Novacaine's Steel Blue one

[novacaine]

Finally got the car back!

Took a bit longer and cost a lot more than I was originally quoted, but the mechanic did fine a few more issues while he had it!

- So nice refurbished rack
- Column union joint replaced. This was apparently just flopping about as the wheels were turned, I guess the extra strain caused by the leaking rack may have caused it.
- New front to rear brake pipes. They were dangerously corroded , scary as the first place that failed the MOT didn't pick up on that

So I feel slightly shafted as its only second MOT its had while I've owned it (I've only owned it just over 1yr) and its cost me a fair chunk! But in the end Its worth it

[TrevorB]

But in the end Its worth it

Jon, good to hear that it's all sorted and you are back on the road.


Trevor

[HJ2]

and now... snow tyres all around and enjoy winter!

[Tuga2112]

Finally got the car back!

Took a bit longer and cost a lot more than I was originally quoted, but the mechanic did fine a few more issues while he had it!

- So nice refurbished rack
- Column union joint replaced. This was apparently just flopping about as the wheels were turned, I guess the extra strain caused by the leaking rack may have caused it.
- New front to rear brake pipes. They were dangerously corroded , scary as the first place that failed the MOT didn't pick up on that

So I feel slightly shafted as its only second MOT its had while I've owned it (I've only owned it just over 1yr) and its cost me a fair chunk! But in the end Its worth it

well, every time any car comes up with a big bill (say £400 in my book), all i have to think about is the cost of a new car.
5k deposit and 300 quid per month for 3 years (my job is calculators for car finance, just took the example from toyota GT86 in their website)
sooo..... my elan has been on the road for about 2 months now for less than the deposit of that car.... and i think the elan is probably more fun than a GT86, according to the specs is not much different than a 95 celica GT.... meaning a 20 year old GT4 is more fun than the new GT86....

so... just feel happy you dont own a bank 20k and need to pay a big repair for the car every month!

[Rusty Wishbone]

...and its cost me a fair chunk! But in the end Its worth it

I don't know how much you had to shell out, but your Elan is probably costing you much less than a modern car. If it makes you feel any better, my big modern Volvo costs me at least £1k each year in maintenance costs, and this year £2k. My Volvo main dealer has excellent attention to detail. And did I mention depreciation?

[novacaine]

It set me back £1500 and a few pence, so its the most I've ever spent on a MOT lol but after driving it home it was worth it, she drive so much better now! I did manage to get the car cheap and last year it was an easy MOT, so I guess I should expect a few issues.

I definitely wouldn't mind a GT86 though and I was looking at a GT4 before I bought my elan, but the elan won and I'm glad it did.

[Tuga2112]

you got your car for longer than a year now.

that makes it more than 8k if it was new, overall are you saving money ?

[novacaine]

Finally fitted my new turbo and manifold heat shields today! Absolute pig of a job as the bolts rusted solid. I may have broken a bolt in the process, but I managed to drill it out and use an extractor tool easy enough. They look much nicer than the cracked old ones and no more rattling when I start up the engine!


Before

After

I also managed to install my Saxo mist washer jets. One of the pipe retaining clips was broken, so while I was replacing the pipe I decided to bodge a new clip.
It will do for now, until I can source a new one, although I quite like it

[Jamie N]

Do the Saxo jets fit straight in Jonathan?, the Honda Jazz jets have a mist nozzle as well but they always get taken as soon as they turn up in the yards .

[novacaine]

Do the Saxo jets fit straight in Jonathan?, the Honda Jazz jets have a mist nozzle as well but they always get taken as soon as they turn up in the yards .

Almost, just a minor trim of the clips and they sit in place nicely.

There is a nice little guide on WikiLEC Windscreen washer jets