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

Does make finding body parts a slight pain but looks nice - thanks. Visually it's not far off how I'd like it to look, just need some coilovers and 15" BBS wheels really.

15" BBS wheels really

Sacrilege probably but some dark grey alloys would look lovely with that colour.

Sticking it to The Man

Fuck me, detailing videos. Kill me now with shammies

@Soul I hear you, would look mean. Getting me thinking about track specific wheels in the far future, Watanabe's especially (not pictured below).

@diable hardtop on hoist in garage sounds like the dream to me. Still need to get the correct interior side panels (or cut a hole) for the side clamps to be fitted which apparently stiffen things up considerably more.

My hardtop makes a big difference - which it should do, it's 48kg.

Heated rear window, lots of insulation, makes the car much quieter and more rapid to heat up.

I'll probably put it on late November, take it back off again in early March.

I'd quite like mine to be lighter!

Built to very different price points though, and will provide quite different levels of insulation I imagine.

Hard top people,

does leaving the folding roof down for a few months not damage it?

New car time - To Diesel or not?
I live on a rock in the Irish sea.

Ha, No.
Roughly 300 per week. I'm concerned that the price of diesel is going to go up considerably when more and more manufacturers are hinting that it may be dropped from their lineups.
I'm looking for an estate and having spent yesterday touring the Islands garages everything in budget is diesel.
I've got a Corolla 1.8 sport at the minute and am getting about 30-35 mpg, in case anyone likes those figures.

Next month in Octane: how to buy a cheap 996

I heard we were talking about MX5 wheels and came as quick as I could

jambon you make me miss my NA '5. That montego blue really is something.

Dark grey RPF1s would be so choice for the track.

I'm not a farmer, sadly.

Right, going to check out another 2012 v70 tomorrow. DrivE 1.6/D2 engine (D4162T to be exact) 80k miles and nothing suspicious when speaking to seller. Now for the most commonly asked question on the internet (for me, lately) - will 3-4 longer trips a year probably be enough for me not to need to worry about the whole DPF thing? What should I look/listen for in these f@cking cars apart from brakes, tracking, try all the electronics etc?

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My girlfriend has got 2 Honda Civics a 08 and a 51, she uses the 51 as her "dog car" she's got 2 Bearded Collies, she says to me last night, "I think I'll convert the 08 to the dog car, scrap the 51 and buy a 2 seat sports car" I'm thinking cool, a BMW Z4 or an MX5, no she says "a Ford StreetKa!!!!!!!!!"

Someone selling a low mileage one near me on the Facebook if she's serious.

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jambon you make me miss my NA '5. That montego blue really is something.

Dark grey RPF1s would be so choice for the track.

Thanks, got any pics? After lurking on hairdressing forums for a few months they seem like the go to aftermarket wheels.

Thanks! I hope she isn't! But I'll show her, hope she changes her mind!

Ooooooh got you some GOLD.

Did you get the dampers too or just the springs?

Caveat, I know nothing about car shocks but I looove Ohlins bike units.

Ohlins R/T DFV dampers, Ohlins springs, Ohlins remote adjuster for rear shocks, booked into Centre Gravity for installation and setup.

Gone with 40 Nm front and 60 Nm rear springs- at CG's recommendation.

Damn - fancy, nice one fella! Set up is absolutely critical - be very honest with the guys about what type of driving you're going to be doing most of. I had front fork cartridges and rear shock on one of my old bikes, set up for fast road use and they were magic. (If not great around town or going slower)

Dis gon be good. How's the expected ride quality? Better or worse than stock?

I can say from recent experience that solid bushings/ rose joints are no fun in a road car... Hope none of that's in the plan?

Nope, it's a road car- not going to lose site of that. The Ohlins have "Dual Flow Valve" or DFV technology which is meant to allow compliance over big bumps whilst keeping things firm over smaller ones- I'll dig the link out when I am not on a phone but Google for 996 suspension Carwow, might be this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0KLBGVClpX0