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

Awesome. I almost bought a track day prepped one a few months ago but bought a different ready to use rally car instead that needed less work

TME Evo is great, and I always fancied a RB320, but bought this a few years ago and reckon it’s a better looking car (goes ok too)-

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Yeah they’re cool, great Juha Kankkunen vibe

idk about the 205 but the 185 is really nose-heavy..

I think technically the 'bug eye' DC2 was meant for the regions outside of Japan so was the version officially imported to UK/US/AUS/NZ whilst the JDM car had the long lights as they didn't like the bug eye version.
Incidentelly, the UKDM car had a slightly higher rev-limit than the JDM car but a bit less power.
I had a Milano Red UKDM DC2 about 10 years ago and alongside my 106 Rallye, was the favourite car I've owned.

@jono84 Prices have gone up but they're still reasonably affordable. I'd reckon that they are only going to get more expensive though.

I looked online for one recently and pretty much every car i've seen in NZ has rectangle lights, which thinking about with your info is probably because they didn't bring in many of "NZ New" ones with round lights. People probably imported JDM ones from Japan privately at later dates.

JDM imports here are super common, even of more modern European brand cars.

following on the subaru talk; saw this high mile club post on pistonheads earlier

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-spottedykywt/subaru-impreza-turbo-high-mile-club/43697

Incidentally I've recently been consumed with the notion of buying an SG Forester for an engine swap project which will become a daily driver and I've joined a few Forester groups on FB. Some incredibly high mileage cars there (250k+) and going strong!

Feeling this but would like a little less lows and an inch smaller in the wheels for more tyre.

Round light Integra type R are the bestest, and that is a fact. Had a genuine UK car, great car and amazingly quick.

The odd thing I found, and I say this alot, the imports covered in stickers and modded sold quicker and for more than unmolested lower mileage ones.

Where are we with The List now? Must be getting pretty long with todays addition.

Actual lol

I look them up regularly... then wince at the prices. Then go down the list to see more other / more knackered variants that I could have for a bit of fun until it explodes. I'd look completely ridiculous and my wife would hate it (and me for buying it) but it would be worth it to indulge my inner teenager.

Problem is that as I get closer to the point that I could afford one my age gets further from the point of it being a suitable vehicle.

Now if you had a base model volvo 340, the DL 1.4 with the 4 speed box, as an engine upgrade, would you fit a clio 182 engine?

Suppose it keeps with the renault engined volvo, by why not go with the laguna/megan et al turbo.

This street can hold quite some variety

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Are you hanging out by the Scientology church again?

I'm guessing you're saying that they're known to be a bit 'understeery', which is pretty well documented and comes with the territory with this layout of car (transverse front mounted engine gearbox unit and 4wd). Extensive track driving made me realise that this is more of an internet thing than a real thing if you have a well set up car (increased rear spring rates helps), and a mild increase in power over standard makes them more tail happy. Also - they are cheap as chips compared with the contemporary metal and can tend to be poorly maintained which often results in a very poor driving experience.
It's horses for courses as always though - if you want oversteer you don't really want to be driving all 4 wheels, and in dry conditions a well driven bmw is faster, mainly 'cos it's a lot lighter (other things being equal). When things get damp however - the bmw wouldn't see where the 205 went in the twisty bits. To a greater or lesser extent these comments apply to the ST165/185/205.

I walk past the Church of Christian Science (whatever that is) twice a day and it's attached library

Church of Christian Science

Broadly Christian, but don't believe in medicine and think all illness and disease is a mental/spiritual problem which can be cured by prayer. We had two neighbours who were Christian Science believers when I was growing up.

Interesting. I think I’ll be avoiding their library

How much do you think a skoda estelle front bumper is worth?

One like this:

New thermostat finally arrived for the e46, about a month after ordering from autodoc.

With temperatures floating around 0-5 degrees for the next week, my enthusiasm for doing the job is low. And I’ve still got the fucking exhaust/cat on the Jazz to sort.

About 120 LSE I reckon

Interesting. I think I’ll be avoiding their library

Good call. I imagine their fiction department is a bit (if incorrectly) thin on the ground, while the non-fiction section is rather niche.

Can I borrow 100k off someone and a aircraft hanger?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114663898484

Sliding pilartastic