I know you go on to address this in your next paragraph but of those 20 'lifers' its great to think of how many of them are in N.I and Ireland !
You mentioned the people who see them as stepping stones, i often think inwardly (and i trust not through jealously!) that when someone says 'oh im saving for an evo so gotta sell the gt to fund that'.................... oh i misjudged you, i thought you where a real starleteer or 'lifer'.
we could discuss what Jay and I (i include jay to increase credibility) call 'spec'
'spec' is what someone sees there car needing to be to suit them perfectly,
Northern Irish spec -
swaps turbos regularly,
changes ecus,
setup for b roads (bumpy lanes) not motorways,
project is rarely a series of uneventful improvements
most lifers dont have 'their EP' on the road ever, (they may have others)
big power isnt often the aim and td04 is still king of the backroad.
Southern Irish spec
two extremes lol
Total slag wagons, SAFC FCD and td06 usually
or
Minty mc mint, never dirty with ten billion optional extras
Uk mainland spec.
Balls out, i wanna overtake m5s on the motorway
Projects are a constant strive for betterment
rarely are sideways moves made
K24? no. TD04? whats that grandpa. Bring me the GT30 lads ill be on boost if its the last thing i ever do.
all different, and is my way of describing the starlet world/field/territory/province (i refuse to use the word scene anymore)
Now there is every version of ep in every place and no hard and fast rule obviously so dont take offence.
Phil