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

I have been looking to get a Landrover Defender / Series II-III for a while now. done shit loads of research but always good to hear from the horses mouth... Anyone (hopefully looking to you @greenhell ) got any tips for specifics to look for/models that are best or just advice?

oof, i'd hardly call myself an authority on the matter. I just really like the look of them and thought 'fuck it'.

I pushed the boat out and got the 2012 ford tdci puma 90 - the first incarnation of the last model - It's arguably more comfortable than earlier models, has more mod cons (central locking!) and has a slightly less utilitarian feel to it. Low mileage is a plus too. pretty much a ford transit with a load of plate steel bolted around it.

These later models are expensive, but they hold their value very well.

that's not to say you can't pick up a serviceable if tatty early 00's 90/110, probably with a 2.5td for under ten grand. Avoid the hardtops if possible and avoid low mileage defenders from the countryside... chances are they've been thrown around a farm for most of their lives.

Series 1's are classic car territory. nice if you have a garage and loads of patience.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C804745

I don't know the exact size but I've got Mikuni bodies from a GSXR, most probably not off a 1000 so more likely a 600 or 750.

My setup is a bit ropey compared to yours, it's very homebrew. I've got plastic trumpets in shiney colours and the position of the bodies relies heavily on silicon hoses from the inlet manifold to the bodies. There's nothing actually supporting the bodies, they're kind of hanging off the silicon hoses.

cheers, been looking at the non roadtax series II but only have a garage in Glasgow (as you do) so thinking a defender might be the better option for street parking down here.

bear in mind the pre-2012 defenders have almost no built in security features and the ones that do aren't exactly going to put off a determined car thief. See previous posts regarding security upgrades.

oddly enough, the more versatile 110's tend to go for slightly less than the 90's. i have no idea why.

LFGSS motorised division, I need your advice and experience.

My dad has a MK2 focus ST, the 5 pot version and it needs some work.

He's had it from new and gradually upgraded it to the current point where it is hilarious: massive airfilter, full 3" exhaust with sport cat, big IC, and bluefin remap to around 300 bhp.

The trouble is that the standard clutch doesn't last long, so we're looking at the MK2 focus Rs clutch and flywheel kit and the ATB torque biasing diff to give it a midlife upgrade.

Anyone have experience of these bits?

secret stuff.
(not as exciting as it sounds)

He's had it from new and gradually upgraded it to the current point where it is hilarious: massive airfilter, full 3" exhaust with sport cat, big IC, and bluefin remap to around 300 bhp.

I don't though it sounds very much like what I'm going to start to do shortly with mine :)

Still another 400hp on that to get to truly ridiculous levels...

http://www.st-focus.com/used-car-ford-focus-st-3-5dr-668bhp-yes-668bhp-much-much-more-11178

The guy who looks after my Volvo also does the 5 cylinder Fords- the engine is familiar, shall we say. I can put you in touch?

That is redic.

That would be good @Dammit

He'll likely say Gripper diff and M66 I imagine.

ha ok. I meant more whats your job title - I went for 2 interviews there about 18 months ago for a design position

Yeah sounds like a typical bike ITB setup.

A guy i know runs bike bodies on the same engine as mine, makes good power / torque on a DTA ECU

PFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

U work for 'smoke n mirrors' Dyson? :oP

Yo dawg.

I put a small fan in yo fan so you could have an invisible fan.

Etc

What was the airblade? A thousand times more unhygienic than a paper towel? #TruFax

Why is there not a Dyson bike?

The 'Apple' of the FMCG market?

#Threaddefail

^ £350 :o$

What is so clever about that? or any of it?

Repackaged vanity shite. :o)

*Didn't get a job a Dyson.

wow.

*Buys hairdryer for wife crimbo*

*Crywanks with it.*

wut?

Jebus - £300. That's must be like the Brabus 6x6 of hairdryers...