Yiannis' Albi Blue R27 - Toning down...

hahaha lol [MENTION=52440]chris mcm[/MENTION] brilliant idea. Never thought of that. The Yaris did come with private plates though lol to the previous owner SH02WME.
 
Good update buddy 8)

Can't wait to see a review on how much the LSD transforms the car :thumbsbup:

you cant fault that multicar policy...! That's really good, I bet it doesn't feel like your running 2 cars with such low maintinence and running costs on the daily.
 
Thanks Gez. Early days yet but it does feel like that. Insurance for the clio with sky was £500 so I only pay £100 more for both. £30 road tax on top and £60 (per year) for resident parking permit.

On the contrary the car saves me more than £100 per month from petrol alone as the clio is now rarely used, let alone the rest of the wear and tear. Also I can now do some work on the car, I've been holding on to that lsd for months now as I needed the car for work. Then it will be a suspension refrurb, again no chance when I was using it every day. And most importantly, no more granny driving within london trying to avoid the potholes and speedbumps (AST you see...), no more frustration from the drivers behind me and no more road range lol.

Love shedding!
 
Cheers guys:smile:

No reason really mate @Pav, the car has £60k miles and since I'm dropping the box it is a good opportunity to replace the clutch as well. Also if something is worn or looks on its way out is going to be replaced as well.

To be honest I wasn't intending to change it but after a chat with Sean (possible leaks from the slave after putting the lot back together etc) I thought what the heck. It should be solid for another 60k+ miles.

Yiannis most probably you would have to change the clutch release bearing as well, this is the balck-red stuff here in the middle:
ask the guy specifically on this if he is not mentioning!

16826160769_97a47e99f0_h.jpgQuaife mounted by Tamás Flatsker, on Flickr
 
[MENTION=13662]Numbnut[/MENTION] no mate, I just couldn't find enough proof (on a road car) to justify the expense. I'll keep it OEM and funnel the money for a Ktec manifold in the future.
[MENTION=1224]Flacsi[/MENTION] yes mate, I'm changing this as well:smile:
 
Be careful Mr Y, it's a slippery road. You'll have more reason to drive the shed than the superb Clio. Winter it will be even worse. Drive the car mate, it's not a vintage Bentley.....
 
You are actually right Wilson, 100% right actually. Honestly, if it wasn't for the super stiff AST setup I'd b driving the car every day, as I have done for 4 years now.

I'd be lying if I said that it never crossed my mind to put the OEM suspension back on but the problem is that the AST setup is so damn good when driving for fun. But the problem arises when commuting where wear and tear takes it toll. 2 bearings now for the top mounts plus labour to get them changed, then damper servicing comes quicker than normal due to the nasty roads, then all the wear that comes from the stiff setup (ball joints, bushes etc).

It is a real shame when you simply drive the car to work and back, doing 30 mph. Weekends and trips are a different case of course. But again, you are right. I haven't driven the clio for nearly 2 weeks now which proves your point really, I drove it today to take it to the garage and it felt so good though, especially coming from the Yaris lol.

Btw it flew through MOT so happy days.
 
You are actually right Wilson, 100% right actually. Honestly, if it wasn't for the super stiff AST setup I'd b driving the car every day, as I have done for 4 years now.

I'd be lying if I said that it never crossed my mind to put the OEM suspension back on but the problem is that the AST setup is so damn good when driving for fun. But the problem arises when commuting where wear and tear takes it toll. 2 bearings now for the top mounts plus labour to get them changed, then damper servicing comes quicker than normal due to the nasty roads, then all the wear that comes from the stiff setup (ball joints, bushes etc).

It is a real shame when you simply drive the car to work and back, doing 30 mph. Weekends and trips are a different case of course. But again, you are right. I haven't driven the clio for nearly 2 weeks now which proves your point really, I drove it today to take it to the garage and it felt so good though, especially coming from the Yaris lol.

Btw it flew through MOT so happy days.

easily done my friend. When that happens it's time to move on. The more driver focused it becomes, the less of a daily it becomes too. Thats the downside of growing up your start to be sensible about things that previously, didn't matter. Said it before but this is the last year of my Clio ownership. Dont want a shed too!!! What something that can offer a bit of both. Fast Audi or BM for us.
 
I'd change the suspension to B14's then if AST's grate too much on the daily duties. A Clio is not 2nd car material, drive is at the wrong end for a start! It's great at what it does mixing fun and daily useable comfort.
 
[MENTION=38628]TB Rich[/MENTION] I wouldn't class my Clio as a "second car" as such or a garage queen or anything. Far from that actually. I consider the clio to be my fun car, my hobby really. If I change the suspension I'd have a lesser toy, that's for sure. As Litchy said the more driver focused it becomes the less of a daily it becomes too.

The same applies everywhere really. Mountain biking is another hobby of mine and I've got a really expensive,bike, I take it to the hills and mountains but I won't use it for going around London, pop to the pub and lock it somewhere while I'm enjoying a drink. Too scared to do that and as a result I can't use the bike for transporting purposes, therefore I have to use public transport.

Photography the same, loads of lenses and huge cameras which you can't always carry with you so you'd have to use the phone for the point and shoot stuff. But when you do you end up with some pukka images.

Can't see me changing the clio as much as I love other cars, I'd love an M3 but I dread to think how much it'd cost me to take it to the Alps and driving the bearings out of it as I do with the Clio. Petrol, tyres, brakes service....and then insurance! Cars are my hobby but not my priority and currently my focused clio is doing the job absolutely fine:smile: Till I win the lottery:wink:
 
@TB Rich I wouldn't class my Clio as a "second car" as such or a garage queen or anything. Far from that actually. I consider the clio to be my fun car, my hobby really. If I change the suspension I'd have a lesser toy, that's for sure. As Litchy said the more driver focused it becomes the less of a daily it becomes too.

The same applies everywhere really. Mountain biking is another hobby of mine and I've got a really expensive,bike, I take it to the hills and mountains but I won't use it for going around London, pop to the pub and lock it somewhere while I'm enjoying a drink. Too scared to do that and as a result I can't use the bike for transporting purposes, therefore I have to use public transport.

Photography the same, loads of lenses and huge cameras which you can't always carry with you so you'd have to use the phone for the point and shoot stuff. But when you do you end up with some pukka images.

Can't see me changing the clio as much as I love other cars, I'd love an M3 but I dread to think how much it'd cost me to take it to the Alps and driving the bearings out of it as I do with the Clio. Petrol, tyres, brakes service....and then insurance! Cars are my hobby but not my priority and currently my focused clio is doing the job absolutely fine:smile: Till I win the lottery:wink:

many many years ago I bought a BM 330ci for 15k cause I couldn't afford an M3. Over the following 4 years Brembo worth 5k, collies for 2k and a supercharger for 6k from states plus lots more, I could have bought the M3 and change. Add up how much you've spent Mr Y and I bet you've got the same in parts as in the value. If you had the M3, par running it, wouldn't have to change a nut. Also the Clio is not a cheap car to run or insure....

Drive it mate cause the value of these are only going the wrong way.....if you waiting for special occasions, there's better cars that that would apply too.
 
Can't see me changing the clio as much as I love other cars, I'd love an M3 but I dread to think how much it'd cost me to take it to the Alps and driving the bearings out of it as I do with the Clio. Petrol, tyres, brakes service....and then insurance! Cars are my hobby but not my priority and currently my focused clio is doing the job absolutely fine:smile: Till I win the lottery:wink:[/QUOTE]


@Yiannis197 the M3 is not that bad I treat mine the same as the Clio and yeah it's a bit more thirsty but stuff like tyres,brakes,service is not that much more than the clio if you find a good independent specialist.

You don't need to win the lottery just give Wonga a ring hahaha!:german:
 
Wilson I got the car for £8.4k 4 years ago and I spent another £7k on top on upgrades so you are right when you say that I got the same in parts as in the purchase value. However all in is still cheaper than its original list price which was £17.5k iirc? I don't regret any upgrades (bar the cams lol) as it's been a 4 year project adding to the fun, much better off than buying a brand new car and modifying it on top! In fact, much better off than buying a new car full stop:smile:

I wished that was the truth Mark. 19 inch wheels and 265 width tyre can not be as cheap as a 215/14/17 and I change tyres 2 times per year at the best case scenario. Then the brakes, well I'd def need a 6 pot upgrade (and possibly at the back) as the stock M3 ones are inadequate when pushing a bit, knowing me I'd need that upgrade on day one, I wouldn't take the a stock (brake wise) M3 to the Alps. 6 pot means bigger and more expensive pads and discs as well when it comes to servicing/replacing. Haven't mentioned track days yet...

Petrol, well a 3k mile trip to the Alps would cost me double on petrol to say the least, all these uphills on full blast with the super heavy M3 and NA V8...dreading to think!

Insurance for me (London postcode) is around £1.5k, which seals the deal really. And then what if something goes wrong with the engine!

I can def buy a M3 (which I adore) should I wanted to but I wouldn't be able to run it as I run the Clio if I wasn't willing to compromise my lifestyle, therefore an M3 is currently out of the question. I absolutely love it though...

I would only consider an Exige to be the clio's replacement. Same (if not less) running costs and you can get a good one for around £27k. Again, I can see no real reason to tie up so much money on a car when the existing - paid in full - one offers me so many smiles.
 
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Suppose we all use our cars different and live at different ends of the country 1.5k insurance!iin my case there is not much difference the 265 are more but not a lot 120 a corner for vredestein ultrac vorti but AD08R'S and Michelin are pricey!do agree brake wise if going 6pot now they are pricey,standard brakes are **** I've just picked up some DS2500 for the rear from demon tweeks for £105 which is not bad,engine and box oil done few month back £150 so up to now it's been ok to live with.Doing a 3k thrashing would be heavy on the wallet! For what you use your motor for then for pound for pound fun they can't be beaten even with mods. :thumbup1:
 
Got the car back from Sean@Jade Developments. Have to say that they guy is top notch, wouldn't go elsewhere full stop and it's just a shame he is so far away from where I live, worth every mile though. Service and knowledge is second to none and his pricing is spot on for a specialist with so much experience in building and supporting racing clios. He is a great person to talk to and always happy to explain in detail when it comes to tuning/servicing/repairing. I can not recommend him high enough and it's a shame I didn't know about him in the future. We need a trader like Sean in here really...

Anyway, I got the car back with mixed feelings. Thankfully I decided to fit a quaife diff before the trip and therefore drop the box. The slave cylinder was on its way out, pissing fluid inside the housing and the clutch was completely worn out, half step before starting slipping. That wouldn't even last a day in the Alps and it would have been so disappointing if the car broke down! Good news there and that shows that preventative maintenance is a good thing:wink:

Oil sump dropped and ARP bolts fitted with a new gasket to sort out the leak. Sean told me that the engine was in very god nick and the sump was ultra clean, good news on that department as well. Not so good for the box though which was filthy even though I changed the gearbox oil last year! Maybe on its way out???

Bad news is that the knocking I had (and still do) was not the top mount bearings but the front damper which is shot. Totally shot and in urgent need of service. Now my dampers are nearly 3 years old with 30k miles on them (with a big chunk of it driving in London with all these potholes) so I was kind of expecting it but the timing is completely wrong with me going away for summer holidays next week! Unfortunately I haven't got a spare suspension kit to put on while waiting for the ASTs to turn up but I'll keep looking. The earliest I can find one the better but the car is still going to the garage regardless. I don't know what they are going to do with it but the dampers are so coming off!

Also new set of front tyres are going on alongside RC6 pads all around and a wheel arch liner which is broken. The wiper motor packed up as well but I had a brand new one waiting to be fitted (courtesy of the extended warranty which is always good).

A bit of money spent here but hopefully the car will be in stop on condition for the trip! I'll update with some pics and a review for the diff as soon I got things rolling:smile:
 
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Expensive update lol. If you have a shed for commuting why do you need the car on temporary suspension? Cant it just sit on stilts until Ast's have been refurbed?
 
good write up..so you are happy with the slip diff??good job you had all these essential parts replaced before you go away..which tires did you go for this time??
 
@Chris91 you are right mate. the problem is that the car will be at the garage and I'm afraid they haven't got space to leave the car standing there, they can do in the yard but it wouldn't be safe as it is open.
@Pav AD08Rs mate, like the rears:smile: I didn't have the chance to check what the diff does to be honest as I was worried about the suspension. I can't wait to have my first blast even though - and after talks with Sean - I shouldn't be expecting much under hard cornering. Ah well, we'll see:smile:
 
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