The Chat Thread - Bank Holiday time - WC 26/08/24

[HoTWire]

Hey Folks!

Another week, another weekly chat, your place for stuff that may not warrant a full thread or stuff that is just going on right now that you want to share.


Well it is the last bank holiday of the year (before Christmas) so time to break out the jumpers and get ready for winter !? ... maybe not just yet, but it'll be dark before we know it and all those "summer projects" will become "winter projects" and it'll be colder and darker when we try and do them. So maybe this is a reminder to get on to those things sooner rather than later.


Still doing some forum stuff, a few missing bits and pieces in the current theme ('new' button being high on the list), also a few bits fighting me (again the 'new' button), however I'm hopeful we'll have something live before August turns in to September, however I'm realising as I type this, it is less than a week away and I'm out all of the forthcoming weekend, so maybe a bridge too far.


Project wise I need to go and stare at bank accounts and work out what is left to do on the Datsun, and what I need to do on the Porsche. Getting very tempted to sell the Porsche and buy some more affordable fun, as modifying the Porsche seems like an exercise in expensive madness. However I also promised myself no new projects until the Datsun is done so... maybe I'll just have to live with it for the time being (oh well hahaha).


OH! And I got my Flickr access back, so I've got LOADS of galleries to upload to that. I have been thinking very seriously about a sort of Flickr for cars and we could have shared event galleries (as well as individual profiles etc.), I've got half the thing built from a previous time I thought about doing it, maybe one of those winter projects ready for next show season...


Previous Thread: forum.retro-rides.org/thread/227545/chat-thread-taylors-version-wc

[ToolsnTrack]

I have been quite absent for a number of reasons. Most high on the list has been "having a summer", riding a high since RRW of going and doing car things rather than slaving on projects.

As you have pointed out though, winter is coming and my list of to-do is growing, so some hard work is on the horizon.

Still hoping to get a test drive on the Locost this year, so thats number one.

Swapping up to a retro for a daily, so thats number 2 (probably 2-54 if it goes awry)

Bought a Ducati Monster for a steal, so just incase I run out of things, that will be number 3 (or 55)

[adam73bgt]

I landed in Portugal today for a few days and I've seen more 1990s cars on the road in half a day than I've seen in probably a couple of months in the UK 😅

Only got a couple of pics so far but there's been too much to capture





Got the passenger wing on the Crossfire before I left, both bumpers to go on when I get back and I'll have half a chance of making it to Bicester on the 14th

I'm also tempted to replace the Almera with something more refined/retro when I get back, but I also am trying to not take on another project before the MG is done... Maybe I'll settle for once the Crossfire is done..

[skinnylew]

Sadly still stuck in hospital and looks like a very long time before I get to do anything car related, so I will just keep enjoying everyone else's labours 😋

[HoTWire]

Aug 26, 2024 22:43:43 GMT skinnylew said:

Sadly still stuck in hospital and looks like a very long time before I get to do anything car related, so I will just keep enjoying everyone else's labours 😋

Sucks you are still stuck in hospital. Hopefully there are enough project updates and stuff to keep you entertained. If not we'll just have to do more.

[akku]

I've been juggling too many things. Work is hectic, the economy isn't great (I don't know if anyone else noticed that? ) so working hard to stand still really. Also it means when I've been trying to sell off stuff I don't need its been harder work to shift and lower prices (anyone else noticed that.... yeah... I know)

So I have been stuggling with family stuff and my general physical condition (I'm too young to be saying I am too old, but...)

So tried rationalising what I own, ended up owning more stuff. Need to sell stuff again.

I've been out buying American transmissions with some enthusiasm, as I have a couple of cars in need.

I went to Turkey, on holiday this time, have friends out there so we went holidaying like the locals which was fun, lots of old cars still on the road out there

[akku]

Obviously the uploader puts them all in random order, but hey. I did see a few cars in this style, not sure what you call it, but its a mad rake usually on a Tofas, with stretched rubber on very shiny wide rims.

Photos don't do it justice. I saw a few like this.

[75swb]

Aug 27, 2024 20:40:12 GMT akku said:

I went to Turkey, on holiday this time, have friends out there so we went holidaying like the locals which was fun, lots of old cars still on the road out there

Niva for me please!

Sorry to hear of the struggles, lots of folk doing it tough, but good work being so pro-active and rationalising things early. Being aware is half the battle won

[stealthstylz]

Read your first post, hoped for photos of a modified Tofas. Scrolled down...happy face. Been following along with the Turkish modified car scene on Instagram, such a unique style. They do rebaixados style ones too.

[ems1]

A lot of cars doing the Carbage run Engalnd and Wales 2024, have been driving through the area yesterday and today. I thing they're stopping in the Tenby area tonight. Unfortunately I didn't have my phone with me, but I've seen many older Volvos, Audis, Mercedes, Renault Espaces and a R5 Van, Peugeot 104, Mercury and Alfa's etc in various states of decoration.

[Seth]

Aug 28, 2024 17:55:57 GMT ems1 said:

A lot of cars doing the Carbage run Engalnd and Wales 2024,

Aha! That looks like that explains the seemingly neverending line of Volvo (and other) estates etc I saw going north up the A10 on Monday.

[ChasR]

It's good to see the chat threads are still going.

HoTWire, a tough call, but I think any car done right is pricey to do TBH. But having a change is good

adam73bgt, we forget how well things last out in drier climates, as long as they don't catch the sun too much .

akku, you're not kidding about the economy. The car market does seem to be flatlining. Parts prices however seem to be silly, and the amount of fake bits out there doesn't help. A friend of mine almost destroyed his engine in his Mk2 Golf G60 over a 'genuine' filter he got off ebay.

A little late but I may as well as well reply.

Last weekend was a blast. I was at the Nurburging, with a crowd who have asked me to go with them for some time now. However, the usual disablers have been in play including

-Clashes with usual events
-Finances
-The worry of risk at the 'ring, now that the rules have changed a couple of years ago for Brits.

Wisely, or stupidly, I forgot that as soon as I hit the track. I'll update the M3 thread at some point, but wow, that car earned its keep. I've had a few folks trying to talk me into getting an F82 M2 Competition LCI in one of the more 'choice' colours. While it would be a struggle to sell almost everything I have, as akku has aluded to, I'm just not sure if I can treat myself to a 'new'(ish) car and live with the prospect of it not always being on the drive. Having something newer and potentially more reliable isn't a bad shout however.

This played on my mind when I drove the car down. You can tell it's 22 years old. The door seals whistle slightly, it's a little firm on the suspension and the E91 325d is a step up in refinement. But as soon as you swoop the car around a corner, hear that glorious engine roar into action, with no speaker enhancements, just the raw engine, and the package of the handling itself, you soon forget. Oh, and it's still quick enough.

Here are a few shots from last week. Did my wallet thank me? Of course not. Was it a little wasteful? Possibly? Has it given me a bit of a mojo boost for the car, and to maybe do trips further affield? Absolutely!













This was cool to see, but it was struggling in the heat!



A mate's car. A '98 328i Sport with some lovely choice mods.










It wasn't just about the cars or friends for me:






A shot of where it all began years ago. 15 years ago



A then 21 year old 205 GTi, with a then 9 year old S2000, complete with a C70 T5 GT and an XJS V12 (19 years old) in the background.




My M3 there, now 22 years old. It's funny, The 205 seemed old then, but I suppose the hot hatch had moved on quite a way.







Oh, and it went swiftly around the track. It's the first time the stars have aligned for taking the M3. It was dry, relatively quiet, and this time, it was on:

-Better brakes
-The fancier suspension, in the form on Bilstein PSS10s.

I have to say, it didn't dissapoint, and it was alot of fun! Almost too much fun dare I say!

As for the watermarks, I can't decide which images to buy! I have 10 in the cart and I'm trying to cull them to 5! There is a discount on 10 mind you....

[adam73bgt]

Sept 8, 2024 20:49:53 GMT ChasR said:

adam73bgt , we forget how well things last out in drier climates, as long as they don't catch the sun too much .

You're not wrong, although there must also be a bit of a different mentality there for the average person to not want to be changing their car out every 3 years for a new pcp deal

Sept 8, 2024 20:49:53 GMT ChasR said:

-The worry of risk at the 'ring, now that the rules have changed a couple of years ago for Brits.

What rules are those that have changed? Or do you mean the general perception of British drivers at the ring? 😅

[ToolsnTrack]

ChasR This wont help to narrow it down, but a print of the M3 airborne cannot and must not leave the basket at checkout!

[ChasR]

Sept 9, 2024 7:08:53 GMT adam73bgt said:

Sept 8, 2024 20:49:53 GMT ChasR said:

adam73bgt , we forget how well things last out in drier climates, as long as they don't catch the sun too much .

You're not wrong, although there must also be a bit of a different mentality there for the average person to not want to be changing their car out every 3 years for a new pcp deal

Sept 8, 2024 20:49:53 GMT ChasR said:

-The worry of risk at the 'ring, now that the rules have changed a couple of years ago for Brits.

What rules are those that have changed? Or do you mean the general perception of British drivers at the ring? 😅

The first one is probably simple to describe, or at least to me it is.

It will be lower wages, less dependancy on a car in comparison to the UK due to a sharing culture, better transport alternatives (i.e public, and motorbikes). Thefts of cars and especially motorbikes is far less out there. It's something a few of us have analysed one of those aspects but it's not something I can publicly discuss .

While their economy probably doesn't help, culturally, the Spanish and Portugese as far as I can tell, work to live, not the other way around, making that statement 'almost' immaterial. It's something a teacher friend of mine noticed when out there. Sure the wages are less, but so is everything else!

I remember in Porto, speaking to a lady 5 years ago. Apparently, it was £60k to get a 2 bed apartment on the river a mile outside of the centre of Porto. It blew our minds TBH! But that's the case in alot of Europe, even France and Germany, which is why a mate of mine moved out there.

About the 'ring, basically there is no 3rd party insurance out there for UK drivers and it's impossible to get for a UK plated car. However, we are fully liable for 3rd parties if we are involved, and it will come out of our own pockets. It can mean if an oil spill from your engine blowing up puts a 992 GT3 RS into the barrier, it can be a very expensive bill to you. It also makes us a potential target. My friend with an E90 330i blew a coolant hose out there, and limped the car back. He had a Spanish driver pull in front of him back at Devil's Diner, with the Spaniards shouting to the marshalls that he had spilt oil. Luckily, it was obvious that my friend hadn't, and that the coolant was just water.

Folks wondered what was going to happen to a driver with an E92 M3 when a 918 Spyder went into him, as that would have easily bankrupted the former. The two get outs for the 3rd party issues are:

-Hire a German car out there which is 'ring ready. A few operators do that out there (RSR, Rent4Ring, Ringfreaks, albeit these numbers are now dwindling, partially for the reasons Apex faced when they bowed out)
-Register your own car on German plates ; this is now trickier as well, as well far more expensive
-Go on a private trackday like a Destination Nurburgring day ; there, drivers are exempt from 3rd party liability, alot like a UK trackday.

A few folks I know who have been in the game for a while now refuse to do Touristfahten drives as a UK driver for this year. I think us walking away from the Vnuk agreement during the Brexit negotiations was a driver for this issue kicking in.

[ChasR]

Sept 9, 2024 11:36:02 GMT ToolsnTrack said:

ChasR This wont help to narrow it down, but a print of the M3 airborne cannot and must not leave the basket at checkout!

I think that one definitely has to come with me (y).

You'll see the dilema I have. There are quite a few shots of the car!

www.racetracker.de/cargalerie/cm5uQjZaL3dPT1d2bFNMWUtPZVdlUT09

[adam73bgt]

ChasR

Yeah agreed its more of a complex reasoning. Seeing all the half built abandoned structures is a constant reminder out there of how the economic situation for all may not be so great.

I do like the southern european/Mediterranean laid back feel, mostly getting about on scooters, of course you have to be careful where you park a scooter in the UK or it'll be gone before you know it... But that's getting off topic


On the 'ring, it's always been quite a risk with effectively no insurance cover.

That scenario of having a spill causing a far more expensive car to crash is a bit of a scary one.. Shall have to be even more cautious next time I go