After 6 1/2 years I have sold the Caterham. A sad day, as I still love driving it, but only if the road/track and weather combination were spot on. Any other combination of conditions, like our muddy local roads or heavy traffic and rain menat I was increasingly getting cheesed off with the experience. Maybe the recent Boxster experience has made me appreciate comfort and ease of use, or maybe I'm just getting old (36 next month ;)). Still, with cash in my pocket I'm off to North Yorkshire today to go and view a possible replacement (the Boxster is staying as it's mostly Beths car). I will report back late tonight....

What is it Dave?

Tell!

Ariel Atom.



Just kidding

I don't think I've owned anything for 6 1/2 years Dave, except my children and my favourite pants

Look forward to the update.

We've bought it! Driving home in convoy, it's definately a project car that's going to need time and money spent on it. First clue for you- it's got a baffling heating system, I'm cooking in the car and can't work out how to switch it off!

TVR?

911?

The heater on my Dad's old Hillman Hunter was a tad confusing

Fiat Spider?

Back to the future…..?

Oi....stop teasing, well, it's going to be:

High-reving and petrol.
Likely RWD

Any other clues?

Lotus elise?

You can't have a boxster and an Elise, it's just not fair!

It's going to be a handful around Curborough next year.

The answer may or may not have already been guessed above.

Hovedan's favourite pants?!

Well Dave, What is it?? Tell!!

911.

I need to place an order for some red braces

Bentley?

Jaaaaaaaaaaaag?

Yup, Chrissy and Jim are right - it's a 911. A 1985 3.2 Carrera Coupe to be precise, in guards red with black leather to match the Boxster.

It has a lot of issues, which will add up to more than I paid for the car, so will be doing them in stages that allow me to enjoy the car as I go.

I came VERY close to walking away and going for a 996 instead, but my heart won on this occasion, I just hope I don't regret it.

PICS!!

Good choice of air cooled over water cooled!

Nice choice - I'll finally be quicker than you round Curborough though......

The baffling heater gave it away. My dad had a VW 412 variant many moons ago and I wouldn't be surprised if it's equally odd!

Nice! Lucky boy!

Yes, although rated at 230ish BHP the 911 doesn't feel that quick. If it's wet I honestly think the Boxster might post a good time at Curborough though.

Dave T, can I borrow your Westie for a lap at Curborough next time we all go there, just to annoy Nigel?

Of course, Dave ... you are always welcome. Especially when it gives Nigel a challenge

We need some pics though! Sounds like a great choice.

His and hers Porsches

Very nice

Nice, going to have to pop over at some point.

Your welcome to borrow the RX7 at Curbourgh, but only if you can teach me to beat Nigel's time in it as well.

Should get you out for a day instructing my brother in his Indy Hyabusa as well, I'm sure you'll enjoy that little car.

You bought an air-cooled 911? Pah, a chipped 20VT is much faster. What a waste...

Oh, and if you look on the back of the glove box lid you'll find a description of the heater controls. Don't worry, you still won't be able to get a comfortable temperature, but at least you'll know what each knob is meant to do.

:D:D:D

What's that film with Charlie Sheen in. Lots of 80's 911's in it? Love them, especially the ones from that era.

No mans land, that's the one! Guards red, black wheels! Mmmmmm

Cheers Suba, happy to help

Thanks Brewster, I had a look at that and the handbook and had to laugh, it's such a complicated system.

I haven't had chance to take my own pics, so here are a few from the advert -

Front

Interior

Rear

I removed the 80's heating supercomputer stowed between the seats behind the handbrake on my 1982 SC and replaced it with a set of 70's levers to manually control the flapper boxes. The flappers do rust though and need replacing every few years.

It may be that yours are stuck shut. You can sometimes free them off with WD40 and brute force. You will smell the atomised WD40 in the cabin for the next few weeks though. Just consider it a real man's cologne.

Congrats on the purchase. They do get under your skin like no other car I know.

i do love the older porkers over the new ones

That is quite lovely. Even if it doesnt move from your driveway that is simply a work of art.

And yes, red braces and champagne all round

Congrats on the purchase Dave. Look forward to seeing it soon.

Sean

Cracker, I have a Porsche itch now and have been test driving a few 2003-2005 911's
But this is stunning

First track outing for the 911 on Monday, after it has been away for some months having all the chassis and structural corrosion taken care of.
My 3.2 is completely standard in ever respect and at 191,000 miles is not exactly new, despite this it performed well with a leaky hose to the oil cooler the only issue. As some of you know I tend to enjoy a bit of oversteer on trackdays but with no LSD I wasn't hopeful, but actually lifting off into the corner to tighten the line followed by a good boot full of throttle did give a little bit of tail wagging. It's certainly different from the Caterhams and Elise I usually drive.

Video here

I spotted a guy taking photos and politely asked if he could take one or two of mine in return for a donation (which he refused until I asked repeatedly ), These are the results which I'm really pleased with, they don't show how dirty the car was either.
Album

Had a good chat with the Skyline owner, who has driven at Keevil as often as me. He has more power and torque, plus a few suspension and brake mods and a cage. Despite the Skyline being stripped I suspect his car may be heavier than mine? Good polite fun.

Cheers, Dave

Looks like a lot of fun Dave - you dont see many classic 911's on track.

I'm due to go to Silverstone next weekend if you want to come along (Bank Holiday Monday). RX7 needs new clutch (parts on the way from Aus), and the Indy needs an engine put back in....not sure which will be ready in time yet!!

Looks great, Dave. I spotted it through YouTube before I saw it on here, and noticed that you were getting the back to step out quite a bit

Looks lively that Porka Dave. What happened to the video cutting after you overtook the Skyline? Did we miss anything?

Nothing missed, after another half a lap I did a cool down lap. All other runs through the day I had passengers so had a seat in the way of the camera, a pity as it was even more fun in the wet later

Thanks Suba, I might take you up on that. A lot depends on whether I am racing at Combe on Monday. I am testing a friends Civic Type R on Friday and if he decides to enter the 90 minute race will be sharing the race. Racing against Matt Neal