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

Yeah, i have started updating the thread on Retrorides too, well remembered.

Think I've found an MX5 that's worth buying to swap all my shit over to. We're back to that plan since I get paid my bonus at the end of the month and it's enough to sort all this shite out.

Polishing compound question, would I be correct in ranking these in order of most abrasive to least?

• 1,500 wet and dry
  
• T-Cut
  
• Autoglym Super Resin Polish
  
• Renovo window polish
  
  

?

Anything better to use to de-fog the rear plastic window? I had wondered about Brasso but it apparently contains ammonia which is inimical to the plastic of the window.

Any opinions on buying a shit one <£1k ?

I'm quite tempted.

It'll last a year.

You could get lucky and find a gem, but the sub £1k market is mostly populated by kids who buy an OK car, don't maintain, try and drift it, and then flog it when they're bored.

As @diable says, rusty sills and chassis rails are common.

You will never properly defog the window, are the Porsche windows stitched in or zipped in?

Zipped, bonded and heat-sealed. You'll never get a replacement window not to leak (anecdotally anyway).

I've just had the bill from Matt for my Bespoked bike so it's safe to say that I'm going to make what I can from the existing hood for now, and I've definitely made progress just with the polishing I've done so far.

This one looks ok to me http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201702082124208?onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-asc&radius=1500&model=MX-5&make=MAZDA&price-to=1000&postcode=e175jz&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1 but I don't know anything.

This mornings job - Gussets (lol)

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my old 1.6, Koni's, roll bar. Sold..for £1k. Such fun. Such regret.

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Such rust?

Only superficial. Rarely for an import, it seems the sills were OK, perhaps coated.

I really like that colour on early mx5s

Could slide round every corner like a pro and I'm no amazing helmsman. Rock hard ditchfinders helped this, those bastards didn't wear at all in 000's of miles.

Don't know much about MK2s but if the chassis rails and sills are good, then that looks like a Billy Bargain

Me too, Mariner Blue.

These are excellent - keep the updates coming!

Exact colour and mark I'm after, hnnng

My more boring topic, but does anyone have a recommendation for a phone cradle.

I was just reading the RAC guidance and thought it might be more sensible / easier to have my mobile in a cradle as opposed to its current home in a cupholder.

Not sure if it changes anything but I'd need to be able to run and aux cable for Spotify to where a cigarette lighter would usually be located.

Cheers

Biggest issues is numb turn in and steering feel compared to my benchmark FWD cars - Panda, Ford Puma, Citroen AX GT.

I'd guess your current car has electric power steering and those have hydraulic power steering?

Would application of heat fix this seal?

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The Panda had electric PAS, indeed the setup should be very similar as one is based on the other. But you are right, both older cars hydraulic and better.

Also, one is a PSA 80s/90s hatchback,so inevitably is the best handling FWD option evar.

Faracle http://www.farecla.com/products/compounds-glazes-waxes

Rubber has stretched and is old, so no.

Ax gt is good, and the panda and 500 have the same electric assistance and the controller is under the steering wheel. Common cause to scrap older cars as the cost to replace and re calibrate is very expensive.