Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    What about comments?
    
    My father had one of these when they were new (I hated it, because it 
    was a Japanese Triumph!). What sticks in my mind mostly about it was 
    how light all the controls were! Once, I drove the car for the first
    time in a number of months and was convinced that the clutch cable 
    had snapped. In fact it was simply so light that my left leg (used to
    the heavy clutch of my Cavalier) couldn't cope! Took a little while
    to get used to, I can tell you!.
    
    Anyway, the car never gave any trouble while my father owned it and 
    was what it tried to be - good, honest fogie transport (:^)). He
    replaced it with the Rover 213 (which replaced the Acclaim in ARs
    product range). I always felt that was a better car, with steering 
    and suspension which were taut enough to keep you informed of what 
    the car was doing on the road - I never felt 100% safe in the Acclaim, 
    as it was difficult to judge what the car was doing.
    
    Mark

    Triumph Acclaim - Last car to bear the Triumph name after the
    controversial TR7.  It was introduced in 1981 and remained in
    production until 1984.  It was indeed a Cowley-built version of the
    Honda Ballade.  (Re-1, therefore it was not appropriate to call the car
    the Japanese Triumph.)

    When I was living in Germany , we bought a second hand PRINCESS 2200hls
    after about 8 months of sort of trouble free motoring , we traded it in
    for a brand new Triumph Acclaim HLS , but this as standered had the
    electric windows and the headlights washer , which was an option for
    the L ,HL , HLS . on the CD model they were standered . They even had a
    air conditining as an option , but for Europe who needs it .
    We brought it over here , and it has been passed around the family , so
    now I own it . It hasent given me any trouble or them at all . It
    starts first time , never broken down , except when you should have had
    the clutch replaced or Timing belt changed .
    The car its self is quite good for its time , and still good compeared
    to some which are newer .
    
    1) CDI-Ignition
    2) Servo/pwr ass. brakes
    3) Headlights levelling
    4) Full indipendent suspension
       etc.
    
    Also the car was made extremly light in weight , it weighs slightly
    less then a metro , which is smaller .
    
    When you said about the clutch , being light , must be on RHD models
    because mine is semi(LHD)light , must be the re-routing of the cable
    frome one side to another .
    
    
    For general interest , the Acclaim uses most of the HONDA civic(s) 
    parts , its got the twin carbs. from the civic sports , and suspension
    also some other parts from mk1 preludes , accords .
    
    My example is as follows :-
    
                  YEAR  -  1982
    
                MILAGE  -  227.350mls     ( yes this is true )
    
                 TYRES  -  195/60R14
    
            SUSPENSION  -  Monroe Gas/slightly lowerd/stiffer springs .
    
                
    
    As you can see its done a lot of miles , and the car still goes strong
    a bit of smoke comes out now if you boot it in 2nd or 3rd , 5th is just
    a really lazey overdrive .
    With the wheels and the shocks , were done to improve handeling ,
    better grip , cournering . 
    Im pleased with the car , maybe a bit dated , but then I think it looks
    alot better then some of these cars today . And the way gas prices are
    its also cheap to fill up and gives pritty good mpg .
    
    For the boy racers , A company called AVON engineering did a Turbo
    version of an ACCLAIM , which was nice .
    Any ideas ?
    
    
            FROM ONE FAN TO ANOTHER ...
    
                                      ED..
    
    
    

    
    Re .3
    
    The Acclaim, as I remember, had fairly acceptable performance for it's 
    time. It was certainly quicker than the much heavier (feeling, anyway)
    213 which replaced it, but it would float on it's suspension. I'd
    imagine the bigger tyres and improved shocks have made a great
    difference to the way the car feels.
    
    Mark

    Yes . With the new skocks and springs makes the car feel alot more
    stable at speeds and it dosent lean as much when going around corners .
    The tyers make a big improvement to both they above , as well as
    better control in the wet as well as loading the car up .
    However with these slight changes , the steering is bit heavier at
    parking speed and you have a tendancie to feel alot more of the road
    and get more road noise , however it stops the cars tendencie of
    bouncing off every bump or crack on the road . Fuel con. to me is no
    different , therolleticly there should be a slight differance , i.e
    drag , more area on the road , weight .
    A grate improvement . Try it !
    
    P.S- you will have to change your wheels for anything bigger then 175s
    
         STANDERED WHEEL SIZE - 4.5j rims
    
         BEST SIZE RIMS -  5.5j and up
    
    I'm using HONDA ACCORD EXI wheels at the moment , but I'm going to
    change them for 5spoke or wire wheels with a bit of a rim showing .