HFS's Cars

[homeforsummer]

Thanks for the advice 👍 Though I have a new priority now...

No of course, I love it when taxis reverse into me...

The dope. We were waiting at some traffic lights, on red and I wasn't even parked too close behind him. A bus comes around the corner and he's too far over, so he puts it straight into reverse and *CRUNCH*. He was clearly deaf as well as stupid, as I was beeping like crazy (though admittedly the horn is a bit noddy-ish).

If I don't sound too annoyed it's because he actually did remarkably little damage with his stupid Citroen C5 estate. The bumper itself is completely unmarked, if a little dirty. Only the numberplate surround thing has suffered a little, the weather sealing trim has come off and the plastic is cracked, but the thing is still secure.

So now what I'm going to do is either find another numberplate surround thing, or bin the lot and just get one of those number plate stickers and put it on the bumper between the indicators. It's a bit of hassle I could have done without but I'm glad it's all in one piece still.

 

[buickgnx88]

My suggestion:
http://www.trainhornkits.co.uk/

 

[homeforsummer]

I am actually giving an airhorn some consideration! That'd scare the f...lippers.

 

[Jim Prower]

I'm looking for one of the two-tones used on UK diesels meself...The K5LA noise is a bit overdone in this country...

 

[Jondot]

Typical. You drive around in a car with unpainted plastic bumpers for 6 years, and now someone chooses to reverse into you.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Man, that sucks!

 

[niky]

Typical. You drive around in a car with unpainted plastic bumpers for 6 years, and now someone chooses to reverse into you.

Man do I know how that feels.

Finished having the car repainted, a few years ago... had to replace a panel that was too wonky to beat out... took extra care driving it... then my brother backs into the same panel that was replaced with the truck.

 

[homeforsummer]

Typical. You drive around in a car with unpainted plastic bumpers for 6 years, and now someone chooses to reverse into you.

Exactly what I was thinking at the time! It's virtually the definition of Sod's law.

 

[daan]

How did he manage to smear your numberplate like that?

 

[Sureboss]

He jumped out with a felt tip and had an ink-rage moment.

 

[homeforsummer]

How did he manage to smear your numberplate like that?

I have a rare Etch-a-Sketch numberplate. Took me ages to draw the bloody letters on and then he shook it all up...

 

[homeforsummer]

Hmmmmm...

Figures are in US gallons. Last tank (as of 28th November - the graph updates without having to change the image) wasn't brilliant, though translated to UK mpg it's just under 29mpg, which isn't bad in the slightest. Significantly lower than the highest figure there though which translates as 39mpg UK, which I'd call rather good. It's been bloody cold recently though, and I've also been commuting every day in traffic and I might even have given it some beans a few times which probably all explain the recent figures.

29mpg in town though? Just shows that if you don't drive like a complete pillock all the time that even a sports car can be economical.

Oh, and here is the Fiesta's chart for comparison over a very small percentage of my ownership:

Low of 43mpg UK, high of 50mpg UK I think DM might struggle to match that even if I drive like an absolute saint.

In other news, DM seems to be an idiot magnet. After the taxi driver incident, I've almost been hit a further couple of times by cretins pulling out in front of me without looking. It wouldn't be so bad but my girlfriend has been in the car both times and it's making her a nervous passenger...

 

[SVX]

How do you do that?

 

[homeforsummer]

The clue is in the website on the graphs...

 

[homeforsummer]

In contrast to virtually everyone else in the country, I've been more than happy with all the snow we've been getting. I've not seen it snow this often in my entire life. Of course, the main reason I'm enjoying the snow is because I've got the right car to tackle it in...

No sideways shots yet, alas, as I have nobody to take any for me. I was pleased to see that due to a grit shortage the contractors who salt our carparks at work are no longer allowed to do so, which has made for some fun in the car park each evening

 

[Joey D]

Pretty cool snow shots, I really need to get out and get some more although we barely have any snow...which is odd.

 

[Boffin]

I wish I could be there - those shots have so much potential that could be had with different lighting.

I'd happily take panning drifting shots as well.

Arrrgrggghh I NEED a sports car of my own so I can do that whenever I want!

Well done on the economy. 38 isn't really all that bad - beating the official figures of the Integra Type R and Civic Type R IIRC.

 

[homeforsummer]

I wish I could be there - those shots have so much potential that could be had with different lighting.

I'd happily take panning drifting shots as well.

Heh, I know the shots aren't as good as they could be (partly because the area where I was taking them is a little... "dodgy" at night so I didn't want to hang around for too long...) but I do like the first shot. I reckon the third shot might look a bit better in B&W.

And yes, it'd be great to have someone to get a few snaps of me going sideways...

Arrrgrggghh I NEED a sports car of my own so I can do that whenever I want!

I know, there's definitely an appeal to it! I'm sure I'd have been happy with any of the cars I was looking at, even the basic Civics and the Seat Cordoba diesel, but the MX-5 is just one of those cars that offers that little bit more... whether that's the chance to go sideways in the snow or just to have something nice to photograph, it's all welcome.

Well done on the economy. 38 isn't really all that bad - beating the official figures of the Integra Type R and Civic Type R IIRC.

Yeah, I don't think a high of 39mpg imperial is too bad. Even my lowest of 29mpg is pretty good, given that the tank was mostly emptied in commuting in cold weather, with the lights and the heater both on.

 

[Keef]

Awesome, looks like fun. I never figured it snowed much in England, but you've got more than we do here. Our heavier stuff doesn't come until February usually, which is a pain in the ass because we have to endure bitter cold until then.

I myself have been having some fun in the snow also. I'll have to take some pics next time it comes down.

 

[homeforsummer]

To be honest, it never does snow much in England. This is the most snow I can remember in my whole life. Usually we get a day or two max and it melts away in another day or two, wheras this stuff has been on and off since before Christmas (and I've just checked the forecast, to which we should be expecting more on and off until Saturday).

When we do get snow, it's usually February as well.

 

[Cano]

That first picture rocks the socks. Are those the original wheels?

 

[speed junkie]

Looks like fun. We had some 2 feet of snow a few weeks ago. The roads were being shoveled but never to the pavement so it was all like one massive, flat, white track! No cops and barely any traffic as it was during the weekend. I just never got around to taking any proper shots. Snow tires-equiped Miata + snow = hours of fun.

 

[Famine]

Oh, and here is the Fiesta's chart for comparison over a very small percentage of my ownership:

Imagine what would happen if I tried

 

[homeforsummer]

That first picture rocks the socks. Are those the original wheels?

They aren't, but they are original fit on one of the many special edition MX-5s that came out. They're made by Enkei and I don't know the model number. They'll be leaving me at the end of this set of tyres though as I don't like what they do to the ride.

Looks like fun. We had some 2 feet of snow a few weeks ago. The roads were being shoveled but never to the pavement so it was all like one massive, flat, white track! No cops and barely any traffic as it was during the weekend. I just never got around to taking any proper shots. Snow tires-equiped Miata + snow = hours of fun.

It's good fun but mine certainly aren't snow tyres, so grip isn't all it could be... Still, the only trouble I've had so far is in snowy car-parks where all the bumpy, ridged snow has iced over making it very difficult to find traction.

Imagine what would happen if I tried

Did you convert back to US gallons with that or are you actually getting 37mpg+ in UK gallons? Either way it's not too shabby. My economy is going to be pretty shocking this month with the snow/cold air/lots of crawling about.

It'll be interesting to see what I get mid summer, which is when I got the Fiesta to over 50mpg UK. That said, I'll also be driving the Mazda a fair bit harder and with the top down a lot more...

 

[Famine]

I converted it all into the appropriate units - 7.4l/km (though I dislike expressing it so metrically) is accurate. And that involved slithering about Essex and Suffolk in the back of beyond, the A14 (which looks like a nice bit of extra-urban 70mph, but, as anyone who lives near it knows, is nothing of the sort - and this was over Christmas!), a spot of A1 and a bit of slithering about locally. She genuinely is pushing 38mpg Imperial without me trying

 

[homeforsummer]

Nice 👍 If I'd actually been able to find one of the buggers in my price range I'd probably quite likely have an MX-3 V6 myself by now. On a semi-related note, I keep seeing miller cycle Xedos 9s popping up on ebay and can't help wondering each time if you're one of the people putting in the bids...

 

[homeforsummer]

Clutch issues

As mentioned in the questions thread, my clutch slave cylinder is kaput, and I'm thinking of taking on the job of replacing it myself.

As you can see from the lovely camera phone picture, the area around it is a mess. I can put this down to my last few pumps of the clutch as it was failing spraying fluid all around everything nearby. Nasty stuff, it's basically brake fluid.

How would people go about getting all that crap off? I can't use a high pressure hose, mainly because I haven't got one, but also because my communal flat car park doesn't have a tap I'd be able to attach a pressure washer to anyway.

Can anyone recommend anything handheld, perhaps? Or could I just use a cloth/stiff brush/magic to get it all off so I have a nice clean area in which to replace it?

 

[Jondot]

Jet wash? Assuming you don't mind disassembling your car in front of everyone at your local petrol station. Or if you can get a pointlessly long extension lead, maybe a handheld steam cleaner would do it. But probably not.

Personally I'd give in and have someone else sort it out. But then I had a man from halfords replace 2 light bulbs for me today because I couldn't be bothered, so I'll go away now.

 

[homeforsummer]

Jet wash isn't possible, given that the car won't move under its own power...

Would WD-40 cut through brake fluid? I have very little knowledge of the relative properties of different automotive fluids...

 

[buickgnx88]

Just get a couple cans of brake cleaner or carb cleaner (especially the ones with the long nozzles) and spray it off. Of course, make sure to put some sort of rug or cardboard underneath to catch it all.