luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Dec 23, 2014 12:52:19 GMT
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I never had any problems with k seal in any of the engines I've usd it in. Radweld however is a completely different matter.... Maybe that's what the lesser forums meant? Nahhh, definitely K-seal. I've witnessed at least one motor suffering horrible aftereffects of K-Seal on teardown and respected authorities in the rotary world have stated "really don't do it" on numerous occasions. Rotaries suffer badly from build-up of sludge in the waterways at the best of times. It's an unfortunate side-effect of different metals in the engine plates causing molecular exchange and electrolytic corrosion (like using an alloy bolt in steel; it's going to cold-weld itself together. Exactly the same thing, but it ends up swirling around the waterways in a rotary. This is why Mazda include expansion tanks with dip-tubes in an attempt to silt out the residues). If you include a bonding agent like K-Seal into the mix then it causes the already existing gunge to build up and coagulate in all the places you REALLY don't want it to Although you're right on one point and Radweld is a whole new level of abject bodgery  . Lesser forums  . Lol |
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Last Edit: Dec 23, 2014 12:53:49 GMT by luckyseven
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,886
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Dec 27, 2014 22:09:00 GMT
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Now now, lets not have any inter-forum competition  My cooling system was freshly flushed and running new clean coolant when I got the car on the road, so there should have been a minimum of 'gunk' floating about for the k-seal to bond to. On that note you'll all be pleased to know another couple of hundred miles visiting family over christmas have gone by without drama  With January looking pretty busy with work, most of which involving plenty of motorway miles, I need to have a bit of a think about where I go from here with the mx5. I'm not sure if the extra motorway miles will end up being a regular thing for 2015 but clearly the mx5 isn't the right kind of car for hours on the motorway, and if I want to fully trust it again it needs a rebuild, something I've little enthusiasm for at the moment… Somedays I can't quite shake the feeling that I misunderstood why I wasn't happy with the Lancia. In the months I had it back on the road since it's restoration, it just didn't feel 'right', I didn't feel like I was enjoying it as much as I should. I convinced myself it was because it wasn't fast enough, it was the slowest car I'd owned in a number of years. Now I've got the mx5 back, and its much faster, but I still have that nagging feeling of 'it's not 'right'. I find myself often wondering it it's actually because in the past year I think my driving habits have changed. I'm finding myself doing less driving in the evenings and weekends, less driving on B roads. Instead I find myself doing more driving at rush hour, more time on the motorway and the motorbike is often the vehicle of choice for that sunny sunday afternoon. In many ways in the past year the car I've enjoyed the most was the Alfa 155 v6 I had for a few months, it still had it's quirks and style but was a much better all round daily driver. To an extent I regret selling it now, though I never gave it a thought at the time as I was full of excitement for finishing the Lancia project. Space, time and money rule out having multiple cars and keeping my motorbike(s). Having said all that, this week I've started to feel more at home in the mx5, more how I used to remember feeling, like I'm in tune with the car and when out for a drive I know it properly and I'm working with the car not fighting it. And I was so pleased to have it back, my mx5, the only one that will ever feel so kinda personal. It would be gutting to give up on the old thing, especially as it would be letting it slip away from me for the second time, not to mention that as a rough round the edges mk1 mx5 with a rotary engine that needs a rebuild I'd probably have to pay someone to take it away rather than sell it, haha. Anyway I'm sorry to sortta vent here and moan, sometime's it's just good to kinda lay all the jumbled up thoughts out in words, makes it easier to make sense of it all. |
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Last Edit: Dec 27, 2014 22:09:20 GMT by goldnrust
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Dec 27, 2014 22:34:10 GMT
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I don't think that there is a solution. If you only have 1 car, then the only answer is N+1, but if you don't drive your favorite car enough, then it's N-1. I bounced from a turbo petrol car to a small diesel, to a big diesel to a turbo petrol to a medium diesel over the course of 4 years, mainly because each time I got something sensible I wanted something not-sensible. Now I have 2 cars - curse word diesel daily and the Porsche for weekends, and I can't help thinking that I don't enjoy being in the Multipla, and I don't spend enough time in the Porsche, so maybe I should get rid of both and get something that ticks all the boxes. And then I realise I'd be back to where I started! No help whatsoever, but commiserations anyway! Cheers Duncan |
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Dec 27, 2014 23:46:19 GMT
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I think it is fairly easy to easily justify 5 (although 8 at a push) cars:
1- daily/family car
2 - back up daily/family car
3 - tip runner
4 - weekend toy/super car annoyer
5 - daft family car (scimitar, beach buggy, etc)
6 - 70s restomod (datsun 240,1st gen run, jensen interceptor)
7 - project barn find
8 - other toy (big wheel trike, etc)
Easy.
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1983 rx7 with 1989 T2 engine and 1994 3rd gen seats. I dunno how old that makes it...
1993 rx7 with streetport and T78 turbo
1973 GP1 Beach Buggy
1995 mx5 mk1
2005 BMW 330 vert
2000 BMW E53 X5
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I've sat with this so many times. I am currently yearning for that something fast with 4 wheels. I have the reliable daily that is everything a car ever needs to be, I have the Land Rover as a V8 toy and now I have a VFR400 but I hanker for something quick. Half of me is miffed that the daily Toyota isn't a Megane 225 as am sure it would cure half the itch I have being quick and a daily but in turn would give curse word fuel consumption compared to the Toyota. Everything seems catch 22 and its worse because the weather is curse word and we can't ride how and when we want  |
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,886
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Dec 28, 2014 12:23:07 GMT
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Cheers for your thoughts guys I've always believed that one car is the way, I wouldn't want to spend all my time and money on a car I don't get to drive often, because at the the core of it all the reason I spend all my time and effort on the car is so that I can enjoy driving I think having always owned bikes as well as cars, they will always be the weekend toy, so there's also a feeling that there's no point having two weekend toys. There are only so many hours in the day! I know what you mean Duncan, the grass is always greener…. I've also kinda bounced back and forth between different styles of car, always wanting something slightly different to what I've got, and yet always something quite focused on doing one task well (be it going fast, being stylish, being comfortable, etc). Maybe I'm getting old but for the first time I'm considering that maybe a compromise is actually the best option. I think I could be happy with just no. 1, 4 and 8 Archbish Everything seems catch 22 and its worse because the weather is curse word and we can't ride how and when we want haha yeah, I know that feeling well…. VFR400s are great, I loved mine Though like yourself I always wanted something faster! I got a 748 next, which after the initial excitement I found kinda too fast. It was too easy to do triple figures, and it was necessary to go that fast for the bike to really come alive. Since then I've had generally slower bikes, I'm pretty happy with the ~45hp my little 2 stroke is currently making. That said, my current bike is very demanding to ride, you need to be focused and it needs riding hard to be enjoyed. It has occurred to me that essentially I have both a car and a bike now that both want to be driven hard, and are quite unforgiving and maybe it would be better if one of them was a little more relaxing! |
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Dec 28, 2014 12:59:28 GMT
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Strange you should say the 748 was your next bike as its what I have been looking at, its just so pretty and I thought with that bit extra poke would be nice but it is so pretty.
My bikes are all new to me only recently passing my test its as important for it to be pretty so I can admire it while its parked up.
I am alot more comfortable driving quick than I am riding, when I passed my driving test it was like putting on a pair of well used gloves that just fitted, passing my bike test it was more like a square peg and round hole I am hoping it is something that I bond with as I do enjoy it.
I drive an ambulance for a living so am kind of switched of with driving and at the end of the day something that can just get me home with little effort, but come my days off I need to feel alive.
I believe there is a place for everything, maybe you should try a diesel estate along side the Mazda?
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,886
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Dec 28, 2014 15:54:26 GMT
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 That was my 748 It was very very pretty, and the sound was just amazing. I loved how it clattered at idle, which became a rumble as you pull away, which became a roar as it came into the mid range and the power built up, which became a howl as you hit about 9k and it really started to take off.  If you are relatively new to bikes I'm not sure I'd recommend a 748 though, certainly make sure you get a good test ride on one. All Ducatis of that era have slightly 'old fashioned' laid back geometry. This makes them lovely and stable mid corner, but they do need muscling about to change direction. The brakes have poor feel till you get them hot and the clutch is unbelievably heavy. All in all it's a bike that rewards you for riding it hard and with confidence, and punishes you for being timid or trying to take it easy. [/bikes] In my teenage years I wouldn't have believed you that there was a place for everything, I would never dream of owning an estate or an auto or basically any car that was a raw simple sports car. But a few years down the line I do agree, there's a time and a place for these things. I still don't think I could bring myself to buy a diesel though…. they just don't do it for me. If I was to get a car to go along side the mx5, I think a hatchback with a ~1.6 petrol engine would tick the boxes for me, fairly frugal but still with enough power to make progress, much more practical than the mx5 but not large for the sake of it. Still there's only so much room on the drive and so much money to be spread out over all my automotive wants, so I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking to one car for the foreseeable future. If I was to replace the mx5 I think it would be with a mid/late 90s coupe I think, they are still simple enough to work on, fairly quick and aren't far off modern stuff for their comfort and reliability. A v6 GTV would be at the top of the list I think, with Celica st205/185 on there, maybe an FTO if the budgets tight (always wanted to try one, I blame Gran Turismo) maybe a Fiat 20v turbo? |
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,975
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Dec 28, 2014 16:06:02 GMT
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If I was to replace the mx5 I think it would be with a mid/late 90s coupe I think, they are still simple enough to work on, fairly quick and aren't far off modern stuff for their comfort and reliability. A v6 GTV would be at the top of the list I think, with Celica st205/185 on there, maybe an FTO if the budgets tight (always wanted to try one, I blame Gran Turismo) maybe a Fiat 20v turbo? Interesting that you say you would in theory be looking at 90's coupes as I was looking at those not too long ago as you probably remember, but now I seem to have convinced myself I want an estate, despite having a short commute and not carrying big loads all that often  Maybe its going from a Jag to something smaller is making me think I'm going to miss the boot space, whereas with an Mx5 I suppose you can only gain boot space really.. I am still intruiged by the Fiat coupe turbo though as the boot space looks a lot more substantial than the GTV and there appear to be some very fast ones out there if youtube is to be believed Oh btw the Ducati was/is gorgeous, easily one of my favourite bike designs of all time! |
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Dec 28, 2014 16:11:41 GMT
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That is a beautiful bike.
I fear that pretty much any 90s coupe would almost certainly need welding every so often (FIAT Coupes do). I don't think any of those cars are going to be particularly good on fuel - the first of my Turbo petrol cars that had to go due to a commute change was a FIAT Coupe 16VT. Never got more than 25mpg out of that, not matter how I drove it, and it needed looking after as well. There is significantly more boot space than in the GTV because the GTV had fancy rear suspension (that needs bushes replacing every few years of the handling gets screwed). There is a reasonable amount of back seat space too (it was based on a Tipo after all). The 20VT engines are well regarded, easily tuned, and sound great, but I don't think they will be any better on fuel than the 4 pot.
If I wanted a quick, economical fun retro, I'd get a Honda CRX - my 16i-16 returned 35-40mpg, handled, was comfy, looked cool, and was fairly refined on the motorway. Finding one without rust is going to be very difficult though - they rust very well (especially the sunroof and the rear arches). I don't think my daughter could fit comfortably in the back of one though (and she's only 5!) - otherwise I might have got one instead of my Porsche!
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Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
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Dec 28, 2014 17:36:36 GMT
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I've had the same conundrum about 2 weeks ago. I've made the mistake of having two cars that need work, and also I've gone from walking to work to driving to work, it gets stressful and a lot less fun. I haven't really found a solution for the moment, I'll try and sort out the Maser as best as I can and put the Alfa in storage. If the Maser holds up well it'll stay a daily, if it doesn't I'll have to find something really cheap. On the longer term I plan on a "cool" petrol or LPG estate for a daily when I sell the Alfa. I'm afraid there's no good solution to the problem besides walking/riding a pushbike to work |
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,886
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Dec 28, 2014 18:38:35 GMT
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Adam, yeah as you say pretty much anything that falls under the coupe banner is gong to have much more space and practicality tick boxes than the mx5. Even with the mx5 I rarely find myself needing needing more space to carry things, I obviously travel light! The 916/748 Ducati will always be the prettiest sports bike ever made in my eyes. Duncan, yeah I appreciate 90s coupes do need looking after (rust doesn't worry me, it can't be as bad as the Lancia….) if I were to go down that path then I am looking for a compromise between my mx5 and a 'normal' car, so a bit of time in the garage keeping it running right is no problem. Likewise it's not gotta be amazing on fuel, something that'll do 30mpg or more on a run counts as good in my book, haha. I know all about the GTV and it's problems and good points, I had a 2.0 Twin spark GTV while I restored my Rx7 Likewise I had an st202 Celica for a bit while the Lancia was in bits, so these cars are far from alien to me. I feel your pain Clement. I felt I was in a similar situation when the Lancia was in bits and my wife's KA, which I was borrowing to keep me mobile, failed it's MOT and needed lots of work to put right! As you say it kinda takes the fun out of it all when every time you work on the car it's with a looming deadline of 'must get this done tonight so I can drive to work tomorrow!' Googlemaps says it'll take me 32 hours to walk or 10 hours to cycle to work tomorrow, so I think I'm stuck with the car! haha In a small actual update, I did spend a couple of hours in the garage this afternoon. Mostly working on the motorbike* but also sorted a small niggle on the car that had been bugging me. The Rx7 plug leads were far too long. I'd coiled them up to be a little neater, but it still just looked untidy and unfinished. So today I cut them down and re-crimped the ends.  It looks much neater in the engine bay, I've also spun the trailing coil round on it's bracket so that the leads can be shorter and don't need to cross each other Next on the engine bay tidy up list… I could just do with making a hard line for the heater hose really, as it looks messy straddling the length of the bay.  * Seeing as we're talking bikes also, I got a new headlight for my Gas Gas for christmas. I got that fitted today also, and it looks great, it's giving a much better beam pattern and projecting much further than the old set-up. I'm looking forward to being able to see at night!  |
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Dec 28, 2014 19:44:48 GMT
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I should have guessed you'd have owned at least a couple of the cars you listed! Could you get 30mpg out of either of them? The CRXs can be as bad as Lancias (or old FIATS)! I had one in 2004 that died because rusty arches had turned into rusty rear suspension mounts. That bike looks really cool, though about as different to the 748 as possible. What do you use it for? |
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lewis
Part of things
Posts: 82
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Dec 28, 2014 19:58:24 GMT
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Very cool car!
I bet that gasgas supermoto is a ton of fun, I've owned 3 supermotos but all 4 strokes. After plenty different types of bikes I'm a believer that they cannot be beaten for sheer fun and smiles per mile.
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,886
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Dec 28, 2014 22:54:05 GMT
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Duncan, well to be honest sometimes the idea that I've had them before puts me off, but equally knowing what I'm letting myself in for seems sensible. That's why I've had 3 mx5s, I kinda feel I know what I'm doing with them and how to tell a good one. I got low 30s on a mix of driving out of both the Celica and GTV. I also just about scraped 30mpg on a run from my 155 v6, so basically anything that's not a rotary/jag engine will probably be 'ok' on fuel, haha. Yeah the 80s/90s Japanese stuff can be bad for rust, I have to admit I didn't know CRXs were especially bad though. As you say the Gas Gas is pretty far removed from the 748, day to day its a lot more fun! Like Lewis posting above, I've had a number of different bikes of different styles and have decided that for british roads you can't beat the grin a supermoto (essentially an off road race bike on sticky road tyres) puts on your face. The Gas Gas is under 100kgs, nearly half the weight of the 748, it's a very peaky 200cc 2 stroke with ~45hp. To enjoy the 748 it needed a good gravel free sweeping A road on a nice dry day with no traffic and for me to ride it like it's on a track, not gonna happen very often and generally not a great idea. The Gas Gas is still fun on that perfect A road, if a little slow on the wider sections, but the key thing is it's amazing fun on 'normal' roads, that greasy B road on a December morning, damp it patches with mud near field gates, it takes it in it's stride. It might slide about a bit but it adds to the fun rather than being scary like a sports bike. And when the road is dry and grippy you can really get it lent over and make some proper progress on those switchback windy sections which makes road riding so good. Lewis, this is my 2nd supermoto, I had a CCM R30 in 2012. The CCM really opened my eyes to the joy of supermoto, but equally I really missed my Suzuki RGV250. 2 strokes are so intense to ride, you've gotta really be focused and keep the engine on the pipe, constantly working the gearbox, but when it all comes together than free revving, never want to change up, screaming feeling is just fantastic. I love my 2tsupermoto and wouldn't swap it for the world, but equally I can see that it;'s not for everyone, it doesn't have the big chunks of torque for instant wheelies like the big 4t, nor the engine braking it back it into bends properly, to me it almost requires a slightly smoother approach, more about carrying speed through bends than the 4t. I think the only thing I consider changing it for is a 300cc version of the same bike with more power! But then I did buy the 200 as I keep promising myself I'll get off roaring at some stage, and the 200 is meant to be a great bike to learn to ride off road on. Interesting that you ask what I do with the Gas Gas Duncan, the answer is generally just go out and ride about for a few hours then come home or use it to go see friends. One of it's disadvantages is that it's very much a just about road legal enduro racer at it's heart. This means its got a small tank that only does about 55 miles between refills, it hasn't got a key so isn't exactly secure and it's got no battery so if the engine stops you've got no lights which is fun on a dark country lane when the plug fouls… still somehow these things only make me more fond of it! So the big plan for 2015 is to build one of these modern interpretations of the british 60s cafe racers based on a 70's Honda. Hopefully I'll end up with a cool looking bike that's good for going out on rides with my wife riding pillion (the gas gas only has one seat) and as it'll have a key and sensible sized tank etc, when the weathers good I'll use it day to day just to goto the shops and stuff. Something like these two but slightly my own take on the style…   Anyway … ahem… cars! I'd not really thought about Honda much tbh Duncan, to the internet to read up and see if anything with vtec can be added to my shortlist of potential future cars. |
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Dec 28, 2014 23:20:42 GMT
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The daily dilemma...
I think there needs to be more Chasers/Mark 2 or Stagea/Skyline sedans around... They have enough poke to be fun, can be driven sedately and are practical. sigh... I miss my GT-R though... not practical, not fuel efficient but I'd have another in a heartbeat, because my dualis (qashqai) doesn't make my pulse race.
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Brat/Bobber/Cafe Racer mix is something I want to build, not a single style but the parts I like from all of them.
To continue the 4 wheeled debate the 1.6 idea my Auris is a 1.6 130bhp 2011 it bores me to tears but it rewards in ways I could never believe like actually doing what I ask of it every time I turn the key, I will say though I wish I had got the diesel 2.2 model.
With me drifting back to diesel a Fabia VRS or Alfa 147/156 JTD or even the Auris 2.2 SR 180 its one of those people class as disposable but they will work forever and a day the rear suspension on the SR180 is actually better than the petrol models just like the Fabia VRS.
When the day comes of you just wanting stuff to work you really appreciate just how far modern motoring has become.
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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I had a Audi Coupe a 90s 8v model again was nothing exciting but it looked the part and I bought it cheap not being an Audi man I parted with it but turns out there is plenty to be had and the mega reliable VW engine has its merits.
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Dec 29, 2014 12:01:42 GMT
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Sounds like you can just about get away with any of the 90s coupes for your daily - that gives you a really good choice. But it would mean that you have to get rid of this MX5 again. And you seem to love your rotaries, which wouldn't be suitable either. The supermoto concept sounds awesome - definitely better than a sports bike for our roads. The lack of battery/key/range sounds like it's a bit of a pain though! I like the Cafe racer idea. Is there any reason for basing it on a 70s Honda rather than something more modern? Speed triples and the like seem to be factory versions of that sort of bike, and I understood that modern tyres are massively better than the old stuff... I had a Fabia vRS - it was pretty good compromise of fun and efficient - 55mpg on my 75 mile a day commute, but enough power and grip to be enjoyable. Not enough space for my wife and the child seat, which is why I got rid, but it was probably the best compromise car I've owned. If I go for another compromise, something like a Legnum/Stagea would really fit the bill (different requirements now), assuming I can get 3 people and bikes in it. |
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lewis
Part of things
Posts: 82
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Dec 29, 2014 15:34:18 GMT
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The Gasgas sounds brilliant, very light at less than 100kg and 45bhp sounds great for a 200cc! I was very tempted by the KTM 300 EXC and the husaberg 300 but the prices plus the cost of converting turned them into a very expensive toy. My favourite was my WR450, loved the instant power delivery and light weight:  I also wanted to build a cafe racer style bike, I just took off some unnecessary parts and stuck clipons on my monster and left it at that ha. I love the all round ability of the monster but it doesn't come out at this time of year unlike the supermoto which makes riding in poor weather and ice a lot more forgiving.   Apologies for the pics spamming up your thread! |
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Last Edit: Dec 29, 2014 15:43:53 GMT by lewis
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.
. Lol
Maybe its going from a Jag to something smaller is making me think I'm going to miss the boot space, whereas with an Mx5 I suppose you can only gain boot space really..
