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

Hefty's given a valid counterpoint, however, track days in a convertible 911, nah

On the positive side- no one would expect me to be able to drive.

I offered him 9k, he's said 9.5k and it's a deal. That's 5.5k under the budget I set for this project and would allow me to resolve all the issues the car has (for I would hope around 3k).

Which would put the car on the road at 100% for 12.5k (plus £500 in insurance).

Just do it...

Or wait for a hardtop...

Wrong time of year to be buying a soft top. 😀

I'm just walking away from a dealer where I was looking at a Targa- £17,500, the rear deck was wet from the roof leaking, the blind mechanism was bust, trim was missing all over the place, no service book (mislaid), knob missing from the dash, scratches down the flanks. Are they intending on fixing any of this? No, price reflects the condition.

Not really.

Seeing as you like to tinker, this might be pertinent to your interests:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1601182

A convertible 996 though, you should have bought my Boxster instead.

Sorry to disappoint everyone- I'm picking it up on Monday.

Well now you've got it I'm pleased for you, like to see what you get up to with it

FlNALLY

Meanwhile, back at the Volvo:

Is that a mk2 MX5 with a personalised number plate?

Yep, soon to be turbo'd.

Here's something interesting - I've been getting insurance quotes for my new car, Compare the Market gave a suggested value of £4,670, and a quote of £657.

I just upped the value to £13,000 and the quote fell to £625.

Riddle me that.

Also, just a note on my car buying - I spent £176 on a pre-purchase inspection that revealed £4,000 worth of work that needed doing (at the prices of the PPI garage).

Some negotiation later and the seller (who is a lovely chap) reduced the price by £3,000.

I sent the quote from the PPI place (a London garage) to a Porsche specialist in Sussex and might just squeak in at that £3,000 figure for all the work (labour is cheaper out of London).

So, based on my sample size of one, I'd recommend a PPI.

Of course, I'll be told that the engine is toast now and need to lay out ~£8,000 after I've bought it, but at least I tried to do the right thing.

Seeing as you like to tinker, this might be pertinent to your interests:

pistonheads.com/gassing/topic­.asp?h=0&f=47&t=1601182

This is awesome.

Oof - existing no-claims means nothing for second car.

Zero no-claims and insuring a Porsche? How bad could it be...

You should be fine with a second car. Where are you keeping it?

Going to muck out the garage. Best quote so far for me, a 40 year old in SE23 on a Porsche 911 with zero no claims is £673.

That beats (i.e. is cheaper than) my M3, although it's my only car and parked on street. 2 yr NCB.

That's from Admiral, I did as a friend advised and put my parents, and my girlfriends father, on the insurance which chopped £300 off. "Insurance John" as he is known said to keep adding older people until the insurance quote stops getting smaller, it works quite well.

You've let the team down dammit.

The cab?