Bren Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Top work. I take it you got home M58 / M6? If you had used the Rainford by pass you would still be in Billinge due to the monumentally shit diversion in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbenn Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Looking forward to MOT news! I note that one of these was featured in Practical Classics back in August last year. James Walshe bought a 1997 example with the V6 engine, wonder if he still has it. Danny Hopkins bought a mk1 Focus at the same time for a Bangernomics article. LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 28, 2019 Author Share Posted February 28, 2019 Yes, James still has it and loves it. He's offered me the chance for a head to head. But first, the nervous wait. Hoping to get the test done this afternoon. mrbenn, Jim Bell, egg and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoddybanger Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Ooo... a Mazda 323F. Such an interesting mental leap from the Skoda. From "boxy with bags of statement" to "swooping curves and I just want to get there". That era of Mazdas were very well made. There are many on sale here around here still, and lots of older ones, too. From an era when Mazdas didn't turn to rust in a couple of years. The FIL actually has an old Mazda E2200 pickup from 1985 or thereabouts for use around the farm, and it refuses to die. I had to do the brake lines and clutch lines a few months ago, though (that clutch cylinder was a pig to bleed!). During the end of the 80's, which was a beautiful era in many ways, the Finnish importer of Mazdas had this mascot figure -- a cartoon figure of a stereotypical Japanese bloke, who would appear in small window decals and other promotional products saying "Masta" (like most Finns would pronounce the name of the brand). After a bit of googling I found an old keyring for sale with the figure (and shall shamelessly borrow the picture for this post). They should really bring him back to help promote sales: Shep Shepherd, eddyramrod, BeEP and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cardinal Wolseley Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Though I suggested getting some scrapper doors for the passenger side (in different colours obviously) on the Tube, I think it would be far more entertaining to see you give a masterclass in the use of body filler, and rattle can. Bamboocarman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remspoor Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Though I suggested getting some scrapper doors for the passenger side (in different colours obviously) on the Tube, I think it would be far more entertaining to see you give a masterclass in the use of body filler, and rattle can.Surly need more that a bit of pog? There is a gash similar to that in the titanic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightBulbFun Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 FAIL! not too badly tho I dont think, and luckily/surprisingly nothing on crusty sills (edit: whoops sorry, I see DW has already tweeted bout it 30 minutes ago) GrumpiusMaximus, egg, wuvvum and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted February 28, 2019 Author Share Posted February 28, 2019 Indeed, could be worse. Here's an analogue look. I've left it with them. I'm not pissing about with coil springs, and they might as well do the minor stuff while they're at it. Headlamp bulb already replaced - I didn't even do a simple bulb check, though I thought the lamps were alright driving home the other night... paulscavalier, egg, skoda_fan and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Mine needed CV boot and track rod ends. It's not so bad though. LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Nice. I had a brief go in one of these years ago (same spec as yours, but pogweasel red) and was quite impressed with how it drove. Would love a crack at a V6 one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fumbler Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 This really is the perfect daily beater. The day after your reveal I saw a 323F with the gullwings Mazda logo on it. Same colour, just in a lot better cosmetic condition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dozeydustman Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 That's not too bad a list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey spud Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Mazda's design house in the early 90's must have been smoking some weird shit. Compared to the competition these are a bit off the wall and all the better for it. Actually compared to the previous boxy 323 incarnation it must have been a risk for them. Rocket88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Oh really? Schaefft, Lacquer Peel, Burnside and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey spud Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Ah yes i had forgotten about these.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 To be fair, my old red 5 door one above, and the blue 1.3 boxy three door AND the coupe are all BG 323fs, DWs BA replaced all of them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Have a badly photoed brochure. LightBulbFun, Burnside, loserone and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUNO Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 Not bad fails. The LH rear shock was leaking on mine, so a complete s/h rear strut was purchased and fitted. Garage charged 2hours to change it. Much cheaper than replacing any parts ! EDIT… Found a photo I assume yours is the same ? LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skoda_fan Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 Hmm...you replaced a pretty decent and sorted Favorit with THAT!! I'll give you top marks for unpredictability though. I'm struggling to find the love at the moment, but then I'm totally biased. I shall of course stay tuned to be convinced otherwise, and wish you all the best with it nevertheless. Yoss 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrcento Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 I remember when i was at school in the late 90's, there things seemed to be everywhere, haven't seen one in the metal for at least 5 years. They don't do it for me at all, but i can respect the fact they at least try to do things a bit differently to the norm. Not bad fails. The LH rear shock was leaking on mine, so a complete s/h rear strut was purchased and fitted. Garage charged 2hours to change it. Much cheaper than replacing any parts ! EDIT… Found a photo mmmm.jpg I assume yours is the same ? 2hrs to change an old strut for a new fully assembled strut? Wonder how many cups of tea they had in between taking off the old one and fitting the new one to pad that out..... STUNO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve79 Posted March 1, 2019 Share Posted March 1, 2019 I learnt to drive in one of these. It was a 1994 1.8gt in white. Pop up headlamps were a real novelty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted March 1, 2019 Author Share Posted March 1, 2019 It it had pop-up headlamps, it wasn't one of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 £286 later, it's back. That would still make it a £500 if I hadn't scooped up some parts from a friendly Autoshiter yesterday. Gosh, it feels nice to drive after a big trip in the Matiz! Sunroof is leaking very well though... I'm glad I farmed the jobs out. It was a sod to work on, accounting for much knuckle skin and bending a four-foot breaker bar attempting to free off a hub nut (fitting). Tracking has been done, so it now handles even more sweetly. I look forward to putting more miles on it. And taping the sunroof up if it can stop raining for a few sodding minutes... GrumpiusMaximus, aldo135, Lacquer Peel and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyarddog Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 A good scrub of the sunroof seal with a brush and soapy water then a smear of Vaseline would maybe stop it leaking! It's worked for me in the past. Andyrew, beko1987 and dollywobbler 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 Thanks. Drain tubes also on my list of things to check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyarddog Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Is that a factory sunroof then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share Posted March 6, 2019 Yup. I assume and tilt-slide jobby, but presumably an external slide. I've just taped it up for now as I haven't got time for fettling, and it's raining again. cpjitservices 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyarddog Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 It looks sort of aftermarket to me. If it does have drain tubes an old Speedo cable is ideal for poking down them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beko1987 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 I used 2 core electrical flex to rod the lagunas, worked well. I've yet to look at the ones on the zx so who knows how wet my feet will get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 Not bad fails. The LH rear shock was leaking on mine, so a complete s/h rear strut was purchased and fitted. Garage charged 2hours to change it. Much cheaper than replacing any parts ! EDIT… Found a photo mmmm.jpg I assume yours is the same ?LOLHEAP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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