Kesler

23/04/2015 - Took my car to Dream Automotive to get the springs and exhaust fitted. He had a few jobs to finish off to I took the opportunity in the blazing sun to check out the car a bit more, find some issues and mentally list them to address later on. Firstly, the current exhaust setup - OEM, obligatory photo: Current OEM suspension setup: I also noticed that the intake pipe was a little perished, I suppose I was the unlucky one as I know some rubber housings can fade in colour like this. Luckily it's salvageable with some SAS spray: After Phil had finished off the few jobs beforehand, it was ready for the 86 to get up on the ramps and begin the work. What I have noticed is that my car seems to be dirty and rusty and worn on the underside! But everything works fine, just couldn't believe that that the exhaust looks so battered! No idea how the previous owner maintained it but safe to say it's in better hands now. As I keep gawping at the tailpipes before it gets taken off: Tatty exhaust! I mean, look at that flange from the backbox!! Even my friend Sean was disgusted at the sight of it. So out it came, sitting on the floor next to its replacement:

20/04/2015 - Small update, Just added the heated seat plaque/surround/garnish in the car, the adhesive was with me but once I dropped it in it looked good and was snug - didn't even need any adhesive. The heated seat switch as it was: The neat little surround, etched in from the back: The colour match/mis-match compared the OEM gear surround, noting that this is a glossy acrylic block vs a matte OEM finish: And the final look:

09/04/2015 The 86 has gone back to Toyota for the paintwork concerns of mine that's getting dealt with under warranty. I asked them 'what car will I get in the interim'. 'A Yaris.' Ok, it's a 64 plate, has DAB, and has a reversing camera. But that's all the good stuff. Firstly it's a Hybrid. And it's an auto. And there was so much bird cr@p on the car it could've warranted a colour change to DVLA. I literally had to watch where I put my hand to shut the door. Hand sanitiser sales have gone up recently in the Hertfordshire area. Anyway, to cheer me up, this arrived: Luckily I had the Yaris as this fitted in the boot fairly easily: Next thing I knew, I spoke to one of our fellow 86DC members for the Direnza exhaust. I must admit, the exhaust was on a whim, I couldn't afford a Milltek, so at least with that budget not happening I could experiment with other exhausts to see and hear what could be alright for my car. I did originally want the slash cut tips that follow the curves of the diffuser but alas, maybe one day. I met up with him to pick this up: The exhaust appears to be well made (albeit computer aided welds from China perhaps) but hey, us Chinese can make something good every now and then. Just hope it's now! It's a replica of the Invidia Q300 for those who are like me and still know nothing about the 86 *hangs head in shame* I took this over to Dream Automotive in Bushey, where my friend will get this all fitted. Some obligatory photos of when they arrived at Dream HQ:

A small handful of photos from the Mimms Honda Day, including several stops: IMG_6140 by Andy Liu Photography, on Flickr IMG_6150 by Andy Liu Photography, on Flickr IMG_6164 by Andy Liu Photography, on Flickr IMG_6374 by Andy Liu Photography, on Flickr More photos of Mimms: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyliuphotography/sets/72157649488577634 And if you're bored, my other photo sets: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyliuphotography/sets

06/04/2015 - Few things dropped off at the office from the postie: Customised GT86 heated seat switch garnish - seriously cool bit of workmanship: Also a cheap little GoPro tripod mount - a second one, one for the selfie stick which created dramatic and epic drone-like photos and videos, and one for my Hague camera mount: Yeah that Rollei can come off, and finally the GoPro can be used once more.

05/04/2015 - Mimms Honda Day. To be fair I'm still knackered writing all of this out in the office at the moment, I've only transferred the photos to my PC at home last night and done nothing else to it, I'll see if I can process a few of the day to show you all how it all is/went. Just couple of phone snaps for now, timed. 5:00am - Woke up, slept again 5:45am - Woke up, heard lots of revving outside of the house 5:47am - Looked outside, turns out it's just one car, my friend who's going to Mimms with me, he's trying to get his car over the ramp on the driveway 6:00am - Turbo's through getting changed, toilet duties and everything in between, grabbed my stuff and went to meet up with the convoy 7:00am - McDonald's Jarman Park Hemel Hempstead, everyone was horrifically hungover. Was quite a funny sight. 7:45am - Shell petrol station, Hemel Hempstead - for those who couldn't be bothered to fill their car up the day before 8:something - Toddington Services, M1, to meet up with the others. Finally a photo: 8:57am - Bearing in mind we were supposed to get there at 8am, and planned to get there for 9am, we set off to Rockingham --- Mimms time in between --- Knackered from the day, my friend chooses to sit by the car, instead of the lovely comfy seats IN the car... Mimms over, drove back to get some dinner. Was then told by 5 difference conversations that there was a night meet at Costco Watford, so nipped over. Horrific. If anyone says to go to those meets, don't bother. You'll miss Match of the Day 2 for a start, and you'll be cold. And you'll be frustrated as to why none of these kids can park properly. Ended up just parking, chilling out with the mate, who took his car out with me:

04/04/2015 Saturday - Washed the car ready for Mimms Honda Day in Rockingham. Yes I know what you're thinking - Why am I going to a Honda event in a Toyota?!. I was supposed to be on our club stand with my Civic but when I put it up for sale I didn't realise it was going to be sold so quickly - so I was left without a Honda. A friend of my was lending me his yellow S2000 but unfortunately the ECU started playing up when we were testing it making sure it would be fine for the drive there and back, so I ended up selling my club stand ticket and will pay on the gate on Sunday, though would be parking at the 'non-Honda' bit - which was a little silly and extreme - about a mile away from all the other cars. Alas, that's for the Sunday post. Quick car wash snaps - the missus wanted her car washed too, duly obliged:

Circa 11:00pm Saturday, circa 1:00am Saturday, circa 2:00am Saturday, circa 4:00am Saturday, circa 5:00am Hemel Hempstead Car is still outside my house.

Circa 4:00pm Cambridge Finance finally released the car to me. DROVE. IT. HOME!!!!

Circa 12:00pm Cambridge Famished, went into the city centre for food:

What seemed to feel like 15 hours later, but was only 1.5, we got there. There it was, my car: Basking in all it's glory. The dealership saw us scrape up into the car park. At this point I got out of the car and ran over to what would be mine that day. Unfortunately the paintwork prep was done on only the parts I pointed out - which I only did 10 seconds of, but was then assured the WHOLE car would be checked out and done. But hey, that's what warranty is for right? So when I'm ready to part with the car (finding this the real challenge) they will send out some crappy little courtesy car while I get the 86 taken away for a proper paint job. Asking 'surely you'll give me a like-for-like car to drive in the meantime', while pointing at the 64-plate 86 next to mine, they laughed. Well I thought it was a valid question. Anyway, Finance do what they do best - make you wait. So I waited. Then for some reason I thought I was the only one in the dealership and noone could hear me to said quite loudly 'F&CK THIS, I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS'. Had to apologise to the elderly couple who was looking at the Aygo behind me. The photos when I was waiting:

Hi Muskateer, I do indeed, I'm pants at it but I'll give it a go! and thank you for the kinds comments (everyone) about my beloved EP3. The car meant a lot to me but there is now the pearl white 86 sitting outside which meant a lot more to me

Yikes! Did you get it all back together again??

Thanks Lauren! And thanks for the heads up - I'm one of those guys who likes to do the research and swot up on things and yes I've seen it on various forums about this, and also that the warranty replacement is not too good as well! Not to mention that the warranty only applies to the original end user, and not to the current user :/ My boss has been nagging me to save up for the Milltek but for all that money I just couldn't shell out straight away. I went for a Direnza exhaust for a snip of the price, if it breaks then oh well, for little money I'm not too bothered

Thanks Ztox!

Thanks James! I do miss it loads but now when I get out of the house to go to work and I see my new pride and joy - I think to myself; I worked hard and I deserve this Yeah I have got an exhaust, lowering springs and wheels are en route, but I think I'll start a progress thread to keep a diary of my car

Thanks Tim! and yes - it's the same Kesler from the Civic Type R Owners Forum

Thank you! I'm so pleased with it - I may do a progress thread to keep up to date with things

Thank you very much! I was actually at Silverstone the Sunday just gone as I attended the latest Pistonheads Sunday Service. Some 86 photos: IMG_5831 by Andy Liu Photography, on Flickr IMG_5827 by Andy Liu Photography, on Flickr IMG_5876 by Andy Liu Photography, on Flickr The rest of the photos can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyliuphotography/sets/72157651117095140/ And if you have some time my other albums can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyliuphotography/sets

Haha thank you! I like cleaning my cars so I've been told I'm weird. Weird is good.

Thanks James I look to get a Milltek exhaust and some wheels, and to have a lowered a fraction to blend the wheels in with the arch gap. I did a few bits and pieces to the car, you know, just to make it my own; an individual's car. The forum certainly feels friendly! Thank you I've only test driven it about 8 times, drove a few cars so I know this one is really going to make me smile. My Type R which I sold on Sunday, still terribly miss it :