Photos Latest Purchases Thread: v2.0

My random and unnecessary prime day purchase



I know the temperature of ALL THE THINGS now

 

pioneer avh-x490dab and a reverse camera, now I can watch as I back into things/people

 

You don't use those to measure temperatures, you paint them green and pretend it's a Romulan Disruptor!

 

I use one of those to confuse potential trainees at interview.

 

Remember kids, always wear protection

 

I went out with a girl from Burnley once too..

 

A set of SRAM Guide RSC brakes for £128.99 posted. eBay winning!

 

A photographic thermometer. It glows in the dark!

 

GoPro Hero 5, cant wait to hit the trails next week with it.

 

That's why you can only have a pretend one!

 

I Didn't buy it, but I was VERY tempted to pick up a Focus RS second hand over the weekend to replace the wife's aging Fiat Bravo.
late '16 model, Nitro Blue, 20.000km on the clock...Was tempting, but just tyres on that cost more than the Bravo cost in repairs in the last 2 years

 

Worth noting, if you ever look at a Mk3 FRS again, you'll want to make sure it's had the head gasket issue resolved. Ford issued a TSB on it, I think it's a free recall repair, but not owning one I didn't look that hard.

On topic:

Wire!

~15m of various colours of 18awg
10m of black
5m of multi-core 18awg
RTV silicon
Multi-pack of grommets
Multi-pack of various coloured heat shrink
Ford WPT-5361 pigtail
80amp strip Fuse & holder
6-way fusebox
RL/180-12 relay
110 Amp rated 16mm red & black cables (1m)

I've done individual fusing for most of the additions I've made (Electric seats, foot well lighting, hardwired dashcam) to the RS. I'm going to tidy that all up and make a distribution block so I have one tap into ignition switched 12v, instead of several. Motivator for this is I need to finish the install of the water temp gauge, and have provisions for installing the oil temp/pressure gauge.

The pigtail is so I can use the connector off the AC compressor to run up a fan controller when I push the AC button in the car, and hopefully, fire a fan up on the intercooler for traffic-sitting moments/additional cooling - And maintain the factory connector, so I everything can be put back to standard in the future if necessary.

Also thinking about re-using the rear-windscreen washer control to spray water on the intercooler by buggering about with the screenwash pump. More thought is required on that, though, so for now that's a pondering situation, not a buying situation.

 

Yes, and yes.
Yes, I am aware of this. Basically: the head gasket from the EcoBoost Mustang was used on the Focus RS wrongly by some installers the world over. The two engines are not entirely the same.
And yes, it's a free thing to do.
What got me was the overall price of maintenance on these, especially them being what they are. 19" tyres alone cost a fortune (smidhe over 200 pound each around here)
Brakes on that another small fortune.
And then I get the feeling that the motor is probably a handgrenade outside of warranty. Based on nothing but gut feeling.
Also, there is such a thing as fast enough... that's around 200bhp in most cars. That's quicker than you're likely to use outside of track driving.

 

It's the new generation of 'RS tax'. It's no better with the older ones - Tyres are a little cheaper on the Mk1's 18" wheels, but not much.

Tbh, most of the Focus RS generations thus far haven't been too bad out of warranty. Typically, if anything, Ford have under-tuned them, so if you get one that's not been messed with too much, they seem pretty alright.

But still, it's not cheap to run an RS of any generation as a daily! Hell, the cost of body panels and wheels if you have a non-writeoff accident is terrifying - Even in the Mk3!

 

few things over the past few weeks:

Arc'teryx Alpha AR Goretex PRO: £400 (RRP £500)



Arc'teryx Palisade Shorts: £62 (RRP £85)



Arc'teryx Phase AR beanie: £22 (RRP£25)

Arc'teryx starke trousers: £72 (RRP £95)



Arc'teryx Phasic Evolution shirt: £40 (RRP £55)


The NorthFace GoreTex cap: £30 (RRP £40)

 

I really like their stuff and I know the quality is way up there but those prices are just insane. And I don't mean the RRPs.

 

There isnt any better Goretex craftsmanship than Arc'teryx, second to none.
But also i like the style of there kit too, just looks way more refined and minimal than other outdoor brands. The customer service is really good too. They will repair or replace anything regardless of its age so long as you havnt been miss treating the kit.

Also its not just for show, i spend multiple days trekking, wild camping and scrambling in the lakes,peaks and snowdonia. Hoping to spend a week in Scotland next year including the CMD route up Ben Nevis.
Having a Goretex shell that i can rely on and robust but still super light is a big plus.
Im no super light weight trekker but ill do 3 days (65k, 4500m total ascent) in a 38L bag, which with food will be about 10KG.

 

Those pictures look amazing and make we want to start a spending spree. Also, I want to talk to my boss about paid leave for a week now... gotta hit those hills, maaan!

Btw, am I the only one who looked at that picture and thought for a split second there was a tiny bear next to you, enjoying the sunset?

 

Haha, I didn't see that but now I can't unsee it

There are plenty of cheaper brands that are quality.
If you do start spending, I recommend Alpkit and Snugpak. Both top UK brands that don't cost an arm and a leg. Most of my kit is from them. Arc'teryx is a recent extravagance haha.