|
|
Post by BikeTuna on Dec 14, 2016 8:40:55 GMT
It looks like I've found someone willing to swap their mk1 for my mk2.5. It was the Skuzzle post about which engine to get for best results that made me want to change, plus popup lights obvs.
It looks ok, it's a 1.8 which I definitely wanted, on a 1995 N plate with 105k on the clock. Rust is starting to come through on the bottom of the sills but should be early enough to catch it (mine is doing it too), and it has some good mods including a 1/2 cage, and some terrible mods including an awful spoiler and a stupid angled exhaust coming out the top centre of the rear bumper.
What key things am I going to notice?
I know it's going to be about 20-30bhp down on my VVT but FI is in the midst so not bothered but is there anything to watch for on that engine? Any ticks, rattles or flat spots to be especially scared of?
Handling wise, It looks like its on ebay coilovers whereas mine is on HSD dualtech so I'm expecting the handling to be not as good as mine. I'm guessing though that with the same coilovers it would handle the same? If it handles badly and not because of mechanical issue is this something I can ignore? It does have front and rear strutbraces and a cage which should stiffen things up a little.
The seller claims it has an Ashcroft LSD, mine does too. Whats the easiest way of confirming this bar a receipt in the servicebook?
Is there anything else I ought to know before I hand over my keys?
|
|
|
|
Post by jackyboy on Dec 14, 2016 10:41:25 GMT
Good for you. The mark 1 just feels that bit more lighter., smaller. Old skool, analog. The 1.8 strokes along alot faster than my old mark 2 1.6.
Hoping your coilovers are height adjustable. If those ebay coilovers are anything like mine be careful., if they are set too though then forget about road driving fun lol. I cant drive mine on the road fast with mine set how i like them on track. But on track they do the job.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rickster on Dec 14, 2016 11:58:51 GMT
Sounds good, look forward to seeing it - sounds similar to mine - UK or Eunos?.
I bet you dont notice that its any slower than your 2.5!
|
|
rikk
New Here
Posts: 89 
|
Post by rikk on Dec 14, 2016 12:10:33 GMT
Having had a set of ebay coilovers on another vehicle, get rid as fast as you can.
Awful, useless on anything other than properly smooth roads of which the UK has none.
Otherwise, have fun!
|
|
|
|
Post by BikeTuna on Dec 14, 2016 12:40:42 GMT
Cheers for all the responses, it's very much like yours ricky, same colour too. I'll get myself some multispokes and a Harry enfield scouser wig and we'll be mistaken for twins!  I've heard bad things about ebay coilovers and I'm not keen, and I'm pretty sure that while the HSD dualtechs are no Meisters, they aren't cheap rubbish either and were fitted and set up by Blink so I have a pretty good idea that I'm downgrading on the suspension front. As its a no-cash straight swap and his was for sale at £500 less than mine was for sale for, I'm going to see if I can negotiate swapping the coilovers between the cars, but if it handles ok I might not bother. |
|
|
|
Post by BikeTuna on Dec 14, 2016 14:51:53 GMT
...and that was the end of that.
He had the afternoon off work so drove over, talking his missus into a shopping day in sunny Oxford in exchange, and I met him for lunch.
We drove eachothers cars, him and his missus in mine, and me in his.
The speed was very close, mine is definitely quicker but by less than I thought. Gearbox was identical (apart from one of those awful bedroom styled gearsticks if you know the ones)...
but it was a nail. I've driven a standard mk1 before and know the loss of refinement to be expected, but I wasn't expecting it to be that severe. The no carpet made it really loud, the cheap suspension was really awful, the exhaust was incredibly loud through the cabin like it had a leaking manifold. The interior plastics were knackered with the glovebox trims snapped off, the seats were threadbare in places, the engine cover had been painted by a child, the whole thing was just a mess.
I think that puts swaps out the window for me. Anyone who has a mk1 that is as sorted as mine will not want to swap for mine, and I wouldn't be happy with less. Not that much less anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rickster on Dec 14, 2016 16:14:32 GMT
I think its always difficult with swaps - someone will always get the crap end of the deal.
Try selling yours in the spring maybe and then putting that towards a mk1?
|
|
|
|
Post by atlex on Dec 14, 2016 21:31:26 GMT
With a little money on bracing and some real cash set aside for meister-level coilovers I'd say the handling the about the same.
mk1 is definitely more spacious but for touring the mk2.5 interior is easier to live with. I hate the mk1's cig lighter positioning because it is directly where my left knee sits.
mk1 interior with some subtle door pulls is the *best*.
|
|
|
|
Post by BikeTuna on Dec 15, 2016 8:22:15 GMT
I'd still like a Mk1, but starting at the swap route hasn't got me anywhere.
This one was a nail, there was a silver one that looked the perfect candidate but was in Scotland (tricky from Oxford, especially if he didn't like mine), one guy who had one that had stood for a year, was a standard 1.6 and wouldn't negotiate a deal on my suspension and diff, and one actually quite nice 1.6 but it was a short nose which kind of defeated the point in me changing.
I'll leave the ad on the FB groups on the offchance, but I now think my route is going to be to find a cheap/rotten one, repair the bodywork and then swap the parts from mine onto it and sell it after. Ive got a shell in mind for this from another mk1 that didn't go through - was a nice car with nice mods but the shell was deep fried. Hopefully when he's finished breaking it the shell will be cheap.
|
|
Dewi
Chats A Bit
Posts: 103
|
Post by Dewi on Dec 15, 2016 10:36:35 GMT
Shame it fell through BT, I'm sure you'd love a well sorted Mk1. As Ricky above says though swaps are difficult to do where both parties get an even deal, plus someone eles's idea of a "nice" car could be miles away from yours so reaching an amicable agreement can usually be hard. I agree that your best bet would be to sell yours and buy a nice Mk1, doing that would give you a lot more option.
Personally, I've only ever driven one mk2 of any kind and that was over 10 years ago when I was looking for my first MX5. After that I knew I had to have a Mk1, apart from the looks it just felt more raw which I loved, it was a bit nearer to the Westfield I actually wanted but my missus hates with a passion. "Get one if you like" she said, "But don't expect me to ever get in one" .....Which kind of lit a bonfire under any plans I had to get a Westie or any other 7 type car.
I've since been through two late model NCs and now returned to an NA (despite going to look at a couple of Westies before buying this one)- I just love them.
|
|
|
|
Post by quinvy on Dec 15, 2016 13:50:44 GMT
The Mk2's are much stiffer and easier to live with as an everyday car.
The Mk1 is much rawer and fun.
|
|
le sigh