Mini Fleet & Car History
Discussion
Thought I'd post up my current mini fleet and a little about my previous cars & escapades.
So, onto the current selection:
Daily Driver & Tow Car - Mk1 Octavia VRs
Bought 2 years & roughly 35k miles ago. In that time it has needed (amongst regular servicing):
- Both front ARB Drop Links replacing (£30 for a pair of Lemforder ones)
- Both front window regulators replacing (OEM ones at £60 each)
- Both rear shocks replacing (Bilstein B4 at £65 for the pair)
Which I'm pretty pleased with for a car at nearly 100k miles & 10 years old.
Upload 2 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
Track Car - Ginetta G20
Owned for just under a year so far and roughly half a dozen trackdays under its belt - no mechanical failures yet, has just been serviced every couple of trackdays.
Basic spec is 1.4 Blacktop Zetec engine, Jenvey ITB's, Cat Cams, DTA S40 ECU, Quaife Type 9 straight cut gearbox & LSD, double wishbone suspension with Avo dampers & springs etc.
Roughly 120-130bhp (allegedly, never had it on a dyno!) and 650kg.
Next time out is 17th June at Blyton with Frank's Charity Track Days.
Upload 1 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
Autosolo/Mini Summer Project - 2000 Mazda MX5 1.6
The latest addition, acquired last week. Bought cheap to use for a few autosolos and fun over summer with 12 months MOT. Has a few niggles - sills were just (badly) patched for the MOT by the previous owner, exhaust rattles and there's a wheel bearing going which I can't quite track to a corner just yet. Came up surprisingly well after a good scrub and polish though.
Used for it's first Autosolo on Sunday where it performed admirably other than the crappy budgets on the front and the lack of locking differential making its presence felt. Next one planned for early May where I hope to have 2 new tyres on and the niggles sorted.
20160402_191839 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
Motorbike - Suzuki GSX650F
The vehicle I've owned the longest & my first bike bought just after passing my test in December 2012, have considered changing it a couple of times but it does a lot of things well and is fast enough for me! Have added ASV levers, Beowulf carbon end can & Michelin PR4's. Only really sees use in summer, did try out all weather biking but it's not for me!
20140202_151103 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
And now onto previous vehicles, there may be something of a trend here...
1st Car - 1999 Renault Clio 1.2
Many happy memories and road trips in this, never broke down even when jumped over bridges and the like.
DSC00242 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
2nd Car - 2009 RenaultSport Twingo 133
2 weeks after my first proper paycheck, I bought the little roller skate - not a wise financial decision but so much fun. Again lots of roadtrips and this was probably the start of getting into watching live motorsport so it spent lots of time shuttling me to circuits & rallies all over the country. Kept for 2 years and roughly 30k miles - no issues other than the steering wheel melting (Common RenaultSport fault replaced under warranty).
DSC02622 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
3rd Car - 2011 RenaultSport Clio 200 Silverstone Edition #13
A new longer commute meant the 4k cruising RPM of the Twingo and crashy ride were beginning to wear a little so went looking for something more sensible (IE, diesel motorway cruiser), ended up going the other way when a really good deal on this came up. Essentially a Clio 200 with a host of options thrown at it. Again, great fun and reliable - no issues at all during my 2 year ownership. Sold onto a friend who lurks on here who unfortunately did have a few niggles and sold it on after a few months.
When I bought this (brand new!) there was a free RenaultSport trackday at Silverstone included with a few laps in a Clio 200 and a Megane 250. This gave me the bug for trackdays but I never took the Clio on track (something I regret!) as it was my only transport and on an apprentice wage, a lot of money to be throwing about when I needed it to get to work on Monday.
DSC01222 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
4th Car - 1986 Peugeot 205 1.6 GTI Track Car
With the desire to do more trackdays burning ever stronger I sold the Clio and bought the Octavia I still have now and the Pug. It was bought as an ex race car and had a lot of nice bits on it - blueprinted 1.6, twin Webers, Gaz Golds, lots of PTS bits etc. Unfortunately it seemed to be cursed in my ownership - I attempted 3 trackdays in it - the 1st at Oulton was cancelled after a load of oil was dumped on the track 10 minutes in, the 2nd at Anglesey was cancelled due to inclement weather (snow!) after I drove the near 3 hours there and the 3rd was at Blyton.
The car was running great all day at Blyton and did a lot of laps, unfortunately 10 minutes before the end of the day it ingested a stone kicked up from a car in front, through a hole in the airbox and made a mess inside. I then spent 6 months reconditioning and fitting a 1.9 GTI engine but shortly after it was finished the Ginetta came up for sale and I couldn't resist, but couldn't keep the Pug as well so it was sold on at a profit.
4 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
Bonus Mongol Rally Car
About this time I had a real hankering to travel and wanted to combine my two passions - cars and travelling. So myself and a friend hatched a plan to do the Mongol Rally. For those that don't know it's essentially a challenge to drive a small, cheap car from the UK to Mongolia.
We picked up a Fiat Seicento for £300 but after a few months of owning (and not driving it) neither of were sold on the idea, it fitted the ethos of the rally well as it was spectacularly crap but it didn't interest either of us. As luck would have it, a bargain Peugeot 205 UK Rallye popped up that was a road rally veteran. 10 minutes after seeing it online we were off for a look and an hour later a deal was agreed.
Daisy as she was affectionately known carried us from Goodwood to Mongolia via a wiggly 10000 mile route through Europe into Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and finally into Kyrgyzstan where unfortunately a leaking fuel filler hose dumped a load of fuel on the rear right tyre, sending us off into the scenery (upside down) and ending our rally. We've unfinished business with the rally and plan another attempt.
Here's a few pics as posted in another thread recently (and the inspiration for writing this post)...
26 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
15 by matty_doh1, on Flickr
4 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr
2 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr
1 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr
5 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr
So, onto the current selection:
Daily Driver & Tow Car - Mk1 Octavia VRs
Bought 2 years & roughly 35k miles ago. In that time it has needed (amongst regular servicing):
- Both front ARB Drop Links replacing (£30 for a pair of Lemforder ones)
- Both front window regulators replacing (OEM ones at £60 each)
- Both rear shocks replacing (Bilstein B4 at £65 for the pair)
Which I'm pretty pleased with for a car at nearly 100k miles & 10 years old.
Upload 2 by matty_doh1, on FlickrTrack Car - Ginetta G20
Owned for just under a year so far and roughly half a dozen trackdays under its belt - no mechanical failures yet, has just been serviced every couple of trackdays.
Basic spec is 1.4 Blacktop Zetec engine, Jenvey ITB's, Cat Cams, DTA S40 ECU, Quaife Type 9 straight cut gearbox & LSD, double wishbone suspension with Avo dampers & springs etc.
Roughly 120-130bhp (allegedly, never had it on a dyno!) and 650kg.
Next time out is 17th June at Blyton with Frank's Charity Track Days.
Upload 1 by matty_doh1, on FlickrAutosolo/Mini Summer Project - 2000 Mazda MX5 1.6
The latest addition, acquired last week. Bought cheap to use for a few autosolos and fun over summer with 12 months MOT. Has a few niggles - sills were just (badly) patched for the MOT by the previous owner, exhaust rattles and there's a wheel bearing going which I can't quite track to a corner just yet. Came up surprisingly well after a good scrub and polish though.
Used for it's first Autosolo on Sunday where it performed admirably other than the crappy budgets on the front and the lack of locking differential making its presence felt. Next one planned for early May where I hope to have 2 new tyres on and the niggles sorted.
20160402_191839 by matty_doh1, on FlickrMotorbike - Suzuki GSX650F
The vehicle I've owned the longest & my first bike bought just after passing my test in December 2012, have considered changing it a couple of times but it does a lot of things well and is fast enough for me! Have added ASV levers, Beowulf carbon end can & Michelin PR4's. Only really sees use in summer, did try out all weather biking but it's not for me!
20140202_151103 by matty_doh1, on FlickrAnd now onto previous vehicles, there may be something of a trend here...
1st Car - 1999 Renault Clio 1.2
Many happy memories and road trips in this, never broke down even when jumped over bridges and the like.
DSC00242 by matty_doh1, on Flickr2nd Car - 2009 RenaultSport Twingo 133
2 weeks after my first proper paycheck, I bought the little roller skate - not a wise financial decision but so much fun. Again lots of roadtrips and this was probably the start of getting into watching live motorsport so it spent lots of time shuttling me to circuits & rallies all over the country. Kept for 2 years and roughly 30k miles - no issues other than the steering wheel melting (Common RenaultSport fault replaced under warranty).
DSC02622 by matty_doh1, on Flickr3rd Car - 2011 RenaultSport Clio 200 Silverstone Edition #13
A new longer commute meant the 4k cruising RPM of the Twingo and crashy ride were beginning to wear a little so went looking for something more sensible (IE, diesel motorway cruiser), ended up going the other way when a really good deal on this came up. Essentially a Clio 200 with a host of options thrown at it. Again, great fun and reliable - no issues at all during my 2 year ownership. Sold onto a friend who lurks on here who unfortunately did have a few niggles and sold it on after a few months.
When I bought this (brand new!) there was a free RenaultSport trackday at Silverstone included with a few laps in a Clio 200 and a Megane 250. This gave me the bug for trackdays but I never took the Clio on track (something I regret!) as it was my only transport and on an apprentice wage, a lot of money to be throwing about when I needed it to get to work on Monday.
DSC01222 by matty_doh1, on Flickr4th Car - 1986 Peugeot 205 1.6 GTI Track Car
With the desire to do more trackdays burning ever stronger I sold the Clio and bought the Octavia I still have now and the Pug. It was bought as an ex race car and had a lot of nice bits on it - blueprinted 1.6, twin Webers, Gaz Golds, lots of PTS bits etc. Unfortunately it seemed to be cursed in my ownership - I attempted 3 trackdays in it - the 1st at Oulton was cancelled after a load of oil was dumped on the track 10 minutes in, the 2nd at Anglesey was cancelled due to inclement weather (snow!) after I drove the near 3 hours there and the 3rd was at Blyton.
The car was running great all day at Blyton and did a lot of laps, unfortunately 10 minutes before the end of the day it ingested a stone kicked up from a car in front, through a hole in the airbox and made a mess inside. I then spent 6 months reconditioning and fitting a 1.9 GTI engine but shortly after it was finished the Ginetta came up for sale and I couldn't resist, but couldn't keep the Pug as well so it was sold on at a profit.
4 by matty_doh1, on FlickrBonus Mongol Rally Car
About this time I had a real hankering to travel and wanted to combine my two passions - cars and travelling. So myself and a friend hatched a plan to do the Mongol Rally. For those that don't know it's essentially a challenge to drive a small, cheap car from the UK to Mongolia.
We picked up a Fiat Seicento for £300 but after a few months of owning (and not driving it) neither of were sold on the idea, it fitted the ethos of the rally well as it was spectacularly crap but it didn't interest either of us. As luck would have it, a bargain Peugeot 205 UK Rallye popped up that was a road rally veteran. 10 minutes after seeing it online we were off for a look and an hour later a deal was agreed.
Daisy as she was affectionately known carried us from Goodwood to Mongolia via a wiggly 10000 mile route through Europe into Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and finally into Kyrgyzstan where unfortunately a leaking fuel filler hose dumped a load of fuel on the rear right tyre, sending us off into the scenery (upside down) and ending our rally. We've unfinished business with the rally and plan another attempt.
Here's a few pics as posted in another thread recently (and the inspiration for writing this post)...
26 by matty_doh1, on Flickr15 by matty_doh1, on Flickr4 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr2 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr1 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr5 (2) by matty_doh1, on Flickr
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