Fidgits

ello Ian

Hi Mat,

Hows the drifting going?

what about mr mccartney

he knew about her long before he married her

he decided not to get her to sign any prenuptual agreements

he decided to have a child by her

he uses the best lawyers when getting divorced, but not when getting married

he isnt stupid.....or is he ?

anyway lets face it, he aint gonna miss the odd 20 million

Pre-nups arent legally binding in this country - and even with the landmark ruling the other week that withheld one, that was a short marriage with no kids...

Lets face it, she knew exactly what she was doing from day one - and he wouldn't have had a leg to stand (;)) regardless...

so, finally the sun came out, and a chance to drive it with the roof off and to get some snaps!

As for practicality - okay, its never going to trouble a volvo estate - but its got an okay sized boot - and yes getting in and out takes some practice, but I manage with it in the garage okay - and its suprisingly comfortable once your in.

On the move its great - yes its a little noisey on the motorway, and you'll be able to tell what paint they used on the road...

But.

and this is a big but.

I've driven some serious cars in my time - the best road car probably a Parr Motorsport prepared 996 GT3 Clubsport with 440bhp - as well as Formula Ford's and track-prepped cars, including a Caterham... and without a doubt, this is the best car i've driven.

Its so involving - you feel a part of the car, all your senses seem so much more alert and aware - yet its still usable - I had as much fun driving around swindon at 30mph as I did barrelling along my favoriate A-road playing with the second cam... It handles beautifully, so precise, so involving, but not excessively so, so you don't end up exhausted, or needing a chiropractor...

cheers guys...

fantastic to drive...

Got my new car this week :D

Unfortunatley these are the only pics I've got so far...

just out of interest... your claiming 230bhp per tonne with what? 160bhp?

Have you weighed the car, or is this just a guesstimate? a bigger engine will add a lot of weight, and considering the Lotus Elise 111R which ways 700kg with 190bhp lightweight 1.8 engine is only 220bhp/tonne - I think you may be overestimating this performance claim.

Also, 6 seconds to 60 sounds pretty slow to me? Especially for 230/ton - but also since you claim its a supercar slayer? My 996 C2 was hardly a supercar and that was nearly a second quicker to 60, and with a top end at 175mph..

Car weighs in at 750 (on a public weigh bridge) dyno results show an (calcuated) 170 brake. works out at about 226/tonne.

6 seconds is mainly due to lack of grip, even with all the weight over the driven wheels, a FWD just wont get the power down.

if i could get a reading of 30-100mph im sure it would give a more impressive result.

Also when i stated it scared super cars. that was by no mean a claim it would beat or even keep up with them. but the limited times ive gone up against some serious metal, its the there attuude that they wont need to floor it, and when the suddenly realise they arent winning by as much as they should be is what suprises them.

143 is at wheels, meaning 1bout 170 at fly, the standard 2.0 16v engine should produce 150. hence the 20 brake more. The 1.2 produces 55bhp!

Il happily take up any challenge at the pod or similar. Il race anything!

hats off to ya mate, wether its a Nova or a Lexus its no easy task swapping engines over for something completely different

what you say is exactly right !

my starlet runs a 179 at the hubs and weighs in around 750kg, so at something over 200 at the fly its about 250bhp/tonne (still a 1300cc )

trying to achieve grip isnt the easiest job, standard the starlet is 0-60 in 6secs, doubt if it will ever get much below that

So who else is upto a race?

:winky: ....... :D

Would longer gear ratios not help bring down the 0-60 time?

I know that sounds counter-intuitive - but if your struggling to get the power down it might help?

i had a rental 9-3, admittadly a auto diesel... but it was the slowest and most uninspiring car i've driven since... well probably the time I got a Ford Escort Rental car in the US...

Congrats Rob!!!

just out of interest... your claiming 230bhp per tonne with what? 160bhp?

Have you weighed the car, or is this just a guesstimate? a bigger engine will add a lot of weight, and considering the Lotus Elise 111R which ways 700kg with 190bhp lightweight 1.8 engine is only 220bhp/tonne - I think you may be overestimating this performance claim.

Also, 6 seconds to 60 sounds pretty slow to me? Especially for 230/ton - but also since you claim its a supercar slayer? My 996 C2 was hardly a supercar and that was nearly a second quicker to 60, and with a top end at 175mph..

But then, its a stripped out nova - so credit where credits due for the work, and I see the point for autotests, but not as a fast road car.

bugger - not around that weekend :(

Dave, if any are at Combe - let me know I can support/make tea/whatever...

Ian-- closest is silverstone for Time Attack..........would be good to see you there tho !

okay..

let me know when it is and i'll try and make it..

Dave, if any are at Combe - let me know I can support/make tea/whatever...

I have a S3 - which is pretty much the same platform/engine without the hairdresser exterior ;)

I had looked at the TT when selling the Lex though - and they are bloody good cars..

The engines are very good, though a little unrefined, and dont sound that good (unless your thrashing it), and generally thirsty all the time - the best i manage on a motorway run is 35MPG..

They are very well built, just ensure it has a FSH, had a cambelt change at the 75k service and avoid anything thats had accident damage.

The TT has a very small boot - and rear passengers have no head room.

All in all, its a good all-rounder, but lacks a little excitment.

very good...

and nice to see your back and well Geoff!

I hate to be a pedant... but its spelt Porsche... ;)

And its not all about raw figures... its about how they feel to drive... but hey, i wouldnt say no to a 550bhp V10 :D

ooh, im on this facebook malarky...

send me an invite - im on there as "ian fidge"..

after chatting to the missues, I might end up with an Elise 111S at this rate! ;)

I probably have the worst car history on the site...

87 Zasatava Yugo 55

87 Ford Escort

84 Ford Fiesta

84 Vauxhall Nova

88 Vauxhall Astra

90 Vauxhall Cavalier

99 Renault Laguna

00 Peugeot 306

00 Lexus IS200

98 Porsche 911 (996) & 96 Vauxhall Astra 1.4

02 Audi S3

Currently have the S3 & Astra..

Harv,

I think Matus is correct in a previous thread. As the diesels get cleaner, the difference between Petrol and diesel gets too close for comfort. My next car will not be a diesel or a Hybrid for that matter. The simple maths don't really add up any more unless you do a heap of miles. Diesel used to be cheaper at the pumps, now it is 5% more expensive. The cleaner the diesel emissions and the bigger the DTurbo, the less MPG you get and Petrol cars are cleaner and getting more and economical all of the time.

I am rarely seeing 40+mpg.

You can only really get a good feel over at least 50 consistent miles.

yeah, i have to be honest - doing research it isnt just the Lexus that doesnt live up to the diesel MPG claims - especially when you throw in performance-type diesels...

The fact is - it sounds like an IS220d would cost me the same in fuel as the S3 - seeing how i get 33/34 MPG on a motorway run - so high 30's in a derv will cost the same..

Burnout's good fun - though more of a pick it up, put it down game when compared to Forza/PGR..

i'm on there sometimes... username Fidgits..

do i see our mate ian coming back to us?

Not on the above evidence mate :winky:

Sorry but very tempted by the 530D M Sport... as fast as my S3 with 42MPG..

failing that, a 320d for 60+ mpg motorway mileage...

Or screw it all and get an exige

wow... some old names there...

be careful about stretching yourself more than you can afford - the property market is likely to soften this year.

I'd look at a discount tracker mortgage at the moment if you want one.

Hi guys,

not been around in a while, and when i was, i remember people complaining about teh IS220d MPG - can anyone give me an idea to the real extra urban MPG you are achieving? Or should i just look at the BMW/VAG stable instead?