OV9

A few words about my trackday at Blyton. Whilst I appreciate its old ground for me having been there perhaps 8 or 9 times now its also a very familiar test track. I do tend to take the exige on the road but I would never dream of cornering on a B road like I do on track.

For those at the back who havent been following my thread ( shame on you ) I have mad a modification to the adjustable ARB and gone full hard. Thats 5/5 setting.

I have certainly noted a firmer bite on turn in, however dont forget I have the near mythical AD052 tyres on. Could it have been that as well? Either way I am delighted with the car setup, but as ever always wondering what more could be done. I note the roll on the pictures seems to have been reduced but not removed. I am torn here because in theory a stiffer spring might stop the compression but I am curious if it could introduce understeer as the firmer spring would force the tyre to skip , rather than grip? Answers on a postcard or even this thread, please

My new exhaust sounded erm. I dont really know! I have a new lid as well and that basically renders most external noises null and void so I cannot tell. I am awaiting some videos of other track goers to get a better impression.

All in all, I am most pleased with the pace of the car and the confidence it inspires in me pressing on.

Some pictures of the car now. I am sure you have all seen a s2 exige before but tough ...

Broccers wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 10:07 pm

John wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 8:46 pm High Peak Autos on youtube bought a Discovery 4 recently and it gave him a few not totally unexpected bills

I like him. His blind faith in everything land rover is amazingly amusing. Seems to be doing alright these days considering his own cars have improved 3 levels.

From memory he has an AMG GT, SL55 and a FFRR SC, maybe a few others.

I like him too. His videos started appearing in my feed during lockdown, I think he was on about 60k subscribers then, now on 200k. He was a bit Clarkson-lite to begin with but seems to have found his own thing.

John wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 8:46 pm High Peak Autos on youtube bought a Discovery 4 recently and it gave him a few not totally unexpected bills

Always a shame to see an HSE on 19’s as opposed to 20’s (I think these were just an option on early D4 HSE?), and you really want an MY12 so get the 8sp ZF box instead of the older 6-speed. It’s much better.

Those alloys suit the Disco 4 - I prefer them to 20"s on it. Bigger wheels are too bling for what is a great piece of industrial design.

John wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:12 pm I haven't but I'm getting spammed constantly on FB, they must know I own an mx5

Ive no idea how far this is for you, but if not too far these events are a good night out
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mazda-mx5-club-a ... 9223667467

andybond wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:57 am A few words about my trackday at Blyton. Whilst I appreciate its old ground for me having been there perhaps 8 or 9 times now its also a very familiar test track. I do tend to take the exige on the road but I would never dream of cornering on a B road like I do on track.

For those at the back who havent been following my thread ( shame on you ) I have mad a modification to the adjustable ARB and gone full hard. Thats 5/5 setting.

I have certainly noted a firmer bite on turn in, however dont forget I have the near mythical AD052 tyres on. Could it have been that as well? Either way I am delighted with the car setup, but as ever always wondering what more could be done. I note the roll on the pictures seems to have been reduced but not removed. I am torn here because in theory a stiffer spring might stop the compression but I am curious if it could introduce understeer as the firmer spring would force the tyre to skip , rather than grip? Answers on a postcard or even this thread, please

My new exhaust sounded erm. I dont really know! I have a new lid as well and that basically renders most external noises null and void so I cannot tell. I am awaiting some videos of other track goers to get a better impression.

All in all, I am most pleased with the pace of the car and the confidence it inspires in me pressing on.

Some pictures of the car now. I am sure you have all seen a s2 exige before but tough ...

As you say most of your use is on road. I wouldn’t go stiffer springs as it would compromise the road use. What dampers do you have on it?

Softer arb on the front would in theory give slight more oversteer and better turn in. Elise/exiges are setup to have a bit of roll in them.

The 52’s are sticky so if youve changed to them and made setup changes then a lot of what you’re feeling will be the tyres.

What Geo setup have you got?

Rich B wrote: ↑Wed Jul 20, 2022 9:37 am Well the wife decided she'd try going into the driveway forward today (she usually reverses in, I give her the space that's straight from the road, I take the space that needs to be manoeuvred into).

I widened the driveway opening by 600mm a few years back as it used to be quite tight and it was always a bit of a faff to make sure you could get in.

Anyway - this is how it went:

I ordered a new door from EBay and crossed every finger and toe that it would come as a full door including glass in.. (The ad made a point of the sale was just for the door itself, not the other bits - presumably so they don't need to warrant window motors/etc...)

It did! It turned up today so I thought I'd just go for it.

Old door off:



New door on:



It was really simple with all the glass in place - literally 15 mins - remove the door card (2 screws, unplug 4 plugs and some trim to lever off), remove the door (3 bolts). Then do it all in reverse. Voilà!

Just need to get the arch and skirt repaired (smart repair I hope) then it's done. The nice thing about getting the door second hand is it is in the right colour with paint that's about the same age - so the colour match is good (I'll have a look in different light too, but so far it's a match!) £145 spent so far (her excess is £350).

Which courier did a whole door arrive with? I'm impressed it didn't arrive damaged.

Jobbo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:41 pm Which courier did a whole door arrive with? I'm impressed it didn't arrive damaged.

yeah, it arrived un wrapped too - no protection whatsoever (and no damage) - not sure what courier it was?!

Rich B wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:49 pm

Jobbo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:41 pm Which courier did a whole door arrive with? I'm impressed it didn't arrive damaged.

yeah, it arrived un wrapped too - no protection whatsoever (and no damage) - not sure what courier it was?!

Clearly a good, careful one.

Are the flip flops where she fell after you learning of the latest scrape?

Lucky with door match too

Yooah ownly suppozed tuh bolt the bladdy dohahs off!

Jobbo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 12:41 pm Which courier did a whole door arrive with? I'm impressed it didn't arrive damaged.

I'm impressed that any courier would even accept a large fairly fragile item with no packaging in the first place.

Broccers wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:10 pm


Are the flip flops where she fell after you learning of the latest scrape?

Lucky with door match too

i was incredibly calm and supportive (outwardly) of her mistake!! Flip flops were handy sized (and stylish) protective pads for the door to rest on!

@Sundayjumper I sold a 22” F-Pace alloy & tyre last year - heavy awkward bugger - buyer sent a specialist automotive courier to collect it. They insisted that I did NOT attempt to pack or wrap it as they took their own pre and post delivery pics. He carefully wrapped it in thick blankets before he left - bigger items in the van were also swathed in heavy blankets.

Unfortunately I can’t remember who they were….

mik wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2022 2:36 pm I sold a 22” F-Pace alloy & tyre last year - heavy awkward bugger - buyer sent a specialist automotive courier to collect it. They insisted that I did NOT attempt to pack or wrap it as they took their own pre and post delivery pics. He carefully wrapped it in thick blankets before he left - bigger items in the van were also swathed in heavy blankets.

Unfortunately I can’t remember who they were….

I can't see any clues to who the couriers who sent the door were either. No packaging Makes sense I suppose - no fighting over damage being bad packing or bad handing.

mik wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 7:01 pm

drcarlos wrote: ↑Mon Jul 25, 2022 4:22 pm [
I like that Disco. The late model S4 still has the good looks but modern enough to be practical. I bet it won't do many mpg though.

Our 2012 D4 had the same 255PS motor - it averaged around 32mpg,. Mrs mik’s commute was pretty urban, but even on a motorway sitting at 80 it would struggle to better 35mpg - mainly due to the similarities in aerodynamics to a house brick.

I missed that ex-forum-er BenB just picked up a late D4 last week. Spooky timing.

MikeHunt wrote: ↑Tue Jul 26, 2022 3:43 pm

John wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 9:12 pm I haven't but I'm getting spammed constantly on FB, they must know I own an mx5

Ive no idea how far this is for you, but if not too far these events are a good night out
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mazda-mx5-club-a ... 9223667467

I'm south of Sheffield so a bit far for a work day. I'm thinking of going to go to the owners club day at Sywell though later in the year.

Big chip in the screen of the wife’s MINI. I’m guessing this is new screen territory.