I'm a motorist again.

[Stan_Lite]

I thought the day was never going to come but I finally picked up my new car today. It's Von's MR2 GT Turbo wot he has had to part with for personal reasons. He was as sad to see it go as I was happy to take ownership of it.

Here are a couple of pics. She's in need of a good wash and detailing. There are a few scratches and scrapes and a lot of swirls. I've bought all the detailing gear so I'll be having a bash myself. Kelleeeeeeeeeeeeee has kindly offered to let me use her battered old Corsa to practice on first.

http://www.bigstan.net/Images/Fuji%20037%20%5b800x600%5d.jpg

http://www.bigstan.net/Images/Fuji%20040%20%5b800x600%5d.jpg

I'll get some more pictures up once she's been tarted up a bit.

Been for a drive this afternoon (after I spent an hour trying to find a petrol station that had proper fuel) :rolleyes:

Took her from Newcastle up to Alnwick and back for a bit of a run - thoroughly enjoyed myself. Mostly dual carriageway but still fun. I love it when I'm pootling along and need to go past someone - a quick dab on the throttle and you hear that melodious whine from the turbo in your left ear as you ease past the other car effortlessly.

Sweet :cool:

[Haly]

Cool :D
Glad she's gone to a good home too :)

[leowyatt]

Well played stan :D

[Dr. Z]

Those look very much like carbon fibre motorbike end cans on the back there! What pipes are they?!

I know you said on Sunday that you wanted new wheels but I quite like those :) Does look like the rears are a tad worn though :p :D

Nice one :D

[LeperousDust]

*Majorly jealous*

Now that will be fun on the A702! ;D;D;D

[Feek]

Looks good Stan :)

Few cans of bright red paint and it'll look even better!

[Will]

Fun cars. Great modification capability, very fast, a little on edge in the wet or on the limit but nonetheless great fun to drive!

Enjoy it! :)

[Stan_Lite]

Those look very much like carbon fibre motorbike end cans on the back there! What pipes are they?!

I know you said on Sunday that you wanted new wheels but I quite like those :) Does look like the rears are a tad worn though :p :D

Nice one :D

Somebody on the MR2OC forums just said the same about the cans. Haven't had a chance to examine them closely yet. I'm not overly fussed about them and will probably be changing the exhaust soonish.

Having had a closer look at the wheels today, I'm inclined to agree. I think they'll come up a treat with a good clean and polish so I'll probably just change the rubber.

[Stan_Lite]

Cool :D
Glad she's gone to a good home too :)

I'll have to take a day trip down to Swansea and take you for a spin some time - it's a lot of fun :D

[Stan_Lite]

Fun cars. Great modification capability, very fast, a little on edge in the wet or on the limit but nonetheless great fun to drive!

Enjoy it! :)

I'm not planning any major mods at the moment but we'll see what happens.
Plans so far are for better brakes, new tyres, new exhaust and coilovers to lower it a bit. Will see how things go after that. May consider upgraded turbo + intercooler + induction kit at a later date.

[Haly]

Definitely :D
It'd be great fun :D

[Stan_Lite]

Looks good Stan :)

I thought so too :D

Few cans of bright red paint and it'll look even better!

Up yer flue :p Red is sooooo last year ;)

[Belmit]

Awesome. :cool:

[Pebs]

Awww I've sat in that car! Enjoy :)

[Burble]

I'm not planning any major mods at the moment but we'll see what happens.

I said that when I bought the R32. I'm not about £4.5k lighter :)

[kaiowas]

Cool, I was expecting to see a shopping trolley of some sort.

Now you just to get yourself a crash hat and keep the 25th of October free ;)

[BBx]

Cool that he's 'kept it in the family' ;)

BB x

[lostkat]

Nice one Mr Stan. MR2's are mucho fun by all accounts!!!

[Matblack]

If the car has swirls its unlikely that you'll get them out with a home detail however through, I'd get the car to a comercial detailers for a full polish by a professional, they will use a machine to cut into the glaze by a tiny amount which will rejuvenate the paint to a point where you can keep it beautiful with just a regular wash and wax :)

MB

[lostkat]

Or just learn to love the swirl marks as they give your old lady... errr character :D That was always my excuse anyway!! ;D

[Matblack]

Circular scratches in the paintwork often caused by putting a car through a car wash or washing the car with a circular action using an abrasive tool such as a sponge with grit in it.

[Matblack]

Have a look here for an example

http://www.finestdetail.co.uk/services.html

MB

[Zirax]

Always always liked these MR2s. The mr2, 200sx and 300zx are some of my favourite motors. Being a rev A I think those are the ones that are a little twitchy (more so than later revisions).

[Wossi]

Always wanted a car like that, never got round to buying one though :(

[Justsomebloke]

I like 'em, Deffo bike cans on the back though You Dodgey Old Bill seller Dude :p
What's the chances that our freind von copster had illegal cans fitted to his road car :D Would be comedy gold if so :evil:
Nice cars though & surprisingly one a long'en like me can fit in :cool:

[Von Smallhausen]

Always always liked these MR2s. The mr2, 200sx and 300zx are some of my favourite motors. Being a rev A I think those are the ones that are a little twitchy (more so than later revisions).

Very twitchy but that was the fun for me.

I always drove it within my limitations and those of the car but the car could do more. Once you find your niche then the driving pleasure is awesome. It must be treated with respect being RWD, mid engined and turbo charged, especially in the wet.

It was my plan to get the car re-sprayed etc as it is 17 years old now. It is aesthetics that need the attention as a lot has been spent on it mecahnically. Once touched up, T-cutted and the alloys done, it will look awesome.

On a country road with the roof off on a summers day, it is hard to put into words how enjoyable it is.

I have a kid on the way so my practical side kicked in although I was sad to see it go. I am pleased that it has gone to a good home though. :)

[Justsomebloke]

I have a kid on the way so my practical side kicked in although I was sad to see it go. I am pleased that it has gone to a good home though. :)


Waits for the spec me a people carrier thread :p

[Stan_Lite]

If the car has swirls its unlikely that you'll get them out with a home detail
MB

O RLY? ;)

It can be done with a lot of hard work and the right gear.

http://www.bigstan.net/Images/DSCF2267%20%5b800x600%5d.JPG

I made a start today. Washed first, using the two bucket method, then dried thoroughly. I spent about an hour trying to get the key scratch out of the drivers side with the Sonus SFX-1. I got most of it but there's a bit that's too deep and probably won't buff out completely. I left that and decided to do a large area to see how it was going to work. I decided on the bonnet.

Before Pic:
http://www.bigstan.net/Images/DSCF2259%20%5b800x600%5d.JPG

I started with a couple of goes with the Sonus swirlbuster polish, using the mechanical polisher. I then used the Sonus SFX-3 finishing polish. I then applied the Poorboys sealant and followed that with the Natty's Blue Paste Wax.

After Pic:
http://www.bigstan.net/Images/DSCF2263%20%5b800x600%5d.JPG

Not bad for a first effort. It's not perfect but it's a damn sight better than it was before. I'll do it again in a week or two to get the last of it done. That's all I got done this afternoon as it's quite hard work and very tiring on the arms. I'll hopefully get the rest done tomorrow or at the weekend (weather permitting).

Whilst washing and polishing, I found a lot of stone chip marks and a couple of scratches which are too deep to buff out. Also, there is a large dent and two puncture marks in one of the sills (looks like it's fallen off a jack or something). there are also a few dents that aren't noticeable until you're really close. I'm going to have to get it into a body shop at some point to get all that sorted and a respray but none of it is hugely noticeable unless you're up close so there's no hurry. I can get the brakes and wheels sorted out first.

[Haly]

Stan 1 Swirls 0 :D

[Kell_ee001]

Stan 1 Swirls 0 :D

;D

[Matblack]

Well yes, if you have borrowed or bought the tools that a pro would use then you'll be able to do it :p

MB

[Von Smallhausen]

Excellent work there Stan.

The car is 17 years old so it was not in perfect condition visually and I rarely got the time to buff it up as you have done so well. Mechanically, it is sound as I spent over a grand on it getting 4 new shockers, new drop link, track rod end and gear lever cable. Cam belt was changed under 7K ago so it is only the aesthetics that need looking at.

Had little Von not been on the way, I was planning to get the car resprayed. A little care, time and affection and that car will look as good as it drives.

Can't re-iterate enough though mate, be so careful in the wet as the MR2 is notoriously twitchy and the rear Toyo Proxy tyres are designed for the dry. The Rev 1 is more so twitchy and mid engine, RWD and twin entry turbo ( quicker boost ) will bite if care is not taken.

[BBx]

wow good job Stano!!! :D

Think my bro has an uberpolishing device for cars... or something.

BB X

[Stan_Lite]

Excellent work there Stan.

The car is 17 years old so it was not in perfect condition visually and I rarely got the time to buff it up as you have done so well. Mechanically, it is sound as I spent over a grand on it getting 4 new shockers, new drop link, track rod end and gear lever cable. Cam belt was changed under 7K ago so it is only the aesthetics that need looking at.

Had little Von not been on the way, I was planning to get the car resprayed. A little care, time and affection and that car will look as good as it drives.

Can't re-iterate enough though mate, be so careful in the wet as the MR2 is notoriously twitchy and the rear Toyo Proxy tyres are designed for the dry. The Rev 1 is more so twitchy and mid engine, RWD and twin entry turbo ( quicker boost ) will bite if care is not taken.

As I was finishing the polishing today, I noticed a lot more little chips and tiny dents - unnoticeable unless you're right next to them but I know they're there. It's also been touched up more times than my ex wife - looks like one of the previous owners wasn't too good at parking - there were about 4 different colours of paint scraped onto the arches and lots of little touched up scrapes, especially down the passenger's side. It will need a respray but I'll be doing the tyres and brakes first.

Also, I had a go at cleaning the wheels but the ingrained tar and brake dust wouldn't shift and the protective coating is badly pitted so it looks like I'll have to get them shot blasted and sprayed too.

I haven't really had it anywhere twisty yet and haven't driven in the wet yet but I've read in plenty of places about how twitchy the rev1 is so I'll definitely be taking it easy :)

[A Place of Light]

Those look very much like carbon fibre motorbike end cans on the back there! What pipes are they?!

They're very expensive carbon fibre cans, circa £600 or thereabouts.
£600 may not sound very expensive, but when you consider how long (or rather how short) they are..... :D

[Stan_Lite]

They're very expensive carbon fibre cans, circa £600 or thereabouts.
£600 may not sound very expensive, but when you consider how long (or rather how short) they are..... :D

Blimey :shocked:

That's good to know. I can get the entire Mongoose exhaust I want for a little over £300 - brand spanking new :cool:

[A Place of Light]

Blimey :shocked:

That's good to know. I can get the entire Mongoose exhaust I want for a little over £300 - brand spanking new :cool:

Although the car is a little long in the tooth now, I'd imagine you could sell those cans if you wanted to. It would allow you to recoup some cash anyway.