I like to plan ahead

[David.slough]

In my hello post I mentioned I'm looking for a 4th Gen as I have been reading all your lovely posts here and on PreludeUk and I feel once again inspired to own a under rated classic.

So after reading what everyone else has done and coming into a bit of money on the 1st March i've been doing some maths and searching and come up with a wish list, would love to have your expert views.

My aim is basically to have a weekend hack (not track maybe a drag on special days out) but mainly its going to be a show & tell car, now not being mechanically gifted some of the work will go to specialists but I want to learn as much as possible along the way it is my hobby car after all.

Here is what I was thinking as a plan, the order might change depending on the needs of the car:

Stage One
Find a damm car!! Would love Phantom Grey as thats what I had before but open to others
Get it checked over by PA and given a bit of a service (decent oils, fluids & plugs mainly)
Pay Mr. Insurance man a big bag of gold coins
Pay the government for the privilage of keeping it on the road (no-one ever sells with Tax anymore )

Allowed about £2,700 for this

Now if the car I end up with already has some of the items listed below (or better) then I can reduce my estimates or pay a bit more for the car

Stage Two - Breathing & Brakes
Megan Racing Cat Back Exhaust
Megan Racing Manifold
Thermo Tech Heat wrap
AEM Full CAI or S-Type OEM (if one ever comes available!)
Brembo OEM Discs and Pads all round
Goodridge Braided hoses
Some paint and a service on the calipers

Allowed another £1,150 for this stage

Stage Three - Engine Dress up
Bonnet Dampers
Megan Racing Front Strut
Magnecor HT Leads
Silicone Coolant Hoses
New Vacuum Hoses
Spoon Radiator & Oil Caps
One of those nice front cooling plates
Clean & Paint the rocker cover
Magnetic Oil Plug

Allowed £420 for this stage

Stage Four - Interior
Clarion Head unit with rear Aux input for the..
5" or 7" tablet PC fitted into the console (anyone know the max width you can get away with on the console?)
New speakers all round
Reversing Camera and 3.5" LCD (behind the smoked glass dash)
New leather gaitor & hand brake cover
Short shifter (Forbidden Moorsports if one becomes available)
Spool Alloy gear knob
Mugen Pedal covers
Flocked dash, door card and centre console
New carpet

I have a colour scheme in mind but it will ultimatley depend on the car colour

Allowed £650 for this stage

Stage Five - Exterior
Given that most Lude come with tin worm to varing levels:
Rear Panel replacements
Additional welding repairs
Respray of impacted areas
Rims & Tyres - undecided and will not decide until the car is bought

Allowed £1,800 for this stage

So a grand total of £6,720 , ok so I'm going to have to phase my stages as and when money becomes available but I can at least get the first three stages done with whats coming in March and its not bad to have a plan now is it

Oh one cost I forgot, pay the arab shieks the £150 to fill it up with some nice v-power

So if you manged to get to the bottom of this

1. congratulations - I tend to waffle and write toomuch
2. I havent included anything around uprated engine, EUC etc etc, these plans will come after I'm happy with the look and general feel of the car
3. I tried to seach all the costs and the estimates are the best i can get, oh they minus any labour charges
4. What have I missed?

Thanks for taking the time to read all this waffle

[JayJay]

I'm sure Nafe or someone will be along soon (PA?), they've done some serious overhauling so they should be able to point anything out

Plans look good to me. I think you've budgeted more than enough for buying/insuring/taxing/checking the car, so you should be good

Although the exterior cost may come as a shock... All depends on how much work is required. All you can really do is get the car and slowly work through the lists! Although I'd advise on getting the bodywork done first, it makes a big difference to how you view the car. Mine has dents and dings around the place (thankfully almost no rust) and it just looks old and tired, even when spotless!

[Merlin]

One area you havent touched on is suspension. Suspension and brakes are the first things you should look to upgrade in my opinion. These will have a much bigger effect on the car in comparison to exhaust mods as you will be making full use of the performace you already have.

And as soon as possible get decent tyres on the car

[JayJay]

^ Sorry yeah, I read bonnet dampers and it didn't click I'd say stage two should definitely include some coilovers *cough* BC Racing *cough*.

[NafemanNathan]

... Oh hello! What you doing here Jay?

Nice list bud... I like lists

Only thing I would say is... The chances are (if one is available), for that initial budget you should be able to get yourself a standard 4th gen in immaculate condition. You're servicing and fluids aren't going to accumulate to £700, and £2000 should get you a minter in this current climate

However, if you don't end up with a minter, of course get the servicing done first, but then you obviously intend keeping this car for a while, in which case I think you should definitely go about Stage 5 before 2, 3 & 4. In my mind it just makes sense to have a mint canvas to then drum all that money into it

Need to get yourself some decent coilovers in the early stages to

[JayJay]

What are you trying to say Nafe

[NafemanNathan]

What are you trying to say Nafe

I'm not sure. I'm confused Why am I being threaded

[JayJay]

What are you trying to say Nafe

I'm not sure. I'm confused Why am I being threaded

I dunno, why are you being threaded?

[NafemanNathan]

Your avatar pic works so well right now!

[JayJay]