Good job I like the smell of toasty brakes... 
Picked up my new girl today... haven't decided on a name for her yet...
- Thread starter crinkleshoes
- Start date
lol yes, 2 of the things for 3 cars 
The whole steering assembly is great... short rack (relatively to most vehicles) which is a good ratio, light enough but not overpowered to dull it, awesome feel through the wheel.
Has to be one of the most communicative drives I've had, so easy to tell what each wheel (individually) is doing through the steering wheel.
Other things I've driven the front pair tend to communicate together through the wheel and or through the remaining feel of the car... it's quite unique to be able to tell quite so much about what each wheel is doing independently.
Has to be one of the most communicative drives I've had, so easy to tell what each wheel (individually) is doing through the steering wheel.
Other things I've driven the front pair tend to communicate together through the wheel and or through the remaining feel of the car... it's quite unique to be able to tell quite so much about what each wheel is doing independently.
Hahaha... I was driving her the other day and decided that she will not and can not be named after her registration mark... so that one's out the window.
I was driving her through some twisties on the way home from work and realised how the exception feel was allowing me to feel the undulations in her body like I would a woman... this is by far the most sexual car I have owned. The way you can feel so much of the vehicle is addictive.
__________
Been taking a closer look at exhaust systems, trying to make my mind up. A bit more money than I had planned to put into the car... but I think it will be worth it.
I reckon I can see 330-350bhp with the mods I'm keen on.
Looking at:
- Fabspeed system - they're about to offer a new active valve system and have offered be 50% off to be one of the first adopters... given their history and reviews, I'm quite tempted by this... waiting on confirmation & hoping I can get a similar discount on their modified headers. This new system is supposed to be able to switch between their standard system and race system at the push of a button & I like the sound of that. Videos of the standard system haven't wowed me as much as others - but their race system sounds sublime in videos. Videos aren't the easiest way to judge and I'm not sure where to hear one in-action but I have read about them refunding people who installed and then didn't like the noise. This system should get a bit more BHP than others due to the improved construction of the headers, at least... although I'm not sure if I would notice the difference in power.
- Carnewal modified cayman R exhaust (larger bore) and modified OEM cats with HJS racing replacement (same HJS that's used in Fabspeed) - these were my favourite until Fabspeed interested me. The sound seems to well emulate the PSE option while offering a touch more power. I like this because it's quite so close to OEM and of the videos I've found, it's one of my favourite sounds.
- Arymtrix. I hadn't heard of this brand until the last couple of days - they seem to do some interesting work on high-end autos. Relatively new to Europe, it seems... but the noise is rather impressive, the auto-system seems reasonably well done and it seems well made... the most expensive option, however.
- Remus... seemingly well respected but reviews of the build quality compared to others doesn't seem as favourable. Great noise.
I've looked at a few others and these seem to be my favourite from what I've found... although I can't be sure... it would be great to find somewhere I could sample them all but that might be difficult.
My desired mods:
- Replacement cat-back system (as above)
- Replacement headers/cat (either modified stock header with HJS cats or aftermarket header with the same HJS cats)
- GT3 throttle body / intake plenum
- Free-flowing intake (Fabspeed want £700 for a shaped silicon hose and filter... K&N want £200 for a filter that goes straight on the intake... the latter will probably have a barely measurable increase in temp, so I can't quite imagine paying over £500 for a silicon hose)
- ECU flash to aid in differing O2 measurement readings and mapping fuel mixture to the mods (I prefer the idea of getting it mapped by a proper tuner though... the idea of a downloadable flash for silly money seems like both a ripoff and less refined than a proper tune, despite the similarity in engines and mods)
Finally, I'll be sure to get myself a LSD... it is a very well balanced car that your average driver would not notice the lack of LSD on... however, I do and I know how the car would feel different with one on & it's something I want because I can feel the difference... and no, I don't plan on drifting it everywhere... I can feel the car and want that improvement.
I was driving her through some twisties on the way home from work and realised how the exception feel was allowing me to feel the undulations in her body like I would a woman... this is by far the most sexual car I have owned. The way you can feel so much of the vehicle is addictive.
__________
Been taking a closer look at exhaust systems, trying to make my mind up. A bit more money than I had planned to put into the car... but I think it will be worth it.
I reckon I can see 330-350bhp with the mods I'm keen on.
Looking at:
- Fabspeed system - they're about to offer a new active valve system and have offered be 50% off to be one of the first adopters... given their history and reviews, I'm quite tempted by this... waiting on confirmation & hoping I can get a similar discount on their modified headers. This new system is supposed to be able to switch between their standard system and race system at the push of a button & I like the sound of that. Videos of the standard system haven't wowed me as much as others - but their race system sounds sublime in videos. Videos aren't the easiest way to judge and I'm not sure where to hear one in-action but I have read about them refunding people who installed and then didn't like the noise. This system should get a bit more BHP than others due to the improved construction of the headers, at least... although I'm not sure if I would notice the difference in power.
- Carnewal modified cayman R exhaust (larger bore) and modified OEM cats with HJS racing replacement (same HJS that's used in Fabspeed) - these were my favourite until Fabspeed interested me. The sound seems to well emulate the PSE option while offering a touch more power. I like this because it's quite so close to OEM and of the videos I've found, it's one of my favourite sounds.
- Arymtrix. I hadn't heard of this brand until the last couple of days - they seem to do some interesting work on high-end autos. Relatively new to Europe, it seems... but the noise is rather impressive, the auto-system seems reasonably well done and it seems well made... the most expensive option, however.
- Remus... seemingly well respected but reviews of the build quality compared to others doesn't seem as favourable. Great noise.
I've looked at a few others and these seem to be my favourite from what I've found... although I can't be sure... it would be great to find somewhere I could sample them all but that might be difficult.
My desired mods:
- Replacement cat-back system (as above)
- Replacement headers/cat (either modified stock header with HJS cats or aftermarket header with the same HJS cats)
- GT3 throttle body / intake plenum
- Free-flowing intake (Fabspeed want £700 for a shaped silicon hose and filter... K&N want £200 for a filter that goes straight on the intake... the latter will probably have a barely measurable increase in temp, so I can't quite imagine paying over £500 for a silicon hose)
- ECU flash to aid in differing O2 measurement readings and mapping fuel mixture to the mods (I prefer the idea of getting it mapped by a proper tuner though... the idea of a downloadable flash for silly money seems like both a ripoff and less refined than a proper tune, despite the similarity in engines and mods)
Finally, I'll be sure to get myself a LSD... it is a very well balanced car that your average driver would not notice the lack of LSD on... however, I do and I know how the car would feel different with one on & it's something I want because I can feel the difference... and no, I don't plan on drifting it everywhere... I can feel the car and want that improvement.
Four fresh new tyres...
20150915_140518 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
Four freshly damaged alloys...
20150915_153843crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
20150915_154152crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
20150915_154155crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
20150915_154107crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
20150915_154103crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
20150915_153958crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
20150915_153921crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
Can't quite believe he's managed to go through the clearcoat on every single alloy...
20150915_140518 by CosmicLogos, on FlickrFour freshly damaged alloys...
20150915_153843crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr20150915_154152crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr20150915_154155crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr20150915_154107crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr20150915_154103crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr20150915_153958crop by CosmicLogos, on Flickr20150915_153921crop by CosmicLogos, on FlickrCan't quite believe he's managed to go through the clearcoat on every single alloy...
Index of damage... even worse than I thought. All clearly new as well. There were one or two marks prior to this, but you can tell the older ones do to a little bit of ingrained dirt... these are all so fresh is makes me sad 
This isn't even comprehensive...
_H5A3249-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3251-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3253 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3254-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3259-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3261-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3265-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3266-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3267-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3268-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3269-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3270-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3271-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3272-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3279 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3280-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3281 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3288-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3293-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3300 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3301 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3305 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3306 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3309 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3315 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3319 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3336 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3345 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3349 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3359 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3361 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3363 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3364 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
He EVEN managed to scratch the front-left wing...
_H5A3369 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
_H5A3372-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
This isn't even comprehensive..._H5A3249-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3251-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3253 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3254-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3259-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3261-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3265-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3266-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3267-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3268-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3269-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3270-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3271-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3272-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3279 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3280-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3281 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3288-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3293-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3300 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3301 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3305 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3306 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3309 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3315 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3319 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3336 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3345 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3349 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3359 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3361 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3363 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3364 by CosmicLogos, on FlickrHe EVEN managed to scratch the front-left wing...
_H5A3369 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr_H5A3372-2 by CosmicLogos, on Flickr
It's a national company and there seem to be two primary ones... a bit like blackcircles... who offer the tyres and they offer installation through local partners. Despite being an independent garage, he showed up in a van with the national company's logos on the side.
I've collated the before and after phone pictures, pre-wash DSLR pictures, post-wash DSLR pictures and sent the images showing the worst damage attached to an email, with link to the full load of pictures, along with a detailed description to the customer service manager, after-sales department and customer service department of the national company along with the local installer.
French tend to take a while to do anything, but I'll get it sorted... even if they have to pay the fee for a solicitor and translator to help me get through the French version of small claims court.
If it was just one I wouldn't necessarily been up for fighting it... but all four... damn right it needs to be fixed... hopefully they won't take it that far.
I can phone them up to swear at them if you want.
But I'm sure by now you know all the good words.
Good luck and hope you get it sorted. It is completely out of order.
My spoken French isn't great, but I do know a few swear words
I've had an email acknowledgement from the national company saying they're following up with the local fitter.
This was all done in France
Apparently yes, although not sure to what extent.
Some of the marks though you can see gouges into metal rather than filler.
Doing some reading around, he was using a method to remove the old tyres that should only be used on steel rims... the crowbar then slipped on the surface, causing these drag marks
Some of the marks though you can see gouges into metal rather than filler.
Doing some reading around, he was using a method to remove the old tyres that should only be used on steel rims... the crowbar then slipped on the surface, causing these drag marks
No, UK.
Tyres in France - I spend most of the year here and work in Switzerland (albeit for a UK employer).
Yes, I saw your post
It's one thing that driving me a little nuts about being here... the "can't be bothered" attitude for just about everything is a touch unpleasant.
Other things are nice, sure... but we're even thinking about moving back into Switz.
Even with the exchange rate, 2nd hand cars are still better value in the UK. I was finding noticeably better spec/deals/price on UK 911s, Caymans, Boxsters, M3s and Z4s than in France, Germany or Switzerland.
For brand new... I've been rather tempted by a fully loaded M235i for £500/month.
Aim for something like a more normal 3 series or 5 series and you get better deals in Switz and Germany... but worse in France.
Plus buy in Germany and import to France, have to pay the CO2 tax, which is about 5000 Euros for these type of high-emission cars. Buy in UK, I get to keep it registered and insured at my UK address. Some insurers like to charge you a silly amount of money doing that, but a few don't... so I picked one that didn't. £450/year for UK insurance with fully comp Euro cover vs 2000Euro/year for French cover :S
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Well... had some work done... nearly a clean bill of health.
The aux belt tensionser was wobbling and needed to be replaced and one of the two horn units had failed. Got the dealer to pay for replacing those...
Brake wear sensors Design911 sold me as OEM, weren't OEM, so it failed the 111-point check on those and they had to be replaced...
Otherwise happy and now warranted until the end of October 2017
Still chasing the tyre fitter for wheel repair... despite admitting to causing the damage in writing, he's trying to weasel out of it by saying that the refurb job was a bad one. Considering the previous tyres were taken off the rims for the refurb and put back on after, I have a funny feeling that's not the case as they managed to do it without damaging the wheels.... hmmmm... oh well, I've escalated it to their parent company and will have to try my luck at french version of small claims court at this rate... although I was thinking about just asking the credit card company to do a chargeback.
The aux belt tensionser was wobbling and needed to be replaced and one of the two horn units had failed. Got the dealer to pay for replacing those...
Brake wear sensors Design911 sold me as OEM, weren't OEM, so it failed the 111-point check on those and they had to be replaced...
Otherwise happy and now warranted until the end of October 2017
Still chasing the tyre fitter for wheel repair... despite admitting to causing the damage in writing, he's trying to weasel out of it by saying that the refurb job was a bad one. Considering the previous tyres were taken off the rims for the refurb and put back on after, I have a funny feeling that's not the case as they managed to do it without damaging the wheels.... hmmmm... oh well, I've escalated it to their parent company and will have to try my luck at french version of small claims court at this rate... although I was thinking about just asking the credit card company to do a chargeback.
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Took the Boxster to Bedford the other weekend
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Nope, still shoddy... having to drag the guy through small claims court... interesting process in french :S
I'll likely leave them as they are until it's time to sell - it doesn't bother me hugely and while I have only kerbed a wheel once in my life, it gives me a bit of leeway in case I make a mistake
I'll likely leave them as they are until it's time to sell - it doesn't bother me hugely and while I have only kerbed a wheel once in my life, it gives me a bit of leeway in case I make a mistake
Took the Boxster to Nurburgring
warning: swearies
warning: swearies
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Thanks... I know to only put the end bit in, but for some reason it looks like the whole link copied and I didn't double check