HFS's car thread | Nearly-5000-miles update

[homeforsummer]

Road trip

Been a while since I've taken a car of mine any distance for any reason other than just getting from A to B. Rectified that the other weekend with a bunch of people from work by heading to South Wales and driving around some of the roads we typically use for work, purely for fun.

Took the Roadster as the Peugeot needs a new exhaust. Enjoyed it. Hard top is back on now for winter, but it does wonders for the rigidity of the thing too. Still pretty punishing over some of the worst surfaces but it showed no ill effects over the few days. Bit slower in a straight line than everything else present too but did mean I got to drive it pretty hard where everyone else was using a smaller percentage of what their cars would do.

Currently in a bit of a funk about what I want to do with it. Still have the desire to turn it into something a bit like the car that's pictured in my mind - roll bar, tweaked engine, slightly different wheel/suspension setup, ducktail bootlid, interior bits and pieces etc. But at the moment a bit of rust is starting to creep through, so that's more of a priority, and I'm not sure how much I really want to spend on it.

And if I do, whether I should just try and make it as original as possible - i.e. get the gearknob, tower brace, seats and stereo it's missing, and stick it on some original Bilsteins. One of the troubles with values for good ones going up. Trouble is, the 106 is also the better drivers' car out of the box with no mods whatsoever... which has made the Mazda a little redundant, particularly given the odds and sods that need doing to it. Getting itchy feet for more of a "contrast" car, since I currently have two small, light-weight and simple cars serving pretty much the same role, and the Peugeot (as the even lighter, even more interactive and less compromised car) is serving that role even better.

Hmm.

 

[Joey D]

Well that group of cars certainly doesn't suck.

 

[homeforsummer]

Well that group of cars certainly doesn't suck.

Hah, indeed. Quite fond of both the Porsches, though I was a bit envious of the Saab too - world's comfiest seats, and it's making about 300 horsepower...

 

[SVX]

Originality, or at least getting the parts wouldn't be such a bad idea, even less of one in another 5 years or so. It's not like you need a special edition if you have one because it seems what you want to do is ridding what makes it different anyway, haha.

 

[homeforsummer]

Originality, or at least getting the parts wouldn't be such a bad idea, even less of one in another 5 years or so. It's not like you need a special edition if you have one because it seems what you want to do is ridding what makes it different anyway, haha.

Part of me regrets getting one of the special editions (or one of the less special, special editions anyway) as it does mean anything I do to it takes away some of the more unique things Mazda did itself. In retrospect I'd probably have bought more of a blank canvas, or hung on for something like an RS-Ltd which has many of the changes I'd want to do to mine.

 

[eiriksmil]

If you are short on parts to make the car original and prices are on the rise, just sourcing the parts would be a good idea now whatever you decide to do with the car. Parts prices also tend to rise when the actual car/model appreciates.

 

[homeforsummer]

If you are short on parts to make the car original and prices are on the rise, just sourcing the parts would be a good idea now whatever you decide to do with the car. Parts prices also tend to rise when the actual car/model appreciates.

Yeah, been thinking along those lines. Yellow Eunos tower brace and Nardi gearknob are probably the most important missing bits that should be easy to find. An original double-DIN "MSSS" stereo may be more difficult to locate, and while the S-Spec had seats much like the standard car (dark grey cloth) the S-Spec models like mine had speakers in the seats, and those may also be difficult to find.

 

[boiltheocean]

Part of me regrets getting one of the special editions (or one of the less special, special editions anyway) as it does mean anything I do to it takes away some of the more unique things Mazda did itself. In retrospect I'd probably have bought more of a blank canvas, or hung on for something like an RS-Ltd which has many of the changes I'd want to do to mine.

I often think the same of my RB320. It would've been cheaper for me to get a PPP'd STI and make the necessary suspension changes after but I've come to appreciate that the rarity has stopped me going further with frivolous modifications. I still have a long list of things to improve but I've been much more critical when researching the benefits any parts would bring, considering if what I change can be reversed and locating OEM options wherever possible.

 

[homeforsummer]

I often think the same of my RB320. It would've been cheaper for me to get a PPP'd STI and make the necessary suspension changes after but I've come to appreciate that the rarity has stopped me going further with frivolous modifications. I still have a long list of things to improve but I've been much more critical when researching the benefits any parts would bring, considering if what I change can be reversed and locating OEM options wherever possible.

Yeah, I'm quite a picky person when it comes to modifications but I'm only doing things to this car that I'm absolutely sure will improve it.

I've toyed in the past with the idea of selling this one and buying a regular version of some sort, but the issue now would be finding one quite as good. While mine has a few faults, I know exactly how it's been driven, what maintenance has been done and when, what bits will likely need changing in the short and mid-term... buying any other would introduce an extra element of risk. Better the devil you know, etc.

No rash decisions anyway. Today I'm feeling a lot warmer towards it and I've not even driven the thing for a week or so.

 

[homeforsummer]

Continuing to feel better about the Mazda, boosted by my trip to Japan and therefore being in a total JDM fanboy mood and having an actual JDM car, and partly because I think I've decided I still want to go ahead with some of the tweaks I've planned, but also start unearthing some of the original bits as @eiriksmil suggested so I can return it to standard when I need to.

In light of being in a better mood, I had it cleaned. I make no apologies for the filters.

Still scrubs up well and you can't see the slightly tired nature of the bodywork in pictures (it's looking a little better since I got rid of the gap between the pop-ups and the bonnet - an easy fix that just involves bending the pop-up covers). Nor hear the rattles. Next plans involve a tower brace to curtail some of those (I've just had one delivered, more after I fit it), and some uprated bushes and a dyno run that I planned ages ago but the shop didn't have the time for.

In Peugeot news it's still running well, better in fact since I've had the blowing exhaust replaced. Only slight niggle is that the centre section is knocking and vibrating on the bodywork on the overrun at about 3k rpm, so I need to get it up on a ramp and have it secured somehow.

 

[ExigeEvan]

@homeforsummer which roads are you guys using in South Wales these days?

I've just spent the weekend around Llanberris, A470 and Machynllyth. Some quite fun roads but only if you can get a clear run through traffic as lots of blind corners. Sadly, in the Mazda2.

 

[homeforsummer]

@homeforsummer which roads are you guys using in South Wales these days?

On that particular trip, the B4560 near Crickhowell (as used in loads of car review videos - the pic further up is in the big car park at the top), the Black Mountain road (definitely keeping to the 40mph speed limit...) and the A4061/A4107 up from Treorchy.

In North Wales the Llanberris pass is one of our favourites but I don't think I've ever driven it when it hasn't been either foggy or lashing it down, and usually in something with far too much power, so I've not yet properly enjoyed those roads in anything.

One of my favourite roads in the whole country is the one between Rhayader and Devil's Bridge Falls in the Elan Valley. Would be hopeless in anything too powerful or stiffly-sprung, but I had one of my best drives of this year in a previous-gen Clio 200 Cup there. Quite bumpy, undulating, narrow and twisty. My MX-5 would probably hate it, but I'd love to try it in the Rallye.

Edit: Oh, and another North Wales route (probably one of the best): the B4391 between Ffestiniog and Bala (and the B4407 that comes off it).

 

[SVX]

Give us a shout if you need a hand finding original bits and pieces. I have a few sources I use and spend half of my days on Yahoo Auctions anyways!

 

[homeforsummer]

Give us a shout if you need a hand finding original bits and pieces. I have a few sources I use and spend half of my days on Yahoo Auctions anyways!

Cost of importing here is usually the problem but if you ever come across one of the double-DIN MSSS headunits let me know, as I suspect that will be most difficult to find.

 

[Mike Rotch]

What the fuzz's policy in UK land about using backroads for a welly-session? Seems like you can go into the middle of nowhere (Wales ), give it plenty and not have any fear of running into the cops.

Over here they are as likely to take a trundle up some backroad expressly to nick off some enthusiastic drivers.

 

[SVX]

Cost of importing here is usually the problem but if you ever come across one of the double-DIN MSSS headunits let me know, as I suspect that will be most difficult to find.

I've just had a thorough scour over the past couple of hours and wasn't able to find anything at this stage, except I have a bit of info on the unit:

From what I found on good examples of the car (sadly the newer 1.8s ['94s, to be specific], which I'm not sure had the same unit), this is the MSSS unit that was in your car. The good news is that they seem to be the more common of the units, and popular in the States, so perhaps a wanted advertisement on an American forum would turn up trumps. Another course of action could be contacting a provider that probably have a load more of sources than me, but might come up a bit pricey. JDM Parts Rupewecht is especially fantastic with Mazda bits and pieces and a very nice guy. I've saved a search on Yahoo for any that come up, as as luck has it, a faulty one sold last month: https://zenmarket.jp/auction.aspx?itemCode=l394769473

From research I've found it's a Pioneer FH-5071ZM by model name, which might help with searching as most sellers refer to it that way. An older listing here but gives a good look as to what it looks like: http://www.justparts.com/Auto_Parts...ER-FACE-RADIO-PIONEER-FH-5071ZM-MSSS/25887919

Apologies if this is a tad overboard, I have a rather extensive fascination with rare/optional accessories and the like for cars so this is super interesting and exciting for me!

 

[homeforsummer]

What the fuzz's policy in UK land about using backroads for a welly-session? Seems like you can go into the middle of nowhere (Wales ), give it plenty and not have any fear of running into the cops.

Over here they are as likely to take a trundle up some backroad expressly to nick off some enthusiastic drivers.

Some roads are policed more heavily than others. Certain areas of Wales that have been in the news recently (and that we no longer use) have become notorious for people driving badly so police have been more active there, but others are quieter and as long as you're careful you can drive with a bit more enthusiasm without attracting attention or being a nuisance to other road users.

To be honest, one of the reasons I tend to prefer slower cars is that I can get more out of them before crossing that antisocial threshold. I've driven too many cars that can quite easily double the local speed limit and constantly fearing for your license gets old very quickly. The combined power total of both my owned cars is only a little more than your Clio on its own!

Apologies if this is a tad overboard, I have a rather extensive fascination with rare/optional accessories and the like for cars so this is super interesting and exciting for me!

I quite like that the JDM versions had such different equipment lists to the UK cars, and wasn't aware of it until I bought mine.

As far as I'm aware, the sum-total of S-Special bits over a standard Eunos Roadster of the day was that stereo, plus extra tweeters in the door cards and speakers in the headrests of the seats, a Nardi steering wheel and gearknob, a yellow tower bar, the spoiler, a set of Bilstein shocks, and the BBS RZ wheels. Some bits were shared with other special editions, obviously.

My car's missing the stereo, the original seats, the gearknob, the tower bar, and the Bilsteins. Most of those should be easy enough to find, and for the meantime at least I have other plans for the seats, tower bar and suspension anyway, so my priorities are the stereo and gearknob.

 

[ExigeEvan]

What the fuzz's policy in UK land about using backroads for a welly-session? Seems like you can go into the middle of nowhere (Wales ), give it plenty and not have any fear of running into the cops.

Over here they are as likely to take a trundle up some backroad expressly to nick off some enthusiastic drivers.

Not so much these days.

The Black Mountain Pass (TopGear hairpin) is 40 mph (previously 60mph) and often has speed camera vans.

The Evo Triangle is potentially going to have special measures that make it a criminal (not just traffic offence) to be caught speeding.

Luckily, there are still many roads that are enjoyable, and challenging whilst within the limits (or near enough) with circa 200 hp or less.

 

[TheCracker]

What the fuzz's policy in UK land about using backroads for a welly-session? Seems like you can go into the middle of nowhere (Wales ), give it plenty and not have any fear of running into the cops.

Over here they are as likely to take a trundle up some backroad expressly to nick off some enthusiastic drivers.

We're such a densely populated country, you're never that far away from civilisation or potentially the long arm of the law. Even back roads can get quite busy, especially those that are decent driving roads. Coming across a quiet stretch where you can enthusiastically string a handful of corners together is about as much as you can hope for.

North Wales is becoming harder and harder to drive in that manner, i've noticed in the past 5 or so years the police are really starting to crack down. Having said that, you're still more likely to get a sheep wander out in front of you and spoil your day.

 

[homeforsummer]

And the above is why I'm slowly losing the enjoyment of driving in the UK. Not only does it take forever to get to a decent road in the first place, but invariably there's too much traffic, or it's covered in sheep, or it's been neutered by traffic-calming measures or speed cameras.

The Clio in mid-Wales is the only truly great drive I think I've had on UK soil. Had better drives in worse cars (but on better roads) in Europe or the US than I have in great cars on supposedly great roads in the UK. Which is why once I've done the last few things that need doing to the 106, I'm planning to head to the Alps for a proper drive there.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Well there you go - interesting, thanks for the replies. I always come away from UK based YT car reviews or mag reviews with the impression that just a hop and a skip away from the nearest city there is a ribbon or empty road through some lush scenery just begging for use.

When it actually sounds like it's the same everywhere - traffic, law enforcement and limited opportunities.

I am still looking for my 'go to road' that doesn't have blind corners, cops, weekend travellers or ahole locals driving in blue Holdens (which just happen to be the same colour/ car combination of unmarked highway patrol. I can't tell you how many times I have been tailed for endless km on a far flung road by a blue Holden, me sweating bullets it's a cop, when it's actually some yokel taking the kids somewhere.

 

[homeforsummer]

*Looks out of window*
*Grabs phone and keys*
*Zoooom*
*Click*​

​

Would have done similar with the Roadster, but that's half way across the country having some uprated bushes fitted and a few small tweaks to the engine. Was a damn good sunset though. They're not easy to come by in the UK most of the time.

 

[homeforsummer]

Bits and pieces​

Slow-down for Christmas incoming, which curiously means I've spent less time driving the Mazda or Peugeot than I usually do.

The Peugeot is still going great. Really pleased with that purchase, and I've never had such positive feedback on a car I've owned as this one. Perhaps the best so far was that after posting the pic above on Instagram, one of its previous owners spotted it and got in contact to let me know about the car's history while he and his family owned it - from about 2004 to 2016! The car community can be amazing sometimes.

The Mazda has spent the last three weeks at a specialist having new SuperPro bushes fitted and having the airflow meter and timing tweaked for a bit more power. It didn't take three weeks, but I've been so busy that I've been unable to collect it (four hours and three trains to get to where it was).

Hard to tell the impact of the bushes so far, other than that it's much firmer over expansion joints and other sharp bumps now, and that with a fast road geometry setup at the same time, it feels a little more nimble but also a little less stable on the long motorway cruise back this afternoon. The extra firmness has made me realise I definitely need to stiffen up the chassis a bit, but I also need to start putting blobs of foam rubber in strategic points behind interior plastics to stop everything vibrating against itself.

The AFM/timing tweaks haven't done a great deal either, though the technicians reckon the timing might have been adjusted slightly in the past, as it turned in some half-decent numbers on their dyno before they'd even started fiddling with things. The high-flow exhaust might have helped too, but in the end they found an extra 3.5bhp from 5k rpm onwards (and a small improvement throughout), and an extra 2-3lb ft of torque pretty much everywhere too.

At the wheels, it's now making 91hp from about 5200-6300rpm, and about 78lb ft peaking at around 4500rpm, though it's making over 80lb ft at the wheels from around 3500-6000rpm. They estimate the power works out at about 117bhp at the crank once drivetrain losses are removed. Pretty much bang on what the JDM cars should have, but that of course includes the tweaks and the exhaust. The shop reckons that NAs and NBs basically never made the quoted power from the factory.

All dynos are different of course, so it's probably difficult to compare my car with anyone else's, but provided I now go back to that one whenever I have anything else done to the car, I now have a baseline to work with. 91 WHP doesn't seem too bad - 100 WHP seems like a good goal to aim for next.

 

[homeforsummer]

Fresh​

Doesn't it look neat? "Fresh" refers to the white paintwork and the fact it was bloody cold when I took this snap.

Did the ol' car-juggling thing the other weekend. The Peugeot had been in my garage over Christmas hiding from the wind, rain, snow and road salt, but took the opportunity to go for a drive after a few days of minimal precipitation and above-freezing temperatures, so there wasn't a great deal of moisture or salt on the roads.

Just a few niggles with this thing at the moment, one being the slightly ill-fitting exhaust which is vibrating against something on the overrun, and more recently, a driver's door lock that doesn't always operate from either the barrel nor the pin, which involves getting in through the passenger side instead. I think the latter will just be a WD40 job and the former will be dealt with when I can be bothered. For the time being neither are harming the fun factor.

Anyway, I swapped its parking spot with the Mazda so the Mazda is now enjoying the warmth and dryness of a garage. The Pug's continuing to call the MX-5's existence in my possession into question, but I still go through phases of really liking the Mazda so it'll be hanging around for the time being or until I really get the itch for something else. At the moment, I'm not in desperate need of the money I'd get for selling it. That, and I think I'm going to do some motorsport in it this year. Almost certainly sprinting, which is nice and affordable, not too hard on the car, and requires little in the way of extra equipment.

Pleased to report the new poly bushes I had fitted a few months ago do seem to be making a difference now though. I assume they've bedded in a little as the car doesn't feel as harsh as it did when I picked it up - in fact, it seems to feel better than it did pre-bushes, possibly because the new ones are rotating within their respective housings a little more smoothly.

 

[Joey D]

Alright, time for me to be an American. What in the world is sprinting? Like Autocross?

 

[ExigeEvan]

Alright, time for me to be an American. What in the world is sprinting? Like Autocross?

Point-to-point on a closed road. Usually a relatively short course. Think Goodwood Festival of Speed.

 

[Clark]

Is sprinting anything like autotesting?

 

[TheCracker]

Is sprinting anything like autotesting?

I think its like hill climbing but with less emphasis on the hills and a bit longer than the hill climb courses we have in the UK.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Is sprinting anything like autotesting?

Autotesting in the UK is autotesting. Local automobile clubs tend to run it.

 

[homeforsummer]

@Joey D

I think its like hill climbing but with less emphasis on the hills and a bit longer than the hill climb courses we have in the UK.

Pretty much this. Most of the sprint events I've seen take place over the length of a lap on various circuits around the country. Probably with a few cone chicanes thrown in for good measure, and a few courses that are much more similar to autocross in the US.