Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I think it's down to conventional handbrakes being prone to failure as disks cool down - my electronic handbrake adjusts to compensate as this happens

Well, yes.

Did you definitely have the auto hold switched on? The first time I used a golf with it I had the auto stop start on, not the handbrake - luckily I only rolled back on a small incline before I realised. But yeah, generally shit. I had another one that randomly disengage when I switched the car off and started to step out.
Anyway, it's a rental, just slip the clutch.

I was on the exit ramp of the M1 waiting for the lights to change. Anyway, all done now. Back in London with no further incident. In all other respects it's a really decent, if boring, little car the Mk7 Golf. Slow as all shit though, that 1.6 diesel.

Nobody on the face of the earth has bought a 1.6 diesel Golf expecting it to shift.

The earlier incarnations of the Golf could probably have handled a smaller engine, but as they've become longer, wider and fatter a 2ltr engine should probably be the lower limit nowadays.

I'm pondering getting a car, know sod all about them but have had a few instances where it would be useful.

Not looking for anything particularly big, enough space for a couple of people and a couple of suitcases I guess. Would mainly be used (in theory) for getting out of London for weekends away, visiting family, etc so a reasonable amount of motorway usage.

I'm in my mid-30s but have never owned a car so would prefer not that outrageous insurance.

Automatic would be preferable (the last time I drove a manual was going on for 20 years ago when I passed my test) but I could always have some refresher lessons.

Price-wise I'm not really sure what you get for your money. Wouldn't want to spend too much as it won't be getting used every day, or even every week.

Any suggestions? Cheers

Meh. I like my 1.6. Makes racing cyclists off the lights more challenging.

Did you play with the radar guided cruise control? Now that's a gadget worth having. Simply pick a car going about the right speed for you, choose a distance to stay from it, lock on, then relax and enjoy the scenery, send some texts, have a sandwich. It's basically like getting the train.

I don't think it had that. I really missed not having it.
Anyway, Porsche shopping this week.

What was wrong with a handbrake lever and cable exactly?

The interior designers get all grumpy because they have to accommodate a handbrake lever somewhere, and it gets in the way of all their smooth surfaces. Personally I'm with you - give me a handbrake lever any day, and screw the people designing the interior of the car. It's also easier to route electric cables rather than mechanical Bowden cables, but I've never heard anyone claim that's the overriding reason for using electric handbrakes.

Still going for a Boxster?

Yep. just missed what looked like a peach of a car, so hunting around now

Probably more fun than a diesel Goof. Even one with radar cruise.

Car insurance: tell me all.

Despite having lived in the UK for 11 years I never owned a car here (rented now and then). As such I never bothered changing my EU licence (my long-haired teenage pic is a never ending source of comedy) obtained 15 years ago. Now that I'm considering buying a car, for leisure, non-commute use I wonder what I should go for, as I don't want to pay over the odds for limited mileage.
Obviously I don't want to buy a Kia Picanto. Is it silly to consider something like a 80's W124 300E or at the other end of the scale a Mazda mx5? I don't want to pay more for insurance than the car is worth.

Any cool rat 911 videos?

Limited mileage policy on an MX5 should be cheap as long as you're not a travelling carney living on the Pembury Estate

Any cool rat 911 videos?

Google Magnus walker.

Merc CLK and pack light

@Crispin_Glover I might get @NurseHolliday on the case. Although the practicality of a PanzerWagen are tempting too...

Get some quotes. You may well find that stuff like W124s and MX5s are cheaper to insure than 'beginner' cars like Picantos because they are not bought by 17 year olds and crashed a lot.

Is it silly to consider an 80's car - not if it has a full service history and you do your research. Things on old cars wear out and fail, even on Mercs (mine has been a bit of a money pit) but they are lovely when they work. I know 2 MX-5 owners and they love their cars.

My Panzerwagen is for sale, by the way, if you're interested.

It got a fresh MoT in Nov, and a full service in January. It's had thousands spent on bringing it back up to scratch. (driveshaft, suspension work, engine work, brakes, new continental tyres on 15 inch 8-hole alloys, new Blaupunkt stereo with bluetooth, usb, ipod/iphone compatibility and hands-free calling)
Very high spec, very fast, comfortable, capacious, and all the toys work except for aircon and the tailgate motorised catch (cos who cares about that?).

I'll chuck in a spare genuine rust-free nearside wing (wrong colour, but V-L's chap could sort that for a reasonable cost) as the one on the car is dented (not by me!) and rusty.

Regarding the aircon - I had it pressure tested and it's fine, but it would be £350 to convert the system from R12 to R134; You could try getting it filled with RS24 and see if that works).

Full disclosure - It's not working properly at the mo: if you don't keep the revs up it stalls at low speeds - parking, junctions, etc. This only started happening the other day - it's probably the OVP relay but I need to check what other components might be causing it.

Either you wait for me to try and fix the idle problem or take it as is for a discount and fix it yourself.
£1000 working, £750 not working.

Pictures!

I want an BMW E34. Are these reliable cars? You can pick them up dirt cheap.

Yeah, some pics please Niall.

I am tempted.

Rust, VANOS, front suspension and steering, wipers, heavy on standard brakes. Other than that they're good cars. Scratch that, great cars.

My old E34:

So easy to get sideways and hold it too, even with open diffs.

I'd like one of those, really I would.

I'd prefer an E39 M5 though.

I don't think the E39 looks as good - its almost too streamlined for me.

I like that the bonnet and the bumper aren't joined.