Picked up something new - and it's not British!

Soldato
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24 Apr 2007
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7,562
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Southport
Okay, so a quick update.

I've done around 1,000 miles so far - on a 500 mile return trip to Southampton at between 60 and 70 I managed to average 40MPG. Quite impressed!
Did the return trip on just a smidge over one tank.

I went through the history, which was surprising - all VVT work has been done, the oil restrictor mod has been done, it's had a recon turbo not so long ago... and has a Versatune upgrade installed with a 'medium' map. That explains a lot!
Also seems to have a stainless exhaust.

It's riding too low, so it's either had lowering springs fitted or has lost a coil or two. Luckily Amazon had one set of OE Eibach Aero springs for £98 left... :D
Can't get the blimmin' thing on the drive until I fit those.
Also, a nasty rattle from the front suspension - I'm thinking ball joint or drop link. We'll see when it stops raining... :o

In short - yes, tax is a nightmare but it's absolutely worth it. Lovely little car.
Just had a Grom BT3 unit delivered to add Bluetooth to the OE stereo. It's a good Bose system, so worth keeping OE for now.
 
Soldato
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12 Mar 2008
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West sussex
Okay, so a quick update.

I've done around 1,000 miles so far - on a 500 mile return trip to Southampton at between 60 and 70 I managed to average 40MPG. Quite impressed!
Did the return trip on just a smidge over one tank.

I went through the history, which was surprising - all VVT work has been done, the oil restrictor mod has been done, it's had a recon turbo not so long ago... and has a Versatune upgrade installed with a 'medium' map. That explains a lot!
Also seems to have a stainless exhaust.

It's riding too low, so it's either had lowering springs fitted or has lost a coil or two. Luckily Amazon had one set of OE Eibach Aero springs for £98 left... :D
Can't get the blimmin' thing on the drive until I fit those.
Also, a nasty rattle from the front suspension - I'm thinking ball joint or drop link. We'll see when it stops raining... :o

In short - yes, tax is a nightmare but it's absolutely worth it. Lovely little car.
Just had a Grom BT3 unit delivered to add Bluetooth to the OE stereo. It's a good Bose system, so worth keeping OE for now.

I've got one of these http://www.eonon.co.uk/Android-Car-GPS/GA7151.html - older version with older android in my mazda 3 with bose etc and it's a decent bit of kit!
 
Associate
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22 Jan 2017
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What are your insurance prices like?
My renewal last year was €1050, but got it down to €750 through a broker. It used to be cheaper but over the last 3 years it has steadily been increasing. They blaim it on the amount of claims and people driving uninsured. There's a percentage of your premium that goes towards a fund for such people.

I was 39 at the time of last renewal, full B license, no claims, points, insured in own name. Driving a 03 1.6 petrol focus. Yeah it's really that bad and a lot worse for some others. It can fluctuate from each insurer, they all give different quotes so it's a bit of a lottery getting some half decent price.
 
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Okay, so a quick update.

I've done around 1,000 miles so far - on a 500 mile return trip to Southampton at between 60 and 70 I managed to average 40MPG. Quite impressed!
Did the return trip on just a smidge over one tank.

40mpg average is really impressive. Best I've ever seen out of my Mk2 is 34mpg, averaging around the 24-30 mark.

Be interesting to see some 4th gear WOT runs.
 
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Birmingham
I went through the history, which was surprising - all VVT work has been done, the oil restrictor mod has been done, it's had a recon turbo not so long ago...

Good stuff that the VVT has been done, can be pretty expensive. Reconditioned turbos are useless. It'll still blow the seals at some point. Start saving for a better turbo if you plan to keep it.

and has a Versatune upgrade installed with a 'medium' map. That explains a lot!

Is it an OTS tune? Contact Versatuner and you'll be able to get the software if you don't already have it (presuming you have the cable). Definitely get a custom tune from Justin, especially as you don't have to buy the software. The difference will be night and day compared to the OTS tune. By far the best tuner, at least in the UK, for the MPS platform.

Also, a nasty rattle from the front suspension - I'm thinking ball joint or drop link. We'll see when it stops raining... :o

Either ARB bushes as they perish and knock like mad or droplinks as you said. The car eats droplinks for fun. Get at least Lemforder DL's or even uprated ones.
 
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12 Feb 2003
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2,441
Took a trip to Thurso from Coventry the other week in my Gen 2. 38mpg on the first leg to Glasgow at around 85mph most of the way. Was quite pleased with that. However, that took a dive to around 34mpg north of Glasgow, and especially when I reached the A9 and later the brilliant coastal mountain roads to Thurso. Was damn well worth it for the drive though, loved it!

Also, rear drop links go on these too. Mine were shot when I got it. Not a major knock sound like the front ones, much more subtle, almost like interior trim creak. They were cheap enough though, £15-£20 each if I recall. Was going to do it myself, but my local mechanic quoted me just £40 to fit them, so it wasn't worth getting the jack out for so little.

Front's are cheap too, so not a major job, and may as well have the arbs done at the same time for the cost (literally a couple of quid!).

Hope you are enjoying the MPS, they are an absolute hoot!
 
Soldato
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17 Oct 2012
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Leeds
You know you need to get your flat cap on and walking stick out when you start complaining about the price of road tax :p.

I like the look of the gen 1 better, the 2nd one is not as stealthy and it has that stupid grind on its face all the time :/. Definitely better than other hot hatches of the price range in terms of power and delivery. The torque hits harder than the t5 in the focus St and c30, but tbh that can be fixed with a remap.
 
Soldato
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24 Apr 2007
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Southport
Another update!
Looks like the knocking noise is indeed front drop links - they're remarkably similar in design to the Rover 75 items I sell, which are also a very weak point.

Average MPG is awesome on a run, nudging 40MPG easily - but as expected, absolutely shocking when around town or actually using the power. Circa 25MPG seems to be about the norm.

The EML came on last week, starter catalyst below efficiency threshold - no effect on performance, so I'll probably just ignore it. Who needs a cat anyway? :D
Going to in-depth service it soon, there's a bit of hesitation sometimes when coming on boost so hopefully plugs will cure it.

Apart from that, it's been fantastic!
 
Soldato
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Southport
A quick update...

Well, the primary lambda was past its best, as was the MAF. Changed them both along with the plugs, and the hesitation issue is much better but not quite gone.
Myself and a couple of specialists think it could be an issue with the map it has loaded.

Apart from that, it's an absolute machine for what it is. I'd recommend these cars to anyone, a useful amount of power and plenty of handling ability.
Just not one to own if you're scared of spanners... :p
 
Soldato
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Southport
Okay, so another update.
The hesitation issue was something absolutely ridiculous.

The intake system has been replaced by the tuning company that owned it - a good move, as the standard intake and MAF housing isn't ideal.
The one they fitted included a plastic airflow straightener in the pipework preceding the MAF... however the mount for this airflow straightener had broken, and it was rolling around in the air filter about 6 inches in front.
This will have upset the airflow over the MAF depending in what position it was sat, causing cutting out and erroneous MAF readings.

Now glued back in, and running beautifully.

Also installed the VersaTuner software, and flashed over a basic but slightly improved map - power from the MAF readings is estimated to be around 285BHP.
I'm having a proper map written as I type this, ready for a rolling road day on Saturday.

*facedesk*
 
Soldato
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Southport
Another update - all absolutely perfect after the plastic was re-inserted.
The chap at the RR says it was probably time for lambda to be done anyway at over 100,000 miles - AFR readings were spot on, he reckoned in part to the new OE sensor.

Ran 283BHP, just having the mapping tweaked now as I've been logging various readings via VersaTuner.
 
Soldato
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Southport
And you'll all laugh but...
It's getting sold.

Today I was offered the same car, but with the engine already having had a full rebuild with forged rods and pistons, a new crank and literally thousands spent on it. All for a snip over what I paid for the car in the OP.

No pics to hand yet - but it has somewhere in the mid-300s in terms of BHP and is absolutely terrifying.
More to follow!
 
Soldato
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Southport
All still running OK surprisingly. Made 319BHP and 320 lb/ft on the dyno so it goes well for what it is, but the mapping needs updating as a lot of the mods were done after. Around 360 at the flywheel is expected once this has been done. :)
 
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