Planes, trains (a ferry) & automobiles

[skattrd]

I don't think the car is really AS fodder, but as it's a tad obscure there may be a bit of interest in it. I don't usually bother with collection threads as mine are usually catch train, drive home, this one was a bit different.

 

As some of you may be aware I have a thing about kei cars, and at present own one of the old Daihatsu challenge series Cuore Avanzato's; 660cc turbo, 4wd with FIA spec roll cage, fire extinguishers etc.

It's a road legal rally car, not a replica, just a very small rally car.

 

Ever since hearing about the Avanzato's slightly bigger brother, the Storia X4 I've wanted one .....

boring history of a not very old Japanes car below

The Storia X4 was built for Japanese kei (Kei-Jidousha) racing and has a similar engine to the smaller Cuore Avanzato, except the 659cc motor is bored out to 713cc and all the internals are forged. It is then given a relatively large turbo for size of car. Boost pressure is set to 16psi from the factory, but it has an adjustable actuator meaning boost can be adjusted up to 24psi (for those of you not up with this kind of thing, this is a lot). 713cc is chosen for the engine size as they use a x1.4 turbo modifier for racing in Japan; 713 x1.4 = 998 this means the car can race in the sub 1000cc category. Added to the fact that the X4 has permanent 4wd and weighs around 800kg it trounced the competition in Japan when it was launched.

As far as I am aware there are only 2 X4's in this part of the world, a slightly broken one in Jersey and one that appears on ebay and seems to change hands quite frequently, for unknown reasons. I nearly bought it last year when it came up for sale in Ireland for 3000 Euros. After much deliberation and speaking to the guy in Jersey with one, and people who had seen/driven this car I decided against buying it.

 

Roughly two weeks ago the car re-appeared on ebay, still in Ireland even cheaper than before and once again I was interested, at roughly the same time I'm asked to go to Belfast for a couple of days with work .... I could see a plan forming.

 

 

Thursday morning 0530 I leave the house and set off for E. Midlands airport. I park my filthy VW boring and am off to catch a twin prop to Belfast.

It was very windy and not the most pleasant flight at all, I was glad to land.

 

 

After a busy day working I end up out on the lash in Belfast, possibly not the wisest move.

 

Friday, more work, and come lunchtime I leave the hotel. I don't go to Belfast airport to catch my return flight, instead I go to central train station and catch the train to Drogheda.

 

15:45 I'm in Ireland, slightly hungover, standing at a train station wondering what I'm doing.

 

 

 

The seller turns up in the car 5 minutes after I arrive and we go for a spirited drive back to his house about 10 miles away. The car is as described and the deal is done. I'm given some paperwork, including quite a few receipts and his Irish registration document, I wasn't sure if he should have have sent it off, but he signed it and gave it to me.

 

The car was quite low on fuel and I'm about 40km from Dublin and my ferry. The petrol stations I pass don't do super and I'm loathed to put std fuel in the car (I'm a petrol snob and this car is designed to run on 98+RON) so I drive slowly in to Dublin and make my way to the ferry port. Traffic builds up as it's rush hour and I'm starting to feel tired. I do notice that the clutch is quite heavy and the bite point is sharp, I may have stalled it once or twice in traffic I arrive at the ferry 3hrs before departure and I'm exhausted, too much Guinness the night before.

 

 

Stock photo of ferry as mine were poop:

 

 

Eventually I board and park up on the car deck. Evening meal and a cabin is included in the ferry fare, so dinner is followed by a relatively early night, thankfully I didn't have to share a cabin. A force 8 gale and lots of crashing noises don't help me sleep. I was sure I left the handbrake on the car, but am I sure it's good? I should have left it in gear, I'm just hoping the car isn't getting thrown around the car deck

.

Saturday 04:30 there's an announcement on the tannoy saying breakfast is being served. I shower then grab some breakfast as we very slowly pull in to Liverpool docks.

 

0600 - we're allowed on to the car deck and to my relief the car doesn't appear to have moved. Arrival time is supposed to be 05:30. It's gone 06:30 before I drive off the ship and make my way to the nearest petrol stn. Fuelled up with the good stuff I can put my foot down and, oh boy, 4k rpm the car comes to life. The VVT and turbo kick in and the little 713cc motor flies. Grinning I head down towards Chester to collect Cavette of this parish for the next part of my cunning plan.

 

0730 - I pick up the aforementioned shiter and it's off to E. Midlands airport to collect my abandoned VW. The drive is good and accelerating through the roundabouts of Cheshire is fun with the turbo kicking in launching the car forwards. Unfortunately though we're driving East towards the rising sun and the windows are covered in salt from the spray on the boat and progress is slowed at times due to lack of visibility.

 

0930 - E Midlands airport. We collect the car I had left there 2 days previously which Cavette takes charge of as we head back towards Lincs.

 

 

1040 - skattrd towers. The little Daihatsu is parked up after covering over 200 miles without issue. This is a relief as repairs to this car can involve hideously expensive parts that need importing from Japan.

 

 

After a quick pit stop we're off on the next leg of the journey, getting Cavette up to Vins to collect his latest acquisition, another Pug diesel. 4hrs restless sleep on the ferry mean I'm now flagging a bit, so Cavette drives us up to N. Lincs in the VW.

 

1140 - N. Lincs. After a pleasant drive through the Lincolnshire countryside we spot a Fiat van lurking in a garage and we realise we're at the right place. Vin greets us and we're shown around the bargain French waggon. It's topped up with some of Chesters finest veg, whilst Cavette goes over a few things with Vin and we're on our way back. The Pug going West on the M180 and me South on the A15 in the boring.

 

1300 - All done and I'm home, thoroughly exhausted and I realise I haven't taken any pics today for this tale ... doh!

 

1420 - I get a message from Billy saying he's made it home.

 

There you go folks, thats how you get a car back fron Ireland, another from the airport and a third from East to West. Thx for the help retrieving the car Billy, and it was good to meet you Vin.

 

If you want to know more about this odd little car, here's a couple of links for you:

Previous owners post over on another forum - Link Most on the info is correct, except Daihatsu imported 2 cars. The 3rd was privately imported and sold several years ago to an Uzbekistani gentleman, current status of that car is unknown.

http://storia-x4.com/X4-history.htm - get your translators ready as the page is in foreign speak. My car is #71 of 829.

A not at all AS dyno sheet - http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k145/skattrd/Storia_X4/Image57_zps6ccc94f0.jpg

 

Current plans for it are to re-register it and get it legal in the UK, remove (and sell) the expensive stereo kit in it. Then most importantly make sure that there are no issues with the engine, check the fuelling and airflow are set correctly, pressure test the head and give the car a full service.

Once it's all been checked over it'll be a trackday toy until I get my shit together and think about doing some competitive stuff, hillclimbs/sprints or possibly even rallying. It may occasionally be taken out for a spin on the roads when I feel like me or the car need it, as we all know cars need to be used

 

I don't suppose anyone has a wideband sensor I could borrow?

[Tonka]

What an awesome little machine that is, I loved our YRV Turbo and having seen the KEI cars perform at Japfest (Castle Combe) I still fancy something really small "n" turbo'd one day, I keep seeing a Mira near a mate's house in Sheffield but resist the temptation to knock......

[skattrd]

Cheers Tonka - I very nearly brought it over the Limes meet last Sunday, but decided I was too knackered.

There's a slightly scruffy grey/black L200 Mira running a large hybrid turbo over Sheffield. The owner of that also has an Alto works.

[M'coli]

Superb stuff! I had thought there was more story to Billy picking up the bargain 306. You say the VVT and turbo kick in at 4k - what does it rev to, and can we get a soundtrack of that?

[skattrd]

I'm not sure what it revs to, but if it's anything like my rally car, it'll be around 10-11k

 

No vids or sounds of mine, as I'm being nice to it until it's been thoroughly checked over.

Here's a couple of vid's of Danes old X4:

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I didn’t think they had trains in Ireland, you learn summert new every day!!!!! I thought everyone just walked everywhere or used a nearby horse or whatever.

 

Looks like a bit of a weapon that, I bet you laughed like a mutha when you first gave it the beans! Is the body like a Sirion? Always quite admired those.

[M'coli]

Just watched the videos...aye, it's an impressive wee beasty!

[face]

REALLY nice car that.

 

I love the Kei class performance motors - Alto Works' and Honda City Turbos' are my faves.

[michiel]

Well jealous, great purchase skattrd!

If you ever sell it...

 

It is basically a Sirion, but not Kei at all innit - I think they still have to be under 660cc and under 330cm long/short.

[dollywobbler]

Great stuff. I've a definite feeling that my next motor is going to have to be special Kei. I've loved them since I first clapped eyes on them as a school kid, especially Daihatsus. There is a Mira Classic for sale in Kent at the moment for £895.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C355825

 

Best bit is you don't need a wobbly flight or a ferry to buy it! I've managed to resist as Ireland is actually closer I think.

[skattrd]

Cheers guys.

Yes it is a Sirion and not a kei in size or engine capacity.

For kei racing in Japan though the regs are different from road cars, so even though it isn't one on the road it competes in the kei class for racing.