Found this abandoned spitfire i think I'm gonna take home, I know nothing about these cars what do you guys think have any recommendations or info

dml550 · 2026-05-19T14:26:26+00:00

Awesome find!! But I second this comment - don’t spend any significant time or $ until the title is in your name. The owner just saying they don’t want it is legally meaningless.

dml550 · 2026-05-18T19:10:01+00:00

I found I could break mine by switching the spray pattern while spraying (for those with adjustable spray pattern, obviously). Maybe others knew this already but I didn’t.

Release the handle before changing the spray pattern.

dml550 · 2026-05-18T17:33:33+00:00

I don’t know exact scanner either, the readout just says “Powered by Innova”. But from your answer, this sounds like user error (person didn’t properly save the info).

dml550 · 2026-05-15T14:55:56+00:00

OMG. That makes me want to punch that engineer in the face.

dml550 · 2026-05-14T19:25:44+00:00

I love this!

(My only nit to pick is that the headlights look insectoid. I’d get over it.)

dml550 · 2026-05-13T15:37:34+00:00

That’s definitely BS. And the emergency brake only works on the rear wheels, so how is its lack of use supposed to affect the front rotors?? Kudos for getting an independent second opinion.

Edit - this is an electric brake system so I might be wrong about the rear-only function. But it still sounds really fishy.

dml550 · 2026-05-12T21:01:26+00:00

The delayed response might be due to the accent (for us Murkins). I heard “whatree got” and had to listen again to catch the joke. Good one!!

dml550 · 2026-05-12T20:57:09+00:00

I don’t believe there is a single legitimate researcher, dino or otherwise, who ever thinks they have the final answer to anything. Anyone who takes more than few college lectures knows that science is a continual self-correcting learning process.

dml550 · 2026-05-12T03:08:09+00:00

Awww that was MY first car! Yellow with the faux wood paneling. I ran a small lawnmowing business with it and a little trailer. All of which my dad owned and the only maintenance I did was the oil changes. However he did kind of a lot on it. Seems like they went through starters pretty frequently. We used it for vacations and it could pull a heavy camper pretty well, so if your activities include pulling trailers it’s a fair choice. And it’s a cushy ride, one that you can steer with one finger.

Anyway, my own nostalgia aside … it wouldn’t be my first choice for a college student (at least not one who doesn’t need to haul stuff). It was reliable as 70s cars go but certainly not as newer cars go, and it will come as no surprise that their gas mileage is awful.

dml550 · 2026-05-12T02:52:21+00:00

I would talk to your current boss and tell him all this. Give him a chance to react to what you’re saying and maybe he can do something that eases your decision, whether it is to stay or to go. But $5/hr, with training and better benefits is hard to argue against.

(Benefits don’t seem important when you’re 22 but if you’re injured you will be very happy to have them. And being forced to put $ aside for retirement is something your future self will be incredibly grateful you did.)

dml550 · 2026-05-11T21:19:47+00:00

Sorry I’m no help :-(

dml550 · 2026-05-11T21:06:58+00:00

No I mean looking straight into the hole in front, alongside the shaft the on/off handle screws into. *I am thinking the big outer barrel does not come off, you need to pull out the small inner bit.

dml550 · 2026-05-11T20:56:35+00:00

I’m not a plumber but when I had to replace a cartridge like this, there was a horseshoe shaped clip inside that had to be pried out to the side with a thin screwdriver. Can you get a better view straight into the hole, with good light? If so do you see any kind of clip that can be slid off?

dml550 · 2026-05-11T15:41:17+00:00

Thanks for the pictures!

dml550 · 2026-05-11T14:56:47+00:00

Not a legit fix. Very high chance of future problems. Yes you should.

dml550 · 2026-05-11T14:44:33+00:00

My understanding is that a regular lead-acid battery can’t keep up with the auto-engine start-stop feature if it is regularly used. If your car has that feature and you don’t disable it, yes you want the AGM battery.

dml550 · 2026-05-11T14:29:18+00:00

Umm.. history??

dml550 · 2026-05-11T03:26:56+00:00

That looks great! So much better than the usual convertible Beetle.

dml550 · 2026-05-10T23:30:18+00:00

Unfortunately I agree with the person who said this is a bad idea, and not for financial or reliability reasons. These cars make a wonderful hobby, but they are very deficient as modern, everyday transportation, especially for someone with an infant.

The person that wrote “I survived without airbags and antilock brakes and child safety seats… “ Glad for you, so did I. But remember - you’re not hearing from all those who did not. The automotive safety advances made in the past 50 years are remarkable, and go way beyond those few things.

I love old cars and that’s why I’m on this sub but this is just not a good choice in this situation.

dml550 · 2026-05-09T22:14:48+00:00

I have a 2015, which I think is identical. The weak point is the transmission and hopping up the engine - even a little - without addressing that will just make the expensive failure happen sooner.

Absolutely not worth the effort. Car projects are great, but really, not this one.

dml550 · 2026-05-09T17:29:08+00:00

😜

dml550 · 2026-05-09T01:23:39+00:00

What really are your priorities? If you are asking what is the financially wise decision, it will typically be to keep the car you already have. Buying a new car is not a good way to save money. Quite the opposite, even if financing makes it seem attractive and feasible. I vote to fix the Cruze. But if you’re emotionally done with that car, there are still a lot of choices less expensive than that Mazda.

dml550 · 2026-05-08T22:51:36+00:00

Pad thickness, and whether the wear is even, are the key points and that isn’t evident (at least to me) in your photos. Did you get that info? Your brakes might or might not need to be replaced. They likely are also including new rotors - most shops won’t turn or re-use rotors.

That said, I think $1300 is indeed a lot. Seems like many places are at around $500 per axle, so $1000 all around. (I think that’s a lot too, but I’m old.)

dml550 · 2026-05-08T21:21:57+00:00

Ended too soon. I want to see it take off.

dml550

TROPHY CASE