Since then I pottered around with a couple of reasonable(ish) cars, then when I turned 21 I knew exactly what I wanted. I loked at a couple of cabs, but they were either too shoddy of too expensive. I was prepared to do a little bit of work myself thinking 'how hard can it be?' but I wasn't prepared to go to extremes like ripping out engines and things like that! Then I came across the car I have now.
It was for sale for �2,750 - a bit more than I wanted to pay. The condition of the bodywork was generally good (only a slight glitch on the rear wheel arch, which aint too bad for a ten year old car!) - but it was de-locked (locks removed and welded over), had a subtle spoiler, remote central locking and a manual hood (I didn't want an electric as there are too many bits to go wrong!). The car is also lowered with stiffened suspension, and the colour just seemed to suit the roof.
The inside was a mess though, and the engine wasn't running right.
So I talked a few hundred quid off the price of the car, test drove it, loved it and bought it. The hood was brand new.
When I got it home, the first thing I did was scrap out all the mould (yes mould) from just about every single part of the car. The carpet was thick oil / grease / dont-want-to-know, so I completely stripped the cars interior. Each seat was dismantled, cleaned, greased and painted up. The carpet was discarded and a second hand one sought. Not an easy task tho! cab carpets are a slightly different size to regular Escort carpets. But me being me I bought a regular one for �10 and cut it to fit - no easy task. The seats were then tidied up and covered in leather.
Next was the crappy sound system which had to go. A ford radio and standard speakers were ripped out with a Kenwood head unit, 6 disc multichanger, 6.5 inch Kenwood front and 6 inch Kenwood rear components replacing the cast out sound system. This is adequate for now, but I am hoping to install a pair of 12 inch subs in the boot for that extra yeah-im-two-miles-away-but you-know-im-coming-baby kind of sensation.
The car was bad at starting, so off came the starter motor and in went a new item - car starts like a dream!. The engine wasnt running well at all, but a quick blast of 10k Boost through the air intake soon sorted most of it (although there is still an underlying problem - blocked injector, choked fuel filter or something!).
Next came the bad bit. The whole front steering was knackered, and Id only had the car two weeks! How I missed it I don't know! But the car was under warranty and was soon found itself being repaired at no extra cost to me!
All the important bits are done, now all I have to do is totally finish off the bodywork (a few rusty bits have started to appear which annoys me), get the bass sorted, and maybe bet my dream turbo engine breathing fire under the bonnet. Another years no-claims bonus should see me straight!!!
So now the car is all sweet and lovely, and now that summers coming, I can't wait to get out there and tear up some roads.
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