docklander
New Member
Obviously a 1400kg, auto saloon with under 200bhp would not be mine (or anyones!) first choice for track car but my eldest of three boys (19)only drives auto. So my check list was:
auto
RWD
Safe
cheap
The hit list included Merc, BM, Lexus, etc. Then, I stumbled across this beauty on ebay:
It had been sold and both times the muppets messed the seller around. Their loss will, hopefully, be my gain.
The good news is that it was cheap as the cat had been stolen. The seller had it for 16 years, 73000 miles and mot for 11 months. How much did I get it for? Lets just say that a decent set of tyres would cost more...
I got it recovered to my regular garage in Enfield with a view to get a cheap cat fitted and it looked over. 3 delivered cats later and we still couldn't get one to fit. It seems that when they nicked the cat, they didn't carefully unbolt it (I know right?!) and hacked away other bits of the exhaust. But how desperate are some people? A new cat is around £150. Why risk being banged up for that? Anyway...
Plan b was to take to my exhaust dude in Essex. I figure without the cat it will make more power but didn't want to faff about with a remap. Even paying it for now to be moved to Essex from Enfield and having the remap was only slightly more then getting the cat replaced. I should have taken it straight to the exhaust dude and for once being sensible actually cost a little more money!
Due to collect the beast on Tuesday when I will also see it for the first time. Future plans are:
remap - may be essential if misfires due to cat removal
lowering springs - most likely cheap ebay jobbies
pads and discs - subject to their current condition
weight reduction - focusing on keeping it useable, so probably remove sound deadening and air con (not sure how the belts work on these or if they did a C200 without a/c?)
I am keen to see how well I can get her to handle. I have been racing for around 10 years now, so hopefully can use that experience to get the old girl handling well enough.
auto
RWD
Safe
cheap
The hit list included Merc, BM, Lexus, etc. Then, I stumbled across this beauty on ebay:
It had been sold and both times the muppets messed the seller around. Their loss will, hopefully, be my gain.
The good news is that it was cheap as the cat had been stolen. The seller had it for 16 years, 73000 miles and mot for 11 months. How much did I get it for? Lets just say that a decent set of tyres would cost more...
I got it recovered to my regular garage in Enfield with a view to get a cheap cat fitted and it looked over. 3 delivered cats later and we still couldn't get one to fit. It seems that when they nicked the cat, they didn't carefully unbolt it (I know right?!) and hacked away other bits of the exhaust. But how desperate are some people? A new cat is around £150. Why risk being banged up for that? Anyway...
Plan b was to take to my exhaust dude in Essex. I figure without the cat it will make more power but didn't want to faff about with a remap. Even paying it for now to be moved to Essex from Enfield and having the remap was only slightly more then getting the cat replaced. I should have taken it straight to the exhaust dude and for once being sensible actually cost a little more money!
Due to collect the beast on Tuesday when I will also see it for the first time. Future plans are:
remap - may be essential if misfires due to cat removal
lowering springs - most likely cheap ebay jobbies
pads and discs - subject to their current condition
weight reduction - focusing on keeping it useable, so probably remove sound deadening and air con (not sure how the belts work on these or if they did a C200 without a/c?)
I am keen to see how well I can get her to handle. I have been racing for around 10 years now, so hopefully can use that experience to get the old girl handling well enough.
