Gas Guzzling Money Pits

Cavey · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2017 21:15

Opinions obviously differ, here as elsewhere, but fast electric cars have about as much relevance to me personally as fast pendolino trains. I mean, I'm sure a fucking TGV train can do an awesome standing quarter, whilst I'm enjoying something from the buffet car, but what of it?

You can strap retrorockets to a milk float, but it's still a milk float, just a fast one.

I loathe electric cars one and all; they can all GTFF as far as I care. Give me badass V8 muscle anytime.

Cavey · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2017 21:17

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Found a photo of my first car.

The mighty Fiat Panda 1000sx

Attachment:

IMG_1379.JPG

Heh! Awesome mate, well tidy and a fun little car! Much better than my first motor by a considerable margin

Grim... · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2017 21:53

Cavey wrote:

I mean, I'm sure a fucking TGV train can do an awesome standing quarter, whilst I'm enjoying something from the buffet car, but what of it?

I'm not convinced it can!

KovacsC · **Posted:** Sun Jul 09, 2017 21:57

I quite like the idea of a decent electric car. Just need to up the miles between charging.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5148

KovacsC wrote:

I quite like the idea of a decent electric car. Just need to up the miles between charging.

The Tesla Model 3 is the first to really tempt me. It's going to be relatively sensibly priced, and with a real world 250 mile range, would be fine for 99.9% of the journeys I make.

Mimi · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 25587

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Found a photo of my first car.

The mighty Fiat Panda 1000sx

Attachment:

IMG_1379.JPG

We passed a Fiat Panda on the motorway yesterday, and o said it was squished ugly cute. Like a baby pug is. It didn't look like that, though!

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2017 10:37

A noticeable improvement on my drive into work today.

Next DIY job. EGR valve degunk!

Cavey · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:08

Awesome work, Z. How much extra poke do you reckon you've got, did they dyno it post remap?

Cavey · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:10

I'm showing the Harley at a local car and bike show this Sunday. Mrs C is showing the GT4 "Gigi".

Here's hoping one of us wins five pounds.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:15

Still doing the remedial jobs before it gets remapped. ADS gave it a health check and said they wouldn't update the software until a few things were sorted out first.

It's in a state now where it can go back to them to work out why the boost is tailing off and hopefully get the remap done then once it's fixed.

The Revo software will take it from 110bhp / 173lbft to 135bhp / 223lbft. Nothing eyewatering but a nice kick up the arse.

It's been very satisfying doing jobs on my car myself though. Makes me appreciate it al the more now I've invested time and effort into it.

Cavey · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:17

Oh, sorry, my bad - I thought it had been remapped. I'll just learn to read. :facepalm:

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:20

No worries. I was gutted at the time when I got the call saying it wasn't done but then quickly thought I'd much rather them treat cars this way than just taking my money and mapping it with parts that need attention.

Heard nothing but good reviews about the place so wasn't surprised they'd be thorough in the health check.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16557

This is brilliant, Ari Vatanen back in 1983. Amazing save at about 2:05 or so when he punctures a tyre on a wall. I could not be a co-driver.

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 9:18

I takes a very special kind of nerve, that for sure.

I've spoken to a few, and it's not that they trust the driver as you might expect - they trust every driver. As one guy said to me "None of them are dead yet, so why should they kill me?"

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16557

That guy is super cool though, some of them sound like they're petrified half of the time. Love his reaction when Vatanen clips the wall. The low-key "oh" as he gets ready for a massive crash and the incredulous "dear god" when they don't :DD

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 9:26

markg wrote:

I could not be a co-driver.

You did well holding onto the roof trim coming back from the Lakes though.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

Ha, I know those roads quite well, although I don't drive them like that

We still have rallying here every year, in many cases using the exact same routes from back in the 70s and 80s.

I worked for Dukes between 1996 and 1999, the amount of stuff they had down in their vaults was amazing. (Including a lot of stuff that simply couldn't be put on sale in modern times, like the original 'HAVOC' programmes that were absolutely no holds-barred crash reels, such as footage of Le Mans cars going into the crowds in the 50s with their fuel tanks splitting and igniting, you can imagine the results of that, IIRC over 50 people were killed in that one and hundreds injured.)

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38460

That was terrifying. I have questions...

1. That seems like a pretty standard car. Normal gear stick and such like. When did the low bucket seats and sequential gear boxes start to be the thing?

2. What does 'maybe' mean in a rallying context? Is he guessing?

I loved the "mid the service in the village" as if someone was getting married as a chavved up nova screams past at 90mph.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38460

Hearthly wrote:

Ha, I know those roads quite well, although I don't drive them like that

We still have rallying here every year, in many cases using the exact same routes from back in the 70s and 80s.

I worked for Dukes between 1996 and 1999, the amount of stuff they had down in their vaults was amazing. (Including a lot of stuff that simply couldn't be put on sale in modern times, like the original 'HAVOC' programmes that were absolutely no holds-barred crash reels, such as footage of Le Mans cars going into the crowds in the 50s with their fuel tanks splitting and igniting, you can imagine the results of that, IIRC over 50 people were killed in that one and hundreds injured.)

I think I've seen that video...

Yep. Warning. Not nice.

ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:28

DavPaz wrote:

2. What does 'maybe' mean in a rallying context? Is he guessing?

They do this in Sega Rally too. I've always wondered and thought maybe I'd misheard it?

devilman · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:34

This co-driver would leave me in a bag of nerves after seconds of him next to me.

devilman · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:36

TheVision wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

2. What does 'maybe' mean in a rallying context? Is he guessing?

They do this in Sega Rally too. I've always wondered and thought maybe I'd misheard it?

Well it says 'maybe' in the sound test

JBR · **Joined:** 2nd Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 3214

http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2012/09/20/r ... ing-about/

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16557

I think e.g. "flat right maybe" means that the turn looked shallow enough to be taken flat out but perhaps not quite, depending on conditions or how fast you end up going when you get there you might need to ease off a bit. Sort of just a modifier really between the different grades of turn in whatever system they're using.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13382

DavPaz wrote:

I think I've seen that video...

Yep. Warning. Not nice.

Yes that's it, although there was a lot more footage on the HAVOC tape, including the immediate aftermath in the crowd, which was as utterly horrific as you can imagine.

IIRC they took HAVOC and HAVOC 2 out of distribution pretty early on, and the series from HAVOC 3 onwards were the only ones available to the public, all the distribution masters were still down in the vault though.

(It's the same for all motorsports of course, a lot of stuff is filmed that never makes it anywhere near public broadcast or distribution, but it still exists.)

From Wiki:

Quote:

Jaguar driver Duncan Hamilton, watching from the pit wall, recalled, "The scene on the other side of the road was indescribable. The dead and dying were everywhere; the cries of pain, anguish, and despair screamed catastrophe. I stood as if in a dream, too horrified to even think."[17][18]

When the rest of the car landed on the embankment, the rear-mounted fuel tank exploded. The fuel fire raised the temperature of the remaining Elektron bodywork past its ignition temperature, which was lower than other metal alloys due to its high magnesium content. The alloy burst into white-hot flames, showering the track and crowd in magnesium embers, made worse by rescue workers totally unfamiliar with magnesium fires, pouring water onto the inferno, greatly intensifying the fire.[14][9] As a result, the car burned for several hours.

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:29

Hearthly wrote:

DavPaz wrote:

I think I've seen that video...

Yep. Warning. Not nice.

Yes that's it, although there was a lot more footage on the HAVOC tape, including the immediate aftermath in the crowd, which was as utterly horrific as you can imagine.

It was on TV last night, oddly. On a Paul Hollywood show.

JohnCoffey · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 12:59

Just heard a growl outside so went to see what it was.

Apols for the pic. By the time I grabbed my phone and opened the camera app etc it was already at the lights.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38460

Mark 1 escort! Love them.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 13:40

Few in here from the Fleetwood Rally

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrzardoz/ ... 9175107239

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

I've come to the conclusion that this thread is useless for people who do not wish to talk about cars.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 14:57

I don't mind you coming here

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 14:57

MaliA wrote:

I don't mind you coming here

ObvTitle

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 15:07

ApplePieOfDestiny wrote:

I've come to the conclusion that this thread is useless for people who do not wish to talk about cars.

Talk about guzzling other stuff if you like.

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 15:37

Zardoz wrote:

ApplePieOfDestiny wrote:

I've come to the conclusion that this thread is useless for people who do not wish to talk about cars.

Talk about guzzling other stuff if you like.

You must have been waiting years to work that joke in somewhere! Excellent work my friend.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16557

Does he mean the home brew thread?

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Jul 20, 2017 17:13

Pale ale.

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10074

The lump passed its first MOT away from the friendly garage in Manchester, including what isn't just the visual I thought the smoke test is, and while full of Morrison's finest. Huh.

Advisory on front pads, which is fine because it's only had rear pads in the four years/30k I've had it. Discs needed too for corrosion, they say.

They reckon the alignment was all over the place, which is also fine because it didn't quite go straight, understeered badly and ruined the inner shoulders of the last set of rears in no time.

I've got an old Clio as a courtesy car and it's simultaneously ropey as fuck and great fun. My experience says it's a good garage based on that. Ridiculously fast too, I'm wondering if they've replaced the gearbox with a shorter set.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2017 12:37

No, the Clio's have insanely short boxes.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

They really do

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12243

What's a short box (in this context)?

Does it mean that it doesn't feel as far between where the head of the gearstick rests when changing gears?

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2017 13:09

No, it means the gear ratio is low. Better acceleration, less top speed.

If you're talking about the gear stick movement you'd say "short throw".

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10074

That.

I'm pretty sure it's faster than my Renault sport twingo was, with similar gearing (3krpm at 60mph in 5th). That only weighed a ton and had 133ps so fuck knows how little this weighs!

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12243

Grim... wrote:

No, it means the gear ratio is low. Better acceleration, less top speed.

If you're talking about the gear stick movement you'd say "short throw".

Thank you. I used to own a Clio (before a tree maliciously took the front two wheels and engine off) and wondered if it would be something I would have been able to notice.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2017 13:28

I have insanely short boxers.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2017 16:13

Weird, the box in my Type R feels shorter than my Clio was. I'm cruising in 6th at 40mph at just over 2000 revs.

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2017 17:57

The GT4 has absurdly long legged 'box ratios; it'll almost do a ton in second FFS. It's my chief bugbear with the car (and everyone else's by all accounts). Probably emissions and/or noise regs related.... on a race track car made in tiny numbers....

It's such a shame because the gearbox action is beautiful; you'd want to using it more (and enjoying the enhanced acceleration). Who needs to cruise in a race car FFS

BikNorton · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 10074

Ended up with it for the weekend because their supplier gave them the wrong brake pads.

It's ace, and doesn't appear to use petrol, and I'll enjoy twatting it back down to Malvern on Monday, but it'll be nice to get the sofa back.

But also the sofa needs a transmission rebuild and suspension and turbo upgrades now.

Maybe we should pop over to the Jag dealer this weekend instead.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2017 11:47

Took the Clio Sport to Cardiff a few weeks ago to get the belts done. Took it for a 50 mile blast around the Vale of Glamorgan afterwards which was a lot of fun. I think this is the perfect London car; it's small and agile with plenty enough grunt yet is surprisingly comfortable which I put down to the softly cushioned but well bolstered seats and also the small diameter wheels and quite high profile tyres.

Liking this pocket rocket a lot.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2017 17:54

DBSnappa wrote:

Took the Clio Sport to Cardiff a few weeks ago to get the belts done. Took it for a 50 mile blast around the Vale of Glamorgan afterwards which was a lot of fun. I think this is the perfect London car; it's small and agile with plenty enough grunt yet is surprisingly comfortable which I put down to the softly cushioned but well bolstered seats and also the small diameter wheels and quite high profile tyres.

Liking this pocket rocket a lot.

Mine was great. Not so fun on long journeys but that's to be expected. My Civic is good but it doesn't put a smile on my face in the way the Clio did.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Jul 28, 2017 12:02

That's gotta hurt

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Gas Guzzling Money Pits
pointless expenses and cars

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Be Excellent To Each Other

Gas Guzzling Money Pits pointless expenses and cars

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Gas Guzzling Money Pits
pointless expenses and cars