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

Are you sure you saw one for 15k? 50k maybe

La Madre...

I'm a bit hot and cold on the Singers, I very much like the idea of a classic air-cooled 911 that is as reliable as a modern car and can be driven hard without worrying that it's going to throw a fit of the screaming meemies.

However the Singer ethos seems (to me) to go too far - it's a bit too primped, a little too polished.

I'd prefer that targa to be a bit dusty, maybe with a small dent in one wing and the leather of the seats to be lightly cracked from the sun, but with the suspension and engine in A1 condition.

i tend to agree - singers are produced for people who wear uncreased clothes, smell good and moisturise

B&D then?

ha!

Have you considered a Renault Grand Espace?
Up until 2003 or so, (depending upon how many the Renault dealers pre-registered),
you can get the lightweight Matra Aerospace composite bodied 'true Espace'.
Run as two-seater roofed pick-up, you have a load of space, naturally,
and a choice of sturdy Bosch injector, (dTi), or commonn rail (dCi), engines.

I follow a wicked Porsche Instagram account that's the antithesis of Singer, all scrotty lived-in Porkers with race stickers and stuff, brilliant

Magnus Walker?

I'll take that as a compliment.

How could you take it any other way?!? *grins*

I really want one

I have to admit the newest french car I owned was a 2 litre 306 in Diablo red - it was great. No issues. The 505 I had was brilliant. As was the other 306. And the 205.

Fair points though, all the french things post 2001 are poo. Except some Renault Sport offerings.

I think it's a massive shame that modern citroens are so dull. Their current efforts are to superficial to be really innovative or interesting.

roughneckbrigade

unwashed brigade

I'd prefer that targa to be a bit dusty, maybe with a small dent in one wing and the leather of the seats to be lightly cracked from the sun

Did it. Picking it up wednesday. It's 310 miles from here, so I'll know if it's a good buy or not by the time I get home...

Tho it does have the suspension, the car ceased production. C5 is the only one left, the last of the line.

Also the c6 is saloon only, have looked at XM estates too but the 2.1 diesel is a pig to work on.

The XM also, (rarely in the UK), had the 2.5L diesel.

A French customer of mine came over to see the firm I was then working for, in Liverpool.
On his way home some small component gave him a problem.
No Citroen garage in the UK had the part 'on the shelf'.

Had he let me know,
I could have told him to go to any Leyland Vans place,
as the Sherpa of the time had the same engine.

The XUD engine, used in generators alot. But lets not forget that its a citroen engine not a pug one.. 1.7 turbos do headgaskets so break the cam, or cam cap. The 2.0 turbo stuck in the rover is a peach of an engine tho.

the part

was it an

iambic

pentameter?

Looks like a good one. Fingers crossed for you.

That was a killer for lots of citroens, citroen GB are a joke. Working on the hydraulics, which are designed to be rebuildable, finding that cit uk didn't stock the parts or wish to order them and you could only buy the complete unit. S0 £6 worth of parts and an hour labour to rebuild.

I have considered the grand espace, but the bit that I like with the C5 estate is the self levelling suspension so no matter the load the car is always level and handles exactly the same. Also the renault diesels arent as good as the citreon ones,

Looking at engines, I like the 2.0 hdi, cambelts at 10 years and low road tax cos of the emissions decent miles per gallon and can be chipped for an extra 50bhp

Manual too. The aching want.