New owner :)

I bought my first FRP yesterday. Always had a soft spot for them and like my rare cars. Owned an Abarth 500 for the last year and sold that so I can save some money to put towards a house.

I bought a great condition 60,000 mile FRP from a garage in Loughborough. Looking forward to giving it a good run out. It'll soon have R9 FRP as a numberplate so will get pics up when they are on.

Couple of quick questions...
1. Does anyone know where to get a Sparco seat handle, ones snapped off!
2. I went to start the car this morning and it stalled after I started it, do I just need to give it a few revs when starting it?
3. I think I have a squeak from the front left suspension, are there any common causes for this?

Looking forward to becoming part of the team!!!

Alex

welcome! the handles have all been sold so would need to track some down from a person with a spare. or call sparco andf replace them all from a differnt model.

dont know about 2 or 3

Thanks for the quick reply. As I drove off I leant in the back and knocked it off. I have a feeling it was probably glued on anyway. It's the inner one so not to important so might just glue it back on for now!

Welcome to the club, I seen that puma advertised, hope you got a good deal on it!
I too have just purchased my car and also having some teething problems, glad it's just a 2nd car lol!!!

Hi, welcome to the club.

Another FRP with a number plate only one digit out from mine


Mine can stall quite easily when cold, just keep the revs up a bit.
Make sure it has had it's cam belt changed when required and take care with the back end in the wet.

But the cam belt must be changed by someone who knows how. The FRP does not have the same timing as a standard 1.7

Thanks for the good tips. I think I will have to be careful in the wet as it's got road legal race tires on. I think they'll be great in the dry, but will take it easy in the wet.

The cam belt was changed at 34,000 miles I think it was (Will check the service book). I am guessing it will need another one soon. The garage said it was fine at the moment. Did I read somewhere it was every 5 years?

[lisafrp]

welcome aboard.

I have your membership, so will unlock the forum for you shortly. I have passed your details onto our membership secretary, so he will send out your membership pack over the next few weeks.

thanks

Congratulations on your purchase and welcome

Yes do mind it in the wet back is awfully good fun but very mischievous when you least expect it so don't let it catch you out especially if your running naughty tires

David

For the 1.7 engined FRP it is every 5 years or 80k miles, which ever occurs first.
However given the FRP is usually driven hard then it is wise to reduce the change interval further.

speedline wrote:

For the 1.7 engined FRP it is every 5 years or 80k miles, which ever occurs first.
However given the FRP is usually driven hard then it is wise to reduce the change interval further.

The interval of 5 years or 80k miles would have been based on the most extreme scenario, i.e. a 600hr max load test. I would think it unlikely that you would need to reduce the time between services.

Hiya Alex,

Welcome to the club!

I have your membership pack ready to go off this week too,

Vas #385

I am loving the car. Such great fun. I'm just waiting for some good weather to go out for a good drive. Thanks for all the warm welcomes.

Really really happy with the car. Took it for a good spin yesterday in the good weather and it handles great. Brakes are fantastic as well. I think it would give my old car (Abarth 500) a whipping on back roads!!! I've had the Aux belt changed due to having a tear mark on it. I checked the service book and the cambelt was changed at 34,000 miles in September 2008. When would people next change the belt? At Sepetember 2010 (10 years on) or do you think it will be good for a few more years?

Alex

Hey,
Good to know the FRP would waste the Abarth, but I would love one of those as runabout, awesome little things

Was yours the 160 Bhp or 135?

Vas and #385

Mine was the 135BHP but I bought a G-tech tunig box which took it up to 163BHP. Was a really good little car. A totally different drive to the FRP. The FRP would be all over the Abarth in the corners and the brakes, although the Abarth would be quicker on the straights!

Thought I'd finally upload a few pics of mine.

I had a really bad clunking noise from the back right corner of my car so managed to get it upto Ford. They have let me know it needs a new wheel bearing, and two new bushes! Nightmare. I have also asked them to replace my rear top mounts as the car was really crashy over bumps. Will hopefully get it back tomorrow. Fingers crossed the back end will feel better.

Gave 358 a clean yesterday with the help of the girlfriend so took a few photos. Here's a few of them for you.

looking good...

did replacing the rear top mounts make a nice difference..?