Andy P

A HOUSE!!! Well, I bought it a while ago - but I get the keys today!! 3 bedrooms (2 large doubles), lounge, dining room, kitchen, "workshop", separate shower and bath, largeish front and rear gardens with patio, driveway space for 3 cars...the whole deal... Cost me £139,000.00 so looks like I'll be living on budget Morrison's cornflakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next few years! Not bad for a 21 year old I don't think (mortgage in my name only) Bit of a pontless post but I've impressed myself by getting onto the property ladder so soon when i thought I'd never be able to do it. What have you bought / done recently thats impressed yourself??? Andy P

SHHHHHH!!! It's been a long day.... Andy P

This is most definately NOT the new Skyline... not even close to it click click Andy P

Jang, I totally agree with you on the setup point that you've made - I just took it as red that if someone was going to splash out on coilovers, they would take the time and effort to get them setup properly. After I fitted my coilovers the handling improved somewhat but I took the car to get tracking and cambers setup (to my spec) and the difference really was night and day. Thanks for the tip on the tyres, I'll use that, if and when I'm rich enough to buy 2 sets of tyres at the same time!! I'm alright for tyres currently, the next set of tyres I buy will probably be ex-touring car scrubbed slicks - £150 a set! Just need to get some cheapish track wheels in 17*8 (I think cheap might be wishful thinking... ) Andy P

True, they both have their uses. Lighter track cars gererally user higher revving higher bhp lower torque (bike engined caterhams for example). Bigger, lower revving cars have more torque. Its about useability. I'd rather have a torquier car to use everyday than have to go to work at 7am with my engine screaming 11krpm in my ear haha. Andy

Ok, I can't stay out of this thread for any longer... I for one have no problems in believing that a 300bhp Ashtray van will beat a 350bhp WRX / Evo from a roll from 30 - 150+. Transmission loss makes for a MASSIVE difference which many people underestimate. I've experinced this for myself in my own car. From a roll, providing there is traction, a similarly powered and weighted FF car will out accelerate any rwd / 4wd and the faster the speed the more effect it has. A subaru is quick off the mark and will do impressive 0-60 times however the standard subaru isn't great at accelerating at anything over 70-80. I've raced a WRX on the motorway - involving a corner may I add (M3 > M27 junction eastbound) my car out accelerated the WRX from 60 - 145 pulling 3-4 car lengths, round the corner and up to 150 on the straight. At no point did he catch up around the corner. I know that this isn't a comprehensive test which proves the end of the WRX etc etc, as there are so many variables - for all I know he could of had a stack of bricks in the boot or woman-like driving instincts - I don't know. I've also tested my car against an E46 330ci. Rolling from 40 it was fairly even up untill 60-70 when i started to pull away; from 60 in 5th, 4th and 3rd, I easily walk away from him. The cars are of similar weight (I assume) his has 232bhp, mine I'd guess at running anywhere between 190-200bhp (he also has the advantage of n/a over turbo lag). Over the 1/4 mile both cars have similar times (book figure for the BMW vs other ppls times with similar mods to me in America - with auto boxes) Again, this is no comprehensive test that proves anything really, I'm just trying to illustrate how bigger bhp numbers do not always make for a faster car and that transmission losses have a lot to answer for. Many people on the Lancer register (evo forum) have said how they've had a close race, or even lost to a "lesser" fwd car such as Seat LCR, Megane Cup sport whatever it is... Handling wise, ANY car or van can be made to handle well - look how well the Volvo 850 estates did in the BTCC. I've spent hundreds (well over 1k actually :|) on KW coilovers, strut braces, anti roll bars, decent wheels and the best tires I could afford and theres not much on the road that will out corner it on a long sweeping bend at speed. I've had a tussle with an E46 M3 over a large motorway junction and I whilst he was struggling to keep the back from swapping ends, I was able to stick right behind him with the ability to go much faster. Sure, as soon as we got to the straight he left me standing, and sure my car has been heavily modified for that sort of corner, but his car is regarded as one of the quickest point to point cars available..... Oh, and he probably spent 45k vs my 2.5k+mods. I'd prefer the M3 mind... All of this about vans unable to go around corners as well as their car counterparts is rubbish. I'd agree that a standard ashtray car vs a standard van equivilant will probably handle worse due to the purpose they were designed for (car for general motoring, van for carrying loads) however I have every confidance with identical suspension setups a van will out-handle the car. I ask, in what way is the van any different to make it handle worse? The van is likely to have a longer wheelbase making it more stable around fast corners, the lack of glass (which is very heavy), interior, seats, sound deadening etc etc make it lighter than the car. I'd also guess that they run on almost identical chassis also. Like what has been previously said, the weight is over the front wheels where the power is, the rear wheels are there to stop the back end from dragging on the floor. This might make the van a little tail happy, but with 300bhp through the front wheels with no LSD, I can't see how this is a bad thing because it's going to want to understeer. As a final thought, I do believe that the above claims from Bucky, and Wayne are true - I've experianced a XE Nova which wouldn't have any problems with my car on the straights and I can also see why they do it - the need to do something different from the norm and moreso to personally create and build a unique vehical. A fast car out of the box is all well and good, but an equally fast car built by yourself (for less) is a much better feeling. On the otherside of the fence, I can also share your thoughts of "buy a decent car" I sometimes drive a 55 plate BMW 525i with all the extras when I have to go to meetings, and I have to say travelling up to london on the motorways it's the car I'd most like to be in, but then I'm glad I'm going home in my own car - why?? because its faster. Different people have different tastes, so if Wanye says he'd much rather spend a few k's on his van than get a "proper" car which is just as fast or faster, let him. At the end of the day it's his money, and his choice. Just to add, I drive a Volvo S40. The video posted earlier by Nick are S40 clocks... just a thought.... Andy P Ps. brakehorse for show, torque for go.

Ahh this sounds interesting... TF Nurburgring challenge anyone?? Andy P

"Godfather of Soul" - Damn right. Rest in peace.

I'm hoping too. I really want a PS2 but cant afford it right now. Andy told me that it was an christmas pressie 4 me, but then he added ok maybe 4 the both of us. lol. I knew it would be for him. Just seen it for 1st time and i was like typical lol. xx EDIT: This is CHARLOTTE P by the way lol

^^^What rob said, Add them to the basket and they come up as no extra charge. Billy bargain. Andy P

Argos - Don't shop for it. Argos it! Catalogue numbers 567/1867 and 568/0858 Xbox and 4 games for £49.99 Andy P

My old self. I remember back in the day when he had some balls. Now he's just getting old Andy P (feeling sorry for myself )

Hmmmmn, I might be able to find a bike under the pile of car bits I've got in the garage... Andy P

A good friend of mine splashed out and bought a spanking nova merit complete with full grandma brown interior and some lovely 15" steelies for £800... Came with a Redtop, V6 brakes and a cupholder. I couldn't get anywhere near it 0-150mph, awesome toy. I'd quite fancy doing an XE corsa one day (for tracks and the likes)... saying that, I wouldn't spend over 1K on doing it. Loads quicker than most would think. Andy P. The nova don't handle for shit though...

Ordered.. I expect it on my doormat when I get home from work... Andy P

Damn I rock lol I've already said this on msn but it looks awesome and you can put me on the long list for one Well done you. Andy P

Worthing is awesome, I love it there. I'd come but I've got a house to view at 3.30 on the saturday - tisk, growing up and getting old... who'd have thought.. Andy P

I'd actually quite like one as a project car! Shame I dont have the space or money One day maybe.. Andy P

As much as I agree with this topic, there can only be so many questions that can be asked. For example, if a "which brake pads" topic could only ever be used once and never replicated, no one would have any reason to make a new topic or post and thus, no one would ever get validated. So, although you make a valid point about repetitive topics, it can not really be helped otherwise NMC would be a very quiet place indeed. Andy P

Portsdown hill?? Andy P

For more info check either the M-A-D or Phase bikes website. Andy P

As I'm probably one of, if not, the only one to have owned one of these on the forum I feel a duty to reply to this one.... The hub I had was the Stealth Poacher, the single speed MTB hub with QR spindle. From the moment I opend the box I was VERY impressed, I can not explain how weird it is for a hub to have ZERO "backlash" in the engagement. Testing the engagement system with just my hands there was absolutley no movement in it what-so-ever. After I laced it up to a wheel and took it for a ride (about 1 hour after it was opened from the box!) I was even more so impressed. I've owned hopes and kings and have been impressed - this felt like something else. As soon as you put the power down, its already engaged. This, along with the silent action, made riding a lot smoother, as there was no "bang" to the chain. This made small and precise movements easier and more accurate. With the regards to the "spongy" feel - you're wrong (imo ) It was just as "solid" feeling as any other hub (the hub I had owned previously was a King and had currently been using a mono - no difference in "solidness" felt.) Like Lee has already explaied though, it broke after just over a month of static gapping for britain lol. This was almost 2 years ago now, and when I sent it back Todd explained that they would re-design it to handle higher torque and make it more suitable for trials.... ...did he get back to me??? Actually, yes, about 3 days ago - He's sending me a brand new hub for me to test for them Anyway. Up until the old hub broke, it was increadable. I'm just hoping the reliablilty issue of the old hub has been resolved with this new one. Andy P

Bongo, if you win, maybe you could send me that money you owe me.... Hey, even if you dont maybe you can send it aswell.... Andy P

It appears a bit of a bashing from Clarkson was all the motivation Button needed... Andy P

Indeed we are.... Andy P