Im probably a bit biased about aftermarket wheels though, i have prejudices against them mainly for the following reasons

1)Bigger overall rolling diameter means incorrect speedo and over a longer period incorrect mileage readings and harder to calculate MPG

2)Bigger wheels and lower profile tyres = worse ride comfort

3)Additional weight causes a increase in unsprung weight hence negative handling

4)Additonal weight also leads to lower top speed as an increase in drag, and less MPG

5)Insurance implications can add extra cost and increased desirablity means higher risk of theft

6)Aftermarket wheels can give the 'modified' look which means unwanted attention from boy racers at the lights and police

I am not against aftermarket wheels completely, they just must be done within reason

for example moving from a standard felicia 13" steel wheel to a 16" brand new shiny alloy with 205/45/16's is simply over gripping the car and chassis and reducing overall drivability.

but changing to a 14" steel rim or a 14" from another car or model with a very similar rolling diameter is fine because the positives outweigh the negatives.

Im sure the above statement will spark contraversey but modifying cars is about personal taste ultimately so i have no right to force my opinions upon others.

Last thing, those Ronal wheels you mentioned Tom, im not a fan of those wheels, too much DUB and trye stretch look to them. unless thats what your going for!

Edited 21 February, 201115 yr by Sonner

Stage 1 complete!!!

New front shocks and ARB in place - also a new O/S driveshaft as the rubber had perished on the old one and the weight was flopping around loose.

Ronals are a bit more chewed-up than I thought. Compared to them the old wheeltrims were mint, but I so much prefer the proper alloys.

All rust spots gone... a lot of grinding, Hammerite rust killer and then respraying. It's not a perfect match but it's good enough for me and a lot better than crusty brown stuff!

T-Cut has helped even things out. Also I never realised just how much accumulated road gunk and tree sap there was on the paint. It was like trying to polish sticky sandpaper to start with!

Finally I treated her to a full valet including back to black, a proper clean of the wheels and some very durable tyre finish. Shazam!

Here are the results...

I think I'm in love again!

Edited 25 March, 201115 yr by Pacific_Blue

everybody really knows that you are going to spend loads of money on wheels and a big exhaust and everything just don't let the mrs fiind out

what it really needs is to roll into my garage one day, and roll out the next day with more power :wonder:

Hahaha, if if I rolled in there one day and rolled out with more power in the little fab mpi i'd be impressed!

Stage 1 complete!!!

New front shocks and ARB in place - also a new O/S driveshaft as the rubber had perished on the old one and the weight was flopping around loose.

Ronals are a bit more chewed-up than I thought. Compared to them the old wheeltrims were mint, but I so much prefer the proper alloys.

All rust spots gone... a lot of grinding, Hammerite rust killer and then respraying. It's not a perfect match but it's good enough for me and a lot better than crusty brown stuff!

T-Cut has helped even things out. Also I never realised just how much accumulated road gunk and tree sap there was on the paint. It was like trying to polish sticky sandpaper to start with!

Finally I treated her to a full valet including back to black, a proper clean of the wheels and some very durable tyre finish. Shazam!

Here are the results...

I think I'm in love again!

Very nice work.

Hi guys,

Well after 2 years of dependable fun and good service, the day is approaching when I'm going to have to part company with 'Bunton'. A combination of new family addition plus absence of work means that we're going to have to get one bigger car between us.

I'm pleased that my paintwork repairs have lasted the course and have plenty of life left, and will hopefully post all the details and photos in the For Sale section before long - for some reason I can't post in there at the moment. Anyone looking for the prettiest Felicia in Surrey (and a LOT of spares), however, feel free to drop me a PM.

Speak soon all.

:(

damn... if it was a diesel one id snap your arm off for it

damn... if it was a diesel one id snap your arm off for it

Haha thanks Tom. Yes the economies of petrol vs. diesel are probably a bit more obvious in our neck of the woods than with a brand new Fabia aren't they? Still, she's been very well behaved doing 65+ miles a day on one tank per week, combining motorway speeds with some seriously awful stop-start traffic through Kingston and Surbiton. I've also had to go and rescue my wife on several occasions when her much younger Peugeot 206 diesel has had a hissyfit.

I still can't start a new topic in the 'For Sale' section for whatever reason, so I might as well list what she comes with:

MOT to October

New OE offside driveshaft (advisory on the gaiter)

Front anti-roll bar and fittings

Original steel wheels and trims (on barely-used tyres)

The niggles with her are: matt finish on the bonnet after my respray, an intermittent warm starting issue (fully cold no problem, fully hot no problem but sometimes reticent after a short journey without cooling down - possibly throttle body) and she's just chucked a wheel weight which I will replace as the steering now vibrates a touch below 50mph.

All best

Ah yeah, you need to be a freedom member to post in the for sale section.

when you say anti roll bar and fittings... What you got? is that new fittings like the connecting links and brackets is it a 20 or 22 mm roll bar?