Craikeybaby's 2004 Sable Roadster

Craikeybaby · July 28, 2016, 18:24

4th July 2016

After a busy spring the MR2 ended up being off the road for just over 7 weeks for various reasons, mostly my 4 week old son's fault, but I'll let him off.

I got the brakes bled, a few other niggles sorted and the wheels back on, and got to take it for a quick spin yesterday evening. It was the perfect evening for a blast round my favourite local B road circuit. After 7 weeks of boring cars i fell in love with the MR2 all over again - even better it will be my daily driver for the next few months!

The only niggle is that it seemed to be really hot when I got back home, I was using high revs and lower gears, but it seemed hotter than I'd noticed before - the bottled was too hot to open! So I'll need to keep an eye on that.

Back on the road! by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Craikeybaby · July 28, 2016, 18:31

And that brings us up to today!

I am currently using the Roadster as my main car, which has been great with the good weather we've been having. Even the day it got rained on when I had the roof down, the sun came back out and dried it off.

Of my jobs listed on my first post almost 3 years ago, I still haven't sorted the ears, nor taken any really good photos of it. As it standing it needs a really good wash, inside and out and could do with a wax. I need to do the front brakes in the next few months too. As you may be able to see in the photo above, the locking wheel nuts look really grubby compared to the normal wheel nuts. This shouldn't annoy me, but it does, so I'm going to try and give them a good clean.

shnazzle · July 28, 2016, 18:48

Good read!

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

shnazzle · July 28, 2016, 18:48

Was like following a live feed as you were posting it haha

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Craikeybaby · July 29, 2016, 08:01

Thanks. Exciting updates are going to be a lot slower now.

Craikeybaby · September 10, 2016, 23:14

After only having used the MR2 for short commutes I got a chance to take it out for a good blast last Sunday. I packed my camera too, aware that I still hadn't taken any good shots of the MR2 - it is just a shame I didn't have a chance to wash it beforehand. Anyway, 60 miles, to get petrol, take some photos and pick up an order from Screwfix, was good use of a Sunday morning in my book!

MR2 Sunday Drive by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Craikeybaby · November 12, 2016, 11:08

I've had a good autumn in the MR2, starting with a 100 mile round trip to Prescott for breakfast. As the weather was so nice I continued to use it as my daily - fortunately it was parked at work when my neighbour had scaffolding erected, blocking the access to my garage. I'm still annoyed that I can't park the MR2 in the garage, but would have been even more annoyed if it had been blocked in!

The next big day out was the Pistonheads Sunday Service at Silverstone. A few of us decided to convoy down, pulling up at the usual meeting place I was confronted by a group of supercars, an R8, a Lamborghini Aventador, a few Loti, a GTR and a Cayman GT4. The MR2 can't keep up with the supercars on the motorways, but can hold its own in the twisties. I made a time-lapse of the drive to Silverstone.

The main event was the track time, the MR2 didn't feel as slow as it had done at the event previously, as I haven't changed anything on the car, I'm hoping it is me that is improving. Towards the end of the session I pretty much had the track to myself. I've uploaded a lap to YouTube. The brakes were a bit soft after the 30 minute session, which I've grown accustomed to. Whilst letting the brakes cool down I was approached by a couple of PHers to talk about the car - I never experienced that when I drove an MX-5.

//[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/9vtTGSvd.jpg[/img]|http://thumbsnap.com/9vtTGSvd
//[img]http://thumbsnap.com/s/AfwUTsu5.jpg[/img]|http://thumbsnap.com/AfwUTsu5

From Silverstone I followed my Dad, in his Boxster, on the cross country route to my parent's house, it has been a long time since we've been for a drive together in separate cars. Following my Dad through the Cotswolds, with his Boxster kicking up the autumn leaves was just as enjoyable as driving on the track.

In all I did 170 miles and due to the garage situation the MR2 was pressed back in to daily driver duty the next day. I had a large package to bring back from work, so swapped cars with my wife - I think it was the first time she had driven the MR2 on her own - progress from last summer when she was scared to drive it at all! I'm not too impressed at having to drive it on the gritted roads, so as soon as I can get it back in the garage and crack on with the winter jobs I've got lined up.

Craikeybaby · December 19, 2016, 22:22

My MR2 has been featured on the Pistonheads homepage: m http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph- ... ster/35477 m

Ricardo · December 20, 2016, 09:11

Saw that yesterday. Great work. Nice write up you did there and done interesting comments too. Much love for the roadster. s:)

s:)

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Craikeybaby · December 21, 2016, 22:32

Thanks! Mike Spinelli, founder of Jalopnik has tweeted a link to that article now - there is a lot of love for the MR2!

Craikeybaby · December 29, 2016, 23:03

I wasn't planning on driving the MR2 over the winter, especially not when there was salt on the roads, but a few mates organised a hoon through the Peak District yesterday. So I took the MR2 for a blast - 150 miles, all roof down and absolutely loved it!

MR2 and Friends by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Will need to give it a good wash before tucking it back into the garage and doing the brakes next month.

shnazzle · December 30, 2016, 00:01

How did it hold up against the competition? s:)

s:)

Craikeybaby · December 30, 2016, 08:57

Well! I go for a drive with those boys a few times a year and the little MR2 has got a bit of a reputation. I think it may partly come down to familiarity with the car, I always hold back a bit when driving in a group, as there is so much potential to make a complete tit of yourself, but I'm confident in the car. It is the same with the guys in the MINIs. Both the GT4 and the M3 sounded awesome though.

There was also a TT-S there - surely the perfect car for a cross country drive on slippery roads. Once again I had a "fast Audi" driver asking me what my MR2 had uprated from standard! Then "a standard 1.8? It must have about 150bhp?" Errr, a bit less than that.

shnazzle · December 30, 2016, 09:08

Amazing isn't it? It's not how you stand by your car, it's how you race your car hehe. Little Fast and the Furious quote.

We all know that the GT4 and M3 would destroy the MR2 in capable and willing hands, but in the meantime.....
We shock many

Craikeybaby · December 31, 2016, 20:19

I removed all the roadsalt from the hoon earlier in the week, including trying out the Karcher chassis cleaner I got for Christmas.

MR2 snow foam by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

The MR2 is tucked away in the garage now, I've got a few jobs I want to do on it before the good weather comes back and I'll be driving it more.

Craikeybaby · April 29, 2017, 22:35

The MR2 was laid up in the garage for six weeks to avoid the worst of the weather. This also gave me the chance to fit new front discs and yellowstuff pads. The brakes are much better than they were and the cheap Pagid discs seem to have avoided rusting better than the OEM versions.

I got to test the brakes out on track at Silverstone, Here's one of my better laps.

I've also been taking my son Owen out in the MR2, roof up to start with, but he enjoys roof down too! I was so happy when he seemed to enjoy the MR2 - my proudest Dad moment yet!

Owen enjoying the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Roof down in the MR2 with Owen by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

I've been on parental leave the last few weeks, so we've been getting out in the MR2 a fair bit. I was proud when we pulled up in the parent and child spaces at the supermarket and the little boy in the next car pointed at the MR2 and loudly exclaimed to his dad that it was a cool car.

The MR2 passed its MOT, but with advisories about corrosion on the springs, and a suggestion from the tester that I probably shouldn't do any more track days until replacing them. Not what I wanted to hear the day after a £1,100 bill on my daily driver. So I think I am going to have to keep an eye on them and go for a suspension overhaul next winter. That should also give me a chance to work out what I am going to fit - I'll probably take the opportunity to upgrade. I need to sort out a service at Rogue next month, so will discuss options with them.

Treboeth · April 30, 2017, 00:19

I don`t know which one of you has the bigger grin s:mrgreen: :mrgreen: s:mrgreen:

StuC · April 30, 2017, 01:00

I'd be looking up Steve@D1 customs on here for your work. He is only up the road in Lutterworth and the quality of his work is second to none.
Toyota master technician. Nuff said.

Great that you have been out and about with your son in your 2. It's a great feeling. s:-D :-D s:-D

1979scotte · April 30, 2017, 07:24

Get one man to work on your car.
Rogue have a team of mechanics and can be hit and miss.
I vote for Steve too.

shnazzle · April 30, 2017, 16:17

Steve, Steve, he's our man!

Craikeybaby · May 25, 2017, 21:46

I collected the MR2 from Rogue Motorsport who had it for its annual service. It was just a simple service, the only extra being an auxiliary belt.

They must have also tweaked the brakes slightly as the pedal felt better and they no longer squeal, had a great drive back in the sunshine.

2 of the left · May 25, 2017, 21:57

Have you got the " ears " sorted yet when the hood is folded?

Craikeybaby · July 11, 2017, 20:21

Quote from: "2 of the left"Have you got the " ears " sorted yet when the hood is folded?

No s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

I thought about this the other day when the little tab thing dangled down and brushed my head. Having said that, I've hardly had a chance to drive it this year, let alone work on it!