Well as some of you know my coupe doesn't do a lot of miles these days (maybe 800 miles a year).
But I've owned it from new and I still lavish a lot of care and attention on her.
Over recent years I made some major improvments in the handling department with a full refurb including wishbones, braces,(joecc) springs, osravs,camber bolts and solid rear bushes.
Anyway, last week I had to go to anglesey as some scumbags nicked the copper immersion heater tank from our holiday home.
I booked to meet the police and plummer at 1pm Thursday and the weather forecast looked great, so I thought it was a great excuse to have a blast in the coupe.
I had a nice cruisy run on the way up on the A41/A55.
Once I finished with the cops and plummerrobber at 2.30pm I headed back up the A5 into the mountains.
The A5 was such fun as it was virtualy empty but my real aim was to check out the EVO triangle.
Well I struck gold as not only is this a stunning bit of Wales but I had the triangle all to myself for two circuits.
It's a great route thats well suited to the coupes abilities.
But anyone who boasts of lap times should be shot, as it passes through a village and passed farms and houses !!
You can still really enjoy it within the speed limits though as the twisty sections are fab.

Turning back onto the A5 to head home I dropped-in 50yrds behind an Nissan 370 (09) and we both had a superb run back though the Welsh mountains. There was no racing and, like me, he didn't go over the speed limits on the straights and he slowed down through all the villages.
But make no mistake the twisties were given some.
All the time the coupe was very composed and more than held its own.

What a great day and what a great fifteen year old car.
As for the Evo triangle its well worth a weekday visit.


My advice- spend every penny you can on the suspension.

Here's some pics from the triangle.

Tim

Great pics and story! I must pull my finger out and give the triangle one more blast before I say goodbye to my Steely

Nice one Tim, looking good isn't she?

Nice car, nice post Tim

Nice looking car you have there

Car looks great and the scenery looks stunning. I was really looking forward to the Evo run last month but the weather further south put that on the long finger.

Hope this is resurrected soon, and I can raid Theresa's supply of Fosters

Snap Tim

Looking good Tim.

I think I'll arrange something for up the after Spa now.

Thanks for all the kind comments on the coupe.
Like most longterm owners I have fallen out of love with the coupe at times.
I can honestly say that even up to Thursday morning I was thinking of leaving her in the garage and taking my T5 kombi as it's such a cool ride (hard to explain I know).
But me and the coupe have a history and this was a reminder that she can still give me a thrill.
As for her body condition I know there's some issues to face if I'm going to keep her tip top in the coming years.
Bonnet seems, rear arches, and wheels are all on the list.
At least the interior is still the same as it left the factory.
Still they're all do-able and I've got a re-newed enthusiasm thanks to the run.
The most amazing thing was the shear pace at which the 15yr old coupe can now cover the ground.
I'm sure the Z370 driver was equally impressed or annoyed (having just spent such a big wedge on his coupe)

I'm also really please that after all my years on here I've finally managed to post some pictures !!
I might even try to sort a signiture pic now (pride comes before a fall).
Which of those pics do you think would be best ?

Finally,Paul, I think a re-arranged evo club run would be great fun but it must be a zoo up there at the weekends.
Still count me in as long as it's dry !!

Cheers,
Tim

P.s I think my write ups are making me sound like Swiss Tony.

Bring your own sodding Fosters

Glad you enjoyed your trip out Tim

Must say though, I've never fallen out of love with my Coupe

Also, Tim, I think the first or the last photo would be the best signature picture

First one for me, quite atmospheric

Maybe fall out of love is too strong.

Perhaps " when loves flame burns a little colder "

OH NO ! I knew it - I am turning into Swiss Tony

Ok I'm going to try a sig pic.
How do I make sure it's the right size on photobucket ?

I think it gives you the options Tim depending on the application you're using it for - quite easy even for a luddite like me

Hmmm seeing as I now reside in Bangor I might check this out! I have never heard of it before it looks sweet! The coupe will be joining me over here in a month so if anyone fancies a spin around the triangle let me kno

Well we have Spa at the end of April, but if it's arranged for mid to late May count me in!!

Had a run around the triangle myself this afternoon

I've only been once before and have had the urge to see if I can find it again, which I did

Hardly another car to be seen, although didn't push it, as I had my daughter and grandkids with me and I also wanted to enjoy the scenery too.

When my daughter asked about the triangle, she thought it was just a little triangle I was going to drive around and couldn't believe I was going out just to look for this little triangular road

Went around the triangle, stopped at the visitor centre and then went wandering around the rest of North Wales today and besides stopping briefly a couple of times, spent 6 hours driving around.

Besides stressing about lack of fuel (only had half a tank to start and had no intentions of driving around for 6 hours lol) and only having £14.50 on me, ruined the day a bit, as I was constantly watching the fuel gauge and felt I couldn't put my foot down when I wanted to

Stuck a tenner's worth of petrol in at Tesco on Conwy and went around the store to look for decent food to satisfy me and the kids (daughter had a couple of quid on her for her own food) for £4.50

Fuel light came on as I approached home and will stick some more fuel in tomorrow. I hate being that low on fuel and try not to let it go below a quarter, even if I'm skint.

Good day out otherwise though

Wow! You're really pushing the Coupe to its limits based on that information T! I Bet the triangle hasn't seen a lap time that fast like ever!

Lol, I didn't spend 6 hours driving around the Triangle

It was such a blur last time, with crazy Italian car drivers pushing me and the Coupe to and beyond my limits, I just wanted to enjoy it this time, in peace and quiet, except for the Coupes engine and exhaust noise and did the motherly/ grandmotherly job of stopping off at the visitor centre too

I'm still a rebel though and didn't pay the parking charge while I was there
Hope that helps restore the faith

20 miles?

The total length of the triangle is approx 20 miles, yes

Went on the Triangle again today

My daughter took some lovely photos a couple of weeks ago from the visitor centre up there, but due to swapping phones, she lost her photos

I'd (sort of) jokingly said, give me £20 for petrol and we'll go back up there to retake the photos.

So, last minute decision, but off we went again this afternoon

She got her photos and I got to do the Evo Triangle again

No photos of the roads around the Triangle, but here's some of my Coupe and some views at the visitor centre and surrounds:

Nice T

Cheers

Although I can't believe how clean the car looks in the photo

It's filthy and was even before I went for the run out

I thought cameras never lied

Looks good La.

Nice coupé, nice drive, good times!

were is this ,never heard of it before.

In North Wales, between Corwen and Denbigh, see here

Zoom out about 3 times and you'll see the start point marked at A and the triangle shape on the map

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!