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

shudders

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1401835_10151735196359249_1948370022_o.jpg

Always loved that era.

The Panzerwagen passed it's MoT. Yay!

Now to treat it to a service at AutoMerc.

wicked

I can recommend going to the council MoT place, chatting Mercs, old motorcycles and chickens(!) with the MoT tester, by the way, so that he says things like 'Do you use the handbrake much? No, then I won't fail you on that', or 'I won't test the emissions cos there's no way they would pass - just get it serviced, yeah?'

Brilliant!

there's a no win no fee mot station in deptford like that.

I used to go to a place in Camden that tested the seatbelts, did a couple of emergency stops and then handed you your ticket.

Immoral.

The best thing is that I thought 'the only things it might fail on are the emissions and the parking brake'....

Hasport Hondata Insight car #2010 Crashes at El Mirage Nov '13 - YouTube

christ!

Yummy!

Like a poor mans A C Fukin Cobrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaa...

http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/11/wait-thats-miata-pit-crew-style/

I'm confused how this photo is even possible.

it's like all the planets aligning.

Yummy!

Like a poor mans A C Fukin Cobrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaa...

http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/11/wait-thats-miata-pit-crew-style/

I love pitcrews!

those fucking rear wheels.

I know it's been done to death, but that is a really cool little car spoilt by the modern equivalent of jacking the back of the car up miles in the air or a massive boot spoiler.

might as well paint a naked woman or a fucking wizard on the bonnet.

please put a set of the front wheels on the back.

I have no complaints with the offset but the stretch is fucking retarded. That Miata makes me pine for my old 5, although mine was a little more restrained than that one.

excuse the instashite. may it rust in peace.

Put some arches and decent tyres and it's be alright.

I don't particularly care about the aesthetic of stretched tyres but what concerns me is the safety aspect. Under load the centre of the tread is pushed away from the tarmac reducing the contact area. So the nice 195 you have stretched to a 7.5" wheel reduces to a 150. Crazy

For those who don't have me on instashit here is my mini spitting a few flames
http://instagram.com/p/hDQxSGM-2x/

It's close...

Back in LA, have rented a Mustang for the weekend.
Initial thoughts, the interior isn't as nice as the Camaro, and it's not particularly quick for something with 300hp (I only got the V6 model, so compared to the Camaro SS, it's quite the slouch).
It handles pretty well, and makes a decent noise. It's also a little less wide then the Camaro, so slightly easier to drive.

Haven't taken it onto the freeway yet, did a small bit of PCH and canyon roads so far.

That just shows how nice a clean and not-red BGT can look.

I think it would be even better without the side strips, but if you're going for originality then obviously you'd leave them on.

Whereas this shows how poor satin paint looks on it, and what a horrible bodge job they made of the rear arches and side skirts. 'curve curve curve oh fuck it, STRAIGHT LINE curve curve bit of filler no-one will notice.'
Shoulda used the RV8 rear arches and put up with the narrower wheel width.

Also, I've seen a couple of RV8GT creations now and on all of them the retention of the opening quarterlights really jars. I'm sure custom glass is expensive, but if you're spending a lot of money anyway, get the details right.

The interior on the rv8gt is an abomination. It's been for sale for ages.

Trickle chargers- what makes a good one?

Car is outside on a drive, if that makes a difference.

I use Optimates - got a IV and a III and both have been fine. Both come with an extension lead which may mean you can keep the main unit inside and just run the extension lead to the car.