Full Circle

[gasman]

Got to thinking this morning of my automobile history (skiboats, road bikes and motocross bikes dotted throughout as well)
Start 1992 first car to current cars 2011
Mazda 626 (1980 model)(decked head, carby work)
Mazda 323 GTX (turbo awd)
Holden Commodore VN Group A
Ford Laser Turbo (FWD) (running 30lb boost)
Suzuki swift gti
Ford Falcon XR8
Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 3
Toyota Lexcen
VL Calais turbo
HSV Statesman Grange (215)
Pulsar SSS
Holden Jackaroo
Ford Falcon Wagon
Subaru Forester XT (178kw)
Honda Odyssey
2000 Subaru WRX STI (208 kwatw)
Nissan Patrol Ti
Toyota Aurion SX6
Holden Commodore VE SSV (300kw)
Holden Caprice (312 kwatw)
Current
Toyota Kluger Grande
Mazda 6 MPS

Started with a Mazda as my daily driver and now back to a Mazda as my daily driver. The amount of money spent doing up many of those cars, oh the pain. But so much fun along the way.

Still not convinced between turbo's or V8's, I think I'll need to TT a V8 before I pass full judgement. Might need to trade the Kluger in on a CX9 GT before long.

GASMAN

[blackbetty]

Welceom gasman, impressive list of cars you have had there

[bd581]

And a very impressive new car.
You got yourself a VERY well looked after car. Verging on obsessive.


See what i mean...

Every time it was driven, it got the exhaust polished after.
And also have photos of the intercooler being vacuum cleaned.

Hope you enjoy it as much as dad it.
Was a very tough decision to cross-grade to the Golf R

[Reedy]

That is an epic list of cars.

What's your all time fav?

[SarcasticOne]

that's a tad obsessive
hope you enjoy your new car it's well known it's previous owner loved it to bits, hope you enjoy it as much as he did

[gasman]

That is an epic list of cars.

What's your all time fav?

STI was by far the fastest car.
Caprice was the most comfortable.
FWD Laser was the most frantic.

Favourite, actually a toss up between the VTR SP2 on the road and the Ducati 748SP on the track

[Rayd]

STI was by far the fastest car.
Caprice was the most comfortable.
FWD Laser was the most frantic.

Favourite, actually a toss up between the VTR SP2 on the road and the Ducati 748SP on the track

The 208kw STI was quicker than the 317kw caprice???

How's the 6 MPS compare in your opinion?

[BradstaMS]

STi = fkn lighter than a caprice lol.

[Rayd]

1500kg vs 1900kg
... does 400kg neglect an extra 110kw??

[Reedy]

Australian vs Japanese engineering as well.

Can't say that i'm proud of any locally produced cars, we're barely 1 rung above the junk America produces.

[rogwick]

I got a mate that works for the Ralliart division (Mitsubishi) the Evo X MR is around 217kW. He's had three customers now that have decided to void warranty and get the tune done from new.
He outsources the vehicle and once done, delivers to the customer with a cool 270kW at the flywheel. Not too bad

[gasman]

trust me 208 kw at all 4 wheels was far quicker, with many dollars spent on the suspension, brakes, motor and gearbox it was a quick rig from a to b.

but damn my Caprice sounded like an old school V8, it fairly brapped!!! unfortunately someone t boned my missus in it at 2.43pm on the 14th December 2010. (yes I remember the moment very clearly)

[blackbetty]

why did you want an MPS6 ?

[gasman]

I like the awd aspect, means I can get away without snow chains if I'm not in the Kluger as well.

I'm no brand whore as you may have seen, I simply locate what I believe is a good car and buy it. Pretty much sums up most things for me, locate something good, go get it

[Reedy]

Yea and with a car history that impressive, you should have a pretty damn good idea as to what works for you.

Now we've covered the highlights, any ones you hated? Unreliable? Flawed?

The snow chain issue for me was a bit of a problem from the start, but I just toughed it up and bought an expensive set that fits the MPS (3, not 6 obviously) properly (See my avatar, I kinda needed them that day)

[gasman]

Mazda 626 (1980 model)(decked head, carby work) (2 blown head gaskets, but this taught me how to rebuild engines)
Mazda 323 GTX (turbo awd) (illegal re-birthed car, traded at Sydney car dealer who was none the wiser at the time)
Holden Commodore VN Group A (AWESOME)
Ford Laser Turbo (FWD) (running 30lb boost) (sometimes over run and tripped the turbo timer, wheel spin in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, crazy)
Suzuki swift gti (burnt out clutch)
Ford Falcon XR8 (dog slow)
Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 3 (AWESOME)
Toyota Lexcen (hack to tow the ski boat)
VL Calais turbo (AWESOME)
HSV Statesman Grange (215) (AWESOME)
Pulsar SSS (run about)
Holden Jackaroo (spent heaps to make it a real 4wd, never really got there)
Ford Falcon Wagon (shopping hack)
Subaru Forester XT (178kw) (gearbox very notchy when got to 140,000klms, waited over 4 months when ordered from dealer)
Honda Odyssey (good car, couldn't deal with my own image in the people mover however)
2000 Subaru WRX STI (208 kwatw) (Loud, harsh, fast, sold and 3 weeks later motor blew up, cost new owner 6k to fix, I told him not to try and tune it himself with the laptop and software, I had it sorted)
Nissan Patrol Ti (AWESOME 4wd)
Toyota Aurion SX6 (ABS unit leaked from new, factory re-called, went well however)
Holden Commodore VE SSV (300kw) (OK, A Pillar way too big)
Holden Caprice (312 kwatw) (SHIT yeh, AWESOME, RIP)
Current
Toyota Kluger Grande (EXCELLENT FAMILY WAGON)
Mazda 6 MPS (too early yet, not quick enough, will have to sort that however)
GASMAN

That's my thoughts

[TheJunglist]

impressive list of cars