yep... ended up with a BMW R80 and watsonian palma (with braced
chaisis as they are apt to twist) a ural with a BMW engine would
have been cute... i began on a £50 Jawa 350 outfit... never had the
pleasure of a Russian bike tho i often go wander about the ural web
site and dream.... harry our four year old went in the sidecar till
the wife went back to work and is was left as the houshusband then
had to get the Aixam...

one of my tyres has worn out due to its ball joint going
aparently... anyway has anyone substituted a 145/70 or 65 for the
shockingly expensive 145/60's?... or anything cheep?... aixam or
otherwise?

>
>
>one of my tyres has worn out due to its ball joint going
>aparently... anyway has anyone substituted a 145/70 or 65 for the
>shockingly expensive 145/60's?... or anything cheep?... aixam or
>otherwise?
>
Aixam on the half tonne van!

Brian Hampton

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., sidecar_jon
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
>
> one of my tyres has worn out due to its ball joint going
> aparently... anyway has anyone substituted a 145/70 or 65 for the
> shockingly expensive 145/60's?... or anything cheep?... aixam or
> otherwise?

You are not kidding I've recently put two tyres on the front of my
virgo for over ninety quid! I cud've put all new rubber on my robin
including the spare, I'll look forward to reading any sujestions for
this.
Why the beema injin in the Ural? My ural had a realy good unit, it
was the wheels that were the pain, lousey quality spokes and no
usfull alternatives, now u can get ally wheelz. The Ural and Dnepre
engines were a little low on HP @34hp on the brake but had incredible
torque ( a bit like lombadini only with more wellie !) All only a
collection of snapshots now of course, how about you?
  best regards

Martin

cheepest ive seen Mich compacts 9the only listed 145/60/13's) are
£60 each!...eek when 145/80/13 are £20 ish....BM engines a bit more
realiable by most acounts lol.. but i like the way the chair is
fitted much more sensible than anythign Watsonian could dream up!..
theres a chap round here (never met him tho) with a Ural with a
little diesel engine! now thats what i can and outfit!




--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., "virgoprestige"
<virgoprestige@y...> wrote:
>
> You are not kidding I've recently put two tyres on the front of my
> virgo for over ninety quid! I cud've put all new rubber on my
robin
> including the spare, I'll look forward to reading any sujestions
for
> this.
> Why the beema injin in the Ural? My ural had a realy good unit, it
> was the wheels that were the pain, lousey quality spokes and no
> usfull alternatives, now u can get ally wheelz. The Ural and
Dnepre
> engines were a little low on HP @34hp on the brake but had
incredible
> torque ( a bit like lombadini only with more wellie !) All only a
> collection of snapshots now of course, how about you?
>  best regards
>
> Martin

For a year now I've been running Bridgestone 145/65/13 on my Aixam 400.
The only small problem that I've encountered is that on full steering
lock the larger tyre can foul the bodyshell, but on my car this is
only on full lock and only very slightly.
Another plus points (well I think so), besides cheaper tyres, is that
the larger cicumferance of the tyre (less wheel revolutions per road
mile) means that the speeedometer reads about 2mph lower that before.
Since on my car (and I presume it must be similar on other aixams) the
speedo' was set to read between 2 to 2.5 mph high, this now means that
although the new lower speedo' reading is a bit of shock to the
system, at least it is now more or less accurate !
I figured that the variable nature of the CTV would proberly
compensate for the altered road wheel/engine speed ratio, and from my
experience this does seem to be so - the speedo' can eventually read
50mph and the car seems no more slugish that it did before to get
there .....

hope this is of help ... Graham ...

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., "aixamgraham"
<aixam400@s...> wrote:
>
> For a year now I've been running Bridgestone 145/65/13 on my Aixam
400.
>
> hope this is of help ... Graham ...


that is indeed very helpfull cheers for that..i think id move the
not very worn rears to the front and replace the rears with
65's..thanks

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., "aixamgraham"
<aixam400@s...> wrote:
>
> For a year now I've been running Bridgestone 145/65/13 on my Aixam
400.
> The only small problem that I've encountered is that on full
steering
> lock the larger tyre can foul the bodyshell, but on my car this is
> only on full lock and only very slightly.
> Another plus points (well I think so), besides cheaper tyres, is
that
> the larger cicumferance of the tyre (less wheel revolutions per road
> mile) means that the speeedometer reads about 2mph lower that
before.
> Since on my car (and I presume it must be similar on other aixams)
the
> speedo' was set to read between 2 to 2.5 mph high, this now means
that
> although the new lower speedo' reading is a bit of shock to the
> system, at least it is now more or less accurate !
> I figured that the variable nature of the CTV would proberly
> compensate for the altered road wheel/engine speed ratio, and from
my
> experience this does seem to be so - the speedo' can eventually read
> 50mph and the car seems no more slugish that it did before to get
> there .....
>
> hope this is of help ... Graham ...

You can tell the dark evenings are back..... we're all at our
keyboards!!

Hi everyone,
  yeah that sounds more real Graham, perhaps  if the suspension was
raised a bit too, only a smidjin, it wouldn't foul the wheelarch.
Only fifty?? have you checked out the throttl cable/linkage, like do
you actualy get full throttle on demand? Mine didn't, had to cut a
piece of the carpet under the pedal and tighten up some slack in the
cable, I can just get seventy in ideal circumstances (can't hold it
tho') 65 is realy the top mark, but that is a lot better than the
fiftyish it did before when with pedal hard down was half throttle
really. Check it out mate.

Now a diesel Ural?  I've seen a diesel Enfield India Robin Diesel(not
reliant) that was on topgear on tv some while back. My favourite is
still the MT11 Dniepre, in red, on Avon tripple duties, LHD, up over
Dartmoor in bright sunshine, CB crackling on 19 with 'big urn'
cranking it out for 'Red Label' do'ya copy breaker?? You know when??
No pc then just an ZX81 with a mono tv and a cassette recorder, and
if you were realy cool..... an add on rs232 port onto a modem, so you
could logon to a buletin board(gasp) no internet provider needed
(wow..) a complete lack of spam(no email) well, oh well it is nice to
look back init??

best regards to all

Martin

one thought..where is the speedo take off anyway?..is it a problem
to run 65's back and 60's front? if the spedo comes off the g-box
then its unchanged

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., sidecar_jon
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
>
> one thought..where is the speedo take off anyway?..is it a problem
> to run 65's back and 60's front? if the spedo comes off the g-box
> then its unchanged

We...ll I'd say that it would be altered, if you change the effective
wheel size on the same axle system, you change the speedo reading
with it. With ever increasing efforts by the authorities to monitor
our speeding with greater acuracy, care should be taken if we change
speed measurment on our motors in a non standard way???
Since this topic came out of the ludicrous prices charged for the
tyres we're unfortunatly commited to buying, should we not consider
complaining too the 'Trading Standards' people regarding unfair
practices(over charging)?? The more people who make a complaint the
more notice will be taken of the situation.

nice weekend everyone

regards

Martin

I think the problem is that they are a odd sized tire,  smart car owners also
suffer from a similar problem. The designer / manafacture chose a strage tyre
size. Its not the tyre companies fault. The more they sell the less each tyre
can cost, the less they sell (as in this case) the more they cost. My car has
16inch wheels and they to have a strage size tyre which is more exspensive than
those for a 17 inch wheel. Simply because they sell more 17's than 16's so the
price drops. I think the only way to resolve the problem is either a more comon
tyre size as described. I doubt all the time that the tyres are still fairly
uncommon that they will get cheaper.

Malcolm

virgoprestige <virgoprestige@...> wrote:

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., sidecar_jon
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
>
> one thought..where is the speedo take off anyway?..is it a problem
> to run 65's back and 60's front? if the spedo comes off the g-box
> then its unchanged

We...ll I'd say that it would be altered, if you change the effective
wheel size on the same axle system, you change the speedo reading
with it. With ever increasing efforts by the authorities to monitor
our speeding with greater acuracy, care should be taken if we change
speed measurment on our motors in a non standard way???
Since this topic came out of the ludicrous prices charged for the
tyres we're unfortunatly commited to buying, should we not consider
complaining too the 'Trading Standards' people regarding unfair
practices(over charging)?? The more people who make a complaint the
more notice will be taken of the situation.

nice weekend everyone

regards

Martin





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Hello Neil my browser says your online?

Hi Dolores

If you look back through the recent post, especially from Geoffrey
Handsley, you will get quite a lot of information on the Microcar in
day to day use.

So far the MC1 does not seem to have any major problems, some of the
early continental car has leaky windows, but this has been resolved.

There are two special editions available at present:

http://www.micro-car.co.uk/pressmedia.htm

The Classic, in Ivory, and the  Preference, alloys / panoramic roof.

The above link also has pictures of the testing of MC1s in Tunisia
earlier this year.

From MC1 owner I have spoken too the car is liked.

Rusty


--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., "aixam1lady" <aixam1lady@y.
..> wrote:
>
> Finally got signed in under my original screen name, still waiting
to
> hear from anyone who has the new Micro Car or the new Aixam, about
> three weeks to go and I will be buying either the Micro or the
Aixam,
> already have an Aixam, just curious about the new Micro.    Anyone
> got one ?
>
>
> Dolores

i know ive maoned before about my seats being all broken. before the
MOT is codged them together with duct tape and some cheepo covers
but they are awfully lumpy and basicly broke and bent... so this
morning i went to the scrappies and found a virtuly new Fiat Uno
(front end write off)and a tape ,measure told me that the base was
only slightly wider than the Aixam base..£5 each.(take em out
yourself)... if i cant fit them in the car im going to put them on a
base for the liveing room!..they realy are comfy (front and back
adjusters, and seat rake).. i will keep you posted on
progress..which i have no doubt will be slow!

Thanks Rusty for the information


Dolores

Hello Dolores.
               I am pleased that you will be getting a new vehicle soon. I have
not driven the petrol version of the aixam yet, but have a friend with one,
speed wise the mc1 seems to keep its speed, this I think is to do with the fuel
injection, fuel consumption the aixam is better at around 55/60mpg mine only
does 45/50mpg which is less than micro car say, but it only estimated in their
sales blurb. the bench seat takes a bit of getting used to as does the digital
speedo. build wise I put them about the same, they both have anoying plastic
creeks, service wise about the same cost, My aixam burnt out two heater
motors,three exaust clamps and the drivers seat was begining to wear in under
two years, given the choice I would go with the micro car , but stick with the
two seater not the four.

        best wishes geoff








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Hi Geoff, why do you think the two seater is better than the four
seater, I was going to get the four seater because we have four
little dogs who travel with us  ???

Hi Dolores.
            my reason for the two seater against the four is the loss of boot
space, the two has a large boot for a small car ideal for shoping, everything is
out of sight, plus my son is 22 and 6'8" tall and the bench seat makes it
difficult for him to get in or out even my wife had trouble getting out of the
back. Also the extra cost did not seem worth the amount of time we would use the
rear seat. it is nice being that bit different, not seen another mc1 on the road
and it makes a change to not be a mobile road block, and be able to keep pace
with motor way traffic and even pass some of it, you just have to watch you do
not go above 73 mph in my case as the computer shuts the fuel off until you go
below this speed, makes for some exciting overtaking. microcar say this happens
at a true 70 mph, but it is easy to get to this speed, makes me wonder what it
would do without it.



  best wishes geoff






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--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., geoffrey handsley
<geoffreyhandsley@y...> wrote:
> Hi Dolores.
>            my reason for the two seater against the four is the
loss of boot space, the two has a large boot for a small car ideal
for shoping, everything is out of sight, plus my son is 22 and 6'8"
tall and the bench seat makes it difficult for him to get in or out
even my wife had trouble getting out of the back. Also the extra cost
did not seem worth the amount of time we would use the rear seat. it
is nice being that bit different, not seen another mc1 on the road
and it makes a change to not be a mobile road block, and be able to
keep pace with motor way traffic and even pass some of it, you just
have to watch you do not go above 73 mph in my case as the computer
shuts the fuel off until you go below this speed, makes for some
exciting overtaking. microcar say this happens at a true 70 mph, but
it is easy to get to this speed, makes me wonder what it would do
without it.
>
>
>
>  best wishes geoff

Hi Dolores, Geoff,

I agree with Geoff on two seats against four, my micro is four
seater, if we go shopping you have to fold the seats down for the
space, also you can only seat?? one adult in the back and the
suspension really doesn't like it as it bottoms without much
provocation. The Mc1 long wheelbase may be better here I couldn't
say, but it does look the bussiness.

I got the speedo on my micro to seventy(ONLY JUST)!! on the A34 north
from Newbury dropping down from the ridgway, going like a train it
was.

Monday tomorow, groan.

regards both

Martin


>
>
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Is there an Aixamdealer in London ? Because I´ll visit London next
year. Spareparts are much more expensive here in Sweden.

Hi

You say the two seater is better, does it detract from the length of
the Micro car, I mean is it as long with a two seater ?    Also I
dont think I would get my dogs in the car with four seats, to get
them in could I put the back seat down and consequently use this as a
boot when the dogs are not there ?

I have about two weeks to make my mind up, decisions, decisions,

Do you know the price difference between a two and a four seater ?


Dolores

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., "Per Emanuelsson"
<persil@t...> wrote:
>
> Is there an Aixamdealer in London ? Because I´ll visit London next
> year. Spareparts are much more expensive here in Sweden.

Hello,

You have my sympathies, friend, they're expensive here too. I used to
drive Reliant Robin and I was used to paying 'sensible' prices for
parts, since I have a Microcar, prices have soared. You may need to
surf around the net for a dealer near London, unless there's someone
else in here who has an idea, but I do'nt know of one myself, eccept
up north, you could writ too; Aixam Ltd., Unit 7, Triton Park,
Brownsover Rd., Rugby, Warickshire, CV21 1SG .phone uk 01788 553330
fax 01788 553073. Best I can do okay.

best regards

Martin

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., "aixamone" <aixamone@y...>
wrote:
>
> Hi
>
> You say the two seater is better, does it detract from the length
of
> the Micro car, I mean is it as long with a two seater ?    Also I
> dont think I would get my dogs in the car with four seats, to get
> them in could I put the back seat down and consequently use this as
a
> boot when the dogs are not there ?
>
> I have about two weeks to make my mind up, decisions, decisions,
>
> Do you know the price difference between a two and a four seater ?
>
>
> Dolores

Hi Dolores,

I can only comment on the virgo realy, and they are the same size
body, the mc1 has long and short wheelbase models for two and four
seats, i'm sure the Aixam is similar to the virgo in its seating
arrangement, but an mc1 four seater is about two foot longer, that
any help babe?

regards

martin

http://www.minicar-parts.nl/

Holland is the place to go!... very nice chap runs,and he speeks
english too, and they carry the bits that explode (too often)

Hi Dolores
            the difference between the 2 & 4 is 300mm not much is it, the 2 is
2800mm long, the 4 is 3100mm, not tried folding the seat, but in the aixam the
seat never folded flat and I am not sure the dogs would like it, also I did not
see a cover on the rear to hide anything in the boot, as for the price
difference I have been told it is as much as between £700 to £1000 depending
what extras you choose, as for the rest of the vehicle it is the same 2 or 4, I
also did not like the roof support showing, it makes it look an after thought.
Over to you, your money, your choice.



  best whishes geoff






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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi everyone and thanks all for the input, dont understand the
measurements followed by cm  but am a dizzy blonde anyway.   The
aixam which I have now, I fold the back seats down, the dogs lie on
there quite happily and also it makes the boot much bigger for
shopping etc.

I think I had better go for the four seater because of my "little
angels"   Amazed you can get 70 out of the Micro, that would mean I
could get back on the Motorway again when I make the weekly journey
from Liverpool to Blackburn, nearly five years I have been doing this
now for my Auntie.  My Aixam does 55 at the most, always has done
right from new.    Remember all the probs I had with it ?    Well it
finally has settled down now AS LONG as I dont push it up any hills
etc,  then of course engine wise things will have probably settled
down now, my Aixam "chugs"  along.

I think I will go for the dark grey one although I love the new
silver Aixam, anyone got a new Aixam, are they quieter now ?

My garage reckons I will only get £900 to £1000 for the aixam, is
that the average for second hand Aixams ?    It is T registered.


Dolores

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., "Per Emanuelsson"
<persil@t...> wrote:
>
> Is there an Aixamdealer in London ? Because I´ll visit London next
> year. Spareparts are much more expensive here in Sweden.

Don't know about a dealer in london itself but you could try Keygate
Motors in Chatham, it's about a 1 min walk from Chatham Station, 2nd
stop on a fast train to Ramsgate or Dover from London Victoria.

Has anyone had any problems with the hinges on the rear door/hatch on
virgo's? Mine was getting quite hard to close, I had a look at it
over the weekend and found that th right hinge body fastening was
pushing into the body panel. Scientific as always, the weight of the
door, pressing onto a very small area of fibreglass over a couple of
years! anyway not to labour the point, the packing washers used under
the hinge are too small on their outside diameter and they can 'cut'
into the panel, there isn't suficient area to support the weight on
them. Remedy is to fit larger washers with the same size hole, or
make a sqare plate, for either using a gauge of metal the same as the
original packing washers and spread the weight over a much larger
area. The hatch on my virgo shuts with a sweet subdued click now.


Regards

Martin

After a little measureing i have found that the seat rails of the
Aixam and Fiat Punto are at exactly the same spaceing!..Which can be
good, but can be bad... now i have to find a way of bolting a flat
rail onto a round and shorter rail on the Aixam...After a bit of
fideling i have got one rail out of the Fiat base. i think that i
may use it as a template to drill the Aixam rail and bolt thro, tho
some way of not crushing the round tube will have to be found.. and
the Aixam rail is too short, so it will have to be lengthened with
plates of some such.... strangely when the rail came out of the
Fiats base so did a few little plastic balls and a yellow tube... i
think part of some anti submarineing system (seat moves fowards in
crash to limit your bodys movement)..i will have to look into that!

--- In aixamandmicrocar@..., sidecar_jon
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
>
> After a little measureing i have found that the seat rails of the
> Aixam and Fiat Punto are at exactly the same spaceing!..Which can
be
> good, but can be bad... now i have to find a way of bolting a flat
> rail onto a round and shorter rail on the Aixam...After a bit of
> fideling i have got one rail out of the Fiat base. i think that i
> may use it as a template to drill the Aixam rail and bolt thro, tho
> some way of not crushing the round tube will have to be found.. and
> the Aixam rail is too short, so it will have to be lengthened with
> plates of some such.... strangely when the rail came out of the
> Fiats base so did a few little plastic balls and a yellow tube... i
> think part of some anti submarineing system (seat moves fowards in
> crash to limit your bodys movement)..i will have to look into that!

Sounds like your Aixam seats were the same quality as my old
Reliant seats, the springs in them all used to break apart till the
seat was a metal framed uncomfortable hamock, then I used to put old
cussions under them so that I didn't fall through!! How about you??

best regards

Martin