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

I guess I was just surprised in a world where plenty of other old cars seem to have jumped in value.

I'd have thought they would be much more rare in the UK than say an M3 or 205 GTi.

obvs I get all the other factors that play into it, but still.

My wife lost hers and ordered a new one a few weeks back, arrived in a few days. Not sure if it's a different process if you've just bought a car, but I was surprised at how quick that was.

I think they had too much of a niche following, like the UP GTi, most overlooked them despite them being brilliant cars.

Still waiting on mine

Still waiting on mine

I got that Xmas tree dash sorted on my 130i, the rear 3/4 panel vents had leaked water into the area the parking sensor module sits in, the resulting short causing the warning lights for every system on the car to show up.

Anyhow, this is not the sort of thing I would tackle myself but after some googling I’ve figured it out and properly fixed it without fucking anything up and I couldn’t be more pleased with myself.

When I’d assumed the problem was terminal I started looking at options for replacing it and realsised there’s nothing out there old or new that ticks all the boxes for me like this car so I reckon I’m going to commit to spending whatever it needs to keep it going indefinitely.

Wonder what was done to get that, turn up the boost on the turbos?

Am going to sell the remains of mine as I'm coming to the conclusion that I will never get the biturbo in a x1/9 done.

I wish i had the know how to answer that for you but i have no idea.

I just know its the engine they offered in italy (since they had higher taxes on cars with bigger engines) when the Ghibli II was first launched. So the italian cars were almost all or perhaps exclusively even the 2.0 whilst the exports cars were 2.8 liter with slightly less HP actually at 286 so it deffinetly had bit more boost than the 2.8s.

However all cars bought in sweden for example were 2.8s but sold with a chip so likely had a bit more HP than the 2.0s and bit more grunt as well. I dont really know what hp my car has actually but it feels like around 300 or so. Pretty quick in a straight line when it has grip which is not all that often mind u.. Next season new wider tires alltho i rather enjoy the loose tail but its getting bit silly as well :)

I'm still in biturbo territory, wanted to make a dallara x copy....the 2l engine is the most popular took over two decades to find a decent cheap biturbo and in the end one that the fire service had removed the roof and no one wanted to buy.

If I can find a decent x think I am more like to go the small modern engine but the way I am going this will never happen before cars go all electric.

Good news man; nice one getting it fixed.

I had to google that dallara x. Cool car. 200 hp should be more than enough in that. Sounds like a really nice project. If i had the know how to build cars i think i would not do much else .) My big interest in bikes comes from the fact that i think they can be so beautiful and perhaps cars even more so but bikes are cheaper to buy / maintain so it has remained my focus since im comfortable around them and with the cost they come with.. unlike cars (well or the ones ive had anyways).

and @nefarious
Sod's law it turned up today when I started wondering about how long it was taking. Took two weeks roughly.

Ha, reckon nine will take a while yet. Can’t say the garage inspired confidence!

Still waiting on mine

Still waiting on mine

Is this going to be a rolling update then? ;)

Is there and idiots guide anywhere to finding what is draining my battery while the car is off? I installed a new one as I though the old one might just be buggered. A couple of days later and its dropped about 0.5V

I’m going to post daily til it arrives. They shall hear me roar!

What car.

My top 3 guesses:

• do you have one of those BT diagnosistc readers plugged in?
  
• Sun roof
  
• tow bar
  
  

https://evpowered.co.uk/news/rbw-reveals-pre-production-ev-classic-roadster/

1 Attachment

Found mine using a multimeter (measuring voltage, wired between neg and battery) and pulling fuses until I found the circuit. I then had to work through the manufacturer wiring diagram to find the culprit. Worth it in the end

I'm going to allow you to have another 3 guesses. It's an mx5.

From battery positive to neg side of fuse in the box? Sounds achieveable.

I have put a deposit down on the v60 t5.

Aggi, last one took 4 days, a few weeks ago. It helps if you do it all online.

The reality is that I have quite a few other 'projects' that need finishing and decide what I am going to with the cars I have.

An old poorly fitted immobiliser or alarm is my guess. Or if it's an import, terrible wiring on the rear fog light is another possibility.