Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I need to save up first

Good work. When it worked I bloody loved mine.

That's almost Schick worthy...

No interest in that kind of thing. Or going fast. Which is good. I actually quite like the idea of slowing everyone else down :)

Wouldn't be doing much mileage at all, part of the reason for ideally picking up a lower mileage more original one. I would feel a bit bad about driving something so environmentally damaging on the face of it, but I partly want one to go on camping trips and so on in Britain as part of my campaign to persuade the other half holidays don't have to be forrin, and I'm sure a return trip for two, even in a landy, must produce less C02 than flights. Plus something 40 years old has already offset the environmental impact of the original manufacture, right?

I'm up for doing stuff myself where possible and like the idea of it. My Dad was an automotive engineer and I'm practical, so reckon I could learn quite a bit. I don't have a garage, although the local council are advertising affordable garages just down the road which is tempting for security reasons.

But yeah, I think I want one for the right reasons, which is that I just want one because I think they're a design classic, look cool, are relatively practical, hopefully not too expensive to maintain, have charm in buckets unlike most more modern cars, etc.

Did you keep yours on the street? Also, initial enquiries suggest you have to insure them as a van, not as a car, is that right?

Screw you all, she's totally behind a 2nd car now.

why?, you ran her over..?!

Giddy up.

Make it louder and smellier than the mexi - then BANG! Get to work on her for a third...

Lend me 10 bags and you can have the Volvo tomorrow.

Is brake fluid flammable? I.e would you expect it to smoke when collected on a heat shield over the exhaust manifold/turbo?

Yep,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid
even the silicones are going to give up around 280C.

Which grade are you using/losing?

^Depends on how fast I can get Hefty 10k and say "best 996 you can find please".

Just the thought of trawling through all the shit makes me lose the will to live. I hate shopping. Even car shopping.

Tbh not sure, whatever the mechanic specified for track use. Best way of cleaning it off- bucket of water? Just want to drive the car home without it combusting.

I give you £50

Water might remove the glycol ether, DOT 3, 4, 5.1 types,
but the other types will shrug water off.

Can you remove it with rags?,
until there is just a stain rather than a puddle?

(Not that you will have any wth you, but cat litter may well adequately absorb it).

Fifty you say? Hmmm. Tempting. You can get a lot of bottom brackets installed for £50.

Possibly, just drove it home (shitting myself), popped the bonnet when I arrived and it'd not got to the smoking stage this time - possibly enough volatilised on the first journey, or the engine didn't get as hot this time. Fuck knows.

In the picture below you are looking down on the heat shield- it's bolted into the exhaust manifold, and is above the turbo charger, the darker area is where it's filling up with brake fluid, and where the smoke is coming from.

I called the mechanic, he's ordering a new master cylinder assembly on Monday and will come down from Leicester to fit it (I'm paying for his time to do this).

Play your cards right and I'll install your bottom bracket as part of the deal.

I reckon C2, manual, blue, light interior, small wheels.

Well.
good that you got home without flames,
and,
the heat shield has stopped the leakage dropping onto the turbo or exhaust manifold.
'New .... assembly', lets hope it is just a joint/connector that needs tightening.

It's the pressure switch, I can see the fluid dripping from it (with the ribbed cable coming out of it):

I might look at some poly engine mounts as well:

If you like to blow some diesel. My cousin needs help in the summer with harvesting. Free 200hp tractor driving with trailers, progress to combine harvester possible.

Um red diesel....

Jean Ragnotti in the Renault 5. M.O.G. #FOS

His 2013 exploits...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj1eRRus_ZA

When I bought my Porsche I just went into Barclays in Hackney with two forms of ID, proof of my earnings and they lent me £10,000 at something silly like 3.4% over 24 months.

Give it a try, you could be in a car that's actually designed to go fast in a week or so.

Right now my outstanding debts are pretty much bang on one years salary (including the mortgage), and I'm happy for them to be around that mark.

Not going to borrow anymore until I've paid some off.