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

Friend had a k series engined one and we took the piss calling it the lotus MG. Suspect it maybe the best use of the K series VVC engine. Suspect the lotus mods to up the BHP were transfered to the later MGF's as the BHP are similar.

The MK1 were one piece front and rear ends.

Interesting - 500km on one charge at and average speed over 106kph. Future looking brighter.

http://www.gizmag.com/sunswift-eve-official-world-record/34259/

Also, go ostraya and UNSW...

I fully expect to get flamed for the this, but sooooooo much want. I had one exactly the same in Dolphin Grey when I was 17. With the same anthracite wheels. So many good memories.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Opel-Manta-GTE-Exclusive-Coupe-/221573272465?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3396cbd391

So want

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/pontiac-firebird/171495408586?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3Dc78beda75a364370abbf3d19cc96d458%26pid%3D100204%26prg%3D20140407115239%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D20%26sd%3D121457635047

No flames here. Mantas are cool as fuck (unlike Capris, which are for sad old men).

Thank you! Phew.

@scherrit has a Capri, but his is special.

I've just sold my R32. Part of the reason they don't make them anymore is because the engine is a big, heavy lump (not disimilar to you...). There was never a plan to make them all wheel drive, but they had to in order to control the fucker.

I'll miss it because the power delivery was direct and there was never any lag (unlike my new GTI) and it felt really solidly built.

For the engine - look at when the injectors were last flushed. If it's done more than 80k then they'll be on their way out. ALso, make doubly sure that the DSG box has been serviced regularly - make sure that the Haldex filters were changed and not just cleaned. Early ones had a very nasty habit of going expensively wrong - I've started to think that Gordon Murray's theory was correct...

Thinking of flogging the fury and buying a 997. Any reason I shouldn't?

Only if it has the andrews heat for hire paint job ;)

Loved the MK1 for the rear lights -

Monzas are cool. (As is that Manta)

I'll forgive your mistake though since your Elise is awesome.

One of the teachers at my secondary school in the early 70s had an
Opel Manta Turbo.

Didn't realise how rare they were until I read the wiki on the Manta.

How about a nice 318iS that has been upgraded to an M3

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=305369

For sale again at 14k dorrars

Cheers.

For the 6k I have they are all about 80k miles. Heart says 3.2, head says 2.0t, but I am pretty keen on the Quattro/DSG. Worried about it being a money pit.

What was Gordon murray's theory?

I'm going to hazard a guess at simple and lightweight - modern day Colin Chapman.

If, of course, I'm right.

Nobody does over-restoration quite like the Americans. Bloody nice car.

Was going to mention the royale.....

Very nice! Would have started out very similar to my old one. Still miss that car.

Hasn't there been two different E30 v8 on ebay recently? One was a touring I think....

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=929586

Murray's theory was that ALL VAG cars around that time were all built with substantially substandard parts because all monies were being poured into their Veyron project. I'm inclined to agree with him - I've had German cars for years and I've never gone through calipers, waterpumps and fuel pumps in under 80k kms.

The DSG is a thing of beauty and an engineering masterpiece - generally you can't really fool it. Early ones (mine was 2007, the first versions being in 2005) did have an issue of preparing and selecting 1st gear (and NOT preparing 3rd) when 2nd was all that was required - like if you're exiting a corner or a car park which has required you to lift off. You'll hear a loud clunk and you'll be in first gear when you really should have stayed in second.

The 2.0t will be significantly lighter in weight, obviously because of the lack of drive to the rear wheels. This pisses some people off, but the difference in fuel economy will be interesting.

I've had both and as much as I adored the R32, it was a pain to own. 350km out of 50litres isn't good sense to me, even when a full tank here is only seventeen quid...

ah, i see.

i would like to try a car with the dsg, for sure, but the more i read (i know, i know) the more the potential for bankruptcy scares me with the 3.2 chain issues/dsg pooing its pants, etc. i don't think i am ready to put my sphincter through it.

i'll look at a 2.0T quattro with a manual on the weekend.

the 2.0T has the added bonus of the wife not thinking that 3.2 is a MASSIVE engine

Thinking of flogging the fury and buying a 997. Any reason I shouldn't?

Because the Fury is the epitome of the All American Dream??

BIG. BLOCK. V8.

^that's why

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JEr6QwKoJA