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Compact

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:40 pm
by Stuart
'Main Entry: compact  [adj. kuhm-pakt, kom-, kom-pakt; v. kuhm-pakt; n. kom-pakt] Show IPA

Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: condensed

Synonyms: appressed, bunched, close, compressed, crowded, dense, firm, hard, impenetrable, impermeable, packed, pressed, solid, thick, tight

Notes: a compact is a formal agreement on rights and conduct, a treaty is a compact between nations, and a contract is a compact between two business entities

Antonyms: loose, slack, uncondensed
'

After watching a couple of race weekends and, of course, our friends from the Midlands battling it out in Time Attack my appetite for a car was twitching like a dog's at tea time. I did like the idea of a cheap runabout that may be able to be converted (at a later date Tan :D ) into something usable for track/sprints/ euro trips as well, so the regular eBay searches started and my life become tunnel visioned once again, in pursuit of another car to ruin.

Every day, every waking hour in fact I pored over Gumtree, Pistonheads, every regional VW forum, Adtrader, eBay etc etc etc. I even set a Google alert up to snare a suitable car before some other work dodging bugger got in first :)

My initial thoughts of a MK2 8v faded as Trev bought them all, or forum jockeys decided that they were worth more than I was willing to pay (i.e. not a lot) I liked EG and EK Civics but the majority have fallen into the ownership of those that talk in text speak, so most conversations broke down quite quickly. I didn't like their skinny jeans and I don't suppose they liked my comfortable shoes and disapproving looks :) Ho-hum.

Then I went to the Compact Cup last weekend and everything went a bit......fast forward! I'd been looking at them in the lead up to the event as they seemed
  • Well built
  • Cheap
  • Rear wheel drive
  • Nicely specced
  • Tough mechanical bits
Finding one that was close enough, on budget, mechanically unbutchered and showing less than a billion miles was proving a ball ache though. Until Sunday night :D

I found the car at about 10pm, and emailed the owner immediately. He responded the following morning in joined up English, and suggested that he called me later to discuss my questions. He called on time, provided clear and specific answers and loads more photos at my request and that was about it. I merely had to sort the insurance in case the car was a good'un, and work out how one gets from the middle of nowhere to a train station in Norfolk, all the way to East London on a Thursday. Thank God for the trainline, as the fare went from

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:54 pm
by Rob S
Great to see you and your 'ickle BMW. It ll look pretty good once the snot on the wing is done, and it sound smooth enough as you drove off. I reckon you ll have some fun with that mate ;)

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:36 am
by RobCallow
Yeah Stu's back in a BMW!!! :D

I still have the front poly bushes you gave to me if you want them back?

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:50 am
by RX7
Time to bring out the paint roller again ;)

Good work Stu. What's the engine in one of those, a 1.8 ?

Know what you mean about the Civics, everytime I see one of those or an Integra and show Em in a way of testing the water for a car of the future we are greeted by the sight of a baseball cap and the latest kappa sweatshirt :(

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 5:56 am
by Tk
Looking forward to see how it progresses

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 6:44 am
by Tommy
Nice work Stuart!

If the rules allow it, I have M3 hubs and brakes available.

EDIT: just checked the regs and they're not!

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 8:35 am
by Ben
Nice work fella - looking forward to following this one.

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:57 am
by Stuart
Rob S wrote: I reckon you ll have some fun with that mate ;)
Judging by the drive home mate, so do I :D
RobCallow wrote:Yeah Stu's back in a BMW!!! :D
I still have the front poly bushes you gave to me if you want them back?
Do you know what? Considering how cheap this was, I couldn't believe how much BMW DNA it seems to have. The switchgear works like they all do, the door shuts like they all do and even the slightly nuggety, solid drive is textbook BMW :thumbs: Hang on to the bushes Rob, as I have no idea what I am doing in the short term, other than using it. Thanks all the same (very kind)
RX7 wrote:Time to bring out the paint roller again ;)
What's the engine in one of those, a 1.8 ?
(
Yes the roller has been considered........baby Betty? Who knows......the car has a 1900 16v engine with 140bhp
Tk wrote:Looking forward to see how it progresses
Thanks. Don't hold your breath though :)
Tommy wrote:Nice work Stuart!
If the rules allow it, I have M3 hubs and brakes available.
EDIT: just checked the regs and they're not!
Thanks Tommy
I already have a mate who is likely to buy the same thing, and he's wittering on about Kumho class D and Deutsche Marques invites :D You certainly go that far for the Compact Cup, but I have all of that to look forward to in the future.
Ben wrote:Nice work fella - looking forward to following this one.
Cheers Ben :)

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 12:36 pm
by fezza
Hehe, nice purchase but where are the pics Stuart?

You know what... you racing in the Compact Cup is something that i'd really actually like to watch! After seeing the way you used to drive Betty, your enthusiasm for racing and your good friends on here for support (/free labour) i genuinely think you stand a chance of doing quite well.

Go for it... you know you want to ;)

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:15 pm
by pablo
Glad you finally got something that ticks all/most of your boxes. Whatever you choose you do with it, have fun and enjoy it:)