Matt H's BX 14TGE

Matt H · Post by **Matt H** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:04 am

Well I think I will be sticking with 195s, I know I could probably save a bit of money with 185s, but I have to say, even on shocking Polish tyres it grips... They absolutely transform the car.

I have taken some corners at silly speeds, and it just goes round... a touch of understeer turning into a very passive and easy to control 4-wheel drift. It inspires real confidence.

... God I miss my car

Anyway, the less I slow down for corners, the better my fuel economy will be, therefore the more I pay for stickier tyres, the more I will get back in better fuel economy

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:44 am

I have 195s and am very happy with the level of grip with Firestone TZ200 tyres. I've used them for the last 3 tyre changes, I get about 10k on the front and double that on the back. Try http://www.blackcircles.com/ to at least get an idea of prices, and I know Stuart Hedges started a thread about tyre choice a few months back, to give you more choices!
Must say I like your idea about building a high performance 1.4 BX. Something a bit different from the norm. The TU3S is a very sweet little engine, likes to rev. I do remember something about the Webers from early carb'd MG Maestros releasing a few more horses, not that you see many of those around in scrapyards nowadays...

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:19 pm

10k on the front, blimey, how do you drive

Our old Clio did 30k on the front & i drove that quite hard, the mini managed 40k on the front, quite amazing really.

Even my winter tyres, i've probably driven 12k on them over 2years & theres 2/3rds left on them & they are a super soft compound.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:59 pm

MULLEY wrote:blimey, how do you drive

Erm, enthusiastically...

Having said that I think it's about 15k and 30k to be honest. My maintenance spreadsheet is on a different PC so can't check to be certain. I think it's as much to do with the type of driving as my driving style. Plus I replace them well before they get down to the minimum. Most of my journeys consist of twisty mountain roads where I'm constantly accelerating from say 30-50mph and then back again for a 90 degree bend. Very little driving in a straight line, which is fun, but not that helpful for long tyre life.
Incedentally, people often say to me it's not worth putting anything other than the cheapest bargain basement tyres "on a car of such low value". To me that's missing the point. It's my life that I'm safeguarding (or trying to!)

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:30 pm

Its much more fun driving when the tyres are down to the canvas, & of course you get extra mileage out of em

Clearly people who think that its not worth putting decent tyres on a cheap car are idiots who have no comprehension of driving

However, the vast population of motorists have some very strange views on where to spend money on a car, i know of family cars being driven on the most cheapest no name shite. Yet when asked why the had those fitted, oh i just asked the garage to change them as they were an mot fail & i didnt want to spend much

Absolutely clueless.....mind you, dont even get me started on tyre pressures (oh, i get those done everytime the car is mot'd & when its in for a service), hmmmm twice a year, bleedin brilliant....

Mat, i thought your bx had traction control (your right foot

)

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:57 pm

Traction control? Now there's an idea...actually I very rarely spin the wheeels - to me that seems pointless. If they start to slip then I back off (don't need a computer to do that for me), no point in wasting money.
As for tyre pressures, well have you ever checked them on a hire car? Usually fine on an almost new model, but I've had some shockers (abroad)...hired a motorbike in Greece that had less than 15psi in the front tyre - no wonder the handling was a bit, erm, dodgy.

Sorry Matt for hijacking your thread! By the way, the switch is in the post.

Matt H · Post by **Matt H** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:14 am

Don't apologise for hijacking the thread, It's all good stuff!

Oh cheers for the switch, it turned up today

I stuck it in the dash... even though it doesn't do anything yet

Car Update: Sat in the 14 today... I'd forgotten how nice it is

The car will be going to up to Boston on Saturday to see John Simpson of Practical Classics (It's actually his old car, so who better to do the job?). I could do the job myself, but I run the risk of making things worse. Better get the job done properly, and he can give it a proper service and stick a new MoT on it while it's there.

Pictures to follow.

Matt H · Post by **Matt H** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:35 pm

Sorry I haven't been around much lately, but rest assured the BX is being fixed...

Hopefully more coming soon!

Matt

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:05 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:As for tyre pressures, well have you ever checked them on a hire car?

Don't get me started on the maintenance on hire cars. Last hire car I had was a reasonably new Seat Leon. All 4 tyres were low on pressure, and also rather low on tread. One headlamp was low, and the other was doubling as an aircraft searchlight. It had no screenwash, the wipers were shot, it was low on engine oil, the engine check lamp was on and it only had one brake lamp.

The letter of complaint I wrote ran to three pages. Worth it though, as I got a complete refund, compensation for the fluids/bulbs/repairs I'd done, a letter of apology and a voucher against my next* hire car.

*I've not hired a car since!

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:18 pm

Whilst holidaying in florida this year, our rental cars low tyre pressure warning system flashed up that a tyre(s) was low on pressure.

So stop off at a garage, manage to work out how to use the tyre pressure system on offer. 3 out of the 4 were below recommended pressure, whilst one was waaaaaay over, fuck me sideways, couldnt believe it. Mind you, steering was so overassisted its no wonder i didnt notice....

Matt H · Post by **Matt H** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:00 am

Snapped in the Octane Car Park...

There is a prize for the first person to guess the blue car!

Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:32 am

Is it a Wartburg?

M · Post by M » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:50 am

Bleeding hell, I was just looking at that this morning on Keiths bokface page.

Now I cant access bokfart at work

NSU?

Matt H · Post by **Matt H** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:12 am

It's not a Wartburg, or an NSU... But you are both quite close.

M - That would be cheating... but to be fair, you would have to cheat to get it. Either that or have a very good knowledge of Ukrainian cars

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:59 pm

Just a guess mind - Prinz?