Your fleet running reports

[V8Granite]

So only use the good stuff if you have a proper sports car like me.

Dave!

CAR magazine’s Best Handling Everyday car of 1999

Did yours have the concrete block fitted at the back Dave ?

I was talking about my Defender

It had the Quattro sport springs when we got it but now has Koni Sport shocks and H+R springs. We removed the weight in the back, I can’t remember how heavy it was now though.

It really does handle surprisingly well but the steering feel is direct but not much feel, especially just as it lets go. You have to drive like an aggressive buffoon to get it to understeer though.

Dave!

[Alex_]

If you remember, I got hit into last November on the M6 and had to settle for partial 50-50 blame even though middle-lane twat swerved into me. After constantly going back and forth arguing my case, with no witness or video evidence, I accepted the blame cos I didn't need the stress with other stuff going on.

The car is now fixed so I decided to get a dash cam and went for the Nextbase 412 after researching a bit on the interweb. Simple setup (basically plug-n-play), records in HD (1440p or 1080p at 60 fps), GPS, can switch the speed recording off and less than 100 quid. Really happy with the quality of the videos, and I managed to route the cable quite neatly. The only downside right now is that I need to remember to unplug the power connection from the 12v power supply to avoid draining the car's battery. I've ordered a hardware kit so hopefully it'll switch off when I turn the engine off.

[Beany]

Noice. I've been pleasantly surprised by the cheapy Aukey thing I got, picture quality is plenty good at night, and if I set it to record on motion, I can just leave it plugged into the cigarette socket 24/7 and it never drains the battery (not a shock given it's probably drawing 300-500MaH at worst)

Anyway, got some brake cleaner and gave the various rubber lines a bit of a skoosh tonight when I came back in. Engine was hot so didn't want to douse it in highly flammable solvent but nothing obvious happened - idled smooth.

I'll probably give it a slightly more aggressive dose tomorrow after work in the works car park, but the only piece of vacuum pipe I can see that's a bit shonky is the bit at the exhaust flap solenoid - although crimping it closed didn't seem to make any difference to idle.

I'll cut it short and reseat it on the exhaust solenoid (so it's at least properly sealed and not pulling air in) and see if that makes any difference.

Halfords have their five piece car lifting kit (2 chocks, 2 axle stands, one 2-ton jack, one wheeled thingy to scoot under the car) for £50 - given my brother seems to be feckless at remembering to bring a jack over - or buy a new one - I think I'll check the minimum heights of that jack, the car, and see if that'll work - I need to adjust the handbrake, so I need to get the car up and I'm fucked if I'm trusting the scissor jack in the boot.

[Matty]

Someone school me on gearbox oil.

Specialist 1 are recommending 85w90
Specialist 2 are recommending 75w80.
Internetz are all using 75w90 (Motul 300)

Lotus dealers are apparently recommending 75w80.

Or I should just preempt JL's usual "Just use what the manufacturer recommends as they probably know a little bit more about it than the weirdos on the internet" ?

I take it the 75w90 is teh internetz following Opie Oil Man's recommendation?

Seems he recommends 75w80, but fully synth.

[unzippy]

I think I'll check the minimum heights of that jack, the car, and see if that'll work

Compared to belly girth?

[Beany]

I think I'll check the minimum heights of that jack, the car, and see if that'll work

Compared to belly girth?

I won't pretend that's not an issue these days

[IanF]

TPMS needed an amber service (as opposed to a red service ). Disconnected the battery master switch, had a cup of tea, turned it back on - fixed. This car maintenance lark is easy!

[Coaster1]

Spent an enjoyable day at Car Limits yesterday.

I mentioned before that the tyres on my car were ancient (2010/10/11/14). After experiencing loads of high speed understeer, my instructor inspected the tyres and said that the fronts had hardened; within 15 minutes of the course the front right had splitted, and three out of the four got worn down to the canvas (inside edge) as the day went on.

So today I ordered some Cup 2s to be fitted next week, thanks to a 10% Blackcircles Michelin discount code (‘FLASH10’ - expires 2nd Feb FYI).

On another news, my car has the 996 GT2/GT3 RS upgraded front brake cooling ducts fitted. I damaged one of them at Bedford; it turned out that the GT2/RS ducts are currently unavailable in the UK, and they are around USD 132 from the US. I wasn’t going to pay that for a bit of plastic, so decided to fit a pair of 997 GT3 cooling ducts instead (£13 for the pair).

997’s ones are a bit smaller though



And a couple of pics from yesterday:





My instructor showing me how it’s done at the short handling course:

[GG.]

I see we peer pressured you into the cup 2s, YK

Given that there was an absolutely night and day difference between brand new Pirelli P Zeros that had done 2,000 miles and the MPS4Ss I replaced them with, you should notice a stunning difference swapping to the cups. I’m sure you’re let us know your thoughts when you’ve got them!

[Maurice]

I see we peer pressured you into the cup 2s, YK

Given that there was an absolutely night and day difference between brand new Pirelli P Zeros that had done 2,000 miles and the MPS4Ss I replaced them with, you should notice a stunning difference swapping to the cups. I’m sure you’re let us know your thoughts when you’ve got them!

Corsas? I really don’t get the hate. They’re great on the Exige (although admittedly it is frustrating they don’t make MPS4Ss in the correct sizes).

Also, car looks fabulous YK.

[Maurice]

Golf - in for first service. It appears VW supplying dealer has made an arse of setting the car up for the long life servicing plan even though that’s what it’s supposed to be on. Have asked dealer to switch to across to this so I don’t have to service again before handing it back. It’ll need new tyres soon. Otherwise, continues to be utterly dependable.

Exige - still haven’t fixed passenger door. Still gets sticky brakes if left sitting for a while. Still sounds outrageous.

[GG.]

I see we peer pressured you into the cup 2s, YK

Given that there was an absolutely night and day difference between brand new Pirelli P Zeros that had done 2,000 miles and the MPS4Ss I replaced them with, you should notice a stunning difference swapping to the cups. I’m sure you’re let us know your thoughts when you’ve got them!

Corsas? I really don’t get the hate. They’re great on the Exige (although admittedly it is frustrating they don’t make MPS4Ss in the correct sizes).

Also, car looks fabulous YK.

No - just bog standard N1 rated P Zeros mudge - never tried the Corsas.

[Beany]

Either I was trying donuts wrong, or there wasn't enough snow on the ground, or I wasn't giving the right foot enough of a boot, but I couldn't get the car to rotate easily (with all the AIDS off) in Asda car park tonight. Seemed to want to understeer more. Might be shagged front tyres vs new rears I suppose.

But gutting. Here's to more snow and more attempts at making silly circles in flaky frozen rain

[JonMad]

Spent an enjoyable day at Car Limits yesterday.

My instructor showing me how it’s done at the short handling course:

as.

[Coaster1]

I see we peer pressured you into the cup 2s, YK

With discount, only £60-ish difference between Cup 2 and AD08R. Win.

Exige - Still sounds outrageous.

We haven’t had a fly-by video yet, have we?

[Foz]

996 not moved in a fortnight, and now under an inch of snow and ice. Chances of it starting

[nuttinnew]

It'll just start, but not happily.


Similar for the A2 now you mention it, though I know that didn't have the best charge in it when I parked it

[Mito Man]

Spent an enjoyable day at Car Limits yesterday.

My instructor showing me how it’s done at the short handling course:

as.

Sliding it round the whole course

[Maurice]

I see we peer pressured you into the cup 2s, YK

Given that there was an absolutely night and day difference between brand new Pirelli P Zeros that had done 2,000 miles and the MPS4Ss I replaced them with, you should notice a stunning difference swapping to the cups. I’m sure you’re let us know your thoughts when you’ve got them!

Corsas? I really don’t get the hate. They’re great on the Exige (although admittedly it is frustrating they don’t make MPS4Ss in the correct sizes).

Also, car looks fabulous YK.

No - just bog standard N1 rated P Zeros mudge - never tried the Corsas.

Ah, makes more sense then, even coming from a Michelin fanboy

YK, fly-by vids have been completed (to avoid Mik grumping about them not being posted, I thought it easier if I made him record them).

Here they are again:-

[Barry]

The car is now fixed so I decided to get a dash cam and went for the Nextbase 412 after researching a bit on the interweb. Simple setup (basically plug-n-play), records in HD (1440p or 1080p at 60 fps), GPS, can switch the speed recording off and less than 100 quid. Really happy with the quality of the videos, and I managed to route the cable quite neatly. The only downside right now is that I need to remember to unplug the power connection from the 12v power supply to avoid draining the car's battery. I've ordered a hardware kit so hopefully it'll switch off when I turn the engine off.

I have the same model and mine is still running off the cig lighter/power socket and auto shuts down after ten seconds when the power is switched off. Is your socket permanent live or something?

Good little camera though, picture is decent, sound recording likewise. Mine has only needed resetting once or twice in the two years I've had it too.