Meeerrrk

For the last 12 months I've been saving to put a big chunk down on a GTR so I could get one without having it on finance. The plan was/is to run my daily run about car into the ground for 2 years and buy a GTR in April 2015. That took a bit of a blow when I decided I couldn't face the Vectra for 2 yrs and bought a "cheap" 118d BMW...much nicer to live with so I'm a bit happier...plus I can drive the Mrs' Zed from time to time and I've got a track toy to keep me happy. On Wednesday I went to Brands hatch to drive a GTR for the first time....kind of to make sure I was saving for the right car.... ....But I was sorely dissapointed! I had the opportunity to really push the car as hard as I and the instructor were comfortable with, and he could tell I was able to drive fast so was encouraging me to push. But it felt very bland, fast and smooth, but not all that exciting. I've driven some exotic cars in the last year, R8, 458 Italia, LP560, XKR R-S etc, so maybe I was expecting too much from it? One of my favourite cars that I've owned was an e46 M3 ... It was raw, mechanical, sounded amazing and felt a bit special, maybe I need to find something a bit more like that. Having owned two 1 series BMWs (my pervious was a 123d, amazing machine really) I am fond of the drive they offer (although not the looks so much!) ... I've always liked the 1M Coupe, so will see if I can get a test drive of one of those, although they are super rare. So I'm now not so sure that I would be doing the right thing by spending £40k on a used GTR....it's not a bad problem to have but I'm really dissapointed! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy Birthday....you share your birthday with some top class drivers.... Mario Andretti Sebastian Bourdais Meeeerrrk Have good days gents Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good work and thanks for sharing the progress! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice car, love the wheels!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks really tidy - good choice! Agree on the roof, in this weather it probably won't go down properly so ask for the car to be inside for a while so it warms up and try it in there. The roofs aren't that great on these cars, they become quite tough and can crack/ begin to rip...sounds horrendous but I got a brand new mohair roof fitted to ours for £850 and it's the best money I've spent so far....it even goes down in cold weather where it didn't before! Looking forward to the summer to enjoy that noise, with the roof down enjoy it!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi slosh can you post the reflectors? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was bending a 600mm breaker bar to loosen the head studs if anything I would say over torqued! I was rather hoping they were loose so I could blame it on that though. The biggest problem is we didn't find a problem so are we just wasting money and time putting in gaskets and bolting it all back together Nice work Chris, Would it be worth checking how true the head is where the leak occurred, if there is runout, just a couple of thou this may have caused the problem? Suppose you could always put a thicker gasket in there to lower the compression & pop it in your car, I know you keep going on about intake temps Yup but with the kit I have (an engineering steel rule )doubt I would detect it, I could put it in mine but then I'd have to swap the cams and bore it out etc etc What on earth makes you think I can actually put that pile of bolts back together? Well if you would have said that before I let you guys loose on the 350z suspension with spanners...lol I have every confidence Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Interesting photos...Matt is this going In your car when rebuilt? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They used to do it over the thames near the O2 - I went once it was a great day out! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Will did you ever get one? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congrats! My mate hired one exactly the same in the states and loved it, I'm sure you'll enjoy driving it, and that's all that matters Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Matt, gutted for you. Glad you've decided to get it repaired though, it's a lovely car that you've spent a lot of time making your own. Best of luck with the repairs, are the shed boys doing it for / with you? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SOLD & SHIPPED

You've been busy dan, nice work! I'm dying to get properly working on mine. Managed to swap the wheels over on Friday, but that's about it! Wheels really suit the car actually, are they 15s all round or staggered sizes? Hopefully we can tie up on a track day or two this year, would be fun! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bit of a mini detail and spacers finally fitted ... Nice and glossy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, it's not just the money but when you have a huge pile of parts to fit onto the other car, two rooms to plaster, smooth, paint, paper.....etc I don't rate fitting bonnet dampers high up the list Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I bought a set of bonnet dampers from I4N for my GFs 350 but I am just not going to fit them...there is always something else to do especially trying to refurb the house and get my track car ready for march. So they go for £75 new, I'm asking £65 recorded 1st class delivery. Thanks, Mark Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

People do much worse things with their kids! Funny story.... my mates 5yr old son asks him to drive fast when they go out in their scooby, so he does give it a bit of boost sometimes (nothing dangerous I must add) just to make him smile....anyway the son was out with mum in the family wagon and says "mummy you don't drive as fast as daddy" so she asks " does daddy drive fast?" kids reply..... "Yep, he drives like a really fast penis" ... She nearly crashed with laughter Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They are not the same....sorry dude Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'll try to find out....if it is I will take it and can pick up Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

is that a citroen? lol oh yeah I've always liked them thats a good suggestion, although no back seats. My uncle used to have a white one but I never got to go out in it unfortunately. He said the parts are very reasonable prices from the US as well. yep m135i would be lovely but I'll have to wait for the price to drop. It has the quick steering rack as well.. I agree the new m3 just feels a bit too big but does feel more comfortable and stable at high speed than the old one to be fair. I dont know how anyone would say the R8 is dull, I loved it. You lot must be F1 drivers. I drove an LP540 and a 458 Italia the same day, and the R8 was the most bland of the bunch....it felt like a fast A4! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Getting a bit long In the tooth now, but still a cracking car....I'd have another any day 😎 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is it the same item for a roadster? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Absolutely right, but can Mercedes, Ferrari or another team put enough daylight between them before they get it sorted? It's going to be an interesting season. Pete The problem is, with te double points system it may not matter if one team gets an early jump. I'm in for Lewis to come back on form too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No, dull and uninspiring and yes i have driven one quite extensively, only the V8 though. With that kind of budget in my pocket it wouldnt even feature! TVR Tamora would be a box i would like to tick one day and fits in the ops budget, not the best TVR by any stretch but i think they are achingly beautiful I'd be inclined to agree, again it was v8 version but very uninspiring Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk