Marm's Motors: Mid Engined Turbo RWD JDM Dad Wagon

16,399 · June 7

Eh? You must be doing it wrong. I can't see anything about the part where you spill the used oil all over the drive...?

17,366 · June 8

Might be worth lobbing a few ml of Redex or Diptaine or whatever in the tank too.

2,862 · June 10

On 05/06/2024 at 17:36, Ian_Fearn said:

Is the cub 50 classed as a moped on the V5? I.e is it legit for an AM licence holder?

3,390 · June 10

11 minutes ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

That’s really interesting. From that I presume it really is AM licence ready?

@Dave_Q??

26,352 · June 10

Hmm, yeah I don't know what it says on the V5 of older cubs that are allegedly not AM class, so can't be sure.

The V5s I have here for larger bikes including a 125 scooter say taxation class: Bicycle so I'd guess that's what it would say if it's not AM.

3,390 · June 10

@Marm Toastsmith sorry I didn’t mean to derail this thread……

@Dave_Q I’ve found the C90 forum I think you mentioned. Looks like the DVLA list any 50cc bike as a moped but then it all depends if the bike has a plate that states 30mph and was registered during those dates shown below.

I’m guessing this bike doesn’t carry the moped plate???

2,862 · June 10

1 hour ago, Ian_Fearn said:

@Marm Toastsmith sorry I didn’t mean to derail this thread……

@Dave_Q I’ve found the C90 forum I think you mentioned. Looks like the DVLA list any 50cc bike as a moped but then it all depends if the bike has a plate that states 30mph and was registered during those dates shown below.

I’m guessing this bike doesn’t carry the moped plate???

It's a Japanese market bike, so no.

Back on topic: It's definitely running better since I've tinkered with it. Not noticeably smoky any more, and seems quicker. Had the speedo well off the scale earlier, I reckon 40 is achievable. I feel it would do more with longer gearing, too.

2,862 · June 12

Audi wipers seems to be fixed for now. Clip was fiddly to fit due to access and needed minor modification to fit. The instructions on the ebay listing suggested fit to balljoint 1st and then slide the arm under, I didn't manage this but it slid on OK in one go with the wiper assembly already popped together.

Looking at the picture vs the instructions I wonder whether it should be pushed further on but it seems to be holding things in place. If I was keeping the car long term I'd replace the whole linkage but to tell the truth I've fallen out of love with the car, and the Berlingo is more practical anyway.

So, there'll be a for sale ad soon!

2,862 · July 16

On Wednesday I rode the C50 into town and back. The next day I realised I couldn't find the key. I still can't find the fucking key. It's not in my trousers or my jacket, or my helmet, or my gloves. It's not in the lock. It's not in the garage. It's not in the bowl of keys.

Getting a spare key was on my to do list but I didn't do it.

I remember taking the key out of the ignition when I got home and I probably used it to chain it up.

Oh ffs.

2,949 · July 17

12 hours ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

On Wednesday I rode the C50 into town and back. The next day I realised I couldn't find the key. I still can't find the fucking key. It's not in my trousers or my jacket, or my helmet, or my gloves. It's not in the lock. It's not in the garage. It's not in the bowl of keys.

Getting a spare key was on my to do list but I didn't do it.

I remember taking the key out of the ignition when I got home and I probably used it to chain it up.

Oh ffs.

Laundry basket?

Trouser pocket?

DAMHIK.

2,862 · July 31

Lots has been happening.

---

I managed to get the helmet lock off the Cub (tank out, fairly easy once I'd worked out how the fuel line clipped together) and got a code so have ordered a replacement key. Fingers crossed.

Also wiped it over with an oily rag, much better.

---

I drove the Audi for the first time in ages yesterday, the battery had gone flat so I jump started and then charged it. It's nice to drive and the wipers still work. I might hold off selling it until the results are in on the Berlingo MOT.

---

Having got the battery charger out I decided to charge the Varadero battery and have another go at starting it. With some fresh fuel in the (rusty) tank... nothing happened. Checked for a spark - all good. Plugs weren't petrolly so I'm pretty sure fuel's not getting through.

Needs tank off, cleaned, etc then I'm sure it will run. But I've decided I CBA, - it's not really my thing - it's overblown and overcomplicated for what it is, heavier than a 125 needs to be, and everything's hidden under a bloody plastic panel. I'm going to buy something else that I like more and which works. Ad coming soon - actually I might try an eBay auction to just get shot because I'd rather have the space back.

It's in one piece at least, tomorrow I'm going to clean it up a bit and take some photos.

2,862 · August 5

Cub key arrived - it works!

2,862 · September 13

The Varadero sold locally to a very nice man last Friday. With money burning a hole in my pocket I did the only sensible thing and yesterday bought the bike I really wanted, a C90 I'd seen on the club forum. It's a late one, very low mileage and recently serviced/recommissioned with new tyres etc. and a new Givi top box. It wasn't exactly cheap by my standards but I've been looking for a decent cheap C90 for 20 years and not managed to find one.

This one is at about the right point between tidy and scruffy, plenty of room to improve but equally I'm not going to worry about it getting worse. It hasn't been giffered or badly restored, but it has some nice signs of age.

Just took it for a spin, filled the tank (£3). It's fab. Nothing I don't like about it, planning to keep it until I die, hoping to have some adventures on it some day.

Part of me wondered whether Friday the 13th was the correct day for a shakedown ride, well a strange thing happened - I felt something bump against the side of my face while riding along - when I got back and took my helmet off I realised there was some kind of flying insect buried in my n/s sideburn. A wasp as it happened. Amazingly still alive, it didn't sting me until I tried to remove it. Ouch.

Still, in a way quite lucky that it didn't sting me on the face while I was riding along!

3,222 · September 13

did the old key pop up after the new one arrived????

2,862 · September 14

16 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

did the old key pop up after the new one arrived????

No sign of it at all!

2,862 · September 20

Audi’s gone.

2,862 · September 21

The Lucida is already proving a fun family bus, kids absolutely love it, Mrs T is keen, even my usually sulky teenage daughter has described it as "the best car you've ever bought" so realistically it's looking like the Berlingo's days might be numbered. Toyota's MOT is fairly soon though so I'll probably clear that hurdle before doing anything rash. Personally I'm in love with the styling of it, and especially JDMish details like the rear window tints which are a silvery bronzy colour. Driving wise it's wafty and thrummy, goes well but a bit sluggish and leaden in town, especially with the hills here. On the open road it flies along.

I'm thinking that if anything the best bet for a third car would be "nippy, cheap to run family town runabout". The irony is that the Berlingo almost fits that bill perfectly, in fact the only thing counting against it is a lack of narrowness and quirks like door handles that don't work reliably from the inside. Ideally a small japanese motor to complete the C90, Lucida, +? trilogy. Yaris maybe... 3 cylinders would be fun.

2,862 · October 28

Haven't really used the Lucida, but on Saturday me and junior cleaned up the interior and removed the rear seats as the centre seatbelt is torn and a potential MOT fail. It's a lovely thing. I didn't take a picture of the inside but I did take a picture of the outside. Very strange that the cub is newer than the Toyota, which looks like it came from outer space.

Today I took the Toyota to Honest Dave who's going to put it in for an MOT. I sat in it for a few minutes while I waited for him to turn up and fell a bit more in love with it. Fingers and toes crossed that it passes in which case it'll get at least 3 new tyres and a good service including gearbox fluid change, it's currently a bit slippy when cold.

The Cub 50 went on Saturday morning to a very nice man from Wales. The C90 is great, and a worthy replacement, although it's not as easy to start as the 50, and slightly hesitant until it's warm. Possibly a quirk of a carbed bike (the 50 was FI), but nonetheless at some point I'll go through it and give it a proper tune up. Shame the modern top box is so useful because it would look better without it.

2,862 · October 28

Well, it failed.

Main issue is a "continuous" oil leak from a rusted pipe which I think runs to the intercooler. Dave is going to ring a guy tomorrow who might have secondhand bits. Fingers crossed.

Could be a lot worse! No welding needed at least...

2,862 · November 10

Seems we have a pass as of Friday! Haven’t chatted to garage yet to find out what the bill is or how they solved the oil leak but obviously I’m chuffed… hopefully pick up tomorrow.

This news means I might be looking for a new home for the Berlingo. I did 300 miles in it yesterday, great little van!

November 10

2 hours ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

Seems we have a pass as of Friday! Haven’t chatted to garage yet to find out what the bill is or how they solved the oil leak but obviously I’m chuffed… hopefully pick up tomorrow.

This news means I might be looking for a new home for the Berlingo. I did 300 miles in it yesterday, great little van!

Congratulations!

we had the previa version on a P plate when the kids where small

great car, could make a big bed with all the seats down and swallowed up house moves!

2,862 · November 13

Picked it up Monday, been enjoying driving it, it's a great family bus. Mechanic reckoned very sound underneath but worth cleaning up and painting suspension arms.

What he initially thought was a rusty intercooler pipe turned out to be an ATF one, it had leaked loads which explains why the gearbox was slipping a bit on hill starts, and not changing as readily as might have been expected. The rusty bits have been cut out and replaced with a length of rubber hose, held in place with jubilee clips. Seems to be OK but I guess I'll keep an eye on it.

Bill came to £300, it also had a (fairly expensive) shock absorber and ARB dust cover to get it through, so pretty reasonable really. Did wonder whether it was worth changing the other shock absorber. Mechanic said not to bother. Maybe I'll get him to do it at some point soon ish.

Today I had a tinker, did some odd bits of tidying and getting a to-do list together. Priority was to investigate the slightly crap sounding front speakers. Turns out they are fancy Pioneer Carrozzeria units, but being bolted to the doors, and their size, means they don't fit flush to the grill in the door card, so without a front baffle are working in free air - basically hopeless for producing any bass. I'm afraid I've decided that the best way round it is to cut the door cards and fit some 6x9s - I've treated it to a set of Focals, I hope they're worth the money!

2,949 · November 14

Caddy sorted with new ECU, filters, tinted glass, rounded corners cleaned up. Paint all one colour, VR6 seats, polished paint, SEAT alloys and new tyres fitted with spacers (drove worse than on standard wheels but looked nice) steels painted freshly, valeted, used 7 months with great pleasure after ECU replacement.
Impulsively sold for £1200 to first of 4 buyers inside an hour, plus a knob pushing me with a £1500 offer to gazump first buyer.
VW obsessive made it into a mini camper, so now living a great life with added scene tax in Essex.

On alloys

And as sold.

2,862 · November 14

6 hours ago, grizz said:

Caddy sorted with new ECU, filters, tinted glass, rounded corners cleaned up. Paint all one colour, VR6 seats, polished paint, SEAT alloys and new tyres fitted with spacers (drove worse than on standard wheels but looked nice) steels painted freshly, valeted, used 7 months with great pleasure after ECU replacement.
Impulsively sold for £1200 to first of 4 buyers inside an hour, plus a knob pushing me with a £1500 offer to gazump first buyer.
VW obsessive made it into a mini camper, so now living a great life with added scene tax in Essex.

On alloys

And as sold.

Caddy was faultless for me! I spent a big chunk on cam belt, water pump and a big service at a VW specialist, fitted 4 new tyres, treated the rusty bits, and ran it daily on a long commute, doing roughly 400 miles per week. Good car. I liked it ratty looking on the steels, but mechanically I spared it no expense. Glad it's still going.

...

Today I got a new LEAO tyre on the rear O/S of the Lucida to replace the ancient Japanese Bridgestone. Also had the tracking done. It now has 4 mismatched budgets, but at least they're all in decent condition.

Even though it's an budget cheapie the tyre wasn't cheap at £68.76. It's an unusual size so everything is expensive. Luckily the guys at the tyre fitting place are all fans of classic JDM vehicles (one runs a 90s Land Cruiser, the other has a Honda Stepwagon). They liked the car and did the tracking for free even though they had a job freeing up a siezed nut.

Tyres are important. It felt much better on the way home.

2,862 · November 15

It seems that the Lucida runs out of diesel when going uphill but is fine going downhill. It nearly conked out on the way home (up the hill) but settled down on the last flat section. The petrol station is at the bottom of the hill.

Shall I risk it?

1,811 · November 15

2 hours ago, Marm Toastsmith said:

It seems that the Lucida runs out of diesel when going uphill but is fine going downhill. It nearly conked out on the way home (up the hill) but settled down on the last flat section. The petrol station is at the bottom of the hill.

Shall I risk it?

Put it in neutral if it stalls and coast downhill? Just pick a time of the day that’s not likely to cause a traffic jam if something goes wrong.

2,862 · Monday at 20:11

On 15/11/2024 at 21:53, IronStar said:

Put it in neutral if it stalls and coast downhill? Just pick a time of the day that’s not likely to cause a traffic jam if something goes wrong.

In the end I played it safe and put in a gallon from a can. It was reluctant to start but has been fine since a fill up.

2,862 · Monday at 20:22

Audio improvements today with the help of Junior Toastsmith. As per above the original speakers were bolted to the door, and previous owner replacements weren't flush to the door panel so were flapping about with very little output.

Plan A was to cut bigger holes and fit 6x9s but after a better look I realised there wasn't quite space for them. Not sure whether to return them or try to fit them in the back now... Anyway I bought some Alpine components which are a perfect fit and allowed me to make use of the holes from some previously fitted but now defunct aftermarket tweeters.

To properly mount the replacement midbass drivers I had to drill some holes lin the door panels and use nuts and bolts but I'm quite pleased with how neat it looks.

Sounds great, a definite improvement even though I still need to do the other side. I'm also really happy with the garish pink and green colour combination that we selected for the already overly bling Pioneer head unit.

2,862 · 2024-12-01T09:23:45Z

I fucking love this car.

Been driving it loads. So nice to be in something big(ish), torquey and rwd. Just.a vehicle that feels like it will do anything. And the styling is just fab.

It’s such a great car that I’m worried about its inevitable future demise. Really ought to get under it with some waxoyl but it’s so damp at the moment that it might be better to wait for spring…

It has cured my diesel phobia, too.

The integral fog lights are yellow IRL. Lower aftermarket ones don’t seem to be wired up. Will add to the to-do list.

Marm's Motors: Mid Engined Turbo RWD JDM Dad Wagon

Recommended Posts

grogee

purplebargeken

Marm Toastsmith

Ian_Fearn

Dave_Q

Ian_Fearn

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

grizz

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

bezzabsa

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Low ontime

Marm Toastsmith

grizz

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

IronStar

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Marm Toastsmith

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Similar Content

Dad’s motors. 1 2

Audi Allroad - the Dad Wagon. 1 2 3 4

Project What has two seats, a mid-mounted 6 cylinder engine, and a turbo? Rewire complete 1 2 3 4 18

Tales of eccentrism motoring 2012 onwards ,rag tag engineering 1 2 3 4 8

Browse Forums

Activity