So, being my first turbo car, boost is very addictive. Very. Once the foot is buried, I find it the self-control required to lift it again takes a while to muster up. Whenever my wife is not with me, I'll drive sedately for a little while before letting it rip, revving hard and giving it a good and proper...er... cobweb blowout.... the only problem is, I'm doing this nearly every time I drive the car, I absolutely love it, I cannot just drive like a grandma everywhere I go.

I always feel bad after I drive it hard though, like im hurting it. Like I should baby it around, only exploiting the power when actually required... but then I watch one episode of top gear, or read something about driving fast and I want to take it out and taste every apex, belt every straight into submission, demand the tyres perform like they should, tame the gearbox and clutch, while grinning like an idiot. Driving is a passion for me, not a form of transport. I do, however, need this car to last. I idle it up to temperature before driving it every time. No kidding....nerdy, I know.... It will always receive the best treatment.

But, how much can these cars handle? Will they happily drive hard whenever you ask of it and still maintain reliability, refinement and strength? Are there common parts that fail? Just how strong are these engines? Do they happily handle being revved weekly?

Some peices of string are 2 cms long, others can be much larger.......

Components like diff bushes and CV's will cop a hammering after a while, depending on how smoothe you are with your shifting.

You play hard you pay hard. :angel:

I think the most important thing is, if you're really getting up it on a regular basis, make sure you care for it accordingly.

Just keep fresh fluids in it (engine oil every 5000-7500 kms), warm it up like you have been and let it cool down for the last 5-10 minutes of your trip if she's had a flogging. I've never run mine on anything other than 98 octane fuel too, which may or may not be necessary on a stock tune, although the extra is a small price to pay for some piece of mind imo.

Some peices of string are 2 cms long, others can be much larger.......

hahaha, funny sh*t...

sounds like you need to get down to the circuit or skid pan asap.......

^exactly right.....

it always gets the best of fluids, oil every 7,500, all bolts tightened, everything I can do to be as sympathetic as possible, and even heel-an-toeing (mainly for the fun...) to give the clutch a break....

There is only one solution. A weekend racer that offers bigger thrills in a simpler package... Ariel Atom comes to mind. and the xr6t for family gigs.

If I waited 10 minutes for it to cool down I'd be driving in circles every time before parking. Few minutes of granny driving is enough for it to cool down.

They seem like a pretty hardy motor mine has 140k on the clock and I nearly always flog it when I jump in and I've had it for a year and a half now - novelty hasn't worn off yet. But yea I do always let it warm up etc before giving it death lol...

^exactly right.....

it always gets the best of fluids, oil every 7,500, all bolts tightened, everything I can do to be as sympathetic as possible, and even heel-an-toeing (mainly for the fun...) to give the clutch a break....

There is only one solution. A weekend racer that offers bigger thrills in a simpler package... Ariel Atom comes to mind. and the xr6t for family gigs.

yeah in the meantime get out to OP skid pan, Marulan DTC or Wakefield and let loose mate.......you will find the desire to tear arse on the street lessens once you have really taken to and beyond the limits on the circuit.