The Beater thread
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2009
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Full interior for next to nothing off Ebay, just needed a quick surface clean to get rid of dust, dirt and storage marks - the existing interior smells of wet dog and horse and tbh ... i'll sling it back on Ebay, someone else can clean it up and i'll get back at least what I paid for these which are 50k miles and 4 years newer.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Merseyside
I have been partial to the odd beater in my time but the problem for me is you end up driving something you hate most of the time, I loved having my S2000 in the garage but hated driving the beater.
It's a sorry state of affairs for the petrolhead.
It's a sorry state of affairs for the petrolhead.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 13,330
Likes: 180
I don't hate driving this, it's got character and now. thanks to the wonders of HSS and Carpet cleaner - it no longer smells like an animal sanctuary 
S2000 hasn't moved from the garage in about 3 weeks now.
S2000 hasn't moved from the garage in about 3 weeks now.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
It's important that a beater should be fun to drive and not bought as a cheapskatemobile; being one of those is not attractive.
I've done the small FIAT thing in the past as 127s were fantastic handlers and could be driven on their doorhandles at all times.
Just don't buy a cancer-engined Rectum or Escrote or something else terminally boring and unbecoming.
I've done the small FIAT thing in the past as 127s were fantastic handlers and could be driven on their doorhandles at all times.
Just don't buy a cancer-engined Rectum or Escrote or something else terminally boring and unbecoming.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 13,330
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Nope .. no chance of anything like that Nick! I had forgotten how much i enjoy driving small cars that you can chuck about. Full polybush kit is only £120 quid ;-) If it makes it through the winter, i'll put it on axle stands in the garage and change some bits and bobs.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 13,330
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I think that's me done with the interior, got some new lights and footwell / boot lights to wire in but that's a job for the weekend.
Using DashCommand with the little Bluetooth dongle has removed the need to fit extra gauges.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 20,788
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From: location, location
It's important that a beater should be fun to drive and not bought as a cheapskatemobile; being one of those is not attractive.
I've done the small FIAT thing in the past as 127s were fantastic handlers and could be driven on their doorhandles at all times.
Just don't buy a cancer-engined Rectum or Escrote or something else terminally boring and unbecoming.
I've done the small FIAT thing in the past as 127s were fantastic handlers and could be driven on their doorhandles at all times.
Just don't buy a cancer-engined Rectum or Escrote or something else terminally boring and unbecoming.
The Fabia isnt great fun to drive TBH but its not boring either, its good as what it does..
Returns good MPG, has plenty of ompphh and is cheap to run/insure, looks *okay* and comfortable and you can have a reasonable level of fun**
**Though, remapped it, fitted rear ARB, decat, coilovers
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 13,330
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Straight through exhaust AJ and upgrade the boost pipework / make better hose connections on the existing stuff. IIRC the guys on the forum were also fitting 'custom' intercoolers off other cars to let them hold boost for longer due to lower charge temps - one or two of them were making home aquamist kits for the IC using a 2nd washer bottle, pump and a fan washer jet in front of the IC.