Put my very early 1998 NB through the MOT test this morning. It has been off the road since last September but after a check over and a clean inside and out, followed by an “Italian tune up” down the bypass to the test station, it passed with no advisories. The tester had a very good look underneath and kindly allowed me to go in the inspection pit. He said inside the car looks and smells “like new” and the body structure is completely sound (actually it’s the smell of old leather, it now has high back leather seats from an FL NB to replace the original fabric ones). I was particularly pleased about the emissions results; always a worry bearing in mind that it’s on its original cat converter after 24 years. It only put out 5 ppm HC (the limit is 200) and zero CO!
I’ll tax it starting April then it’s first proper road run for almost a year will be the Peaks and Pennines meet on Sunday 3rd.
Just over 45,500 miles, which I’ve no reason to disbelieve.
I’ve noticed that a relatively large number of these very early Mk2s have survived well. Mine has a chassis number of a few over 1,000 which I understand was from January 1998.
Ooh, that’s lovely.
It would be fascinating to compare a car of that mileage to one like mine to see just how much tighter it feels.
I imagine it’s night and day
I don’t know how it would compare, but to me it rides and handles like a new car. My son has a slightly newer 1.8iS fitted with aftermarket suspension and it feels very different to that.
Yikes Ian, that’s nasty
Will you replace the wheel?
When I bought mine one of the wheels had a similar impediment but, it’s never caused any issues other than alot of weights to balance it when I’ve changed tyres.
It’s actually booked in for a service and first MOT next week so I called to enquire about the price of a wheel, at £115 + vat fitted it’s getting done then. I’ll keep the bent wheel as a spare and maybe get it unbent at some point.
I knew when it happened (on a local club run out) and stopped to check for damage immediately after, didn’t spot this until the wheels were off today, I thought there was a bit of shimmy after the pothole which then seemed to go away, may just have been adrenaline
For the quite reasonable price of replacement best to get it done.
I haven’t been at home enough to do the same with mine. Had hoped for a day of rain to help get a head start, but now there’s a mini heatwave on the way. Typical!
Not so much what I have done, but what I have had done
Tizzy has now had her rear cleaned up, a new nose job, including bumper, slam panel and front suspension turrets. She is also sporting newly refurbished alloys in Graphite Grey (and a few other bits and bobs, such as 4 piece IL Motorsport lower braces fitted and some diff seals.)
Can’t believe it…out for a run in the sun and hit a pheasant (at speed) Bumper all squashed in and paint cracked. Grill cracked and missing one of the cover plates. Got the “dent” out with a hair dryer, but paint still cracked
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