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

Is the coffee already made before you walk through the door?

Like, maybe, they see you coming...

The way they turn still amazes me. I cant understand why other saloon car manufacturers don't just copy everything about the chassis.

You think they're adding extra O-rings to my bill in order to profit from me?

Bleeding you dry

I don't even think the car was due a service in the first place. It's all a rotten trick.

I think one of the following has to be true:

• My car was a terrible example of the type
  
• Precision (and BSG before them) made up the ailments and I'm a fool for believing them
  
• Most people would look at the lists of jobs needing doing and would select 30% of them and live with the rest
  
  

I'm hoping it's the latter, but prepared to accept it may be any/all of those.

I did that when I bought my E34. Picked it up just before sunset and got back in time to watch sunrise in Finsbury Park.

The drive was brilliant. I just couldn't get over how something that felt so at home at triple figures on the motorway could also feel so nimble on the B roads.

Isn't it likely to be a mix of: the previous guy didn't keep on top of the small things, precision are going for a full-on restoration level refit (if it's not as it was when it left the factory, it's coming out) and you agreeing with them?
Edit: and using official Porsche parts for everything, including new bolts where they've needed to move something to do the work.

How's it going to work owning a classic car within the N+S circulars once this low emissions zone extension kicks in then?

Take any 15-20 year old sportscar into a marque specialist and you'd get a list like that. I know there's shitloads that could/should be sorted with my M3. The mirror bases are corroded. Auto-dimming RV mirror not working. Rear screen heater ditto. But I can live with them at the moment.

How's it going to work owning a classic car within the N+S circulars once this low emissions zone extension kicks in then?

Exempt if before 1980 I believe:

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/blog/market-trends/historic-cars-win-exemption-in-ultra-low-emission-zone

So any cars between 1980 and 2006 will be charged daily?
Might have to shelve my plans to upgrade my '99.

My 6 litre V12 that gets around 10mpg in town is Euro 5 compliant.
So that's alright then. I love being so environmentally friendly.

It does seem odd that you can't get older cars tested to check if they are viable.

@sacredhart - it also depends how often you drive and the cost difference. £24 seems like a lot, but if you only drive a car every other week and other costs are low it might not be as bad as you think.

My Vespa will get caught, as when it was imported it was declared manufactured, and therefore registered, as a 1984.
However small details seem to indicate it's probably from the 1970s.

I'm pretty sure that were I to attempt to correct this it would open an almighty can of worms.

The initial ULEZ has a three year 'sunset period' in which residents won't be charged. I wonder if that will apply on the proposed extension.
@hugo true

Here's where I am with the car, including projected costs for the rest of the first year, but not including the roof rack (can't remember how much it was) and the wall-rack for the hardtop (which was £25):

Fuck me.

It's certainly been an experience.

My gearbox rebuild was 2K inc VAT.

I'll leave the broken rear wiper. :oP

I've got an extension to pay for. Every little helps...

@diable

if you need some miles putting on the Zim Zimmer, I'm always available ;-)

Out of interest what would just spending £31k on a 911 have bought you? Apart from a mint 996 or 997 Pistonheads has one decent-looking air cooled cabriolet.

If there is a lesson here it's that you're a perfectionist and can never be satisfied with a car that doesn't look and work like it was brand new, and either stop buying used cars, or always buy the very best one you can find. That mostly worked for me on the Porsche. I hope it works for me on the Aston. I guess we'll find out :-)

That's really interesting.

Essentially it's cost you £23k to buy a decent version of your car. Is that a reasonable price?

The upside is it now sits on your personal balance sheet as an asset (I'd assume slowly depreciating once you factor running costs and inflation?).

I wonder what else you could have bought/driven for the money (including budget to return to an equivalent state)?

You're fucking mad Neil.