My Rivage project

Right finally fitted my ebay bargain coilovers and what a difference! Wow wasn't expecting it to handle so much better. After the first set up it was so low that we couldn't get it off the lift at the garage 8O Anyway nearly right now, just need to drive it a bit to sort final few tweaks out.
You can see how much it's been lowered from the pics! Anyway what do you critics think?

This is how I bought her.


Then changed the rims and fitted a debadged grille.


Then some dial tweaks.



Now the coilovers.


Sorry for blurry images.

Nice wheels nice cab  

Looks good mate

how do you find just having one headlamp now on full main beam is the visibilty reduced much at all when driving at night?

ps what those e bay coilovers like? ok quality wise? do they asjust much i would like some but not keen on lowering much, well not lowering at all if honest!

I changed the headlights & grille pretty much straight away but didn't notice too much of a difference.  :dontknow: Well I think that they're alrigh to drive with now, you'll get used to it pretty quick. The ebay coilovers seem to be very good for the price. When I fitted them first, it was so low that I couldn't get it off the ramp arms!  8O But there is loads of adjustment. I'm actually gonna raise it up again this weekend, just low enough to get a trolly jack underneath. The handeling is fansatic  :mrgreen:

hey, seen this about Hereford, sweet car matey. I have a red Sportline

Car looks really clean and frsh, looks like a great find.  

keep them original alloys for when you sell that car mind you, dont be tempted to flog. Pretty damn hard to come by as they should be 15inch versions.

very nice, makes me not want to sell mine now! whats the chin spolier from and did you change the headlights or just go from 4 to two?

jody said

very nice, makes me not want to sell mine now! whats the chin spolier from?

That's a VR6 Chin spoiler, they're really easy to fit and make a big difference. I've got one on mine, trouble is as it's lowered I get clearance problems getting off my drive. Still they're cheap so I'll just get another one from ECP when I've finally destroyed it.

T :roll:

Then changed the rims and fitted a debadged grille.


Is this it lowered on coilovers??? surely you can go lower than that at the front!?

Found a photo of mine we have same wheels (size) how come you aint proper low lol

Are there any issues with rubbing this low? thinking of coilovers for my clipper

Forgot that this was on here, a little update.

Mk3 style handles



Recaro front seats


As with the rubbing issuses, my design 90's are a set of fronts (all 7.5 inches wide). I've not had a nny rubbing issues at all, and when I first fitted the coilovers it was seriously low. I only raised it when it wouldn't fit on the MOT ramp. It depends on what wheels you're fitting.

Heres a pic with the ride height at the mo.

Well you've inspired me to remove mine from ebay, my 15x6" BBS's shouldnt have any rubbing issues with coilovers on and im having one of those grills and chin spoilers too……

Ebay for the grille, any luck you'll get a good 2nd hand one. Mine was from a german company, can't remember their name but theres loads of ads from them on there.

Are the recaro's standard on the rivage? If not was it a hassle getting them to fit and did you get the rear bench done to match? Sorry for all the questions, its just that my interior is a bit tired and didnt know the options when replacing.

hi mate, I got a Rivage and love it, Your's is looking very nice!!

The recaros are out of a Mk5 Ford Escort RS2000. I used corrado subframes and cut & welded the to fit the Recaro's. were a bit of a pain to fit, but if you've got access to a welder or like me, a good technician in my department at work. It can be done.
I only paid ?30 for both front seats off ebay, a bargain but I wish i'd got the rears aswell.   Can be a little expensive to get the rears retrimmed in the old cloth. I spoke to one guy in Hereford, where i'm from, and he looked at me like I was an alien. And then refused to do it.
Luckly they don't look to bad as they are, and they don't stand out that much either. I think of them like the red seats in a Integra Type R, like a feature.
Thay look so cool when you walk up to the car and you see the outline of the recaros and then the logo, still makes me smile :mrgreen:

bouchay said

Luckly they don't look to bad as they are, and they don't stand out that much either. I think of them like the red seats in a Integra Type R, like a feature.
Thay look so cool when you walk up to the car and you see the outline of the recaros and then the logo, still makes me smile :mrgreen:

Mate of mine had one of those and tbh I thought that was just typical of Japanese penny pinching!

You're best bet is to bribe your Mrs to recover the seats for you or look for the thread on here that's offering a re-trimmimg service in vinyl and see if they'll do cloth.

T :wink: