Too Old to have a nova ??

[azura]

This is a serious question :)

I have ended up with a G Reg MK1 1.2 nova in good condition and RED :thumb:
However I want to start doing things to the car to my taste, but being just the other side of 30, I feel (or always) had the impression of a nova as being a teenagers toy and have seen some really bad taste examples of modifications (dont get me wrong, it happens to fords too!)

I have just come over from the ford XR scene and enjoyed restoring lots of fords over the years including recently fitting a 2.0 zetec into a MK2 XR2. I want to put my own abbilities of mechanics into my nova now because I hate the way it drives, corners, stops etc... It will also be a change from Ford, as I have always owned fiestas, orions, escorts & sierras.

So question is, am I alone or is there other "older" modders with me on this one ???:cry:

[Kinky Monza]

You go for it chap, it's up to you at the end of the day, i'm probably one of the older girls on here at 25, but deffo do it!!! lol

[Breeny]

Plenty of the older modders on here mate. There are quite a few the other side of 30 (And 40 even!) :)

[Jack]

How old is CP these days? lol

Just see it as cheaper insurance :thumb:

[edit] btw, which shade of red.... :D

[JSeymour]

dont put a big engine in her you might have a heart attack! (jokelol)

do it i say, make it a mans toy by xe'ing it.

[EUROTURBO]

youve made a brave decision moving from a (how do we say it without swearing on here....) F.O.R.D

but you have probably made the best purchase you will ever make.

XE, LET, V6 whatever route the car is a king.....

[Matt2107]

Azura - First off... welcome to the site.

My personal opinion is that there are many members on here who are working hard to change the bad reputation that the Nova has been given. You always get a few that still like to follow the route of a body kit but a nova falling into the hands of a 30 year old can really be no bad thing.

Given your previous experience with the blue oval, I would take the opportunity to put a LET engine (2ltr Turbo) in your new found friend. You have the major advantage of driving experience/maturity and the benefit of cheaper insurance.

You may well be mocked to begin with by family and friends but even with a mildly tuned turbo engine you can expect bags of fun and reliability.

[Aamir]

Seems to me that majority are owned by enthusiasts now, most of the boy racer brigade have moved onto corsas, so maybe with time it'll lose it's chav status, who knows.

I'm yet to meet a person who calls my car chav, guys n girls, old or young my car gets respect wherever it goes, stares, nice comments which tells me people appreciate class whatever it is.

As a daily driver it might be a little embarassing, as a weekend toy/track car anything goes ;)

My survey..... http://www.novaload.net/forum/showthread.php?p=590337

I'm 28

[dannyb]

I guess it can seem like the Nova is a teenagers toy, I remember 10 years ago when I was at school and it was the (equivalent to what they are now) chavs choice chariot. Fortunately that sort of lad has moved onto pastures new, such as the Saxo. A serious street sleeper or track toy nova can be made seriously quick for not a lot of money (compared to similar performance, out of the box cars) and those who take the mick are obviously not in the know, so you dont worry about idiot pub comments! Friends of mine who are in their 30s love to come out in my Nova, it makes them feel 20 again!

[craig green]

novas will always carry that stigma.

Ive said it many times before, but I am proud to own a Nova & will continue my quest to prove that not all Novas are kitted up, loud exhausts (small engines), car park cruising yob machines.

It makes me smile when I see or hear someone dissing Novas only to know within, that are totally out of touch. My Nova has never been near any sound system or fibreglass thankyou.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/turbocraig/HOT%20METAL/img146.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/turbocraig/HOT%20METAL/img147.jpg

[Aamir]

Never seen your car before craig, very nice :D :D

[craig green]

That was at Billing 03 IIRC.

usually looks better than in that pic. Grille was poorly aligned. Parked in that company (Karl rowntree, Mart weaver & Rob Delicata) it wouldnt look too special anyway. But its just totally std body really with shortened mirrors.

Heres my fave pic;

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/turbocraig/Craigypics/CraigNova1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/turbocraig/Craigypics/CraigNova2.jpg

[liam_ere]

As i say your never too old to modifiy so good luck and if you do decide to do it then keep us updated :)

Liam

[azura]

Thanks for all you input on this one.

At least I dont feel like an old man in a playground now lol
It`s also nice to see i`m not the only one in Milton Keynes :thumb:

Craig, your car looks stunning! IMHO just how they should be!

I picked up my nova from MK car auctions for ?70 with mot untill feb the only rust on it is on the rear arches, I have welded in some new metal one side & will repair the other after xmas :) I`ll get some pics up soon but as you can imagine its only a complete standard 1.2 complete with 145x13 steelies with some horrid hub caps on, so dont expect in to look anything nice atm :(

As I am now happy with the fact that I`m not the only oldie on here, so I will list my future plans for it.

Below are the things that are really bugging me atm and NEED to be changed asap!!

Rreplace the skinny wheels with some Alloys of some type, preferbly standard vauxhall alloys.

SRI/GSI steering wheel ( the standard van size steering wheel sucks!!

Ride hight / Handling of the car needs to be stiffer & lower.

Standard seats are uncomfortable to say the least!

Thats about it for now, obvioulsy elec windows, C locking, mk2 dash will have to follow after then :) and then its onto engine choice :cool:

anyway, thanks again guys/gals your imput has been most appreciated!

[azura]

Pics as promised :)

http://www.aqul58.dsl.pipex.com/nova1.JPG

http://www.aqul58.dsl.pipex.com/nova2.JPG

http://www.aqul58.dsl.pipex.com/nova3.JPG


The tyre width & ride height really scare me :cry:

[Matt2107]

Nice.... I may have to frequent one of these car auctions lol

I'll be arranging a meet in Oxford in the future azura and there's also a cheltenham meet tomorrow.

Your more than welcome to come along.

[Breeny]

Thanks for all you input on this one.

At least I dont feel like an old man in a playground now lol
It`s also nice to see i`m not the only one in Milton Keynes :thumb:

Craig, your car looks stunning! IMHO just how they should be!

I picked up my nova from MK car auctions for ?70 with mot untill feb the only rust on it is on the rear arches, I have welded in some new metal one side & will repair the other after xmas :) I`ll get some pics up soon but as you can imagine its only a complete standard 1.2 complete with 145x13 steelies with some horrid hub caps on, so dont expect in to look anything nice atm :(

As I am now happy with the fact that I`m not the only oldie on here, so I will list my future plans for it.

Below are the things that are really bugging me atm and NEED to be changed asap!!

Rreplace the skinny wheels with some Alloys of some type, preferbly standard vauxhall alloys.

SRI/GSI steering wheel ( the standard van size steering wheel sucks!!

Ride hight / Handling of the car needs to be stiffer & lower.

Standard seats are uncomfortable to say the least!

Thats about it for now, obvioulsy elec windows, C locking, mk2 dash will have to follow after then :) and then its onto engine choice :cool:

anyway, thanks again guys/gals your imput has been most appreciated!

I didn't even realise you were from Milky Beans mate lol There are a few members round this way, give me a shout should you ever need anything :)

[Lee]

Welcome to NL mate, dont worry about your age at all, loads of ancient people on here. Dan is drawing close to drawing a pension, Dar is far older than most of the hills i know of, Mr Coonticliff is clinically dead, Stu is also ridiculously old and I myself am going to be another year further away from being of the 'accepted' nova ownership age on sunday!

And yes, 145 tyres are very scary lol

[Novadex]

Age is no issue round thiese parts! lol loving the Xr2 aswell! good choice of motors!

[mowgli]

Welcome.
I always thought the 145r13 firestones were hilarious, who needs rear wheel drive to get the back end out on roundabouts?
I think mine lasted about a month.
Get your front brakes modded first, check the tech posts for the best options. then enjoy


P.s. I'm an over 30 as well

[ade]

im 36 and have been messing with my nova for years!

theres older members than me - I find the older you get the more sensible and "choice" you get with the stick on bits!

lol

[EUROTURBO]

have fun with those tyres. thats the only car i know to still handle with 1 wheel off the floor round a roundabout at standard height....lol

stick with it mate youve made a good choice