So, I picked my Porto up yesterday, after not driving her for over 8 months. I spent a good year accumulating around 2 grands worth of parts, so that I could get the whole car done in a one'er.

Work just carried out:

All belts
idlers tensioners, pulleys
water pump
Helix organic clutch kit
welded front subframe
Polly bushed
New bottom arms
track rod ends
drop links
full brake overhaul/callipers/disks/hoses
ferodo ds 2500 pads
flexi brake hoses
all fluids changed
air con re-charged
And a full years ticket with zero advisories

probably missed some, but that's the bulk of it. Anyway I had all the work done at my friends garage, he's by no means a coupe specialist, but a very, very good mechanic, works on a lot of high end cars and to be honest I'd trust him with anything, I dropped him the car a couple of weeks ago, as he was doing it as more of a foreigner, in his own time in between jobs and on his days off etc. Literally nothing seems to phase this guy, the only problem that he had, was that on the first day of working on the car, he went for the bonet reliese ... Twang not to worry, a quick message, PayPal transfer and a day later and... Presto
Thanks Joe


So yesterday i got the call that it was all done, thoroughly checked over, mot'd and ready to go, so went straight up there, settled the bill and picked her up.

First impressions, well if I could ever imagine driving a brand new coupe, I reckon it would feel just like that, took it for a gentle 20 mile run on a few back roads first, to bed the clutch in and burn all that black coating off the disks before really opening her up.

What was already a pretty quick car (343bhp/334ft-lbs @ 1 bar) has now been completely transformed, now that I have a clutch that can handle the power, I was able to up the boost, I never went mad as I still need to get the fuelling checked, but adjusted the boost from 1 to 1.2bar, I'd guess it's running between 350 and 360 maybe more, as it was lighting the advans in 2nd with "progressive" throttle, and it was 20 degrees and sunny! Those tyres are unreal for grip and its never lit them up like that before! I don't think I can express how happy I am with the car, every single part of it, working on song with everything else, from the ferodo pads that just about put you through the window if you push the pedal hard enough, to the welded subframe taking care of the flex in the corners, the helix clutch (love the stiffer pedal) to the advant tyres, literally the harder I push the car, the better everything works, the brakes feel more responsive the hotter they get, the tyres more grippy, the car feels like a missile! Absolutely loving it, looking forwards to its next outing at Stanford hall.

I need to get used to driving it all over again, after driving my 1.3 punto van for 8 months, it's admittedly a little scary! absolutely shocked me yesterday, the punto's just about flat out at 100mph where as the coupes not ever on boost at 100mph! then the rate it will just shoot from 100 to 130 in 4th is just pure adrenaline!









Happy days

Well don F1ang, the satisfaction must be off the charts! Mine has been off the road for just as long with no hope of iit coming back any time soon

Cracking to hear.

How much are those tyres!!! Mytyres has them for £220 a corner!

Thanks guys.

I paid 500 including fitting, balancing etc, in 225/45/16 Phil.

Great progress Angelo, she's come a long way since you found her sitting looking sorry for herself and unloved

Good work mate. There really is very little for the money still that can beat a Coupe in terms of looks/performance/style/noise etc. so makes perfect sense to spend good wedge on a car especially when some may question its age.

I hope those tyres haven't yet covered the 150 miles or so required to remove the greasy film, especially at that power level

I've got them in 235/40/17 going on in a few weeks and I'm expecting no spin in 2nd at all.

Thanks for the comments guys.
No Trappy, you can tell by the close up picture, those tyres have been royally scrubbed in!Just an old picture, had them on about a year now and can't fault them, still have loads of life left too considering how soft a rubber they are.