Lauren

Sorted 6.15pm at Rivington Services M61 as per messenger.

Event Title: 13th October Blackpool Iluminations and Fish & Chips after Event Author: Lauren Event Date: 13.10.2018 to 13.10.2018 Short notice I know but we are meeting up with some old car friends tonight for the tradition drive to the Blackpool Illuminations followed by a mega fish and chips afterwards. It's that time of the year again where we like to meet up with friends we may not have seen for a while, have a leisurely drive through the illuminations and finish off at Bispham Kitchen to fill our bellies!The meeting point will be the same as usual. Morrisons car park (turn left into the car park and meet by Mcdonalds)Postcode: FY4 2AYAmy Johnson Way / Squires Gate LaneBispham Kitchen:14-22 Red Bank RoadFY2 9HRWe will meet up from 7.00pm with a view to leaving the car park no later than 7.30pm to go through the illuminations. I'm making it slightly earlier this year because we only just got through in time for food last year as Saturday's tend to be rather busy! Please bring along your other halves / children should you have them and let's make it a good night 😉 I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible 😘 1. Lauren 2. 3. 4. 5. 13th October Blackpool Iluminations and Fish & Chips after

Excellent stuff! I apologise for the short notice. An old friend invited me along who I used to car meets with and I meant to post something up sooner, but have just been caught up in shit/fan interfaces at work. Still looking forward to it. It's always a nice and drive and the chippy is dead good. See you there.

It lifts even more at 140mph, but it's fine, don't worry about it.

They all do it.

@Church. Exactly that. I had already been heel and toeing, rev matching on downshifts and changing gear slowly for over ten years before I got my car. 120K miles/ 192K Kms later and I've no problems at all. I don't change how I change gear or how I heel and toe whether I'm driving on track, on the road or competing in a sprint, so there is no extra wear whatever I'm doing. Trying to do fast gear changes is what ruins the synchromesh, though typically you see this more on 2nd or 3rd gears due to people doing too many traffic light GP's (launching the car). There is nothing inherently wrong with the synchromesh on these cars, so it can only be wear and tear due to how the gears are changed. It might be why I'm still on my original clutch too!

The problem you have is that worn synchros are user error, so tricky to get it done under warranty though some have managed it. It's wear and tear and down to how you change gear etc. Things like resting your hand on the gear stick, the quality of your inputs when you change gear, how fast you do it (always do it slowly!) all impact on synchro wear.

Nigel's car is stock. I have had one go with the TD manifold, the other three perished in the first 100K before it was fitted, so that doesn't ring true as such. I would say it's more down to how hard you drive it. Really buzzing it near the redline on change up is what seems to bring on the EML for the coil pack. Nigel has an auto so harder to do I would say. Out of the four coilpacks that went, I noticed nothing other than the EML with the first three but the last one to go, failed completely and I was running on three cylinders. It threw an EML when I started my car on the morning of the TSS. Then went off. Did a second run and it came on again and it was then running on three cylinders.

That's great, Nigel. I'm currently just over 120K in five and a half years. I'm surprised you haven't done a coilpack yet, I've had all mine replaced by 110K miles. It will throw an EML. Coil packs are £87 plus fitting (it's a 15 minute job). Other issues in that mileage, wheel bearing at 110K miles, CV joint at 70K miles. Had the heated seat switch illumination go twice, didn't bother to get it sorted the second time round as the seat still heats fine, it's just a light.

Would love to, Kev. Thanks for the offer.

I had this conversation with Mark last night. I will test drive the new Supra and see what I think. It's either that or go FI on my GT, but I want to see how you get on first with your build as I may well get the same. I've got a lovely de-stressed block with 120K on it! It won't be for a year or so though.

No problem, welcome aboard. We need to get going with the other 'committee' members and we need a few more, still. Rob is going to work out permissions for everyone else and stuff and then we'll look to organise a meet up in the midlands.

You're next on the list, just got sorting to do and Rob needs beer!

I don't want to seem like I'm moaning, but please post the ad when you're ready complete with pictures. A lot of people seem to post up and say 'I'll add pics later when I'm at home, in my shed, down the pub etc', but why not just do it properly?

That's a cool upgrade though 99% of UK cars (excepting the 31 Primo's sold here or so) have the bigger brakes as standard, so its not something that we ever have to do really. Although I do a fair amount of track and sprinting, I found that the stock (larger brakes) still don't cope that well with repeated track work, so I upgraded to AP Racing 4 Pots with 330mm discs up front. I left the rears alone and just run aftermarket pads. Now my brakes never run out. Oulton Park Jan 2018 by Lauren Blighton, on Flickr

Welcome to the club. Another ginger eh? The stock head unit is rubbish. I changed mine for an Alpine one and ditched all the OEM stuff for aftermarket, but it really depends how much you want to spend. I spent £3K in the end, yes my sound system is pretty amazing, but most don't want to go that far or spend that much. Changing the head unit for something decent, putting in Focal speakers in the front, simply disconnecting the rear speakers as they are totally pointless then putting a sub and amp in the boot work really well. Add a DSP and you're rocking, but again it's all about how much you want to spend on it really. I don't really do cosmetic mods, but there is tons of stuff available.

It's personal preference. I specified the half leather/alcantara with heated seats when I ordered my car. It must be one of my favourite options. I use them all through the winter and even in the summer if I'm out in the car really early and it's a little bit fresh. There's nothing nicer than having the seat take the chill out of being in the car when it's cold. Unlike Church I don't wear coats when I 'm driving no matter how cold it is. I've had it in a few cars now, so if I can specify it, I will.

There isn't an FAQ, but you can use the search function. Many people have changed their head unit as the stock one is frankly shite. It is extremely easy to do. Order your new head unit, get a surround if you ave buying a double din as there will be a gap otherwise and ensure you have the wiring harness adaptor. You can vote on the polls where available, yes.

Welcome aboard. I drove mine as daily every day for the last five and a half years, often on a longer commute than you do. I'm a social worker so would spend my time on some of the less affluent estates, driving around for work. It was fine. I couldn't bare the thought of having to suffer an Aygo. Don't worry about mileage, currently on 120K after that time! Cars are for driving I say. Life it too short to drive a boring car.

They were never factory fitted. They were fitted at Portbury Docks when the cars arrived in the UK. It must be possible of course, but you'll just need all the parts including wiring loom.

I'd honestly say, get the TD NA package on. Drive it. If you feel that the brakes are now a limitation which I honestly do not think that you will, then let me know and I'll do you a fabulous deal as they've done 100K miles, but are fine. You'd have to buy a pair of front discs of course. A few beer tokens would easily suffice! Also have a chat with Mike, if you want them you can always pick them up on your way back down as I'm on the way back and only 20 minutes or so from TD (near Manchester Airport).

Helen, unless you're going on track I would say that your brakes would be okay. I had a low spec GT86 in Japan with the smaller brakes and I did literally set them on fire on a downhill mountain pass, so they definitely are not as good as the bigger brakes normally found on our cars. I would add though that I was going at over 100mph and there were a lot of bends coming down the mountain, so I did put them under a fair bit of strain. In summary, it depends how hard you drive your car. If you do want to get the bigger calipers I have a set sitting in my shed.

Welcome aboard.

Please put price and pictures up and the details of the tyres (sizes etc) as per selling rules. It looks like they are a slick tyre.