The life of NINA

Page 4

MOT and Service (16 June 05)

What a carry on. First, I get a flat. Luckily, I have a set of the original alloys with tyres. No problem then, off with the new and on with the old. As usual, cant find my tools. I use the first thing to hand. Lesson - don't use inadequate tools: 

Wrongtool-1.jpg (47227 bytes)  Nina now looks like this: Goldwheels4.JPG (97776 bytes) Err...Looks like a Scooby. Though I will admit, they have grown on me (for driving - not looks). One thing that is hugely different is the handling. It is so much better. The tramlining on the 18s was really bad. The car was skittish on straight roads. Thinking forward to the lowering, will the 18s go back on?

Away to the MOT/Service/Lowering. Fingers crossed..........No problem. Straight through the MOT and she now looks sooooooo much better. This is how the car should look from the factory:

Before: Bfore1.JPG (112182 bytes)   After: Low5-1.jpg (96893 bytes)  Before: Bfore2.JPG (118602 bytes)  After: Low4.JPG (98274 bytes) 

Before: Goldwheels1.jpg (77097 bytes)After: Low6.JPG (83979 bytes) Looks Superb. Not too low. I can still get over speed bumps.

Alloys?

So, what do I do? Waste a perfectly good set of Oz Superleggaras? Yep. Gonna go down to 17" and 40 profile. That should give me a bit more rubber with the shorter springs but still look good. Another must is getting closer to the ideal et of 38. The 18s are et45 so I dont think thats helping the handling. Not that I am any sort of mechanic. The search has been painfull. My first, second, third and fourth choice have either been unable to fit or unavailable (discontinued). Found a superb wheel in America. Trouble is, they want £1200 BEFORE export!! Not worth putting pictures here, too many!! I might go for weight and not looks?

Post MOT problem

The MOT was fine, but the front pads needed changing. Trouble was, when we changed them it started juddering under braking. Really bad. ?? Ran out of time. Going back tomorrow (25 Jun 05).

The Garage   Ninapit.JPG (73906 bytes) with dog Dog1.JPG (89797 bytes)

Woodfield garage, Upton, Pontefract. What a great bunch of guys. Really keen to make a perfect job. Worth every minute of the 1.5 Hr round trip.

More problems!! No, not with Nina. Christophers Clio. In the middle of paying for all this, his cambelt has snapped! Wonderfull. Fix it or buy another car? Buy another. So he has managed to make his first car last 3 months!! Now whats spooky about all this is that I had never heard of Upton until I heard about this garage that new about FTOs. We spend a while looking through Autotrader and ringing round when a likely car pops up....guess where....Upton !! Seems a good car. Ford Fiesta, N reg, service history. So, pick it up tomorrow while in Upton getting Ninas breaks sorted. Pictures later

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