Put away now...

[stevek]

SVX now in garage for the duration. I remember some years ago a pal asking me to get him home from hospital when heavy snow was causing mayhem, and he couldn't bear another night in the place. In conversation I had mentioned I had a 4 wheel drive some months beforehand.
I wish, with 20/20 hindsight, I had explained it was an Audi Quattro Turbo UR model, complete with Yoko A008's if my memory serves me right. We managed to get him home OK, just, but it soon dawned on me that whilst you can go OK with 4wd you can't stop any better.....
Do you guys use your SVX all year round?

If not I have a great choice of VOLVO's available now! Actually, very, very available - just ask the wife...

[Crazy_pilot]

My SVX does year round duty, but hopefully this will be the last time. It's an epic winter car, but I'm sick of the salt making a mess of it. I'm hoping to fix the body/rust and paint it this summer. After that...No more winters. Must find a Justy...Or Brat.

[Subie59]

My SVX goes year round but I try not to drive it when the roads are real slushy and SALTY. I take my wife's Legacy on those days. The SVX handles real nice in the snow, better than the Legacy but I don't like all the salt. I have a 280ZX turbo as my summer car but I may sell that in the spring and turn the SVX into my summer-only car. Although I like the 280ZX, I think I like the SVX more.

[stevek]

My brother used to live near Toronto, albeit a fair few years ago. He and his pals had winter cars and I don't know whether its the same now but they only had a tech inspection when sold. His pal had a lovely grey Pontiac, 2 speed auto V8 and you could see the door cards from the outside! Big brother lent me and the then girlfriend (now wife) an Oldsmobile estate. I thought it felt a bit strange then discovered there was a 14" wheel one side, and a 15" the other...
Tell you how long ago this was the swine wouldnt allow us to sleep together!!! I think petrol was about 40 cents a gallon - is it still?
Having re-read above I must clarify the girlfriend was mine, not his btw.

[blueji]

Bought my SVX in may 04, ran it through the winter, it was unbelievably good!....wasn't until some arse passed me on crap winter roads, flipped up a stone and chipped the windscreen

Now realizing how much new screens are and years of TLC, I now take it of the road in Oct and put it back on in April....it looks showroom condition, I can service or renovate with ease and it always feels like a new car and you appreciate what this car is all about

John

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by blueji

Bought my SVX in may 04, ran it through the winter, it was unbelievably good!....wasn't until some arse passed me on crap winter roads, flipped up a stone and chipped the windscreen

Now realizing how much new screens are and years of TLC, I now take it of the road in Oct and put it back on in April....it looks showroom condition, I can service or renovate with ease and it always feels like a new car and you appreciate what this car is all about

John

Hah John! Now I know why yours looks so good.

How's the form lad? Did you get the Futura electrics all sorted?

I was telling Steve I may change the Blackbird for a Triumph Tiger sometime, as soon as I get tired of scaring myself.

[blueji]

Aye Joe, has only been two months since it was moth balled and missing it already

The Fut is all sorted now, just need a decent set of tyres for the spring...Bridgestone me thinks?

electrics? needing sorting? on an Italian bike???. don't know what yer talking about Joe

The 'form' is fine just now, a day at a time as they say....

and you, all well in Maynooth?

John

[stevek]

Lightning fast response on this one.... Although tyres on bikes are very much a 'head thing' why not consider some Pirelli's? Italian bike and all that aside, personally I have never felt such feel from a front tyre, be it Diablo Corsa, Metzeler Racetec or the old Rennsports. The new 'triple compound' blurb's misleading (dual compound rear, softer still front, hence 'triple') but IMHO it works beautifully. Bridgestones to me mean grip, grip, grip, grip then on my arse. Give Pirelli's a whirl, they are less expensive too!
Merry Christmas, Steve.

[blueji]

Originally Posted by stevek

Lightning fast response on this one.... Although tyres on bikes are very much a 'head thing' why not consider some Pirelli's? Italian bike and all that aside, personally I have never felt such feel from a front tyre, be it Diablo Corsa, Metzeler Racetec or the old Rennsports. The new 'triple compound' blurb's misleading (dual compound rear, softer still front, hence 'triple') but IMHO it works beautifully. Bridgestones to me mean grip, grip, grip, grip then on my arse. Give Pirelli's a whirl, they are less expensive too!
Merry Christmas, Steve.

ARSE!.....I've been on that too many times to do it again, will look into your advise come spring, for now it'll be chestnuts roasting on an open fire and a fine malt to go with it!

A Merry Xmas and sober New Year to all.

John

[svxistentialist]

Originally Posted by blueji

Aye Joe, has only been two months since it was moth balled and missing it already

The Fut is all sorted now, just need a decent set of tyres for the spring...Bridgestone me thinks?

electrics? needing sorting? on an Italian bike???. don't know what yer talking about Joe

The 'form' is fine just now, a day at a time as they say....

and you, all well in Maynooth?

John

John, sorry about the late reply, my system has been kaput for weeks.

We're all well here and I'm delighted to hear you are good.

Regards tyres I have currently a set of Bridgestones on the Blackbird, BT-021s I think [It's at me brother's house, I was planning to do some work on it but got busy ] and I find them superb, but I probably do not tax them to the same level Steve might do with his. When the Bridgestones are warmed up it's surprising how much power you can lay down in the wet while cranked over. Without losing the back. The outer rubber edge is good and sticky.

I value wet grip over dry racetrack grip. That's simply because every tour we ever took we got pi$$ed on somewhere or other, and it's good to be able to trust the tail in the wet if you have miles to go. But I like Pirellis too, I'd be happy with them either, great front end grip.

Joe