gunat

Anything to do with looks?

I think Softlogic is also giving a deal for the Terios for permit holders, although its not a sedan its a possible alternative, considering the state of our roads.

Once (or if) you eliminate joints, bushes, rack ends as the problem, the only other thing i can suggest is looking for accident damage (if the car is not brand new, and you're not the first owner). Its very common for most second-hand imports to be vehicles that have been in an accident... If this is the case, there's very little else you can do to fix it...

i've heard that Spraymech is quite good, but you have wait a while, and even at that...getting your car complete means having to go everyday and make sure they're working on it. But thats what i've heard thru word of mouth... I'm also looking for a decent place to do my painting- in the past i've gone to Dinesh J's garage, AutoF*rce, but also wondering if there are alternatives, especially in terms of quality...

Off the bat, Booth painting SHOULD give you a much better finish, as there are no dirt elements that can contaminate the painting process. That said, its also a lot more expensive. I was quoted 18k just to paint my bumpers! I estimate a normal paint will cost 10k. If you're painting your car, there's a few things you'll have to decide on- the first is probably budget. If you have a sizeable wallet, Booth Painting is the way to go. If not, stick to the age-old method. Secondly- given how quickly cars on our roads have 'unfortunate' incidents of dings, scratches and bumps, its hard to justify spending 100k on a paint job that will be touched up later....so thats something else to think about. Kl*enpark, Mr.Pa*nt, Swe*dish Trading, D*mo all have painting booths (there are probably more out there that i don't know about...)

Any idea of what the brand is @ Klee*Park? I've seen Wurth products for sale... Bosch would be a great buy, if there weren't so many fakes on the market...

If i'm not mistaken, the E30 1.6 is the same block as the 318i, with shorter stroke, etc. Which means the engine has a timing chain and not a timing belt- technically should run forever without replacement. The E30 is probably the 'original' best 3 series BMW made. It was not packed with complicated electronics or driver aids. Just a simple RWD car with a fabulous chassis. If the car has been maintained well, it should be a cracker to drive (handles great...in the dry!). But i think the 1.6 would be mildly underpowered (96bhp), and shouldn't get you into too much trouble as such. Watch out for cars that have had bad accidents where the suspension has taken a beating- once taken out of whack, its very hard to get them to behave as original after repair. To be sure of the car, might be best to get Prestige to check it out for any other issues. The only warning i can give is the wet weather handling- make sure the tires are good, and the driving is cautious!

Not sure if it applies to your engine, but from a Toyota Perspective, there is also also what is called an Idle control, which can get sticky after extensive periods of use. When dirty, the idle can be lumpy/erratic. If your engine has one, see if cleaning that helps- but as suggested, go see a mechanic too.

Toyota Lanka has the habit of replacing entire suspension components (Entire Suspension arm vs. only bushes)- which is why it ends up being so expensive. But you are left with a 100% overhauled suspension with genuine parts. A garage can do a slightly cheaper job by replacing only what needs replacing. And labour might be a little cheaper. As for shocks, you can get KYB equivalents from certain shop in Hyde Park Corner, which will save you some cash...

You'll have to be a little more specific, unfortunately. I suggest you take it to a known mechanic to have it checked out, since its not something thats easily diagnosed thru forum questions. Since its an automatic, its hard to tell. Does the hum come while progressing through one gear or is it spread across gear changes? Either way, i'd still recommend you take the vehicle to be diagnosed.

This car is going to be a riot! I noticed you have very clinical surroundings (in the reflection!)...good to see what looks like a methodical and organized project. Very keen to see this car on the road. Best of Luck for Saturday!

I think the initial strategy behind the Tinted Windows issue was for security- so that the passengers of a vehicle can be seen. What baffles me was that they didn't care if the rear windows were tinted, which defeats the point. If i'm not mistaken, if the country is in a state of emergency, the Police are given sweeping powers to do whatever they want to maintain security (not good, since 99% are not straight anyways). So they do what they do- unless you drive an expensive car. We all know what happens in that scenario. However I've noticed a lot more cars with tinted windows again, so i'm wondering if they're waiting for another 'security' situation to clamp down again. I've resigned myself to the fact that this will never be properly resolved, thus leave my front windows untouched.

2.8 mill on permit- not bad. I believe this is the Indian Manufactured car...

IMO, a Merc is a Merc is a Merc- but only the cars made before 2000; the new ones tend to be a little more troublesome. Otherwise, all very solid cars, especially the W124 (E series from 80's/90's) and the W202 (C class from the 90's). Not sure if you'll find the engine types you've mentioned in SL, but there's enough E200's running around, and quite a few E200d/E250d and the rare E300d. Most of the C's that were brought to SL were the 1.8l engine, with a few 2l's and a couple of C250d's. A rare find would be a C with an AMG body kit. Suggest avoiding the W124 made in India, while its still a workhorse, the build quality was dubious. Merc engines are troopers- but like any other car, only if you maintain them correctly.

Bringing this thread back guys. One year down and 20k kms later, i've used up the Yoko C-Drives. Thought i'd share the last year's experiences. Tire: Yokohama C drive 205/45 R16 Asymetricals on on a CGT. Total Mileage 23,000kms Brilliant tire- grippy, consistent and lasted right throughout to the last of the tread. Sidewalls are deceptively soft though- one run through Pannala left the front sidewalls tread faded. Cornering- progressive at speed, gradually giving up grip without scaring the bejeezus out of the driver. Comfort- surprisingly better than the Bridgestone Turanza 14"s they replaced. However, the ride did deteriorate during the last 2 months of use- Most likely due to the fact that there was barely any tread left and my suspension bits needed replacing. Tramlining was also prevalent in the last 2 months of use. Wet weather performance- brilliant. Never had any 'oh crap' moments but never pushed to find the limits. Braking- Again, progressive- did not lock up the ABS unnecessarily although braking through turns on uneven surfaces did occasionally make the car 'skip' over the surface. Negatives: Tread wear. Despite the consistent performance of the tire, it gave up its tread very quickly. I had researched the tire and knew this, but it would have been good to get about 25-30k. I'm willing to excuse this due to the fact that i drive out of colombo daily on not-so-great roads. Second negative: Cost- relatively highly priced, the C Drives are probably the most expensive performance tires apart from the absurd Pirellis (28k a piece). This is probably the biggest deterrent when i made my choice of replacement tires for the Yokos. Conclusion- these tires are good for the occasional sporty drive and strike a great balance between comfort and performance. Probably a good choice for sport saloons/cars, but not for the high performance cars. Colombo running will probably give better lifetime. Asymetrical pattern means you don't have to think twice about how to rotate the tires. These tires are very sensitive and if your suspension is compromised by wear & tear, it'll directly affect the performance of the tire. The lower profile elevates this sensitivity exponentially. Yokohama has made a great tire, but i think they need to work on bringing up the tread wear to a more acceptable level. The replacements i've chosen are Potenza GIIIs- will see how they perform and keep this post updated.

Just to add: Fuel Consumption on the late model Escudo 1.6 is about 10km/l. The engine puts out about 110bhp, as opposed to 130bhp for the 2.0L- so yes, its a little slow...but keep in mind the 1.6 has a lighter body because it comes with narrower tires. and no body trims. Honestly, as a SUV, you won't notice... As for the parts issue- when Browns were the agents, they didn't keep stock; and the time delays mentioned earlier are accurate. With A*W running the Suzuki show, it seems to be a lot better. Although we haven't had any major repairs in the last 2-3 years...

I think you're referring to the SJAE101 model- whats most often seen on our roads...300- to New plates. Good all rounder- note that it is a proper off roading jeep with a seperate ladder frame/chassis/body and selectable 4WD- not a soft roader, which are based on car chassis. I haven't seen too many 2L Escudos (JDM) but there are enough 2L Vitaras running around (imported by Browns Brand New). There is also the 1600cc JDM's which came with a Narrow Body (no fender flares, side skirts, wide wheels). That is an ideal model as its economical, lighter and equally capable off road. Most came with full option, and there are a few SWB 2 doors running around as well. Known Issues: engine TDC sensor tends to conk out at around 40k- as its a distributorless setup, the unit has to be replace completely. Non-use of the 4WD can lead to issues with the front diff, but thats an extreme case. Regular maintainence of the 4WD system will prevent any issues. Thats about it...everything else tends to be your usual japanese bulletproof quality.

Looks like you've got enough advice, but as an Carina Owner...i'd like to part with some (biased) advice. The Vios is a 'nice' car- but one of my collegues just purchased a Vios S (sport model) which apparently has a slightly different suspension setup and a bodykit. He had some mechanical issues in his first week of ownership- i think it was engine mounts. However, apart from the horrid centre dashboard display, its a newer, better looking Toyota. Given the huge influx of Vios' from Singapore and Thailand, i don't think parts will be an issue now. Long term ownership however, is not something i've heard enough info about. That said, the Carina is a more solid car- and far more comfortable. Even the GT, which has shorter springs and harder suspension is still very comfortable. All of the Si/Ti models on our roads are JDMs as it was never marketed outside Japan but Engine and Parts are a non-issue, as i've found that Toyota Lanka carries EVERYTHING...including parts for the GT, which is rarer. The Engines are pre-VVTi era are common to the Corolla and Corona- with only the GT having VVT...and again, TL has all the necessary stock. I'm told that the fuel consumption between the 1.8 (Si) and the 1.5 (Ti) is marginal, although the 1.5 is slightly underpowered. Trade off is that you won't have to pay Luxury tax (below 1600cc)- that is, if it still exists. Go for the AT212, which has a slightly updated look and nicer interior finish... but bear in mind that this is a car which is based on a design that is now 10 years old. Repeat: 10 years old. Good Luck.

This is a longshot- but would anyone know what the possible (Front) suspension settings are for the JDM Carina GT (1997-2000)? More specifically, the possible front camber settings. Thanks

Hey Velocity- one other factor to your formula: Maintainence. My understanding is that servicing/repairing a diesel tends to be higher than a petrol vehicle...but i could be wrong...

I personally know the owners. Its still around for sure.

Moderators- suggest we put a sticky on this post. Just to keep the information updated. I'd like to know if anyone has acquired a vehicle on this new permit...guess that would be the only way to find out what needs to be done/happen.

this is AD's (thanks for the correction guys) old Ferrari...and this happened about 4 years ago, if i'm not mistaken. The car had been sold to a well known business magnate...and the bike was being ridden by one of our well known Musicians/guitarists. He had quite a few broken bones after that accident, but was back on his feet again soon enough. All happened at the Galle Rd exit of a once-popular nightclub Cas*ades.

Did i miss the point? I may be straying from the root of this post (sorry Velocity!) but there is a bigger picture that is painted with such a statement being made. I did mention that it shows what kind of people are running our country...and thats a general statement. The flipside of all of this is that such 'species' do not get to such positions on their own- they were voted in! Which brings me to the saddest conclusion of all of this: We get what we deserve....if our people wanted such leaders, then thats what its going to be. And what we are hearing/seeing is the basis of the Propaganda these species use to get that rural "farming" vote: Take from the those who have money and give to those who don't. To the poorly educated person living in the rural, this will seem a good approach...they won't realize that 90% of that money will find its way into the pockets of most of the politicos. Its so frustrating to read an article such as this, for while it is trivial...it paints a bleak picture of where our country is heading. Apart from the economic decline, it also shows what kind of people Sri Lankans are becoming. Ever heard of the story of the frogs stuck in the bottom of a drying well? Instead of trying to help each other to push at least ONE of themselves out of the well, they fight amongst themselves and pull down any frog that tries to climb out of the bad situation. The one time i saw our people united completely towards one cause was when our Cricket team was heading for the World Cup finals. The entire country was rooting for a very diverse set of Sri Lankans who were representing their nation in an international event. Rumour has it that even the clashes in the North and East ceased for those moments when our boys were playing a match. So it took a Cricket team to do this...

While its probably some poorly-educated, (probably a politically appointed) idiot who made this statement- it just shows what kind of people are now running our country. This blithering fool doesn't realize that by leaving the roads to ruin, apart from the private sector, we're destroying the one other infrastructure dependent income: Tourism. If we make it more costly for the tourist industry to survive, like all price increases, they will pass their costs to their consumers. When it becomes cheaper to go to Thailand or India than Sri Lanka...people will make that choice. Its no secret that the entire SL economy is riding on the private sector...with all the dough our govt. is spending to maintain the politicos and their catchers (not to mention the systematic depletion of the treasury and VAT funds)...they need to find the money somewhere...so why not screw those of us who actually work for a living. The good thing is that this fool isn't in parliament...then we'd really have something to worry about.