Hello... And am I chasing something that I'll never find? ;)

[=jon=]

Hi,

Third post on the forum, so be gentle

I've pretty much made my mind up that a surf will be my next car - currently I've got a Subaru Forester XT (2.5 turbo), but I've moved house, so my commute is a lot longer - the scooby will depreciate faster than a fast thing the more miles go on it, so it's got to go

Having searched for something suitable and fun to replace it, that's a little cheaper and won't lose so much cash, I've probably settled on a surf...

Ideally, I'd like a gen3 intercooler with a manual box, but it seems they are pretty hard to find. I've emailed Algy's, and they said they are very rare - maybe one in 50 cars... I test drove an IC auto at the weekend, and I wasn't that impressed with the box - the car seemed a bit sluggish midrange, and the box wanted to change up and down a lot - maybe it was just in need of some TLC, but I don't know...

So - my questions are :

Am I going to be looking forever for an IC'd manual, and never likely to find one? (Algy's say 12 weeks from when they find one, so I could be waiting the rest of the year...)

How readily available are IC kits, if I went for a non IC version? I'm likely to fiddle and up the boost etc, so an IC could be worthwhile.. It seems that non IC manuals are a little more common, but not much...

Are there any people with a manual 3.0/3.0IC in the oxford/south bucks area that would take me out to see what they are like, and possibly let me have a quick go (I bend it, I mend it etc)?

Anyone wanna buy a scooby?

Cheers,

Jon

[Predictable Bob]

I'd try another auto before you write them off - mine's certainly not sluggish and has never hunted up and down the box

[Ace Piker]

I do 30k a year in my 99 autp 3.0l. Got from Algy too! No complaints, check out the Norfolk off road pics in the off road centre section

[joker??]

I do 30k a year in my 99 autp 3.0l. Got from Algy too! No complaints, check out the Norfolk off road pics in the off road centre section

which one martin??? hehe your stuck in most pics

[m4x4tt]

Guys, whos Algy?

[plumb bob]

I drove an auto and a manual, and found the auto faster but didn't buy coz of other mechanical probs.

I settled on a manual, but I find it hard work around town.

In my opinion, with a vehicle that weighs 2 tons, an auto box is a definate bonus on and off the road.

It is possible to fit an intercooler to most models, a few guys on ere have done it, do a search, and find some pics.

There's a lot of them about, so have a good look and don't buy the first one you see.

[onlynik]

Guys, whos Algy?

A quick search on Google for "Algy surf" will provide your answer

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...rf&btnG=Search

[=jon=]

I drove an auto and a manual, and found the auto faster but didn't buy coz of other mechanical probs.

There's a lot of them about, so have a good look and don't buy the first one you see.

Cheers for the replies

Maybe the one I looked at was in need of TLC then... Like you say, it's prob a good idea to check out a few before I make any decisions... Anything is going to feel sluggish compared to a scooby that can hit 60 in under 6 seconds though, and depreciate even faster

Are there any oxfordshire-ish friendly people that can let me have a look in a known 'good' one - at least then I know what to expect when I look at others

Cheers,

Jon

[MudSurfer]

Cheers for the replies

Maybe the one I looked at was in need of TLC then... Like you say, it's prob a good idea to check out a few before I make any decisions... Anything is going to feel sluggish compared to a scooby that can hit 60 in under 6 seconds though, and depreciate even faster

Are there any oxfordshire-ish friendly people that can let me have a look in a known 'good' one - at least then I know what to expect when I look at others

Cheers,

Jon

Where in Oxfordshire are you Jon???

[BUSHWHACKER]

There's two here.....

http://www.hsc-cars.co.uk/cars/full.php

[=jon=]

Where in Oxfordshire are you Jon???

A few miles south of Oxford itself

[MudSurfer]

A few miles south of Oxford itself

OK - I'm a few miles south of Banbury - there is a guy in my village with a 3.0L auto for sale - he wants £2750 or thereabouts for it....let me know if you want his number.

I don't know the mileage though, so you'll need to call him, but if you are interested, let me know and you can pop round for a cuppa too!

[AuldNick]

They are ALL sluggish, Surf's dont do fast off the mark, 97 max (speedo lie's) NOT in seconds!

It was never ment to go fast and it never will tweek all you like it just wont do it.

I like the way the Surf slows me down it's like driving a couch, if I want fast I got the ZZR12 = 209mph in the rain (GPS).

[MudSurfer]

ZZR12 = 209mph in the rain (GPS).

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best I did was 174 in a custom chipped Volvo 850R

[=jon=]

They are ALL sluggish, Surf's dont do fast off the mark, 97 max (speedo lie's) NOT in seconds!

It was never ment to go fast and it never will tweek all you like it just wont do it.

I'm not really fussed about fast off the mark - as long as it's got sensible midrange it's OK If anything the one I test drove pulled away fairly smartish, it was more the midrange that was lacking... Strange...

209 in the rain sounds a bit mental..