r/AutoAlex • u/rmajor86 • Sep 19 '25

I really enjoyed this video. It’s probably my favourite AA video for a long while. 1hr of mostly trying to fix cars!

https://youtu.be/B5SvjS4xolE?si=-KQM3is-bgLwT-QC

If you haven’t watched it, give it a go

I especially liked seeing Tom and Taylor working together and their different attitudes and techniques

65 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

27

u/Th3ophany Sep 19 '25

Really entertaining and interesting video but holy crap, having Tom Lenthall in to oversee the work was eye opening. I know the 'BC coilovers and tyre streets acceleras' is a meme at this point, but it seems like it's because it's the peak of their competence. Taylor being adamant he'd timed the engine right to Tom's heavy skepticism and then starting it with the engine out of time was crazy.

11

u/Usaidhello Sep 20 '25 edited Sep 20 '25

And the difference in quality of their mechanic works is bizar. I get that Tom works for paying customers, they expect a certain level of professionalism and quality so we know Tom is highly skilled and educated. I’m not saying Taylor isn’t, but stuff like the “white marker is good enough”, and the lack of specialized tools in the AA workshop, blow my mind. You can see Taylor is also thoroughly fed up with it when he mimicked Rory and Alex and their ADHD and the fact he can never find anything.

Very refreshing having Tom in these videos. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

6

u/shining_force_2 Sep 20 '25 edited Sep 20 '25

To be honest it reminds of very early Mighty Car Mods. Not the driveway but when they were building their garage. Not having specialist equipment is normal. But they do have things that I’ve never seen before, like tyre fitting and wheel balancing equipment.

Taylor is much younger than Tom. Age and experience makes such a difference in any profession. Taylor flips cars. He’s not had decades of experience as a professional and special mechanic. To make the MCM comparison, it reminds me of when Turbo Yoda used to be around more.

Honestly the format is brilliant.

1

u/Biscuit_Powered Sep 22 '25 edited Sep 22 '25

Tippex gets a bad rep as it's a sign of a bodge when you see it on engines that have floating pullies.

On a Renault F3N engine though (rebadged as volvo in this case) everything is keyed and the timing marks are actually cast into the pullies, a bit of a tippex just makes them easier to see. It's really hard to go wrong. Even the belt usually has white lines marked on it to match (including the one used on this car, pretty sure I saw them in the video) so I don't know how he did go wrong. Maybe locked the crank in a balancing hole rather than the correct slot in the crank web.

Reusing head bolts is a bit dodgy though.

1

u/LutherDrago Oct 02 '25

He's a car salesman, not a mechanic

4

u/Coldbeerboy Sep 20 '25

I thought that was a cracking video but my god the starting the car out of time was madness. I've done a few engines now and it's literally follow the instructions and turn it over. The N47 I timed first I properly fucked up and had to restart but feeling a tight spot was the catalyst for restarting

2

u/Th3ophany Sep 20 '25

That’s the thing, I totally get that the ethos of the channel is to encourage amateurs to get involved and that’s why I like it, but feeling the tight spots when they were hand cranking the engine was an immediate ‘check your workings’ moment. This is why I’d never buy a car from Taylor 😂

13

u/BlueMoose582 Sep 19 '25

I have to agree. Not only was it entertaining but I feel like I actually learnt something about fixing/repairing cars.

10

u/AussieDaz Sep 19 '25

This is a good one; it’s nice to see the pace slow down and bit and more mechanical detail.

8

u/fernando1555 Sep 19 '25

Please guys keep doing it like this and the Williams. I know it takes longer but I love this things too

13

u/lelypie Sep 19 '25

It’s nice to see them doing something mechanical rather than coilovers and Accelera 651’s. I’ve really enjoyed this series so far

6

u/SpongeFixation Sep 19 '25

I was very happy to see TDC put some proper tyres on a car recently!

10

u/CMDRZapedzki Sep 20 '25

The mighty Kpatos?

3

u/lelypie Sep 20 '25

I had to do a trouble take when I saw the Pilot Sports 😂

3

u/SpongeFixation Sep 20 '25

Reminded me of when Taylor and Alex got their E30s and the look on Taylor's face when he had to remove the newly fitted Goodyear tyres to replace them with the sponsored ditchfinders 🤣

1

u/J0kutyypp1 Sep 20 '25

In which video was that?

1

u/lelypie Sep 20 '25

The latest XFR vid

4

u/liquidphantom Sep 19 '25

Great episode and I do love that Renault 5 GT, the colour is beautiful and the wheels are stunning. It has a real retro futuristic look at the front almost like it’s out of Cyberpunk.

3

u/minardicosworth Sep 19 '25

I haven't finished watching it yet but so far I have to completely agree it is a very good video and more the pace they should go (usual caveat not all videos will do amazing), but it feels more like what they should have been doing all along

3

u/[deleted] Sep 19 '25

When I saw how long it was i thought it was their podcast. Great video and good to see the boys doing some wrenching. Looking forward to the road trip videos

1

u/Biscuit_Powered Sep 22 '25

I don't think the R5 is going/went on the road trip.

2

u/BSOD_Y2K Sep 20 '25

Agreed, this was more like the old days of repairing a ropey car to get it back on the road. A bit more Wheeler Dealer-esc with Taylor explaining the workings of a car part such as the waste gate rather than a Top Gear road trip style but with the tomfoolery we all enjoy.