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

Fault reader to see what it says, it could be an Air Mass Fault, due to air leak, or EGR fault
edit; they are very prone to vacuum pipes perishing with the heat under the bonnet affecting turbo operation.

Yep we'll aware of the rubbery rear on a 306. On my first one I replaced the rubber bits with urathane to tame the tail happy nature but it actually made the car way too understeery. Just got to learn to use the movement of the rear axle to good effect.

^ useless without doing all the bushes and a full alignment.

This is a really good shout. If you're ​going to spend anything, do this and two new tyres. Should be set for safe and predictable driving from then on.

Cheers mate! I'll get a fault reader on it.

Just went and bought a full 3" exhaust for the Forester. Turbo back with sports cat. Queue dugga dugga noises :)

Anyone want an inflatable single cell lumbar support? I bought to retro fit to my Abarth but have decided no need.

Like this http://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/real-race-single-cell-inflatable-lumbar-support/prod_4246.html

Nobody really likes 126s though do they? They are basically engine donors for 500s.
(a bit like all the Metro engines ended up in Minis)
Now an electric 500 might be an idea. Or an electric Barchetta 595.

(Edit: was done in Malta 10 years ago: http://www.evalbum.com/1480)

I had a 126, I'd love a proper rally-prepped one, with the "tuck-under" rear suspension sorted out and significantly more than the 26 bhp of the original available

I really like the 126, the bike engined ones are fantastic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lDF4YCdqeM

On the different end of the scale I just enquired of Dove's Volvo, Croydon, about the V90 T8, and whether I could book an extended test drive in the XC90 T8 (as that's available, the V90 is "coming soon"), to be told "nah mate, you can have it for half an hour with one of us in it with you."

Now, I can understand that they might think I'm a tyre kicker trying it on, but equally - would anyone buy a £75k car off the back of a half hours trudge through Croydon traffic?

Could just be a crappy dealership. I've had good experiences with Sentinel and they have a V90 in stock...

http://www.sentinelcars.co.uk/used-cars/7104186-volvo-v90-2.0-d5-r-design-235bhp-powerpulse-awd-auto/

I don't anticipate having any issues with the mortgage, it's very modest.

The Beetle is built by a guy who owns a 914, like wot I do so is in my krew, so I've been watching him with interest. Since then he's done a number of others including a 70s 911.

It really is a viable option now.

I keep plucking up the courage to ask, but haven't ever...

Best way to reach him is via http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/index.php he posts as Moggy

I'd imagine so.

I'm thinking into 5 figures, but have no basis for that guess.

I'm happy to have a low mortgage.

Test drives of new cars- I wanted out on Saturday/in on Sunday, got offered half an hour as I said. Are long test drives simply not a thing?

I'm seriously considering buying a new car, I don't want to just play with one for the weekend. I'll probably buy something second hand, true. But with hybrid/electric cars newer is better.

Ages ago I spoke to a mini dealer in Park Lane and almost 100% of their cars were ordered over the phone.

Total guess. Could just as easily be £1500.

A mini, in that area, is pocket change.

A V90 T8 is a slightly more expensive car - I suppose some might buy it practically unseen but I would think that most would want to try one.

Lexus will do whole weekend test drives. They ring you up and positively encourage it even if you say you don't want to buy a new car. Then they go and get all grumpy when you kerb one of their stupidly big alloys and want to charge you £100.

Dammit's Porsche maybe. I reckon I'm up about £12k by owning the 914 for 6 years and about £15k on the 964. Net of everything. Even fuel...

Maybe, but I still think the mean price was +£25k once they're bottom-lined.

Total contrast to motorbike ADs who just give you the keys and say "see you in a couple of hours".

I was pleasantly surprised by the skoda dealer who just handed me the keys and asked if I knew the local area.

Tbh, I quickly discovered that test driving a "family car" is a pretty tedious experience so after about 15 minutes blatting down the M11, I headed back to the dealers to buy it.

I've never driven a hybrid, I wanted to find out how it functioned - run the battery all the way down, charge overnight etc. If I can't experience what it's like then I'm not interested.