Custard Tart - MR2 hand-me-down

[The Arch Bishop]

Sorry. I've just realised that the second pic is from your Celica! D'oh!

Yeah, top image is the MR2, below is the severely whipped Manky Celica! The 2zz is the worst sludgy engine I've ever seen by quite some stretch!

[The Arch Bishop]

Only a quick update on the Tart as the manky Celica has been taking all of my time!

It was once again time for the MOT and this time, it was a little bit squeaky to get it through. Not a massive fault of the car. Initially, they couldn't get the cO2 readings under what they should be until they switched the sniffer to the other tailpipe, at which point is was well under. They suspect there's a leak at the clamps for the left hand tail pipe which was throwing their test out. Fair play to them, they really persevered!

Secondly, the handbrake was only just in tolerance. This was mainly because one side was replaced a few years ago so was extremely good, while the other side is an original and on it's way out.

It was a pass however, so I'll take that!

A lot of compliments about it's condition were given though which was nice!

[puma2]

  as you say a pass is a pass defiantly gives  you the heads up was needs to done by next time
plus helps with that i can to to improve my 2 now  

[The Arch Bishop]

Why no updates on the tart? Well because it hasn't moved out of the garage for nearly a year now. A sad state of affairs but with so many other cars on the fleet and non of them fitting in the garage other than the MR2, I simply can't use it.

I know this is not acceptable, which is why I'm considering selling it to someone who will actually use and look after the old girl.

We're looking at many possible life changes in the coming years and having a billion cars on the driveway doesn't really fit in any of them, so I know it's the sensible choice.

Anyone seriously interested, give me a shout. Got to be better than it sitting under a cover in the garage, but sad times...

[puma2]

Why no updates on the tart? Well because it hasn't moved out of the garage for nearly a year now. A sad state of affairs but with so many other cars on the fleet and non of them fitting in the garage other than the MR2, I simply can't use it.

I know this is not acceptable, which is why I'm considering selling it to someone who will actually use and look after the old girl.

We're looking at many possible life changes in the coming years and having a billion cars on the driveway doesn't really fit in any of them, so I know it's the sensible choice.

Anyone seriously interested, give me a shout. Got to be better than it sitting under a cover in the garage, but sad times...


i feel your pain there especially  with that interior     

[The Arch Bishop]

Remember me?



That's right, the Tart is finally out of the garage (here taking a boost pack and a battery charger to a flat Celica at my in-laws)!

After nearly 2 years hibernation I bought a new battery, cleared the cobwebs out of the inside, cleaned a few bulb-holders and chucked it down for an MOT which it passed with only an advisory for a slight exhaust leak (the tailpipe I've been meaning to fix for ages). Still drives perfectly!

Both Mrs. Arch Bishop and myself had forgotten just how much fun they are, so we've had a fun weekend blatting around in it.

There's quite a few plans for trips in the next few months. I'll be going to Goodwood FOS this Friday, a trip to Beaulieu in August and then a weekend away to Rustival in September where the Tart will be in the exhibitors area (come and say Hi if you're there)!

[puma2]

  good to see the Tart out and about and getting around a far bit now  

well done to you to looking after it so well and a mot pass here to many years of happiness in your 2    

[cptspaulding]

I had completely forgotten you had a 2 

[The Arch Bishop]

I had completely forgotten you had a 2 

So did I - imagine my surprise when I found it in the garage! 

The tart managed Goodwood in 30+ degree heat and the aircon almost kept on top of the heat. Was good fun though!

[The Arch Bishop]

An adventure last weekend - Mrs. Arch Bishop and I finally got to go to Rustival!

After packing VERY light, we set off early Friday afternoon and the M25 treated us like it usually does;



Still, as a late birthday present, Mrs. AB had booked us a room at Caffeine & Machine for the weekend.

After it turned out that she had booked it for 2027 by mistake, the staff (who were excellent by the way) managed to find us a room for both nights although we'd have to swap the next day - not a big problem.

Unsurprisingly for a Friday evening it was pretty busy at C&M, but after a very agreeable pint and a surprisingly good burger, we were happy bunnies.

As it cleared out, we brought the Tart around from the back car park and out the front which allowed for some nicely lit photos - my favourite one was this;



A good night sleep was had and a good morning too, as it turns out that breakfast was included (and the breakfasts were very nice indeed).

Some great cars in the car park as well;



Fully fuelled up, we set off for The British Motor Museum which was only 20 mins away by some great driving roads.

Our pitch was right at the edge of the show, but we soon got chatting to some other owners and admirers of the MR2-kind. She certainly looked the part;



Rustival has to be the best car show I've been too. Totally inclusive, fully of nerds and weird and wonderful people and their odd-ball cars. I lost track of the number of times I said "haven't seen one of those for yeeears!"

It was a total celebration of all aspects of car culture from the enthusiast/posh stuff right down to some ratty old bangers with a story. Great stuff.

The Meowdi;



Bosozoku-style Mitsubishi Mirage (that star is the exhaust);



Gawd knows;



Lovely mk2;



It even gave you access to the museum which is always worth a wander about;





We left shortly before the show closed and made our way back to C&M to book into our second room. This time, they'd given us one of the rooms right at the front which was superb for car watching.



It was even more packed on the Saturday evening and as the afternoon turned to evening, half of the Rustival lot  also started turning up.

With the sun setting and the beers flowing, it was magical. I can only describe it as like being in a real-life Forza Horizon festival! Stunning cars of all types coming and going constantly. Loads of people standing, chatting and laughing. We caught up with a young lad with his 2ZZ-swapped Roadster and spent ages talking about life with an MR2.



It carried on as the night drew in;





Next morning - another fantastic breakfast and we were on our way home (via some friends in Oxford). Unsurprisingly the Tart behaved perfectly the whole trip, other than the AC finally giving up on the M25.

So it was a great trip much in thanks to staying at Caffeine & Machine. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea as we've discussed before, but we enjoyed every minute of it. The staff were universally superb - big shout out to Aran in the merch-shop who spotted the Tart and made lots of excited squealing noises because he'd never seen a facelift yellow before. He was our best friend for the rest of the stay! Mrs. Arch Bishop reckoned it was probably the coolest place she'd stayed - I was worried she'd be very underwhelmed!

Back to the real world, but during our stay, I'd been exchanging messages with someone selling a car, so yesterday this happened....



I'll look to get yet another 'Reader's other rides' thread going soon.

[Ardent]

Great write up.

[puma2]

  what a wonder time you must have had as the write was brillent in it self let alone being there and doing it in the sunniest 2 with the best interior as well