Queensland Raceway Happy Laps (v.5) 27th May 2012 (breakfast)

[Tobes_WIR35]

It's funny how no matter how much of a **** heap your first car is, you still miss it! My 83 laser was a great find really. Owned by an old lady since new, 20 years old without a mark on it with only 23,000km on the clock! Had I looked after it better it may have become valuable after another 20 years! Haha

[seangti]

I think my favourite thing about having a car is just being able to get in and drive.

Should have gone a 20yr old clapper, that way everytime you drive it you're just grateful it started. Let alone air con, power steer, power windows, MP3 player not finding the damn ipod, haha, damn makes me feel old.

First car was a 1986 holden barina, back in 2000. What a trooper it was.

[THE_EGG]

Dude you're doing pretty well. My first car was a 1983 Ford Laser 1.3L 4 speed manual. Even the aforementioned Jazz or Yaris would have been a significant leap forward from there! Mind you, the Laser was a chariot and it stood up to being absolutely punished. It still has a sentimental value, being my first ticket to freedom and what not....

I know, I really like my DS3, maybe even love it if you may. I probably sounded a bit arrogant in my comment so sorry about that. I don't want to sound arrogant or anything. I was just stating that I was originally wanting a second-hand Golf R32 (mkIV probably because its cheaper and imo nicer) or a second-hand Smart Roadster (still want one when I can afford it). But yeh when parents said to start looking at first-hand cars then obviously I didn't get to try any fun second hand cars (alfa GT, R32, etc).

But hey when they said they would chip in with the new car as they said they wanted a 5-star safety level. My criteria was that it must feel nice and must be fun to drive. This reminds me, I love how my car does a few farts and burps when I take my foot off the accelerator ever since i took out the resonator. Puts a smile on my face everytime I hear it!

But yes I am very lucky to have parents that were willing to chip in for a brand-new car! Can't thank them enough tbh. Currently I'm still in debt Still owe about $7000 D: I think my favourite thing about having a car is just being able to get in and drive.

[DonJuan]

Dude you're doing pretty well. My first car was a 1983 Ford Laser 1.3L 4 speed manual. Even the aforementioned Jazz or Yaris would have been a significant leap forward from there! Mind you, the Laser was a chariot and it stood up to being absolutely punished. It still has a sentimental value, being my first ticket to freedom and what not....

Pmsl, I had a *****box 1977 Holden Gemini... Fluro Green too!

[Tobes_WIR35]

The only benefit I found with not being allowed turbo cars was that it made the search for a car a lot easier But yeh so stupid that P-platers can drive a Golf R32 or Porsche Boxster but not a Polo TSI or Fiat 500 TwinAir. I was seriously considering a Golf R32 but parents wanted me to get a brand new car (safer).

I'm still very happy with my choice though. DS3 feels very special to me.

I've heard rumours that the QLD government will be introducing the 125KW/tonne restriction soon although this will coincide with the non-turbo etc. How about we all drive honda jazz or toyota yaris is what I'm hearing imho.

Anyway that's enough ranting from me

Dude you're doing pretty well. My first car was a 1983 Ford Laser 1.3L 4 speed manual. Even the aforementioned Jazz or Yaris would have been a significant leap forward from there! Mind you, the Laser was a chariot and it stood up to being absolutely punished. It still has a sentimental value, being my first ticket to freedom and what not....

[THE_EGG]

I've seen heaps of cars that I would have thought would be restricted to P platers, being driven by P platers. Golf GTI, Skyline turbo, R32 Golf and many others. I do agree with a power/performance restriction for P platers but it seems silly that they can't drive a TSI Golf but can drive a 195kW SV6 holden ute that is infinitely easier to wrap around a pole

The only benefit I found with not being allowed turbo cars was that it made the search for a car a lot easier But yeh so stupid that P-platers can drive a Golf R32 or Porsche Boxster but not a Polo TSI or Fiat 500 TwinAir. I was seriously considering a Golf R32 but parents wanted me to get a brand new car (safer).

I'm still very happy with my choice though. DS3 feels very special to me.

I've heard rumours that the QLD government will be introducing the 125KW/tonne restriction soon although this will coincide with the non-turbo etc. How about we all drive honda jazz or toyota yaris is what I'm hearing imho.

Anyway that's enough ranting from me

[Tobes_WIR35]

I've seen heaps of cars that I would have thought would be restricted to P platers, being driven by P platers. Golf GTI, Skyline turbo, R32 Golf and many others. I do agree with a power/performance restriction for P platers but it seems silly that they can't drive a TSI Golf but can drive a 195kW SV6 holden ute that is infinitely easier to wrap around a pole

[syhm1984]

Regarding on the exemption.

I got told from a person down at NSW, if you bought the car brand new from dealership. It normally only takes 2-3week to get it done, this person got his Abarth done, his was the non Esseesse version with less power but still turbo.

[THE_EGG]

Thanks for letting us know - I will update the list.

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Sure - I have update the list![COLOR="Silver"]

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...did you know that there may be an exemption from that ridiculous restriction - apparently you need to apply in writing and indicate that there are no other options for you to drive in your household...a friend who works at TMR advised me so that I can get a young family member access to drive my Skoda if need be; they don't advertise the exemption un-surprisingly.

Yeh except I have other cars I could drive within the restrictions. Mum's A200 with CVT (I truly hate it with a passion), and Dad's Range Rover SDV6, and that's just too big and expensive plus he hasn't let me drive yet haha. Also, one of my friends managed to get a Forester GT (2002 model I think it was) through but the exemption took ~3 months to get approved. I didn't really want to wait that long.

It sure would be nice if they just changed it to a power-to-tonne ratio with no turbo restrictions, but oh well

Or if you're handy with a tennis racket they'll let you drive a bright orange V8 M3, just claim that it's to keep your sponsors happy.

Funny you say that, I used to play competition tennis but stopped at the start of the year because of other commitments. lol.

[seangti]

...did you know that there may be an exemption from that ridiculous restriction - apparently you need to apply in writing and indicate that there are no other options for you to drive in your household...a friend who works at TMR advised me so that I can get a young family member access to drive my Skoda if need be; they don't advertise the exemption un-surprisingly.

Or if you're handy with a tennis racket they'll let you drive a bright orange V8 M3, just claim that it's to keep your sponsors happy.

[redline3345]

I'm going to have to pull out of this one. My brakes have been delayed and won't arrive till June. I will attempt to come out as a spectator though. I have a soft spot for the Abarths anyway, so hopefully it'll make it on now.

Thanks for letting us know - I will update the list.

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Can u add a paying passenger for me as well

Sure - I have update the list![COLOR="Silver"]

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ouch, tough choice you had. I probably would have taken the Abarth only that my P-plate restrictions restrict me to a non-turbo petrol engine or turbo-diesel engine (which aren't exactly high-revving which is what I like). I got to test-drive the DS3 Sport turbo though, loved it so I got the non-turbo. Another one I was looking at was the base MiTo but yeh, turbo only like the petrol VW's.

Also, knowing that my DS3 has the same drivetrain and engine from the standard Cooper, I knew I would be able to get some nice performance parts for it pretty easily. New spark plugs in the next week or so along with a CAI.

...did you know that there may be an exemption from that ridiculous restriction - apparently you need to apply in writing and indicate that there are no other options for you to drive in your household...a friend who works at TMR advised me so that I can get a young family member access to drive my Skoda if need be; they don't advertise the exemption un-surprisingly.

[THE_EGG]

From what I have heard, if you modify your exhaust it will void your exhaust warranty. But the rest of your warranty will remain intact. My friend who is a Honda mechanic told me this, so it only relates to honda. I assume most manufacturers are the same but.

Yeh that's right, the service guy said if you stick the resonator back on when something goes wrong, the warranty is still intact. I was doubtful of it until he showed me a Citroen C4 Coupe' that had been heavily modified but was still being fixed at the dealership.

[seangti]

From what I have heard, if you modify your exhaust it will void your exhaust warranty. But the rest of your warranty will remain intact. My friend who is a Honda mechanic told me this, so it only relates to honda. I assume most manufacturers are the same but.

That's my expectation and reasonable IMO. Though VW had changed strut top bearings after I'd put lowered springs in. Win. I wouldn't have complained much if they'd declined.

Looking forward to seeing the abarth getting around, good for variety. Clay and I have been talking about the next lakeside session, we may have a few focus' (XR5's and/or RS's) joining as the lotus club haven't been utilising their spots. But this is the QR thread so won't side track the topic.

[Scuby_snax84]

From what I have heard, if you modify your exhaust it will void your exhaust warranty. But the rest of your warranty will remain intact. My friend who is a Honda mechanic told me this, so it only relates to honda. I assume most manufacturers are the same but.

[THE_EGG]

when u say resonator delete, do u mean the cat? Dun this will void the warranty??
When i order mine, I added Koni suspension, Monza Quad Muffler, Abarth fible glass front seats. After picking up the car, i put on braided brake line.

Now just waiting for my shopping list arrive from UK.

Nah its a resonator delete, its just another muffler. Most cars have the exhaust headers/manifold, then the cat, then resonator then rear muffler. The resonator on my car was very restrictive on noise and fairly restrictive on performance (mostly throttle response and gear changes). I would have liked to remove the cat but that is illegal and to buy a high-flow cat or performance cat is very expensive (well at least for me because I'm a uni student).

Does it void warranty? It can be a little fuzzy (depending on the car), but I have been told no from the head service guy at my dealership. Basically if anything goes wrong I can just take out the straight pipe and put the resonator back on and it's all good. It's more if you start attacking the insides of the engine when it becomes a problem (at least that's what I've been told). I know some brands won't even allow a K&N high-flow filter