14 years I've owned this car and I just returned from the best drive I've ever had in it.

Those of you who know me already, know I do love the look of the standard car but I've always been disapointed with the handling.
It did me fine when it was my only car, making 200 mile round trips to pick up my kids for the weekend and general driving.
But,although the engine is great, it could never be discribed as FUN handling car.
The only change I made was to upgrade the brakes to TarOx.
When the car was retired from daily use I'd go out for the odd blast but although I love the car it never inspired.
So a few years ago I set out to see if I could improve things.

First I braced the front with a Sparco top and Nigels bottom.This gave some nice improvements to the steerings feel.

Then I pushed the boat out with a complete suspension referb including adjustable Osrav shocks,wish bones, topmounts and solid rear bushes.Nice results from this and the shocks felt great but... something still didn't gel. It was good. Just not great.

So on to the rear anti roll bar. Owners rave about these so this must be the missing link.
Well again a good improvement in dialing out understear but still ...where's the FUN .

Now I've always resisted lowering the car with new springs(After all I didn't want a track car and I'm too old to go bouncing down the road) but
Two moments of fate.

First I attended the AGM Curbourgh sprint day, where my car looked like it was on stilts.
Second- Joe(countrycruisings) group buy had me in it's spell.
and
Today they went on ... OMG .
I was expecting the worst but... It's unbelivable FUN FUN FUN . the missing link.
The whole package just came together.Sharp handling.great turn-in,flat controled acurate handling.

Could there be more ... too bloody right - the ride quity is TEN times better !!!

The suspension takes every thing in its stride (the Osravs are qulity kit ).

I braced myself for the first few big ,unavoidable,potholes and sunken manholes only for the car to soak them up with utter aplomb.
Was I dreaming? Another few potholes said I wasn't.
So the sun was shining and I hunted out some of the Midlands best kept secrets (clue- not far from Nigels house).
Happy ? I should coco.
I'm in love with my car again !!

So a MASSIVE thanks to Paul and Steve at Motormech for getting the car to where it is today.
I would write more but I'm off out for another drive.
Tim

great post mate, modding is the way forward as i told you at stoke recently

oh, that was just before mine broke again

Arh yes, I remember you mentioning the slippery slope of engine mods.

I,d be lying if I said I haven't woken up in the middle of the night thinking I'd brought a hybrid turbo and a FMIC
but I'm not sure if it was a dream or a nightmare !

Would you believe me if I said I was going to flea's because I had a lumpy tickover ?
I thought not !

All these mods just to try and beat me at Curborough