292 replies to this topic

[surfblue63]

Narrowing the front axle helps stop the wheels rubbing on the arches when the wheels are tucked into them. Doesn't help the handling or stability much though. It's another trend first seen on the air-cooled cars when people started to narrow the front beams, especially on Ghias and Buses.

[megamini_jb]

I'd love a squareback sitting on it's arse

[Chance]

Hhmmm..

[mini-geek]

Just to balance this out a bit..

Why bother making a car go faster, handle better, corner faster etc.. When you can only drive at 70mph on the road anyway..

The vw scene in very laid back relaxed and good fun.. There are parts of the scene that are into performance, but many of those who I've met are still chilled out not boy racers..

The mini scene could learn a lot from the VW's the shows are many many times bigger there is a lot of variety in the scene too..

[MrBounce]

I bought my Bora in 2009 to replace my ageing '96 Golf Gti. As soon as I posted a picture of it on the Golf Gti forum, several people said it needed lowering. I then posted a picture of my drive explaining why I wouldn't lower it and was told I should get air ride. All about the stance yo. How stupid.

 

Never mind. I still have the Bora, it does 50-55mpg, full leather, electric everything, cruise and heated seats. Plus it's got a boot big enough for almost anything. And i can drive everywhere a normal car can go.

 

Don't get me started on stretched tyres...

[Tamworthbay]

Just to balance this out a bit..
Why bother making a car go faster, handle better, corner faster etc.. When you can only drive at 70mph on the road anyway..
The vw scene in very laid back relaxed and good fun.. There are parts of the scene that are into performance, but many of those who I've met are still chilled out not boy racers..
The mini scene could learn a lot from the VW's the shows are many many times bigger there is a lot of variety in the scene too..

I have found a very different side to you, I don't find it laid back. I stopped going to shows when it became incredibly cliquey and backbiting, hoards of people standing round slagging off each other's cars. It seems to have changed from counter culture to rich kids with stupid amounts of money doing pointless stuff. Just look at the prices T2s are going for now, mostly to bankers who put a surfboard on the roof and wear a beanie hat to be 'scene'. I don't think the mini fraternity have anything to learn from VW shows.

[surfblue63]

I'd love a squareback sitting on it's arse

 

I used to have a dumped Square back. They are easier to lower than Beetles because the front torsion bars have splined ends. You just pull the trailing arms off, turn them one spline and the car is instant lowered by about 5". Obviously the tracking ends up towing out and the shocks needed replacing with shorter ones. I had to trim the lip of the arches as the tyres rubbed, even when I fitted 145 section tyres instead of the standard 165s. I never did finish that car off and I do not have any pictures. It ended its life as a tool shed and parts store, before being left in a scrap yard in Somerset.

Edited by surfblue63, 14 August 2014 - 12:16 PM.

[M J W J]

On mighty car mods they have the shoe test. If you can fit your shoe between the wheel and the arch it is supposedly too high.

 

I put a picture of my mini with my trainers between the rear wheel arch and wheel with the caption "as you can see the rear of my mini fails the shoe test... and so it f***ing should".

 

Oh the flack I got for that. What a lot of people don't realise is that some cars have the rear higher than the front for a reason. Usually stability at higher speeds.

[mini-geek]

Stance is all about having the right amount of rake..,

[Tamworthbay]

Stance is all about having the right amount of rake..,

you want to see my stance with a rake, would scare anyone, I hate gardening.

[Bungle]

Just to balance this out a bit..

Why bother making a car go faster, handle better, corner faster etc.. When you can only drive at 70mph on the road anyway..

 

 

because there is nothing stopping you driving around a roundabout at 70 MPH

[Ben_O]

 

Just to balance this out a bit..

Why bother making a car go faster, handle better, corner faster etc.. When you can only drive at 70mph on the road anyway..

 

 

because there is nothing stopping you driving around a roundabout at 70 MPH

 

Would you not get charged with dangerous driving if you did?

[Tamworthbay]

Just to balance this out a bit..
Why bother making a car go faster, handle better, corner faster etc.. When you can only drive at 70mph on the road anyway..

 
because there is nothing stopping you driving around a roundabout at 70 MPH

Would you not get charged with dangerous driving if you did?

only if you were driving dangerously. If you ever do advanced riding on a motorbike you will learn the principles of 'making progress safely'. If you are in a 60mph zone and come up to a roundabout where visibility and road conditions are such that you can make progress safely then you would be expected to cross the roundabout at 60mph. There are islands where dual carriageways meet motorways so technically the speed limit on them is 70mph I believe.

[mini danny]

Heres my mk2 golf a few months ago......





Doesn't look anythink that anymore. ....


Dan

[Ben_O]

 

 

 

Just to balance this out a bit..
Why bother making a car go faster, handle better, corner faster etc.. When you can only drive at 70mph on the road anyway..

 
because there is nothing stopping you driving around a roundabout at 70 MPH

Would you not get charged with dangerous driving if you did?

only if you were driving dangerously. If you ever do advanced riding on a motorbike you will learn the principles of 'making progress safely'. If you are in a 60mph zone and come up to a roundabout where visibility and road conditions are such that you can make progress safely then you would be expected to cross the roundabout at 60mph. There are islands where dual carriageways meet motorways so technically the speed limit on them is 70mph I believe.

 

Cool! I never knew that.

 

Mind you, if i ever tried to cross a roundabout doing 60 in my car, i would probably crash and die...

 

Only ever ridden one motorbike (well a 50cc moped) and i fell off. oops