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Part 1; Part 2; Part 3;  Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8; Part 9; Part 10

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 1)

When Jules mentioned we were building our next project with Teng Tools, naturally I was excited at the prospect.

 Having recently built a Touring Car rep’ with Fast Ford, I couldn’t wait to hear what they’d planned for PVW. And then Jules revealed it was going to based on a Caddy van…

First, we need to find one…

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, though. We still needed to find a base and I was a little bit worried about the budget we’d been given. So worried, that I decided to let Jules find us a‘decent’ Maxi himself. Meanwhile, I could work on a wish list of the parts.

Jules soon discovered finding a Caddy for sale wasn’t the hard part as there are literally thousands. Locating the right one… well, that’s a bit harder. All I really specified was that it had to be a TDI, as the non-turbo versions are absolutely gutless. Air con would have been nice, too, but we needed to be realistic.

It’s already broken…

Eventually, after a lot of surfing, Jules found a pretty clean, white, 61-plate 1.6TDI Maxi that ticked all the boxes. Okay, so in hindsight, letting Jules go solo to collect the van from Devon was a bit mean. I felt even worse after getting a photo from him of ‘our’ Caddy at Fleet services… on an AA recovery.

Thankfully, the AA soon diagnosed the problem to be a faulty injector which is a common problem with the 1.6TDI. In fact, up until recently, the AA used to carry spares with them. Sadly, they no longer do, so it was a slow journey back to Kelsey’s HQ in Kent for Jules. Hopefully it will be an easy fix, though.

Next time…

Tune in next time where we’ll talk you over our plans for the build. Hopefully, we’ll also have an artists impression of what it might look like. We’ve got TV’s Helen Stanley to thank for that. See you then…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 2)

We’ve got ourselves a theme

Okay, so we might have used a bit of creative license when introducing our Project Race Support Caddy in our previous video. I’ll be brutally honest, I’m a car guy, not a van guy. That being said, after Jules mentioned the theme for our van was a race support vehicle, it didn’t take long for my creative juices to start flowing.

Firstly, Teng Tools’ branding is centred around a bright red base colour. This got instantly got me thinking back to the old VW T1 spit-screen ‘Rennsport’ (Racing) support vans that Porsche used back in day. These were all, you guessed it, painted bright red and looked instantly cool with their ‘Porsche Rennsport’ branding.

If it’s good enough for Porsche…

In fact, Porsche itself produced a concept EV MPV a few years back branded the Porsche vision ‘Renndienst’ (Racing service). This was loosely based on that same T1 support van.

More recently, Porsche Deutschland also build a handful of ID.Buzz themed around the same Rennsport T1 van. These were created to support the German Carrera Cup teams. I figured if the theme was good enough for Porsche, then why couldn’t we adapt that idea for our Caddy project?

If the Rennsport T1 was red, though, and our Caddy was white, how were we going to colour swap it to suit? Were we looking at a full respray which would be both costly and time consuming, or did we have something else in mind? Tune in next time to find out…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 3)

The masterplan

After sending her a bunch of ideas as inspiration for our Project Race Support Caddy, Helen Stanley’s artist impression gave us a real vision of what our van could look like. Could, we said…

That’s a wrap

With a respray costing upwards of £3000 and our project being based around a sensible budget, we decided a wrap was the perfect way to change our van’s colour without breaking the bank. For this, Jules suggested we use Arlon’s fantastic Premium Colour Change material featuring its FLITE Technology. This basically enables fast, easy installation, excellent repositioning and clean removability.

Red or dead

Basically, when it comes to wrapping film, this is as good as it gets. And when it came to choosing a suitable colour, laying one of Teng’s bright red tools over the Arlon colour-swatch drew our eyes straight to the Gloss Red (401) shade which, as far as we are concerned, is the perfect match!

Body moving

Before we could send the old girl off to be wrapped, first we would need to repair the slight damage to the rear of the near-side sill. We’d also need to fill any imperfections in the body that you would otherwise see once the van had been wrapped. When it came to choosing a suitable bodyshop, Midge suggested we take the Caddy to see Kwok at Kode in the Isle of Sheppey.

Not only is Kode’s bodyshop local to Kelsey HQ, Midge has also used Kwok for a number of previous projects. Nothing has ever been too much work for him previously. Kwok was quick to point out that on top of the repairs, we would also need to paint any textured parts of trim that we planned to have wrapped. And not just coat them with primer, but actually clear coat them, so the wrap would really stick to them.

Originally, we intended to stick with the original bumpers and just colour-code them to the rest of the wrap. Kwok had other ideas. He is currently trying to convince us to snap up the hybridMk6 GTI/Caddy bumper he’s halfway through building. It was started for a customer who then changed their mind, apparently. This would certainly look the part, but we are trying to demonstrate what can be achieved for minimal outlay. You’ll have to wait till next time to find out which way we go.

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 4)

Wheeler dealers

This month, we finally decided which wheels will be gracing Project Race Support Caddy. Initially, we favoured the new Rotiform STL, which is an 18, 19 or 20” wheel that looks like an over-sized steel. It’s actually an alloy that mimics the OEM pepper pot-style steels found on a lot of VW commercial vehicles.

Back to the drawing board

Frustratingly, after speaking to Jay and Scott at Wheel Pros Europe (who import Rotiform into the UK) we soon realised this wheel wouldn’t fit the Caddy without major work as it’s not available in a 5×112. The other PCDs on offer don’t come in an adaptor-friendly ET. Back to the drawing board…

It didn’t take us long to find another suitable wheel from the Rotiform catalogue in its BUC-M model. Initially, we liked the clean lines of the regular BUC (above), but we decided it would be cool to run Rotiform’s futuristic AeroDiscs which aren’t compatible on the BUC. They do, however, fit on the BUC-M (below).

As it transpires, the ‘M’ model would actually be more fitting with our Race Support theme anyway. These have a deeper outer lip that also has ‘Rotiform Motorsport’ embossed into it. We only realised after making our minds up that these were actually the same wheels used on Fast Ford’s Rep to Racecar…

We ordered the wheels in black and also went for four black AeroDiscs, so we could pick and choose how we used them. At times we may want to run all four on the van, or occasional just have them fitted up front (like a lot of the old Group C cars did back in the 80s and 90s). It’s good to have a choice…

We’re also planning to have some sort of custom decals applied to the AeroDisc when the van is wrapped. Watch this space…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 5)

This month we start to nail down the spec of the air ride for our Project Race Support Caddy. Choosing a solution wasn’t as straight forward as we had imagined. Still, exciting times…

Air suspension

Last time we went into a little bit more detail about the Rennsport T1 theme we had planned for our project. We also talked about how we intended to change the van’s colour from red to white. This time, we needed to work out how we were going to get our van, which was currently up in the clouds, considerably closer to terra firma. There was only one solution, in our minds…

Firstly, Jules spoke directly with Air Lift Brand Manager, Mike Alexander in the States about the specific air ride parts we’d need. We’ve used Air Lift products on a number of past projects and it’s always been exceptional, both in terms of performance and value.

No problems, just solutions

The one slight problem we have is,  Air Lift doesn’t produce a complete bolt-on set-up for the rear. The rear leaf-spring suspension on the back of the Caddy is something of a minefield, if we’re honest. Well, it used to be. After looking at converting the factory suspension ourselves, we decided one of the bolt- on axle-swap solutions made far more sense. This would certainly be quicker and a lot less work for our Midge, who already had his work cut out with the custom air install in the back.

We’ve been drawn to Only Charged Dubs’s all-new four-link axle set-up (as seen above) produced specifically for the Caddy 2k. Not only is it a direct, bolt-on swap, but the axle is said to totally transform the ride of the Caddy. We’re contemplating using OCD’s BAGs rear bags, too, to keep the rear set-up totally uniform.

Midge is certainly excited at the prospect of using the OCD kit, but then the air install in the back of the van – attempting to utilise the compressors and air tank to also run a selection of Teng air tools from – is going to keep him busy as it is. We’ll be looking more at tools and tool boxes next time…

Back to the Air Lift products, we discovered we’d need to measure our front struts before ordering our dampers as Caddy 2Ks came with 50mm and 55mm legs. At least this gave Midge the excuse to break out his calipers of death (don’t ask) to measure them. Ours are 55mm. Apparently the calipers don’t lie…

As for management, we’ll be opting for Air Lift’s 3P system, which is the simpler pressure based set-up, which would be perfect for us.

As it’s going to be on display for all to see, one of Air Lift’s FLO air tanks (as used in our Project Don’t Tell Mom), along with a pair of compressors should finish things off a treat. Below you’ll see the set up we used previously…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 6)

With the air suspension ordered, it was now our chance to sort the bodywork on the Race Support Caddy Project, prior to its wrap. We would also need some tyres, too, so we  called in ours friends at Toyo for some advice.

Body moving

When we dropped our van at Kode for Kwok to work his magic, we assumed he would just be repairing the sill and sorting out a couple of dents. Little did we know there was more to prepping vehicles to be wrapped…

We soon discovered, though, that there’s far more prep involved in getting an old vehicle ready for a wrap. Especially if it’s seen a bit of action like our Caddy. Obviously, wrapping new or later cars means far less preparation is needed.

Not only do any paint imperfections need to be sorted at the bodyshop beforehand. We soon discovered any textured parts we wanted wrapping would need a clear coat in order for the wrap to stick properly.

While we originally thought about colour-coding all the textured trim, we later decided to only cover the bumpers and grille, leaving the other trim parts textured to help with contrast. As you can see, Kwok made quick work of the bumpers and sill, so we’re now all ready for the wrap. We’re getting there, slowly.

Rubber fetish

While Kwok was sorting the bodywork, I got on the phone to our friend Barry Vango at Toyo Tires UK to talk, you guessed it, tyres. Now, when people usually change their rolling stock, the focus is often on the wheels and the all-important rubber gets overlooked. Thankfully, that wouldn’t be happening in this instance…

While wheels may ‘Maketh The Car’, it’s actually the tyres that play a far more important role in keeping said car on the road and those inside safe. Decent rubber can obviously look good, too, but it’s usually the performance and what value for money the tyre offers that people are concerned about.

When it comes to performance, we’re usually concerned about the levels of grip offered in wet and dry conditions, plus how noisy (or quiet) the tyres are. Obviously, the levels of wear are also a major factor when choosing a suitable tyre. Personally, we’ve all have a great experience with Toyo in the past, hence reaching out to them now.

When we mentioned to Barry that we were after a 225/35 ZR19 which ticked all of these boxes, he came straight back to us with Toyo’s Proxes Sport 2 seen here. It’s not just a good looking tyre, but promises to be a great all rounder as well. We can’t wait to test it out soon. Read more about it soon, once we get the chassis upgrades in place…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 7)

Once we’d decided a colour change was in order for our Race Support Caddy Project, there was only one solution that fitted with our ‘realistic’ budget. Yes, you guessed it – a full vinyl wrap.

Wrap superstar

When considering a wrap, there are three main factors to get right from the start. The first is not to skimp on the actual vinyl itself. Cheaper is definitely not better in this department, so be sure to select a high-end product to begin with. Thankfully, Jules already had this part covered having built up a strong working relationship in the past with vinyl producer, Arlon.

Secondly, it’s vital to find an experienced company to take care of the application process itself. After speaking with Ben Snowdon at Arlon, we were pointed in the direction of Prestige Automotive, based locally to us in Sittingbourne. Not only have Prestige been wrapping vehicles for over a decade, they also deal with all manner of vinyl applications. So, basically, it knows everything there is to know about applying vinyl to vehicles. Result!

Lastly, it’s important to ensure the vehicle you’re having wrapped is not only clean and rust free, but also free from any dents or bodywork imperfections. I guess two out of three wasn’t bad, right? Joking aside, we were aware our Caddy wasn’t the straightest or cleanest vehicle around, but then what did our publisher expect for £5000? That’s why we’d sent it off to Kode’s bodyshop beforehand to be prepped for wrapping.

Red rum, red rum…

When it came to choosing a colour for our wrap we went with Gloss Red from Arlon’s Premium Colour Change (PCC) range. Thankfully, the colour is pretty much identical to the red shade that Teng Tools use. Also, PCC product features Arlon’s FLITE Technology, which enables fast and yet precise application. It also has excellent repositioning properties, clean removability (for further down the road) and even features a self-healing surface.

Prestige MD, Jamie Broughton was also quick to point out that another of PCC’s USPs is that it comes with a protective film in place. This ensures the vinyl arrives in perfect condition and can be removed just before application. It’s safe to say Arlon’s PCC ticked all of the boxes…

Easy life…

We were pleasantly surprised to hear that Jamie would be leading the application of our Caddy’s wrap. Jamie was proud to admit he’s been applying vinyl to vehicles since he was 17. Before any vinyl even leaves its packaging, Jamie told us that his team start the whole process by removing any parts of trim or light clusters that would otherwise get in the way. It’s far easier this way, rather than cutting around objects during application, and also leaves a better finish.

Once all parts have been removed, it’s then time to begin what is effectively a deep clean using fall-out remover, followed by a session with the clay bar. Not only will any imperfections show under the vinyl, so will any bits of grit or grime. The fall- out remover doesn’t just get rid of stuff you can see, but it also erases the stuff you can’t which might prevent the vinyl from sticking.

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 8)

After the prep work was carried out and various trim parts removed, it was finally time to wrap the Race Support Caddy Project. Thankfully, it was in good hands with Prestige Graphics… 

New order

We asked Jamie at Prestige whether there was a particular order to the way vinyl is applied to a vehicle. He said that while generally they do try to start at the top and work their way down (in order not to scratch the surface you’ve just wrapped), it doesn’t always work out that way. Ultimately, no two vehicles or applications are exactly the same.

Easy as 1,2,3… maybe

For some reason, a lot of people think anybody can wrap a car and we’ll admit, at first glance the Prestige lads did make it look easy. I guess part of that comes with experience. Besides, it’s only as you watch Jamie and his experienced team move around the Caddy – getting to see the whole process unfold – that you begin to realise just what a skilled profession this is. Easy, it is not…

Back to black

It was surprising to see how quickly the Prestige team covered the bulk of the van, but it’s the smaller, more intricate areas that always take the time. We also slowed the process down a bit by deciding to opt for a gloss black roof – to break up the wash of red. We must say a huge thank you to Craig at Spandex for supplying the PCC black at such short notice.

True colours

One small issue we did spot was that Kwok had been instructed to paint the front bumper and the integrated grille sections, so it could all be wrapped. The thing is, firstly the grille sections were so intricate that it would be almost impossible to wrap them perfectly. Secondly, it would look terrible colour- coded anyway. So, Midge quickly ran off with the front bumper to get the upper and lower grille sections painted in satin black. Nothing like a bit of last minute pressure, right?

Back on track

On arriving back at Prestige the following day, the guys had made quick work of the wrapping process and the Caddy was coming back together. While Jamie grabbed the bumper to work his magic on that, the Arlon logos were applied to the door mirrors. These were printed on hi-tac vinyl in order for them to stick to the textured plastic.

On the down low

An Arlon sun strip was also added, but we’re leaving the other Rennsport decals and sponsor logos until the rest of the modifications are finished. We don’t want to give everything away this early in the build.

Shut that door

It’s safe to say the transformation really is incredible and the quality of application is second to none. Our only small regret was choosing not to have the door shuts wrapped in order to keep the cost down. It’s worth noting that while wrapping can be a cheaper alternative to a full-on, high-end respray, it’s imperative that you buy a quality vinyl and choose an established company to apply it..

Somebody got wind?

This really isn’t a cheap DIY process! Since getting the van back, Midge has fitted a gloss black wind deflector along the front leading edge of the bonnet. This helps further enhance the van and give it a slightly more aggressive facade – not that it will need too much help once the air suspension and wheels go on shortly. Watch this space…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 9)

With our wrap complete it was time start kitting out the back of Project Race Support Caddy. But first, a trip to Teng Tools was in order to stock up on goodies…

Nice bit of kit

When it came to kitting out the back of our Caddy, Midge, Jules and myself attempted to come up with a suitable idea. Firstly, we needed to keep our sponsor, TengTools, happy. It also had to work with our Race Support theme and fit with our ‘sensible’ budget. In reality, Midge came up with an idea and ran with it…

Dreams become reality

To be fair to Midge, he was the guy in charge of making this idea a reality. So, Jules and I didn’t put up too much of a fight. Ultimately, Midge’s idea was to have a huge chest-type tool box visible when you opened the rear doors. Then, perhaps, a couple of cubby holes above it, to house power tools etc.

True or false?

In the centre of the van would be another lower-level tool box mounted on top of a frame. This would house the Fly air tank and Air Lift management. A false floor would then fill the remaining floor area with various, open-top tool boxes and trays sunk into it.

Dem hose

Then, an air reel hose would be hidden below and a pair of slim tool cases mounted in the side of the raised floor. Each of these would be accessible through the sliding doors. Near the front of the van, just before the bulk heads, would be a hinged trap-door, beneath which we could hide other more unsightly tools.

Two into one don’t go

Before we could head up to Teng Tool’s HQ in Bedford, we first needed to take a bunch of measurements. Tis was so we knew exactly which tool boxes would fit where. Jules and I decided to leave Midge to this, while we headed off for a well-earned bacon butty.

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 10)

Once we’d worked out a plan and grabbed all the hardware from Teng Tool it was time for action. Our Project Race Support Caddy was about to get fully kitted out…

On arrival at Teng Tools, as you can imagine, Midge was like an excited kid in a sweet shop. It’s a good job we’d taken an empty Caddy with us, too. His wish list of parts was clearly going to fill the van! First things first, we needed to find a suitable tool box that would face out of the rear doors.

Action from the back section…

This would be the main focal point when viewing the Caddy from the rear, so it had to look good. After looking through the TengTools range, Midge chose a 7 Drawer Roller Cabinet (above). This features 37” drawers and is made up of two deeper lower drawers, with five more slimline items above. This would fill the rear space nicely, but still leave a small area above that Midge could box out above.

Box fresh thinking

Next we needed a suitable box for the centre of the van, which would effectively back on to the 7 Drawer unit. These would be divided by an carpeted MDF wall. This unit would sit on a wooden frame fixed to the top of the inner wheel wells.

Open-top fuss

Ideally, it would house the air tank and the air ride management, plus all wiring and fixings. Midge chose the 6 Drawer unit as he could remove the bottom four drawers to house the air tank (leaving it exposed). The open top of the cabinet could have the management on display. The remaining two draws just below could hide any other connectors or wiring that didn’t need to be on display. Result!

Two’s company

A pair of tool boxes would be visible through each sliding door (one each side), Midge went for two 3 Drawer ‘Middle Boxes’. Not only would these look the part, they would also help support the false floor.

Sink or swim

Midge was able to sink a few tool boxes into this false floor and also hide the air hose reel. We hoped this would connect to the air tank and effectively feed a selection of power tools. Well, that’s the intention, anyway…

Busman’s holiday

Midge wasn’t quite able to finish the rear install before jetting off on yet another of his holidays. He did make great progress, though.

Nice racking

We love what he did with the TengTools racking. He basically cut it into sections that fitted perfectly into three of the rear door recesses.

Easy access

For the third recess, Midge mounted two open tool trays, which would be handy for easy access items.

Next time

Firstly, Midge will be wrapping up what he started here. We’ll also be moving into the front cabin where we plan to fit a pair of Corbeau buckets. More TengTools goodies will also be going in with a whole host of Kenwood audio. No rest for the wicked, hey?

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 11)

Last time we made a fairly big dent in decking out the back of our Project Caddy Race Support van. Well, this time, Midge hopes to finish it off.

After working out where everything was going to be located, now it all needed to be removed. Why, you ask? Well, so everything could be coated in grey carpet for an OEM look. Then we could make a final fix on all the parts and panels. Well, that was the plan, anyway.

eBay to the rescue

You may have noticed that our Caddy had been missing a rear bulkhead from the moment we bought it. Thankfully, replacements are pretty easy to find. We bought our replacement passenger’s item new from eBay. These do, however, need trimming a touch to ensure a neat fit. Once this had been done, the were removed and trimmed in the same carpet he’d be using throughout.

Carpet, right…

Starting at the front and working backwards, next up the boarded roof was covered in carpet as well. Both sliding door top and bottom panels also got the going over with carpet.

Do your cuffs match your collar?

While Midge was in door card mode, he also made two extra panels for top section of the back door recesses. Previously, only the lower sections featured carpeted door cards and it just looked a bit odd. This addition gave the whole back facade a more polished appearance.

I love it when a plan comes together

Moving back into the middle of the van, the false floor now looks fantastic with a coating of carpet. The side-facing tool boxes (accessible through each side door) are now totally enclosed. These are neat as they both feature combination locks on them, meaning the tools inside are safe. That is great if we were ever to leave the van unattended at an event.

Stay away from that trapdoor…

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have also spotted the end of the air line poking througha hole on the near-side. This is connected to the Interstates air line reel, which is accessible through the trapdoor in the floor. To access this, Midge actually sunk a flush trapdoor handle into the floor. This keeps things neat and ensures a totally flat surface to help with sliding items around.

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 12)

This month we return to the back of Project Caddy Race Support van for more trimming and a spot of audio. You can never have too much in-car hi-fi, right?

So, also sunken into the rear floor nearer the middle of the van is a hand-held Teng tool box. This not only looks neat, but is also totally practical being removable at any time. You might have also noticed the additional red storage tray to the side of that. This will eventually hold all the air tools – once we get our mitts on them.

Centre stage

Taking centre stage in the middle section of the van, though, is a 6-Drawer Teng unit. This backs on to the central partition section (now carpeted), which divides the middle and the rear compartments. Not only does this box house the Fly air tank in the lower section, it also has the air management on top. It really is genius how Midge has packed so much into such a compact unit. All this while also hiding all air lines and fixings. So, where are the compressors hiding, we hear you ask? Well, they’re also hidden beneath the floor and accessible through the trapdoor.

The bass… too… dark…

Next up, Midge fitted the 6×9″ 3-way speakers Kenwood supplied us as part of our audio package (more on that next time). These 80W speakers (500W peak power) are part of Kenwood’s Stage Sound Series. Once hooked up to the other Kenwood products, these should keep us entertained while at at the various shows we plan to attend.

Light ’em up…

Out back, up top are two magnetic LED lights that are quick release for easy access. In the two cubby holes you have a tool tray and a mobile tool box with sections for smaller tools. The main, 7 Drawer box, is purely for hardcore tools. Then, the trays and hooks on the back doors are to store easy access stuff. 

That’s a wrap… in the back, at least!

Apparently, this end result pretty much identical to the vision Midge had in his head way back when we first bought the van. As much as it pains us to say it, going by this build, he’s a little bit wasted working for us. What do you think?

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 13)

Last time we checked in, Midge was wrapping up the rear air-ride install of our Project Race Support Caddy. Since then, his attention has moved to the main cabin. Here’s what he’s been up to…

With the rear axle and Air Lift struts due any minute, we decided to wrap up the Caddy’s interior. Midge has already located the Air Lift ‘FLO’ seamless air tank and dual compressors out back. He’s also plumbed everything in ready to connect to the remaining air ride system as soon as it arrives.

While in great condition for its age, our Caddy’s stock interior didn’t fit with the Race theme we were after. A quick call to our friends at Corbeau Seats soon saw us surfing their website in search of suitable seats. We wanted something that would help turn our Caddy’s drab interior into something worthy of any racetrack paddock.

On the recommendation of Corbeau’s MD, Vic Lee, we soon arrived at the Pro Sport bucket seat. This fixed bucket is a favourite with the track day enthusiast. Not only is this a great looking seat, it features side-mount fixings (like the more expensive FIA-approved items). Better still, it’s also available with red inserts, to match the other Teng Tools colour-coding.

Oh, and they only cost £300 a pop! Triple whammy, or what? You may remember, we were trying to demonstrate what could be achieved with a realistic budget. So, basically, these seats certainly fitted with that brief. Even better, was the fact that after pulling the trigger on this order, the seats arrived at Kelsey HQ the very next day. Result!

Now, as lovely as the seats are, getting them fitted took more work than you might think. While they come from Corbeau with the side mounts and runners, there weren’t subframes. This is because every application is unique to the vehicle.

After contemplating buying a set from eBay for a few hundred quid, or adapting the original frames, Midge chose the ‘easier’ option. That’s right, he decided to make up a set from scratch instead. Here, he welded up some 4mm 50x50mm box-section mild steel and then painted them black for an OEM look.

The Alcantara steering wheel cover was actually more of Midge’s handiwork. He bought the kit from eBay and trimmed it himself the clever devil. Is there no end to this man’s talent?

Other additions included the Teng Tools door winders, which are made from a couple of 3/8” Teng Tools sockets. There is also a trick handbrake release button (another socket) and gear knob made from a Teng Tools socket wrench driver. These final parts really were the icing and the cake in our mind.

We have to hand it to him, Midge did a mighty fine job and he didn’t moan once… maybe. As for the finished result. Well, see for yourself. The seats and wheel look absolutely amazing. Next time, we fit the Kenwood audio and a few custom additions…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 14)

With the seats in place it was on to the all-important audio. This was kindly supplied by our old mucker, Keith Watkins, at Kenwood UK and fitted by our very own Midge. Time to bring this van well and truly up-to-date……

In order to bring the van’s cabin up to date we had to lose the single-DIN headhunt and retro Parrot hands-free kit. In their place went one of Kenwood’s finest, all-singing DMX7722DABS double DIN Monitor with Receiver units. It’s actually easier to list the stuff this Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth ready unit doesn’t feature than the stuff it does.

In order to have a permanent live to the headunit, Midge made up a custom wiring loom that did away with the Canbus turn-on. Instead, it now connects to the previous cigarette lighter’s power supply.

As well as the 500w Max RMS (KFC- S6976EX) 6x9s mounted out back, we also fitted 300w Max Component System (KFC-E170P) in the front doors.

The tweeters included in the kit were mounted in the top of the doors. Midge made up some custom MDF rings to help mount the speaker, and used sound deadening to ensure optimum performance.

Next up, he mounted one of Kenwood’s slimline, enclosed subwoofers (KFC-E170P) neatly under the passenger seat. The remote control for this was then mounted in a custom MDF centre console enclosure. Genius!

In terms of the quality of sound, for such a relatively simple system, the result really is something else. This is perhaps down to the front cabin area being such a confined space. The head unit itself is an absolute game changer, because it does literally everything you need. From connecting to your phone for voice calls or Apple CarPlay, offering full DAB and having an awesome navigation system.

While Midge was getting creative with the carpeted MDF, he also made storage pockets to sit snugly in the various cubby holes throughout. These allow easy-access to various Teng Tools, including a tape measure (in the centre console), an adjustable spanner and utility knife (in one of the upper dash sections). Oh, and there’s a small socket set in the other insert.

Next up was the custom bottle holder, which doubles as a drinks holder for those drive through visits. This was made by using a magnetic Teng Tools bottle holder that would usually stick to the top of a tool box. He simply cut it down to size and then fitted the black plastic end plates before securely fixing it to the dashboard.

After this was finished it was on to the new floor mats. The plain black items looked far too bare for our liking, so Midge knocked up some custom heal plates. He did this using Teng Tools branding from the excess racking that he’d used out back. Again, these weren’t just a practical addition, but also added a touch more colour into the cabin. 

While we never planned to go overboard with the Caddy’s engine, we couldn’t resist fixing one of RamAir’s cold air-feed induction kits. Not only was this a doddle to install, it looks far better than the factory air box, too. It also sounds great and chances are will gains us a couple of bhp in the process. 

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 15)

Our Project Race Support Caddy was nearing completion. All we needed to do to wrap the project was fit our chosen rolling stock. Oh, and swap the somewhat primitive stock suspension, plus throw on some graphics. How hard can it be? 

The old saying ‘Wheels Maketh The Car’ is correct, to a degree. That being said, even the best wheels will still look a bit pants if the vehicle in question doesn’t sit right. After Midge had fine tuned the interior, we needed to sort the chassis to complement the Arlon wrap. 

Caddy 2k owners will be aware the end front features traditional dampers, but out back is a bit different. It’s basically a pretty primitive leaf spring set up, which is perfectly fine for the Caddy’s usual workhorse role.

When it came to suspension we wanted our Caddy to sit super low, so air suspension was a no brainer. Air Lift Performance were quick to join the party, but it only offers an off-the-shelf kit for the front. Thankfully, we then discovered Only Charged Dubs offered its own custom independent rear axle set-up. We could either run air or static on this. Result! 

Initially we spoke to Mike over at Air Lift in the States and ordered up one of its SLAM strut kits for the front. This came with its 3P management, a seamless FLO air tank and Viair 444C compressor. We’ve run Air Lift kits countless times before. Not only does it fit as you’d hope, and perform impeccably, it’s also incredibly reliable as well. 

We then got wind that OCD was having supply issues with its axles. This meant we had to go back to the drawing board when it came to sorting the rear solution.

Thankfully, Midge wasted no time with the air ride preparations inside the Caddy. He’d incorporated our air tank, management and compressor into the custom centre build of the van. So, once the Air Lift struts arrived it was a relatively easy task to swap them.

Out went the tired, factory struts replaced for the fresh, familiar black and red air bagged items. “I’d already done the management wiring and compressor plumbing, so it was just a case of connecting everything up.”

While the front suspension was in bits, Midge also swapped the knackered old droplinks for new items as a precautionary measure. And that was the front pretty much sorted, except for the alignment. This would be carried out once the back end was sorted and the wheels fitted. Roll on next month…

Race Support Caddy Project (Part 16)

With the front suspension sorted, it was time to slam the back-end to make sure both ends matched. Trouble is, our first solution to get around the leaf-springs on our Race Support Caddy had gone out the window. We needed another solution, and fast… 

With the original idea of fitted one of OCD’s independent rear axles out the window, it was time for plan B. After looking around other options, we decided keeping it static made a lot of sense. It would also be considerable cheaper, too…

After some searching, we soon discovered Darkside Developments’s axle flip kit. This allows lowering of between 50- and 100mm. Result! The kit is great value at just over £200, is fully adjustable, CNC laser cut and zinc coated. It allows you to basically remove and flip the axle so the leafs are under the axle rather than over it.

Better still, on super low applications, there is also the ability to adjust where the wheel is located in the rear wheel arch. The wheel will naturally move further forwards in the arch the lower you go, so this allows you to adjust that too.

It’s worth noting that adjusting the axle isn’t as quick as say it is on coilovers (where you just need to wind the collars up or down). In this case, you do need to drop the axle and move the leafs further up or down the bracket. It’s straightforward to do, but a lot easier if you’re using a ramp, like we did with ours.

Before Midge finalised where the rear axle would sit, he decided now was as good a time as any to fit up the rolling stock. You may remember from the second instalment that we had opted for Rotiform’s motorsport-inspired BUC-M.

Not only does the wheel have ‘Rotiform Motorsport’ engraved in it, it’s also designed to run with Rotiform’s AeroDiscs. The AeroDiscs are also another motorsport- inspired touch which nod to 80’s Touring Cars and Sportscars. These discs are literally bolted to the wheels using the neat centre lug fixing.

We had originally intended to only run the discs on the front wheels (like some of the race teams did back in the day). However, after having the centres wrapped in Arlon’s red vinyl, we soon concluded that fitting all four looked far better.

Toyo came on board early on and supplied a set of its fantastic Proxes Sport 2s in 225/35 ZR19 fitment. If ever there was a great all-round performance tyre, then this is it. It looks good, performs exceptionally and is really good value for money.

Once bolted up, the wheels sat perfectly and the ride height Midge had set it to was spot on. With the AeroDiscs fitted, we were also still able to open both sliding doors which cleared with millimetre precision. Okay, the latter was more luck than judgement, but you always need a spot of good luck when building a project.

Standing back and admiring our handiwork, one thing quickly dawned on. That was just how close to the original Helen Stanley’s artist impression our finished van was. It was missing just one thing, though.

That’s right, the Porsche-inspired ‘Racing’ decals and Tent Tools branding. Luckily, Prestige had already printed these out for us at the wrapping stage, so it was just a case of Midge applying them.

And what a finishing touch they were. Not only did the van look the part, but it was fully functional, too. You can also really see where our ‘Rennsport’ inspiration had come from, even if it was subtle.

To say it went down well at its Volksworld Show debut was an understatement. There was even a very early ‘Porsche’ Race Support Van in attendance at the show for comparison. What are the chances of that?

The post Race Support Caddy Project appeared first on Fast Car.

Welsh-born Kate (now residing in Cornwall) certainly isn’t a new face in the modified VW scene, after years of shows in her bagged Polo 9N and her T6 front end-swapped T5 Transporter (and prior to these, being a passenger princess in some of her father’s builds from a young age, particularly with his T4 Transporter). 

It was at one of these very shows where she first clapped eyes on this particular Copper Orange Metallic Amarok, and where this curious story really begins. “I got engaged to my now- husband, Kieran, on the pink carpet of Ultimate Stance,” she grins. “This truck was actually on the stand too at the time, how crazy!” 

Ignite The Fire

Whether it was the emotionally charged situation or just the fact that this modified Volkswagen Amarok was so damn cool in its own right, a fire was ignited in Kate’s head at that very moment, which she found very hard to put out in the coming months and years. “I loved it and what had already been done to it,” Kate continues. “Ollie Maslin, the previous owner, built such good foundations with it… The truck sold, unbeknownst to us, then popped up in a car raffle, which we bought many tickets for but sadly, didn’t win.” 

Never give up

Slightly demotivated by losing out on the competition, and with a wedding and the birth of their first child to focus on, the Amarok fell to the back of Kate’s mind for a while. But that pesky thing called fate ensured it made an unexpected return before too long… 

“We decided it was time for a ‘sensible’ family car,” Kate brings us up to speed. “I remember sitting in a garden centre while Kieran looked at cars on his phone. I said I’d love an Amarok and to build it up just like Ollie’s. One eBay search later and there it was, for sale. A week later, it was sitting on our drive.” Isn’t it funny the way things work out? 

Rare of the year

What was it about this particular vehicle that Kate was so enamoured by, exactly? Well, for a start, there aren’t many modified Amaroks out there, especially in the UK, with previous owner Ollie adding some well-thought-out touches to allow this pick- up to really stand out in all the right ways. Combined with the fact it’s a limited-edition ‘Canyon’ model, meaning it’s got nicer paint, a plush interior and a tuneable BiTDI engine as standard, and Kate understandably saw it as the ideal starting point to create into her ultimate do-it-all motor. 

Dynamic duo

With crane mechanic hubby Kieran helping where needed, the duo put their heads together to further transform their latest acquisition into something which even more closely reflected their unique personalities and ticked all their boxes. “I loved it as it stood when we got it,” she admits. “But part of me wanted to add and change some things to make it more mine.” 

Let’s off-road

There’s no denying the presence of this beast as you first set eyes upon it now. The combination of those tough Black Rhino off- road wheels and chunky Cooper tyres, topped off with the suspension lift all-round, highlight just what a big and capable beast the Amarok can be. Other touches like the roof-mounted spotlights (standard on the Canyon model) and grille-mounted light bar, as well as the trick spare wheel/tyre holder over the loading bay, ensure this is one VW that would never look out of place on even the most demanding off-road course. 

Supermarket sweep

“It’s mainly our sensible family car, but we do take it off-road,” Kate is keen to say. “It’s been through rivers and 4×4 experiences but also takes us to Tesco and the doctors!” Despite its obvious practicalities, don’t go thinking for one second this beast has lost any of its show credentials. Polish it up, and another layer emerges – that of a stand-out show-winner with some seriously unique touches. 

Caddy shack

That tailgate, for example, was painstakingly custom made from an actual Mk1 Caddy unit, with the embossed VOLKSWAGEN branding somehow working perfectly as a subtle retro nod. Inside, Recaro bucket seats are trimmed to the exact same fabric as the standard Amarok Canyon seats, giving a luxurious OEM+ vibe. “I won two trophies at 2022’s Edition 38 show,” Kate reveals. “I have always dreamt of it, but never thought it would happen.” 

Laugh out loud

Dig even deeper into the build, and Kate’s humorous side emerges, with a Cornish Rattler cider pump pull converted to become the gear knob for the six-speed manual ‘box. There’s also a perfectly matching miniature model of the modified Volkswagen Amarok inside, as well as colour-coded Canyon-themed baseball bat! 

Kenwood connection

Finally, a trick Kenwood head unit and reversing camera module ensures the in-car entertainment setup is thoroughly up to date. In fact, Kenwood specifically chose the Amarok to feature in its most recent marketing campaign (see video above), further cementing this vehicle’s coolness and broad appeal. 

The end is in sight, maybe…

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that Kate is far from finished with this particular project, however, with plans afoot to add even more unique touches to the interior with the help of Hawkes Automotive, as well as more audio work, a sun hood for the windscreen and maybe even an engine swap a bit further down the line. 

Mind over matter

By keeping nothing but a strong mind in the lead-up to purchasing it and throughout its entire build, Kate has proven with her stunning Amarok that you really can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. The car itself also stands as living proof that growing up and starting a family doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can be the most fun you’ve ever had…

Tech Spec: Modified Volkswagen Amarok

Engine & Transmission:

2.0-litre BiTDI turbodiesel engine, K&N panel filter, side-exit exhaust with straight-pipe or divert- to-silencer valve, ECU remap (220bhp), six-speed manual gearbox

Chassis:

8×17” Black Rhino Calico monoblock off-road alloy wheels in matte black, 285/70/17 Cooper Discover STT Pro off-road tyres, matching spare wheel/tyre mounted behind cab, staggered wheel spacers, suspension lift kit (50mm front, 25mm rear), factory disc brakes, custom diff drop

Exterior:

Copper Orange Metallic body, bonnet and window wind deflectors, factory roof-mounted light bar, aftermarket lower grille-mounted light bar, custom metal side steps with water jet-cut ‘AMAROK’ moniker, custom over-bed spare wheel rack, roller shutter on bed, custom Mk1 Caddy embossed tailgate conversion with smoothed badge/handle, all-black front grille, custom 3D printed side repeater guards with embossed ‘Canyon’ logo, smoked directional indicators, rear light guards, textured pillar wrap, custom rear lights, tinted windows all-round, tow bar

Interior:

Heated Recaro CS reclining bucket seats (retrimmed in the Canyon limited-edition fabric and with hard backs colour-coded to the exterior), colour-coded vent surrounds, custom trimmed armrest, orange-piped seatbelts and steering wheel stitching, custom Cornish Rattler gear knob, OEM-sourced ‘Amarok’ door shut trims, custom matching miniature Amarok model, colour-coded ‘Canyon’ baseball bat and custom window hanger, Kenwood head unit and reversing camera

With thanks to Performance VW Magazine. Words: Sam Preston   Photos: Nick Williams

The post Modified Volkswagen Amarok: From The Archive appeared first on Fast Car.

Great Britain has a history of blokes in sheds churning out world-beating engineering masterpieces. It’s in our DNA, it’s why seven of the ten current Formula One teams have bases in Britain, and ultimately, it’s how we won the war. The man tinkering in his shed is an archetypical British phenomenon.

But in an age where everything is digital you may think that man-in-a-shed spirit has been replaced with computer-aided pristine white workshops, leaving behind the old beardy-weirdies to twirl their Whitworth spanners on some old classic piece of junk that never actually worked in the first place.

But, thankfully, the world still has people like Tobias Arkell. Yes, he does have a beard, and hailing from deepest, darkest Cornwall, some may say he’s a bit weird – but he possess that oh-so-British desire to tinker. And he’s clearly got quite the knack for it, as proved by wheeling this immaculate-yet-crazy, RWD Fiesta XR2i complete with a turbocharged ST170 engine out of the shed it was built in.

Tobias tells us how it all started: “I got the car on my 18th birthday as a present to myself back in 2011 – a genuine one-lady-owner-from-new XR2i with just 63,000 miles on the clock.”

Growing up, our man was always destined to be a Blue Oval owner, thanks is no small part to Uncle Robert and his Graham Goode-tuned Sapphire Cosworth. With a punchy YB fettled by a famous RS500 racer, a perfect stance, and bags of performance, teenage Tobias wanted his new purchase to follow in the footsteps of the car that formed his love for fast Fords.

Tobias quickly realised he wasn’t going to get the performance he wanted from the CVH, so a swap to a full 16-valve Zetec soon came about. But not any old Zetec; Tobias fitted throttle bodies and ran it on a Megasquirt ECU hooked up to a CTS Stage 2 ‘box with Quaife ATB diff upgrade.

At just 18 years old, that’s quite a weapon, but when you’re doing trips to Spa and Nürburgring alongside mates in Cosworths and RS Fords, the lure of a turbocharger to keep up is always going to be hard to resist. Too hard for Tobias, whose engineering-led brain went into overdrive at the thought of adding some forced induction to proceedings.

Tobias recalls, “I started to find a love for making my own parts or modifying components to suit.

“Being an engineer by trade I had learnt how to TIG weld, so I bought myself a cheap TIG and started doing some bits at home – stuff like modifying a Crazycage exhaust manifold to reposition the turbo flange where I wanted it to mount. This led to custom boost pipes and a custom inlet too.”

Despite all the monumental efforts getting the car running with the new Zetec turbo engine in situ, Tobias used the car only a handful of times in that spec (“As my mate Kurt often likes to remind me,” laughs Tobias) because the gearbox never seemed happy.

That’s where the story takes a twist – quite literally, through 90 degrees.

“I’d pulled the engine and gearbox out to replace another broken FWD box, and that’s when I came across a feature in Fast Ford on a rear-wheel-drive Mk1 Fiesta. My dad came in with a cuppa – his way of checking up on me and what I’m doing – and said, ‘why don’t you do that?’ With the engine swinging on the crane, I’d already started measuring up for a transmission tunnel before he’d finished his tea,” laughs Tobias.

The starting point was finding a suitable rear-drive gearbox; one that would be slim enough to slot neatly under a custom transmission tunnel but would also be able to cope with the abuse from a highly-tuned turbocharged Zetec. The answer came in the shape of a Mazda RX-8 unit.

Some of the classic’s boys have been using these to good effect, but Tobias couldn’t resist opening one up and having a little tinker.

“I’m using an RX-8 gearbox with Mazda RX-7 bearings and my own machined baffle plate to add strength, as well as some oil capacity,” he smirks. “After speaking to a few RX-8 gearbox users and chatting about failures (fourth gear in particular seems to be an issue) I decided to strip mine down and found that all the bearings are sealed units.

“I then found out that people use the RX-7 (FD3) gearbox in high-power applications without any problems; it has open-face bearings, meaning the oil can pass through and aid cooling. So, I converted my RX-8 ‘box to run the RX-7 bearings – which, as it turns out, fit perfectly without any machining.”

At the back end, a trusty English axle has been stuffed with an aggressive 3J Driveline NXG limited-slip differential (with 45/45 ramp angles, and a seriously heavy pre-load), a 3J alloy front snout, and 3J 18-spline halfshafts.

Connecting the two is a fancy carbon-fibre propshaft. “I got lucky with that,” Tobias admits. “It’s from an RX-8. When I offered it up, by sheer fluke it had the perfect amount of float. I did modify some Land Rover Defender universal-joints, though, so I could use a larger Atlas axle drive flange on the diff.”

With the car stripped, the entire Fiesta shell was fully stitch-welded – a process of strengthening every seem with a pattern of one-inch weld followed by one-inch gap all the way around. At the same time, Tobias strengthened the front chassis rails with custom reinforcing plates and raised and redesigned the strut tops to suit the camber-adjustable mounts this XR2i now wears.

And that’s before we get to the obvious stuff like custom-fabricating a transmission tunnel. Tobias explains, “I cut and fabricated a full tunnel to the rear, and then raised and reinforced the boot floor and strut towers and added a welded-in cross brace. I’ve also moved the bulkhead back to try and get the weight distribution of the engine and transmission as far back as possible without affecting the interior too much.”

Similar evidence of not wanting to lose sight of the XR2i’s origins can be found with the rear end. Of course, no Fiesta ever came with an English axle from the factory, but Tobias has employed a custom six-link setup that retains the original XR2i geometry.

“It took me weeks to come up with it – I scaled the arms down, and even used lollipop sticks to check that it would all work in unison and the axle would travel through the motion correctly,” says Tobias.

It’s a similar story at the front: Sierra hubs modified to eliminate bump-steer join rose-jointed Fiesta RS1800-style wishbones on a custom subframe with the steering rack (made from a Sierra quick-rack with Volvo tie arms and rose-jointed ends) mounted in front of the engine. Rotating the engine itself through 90 degrees was comparatively simple, and some no-nonsense chassis mounts hold it all in the right place.

Ah, the engine. We’ve certainly saved the best for last. Based on a genuine Mountune CGi (carbon graphite-impregnated) block that you’d normally find on the Focus WRC cars that a certain Mr McRae used to drive, Tobias then further machined things to his own spec.

“The block was decked by 0.6mm to work with the desired compression ratio, and I also drilled and tapped the head studs to accept larger M12s – very nerve-racking, considering how rare the block is,” admits Tobias.

Inside the fancy block lives a set of Mk1 Focus RS H-section conrods from PEC and a set of secret Phil Reeve-spec pistons, but Tobias couldn’t resist putting his own stamp on things.

“The rods have been balanced to within 0.1g between them using my home-made jig. I machined the pistons to add valve pockets for clearance to allow the VVT to work, lateral gas ports, forced-pin oiling, and accumulator grooves – all done on my little toolmaker’s mill and lathe at home,” Tobias confesses.

On top of all that you’ll find an ST170 cylinder head (ported by Tobias himself, naturally) while the notoriously weak oil pump has been replaced with an externally mounted unit that means Tobias can retain the wet sump system but without fear of the oil pump exploding.

The impressive exhaust manifold was custom-made by Tobias from stainless steel and features 1.25in headers with a cast collector that includes a twin-scroll design and twin external wastegates.

Tobias explains, “I went with a bottom-mount turbo manifold design, as I love the old Zakspeed cars with their crazy manifolds and how they were bottom-mounted.”

The turbo itself is a Holset unit; originally found on a Cummins generator, it’s been modified by Compressor Racing to create what is a hybrid HX35, or – as it’s called – an RS321. Off the back of the turbo, Tobias has made a 4in downpipe that tapers to 3.5in and then to 3in for the rest of the exhaust system.

The twin external wastegates are nice and small, so they work well in such a tight engine bay. Tobias has linked the outlets of both ‘gates so they exit via a neat little 2.5in outwardly rolled tip exiting from the passenger side of the front bumper.

On the other side of the engine, the inlet manifold is another one-off. Tobias explains, “Many people don’t believe it, but the inlet is my own custom build. I based it on an RS200 manifold – the Ford logo comes from an RS1600i manifold that I cut the top off, while inside it’s got 25mm-high trumpets to encourage better flow. The plenum is also linked to the Jenvey 48mm throttle bodies from my N/A engines, although I have cut the ends off and welded on thicker flanges, and changed the seals to double lip seals too”

A custom cooling package comprises an Airtec RS500 intercooler (albeit mounted upside down and working with 2.5in solid boost pipes), an Airtec Cosworth 60mm radiator (modified with AN16 flow and return fittings) with twin 11in fans, and a 15-row thermostatically controlled oil cooler.

A Toyota Yaris has donated its coil-on-plugs, which Tobias mounted using a custom adapter plate. Finally, the whole thing is controlled by an ECUMaster Black engine management system – which Tobias is happy to map himself.

“I’m still learning for sure, but this ECU is so user-friendly, especially as the algorithm needed for the complication of throttle bodies and a turbo isn’t the easiest to get my head around,” he admits.

The car was running and, on the road, last year, but it was short-lived. Tobias explains, “I had an issue with the alternator bracket, which caused the auxiliary belt to heat up and snap. Unfortunately, this happened at the worst time – when it snapped, it whipped around and took out my oil pump drive belt at 8500rpm and 20psi of boost.

“Consequently, this led to a full engine rebuild, but I don’t see it as a bad thing because it gave me an opportunity to do the modifications to the new-spec pistons, as well as completely rebuilding the gearbox to a higher spec, and adding some extra mods that I wanted too.”

And that sets the tone with this RWD Fiesta XR2i project, really. With Tobias’s constant urge to improve and develop, this Fiesta is going to continue to evolve over the next ten years too.

In fact, Tobias has already said he wants to build his own pedal box and change the front wishbone setup so he can run wider front wheels. Then he’s got eyes on a Quaife sequential gearbox, where he plans to hook up a pneumatic shift system.

So, the next time you take a trip out in the sticks to somewhere like Cornwall, keep an eye out for a man in a shed – they still exist, and the next one might also be building a cover-worthy fast Ford…

Feature from Fast Ford magazine. Photos: Jason Dodd.

The post RWD Fiesta XR2i with Turbocharged ST170 Engine | Homebuilt Hero appeared first on Fast Car.

It’s hard to believe as I sit in the sun, drinking coffee and writing this, that just a few short weeks ago the country was covered in snow. I know many people are not fans of the white stuff, but I love it. Especially as I’ve got an RS4, quattro power and the driving skills of Stig Blomqvist (you wish – Jules). Well maybe not.

Therefore, imagine my delight as I jump in the Avant, turn the key and press the push start to be greeted with nothing but silence. Yep. It seems my battery had other ideas.

Balls! Luckily for me though it takes more than a bit of bad weather to stop the guys at the Battery Megastore, who assured me a new battery would be at my door the following day, all ready to be hooked up. And it was. But then I guess that’s why they’re the UK’s number one online battery retailer. It was just a shame the snow had already melted by then. Sob. Maybe next year…

Another thing that meant I wasn’t going anywhere fast was that my insurance was up for renewal. And as Sheriff John Bunnell would say: “The only place you’re going with no car insurance is the slammer!” With my pretty face, that’s not a place I want to visit. So I did the sensible thing and got on the blower to Adrian Flux.

Last year was my first time getting insurance for the RS4 so I rung around. But it was a waste of time. So this year I tried
a select few, but none of them could beat Adrian Flux on either the quote or service.

It has to be said, there’s something nice and reassuring about talking to an insurer that understands performance and modified cars. So a big thanks to Christopher Poynter at Adrian Flux. He made sure I left with an agreed value for the RS4, a protected no claims bonus and all my modifications were declared and covered. Also, he sorted out a great deal that means I can pay my premium in 10 monthly instalments rather than one big chunk and it wasn’t that much more expensive either.

And that’s good news for me, as it means I can finally start looking at sorting out some new wheels and planning a visit to Revo for some more power. Lovely!

SPENT
Adrian Flux Insurance Premium £970 (10 monthly payments)
Hankook MF57220 Car Battery £53
Total £1,023

CONTACTS
Adrian Flux
0800 089 6000
Battery Megastore
01684 298 800

The post GLENN’S AUDI RS4 AVANT B7 – PART 10 appeared first on Fast Car.