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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 3, 2024 8:01:07 GMT
Why not stay with the BRZ ?
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Post by MartinT on Oct 3, 2024 8:47:45 GMT
Why not stay with the BRZ ? It's a good question and I keep returning to it. The reality is that it's a 2017 car with 127,000 miles on it. It's been running 50% more power for most of that. How long will the engine last? It has been a terrific car, never dumped me at the side of the road (I'm looking at you, BMWs), and been an absolute blast. But is it time to get something newer? As a fully tuned running car, it will sell for about £12,000. As breaking for parts with a blown engine, about £3,000. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 3, 2024 9:29:10 GMT
Hmm. How reliable are the engines ?
Won't your mileage be vastly reduced now ?
How much might the next one cost ?
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Post by MartinT on Oct 3, 2024 10:18:08 GMT
Hmm. How reliable are the engines ? Won't your mileage be vastly reduced now ? How much might the next one cost ? More good questions! The FA20 is a fairly reliable high compression ratio (12.5:1) flat four, designed for high power and decent economy in stock form. 200bhp is a decent power for a 2.0 litre non-turbo. By supercharging it, and achieving 300bhp, it pushes the envelope of cylinder pressure quite hard and puts the con rods at risk. I always knew that and it was a calculated risk. Servicing at Abbey Motorsport with high performance oil helped mitigate that risk. Yes, mileage is reduced but motorway munching was easy. Now that I drive outside of peak hours I tend to 'press on' somewhat and enjoy the power. The next car's cost is not part of the equation. Remember "just do it"? I have the money and want to spend some of it before I am too old to enjoy driving. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 3, 2024 18:42:12 GMT
I'm too timid to mod a car anything like that My hobbies and past times are a lot less dough. Well maybe a bob or two on hifi  |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 3, 2024 19:14:33 GMT
My hi-fi system cost twice the car with all mods, so I think I have my priorities in the right proportions.
Most of the mods were installed professionally by Abbey Motorsport, I've only done the smaller things on the car. There's little risk, it's more about knowing what you want. An out-and-out performance sports car (I'll always remember what a horrible bucket-of-nails driving a Ferrari 360 was like) is NOT my bag at all. A proper Grand Tourer is more my target.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 4, 2024 13:03:06 GMT
I've done more research.
Some more crash legislation from meddling governments means that there will never be any more shipments of the Toyota GR86 and there never were any of the BRZ Gen 2 into the UK. So that's it for that car, no more in the UK, and there is a very strong likelihood that there will never be another internal combustion engine model with electric variants already being teased.
Meanwhile, the Lexus LC-500 is being priced into the stratosphere in the used market and Lexus UK are not selling them any more, because, err, it has a big engine and politicians don't like them, see?
You wonder when they will declare that you can't use valve audio equipment any more because they get hot and they burn power, innit?
That's motivated me into immediate action, as I'm not sympathetic to this kind of intrusive and unnecessary legislation. I've initiated a search for a BRZ 'S' in Japan, 2024 or 23 model, low mileage, via Torque GT in Devon who have been extremely helpful so far, with lots of advice on the process of shipping, modifications to UK regs, registration, MOT, duty and tax.
It will take patience and several months but that's fine. This will likely be my final car and I want to make it a good one.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 4, 2024 14:12:07 GMT
The electric replacement will be truly wonderful, once they sort the bugs, around 2030 I guess |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 4, 2024 14:16:36 GMT
The electric replacement will be truly wonderful, once they sort the bugs, around 2030 I guess I think you mean functional, Mike. Functional but passionless. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 4, 2024 19:13:10 GMT
The electric replacement will be truly wonderful, once they sort the bugs, around 2030 I guess I think you mean functional, Mike. Functional but passionless. Like SS compared to valve ? |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 7, 2024 18:14:35 GMT
In other news, my old Android 9 head unit was becoming slow and always requires wi-fi hotspot. So I bought another Eonon, this one with Android 13, Android Auto and Bluetooth internet connection. The price? A ridiculously low £117. I installed the Eonon UA13 in the car today, setup the steering wheel keys to detect the button presses, connected it to my phone with Blutooth and setup Android Auto. Now everything works fully automated: I start the car, and a split Android Auto screen appears with BBC R4 in the smaller left pane and Waze in the larger right one. The radio starts playing and Waze is ready for a destination. I have Radio Paradise and Qobuz available on quick buttons too. Sound quality is improved, too, suggesting that these class D chips are getting ever better. Finally, it's fast, closer to my Samsung tablet than the dog slow earlier unit. Everything connects automatically as soon as I start the engine, no cable required and I no longer have to switch on wi-fi hotspot on the phone. I can't tell you how pleasing this unit is for peanuts money. Well done, Eonon! Better photo showing Android Auto.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 8, 2024 11:55:11 GMT
Having had a drive with the new head unit in place, I am happy to declare that the audio quality has improved from "not quite as sh1t" to "adequate". This is very welcome and means I can now play music rather than just talk radio.
As well as the head unit, I previously upgraded the door speakers to Focal and the dash mounted mids to JBL. I also added damping to the door panels. Without spending thousands, that's as good as it's going to get and is very adequate.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 8, 2024 14:28:01 GMT
One of my neighbours has a new car Range Rover and just to please MartinTAn electric one |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 8, 2024 14:40:28 GMT
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Post by Slinger on Oct 8, 2024 22:39:09 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Oct 11, 2024 7:55:56 GMT
That's motivated me into immediate action, as I'm not sympathetic to this kind of intrusive and unnecessary legislation. I've initiated a search for a BRZ 'S' in Japan, 2024 or 23 model, low mileage, via Torque GT in Devon who have been extremely helpful so far, with lots of advice on the process of shipping, modifications to UK regs, registration, MOT, duty and tax. Well, guys, I've got what I wanted and am whooping with joy sat in a Costa with a coffee when the news came in. The Torque GT team bidded on a car they found, which I approved from the tons of photos they sent, last night after conducting a full inspection. The car is a Subaru BRZ S Gen2 with the full STI kit, manual transmission, RHD, full Fujitsubo exhaust, in Sapphire Blue. Talk about a difficult find, it seems that the Japanese buy these and the GR86 mostly as automatics. It's a May 2023 car, with 5,265km, and came in under budget at £27,800 (fully landed drive away price). It's going to be 2-3 months for shipping so patience is required. Meanwhile I shall enjoy my remaining time with my 2017 BRZ. Photos to follow when they send the proper non-auction ones. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 11, 2024 8:59:12 GMT
2-3 months !
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Post by julesd68 on Oct 11, 2024 9:01:18 GMT
That's superb Martin, delighted for you.
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Post by nicholas on Oct 11, 2024 13:20:25 GMT
Well done, Martin. How will you go about selling your 2017?
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 11, 2024 14:00:40 GMT
Autotrader or specialist ?
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