What to do with an '89 Eunos?
Discussion
Hi All,
I've just picked up Mrs Maser's '89 Eunos from her parents driveway, where it's been for the past 12 months or so.
I bought it for her for her 21st Birthday, but three years ago when she started doing a lot of motorway driving we bought a newer 'sport' (airbags, 6 speed etc.), and the old one hasn't been far since.
Apart from a flat battery, it started first time, purring nicely, and drives perfectly!
So, what to do with it?
We already have a van for the business, a Landcruiser for long journeys, another MX-5 sport for daily, a Maser for fun, and a couple of classic cars, so it's a little redundant?
We're on the lookout for a hard top (black to match the newer one), that we'll keep on the old car for the winter, just to keep it dry and safe.
It was fully re-sprayed about 18 months ago, not a perfect job with a few imperfections, but still looks great for a 20 year old car. I'll be putting a new roof on it this week if I get chance.
Should I use it for track days? Give it to one of my staff to drive? Sell it in the spring?
Answers on a postcard please!
I've just picked up Mrs Maser's '89 Eunos from her parents driveway, where it's been for the past 12 months or so.
I bought it for her for her 21st Birthday, but three years ago when she started doing a lot of motorway driving we bought a newer 'sport' (airbags, 6 speed etc.), and the old one hasn't been far since.
Apart from a flat battery, it started first time, purring nicely, and drives perfectly!
So, what to do with it?
We already have a van for the business, a Landcruiser for long journeys, another MX-5 sport for daily, a Maser for fun, and a couple of classic cars, so it's a little redundant?
We're on the lookout for a hard top (black to match the newer one), that we'll keep on the old car for the winter, just to keep it dry and safe.
It was fully re-sprayed about 18 months ago, not a perfect job with a few imperfections, but still looks great for a 20 year old car. I'll be putting a new roof on it this week if I get chance.
Should I use it for track days? Give it to one of my staff to drive? Sell it in the spring?
Answers on a postcard please!
dougc said:
Now, that is tempting....To be honest, we don't need the money from selling it, and this would be a great chance to have some fun with it!
Great suggestions chaps, thanks very much!
Munter said:
skinny said:
strip it down for the track. interior and bits will get you a little money back.
Pretty much what he said. But just change the fluid and pads and track it. Forget the hasle of stripping it out for now. Run it "stock". Then If you get the bug start messing with it.Have never done a track day, and have only ever done kart racing (which, although I say it myself, am quite good at).
A good friend of mine used to do teaching for Prodrive, so I could always get some coaching from him I guess.
maser_spyder said:
Munter said:
skinny said:
strip it down for the track. interior and bits will get you a little money back.
Pretty much what he said. But just change the fluid and pads and track it. Forget the hasle of stripping it out for now. Run it "stock". Then If you get the bug start messing with it.Have never done a track day, and have only ever done kart racing (which, although I say it myself, am quite good at).
A good friend of mine used to do teaching for Prodrive, so I could always get some coaching from him I guess.
easytack
bookatrack
goldtrack
motorsportevents (Airfields but V cheap)
etc
Then pay and turn up in a road legal car with a road licence (You should be able to hire a helmet if you don't own one).
That's all you need to do.
To get the best out of the day you'll need to:
Ensure you have good brake fluid and pads, and tires that have a bit of life left in them.
Invite your mate to instruct you. Or hire one of the instructors for a few sessions when booking the day.
running it on track...
make sure you have newish pads and decent fresh fluid, and enough tyre tread. if it hasn't already, put some fresh decent oil in there. then you're set to go! book with motorsportvision or something like that, who often have novice days (you are not allowed on if you've been to more than 3 trackdays!) for very cheap prices at decent circuits.
you'll get track familiarisation where you either get taken round in a 4x4 or you drive behind a pace car for a few laps learning the circuit and the lines. they often have brake and turn-in cones to start you off too. the day will probably be sessioned (3 x 20 minute sessions per hour) which is fine, you won't want to do more than 20 minutes anyway as you do start to lose concentration, and your car may want a breather by then anyway. they normally have instructors on hand who will be happy to go out with you for a session or something, when i got instructors i liked to go out by myself for the first few sessions, learn things my way and at my pace, and then get them to see where i could improve.
if someone has come up to the back of you, it means they are faster, so wait for a straight and pull over to let them through. you'll get a breifing on which side they should pass on. no-one should be racing, and the marshalls will try to ensure no-one is driving like an idiot.
make sure you have newish pads and decent fresh fluid, and enough tyre tread. if it hasn't already, put some fresh decent oil in there. then you're set to go! book with motorsportvision or something like that, who often have novice days (you are not allowed on if you've been to more than 3 trackdays!) for very cheap prices at decent circuits.
you'll get track familiarisation where you either get taken round in a 4x4 or you drive behind a pace car for a few laps learning the circuit and the lines. they often have brake and turn-in cones to start you off too. the day will probably be sessioned (3 x 20 minute sessions per hour) which is fine, you won't want to do more than 20 minutes anyway as you do start to lose concentration, and your car may want a breather by then anyway. they normally have instructors on hand who will be happy to go out with you for a session or something, when i got instructors i liked to go out by myself for the first few sessions, learn things my way and at my pace, and then get them to see where i could improve.
if someone has come up to the back of you, it means they are faster, so wait for a straight and pull over to let them through. you'll get a breifing on which side they should pass on. no-one should be racing, and the marshalls will try to ensure no-one is driving like an idiot.
As you live in Cheltenham then Motorsport Events would be a good track operator for you as they run trackdays at a number of venues not far from you. I'd reccomend Colerne as it has a good selection of slow & fast corners and plenty of safe run-off so it's a good place to learn. Abingdon is also very good, one of my favorites in fact!
MX-5 Lazza said:
As you live in Cheltenham then Motorsport Events would be a good track operator for you as they run trackdays at a number of venues not far from you. I'd reccomend Colerne as it has a good selection of slow & fast corners and plenty of safe run-off so it's a good place to learn. Abingdon is also very good, one of my favorites in fact!
I was actually just looking at them thinking the same thing!I've got a couple of mates that would be up for this, so I'll get some bodies together and head to the next Colerne day, thanks for the tip!
Out of interest, is it a Maserati track, or an MX-5 track? Which would be more fun?
That's the ultimate in stripping it down for a track day isn't it!
Colerne is definitely a track for small chuckable cars rather than big fast cars. The quickest will be Caterhams & Exiges. A Ferrari F430 wouldn't stand a chance against them. A 1.6 MX5 will be far from the fastest car there on the straights but they will keep up with most things on the bends (assuming decent tyres).
MX-5 Lazza said:
Colerne is definitely a track for small chuckable cars rather than big fast cars. The quickest will be Caterhams & Exiges. A Ferrari F430 wouldn't stand a chance against them. A 1.6 MX5 will be far from the fastest car there on the straights but they will keep up with most things on the bends (assuming decent tyres).
That's great, thanks, I'll take the Mazda then.The tyres have loads of tread, but are only cheapies, so I won't feel too bad about skinning them alive. I hardly think the tyres will affect my driving too much...
I've got a couple of weeks to sort out some new pads and to change the fluids and stuff, and get myself a helmet!
See you there on the 16th maybe!
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