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

993 - total class. Love them in the french blue too. Yep, would own happily.

^^The Volvo is making around 160 bhp per litre, the RS6 is making just over 100 bhp per litre, there's an opportunity for a little more zoom I think. Without going full retard.

Without going full retard.

I think if you add power you should look at the brakes....

;)

the one with the leaky glass roof.

Meh. If you install the seals right they are water tight and lovely and quiet. If you get them 0.5mm out they make an utter racket above 40mph and leak, but that's not the car's fault.

I don't like them tho. Not as pretty as a coupe, not the open air experience of a cab. Aims to please everyone and pleases no one.

However, the 991 Targa is a wonderful looking thing.

The 991 Targa is a beautiful looking car.

^^ This, absolutely beautiful.

Totally missed this, we've got a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix + FamilyFix base, separate purchases but in and out takes seconds and you get beeps and lights. Show me someone who doesn't like beeps and lights and I'll show you a liar.

Oh it's been covered. +1 to not using the base for hire cars, it weighs about the same as a Yaris

Brand new Mk2 escort shell?

https://www.gumtree.com/p/ford/mk2-escorts-new-shells-not-mk1-escort-/1143934013

Here's our mk2 golf gti 16v, 1989 in jade green.

Car belongs to me and my dad, he purchased it off a doctor is 2004-ish after it was a trade in at his garage. I believe it's done around 60k with full service history. It was resprayed by my dad in 2006 and we put it together the year after.

Hasn't been out since 2012 but hoping I can get insured on it this year! The car was 100% rust free when we resprayed it, since then the shell has never got wet, we just dust it down with speed detailer and a microfibre.

Here's my daily driver...

15' plate A1 TDI, 1.6. Currently lowered on Eibach suspension, due to drop another 10mm at the front and 5 at the rear. 15mm spacers for the rear on order.

She's going in for remap, exhaust and proper breathing in the new year. Would also like to get a carbon splitter, and the slightly bigger spoiler from the S1.

Actually really impressed with this car, interior is fantastic quality and feels well made. Since lowering it the handling is just unreal, there's not a lot of 'normal cars' that wouldn't be able to touch this around country lanes, fantastic little thing!

^ That would be a great little car to drive right to the very end of Hastings pier. Then get out and push it off.

stopping it from working as a car just so it looks kewl seems a bit misguided.

Haven't stopped cars manufacturers from putting oversized alloy wheels on a normal cars .

This so true. Modern cars sadly have it all wrong because they're developed by the marketing team and stylists, not engineers.

Drive a well sorted classic rear drive car (say, an e30 325i) and it'll have all the control and grip you ever need with a comfortable ride, even body roll - shocking! Guaranteed to be more involving and fun to drive* than a modern, huge tyred beast.

*At sensible road speeds

I really want the 18" BBS made Propus alloys for my Volvo, but know that I should go for the 17's.

This of course means that if offered the choice I'd buy the 18's as they look better.

Given the current guise and spec of the Volvo there's nothing wrong with 18's.
Personally I'd choose 17's but I like a little sidewall showing, rather than rubber bands. Opinion really.

Speaking of the Volvo, it uses these (H1) bulbs:

And I can barely see where I am going when it's dark, is there a decent upgrade that isn't woo?

have you checked the headlamp assembly alignment? Also if the reflectors and covers have deteriorated then it'd be replacement time.
As for upgrades, I've never had great results with bulb upgrades but you may be able to fit a xenon discharge system for not much. No idea about legality etc.
Otherwise carrots.

Hmm, no idea what state the reflectors are in - I presume I'd have to take the lamps apart to check?

Also I've never checked the lamp alignment, I just assumed that they checked that at MOT time and gave it a tweak if it was out - guessing that's fantasy?

Unfortunately, Hastings pier is currently closed for naff car disposal. Luckily, Beachy Head is still available.

http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/product_info.php?cPath=515_671_676_714&products_id=4305

£60/corner, I'll grab a pair if the reflectors look janky (when I work out how to look at their condition!)

This is a thing I know. I was there last week. Should have thought to look you up for a cup of tea but instead we went to a weird hippy cafe in the observatory (?) building.

Being sealed units it is hard to tell but if the front lens is yellowed and crazed then the reflector may be gone too, which has a dramatic effect on output. Totally bodge way of checking - shine a bright torch into the headlamp - at certain angles it should still blind you with the brightness reflected.

and about alignment - I never thought twice about it until I had lowered my car, with the rear lower than the front. Headlights pointed up and no light ahead. re-aligned and it was fine.

The headlamps are electrically adjusted (in case you are towing I think), I can move them up and down, just brings the beam length in.

850 headlamps aren't sealed beams. You can replace the reflector, or get them recoated.

Suspect that the outer lens is glass.

So Magnus Walker is in Sheffield at the mo, as am I. He posted on IG a few days ago that he's doing a meet up at 8:00 tomorrow morning for a blast over the snake pass to glossop. Run what you brung.
Thinking it might be a laugh for the morning as im in the area, but thinking it may just be a shit load of boy racers in corsas and the like trying to keep up with a few GT3's.....