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Ridowh

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Everything posted by Ridowh

  1. Ridowh

    Dual batteries

    Andrew is this correct? Seems awfully low.
  2. Ridowh

    Dual batteries

    Hmm thanks Varelco. They didn’t exist the last time I had any kind of freedom of movement (i.e. before I got married). I will check out these. My budget is incredibly tight though. I am disabled and survive on £120 a week from ESA. Luckily I own my own flat and car outright, so no debts, but it makes trying to go anywhere for any kind of holiday just about impossible I have window coverings from Aus - needed the keep the sun out - and a good (Artic rated) sleeping bag and pillows. I have to sleep slightly raised anyway to assist with breathing and my cervical spine requires me to stay fairly immobile while sleeping so space isn’t too much of a problem for me I will definitely be carrying out a few trial runs before undertaking any major journeys or spending out any significant sums of money.
  3. Ridowh

    Dual batteries

    I have a very smart, very compact (smaller than a paperback novel) jump starter battery. It recharges via the 5v USB output in the car, or can be mains charged via an adapter. When I get the inverter I will test it out overnight and see whether it has the low current, continuous drain capacity (vs. the high current, short term power needed for a car start). And of course I also have my old, original Toyota battery that was replaced. The replacment is an 80Ah (vs. the original’s 45Ah). I am not certain how suitable that would be being used for up to 8 continuous hours. According to the manufacturer’s website for my sleep apnoea machine, for a 12v, deep cycle battery, using an inverter, it will draw 0.9 Amps. Given this, I should think that the old battery I have may well manage OK. However I will need to look into the complexities of wiring required to ensure that it is safely connected up to both the car and the inverter. Perhaps even using just the car’s single existing 80Ah battery will be totally sufficient. Then I can keep the Lipo jump start unit ready in case of higher than expected drain. That would certainly keep costs and complexity low.
  4. $95 million, I assume not included in the $177.4 million above. Not a good time to be a Suburu shareholder.
  5. Ridowh

    GT86/BRZ Drivers Club Facebook Group

    Thanks. I have no idea why I hadn’t spotted there was a group FB page before.
  6. Ridowh

    Dual batteries

    Tommy and Andrew - thank you so much for all the info. I will need to look into getting the info required when I get time. Then I’ll look into whether or not it’s something I’m able to do. Even though electronics (engineering) is a long-standing hobby of mine, there are still limits to what I am comfortable doing with a car, especially given the complexity of electrics in modern cars and motorcycles. I normally shy away from anything too risky, seeing as my 86 is the first car I’ve ever bought outright and, just as when I had motorcycle, I’m hesitant to risk anything that may result in a cascade failure, which would typically occur when I am driving somewhat enthusiastically. I’ll see how I get on. Very much appreciated. Richard
  7. As much as I hate to admit it, what you are saying makes good sense, as seems likely, given the Supra taking on the role of flagship sports car. I hope that, in the longer term, the 86 attains the timeless classic status it deserves. Holding its value, with well treated, low mileage examples sought after collectors items.
  8. Hmmm - I agree with you, in that it would appear to be the subtext, or gist of it, however I find it hard to see how Toyota would kill the golden (well gold-plated) goose, especially when you take into account whatever contract exists with Subaru too. And then there’s the large number of aftermarket companies servicing the GT(S)86 sector as well. Seeing as the Supra is BMW, and has practically no shared components, I don’t really want to believe the GT86 was nothing more than a stopgap while awaiting the Supra.
  9. Just watched the live reveal and I have to admit, I do like the look of it. It really doesn’t look a million miles way from the good old 86. A little taller perhaps, and slight differences in the body shape, but nothing radically different. And for that I am thankful. It also has 50:50 weight balance, and gorgeous Brembo braking with 19” wheels. It also has some nice safety features, such as pre-crash emergency braking and auto lane departure warning - things I wish the 86 had had as an option. It had a nice dash and looks like a HUD as well. The rest of the interior looks really sporty, 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds, so similar to my GTS auto post SC. They then went on to show a racier version, a Barret-Jackson special edition, in grey metal, driven into the studio by Fernando Alonso (bet he got paid well for that). (EDIT: I’ve since found it is the A90 edition, only for the FIRST 24 U.K. orders places!! So get in there quick). It had more extreme bodywork and looked even better. I’m not sure which of the two cars will be the first off the line. And pictures of the NASCAR model looks the business It will still take a remarkable bit of luck for me to afford one, a medium lottery win perhaps (which would really be something as I don’t buy lottery tickets, maybe I should start?). What do others think?
  10. From what I have read £50k is about right. I’ve seen £40k quoted as the base starting price, however that was a slightly older page. According to RoadandTrack.com there will be a turbo-charged 4 cylinder model (not sure about the hp on this) and a 3.0 litre straight 6-cylinder producing 335hp. Interestingly enough, there’s a rumour that both models will be 8-speed auto models and there will not be a manual option. Personally, I drive a supercharged GTS auto (around 300bhp) and I find the paddle-shift manual mode to be absolutely superb, so I wouldn’t mind the lack of manual at all. I would also find it difficult to consider moving away from that for an extra 35hp, especially given the cost difference. With my Cobra De-Cat, resonated exhaust, which sounds great, I find it sounds better than the clips I’ve heard of the Supra too I grabbed these pictures from RoadandTrack.com as well. They show what they believe it will look like, based on the concept FT-1. Looks rather smart in my opinion, still not enough to tempt me away. Now the IF they were to give a convertible option, and really fit the interior out nicely, together with some really special electronic smarts, plus configurable suspension and braking etc. - now that might just about do the trick, and justify the extra £25k. But that’s a great deal of money, so it would really need to be something else. I’ll just have to wait and see
  11. Haha wonderful. Anything that makes me feel better about not being able to afford it is fine by me. I find it interesting that Toyota have picked a price point that puts it into direct competition with some very nice sports cars. They must have a high degree of confidence in the Supra’s abilities.
  12. Ridowh

    Toyota gt86 digital speedometer

    I have just imported my GTS86 from Australia (and just got it yesterday, finally, after it had been ‘randomly’ checked by Interpol before DVLA would issue a registration). It’s a 2015 model (with the sharks fin aerial), registered there in Aug 2014. I waited specifically for the new model to come through so got one of the earliest ones to hit Australia. In order to pass the IVA test it needed a new fascia showing both mph and kmh on the analogue dial. Unfortunately it still shows kmh on the central digital display, and the button (that toggles mph and kmh on the U.K. version) is just an inoperable (and immovable) button. Do any members know if the circuitry that should sit behind this button on the U.K. model still exists, and therefore all that is required is an operable button to toggle the central digital display readout? My odometer also still shows as km and I’d like to change that as well, however that isn’t as important to me. Many thanks in advance, Septic
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