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

Potentially a good bike wagon?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161302159102

Potentially, though my only experience of Fiat was watching my mums one disintegrate once it hit 50k miles.

Going after a focus might be better...

Sparky: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENAULT-KANGOO-1-2-75-16V-PETROL-LPG-2008-57-/171315761752?pt=UK_Commercial_Trucks&hash=item27e3371258

I was there last year: Oudenaarde. Apparently that's not the real car, I was told by someone who should know. Lovely though.

I rode behind it at the start of the Retro Ronde last year. Certainly added to the atmosphere.

sparky: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/renault-kangoo-1-2-75-16v-petrol-lpg-2008-57-/171315761752?pt=uk_commercial_trucks&hash=item27e3371258

lpg?!

Thinking about this one for a car:

http://uk.caterhamcars.com/cars/seven-160

Being it's common in UK, thoughts? Once I build my Sword fixie, it will be my main transportation, but I can see myself driving an entry-level Caterham in about 5-10 years. But it would need a garage, for sure.

More expensive models are Ford engines, which is great, this one is 660CC three cylinder Suzuki turbo, which should be pretty much rock solid AFAIK...

Any experience on building it yourself? is it better to just let them handle the complete build? Much cheaper to DIY though...

Cross-posted from elsewhere, because true.

*My daily car is a 2014 model. It:

Turns the lights on automatically
Turns the wipers on automatically
Has daytime running lights
The lights turn as you turn the steering wheel
Full beam automatically dips if it senses an oncoming car
Warns you if anyone in the car is not wearing their seat belt
Senses as you approach and unlocks the car
Senses as you leave and locks the car
Illuminates the path for you at night
It'll heat or cool itself to exactly a set temperature, with driver, passenger and rearseat occupant all able to choose differently
Warns you if you wander or change lanes without indicating
Warns me if it senses something in my blindspot when I change lanes
Has a reversing camera and 360° parking sensors to help me park
Stops the engine in traffic to save fuel
Restarts automatically when you want to move
Automatically connects your telephone so you can talk hands free
Remembers what you were listening to last and plays the music from your iPhone

My problem is... None of this makes me a better driver. Quite the opposite.

I get bugs wiped across a dry screen. I don't have full beam when I want it, the fecker beeps if I've a heavy bag on the seat, or I am getting my wallet out of my pocket, or if Dave is in the car. I constantly cross white lines where there is no reason to indicate and the thing vibrates. If you put the kids in it, then walk round it to get in and drive it has locked itself by the time you get there. Leave them in the car as you pay for fuel and the alarm goes off. It plays the music I don't want, randomly, and in fog you are duped like every other knobber on the road to have no lights on the back of the car. It cuts out just when that gap in the traffic appears, and if you are sat in the front room of the house it will steal your important phone call - mid sentence - if the missus decides to borrow the car. Most of all, it makes you lazy, and not think about driving.

I'm looking forward to going back to the thing that tries to kill me ('73 911) on a regular basis, as I'm a better driver in it. *

Yeah, I hate new cars, and quite a bit of other stuff that gets produced just because there are idiots who buy it. Gone are the days of hand-made craftsmanship, quality, and real value. It's still there, but it's pretty much non-existent compared to a cookie-cutter world we live in.

Thinking about this one for a car:

http://uk.caterhamcars.com/cars/seven-160

Being it's common in UK, thoughts? Once I build my Sword fixie, it will be my main transportation, but I can see myself driving an entry-level Caterham in about 5-10 years. But it would need a garage, for sure.

More expensive models are Ford engines, which is great, this one is 660CC three cylinder Suzuki turbo, which should be pretty much rock solid AFAIK...

Any experience on building it yourself? is it better to just let them handle the complete build? Much cheaper to DIY though...

Surely half the fun is building it yourself? I bet that model is a total riot even with only 80bhp and a max speed of 100mph. A Caterham isn't meant to be about massive power, it's meant to be about the "joy of driving".

Plus, turbo? Whack the boost up for the LULZ.

need a hand?

I should be OK but if I need help with the bolt/head issue I'll give you a shout.

Are standard pads cheap enough?
If so why not get some, fit them with the existing discs and you at least have a car that will do for the weekend. Then fit the shiny stuff next week.

I always forget the simple things.

The current discs are fine, they just won't be great with the new pads. I have an old set of stock pads in the parts box when I switched to the first set of uprated pads. That's so easy. Thank you BQ.

Any experience on building it yourself? is it better to just let them handle the complete build? Much cheaper to DIY though...

Caterhams are really easy to build. I know people who've built one from scratch in a long weekend. Go for it.

I should be OK but if I need help with the bolt/head issue I'll give you a shout.

I always forget the simple things.

The current discs are fine, they just won't be great with the new pads. I have an old set of stock pads in the parts box when I switched to the first set of uprated pads. That's so easy. Thank you BQ.

Grind the lips of the discs, give the discs a scrub with a wire brush attachment on the disc.

Works to improve things.

Caterhams are really easy to build. I know people who've built one from scratch in a long weekend. Go for it.

Agree with this, the new kits come with everything. Look how top gear did it.

Are standard pads cheap enough?
If so why not get some, fit them with the existing discs and you at least have a car that will do for the weekend. Then fit the shiny stuff next week.

Same for the cam cover bolt, if the joint's not leaking or weeping much.

Guys i'm looking for some advice on clearing the corrosion on my aluminum wheels, i'm thinking of going at it with a wire brush, wet and dry followed by a metal polish. Has anyone tried this before with any success or is it just easier to get them done professionally?

Have the wheels gone porous?

Depends what you want to do and how much time is on your hands. What propably has happened it that the laquer has lifted and water gone behind and started corroding. Get them blasted and coated circ £20 a wheel the blast place in darford.

If you're happy to pay £50 per wheel then that's the easiest option.
The mobile services break the tyre bead, too. Use better products and processes than DIY standard.

DIY, then it's a day's work. If you're not well versed in spraying / refinishing it might not stack up, finish and longevity of.

L2B tomorrow. Polished the mini, didn't come out too badly!

If you're happy to pay £50 per wheel then that's the easiest option.
The mobile services break the tyre bead, too. Use better products and processes than DIY standard.

DIY, then it's a day's work. If you're not well versed in spraying / refinishing it might not stack up, finish and longevity of.

£50...for just paint job not repairing the rims from kerbing?

I'm off to look at an RS4 later.

Apart from the notorious suspension bush and engine mounting issues, is there anything else I should be looking out for?

Surely half the fun is building it yourself

It sure is :)

Caterhams are really easy to build. I know people who've built one from scratch in a long weekend. Go for it.

Agree with this, the new kits come with everything. Look how top gear did it.

That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks guys. Think I'll need a new 160 jar, next to a fixie jar, house jar etc jar... :)

£50...for just paint job not repairing the rims from kerbing?

Will sand blasting have the same affect as a wire brush and would metal polish/wax be sufficient to stop corrosion from occurring again? I'm all for spending a couple of hours doing it myself for the price of a wire brush than paying someone £50 each corner..

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£50...for just paint job not repairing the rims from kerbing?

No, that's around the full wheel repair and refinish price those mobile 'smart' repairers charge.

2JZ, yo - 880 wheel-horsepower.

It sure is :)

That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks guys. Think I'll need a new 160 jar, next to a fixie jar, house jar etc jar... :)

Look at maybe getting one of the cheaper part finished kit car sevens, if you have never done anything like this before. Plenty of forums out there for help and advice.