Over the past two years (especially the last 6 months) I've made a real effort to get this car how I've always wanted it. No expense spared. Every problem or part failure fixed ASAP. I've spent 'many thousands' on it. It was just getting to a situation where it would be ready for a 'final' tune' over with Flea for another few k when another few problems have manifested. Between them, I'm looking at £1,000-£1,500 again.

While having a conversation on the subject the other day, I was asked "why do you think so many big power coops go up for sale immediately after having had thousands spent?"

Within a week, my rear window randomly blew up... another £105 fixed.

To those that have modified a 'big power coop' themselves and maintained it as such, I ask "does it ever end?". Can you get to a point where it becomes simple maintenance, or do they always kick you in the nuts?

Yes - it does end, but its a mindset thing - nothing to do with the car.

I spent many years modifying, with the (near impossible) target of a daily driver, with supercar-baiting performance. I experimented endlessly with suspension and geometry. I tried new stuff and developed my own ideas. I spent ages getting the engine working properly and reliably (my only running issue now is a fairly poor cold start - I have to let it run for at least a minute before I touch the throttle, otherwise it dies)

However, its now pretty much where I want it - it'll need a clutch in the next 12 months and I'm replacing the Eibachs soon (current one have done well over 200,000 miles). I class these as consumables (albeit bloody pricey ones)

For me, its knowing when to stop, and then accepting that going any further would compromise the car too much. Personally, I should have stopped at 450bhp, as it doesn't run quite as nicely on the Siemens injectors as it used to on the Bosch 'big green'. However, its not bad enough for me to spend the money on going back to Bosch again.

It sounds like you've approached your project on the same basis that I did - if it needs doing, do it, regardless of the cost. While you're still in the development stage, there will always be more stuff to do, but as long as you set the bar at a realistic level, you'll get there.

The trick (that took me a long time to work out) is not to reset the bar when you do finally get it sorted.

I opted for getting a domestic cat rather than a lion.

They have smaller teeth and claws, but can still give you a nasty scratch, but it's not usually fatal.

I have an NA



Having said that, getting it prepped from Turin has (and continues to be) an expensive project.
Seems to be one thing after another. But much of that is being anal about wanting it to be running perfectly rather than real mechanical problems.

Nigel explains it well Trappy. A high bhp coupe as a daily is a tough call.

I decided that my coupe was for the track. One of the decisions why was reading and absorbing posts and advice given to various people about thier broken high power dailys.

Mine is not BIG power but is abused on track. Apart from consumables and any broken bits i have capped off the spending.

I can remember a few of us on here agreeing that 450hp is about the limit.

This is a really good question

I'm in a similar place as in where I would like my coupe to be

Obviously I want to feel relaxed when I'm driving, the slightest noise or smell normally has me worrying for awhile.

I've spent since January over £2000 and I'm miles away from where I'd like.
I've got a list of jobs which il start towards the end of the month, I had to take a break from the car, it just started to become relentless and I did start to get disheartened with it (I'm sure majority of people have been there)

I'm happy with the power (I think it's about 250 - 260bhp) which when the turbo kicks in, it just puts a massive smile on my face and feels fast enough for me, but then again maybe a remap just for that extra pinch of salt.. mainly I just want it to be reliable mechanically, I'd love a full respray but firstly I want the car healthy so all the cosmetic treatments can wait until then and I must admit I knew when I bought one, I knew it was going to sting me financially.

My goal is simple for the coupe. Keep it going for as long as possible!

The worst part, for me at least, was having a good 3 years of trouble free motoring. This put me in a false sense of security. Since my first major issue, about 2 years ago, I bet I've spent 3.5k on it (most of the labour done by me and family) and to be honest most of that hasn't done the bits I wanted to do. I think you need to send it away with 5 or 6k and wait for it to come back from a respray, new belts, turbo, brakes, suspension, clutch and then keep another 1K back for general up keep. I'll keep spending on mine until either it dies as a write off or I can no longer afford the up keep.

I've had similar experiences, had my coupe for 2 and bit years decided to spend on it
And keep it as a Sunday driver, the first year the only major cost was when turbo started coughing out blue smoke, got it refurbed. The next year (2013) got a respray
Went to joe then flea, engine packed when getting a re-map had a rebuild done, I. have only driven the car 1000 miles in 2013, cost me over £4 per mile and that's without the fuel cost

*Just to be clear, I don’t consider my car a ‘big power coop’ at the moment. My thinking is anything over 400bhp – which it will be soon.

Nigel, the thing is, I have had a very good idea of where I want it. In fact I have had the same idea for years now – it just keeps eluding me! Here’s a rough summary:
* 420bhp on the FCP Dyno League, with lightning fast spool-up
* Totally standard looking, inside and out. But 'better'
* No rattles, squeaks, squeals etc.
* 'Fast road' spec suspension and brakes set-up
* No oil leaks (is this even possible?)
* Immaculate paintwork

This looks like quite a simple list but it's proving nigh impossible to get there. Maybe the bar does move a little but it does feel like the car's reliability is getting worse on the whole. What I'm seeing is a list of things failing as I try to keep up with them. Components are the same all over the car, in that I'm constantly chasing them around. For every component that it replaced and upgraded, it seems to put more stress on another - and that then fails. It's the same story for suspension components, Oil seals and Engine and gearbox mounts. I guess this is just modifying, eh...?

The thing is, I’ve invested so much now, that I’m never going to sell it on. A lot of the car is now where I’ve always wanted it and I do often remind myself where it used to be… It’s just that things go wrong and it totally ruins the experience. At the moment, for example, I have an intermittent braking problem that means I can’t trust them and a drivetrain that knocks like **** on anything over 75% throttle in 2nd and 3rd gear. I’ve just had both gearbox mounts replaced with Vibra-Technics jobs FFS! I can’t floor it OR brake! Both are proving difficult to diagnose short of replacing parts and seeing if that fixes them… At the moment, that's a new set of dampers (BR Coilovers) and a caliper replacement / re-furb - neither of which are cheap!

Carlscott,
I’m with you on the taking a break from the car thing. I sit in the house looking at it outside the window and it grates on my nerves! I feel like it’s starting to consume me!

Big_Muzzie,
Your comment “I think you need to send it away with 5 or 6k and wait for it to come back from a respray, new belts, turbo, brakes, suspension, clutch and then keep another 1K back for general up keep” made me chuckle. That’s pretty exactly what I’ve done, save for the turbo part and it still doesn’t feel done. The turbo hasn’t boosted properly for over a year.

At the end of last year, I had a choice; 400bhp+ or a re-spray and tidy up. Going with the “I’ll love it 5% of the time with 400bhp but 100% of the time with the re-spray” thinking, I got all sensible, and had the re-spray done. Now I’m faced with finishing the engine and being left with a car whose suspension and brakes can’t handle the power – so it looks like the engine will have to wait yet again. I didn’t really want the extra power going into the winter but instead ready for summer so I can use it.

All said, I'm really looking forward to hand polishing and waxing her next weekend. I love this car!

Well you've ruined my view on Coupes! I'll increase the 5 or 6 to a nice round 10k

It is possible to have no leaks, I had none when I bought it and it took a good 18 months for one to develop but I've not be leak free since.....

I know your pain, I need a wheel refurb, and probably a re spray and new shocks / springs and the I'd like to rebuild the callipers, even if it's just for the sake of some paint. I'd also like a non standard clutch, a map then I'd need to detail the engine bay......

True coupe love!

These cars are a labour of love. They are very old really and yours (trappy) has been an inspiration to me.

I'm starting again with mine. A full bare shell nut and bolt rebuild.
I think that's the only way to ensure the longevity if them.