Peter's Oldschool Practical Daily SW20 Saga

[V8Pete]

I'd been looking for some kind of sweet coupe type thing for the last ~3 years or so. 348s were high on the list of ideal vehicles, but I was also keen on 456, 512, 911, Cayman. 348s and 456s seemed to disappear off the face of the earth when I was ready to buy. 911s skyrocketed in price. Caymans seemed a bit too bland, and 512s a bit extreme. I'm still a little bit annoyed for not buying a mint $25k 964 in 2013 because it was a C4 and not a C2, and I'd just bought a Megane turbo.

So last year I said "bugger it" and bought this 4.3 V8 Vantage.

It's a 380hp V8, 6-speed transaxle manual thing. Goes alright, sounds alright. It's the earliest, lowest power version of the Vantage. Later on, they tweaked the 4.3 to get more power, then went to a 4.7 with even more power, and a V12 version is also available.

It has VE SS inspired holes in the front guards, a Ford Mondeo inspired front grill, and a Jaguar radiator fan shroud. The best of all three worlds.

[V8Pete]

The cupholders are conveniently located to get smashed by elbows when changing gear.

I signed up for a track day but didn't have time to sort my 205 GTI. The obscure fuse box lid is ideal for fire extinguisher mounting without having to drill holes in anything important.

This headlight cost $5000. Drove it in the rain once and it got condensation in it.

It was warm at the pyramids yesterday.

[V8Pete]

As Murphy's law would have it, just after I bought the Vantage, a tidy 348 came up for sale in Japan. It's quite rare to find a TB (solid roof). Most that come up are TS (Targa top). It's also quite rare to find one in such original condition out of Japan. Heaps of them have horrific aftermarket racing bucket seats, sports steering wheels, multicoloured dashboards, weird wheels etc. One thing that has been done is the sills and bottom of the bumpers has been painted red, which is how I prefer, rather than the original black of the early 348s and Testarossas.

From what I can gather, it's a very early (1989) car, first registered in 1991. It also appears to be USDM spec with all the extra little rectangular reflectors. All the buyers guides say to buy as late a 348 as possible because they'd ironed out a lot of the issues by the later ones. I bought about as early as they come. Oh well.

A familiar sight.

[kyteler]

I would like Roman to tell me whether that wheel design would be beneficial to brake cooling.

[Big Value Buddy]

V8Pete has a V8! This is all so rad. What's the meaning of the personalised plate on the Vantage?

[63Ragtop]

Ah LHD, open gate shifter FTW!

[V8Pete]

It failed compliance on a broken door release cable. There's a surprising amount of DIY resources like workshop manuals, parts catalogues, and forum guides on these, thankfully.

The wheels are directional - the thick side of the spoke is supposed to be towards the front. At some point, someone has mixed up the rear wheels.

It came with this lush briefcase of Ferrari paint tin lid openers

and some flat tyre wind with an F40 on the can.

It's quite low.

Doors are amusingly thick. Supermarket car parks might be tricky. It feels really strange sitting so inboard of the edge of the car.

[tortron]

careful Pete

 

some 90's hot hatches may come into your hood for a fast and furious heist

[tortron]

whats behind the front seats? can you fit more hoes

 

 

[V8Pete]

V8Pete has a V8! This is all so rad. What's the meaning of the personalised plate on the Vantage?

It was a Singapore import so I got the same digits as the old Singapore plate. It was a bit stupid but I just wasn't keen on a standard issue J plate for no real rational reason.

[V8Pete]

Ah LHD, open gate shifter FTW!

It's [what do you call it?] too with 1st at bottom left and 2nd top middle etc.

Like a Toyota Coaster.

[kyteler]

Dogleg, mayte.

[thegreatestben]

Heck. Living the dream.

[flyingbrick]

Wow...

Dammit,

Wow.

[Seedy Al]

tow truck driver must be like, WTF at this guy.

[Threeonthetree]

Phwoar.

That Triumph in the second photo.

[wannabe]

Got tricked into thinking there was actual Princess and SW20 content. Ffffuuu

[V8Pete]

tow truck driver must be like, WTF at this guy.

He just had to come again to scoop up old man's Volvo that power steering oiled everywhere.

The same guy did Megane a few years ago and was like "WTF you weirdo it's diesel!"

[wannabe]

TBH a Megane is deserving of a WTF

[glen]

Burnout and Tax the rich style vids please