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

Apologies, I did feel like I was being a bit over salty but didn't mean to offend

Don't not back down now, you've nearly convinced him to buy a Masserati. Keep the pressure on, he'll thank you in the end.

Hehe

Saw this beauty today and thought of @BRM...

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That should say: "saw this beauty today and wondered how BRM would fit his robust frame into it"

I've helped him get into a Lurex Paul Stanley costume, anything is possible...

Beautiful machine tho', not totally ratty but ratty enough... I bet whoever owns it was just nipping to the shops in it... Class...

In that case you've seen things that should never be seen...

Has one ever been fully restored?

Owning a 20 year old Volvo I'm going to say no.

Italian classic got so much swag.

Just need to run in the med.

what goes on tour...

for the record, i can get in a coupe, but it is tight as. a mate's dad has one. i'd need different seats/steering wheel if it was my beater.

i'd love a battered mga. or a sun beaten gilbern gt with the running gear out of the green b.

Liking your plans...

I'd like a ratty 356.

I think a restored read 'outlawed' 1962 porsche 356b karmann coupe.

Would be nice.

ha

This is actually a pretty rare beast, Jose. It's a twin cam and they made fuck all of them in coupe form.

Porker 996 GT3

Ha. Another great suggestion that matches precisely fuck all of my requirements.

This has now become the what would i buy with £40k question not the what matches my needs question.

This has now become the what would i buy with £40k question not the what matches my needs question.

And you expected what exactly :-)

A good point well made.

FWIW I quite like that new Bimmer X-thingy you mentioned and it ticks all cool, reliable, presentable, practical boxes and if you don't mind the depreciation on new as B&D says, go for it. I don't know enough about newer cars to suggest an alternative. Boot seems to let down most of the 'alternative' suggestions so far. Skoda seem to be doing good things.. new Octavia hatch vRS?

Also, go and drive a few things (I'm sure you plan to). I have never driven anything as raw, visceral and well, damn fast as the E46 M3. It'll probably cost me a bit to keep on the road but I've got a slush fund for that, it cost me less than ten large and won't be depreciating much. Every drive is enjoyment.

There will be plenty of driving to be done. I already have a 2 series so it would be easy to jump to a 4 series.

When i get back from holiday in June i'm going to have a proper run up at this. The issue is that whatever i end up getting will also be used by Mrs Soul. She's going to want the auto box as she finds it easier to drive in town (to be honest, i prefer it too..) and she's not going to want something too lairy. That's why i'm looking at something with 4wd. At least i can have more power without her complaining that it's too quick for her to drive.

I've been looking at the Ghibli all morning (the quatroporte costs more than i want to spend for a newish one) but it's slower than the BMW with a shite sat nav and very high service costs. It's very pretty though...

I've been looking at the Ghibli all morning

Our work here is done :)

Not really. The more i look at it, the better the BMW looks.

Unless that was the plan all along.

You're pretty set on this 430d but just as a final push, you said fun, fast, practical. The 4 series is 2 door right, so a 2 door with 4 seats is OK? How about a fast estate? Does it have to be diesel?

Not set but so far all the alternatives have been get something for hooning around country lanes instead of a motorway mile muncher that i'm after.

Doesn't have to be diesel but i prefer the engine characteristics of a diesel for motorway miles. Doesn't have to be a 2 door but, by practical, i mean a boot that can fit a few suitcases and get things to the tip a couple of times a month. Estate is a possibility but i'm not sure how the wife would feel about something that big.