Discussion
Saw this and thought, hmmmm 
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/190531.htm
Promised myself I'd only consider sensible cars from now on though and fortunately Scotalnd is a little far away for any potential spending-accident.
Always liked the idea of the G32's though.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/190531.htm
Promised myself I'd only consider sensible cars from now on though and fortunately Scotalnd is a little far away for any potential spending-accident.
Always liked the idea of the G32's though.
Chris71 said:
I've always heard rather uninspiring performance figures quoted for them and I'm told the handling is a touch on the mid-engined side? Never known how much is scare mongering.
They're also one of those cars that looks a lot better in the flesh I think.
OK - I'm biased - but Roger handles beautifully - a big Pussy Cat. They're also one of those cars that looks a lot better in the flesh I think.
(See my profile and you'll realise what I mean ...) That's Scott's old car -
I enquired after it last year but he'd sold it
(obviously to the new guy now selling - surprised he doesn't want to hang on to it?? (circumstances change I suppose).
Wonder when pic was taken? Not recently judging by the weather
32s never kept pace pricewise and as a result some get neglected - I looked
at three and one was only a few hundred quid - for good reason!
Steel doors would have been better with grp skins if only to stop the dreadful
rust that runs along bottom of Fiesta door.
Not the case with Scott's car though because he did look after it.
Looking at it again I would sorely be tempted but hadn't noticed the price
Hmm. Be interesting to see if he gets that. Wish it was nearer, but price would
have to be lower.
I enquired after it last year but he'd sold it
(obviously to the new guy now selling - surprised he doesn't want to hang on to it?? (circumstances change I suppose).
Wonder when pic was taken? Not recently judging by the weather
32s never kept pace pricewise and as a result some get neglected - I looked
at three and one was only a few hundred quid - for good reason!
Steel doors would have been better with grp skins if only to stop the dreadful
rust that runs along bottom of Fiesta door.
Not the case with Scott's car though because he did look after it.
Looking at it again I would sorely be tempted but hadn't noticed the price
Hmm. Be interesting to see if he gets that. Wish it was nearer, but price would
have to be lower.
Edited by dandarez on Thursday 5th July 02:29
??dandarez said:
Wish it was nearer, but price would have to be lower.
Blimey John - one minute you are complaining that Ginetta cars are undervalued by the media, the next you are trying to talk down the price of what is possibly one of the best G32s available anywhere!At this money it is a snip and, if I had the spare cash, it would be sitting in my garage already. G32 values can only go one way, and that is upward, so buy it now and look after it.
As for handling, those of us who have driven G32 know how good they are, especially if they are properly sorted.
remind me Dave/Nina - they do have those dreaded Triumph dolly ball joints don't they (ie gold dust ball joints) or am I just getting old(er)? If they do, have you a secret supply of them?
Took Scott a long time to sell but I think that was more to do with location than the car. Interesting nearly 18 years on which would be the better car now, the rust ridden MR2 or the rusty bottom of door only G32?
Hey, you know I mentioned something about Bo'ness Hill Climb recently and you said a housing estate was now built there? Well, you can actually walk virtually the whole of the old hill climb track and visualise the noise and power and the famous who drove there.
Not the same as driving up it I know, but thought you'd like to know, if you don't already.
That's just reminded me.
A certain D. Cullen drove a Ginetta in the Sports & GT class up to 1100cc on 25 June 1966 up Bo'ness winning the class.
Nobody seems to have any further info on this (not even Trevor or Ivor) but I suspect it's got to have been a G4.
He's probably still got the car in his garage (get the phone book out!)
A certain D. Cullen drove a Ginetta in the Sports & GT class up to 1100cc on 25 June 1966 up Bo'ness winning the class.
Nobody seems to have any further info on this (not even Trevor or Ivor) but I suspect it's got to have been a G4.
He's probably still got the car in his garage
(get the phone book out!)dandarez said:
remind me Dave/Nina - they do have those dreaded Triumph dolly ball joints don't they (ie gold dust ball joints) or am I just getting old(er)? If they do, have you a secret supply of them?
We bought two on E-bay, and you also see the repair kits there from time to time. I did speak to Spadge at one point about making some replacement top arms that used Ford joints rather than the Triumph ones, but there is no real urgency for us as the car has new joints and does less than 100 miles a year these days (now very much modified and no longer a road car).Chris71 said:
I know
Was getting at the fact mid engined cars tend to have quite a low polar moment and have a bit of a reputation for sudden snap oversteer.
Ah.......I thought that what you might be getting at !! Was getting at the fact mid engined cars tend to have quite a low polar moment and have a bit of a reputation for sudden snap oversteer.
We're all talking this car up, wonder whos going to buy it
Was all this about steering arms difficult to get hold of ??
Nah, just quite fancied the idea of a compact, practical, mid engined sportscar and rather like the looks of the G32. Fear my resolution to buy something sensible next time round might have crumbled if I was within striking distance of Glasgow
Was kind of interested to hear feedback from anyone who's driven them - the quoted performance figures I've since aren't exactly exciting and I've heard rumours of rather twitchy handling. Doesn't seem to make sense somehow - I'm sure they're better than they're made out to be.
Was kind of interested to hear feedback from anyone who's driven them - the quoted performance figures I've since aren't exactly exciting and I've heard rumours of rather twitchy handling. Doesn't seem to make sense somehow - I'm sure they're better than they're made out to be.
SimonV8ster said:
Was all this about steering arms difficult to get hold of ??
The top front suspension arm is a Ginetta part, which for some inexplicable reason they attached a Dolomite top suspension joint. These are available, but expensive (c. £50 each). The good news is that they don't wear out that quickly...Broomsticklady said:
SimonV8ster said:
Was all this about steering arms difficult to get hold of ??
The top front suspension arm is a Ginetta part, which for some inexplicable reason they attached a Dolomite top suspension joint. These are available, but expensive (c. £50 each). The good news is that they don't wear out that quickly...Was yours once aroad car then improved to a track car ?? If so, what are they like as a road car ??
SimonV8ster said:
Was yours once aroad car then improved to a track car ?? If so, what are they like as a road car ??
Right - was hoping the G4 man might reply cos you'd get a better reply than from me but he hasn't so here goes!! You have been warned!! We bought Roger in 1992 as a finance co repossession, full leather trim, sunroof stereo etc but in need of TLC. He had a Specialised Engine 1.9, with about 20K on as I recall. He was bought with intention of using him for competition, and I drove him to most events at the time, sometimes a 100+ miles, but never as an every day car.
He gained his name due to my reaction having first driven him and being asked how I found him ... It was "Anglo Saxon Roger (as it were) The Ginetta" - I hated him - it was like driving a knackered hewland gear box - "give me a gear - any gear will do - just a gear ...". I had real problems, but persisted and got used to him slowly - you just can't hurry him when wanting third gear that's all. So - gearbox can be described as 'interesting'... but works fine when you're used to it - and it does deter others from trying to go anywhere in the car if they're stuck with 2nd to 5th being the easiest change ...
Handling - I was younger then and not so gentle as I am now - if you booted the go fast pedal his back would waggle quite angrily, but it was always controllable, which I assume means he gave me warning and I reacted without really being aware. He now has a rear suspension set up done by Duncan Campbell of bobble hat fame which means he's got rose joints which everyone seems to rave about and in fairness he will go round corners faster than my driving ability allows... See, I'm a woman - I admit to my inadeqacies ...
Power - he now sports a 1.8 Zetec, rolling roaded as about 170 - 180 bhp - the old 1.9 (c120 bhp) I was petrified would break on me at some time (no reason - just my paranoia at the abuse he's taken since 1992 causing something to break mid season) so I nagged (as if!) until it was changed 3 / 4 years back. He has much more torque now, and while you don't feel the G forces, you do feel the acceleration up the hill, which I don't recall doing so much before. He does run on slicks, and this season has a new LSD which has shown his rear traction as being a bit too good for his own sake as he decided his old engine mountings weren't man enuf for the job and he wanted new ones and a new engine brace to save the vibration!! Everyone who sits in the queue behind me at sprints et al has always even in the pre Zetec days commented on his 'squat down' at take off which I spose must tell someone who knows about these things something good...
Structurally - I hit 3 corners after a 360 spin followed by 180 when I turned left at Junction corner at Doune when I should have gone right. Altho his body was a bit squashed they were able to patch up the fibreglass and send me back up the hill for a further run - no chassis or suspension damage. Not Roger fortunately but I recall Duncan rolling a G32 down the embankment on an icey M180 a while back and being able to exit thru the windscreen which has always cheered me as regards his safety - a girlie thing maybe!!
You'll have gathered I love my toy boy and if truth be told I'd go up to Lybster and buy the advertised one myself - but I have too many toys already, and our 4 car garage is about to be squashed with a new toy for David (g22 returning home!!) so I really can't justify it ...
Edited by Broomsticklady on Monday 9th July 19:14
Broomsticklady said:
You'll have gathered I love my toy boy and if truth be told I'd go up to Lybster and buy the advertised one myself - but I have too many toys already, and our 4 car garage is about to be squashed with a new toy for David (g22 returning home!!) so I really can't justify it ...
I know the feeling. Got 3 cars currently, which equates to much more time and space than I really have.SimonV8ster said:
Sounds like your G32 is staying with you for a while !!
He is - you're right!! Divorce has been threatened (by husband 
quoting Roger as defendant) but so far I managed to keep the 2 men in my life!! SimonV8ster said:
Just checked - Lybster to Worthing 705 miles and 13 hrs !! (doesn't include the detour across the highlands though) Would be a good run to check that everything works
If you've never been North of Inverness it's a great run up to Lybster, particularly on a sunny day - the road runs right by the coast and there's some stunning scenery - that and I can recommend the Portland Arms at Lybster to stay in - they used to have what they referred to as the "Portland Table" for puds - a buffet table of all home made things bad for you - fond memories amongst many of what we used to call cow pats - meringues coated on one side with chocolate layered with cream 
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