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

Not sure what the auto-box is like on those twinscrolls.
You will need to get it remapped anyway - they don't much like uk fuel.

Also - I would avoid cloth seats with a small child....

Cloth seats are fine, just get one of those protection sheets you have for dogs

Any idea how old the A6 is? Mine has been using a bit of oil recently (topped up today).

Just a bit of idle day dreaming really. Bar the most basic Westfield kit most seem a lot more expensive than I thought they'd be.

If you're not that bothered about building it, then second-hand pre-built cars are a lot cheaper usually than the kits. If you really want to build something, then there are plenty of options which are cheaper than a Westfield and a lot cheaper than a Caterham. I have a particular soft spot for the Striker since I have one.

It’s a gen 3 so twin turbo not twinscroll. If I ask for an import to my spec I could ask for a manual but I’m pretty lazy these days.

Edit: oh right. I should probably know which car I’m trying to buy. It’s a gen 4 I see now. Interesting.

This one ? https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/legacy/legacy-gt-b-spec-b--aero-kit--cruise-control--fresh-import/8182459

Is defintely an (early) Gen4 and a twinscroll single turbo.

Yes sorry I just edited my post, I’ve got confused somewhere along the line. Good job I didn’t put a deposit down, but it’s not an issue I just need to make sure I understand the differences.

Hah - no worries, I still miss my Gen4 SpecB (UK 3l flat 6 version)

Nothing really changes, it's the car I want, I just thought it had a different turbo setup and most probably why the guy on the other end of the phone sounded a little confused.

Oil use is higher with DI turbo cars yes but in Audi's case they built a series of engines that had poorly designed or flawed Pistons and rings. The oil use eventually gets as bad as 1 litre per 200 miles ie: engine borked.

is there any way of knowing if they are oil guzzlers, short of long test drive?

Not that I know of. I've only been told by Audi that cars with engine codes of CDA, CDZ and CDN are confirmed oil burners. It was a real issue for 1.8-2 litre TFSI engines from 2008 -12

the Striker

That looks cool.

Did you go for a self build? And what engine?

At some point down the line I'd like to build a car of some sort. Although it would probably make more sense to wait until I can start spending more in France where weather wouldn't be an issue.

The idea of something simple that could be worked on if left for a while appeals. Although I don't know how much a kit car would like sitting around most of the year and I don't think my old man would fit in something like that, so there would be little chance of it being run.... although if it's a kit car maybe it could be modified to be a 'wide body' variant.

Either way a good few years off.

You've seen MCM super Gramps build right? An 11 second super practical car... Who wouldn't want that!
And panoramic sunroofs suck.

No, I bought it second hand after I wrote off the Fisher Fury that I had built myself. It's got a ZX9R bike engine in it.

Although since I bought my Striker I have replaced the engine (three times), the brakes, the wheels, the bodywork, the dashboard, most of the electrics, the seats and the gear shift system. Apart from the chassis, there's not a lot left that I haven't rebuilt or replaced at some point. This is what it looked like a while back - since then it's had new wheels fitted (black Compomotive CXRs) and a different exhaust can (that one could be heard 5 miles away across open countryside).

That looks a lot of fun. How did you end up with the ZX9 motor? There can't be a huge number of those still around.

Entertaining description: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-VW-PASSAT-W8-4-0-LTR-6-SPEED-MANUAL-ESTATE-EXTREMELY-RARE/152903733852?hash=item2399c5d25c:g:w9gAAOSwIk9agEnh

That's what it had fitted when I bought it - a ZX9R C2 engine. It originally had a Ford X-Flow, but the bloke I bought it off converted it to a ZX9R engine. Great engine, gearboxes are made of cheese, hence the 3 engines. I've now got it fitted with an Nova Racing aftermarket uprated gearset, but I did come back from one continental touring holiday with only four working gears - 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th. The engines are pretty easy to source - I've never had any difficulties finding replacements in the past.

Bit of a trek but I can recommend Surrey Scoobies for tuning stuff

Pretty rad.

Is it using a sequential(?) bike shifter? I guess it's light enough to roll backwards if you ever needed to.

I predict electronic reverse

Makes sense.

The only bikes with reverse I could think of are all quite pricey ones that didn't seem likely to use in a car.

Is it using a sequential(?) bike shifter? I guess it's light enough to roll backwards if you ever needed to.

Yep, it uses the standard bike gearbox, so a 6 speed sequential with no synchros, just a dog shift. You basically just replace the output sprocket with a propshaft adaptor, turn the engine round 90 degrees, and bolt a propshaft to it. The gear shift was originally a fore-aft stick shift, but I converted it to a mechanical paddle shift behind the steering wheel - right hand for down, left hand for up.

The reverse was a biomechanical voice-operated reversing unit. In other words, if we needed to go backwards, @Cycliste would hop out and push the car backwards. Generally only necessary in car parks - the rest of the time a bit of lock, lots of revs and dumping the clutch would soon have you pointing in the opposite direction. It is fairly light - 420kg with fluids.

Nope, no reverse on the Striker. The FuryRacer has an electric reverse involving a Fireblade starter motor, a machined ring gear on the end of the propshaft and some idler gears on a sliding shaft. Race regs require a working reverse, and asking the other half to run across the track to give you a wee push doesn't count.

Chap who was interested in the car has popped back up, but wants to pay £8k. I would like more, but have asked to meet in the middle at 9k.

Also unsure as to when deal might happen.

Meanwhile phone of chap with R36 ringing off hook - he’s now away for weekend and can’t show the car to anyone else until say Monday though.

All annoyingly stressful.

Are you looking for an R36?