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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 13:32:07 GMT
let me see E-tron dived by orange fuses, only a coupe of months to go then Dave
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 31, 2019 14:08:37 GMT
I understand that they made such wide-ranging changes to it that it brought about the downfall of Saab due to the cost. GM were not impressed (but should have designed a better car). I know they upgraded it to the point where they made little if any money GM said stop it, they carried on
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 1, 2020 11:40:19 GMT
I've got to buy a new car this year. Thanks to the new environmental standards for cars in London my old Honda Civic will earn a retirement after 150k due to its CO2 emissions. Technically we could keep it but not sensible as from next year we would have to pay every time it enters the new extended zone.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 29, 2020 13:17:14 GMT
I had the BRZ down at Abbey Motorsport last week to sort out a couple of gremlins. One was a peculiar noise when revving which turned out to be an exhaust crack which only opened when the engine was tilted slightly - easily welded up again. The other was some fuelling issues when pulling away which made it jerky. Again, very quickly sorted out in the ECU with a dyno run.
I did jokingly enquire about a smaller pulley for the supercharger but they warned me that I would be out of the safe zone for the 2.0l flat four engine in stock form, so 300bhp it will remain. It's plenty, anyway.
The car now drives amazingly smoothly and hums along on the motorway. It's never quiet but it's not hooligan loud, either. Power is there in typical supercharger manner: slow shove in the back, building up with revs. No turbo snatch, no surprise tail-out unless you want it (I don't).
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Post by MartinT on Feb 1, 2020 17:31:06 GMT
I spent a few hours today installing a front lip, or splitter, on my BRZ. It's a real STI (Subaru Technica International) item and would have been exorbitant to import from Japan. However, I managed to buy a brand new surplus to requirements one from a BRZ forum member at less than half the cost. Luckily today was a gorgeous sunny day so lying on my back for several hours drilling holes wasn't such a bad way to spend a Saturday.
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Post by Barrington on Feb 1, 2020 17:49:21 GMT
Very nice Martin .
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 1, 2020 18:19:24 GMT
Yep, congratulations on drilling holes for an afternoon and getting your first STI Martin! Sorry, just couldn't resist.
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Post by Barrington on Feb 1, 2020 18:48:56 GMT
Had a bit of fun with my cars recently , I removed the airbag on the Z3 to get the steering wheel refurbished and couldn't get the warning lift off on refit , so I bought an OBD2 reader that was going cheap-ish . Reset airbag ok , the next week the E-Class throws an engine light , RH air intake sensor fault and so began a bit of a saga . It's a 3 litre engine and all the YouTube vids showed people removing sensor and cleaning it or replacing if that didn't work . I just could not find the sensor , turns out my engine was newer (2012) and both right and left sensors are in the MASS Airflow manifold : The sensor sockets are there left and right , easy except they are now built into the unit and can't be removed . Doing a bit of research on forums and there were stories of £1500 for Mercedes to diagnose and replace , even worse reports of it not rectifying the fault . No part of this unit comes apart but a guy in the US had used a heat gun to remove the sections holding the sensors and swap them around to see if the fault changed sides . So I set about this as I have a heat gun , had to reheat to get the flanges to reseal after the swap . Back on the car and sure enough the fault went from right to left , so ok I bought the part , £250 for a piece of plastic ! Either side of the intake bellows their are filters (not shown) these were semi blocked which tend to cause the sensor fault as oil is sucked out of the turbo , I cleaned them but decided to buy some new ones . Right , on fitting the unit the plugs wouldn't match up with the sockets , my plugs are four pin , the sockets 5 pin , a 2015 modification . The seller excepted my return but didn't have a four pin unit , found a few but and this is a big but - £750 ! I decided to go to a local independent Benz outfit and ask about a quick fix , nope you need the unit and yes they are £750 for a piece of plastic tunneling with two £5 sensors , scandlous ! Back to ebay and I managed to source one for £550 , comes next week .
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Post by MartinT on Feb 1, 2020 19:16:09 GMT
This is why I became fed up with German cars after owning a string of BMWs. I swear their parts sales make more revenue than the cars. Also, silly designs like the above, making the MAF sensors part of the inlet manifold. What a stupid move. People who buy these cars have no idea what they're letting themselves in for. I've ranted before about Ruth's Audi TTS and the eye-watering Haldex service cost for the four wheel drive system. We asked around and no-one would touch it, only an Audi service centre will do it.
Your only recourse is breakers yards in the hope that they have a compatible model for stripping down. Or buy a Japanese car!
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Feb 1, 2020 19:52:04 GMT
I spent a few hours today installing a front lip, or splitter, on my BRZ. It's a real STI (Subaru Technica International) item and would have been exorbitant to import from Japan. However, I managed to buy a brand new surplus to requirements one from a BRZ forum member at less than half the cost. Luckily today was a gorgeous sunny day so lying on my back for several hours drilling holes wasn't such a bad way to spend a Saturday. Looks very nice Martin, like these.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2020 7:22:53 GMT
Car meets are back on.
We're doing a BRZ/GT86 get-together at Beachy Head next Sunday. Have to admit it'll be great to get out.
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Post by tarzan on Jun 15, 2020 10:22:43 GMT
Black Jeep Renegade ( 2017 ) and for the lady of the house a vintage Honda CRV ( 2000 vintage ) which she will not let go of.....
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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2020 10:37:37 GMT
There must be a Jeep club or two around.
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Post by rfan8312 on Jun 15, 2020 13:26:55 GMT
I just bought a 2005 Toyota Carolla with only 42,000 miles on it and one previous owner.
I'm very happy with it and it's a bit of a dream for me. The car is silent you don't hear anything. And I drive it like a 98 year old lady hoping to keep it that way.
It was an emergency purchase as my Honda Civic 2003 died on me last week, and I'm almost relieved because that car had nothing but problems from day I've, it was a money pit and this time the problem was a worn out seal between the transmission and motor that was beginning to leak more and more oil. And last Sunday after a nasty storm the transmission just stopped responding.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 15, 2020 13:34:21 GMT
You've been unlucky there - I've just parted ways with our 1997 Civic that had been wonderful to own and 150k miles. Would have run it for longer if it wasn't for the incoming new emissions rules for London.
Bought a 2016 Mazda 3 which I'm still getting used to as it's very different to drive and also has a lot more tech of course.
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Post by user211 on Jun 15, 2020 16:46:31 GMT
Porsche Boxster 981. Bought over 5.5 years ago new.
Done about 85K miles in it. Flippin' fantastic car. I am planning on never selling it but I suspect I may. Eventually.
Drove Merc SLKs for 13 years before buying it. Huge mistake. Massive. As soon as I had driven the Porsche a few miles this reality dawned on me.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2020 17:23:04 GMT
I'm very surprised to hear of an unreliable Honda. It's almost unheard of.
Mazda's Skyactiv tech is impressive in running engines at very high compression ratios for efficiency without blowing them up (they leave that to the RX-8).
Porsche Cayman is supposed to be the grown-up upgrade from my BRZ. They are both bred for driver enjoyment above all else. Never driven a Boxster or any Porsche, but always admired them.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 15, 2020 17:42:51 GMT
Not been able to drive the Mazda for long enough to really test the fuel efficiency but in theory the 2.0 produces better MPG than my 1.5 Civic did.
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Post by user211 on Jun 15, 2020 18:10:02 GMT
@martin.
Cayman is good. Drives a tinsy bit better than a Boxster due to the rigidity and it has better cabin space, but it's basically the same car.
But if you can't flip the lid on a car I am not interested.
I have driven quite a few Porsches now. They keep giving them to you when you take them in for a service or if you go to the open days.
The Macan defies the laws of physics I thought. You can chuck it around in a manner you simply don't expect.
The 911s I have driven do NOT drive as well as as the mid engined cars IMHO because I can't get over how the engine position makes them feel plain weird.
The latest flat 4 Boxsters/Caymans haven't sold well and basically they have re-introduced flat 6s in the more expensive models. Basically the flat 6 naturally aspirated engines just feel and sound better. But even the flat 6 now suffers from emissions issues which compromise the sound.
Basically if you opt for a Cayman ever get a 981 flat 6. And keep it:)
I test drove a Tesla Model 3 a while ago. Fast, no question, but just not as much fun, looks shit and doesn't handle as well.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 15, 2020 21:42:00 GMT
Funny, I've always preferred tin-top coupes.
There is a strong link - Subaru and Porsche are pretty much the only two manufacturers making flat fours. The naturally aspirated 2.0 Subaru engine in the BRZ/GT86 is highly tuned for 200bhp but has little torque, which spoils an otherwise awesome chassis. I have never driven a car that's more pointy but predictable. The opposite of a string of BMWs I had before. Adding a supercharger to my BRZ was exactly what it needed - because it's not a turbo but feels exactly like a bigger engine. The throttle is hair-trigger, if I'm tired any shaking in my foot modulates the engine quite obviously.
I've got my eye on a Cayman perhaps for one day, but I'm still having a love affair with my Subie.
Tesla. Soulless.
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