Restoration project... Phase 1

[Ozzy_UK]

Hi Guys
picking up my excel which hasnt moved in about 4 years (except in january when i went up to check it out, and start it)
1st job will be to get the car on axel stands and check it out, so i figured whilst this is happening i may as well send off the alloys to be restored...

questions are:

1) do i respare the alloys in white to match the car, or leave them as they are? (cost is the same) what do you guys think?

2) what tyres do i go for?

have been looking at maybe Toyo R888's? or Falken ZE 512s?
was looking at Toyo R888s in 195/50/15 fronts, and 215/50/15's rear
or falken ZE 512s in 205/50/15 front, and 225/50/15 rear

any one had any experience with them?

this car is purely for nice days, and track days... (i drive a smart car the rest of the time)

many thanks!

[chris knowles]

Hi Ozzy,

It is great to hear about so many Excels being brought back into use!

I am not sure about the white alloys, a bit "essex" perhaps? Mind you, I drive a Ford Sierra, so I can't talk...

I'll be interested to see everyones else's thoughts on the tyres...

Also, I see that there is a complete chassis on ebay in Wales at the moment, but good to see if that generates any interest.

Chris

[Ozzy_UK]

actually i thought the gold was a little too "essex" and the white was really nice, but everyones entitled to opinions...
just have a look below and tell me which you prefer?

well this was what i was looking at:

[Steve C]

I like the white ... but perhaps slightly biased since I've just fitted the S/H Compomotive 17" wheels and they are white (on a red car). The only downside is they look dirty pretty quickly from brake dust whereas the silver just got darker

I can't comment on either of the tyres you listed, but I like the Toyo T1-S in 215/40 17 size - they seem better in the wet than the Bridgestone SO-1 and cost half as much! The T1-S & T1-R are available in 205/50 15 and 225/50 15. The R888's sound interesting for the track though!

[Skeggy]

The black and the gold look ...err not nice

The white actually look quite good - I wasn't really expecting them to.

But the silver don't look like they do on my car - your picture seems to make the silver look a little 'bright' . Mine look more like silver/grey.

Kind regards,

Steve
'86 se (in white!)

[GavinTaylor]

Oh . . . I can do opinions.

Silver - appropriate.
White - not on the stock wheels.
Black- it's not a racing car! . . . though the look has something.
Gold - looks like your trying too hard, or they didn't have silver in stock.

Well, we know what they say about opinions, don't we.

Gavin.

[83Excel]

My vote is for the silver.

I do quite like the white, but you have a pearlescent car and nothing is as obvious as a near but mismatch.

Black - never have been a fan (except on Celebrations!)

And Gold - you'll need to add blue paintwork, yellow stars and crescents, a big(ger) rear wing and 3 number 5s.

....but I'm sure my son would go gold or black every time

[Ozzy_UK]

i think the general consensus of the people i have asked has been white... Fiancee included
have been toying with the idea of getting just the outside lips, and rim polished in silver, and then have the middle white.
but i will see...

would really really appreciate tyre experiences tho..
have had experience with toyo T1-S/T1-Rs on my old saab and really not even close to the yoko's i put on after... so not really a fan of T1-Rs, especially as this car is not going to be run in the rain... its purely a sunny day fun car...
was looking at Yokohama's A043's...
many thanks all!

[texas2201]

I have the falkens as wet weather tyres on my E30 M3 with Toyo R888's as the dry weather semi stickies - I can rate both

but for dry track fun you cannot beat the 888's - just spent the weekend at thr Ring and they were awesome

I have Kumho's on the Excel and they handle OK in the dry but are very entertaining in the wet...

Martin