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

Looked at some of the dual cab pickups?

Dacia Duster ;)

Or a Lada Riva...you can still get them new.

@lynx you are a funny bugger sometimes :)

Cayenne is a nice idea but they're absurdly big. And that is an 11 year old car. I'm really after after something newer, lower mileage, less big, less flashy, less pistonheady... although not awful to drive would be nice. Any opinions on the Q5? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201612120544890?search-target=usedcars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&make=AUDI&sort=price-asc&radius=1500&postcode=me138sd&fuel-type=Diesel&advertising-location=at_cars&model=Q5&year-from=2013&page=1&advert-type=featured-listing&dealer-id=2500087

Niva, no?

Can get the brand new for under 6 grand, was on the cards for me before I bought the landy.

I'm not convinced:

merc didn't pass its MOT, back at the garage.

• broken exhaust, can hopefully be patched
  
• need a new spindle joint
  
• removable tow bar thing is stuck. Currently soaking, really hope I can get it working again
  

Better than nothing, unless the groove acts as a stress raiser and the whole of the end falls off. Pretty crap though. I'd be tempted to return it myself.

Can anyone recommend a place that does this sort of part well?

Merlin Motorsports, last time I looked. Or Rally Design.

I'd use Pro Alloy because they're near me, but they're not near Ldn.

I think I'm cursed, Pro Alloy don't do 63mm OD/100mm long/swaged alloy connecting pipes.

Merlin only do 150mm long ones (too long).

Rally Design's website is too opaque to work out whether they have something that would work or not.

I'll give those three a ring tomorrow and see if actually talking to a human being garners better results.

If you like a bit of DIY you can modify a crimping tool to make it into a bead making tool. There's a youtube vid.

Lack of time really- out of the house at 6am tomorrow morning, back home late on Tuesday, working Weds/Thur/Fri in town, leaving for the country on Friday.

Ideally I'd like something waiting on the doormat when I get home on Tuesday.

I really thought I wrote Niva, and it looked like Niva till @IR pointed it out....

Subtle

That's got @Apone written all over it...

privacy glass

#wankindows

Merlin will definitely do one-offs to order. I'm sure if you ask nicely they'll make one up for you. Whether they can get it to you by Tuesday is another story...

Volvo 240's rev counter has stopped working. Nice Xmas project. Tailgate has begun randomly shedding bolts as well...

Ugh, what's wrong with people

I thought I wanted an XC60 until I went in one, it's an 8 year old model now and really feels it. Ended up with a new Tiguan, because cheap lease.

The Nissan X Trail was probably the best car, but I couldn't live with the rear lights.

@hefty What in particular makes you say that about the XC60? I've been looking at few things and am leaning towards the Volvo. The spec for cash looks good and I like the way they look and feel. I can get a 2013 model 2.4l diesel, with all the bells and whistles with under 30k miles for around £18k. I hear they're a little sloppier to drive than the Audi or Honda CR-V but I can live with that to be honest. I'm hardly doing to be chucking it around with the babies in tow.

I looked at the Tiguan but i don't think it has the space I want. It looks like a Golf with wellies on. I looked at the X-Trail too but it's Range Rover/Tuareg/Q7 size innit.

i'd stay well the fuck away from anything diesel powered and VW shaped.

#buyjapanese

The Honda CR-V seems to be ridiculously good value second hand. Not sure I like the slightly blingy angular chrome stuff though. A mate of mine has an older one and he loves it though.

I think I've given up on the Audi. At the budget i've got I can only afford tired-looking high milers.