Topic: New car (Read 5467 times)

Terbs · « **on:** 20 February 2018, 23:30:38 »

Went mad today....after getting a letter from DWP saying my pension is going up 50p a week, I decided to lash out and bought this......
Its 2014 Mazda 6 SE-L Nav 2.0, 24000 miles, petrol. Automatic. Immaculate in and out. Tax £135. One previous (lady) owner.
Please tell me I have made a wise choice......

Andy B · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 February 2018, 23:36:50 »

Quote from: terbert on 20 February 2018, 23:30:38

.... One previous (lady) owner.
.....

Oh dear ....

Terbs · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 February 2018, 23:39:06 »

She may have owned it, Andy....but may have bought it for hubby !!!!!

Lazydocker · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 February 2018, 07:30:41 »

It’s basically a Mondeo

By that I mean running gear. I think it’s a Mazda engine

Sir Tigger KC · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 February 2018, 08:04:40 »

Looks good to me Tony!

Of course you understand that you and car have to undergo the ritual slagging?

Viral_Jim · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 February 2018, 08:49:55 »

Nice looking car. My boss had one as an interim while waiting for his company motor to arrive, he seemed to like it very much

However, in the finest traditions of the OOF, I’m duty bound to tell you that it will be terrible in every way, and will probably disintegrate before Easter

In all seriousness, it’s a great looking car and I hope it serves you well!

shyboy · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 February 2018, 09:59:26 »

The very first car I bought for SWMBO was a Mazda, (can't remember the model) and it was way ahead of most other cars at the time except for paper thin bodywork. I believe this was the problem with most Japanese cars in the early days but they got it sorted and Mazda now produce great cars.
Enjoy!

Keith ABS · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 February 2018, 10:12:24 »

You will be amazed at a Mazda

Keith ABS

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 February 2018, 10:21:25 »

Quote from: Lazydocker on 21 February 2018, 07:30:41

It’s basically a Mondeo

By that I mean running gear. I think it’s a Mazda engine

I'm guessing it'll be the L series engine as in the Mk 3 MX 5 which is also the Ford Duratec.

Nice engine, but chain driven, so keep the oil changes regular.

Field Marshal Dr. Opti · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 February 2018, 10:41:51 »

It's red good looking and runs on petrol.

It's nipponese so should be reliable.

Varche · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 February 2018, 11:14:12 »

Looks nice. Seems odd seeing the steering wheel on the "wrong side"

Happy motoring. Think what you could have got if your pension had gone up a £1

henryd · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 February 2018, 11:23:30 »

nice looking car,Enjoy

2boxerdogs · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 February 2018, 13:14:46 »

I bought a new Mazda 626 in 2002 kept it eight years very reliable & economical but after 90,000 miles started to have gearbox problems (manual) traded it against a low mileage one owner 2.6 Omega by which time the rear arches were rusting badly on the Mazda, looked it up on the MOT site recently it was obviously a rot box Nice looking car though & hopefully the bodywork has improved over the years.

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #13 on:** 21 February 2018, 14:31:55 »

Certainly much prettier than a Mundaneo.

Mrs. KW's previous MX 5 we had from 30k miles to about 175k, IIRC. The only thing it needed bar routine servicing was a coil pack. We sold it at 17 years old with its original exhaust, battery, soft top, etc all in great condition.

Mind you, its replacement has blotted its record already by needing a new radiator at 32K.

I'm not convinced the rust protection is still as great as most European cars, it seems the japs are learning very slowly on that front. If it's a keeper, I think I'd invest on getting it properly treated before anything takes hold.

2boxerdogs · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 February 2018, 15:33:49 »

Quote from: Kevin Wood on 21 February 2018, 14:31:55

Certainly much prettier than a Mundaneo.

Mrs. KW's previous MX 5 we had from 30k miles to about 175k, IIRC. The only thing it needed bar routine servicing was a coil pack. We sold it at 17 years old with its original exhaust, battery, soft top, etc all in great condition.

Mind you, its replacement has blotted its record already by needing a new radiator at 32K.

I'm not convinced the rust protection is still as great as most European cars, it seems the japs are learning very slowly on that front. If it's a keeper, I think I'd invest on getting it properly treated before anything takes hold.

Didn't like to mention it before but when I had my Hyundai rustproofed at Rustbusters in Spalding a couple of years ago I asked which were the best & worst protected cars were , the best in their opinion were Volkswagen, the worst were Land Rover & Mazda's, in their opinion Mazda had taken over from Lancia with vehicles rotting badly , so well worth spending £300 if it is a keeper.

deviator · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 February 2018, 15:52:13 »

Quote from: Kevin Wood on 21 February 2018, 10:21:25

Quote from: Lazydocker on 21 February 2018, 07:30:41
It’s basically a Mondeo

By that I mean running gear. I think it’s a Mazda engine

I'm guessing it'll be the L series engine as in the Mk 3 MX 5 which is also the Ford Duratec.

Nice engine, but chain driven, so keep the oil changes regular.

The MK3.5 MX5 used the Mazda version of this engine after they had issues with the Ford derived ones. I may have a little experience with MX5's!

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 February 2018, 16:21:09 »

There were some tweaks, yes, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over either engine as they have proven bomb proof in kit cars at 200 BHP.

ronnyd · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 February 2018, 17:28:20 »

I had one of the first FWD 626s. Was very impressed and was well screwed together. Early 21st century 6s were very prone to rust but now better. Good luck with it.

Spares were very expensive, but what isn.t these days.

YZ250 · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 February 2018, 21:11:00 »

Looks very nice Tony, hope it serves you well.

Terbs · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 February 2018, 21:19:55 »

May pop over when convenient, Alan, to give you a peek !!!

To be honest, Alan, I have been feeling down recently, bit depressed. Restricted on what I can do. Shoulder/arm playing up since that ankle expert manipulated it last Thursday. SWMBO getting arsey, wants me to go to quacks and get pills. Hoping the car will snap me out of it

YZ250 · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 February 2018, 21:41:11 »

Quote from: terbert on 21 February 2018, 21:19:55

May pop over when convenient, Alan, to give you a peek !!!
To be honest, Alan, I have been feeling down recently, bit depressed. Restricted on what I can do. Shoulder/arm playing up since that ankle expert manipulated it last Thursday. SWMBO getting arsey, wants me to go to quacks and get pills. Hoping the car will snap me out of it

I'm about most Friday's at the moment so feel free to pop in. Sorry to hear that you are not feeling too special, all of your recent bad luck getting to you maybe.
Pop over and we'll put the world to rights.

Terbs · « **Reply #21 on:** 22 February 2018, 00:05:32 »

Quote from: YZ250 on 21 February 2018, 21:41:11

Quote from: terbert on 21 February 2018, 21:19:55
May pop over when convenient, Alan, to give you a peek !!!
To be honest, Alan, I have been feeling down recently, bit depressed. Restricted on what I can do. Shoulder/arm playing up since that ankle expert manipulated it last Thursday. SWMBO getting arsey, wants me to go to quacks and get pills. Hoping the car will snap me out of it

I'm about most Friday's at the moment so feel free to pop in. Sorry to hear that you are not feeling too special, all of your recent bad luck getting to you maybe.
Pop over and we'll put the world to rights.

Will do, Alan....I have got the pm

aaronjb · « **Reply #22 on:** 22 February 2018, 09:08:23 »

Quote from: Kevin Wood on 21 February 2018, 16:21:09

There were some tweaks, yes, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over either engine as they have proven bomb proof in kit cars at 200 BHP.

I think it was GBS who were saying recently that the most popular engine option for them is now the Duratec.. if I am ever slim enough to fit in a Caterfieldclone, I'd be tempted.

Might get someone else to build it for me, though

(he says, cursing at the drivers side hinge on the Cobra thanks to Dax's "manufacturing tolerances")

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #23 on:** 22 February 2018, 10:40:26 »

The Ford Ecoboost engines also seem to be popular with Westfield builders at the moment but I can remember talking to Raceline about the Duratech engines back in 2003 when they were first developing tuning bits for them. 200 BHP from standard internals and just as bomb proof as the Zetec whilst being a good bit lighter.

I reckon a 1.6 Ecoboost would be a sweet spot for a seven. 200 BHP but still very light weight. Or the radio rental option would be the 2.0 with up to 300 BHP.

Doctor Gollum · « **Reply #24 on:** 22 February 2018, 11:40:00 »

Quote from: Kevin Wood on 22 February 2018, 10:40:26

The Ford Ecoboost engines also seem to be popular with Westfield builders at the moment but I can remember talking to Raceline about the Duratech engines back in 2003 when they were first developing tuning bits for them. 200 BHP from standard internals and just as bomb proof as the Zetec whilst being a good bit lighter.

I reckon a 1.6 Ecoboost would be a sweet spot for a seven. 200 BHP but still very light weight. Or the radio rental option would be the LSx.

aaronjb · « **Reply #25 on:** 22 February 2018, 11:41:29 »

I don't think the Westies accommodate a V8 particularly well - although there was the Westfield SEight; that was an RV8 which is comparatively narrow and short (physically and on power

)

Field Marshal Dr. Opti · « **Reply #26 on:** 22 February 2018, 11:50:26 »

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 11:41:29

I don't think the Westies accommodate a V8 particularly well - although there was the Westfield SEight; that was an RV8 which is comparatively narrow and short (physically and on power )

It was this model that really made people aware of Westfield.

I remember a bike magazine reporting on a head to head between an SEight and Honda CBR 1000 in the early nineties.

From what I remember the bike was far quicker on both top speed and acceleration, but the car stopped in half the distance it took the bike.

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #27 on:** 22 February 2018, 12:13:10 »

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 11:41:29

I don't think the Westies accommodate a V8 particularly well - although there was the Westfield SEight; that was an RV8 which is comparatively narrow and short (physically and on power )

Yeah, it's a marmite thing.

For me, the seight certainly has the edge taken off its handling by the extra weight and more forward weight distribution. It also does a funny thing to the performance:

Unless seriously tuned, the Rover V8 gives about the same performance on paper as my car with a tuned 4 pot, give or take not a lot.

If driven smoothly, my car is a pussy cat once you're through 1st and 2nd gear in all conditions (ok, except black ice

). Torque peaks quite high in the rev range so you have to be deliberately "on it" to get anything approaching dangerous levels of engine output that will break traction and see you fishtailing into the bushes. As a result, I find I can drive it quickly in most conditions without clenching too much.

The V8, for similar basic performance, is the complete opposite. Squeeze the throttle a little much at 50 MPH in top gear and the back end lights up and it becomes progressively more twitchy in the lower gears. It has comedy amounts of grunt available everywhere in the rev range and you can provoke gratuitous oversteer at any opportunity, something that would "require planning" in my car. For that, you have to walk on eggshells all the time. It feels like an over-engined car where you can't use its' full potential, yet when you can put all the power down it's not insanely fast by any means.

.. and then there's the fuel consumption (bearing in mind the 27 litre tank).

I can sort of understand the appeal, but it makes a completely different car, that I'm not sure I'd prefer.

As to larger V8s, well, no direct experience but they'll be more of the same (weight, torque and thirst). A few have used LS engines in Westfields and love them. Something light and revvy would be more my cup of tea. If you want a V8, build a Cobra.

aaronjb · « **Reply #28 on:** 22 February 2018, 12:22:17 »

Poor ol' Terbs, he just wanted to talk about his Mazda..

For me I tend to miss a car being "over engined" whenever I'm in a car that I need to keep "on song" and vice versa; both have their place and depend on my mood. I think if I had a Caterfield I'd go for a smaller, well matched engine and keep the brown-trouser moments to the Cobra

Nick W · « **Reply #29 on:** 22 February 2018, 13:17:57 »

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 11:41:29

I don't think the Westies accommodate a V8 particularly well - although there was the Westfield SEight; that was an RV8 which is comparatively narrow and short (physically and on power )

You need to check the dimensions of a Rover V8, as it's neither narrow or short when compared to the 3 common small-block engines. It is quite light though.

It's main advantages 30 years ago, were that it made a decent amount of power, was easy to find and cheap to buy. 150hp four pots quickly took its place for the same reasons

aaronjb · « **Reply #30 on:** 22 February 2018, 13:32:28 »

Quote from: Nick W on 22 February 2018, 13:17:57

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 11:41:29
I don't think the Westies accommodate a V8 particularly well - although there was the Westfield SEight; that was an RV8 which is comparatively narrow and short (physically and on power )

You need to check the dimensions of a Rover V8, as it's neither narrow or short when compared to the 3 common small-block engines. It is quite light though.

Having just looked it up, the LS is ~24" wide and ~27" long (excl exhausts, incl heads) while the RV8 is 30" wide by 33" long, so yep, I take that back! It's a big old arthritic asthmatic bugger.

Field Marshal Dr. Opti · « **Reply #31 on:** 22 February 2018, 13:40:10 »

I wonder if the 5 lire S/C V8 from my Tata could be made to fit in a Westfield?.

510 BHP and 500 lb ft torque make the car nippy enough but is hampered by having to drag around almost 1900 KG. $:-\$

Stick the lump in a car weighing around 600KG seems to make far more sense.....could even make it 4 wheel drive like one or two DAX I have seen.

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #32 on:** 22 February 2018, 13:42:12 »

Quote from: Nick W on 22 February 2018, 13:17:57

It's main advantages 30 years ago, were that it made a decent amount of power, was easy to find and cheap to buy. 150hp four pots quickly took its place for the same reasons

..and due to the fact that they're not normally completely knackered and in need of an extensive rebuild by the time you purchase them 2nd hand!

Andy B · « **Reply #33 on:** 22 February 2018, 14:10:08 »

Quote from: Kevin Wood on 22 February 2018, 12:13:10

.....

.. and then there's the fuel consumption (bearing in mind the 27 litre tank).

....

That certainly puts you on first name terms with all your local petrol stations. Even my Smarts' are 35 litres & they'll do 45/50mpg

Viral_Jim · « **Reply #34 on:** 22 February 2018, 14:25:43 »

Yup, if you really are one sausage short of a fry-up, Dax are your chaps. All the big capacity stuff I’ve seen in Westfield-type cars has been in their DeDion (maybe) kit.

Personally the biggest barrier to my running one of these is space for my fat @rse. Even my Sumo is reasonably snug

aaronjb · « **Reply #35 on:** 22 February 2018, 14:39:51 »

Quote from: jimmy944 on 22 February 2018, 14:25:43

Yup, if you really are one sausage short of a fry-up, Dax are your chaps. All the big capacity stuff I’ve seen in Westfield-type cars has been in their DeDion (maybe) kit.

Except they went bust. Three times. And somewhere in there they sold off the Rush (Caterfield clone) to MAN Motorsport who are now putting out.. well, just look at this beauty from their demo chassis:

The rest of the Dax name is now owned by JK Sportscars (previously Dax Benelux, but manufacturing etc still lives here) and service has improved immeasurably..

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #36 on:** 22 February 2018, 15:30:01 »

Yes, shame about Dax.

The Rush was a bit more of an "elbow on the door"* driving experience but it did work very well with big power. You had to watch the width at the rear, though.

* - If it had doors.

Viral_Jim · « **Reply #37 on:** 22 February 2018, 15:42:16 »

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 14:39:51

Except they went bust. Three times. And somewhere in there they sold off the Rush (Caterfield clone)

That is sad, I didn't know that!

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 14:39:51

MAN Motorsport who are now putting out.. well, just look at this beauty from their demo chassis:

Fu£k me! That is woeful, that honestly looks like my welding!

aaronjb · « **Reply #38 on:** 22 February 2018, 16:34:26 »

Quote from: Kevin Wood on 22 February 2018, 15:30:01

Yes, shame about Dax.

Honestly, the future is brighter now than it ever was - at least for the brand.

Quote from: jimmy944 on 22 February 2018, 15:42:16

That is sad, I didn't know that!

They were D J Sportscars International Ltd, then Dax Cars Ltd, then 427 Motor Co Ltd trading as Dax Cars.. there was always a good reason for these changes, but I can read between the lines

Quote

Fu£k me! That is woeful, that honestly looks like my welding!

I didn't want to be the one to say it, but yes, likewise! At least the welding on my Dax chassis (probably done by Gary who is back working for JK now, I believe) looks good

(Or maybe Shaun, but probably would have been Gary at that point)

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #39 on:** 22 February 2018, 17:10:54 »

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 16:34:26

Quote from: Kevin Wood on 22 February 2018, 15:30:01
Yes, shame about Dax.

Well, I meant about the Rush, really.

Good to hear that the rest of the range is better supported. Having been deeply involved in a Rush build, I know how it used to be.

A bit like Westfield, in fact.

Terbs · « **Reply #40 on:** 22 February 2018, 20:24:38 »

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 12:22:17

Poor ol' Terbs, he just wanted to talk about his Mazda..

For me I tend to miss a car being "over engined" whenever I'm in a car that I need to keep "on song" and vice versa; both have their place and depend on my mood. I think if I had a Caterfield I'd go for a smaller, well matched engine and keep the brown-trouser moments to the Cobra

Just said to Chris...'I only asked about my Mazda...got two pages of crap about god knows what !!!!

Terbs · « **Reply #41 on:** 22 February 2018, 20:26:02 »

Picked it up today....Luuuuuuvvv it

aaronjb · « **Reply #42 on:** 22 February 2018, 20:39:01 »

Quote from: terbert on 22 February 2018, 20:24:38

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 12:22:17
Poor ol' Terbs, he just wanted to talk about his Mazda..

For me I tend to miss a car being "over engined" whenever I'm in a car that I need to keep "on song" and vice versa; both have their place and depend on my mood. I think if I had a Caterfield I'd go for a smaller, well matched engine and keep the brown-trouser moments to the Cobra

Just said to Chris...'I only asked about my Mazda...got two pages of crap about god knows what !!!!

Enjoy the Mazda!

henryd · « **Reply #43 on:** 23 February 2018, 09:46:32 »

Quote from: terbert on 22 February 2018, 20:24:38

Quote from: aaronjb on 22 February 2018, 12:22:17
Poor ol' Terbs, he just wanted to talk about his Mazda..

For me I tend to miss a car being "over engined" whenever I'm in a car that I need to keep "on song" and vice versa; both have their place and depend on my mood. I think if I had a Caterfield I'd go for a smaller, well matched engine and keep the brown-trouser moments to the Cobra

Just said to Chris...'I only asked about my Mazda...got two pages of crap about god knows what !!!!

Basically what you've learnt is that when the Mazda rots out the oily bits will work well in a kit car

,enjoy your new car Terbs

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Author Topic: New car (Read 5467 times)

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