops here, mostly because I’m too tight!
Like all of us I end up scrolling through sales sites looking for something that in theory would be good fun and within budget. But when your budget is sweet FA, nothing ever comes up. In addition, when you’ve already got project cars coming out of your ears, what’s the logic in getting another one? Other than to rub the wife up the wrong way!
I’d had a great little NA MX5 a few years ago, but unfortunately an oil pump failure wrote iff a motor, then a snapped cam cap killed the replacement off and it got split out.
I think that it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on 4 wheels as crazy as that may sound, despite it being low powered and me being far too big for it! I’ve had much more powerful things than that car, but for local backroads it was an absolute blast! I loved that car, but they were climbing in price which sucked. My first little one arrived in early 24 and I found myself super limited on free time. So the array of projects just got to much. I kept an eye out every now and again for something cheap and fun, but it just wasn’t really there. With such limited time I Liked the idea of a track day car, nothing crazy, but just something I could bash around a track. I am between Brands and Lydden so it’s crazy not to take advantage of them!
Quite a few 1*2s popped up, track prepared which I loved the idea of, but as another car, at such strong money, I just couldn’t get approval on it (from myself that is!). I also liked the E36/46, but again, prices climbing puts them out of my range. Then one night I sat in the sofa and chucked my phone down, for some reason a gumtree opened on the home page, I never use gumtree but installed the app to get some scrap metal cleared out. Much to my surprise there was a super well priced NBFL MX5 showing as a local ad. It was crazy well priced so thought I’d chuck a message over.
Much to my surprise I got a reply the next morning saying “yes it’s still available” I’d mentioned my old NA and how I was keen for another and he seemed eager for it to go to someone who had previously owned an MX5, Which was great! I’m always super sceptical with car sales, it honestly took me 9 months to replace my daily, and I’m even more sceptical with gumtree because it seems to be plagued with plonkers, but a legible advert and decent photos made me feel comfortable enough to agree to a purchase and send a deposit over and I’d agreed to go over and collect the following weekend.
Luckily the car was only 40 minutes down the road. We’d planed a day out upon collecting the car in the local town, somewhere we’ve never been before. The seller was an absolute gent. Moved some vehicles so we could park on the drive upon collection, put some fuel in and given it a wash. It’s always nice when you buy from someone so sound.
Here it is as I arrived.
The seller took me for a drive and as I suspected, it was great fun! He showed me through all of the paperwork he had and it was clear to see he had taken great car of the car, however a two car house and him working from home meant it was an expense that he no longer needed. Very sound guy who has previously owned a TT6 and had a Fantec sim setup, always nice to buy from a fellow enthusiast.
We popped down into the town, had a walk around the local castle and got some lunch in a former fire station which was nice. Here it is with the mum wagon.
Things always seem crazy busy at the moment, so it was actually a few days before I properly looked at the car. It has its areas of crust and a few scrapes, sills seem ok as does the chassis legs which is a reassurance. I’ve always been put off of the NB because of the cat, I like the idea of an early NA as it doesn’t need the cat, but it’s a silly reason not to buy an NB. In comparison to my NA which I loved, the NB seems oddly more civilised, much easier to live with perhaps. Slightly more refined than the NA. However I think I do prefer the visuals of the NA. The only thing I am struggling with is the seating position. I think previously I had floor mounted buckets, these heated seats are so thick it seems to sit me very high.
Obligatory first fill up photo.
The big old boy fits!
Ran it for a night out with the wife which went down better than expected! It’s lost among normal sized vehicles.
I was very pleased with the car, I’ve owned a few (in excess of 100) and I am keen to hold onto this one. I always chop and change in the hope for something better, but fingers crossed I’ll stick it out for a while with this one.
The car isn’t completely stock. It has a few bits and pieces.
Ebiach springs - initially I dismissed these and thought I’d chuck coilovers on straight away, but I am very impressed with these. Much better than the coilovers on my NA.
Stainless dual exit exhaust with sports cat - some scumbag stole the cat at the station during the previous owners time with the car. Most cost effective option was to chuck a sports cat in it. Exhaust sounds great, not too overbearing and the twin exit looks nice in my opinion. There is a heat shield rattle going on down there which I will have to address at some point. No EML due to the car which is also a bonus.
Rota Grid Vs with Toyo TR1s - Love a set of rotas, always think the grids look good on on almost everything. Offset isn’t crazy so no rubbing or scrubbing which is great. I had a set of TR1s on a GSI corsa many, many years ago and wasn’t too impressed with them, but I have been happy enough with these, decent enough grub in most conditions for day to day driving. Need to get the wheels sealed because they’re actually in very good condition!
Misc - got a wonky plate holder that I’ll swap out I think, clear side repeaters all round and I think that’s about it.
With a little one it’s very difficult to find the use for the car to be honest, but I continue to try. I’ll run it to work on the rare occasion I don’t have to pick the little one up on the way home. However I have just bought a suitable seat for this so hopefully it’ll get some more use. Other than that it’s taken me and the wife out for movies and dinners as and when possible. It’s certainly a different drive to the daily dad wagon, but both enjoyable in their own right.
Future plans for the car is to get it booked into a track day. Not sure where or when as the weather is going to only get wetter and wetter at this time of the year. With one of them under its belt I will then have an idea of what needs doing. I managed to source an original cat for the car, which I wanted as a “just incase” come emissions time of year. Seller also had an underbody brace that I nabbed so I’ll have to get that fitted. Main aim is to just drive it and have fun!
Please excuse any cack thread/image layout!
First of all I’ll get the title out of the way! Cheekily named in the style of my lottery win car. But in this case it stands for “The Crappy Little Silver Dinger” and this will be a build/project on a shoestring budget and corners cut in every possible way. The total opposite of its namesake.
I’ve loved reading this section of the internet iver the past few years. I love the variety of vehicles and interests, approaches and ideas. Absolutely love reading through and watching the development of things. So I thought I may well contribute. My approach here is to have as much fun as possible, whilst simultaneously trying to part with as little money as possible. Everything here will be DIY’d and lashed up on a driveway, no fancy workshops here, mostly because I’m too tight!
Like all of us I end up scrolling through sales sites looking for something that in theory would be good fun and within budget. But when your budget is sweet FA, nothing ever comes up. In addition, when you’ve already got project cars coming out of your ears, what’s the logic in getting another one? Other than to rub the wife up the wrong way!
I’d had a great little NA MX5 a few years ago, but unfortunately an oil pump failure wrote iff a motor, then a snapped cam cap killed the replacement off and it got split out.
I think that it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on 4 wheels as crazy as that may sound, despite it being low powered and me being far too big for it! I’ve had much more powerful things than that car, but for local backroads it was an absolute blast! I loved that car, but they were climbing in price which sucked. My first little one arrived in early 24 and I found myself super limited on free time. So the array of projects just got to much. I kept an eye out every now and again for something cheap and fun, but it just wasn’t really there. With such limited time I Liked the idea of a track day car, nothing crazy, but just something I could bash around a track. I am between Brands and Lydden so it’s crazy not to take advantage of them!
Quite a few 1*2s popped up, track prepared which I loved the idea of, but as another car, at such strong money, I just couldn’t get approval on it (from myself that is!). I also liked the E36/46, but again, prices climbing puts them out of my range. Then one night I sat in the sofa and chucked my phone down, for some reason a gumtree opened on the home page, I never use gumtree but installed the app to get some scrap metal cleared out. Much to my surprise there was a super well priced NBFL MX5 showing as a local ad. It was crazy well priced so thought I’d chuck a message over.
Much to my surprise I got a reply the next morning saying “yes it’s still available” I’d mentioned my old NA and how I was keen for another and he seemed eager for it to go to someone who had previously owned an MX5, Which was great! I’m always super sceptical with car sales, it honestly took me 9 months to replace my daily, and I’m even more sceptical with gumtree because it seems to be plagued with plonkers, but a legible advert and decent photos made me feel comfortable enough to agree to a purchase and send a deposit over and I’d agreed to go over and collect the following weekend.
Luckily the car was only 40 minutes down the road. We’d planed a day out upon collecting the car in the local town, somewhere we’ve never been before. The seller was an absolute gent. Moved some vehicles so we could park on the drive upon collection, put some fuel in and given it a wash. It’s always nice when you buy from someone so sound.
Here it is as I arrived.
The seller took me for a drive and as I suspected, it was great fun! He showed me through all of the paperwork he had and it was clear to see he had taken great car of the car, however a two car house and him working from home meant it was an expense that he no longer needed. Very sound guy who has previously owned a TT6 and had a Fantec sim setup, always nice to buy from a fellow enthusiast.
We popped down into the town, had a walk around the local castle and got some lunch in a former fire station which was nice. Here it is with the mum wagon.
Things always seem crazy busy at the moment, so it was actually a few days before I properly looked at the car. It has its areas of crust and a few scrapes, sills seem ok as does the chassis legs which is a reassurance. I’ve always been put off of the NB because of the cat, I like the idea of an early NA as it doesn’t need the cat, but it’s a silly reason not to buy an NB. In comparison to my NA which I loved, the NB seems oddly more civilised, much easier to live with perhaps. Slightly more refined than the NA. However I think I do prefer the visuals of the NA. The only thing I am struggling with is the seating position. I think previously I had floor mounted buckets, these heated seats are so thick it seems to sit me very high.
Obligatory first fill up photo.
The big old boy fits!
Ran it for a night out with the wife which went down better than expected! It’s lost among normal sized vehicles.
I was very pleased with the car, I’ve owned a few (in excess of 100) and I am keen to hold onto this one. I always chop and change in the hope for something better, but fingers crossed I’ll stick it out for a while with this one.
The car isn’t completely stock. It has a few bits and pieces.
Ebiach springs - initially I dismissed these and thought I’d chuck coilovers on straight away, but I am very impressed with these. Much better than the coilovers on my NA.
Stainless dual exit exhaust with sports cat - some scumbag stole the cat at the station during the previous owners time with the car. Most cost effective option was to chuck a sports cat in it. Exhaust sounds great, not too overbearing and the twin exit looks nice in my opinion. There is a heat shield rattle going on down there which I will have to address at some point. No EML due to the car which is also a bonus.
Rota Grid Vs with Toyo TR1s - Love a set of rotas, always think the grids look good on on almost everything. Offset isn’t crazy so no rubbing or scrubbing which is great. I had a set of TR1s on a GSI corsa many, many years ago and wasn’t too impressed with them, but I have been happy enough with these, decent enough grub in most conditions for day to day driving. Need to get the wheels sealed because they’re actually in very good condition!
Misc - got a wonky plate holder that I’ll swap out I think, clear side repeaters all round and I think that’s about it.
With a little one it’s very difficult to find the use for the car to be honest, but I continue to try. I’ll run it to work on the rare occasion I don’t have to pick the little one up on the way home. However I have just bought a suitable seat for this so hopefully it’ll get some more use. Other than that it’s taken me and the wife out for movies and dinners as and when possible. It’s certainly a different drive to the daily dad wagon, but both enjoyable in their own right.
Future plans for the car is to get it booked into a track day. Not sure where or when as the weather is going to only get wetter and wetter at this time of the year. With one of them under its belt I will then have an idea of what needs doing. I managed to source an original cat for the car, which I wanted as a “just incase” come emissions time of year. Seller also had an underbody brace that I nabbed so I’ll have to get that fitted. Main aim is to just drive it and have fun!
Please excuse any cack thread/image layout!
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