Your fleet running reports

[Matty]

The battery keeps working its self loose from the mount so seems like a perfect excuse to junk that for a lightweight lithium unit and fabricate a new mount for it.

I'm not sure how that's possible - the damn thing was impossible to get out when you *wanted* to get it out!

[Matty]

Evora update (FAO:Mik)

I get more impressed the more I use it. I've been doing a few motorway miles recently, and it just hoooovers up the miles: Long box, so it's barely ticking over at 70mph. Seats are super comfy (heated too!), so it makes for a great distance/GT car, which is something the Elise sucked at.

Turn off onto the A/B-Roads, and the ride quality and steering are incredible. Granted, it's not as sharp or tactile as the Elise, but it rides much better so it's a little more confidence inspiring. It's at this point you can see the criticism of the long box - 3rd is really long, and that's really where you want to be so it feels off, but (personally) it's a small downside for making my frequent motorway journeys easier. Brakes are awesome too. 2Bular has the perfect balance of volume across the range. I also discovered it has "anti-ackerman" geometry, which explains the skipping at full lock! I've averaged 34MPG so far, but alot has been motorway.

I really, really can only fault it on two areas. Firstly, the stereo reception sucks - the actual audio quality is fine for what I want, but the reception is dire, you have to listen to whatever is local. Secondly, and by far the worst thing is the door size/opening; you need at least good 4ft gap to get in with any ease. I used to park far away in all my cars to avoid door knocks, but I reckon in most supermarket car parks you'd struggle to get in it. I've yet to risk it.

Compared to the Elise? The Evora will never beat those summer, roof down B-roads, but it's almost as fun....and it's more than happy to do the shitty, cold, rainy winter motorway journeys as well. Personally I can already say I'd rather have the Evora than the Elise, it's just so much more usable 90% of the time - but I am a little concerned on how much the Evora will cost to run. I know I can park the Elise in the garage (Evora won't fit, damn doors!) and it's costing me barely anything. I've looked over the old invoiced for the Evora, and there are quite a lot of 4-figure bills in there, something you'd barely ever see with an Elise. Time will tell on that one...thankfully Evora residuals have proven to be rock solid.

Overall - no regrets. Everyone who looks at it and sits in it, loves it. It's a shame they didn't sell better.

[mik]

Yeah, doors be long. First time I tried to get out with some restricted space, it reminded me of the 944. Similar 2+2 packaging. (I guess the 911 must suffer similarly? )

I always had in my head that the CR and LR boxes were the same 1st to 3rd, but I've just checked and it is 1st and 2nd only. 3rd on mine just takes you into 3 figures, so I can imagine a 15% longer ratio blunts things a little.

Where are all of your pictures?

[V8Granite]

Fleet update......

ML is proving fine, I have a service light to reset after I serviced it last month, it’s due a transmission oil change in the new year though along with spark plugs. It’s proving to be a very good buy so I’m struggling with replacing it, I fear the upgrade I want will be noticeable maintenance wise due to the mileage we do. Still waiting for my new dipped beam bulbs but hopefully they arrive today. Currently on 110,000 miles.

The TT with its h+r springs and Joni sport dampers has settled down nicely. It is really well tied down but has a little understeer now where before there was none. When I do the wishbone bushes I think I’ll fit the cookbot ones which are stiffer, these were made softer when people kept going backwards into barriers and supposedly it makes a big difference to the handling. Brakes are still the best out of all the cars, the pedal is full of feel. Currently on 156,000 miles.

Defender plodding along, I may get new headlights if Christmas doesn’t bankrupt me, they were £15 each before and lasted really well but I may look at doing an upgrade. For everyday driving, it’s still the most enjoyable and fun out of the cars we have. Mileage on 237,000 miles.

The 500e is sat in the garage on a trickle charger with a boot full of parts, waiting for me to throw time and money at it. Currently on 147,000 miles.

I’m hoping to break the 500 mile tank in the ML over Christmas but it will be fully loaded and with the roof box on, fingers crossed.

Dave!

[Rich B]

Evora update (FAO:Mik)

I get more impressed the more I use it. I've been doing a few motorway miles recently, and it just hoooovers up the miles: Long box, so it's barely ticking over at 70mph. Seats are super comfy (heated too!), so it makes for a great distance/GT car, which is something the Elise sucked at.

Turn off onto the A/B-Roads, and the ride quality and steering are incredible. Granted, it's not as sharp or tactile as the Elise, but it rides much better so it's a little more confidence inspiring. It's at this point you can see the criticism of the long box - 3rd is really long, and that's really where you want to be so it feels off, but (personally) it's a small downside for making my frequent motorway journeys easier. Brakes are awesome too. 2Bular has the perfect balance of volume across the range. I also discovered it has "anti-ackerman" geometry, which explains the skipping at full lock! I've averaged 34MPG so far, but alot has been motorway.

I really, really can only fault it on two areas. Firstly, the stereo reception sucks - the actual audio quality is fine for what I want, but the reception is dire, you have to listen to whatever is local. Secondly, and by far the worst thing is the door size/opening; you need at least good 4ft gap to get in with any ease. I used to park far away in all my cars to avoid door knocks, but I reckon in most supermarket car parks you'd struggle to get in it. I've yet to risk it.

Compared to the Elise? The Evora will never beat those summer, roof down B-roads, but it's almost as fun....and it's more than happy to do the shitty, cold, rainy winter motorway journeys as well. Personally I can already say I'd rather have the Evora than the Elise, it's just so much more usable 90% of the time - but I am a little concerned on how much the Evora will cost to run. I know I can park the Elise in the garage (Evora won't fit, damn doors!) and it's costing me barely anything. I've looked over the old invoiced for the Evora, and there are quite a lot of 4-figure bills in there, something you'd barely ever see with an Elise. Time will tell on that one...thankfully Evora residuals have proven to be rock solid.

Overall - no regrets. Everyone who looks at it and sits in it, loves it. It's a shame they didn't sell better.

i feel like you’ve posted all this before?!

[scotta]

The battery keeps working its self loose from the mount so seems like a perfect excuse to junk that for a lightweight lithium unit and fabricate a new mount for it.

I'm not sure how that's possible - the damn thing was impossible to get out when you *wanted* to get it out!

Oh its possible! Kerb hopping at Knockhill will do it!

[JonMad]

I loaned the spare Compact to my car club for their pre-Christmas fun event. I wasn’t able to attend unfortunately. Looks like everyone had a good day !


864D279B-8FEE-44A1-A5D7-DCFCE0FAE0F6.jpeg

Given Steve talked me into it, I thought I should go to an event. This seemed a perfect one as it didn't involve killing my car. And everyone did indeed have a good day. As well as driving Steve's spare BMW we had an MX-5, a Mitsubishi Colt and a Focus in awesome LX spec to play with. Everything went very sideways that you very much. I've got to say the lighter cars were my preference - the MX-5, which bought back fond memories from my own one, and the Colt, which was like a front-drive MX-5 if you like. Very playful on muddy/gravelly tarmac with a timely pull on the handbrake and a grab of lock and a boot full of throttle. The courses were all forward driving, no reversing into/out of coned garages - the reason being this is too harsh on the cars' gearboxes. Awaiting the results but I think I came mid-table ish. My second runs in each car were faster, which was pleasing, but I also started hitting cones which incurs a time penalty.

As well as Steve's BMW above, some more filthy cars, yesterday.

[Matty]

Yeah, doors be long. First time I tried to get out with some restricted space, it reminded me of the 944. Similar 2+2 packaging. (I guess the 911 must suffer similarly? )

I always had in my head that the CR and LR boxes were the same 1st to 3rd, but I've just checked and it is 1st and 2nd only. 3rd on mine just takes you into 3 figures, so I can imagine a 15% longer ratio blunts things a little.

Where are all of your pictures?

I've not taken any at all yet I've not been anywhere picturesque or interesting enough to warrant any...

Out of interest, are you still running the standard HU and audio?

i feel like you’ve posted all this before?!
[/quote]

I'm sorry it doesn't meet your stringent requirements for originality - however I got a late night message from Mik with a threatening undertone, it was late, I was tired and under pressure, so some may be regurgitated from before. I'll try better next time.

[Matty]

Yeah, doors be long. First time I tried to get out with some restricted space, it reminded me of the 944. Similar 2+2 packaging. (I guess the 911 must suffer similarly? )

I always had in my head that the CR and LR boxes were the same 1st to 3rd, but I've just checked and it is 1st and 2nd only. 3rd on mine just takes you into 3 figures, so I can imagine a 15% longer ratio blunts things a little.

Where are all of your pictures?

I've not taken any at all yet I've not been anywhere picturesque or interesting enough to warrant any...

Out of interest, are you still running the standard HU and audio?

i feel like you’ve posted all this before?!

I'm sorry it doesn't meet your stringent requirements for originality - however I got a late night message from Mik with a threatening undertone, it was late, I was tired and under pressure, so some may be regurgitated from before. I'll try better next time.

[Matty]

Yeah, doors be long. First time I tried to get out with some restricted space, it reminded me of the 944. Similar 2+2 packaging. (I guess the 911 must suffer similarly? )

I always had in my head that the CR and LR boxes were the same 1st to 3rd, but I've just checked and it is 1st and 2nd only. 3rd on mine just takes you into 3 figures, so I can imagine a 15% longer ratio blunts things a little.

Where are all of your pictures?

I've not taken any at all yet I've not been anywhere picturesque or interesting enough to warrant any...

Out of interest, are you still running the standard HU and audio?

i feel like you’ve posted all this before?!

I'm sorry it doesn't meet your stringent requirements for originality - however I got a late night message from Mik with a threatening undertone, it was late, I was tired and under pressure, so some may be regurgitated from before. I'll try better next time.

[mik]

You can say that again Matt.

I haven't changed HU or speakers, but i think my HU (Alpine 920R) may be different from yours?

[Rich B]

Bolt cutters or the sledge hammer Mik?

[mik]

Dehumidifier.

[Rich B]

Dehumidifier.

brutal, that’s a slow and horrible way to go.

[NotoriousREV]

I might install a dehumidifier in my hallway

[mik]

Under or over the telly?

[NotoriousREV]

Above for better downforce.

[Beany]

I'd like to say I've been scouring the internet for the very finest, most nuanced tyre reviews this weekend

And there we were concerned you weren't going to massively overthink and procrastinate an incredibly simple and commonplace decision. Order is restored

Literally the whole point of that statement was that I've not been overthinking it, and that I'd just get the cheapest SportMAXX RTs I can find and get them fitted. The Dunlops are fine, I just need to pull my finger out and pull the trigger - or get a good price and see if the tyrefitter can match it for cash

Job for tomorrow methinks.

[scotta]

I'd like to say I've been scouring the internet for the very finest, most nuanced tyre reviews this weekend

And there we were concerned you weren't going to massively overthink and procrastinate an incredibly simple and commonplace decision. Order is restored

Literally the whole point of that statement was that I've not been overthinking it, and that I'd just get the cheapest SportMAXX RTs I can find and get them fitted. The Dunlops are fine, I just need to pull my finger out and pull the trigger - or get a good price and see if the tyrefitter can match it for cash

Job for tomorrow methinks.

10% off Yokohama at black circles just now.

[mik]

Secondly, and by far the worst thing is the door size/opening; you need at least good 4ft gap to get in with any ease. I used to park far away in all my cars to avoid door knocks, but I reckon in most supermarket car parks you'd struggle to get in it. I've yet to risk it.

F-pace 109cm
Evora 127cm

We need to know the door length on an S-Class and a Stagea.