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

Am going to wash the mundano, and then either filler the bad chips and then touch up..

Might even wander over to Asda in Stanford Hill and get one of those rain ex windscreen chip repair kits and see if they work.

I have no idea what this means. Like a van? Or a sports car?

A Golf (for me at least) is the benchmark/Goldie locks car. I just meant a car that appeals to you and I wouldn't classify that Golf as an old car.

For the same money you could buy an 3 litre e46 BMW convertible...that would be cooler and more fun. Or you could buy a camper van. Or a single cabin pickup truck.

Kids mean you'll want 4 doors, >4 seats, a high NCAP safety rating, 100% confidence all the airbags work, etc. All of which puts some limits on what could otherwise be a fairly unrestricted choice.

Think so..maybe the rear ones.

Probably toothpaste polish the lights too.

Or you could buy a camper van.

Yeah... Hmmm...

Anyone done the 'get your license quick' lessons in London? I've never had a license and my partner's expired when we moved from Canada ten years ago. So one/both of us need to do this shit, and ideally so we'd be able to drive mid-Sept.

Yes. But when I was 17. Which was a long time ago.

Personally I'd 100% always recommend intensive courses. I did my motorbike test the same way (more recent).

The problem is you've left it a bit late. Summer hols is when most will do a test. But you should be able to get something in sept.

1. Go on line now.
   
2. File whatever you need for you both to get your provisional licences.
   
3. Both book your theory asap.
   
4. Download the theory test app.
   
5. See earliest availability for practical test, then depending how far away it is book and plan intensive lessons around it.
   

Thanks, man - really helpful. I think we'll wait till we've moved north perhaps then. Partner won't be so busy.

No worries.

Theory lasts a a few years I think,so I'd be tempted to knock that and getting your provisional off now.

There's a provisional test centre in London Bridge. Depending where you move to it might not be so easy to get to.

Probably frequently true, but there will be some cases when Community Speedwatch has been established where drivers frequently speed in an urban area and the police or council are not resourced to address it. More usefully than a short term visual deterrent, they can also serve a purpose gathering data to support application for speed reduction measures.

Driver has to have a full licence for three years I think

When driving, you must be accompanied by someone aged over 21 who has held a full driving licence for at least three years.

You're right. Edited.

Not sure what the situation would be with someone who used to have a foreign licence.

Would avoid the fsi engines, they coke right up though some had a revision that made them better

Also mk5 golf are generally a good city and out and about family car. No real shocking stories with them. Prob avoid the higher powered 2.0 common rail diesels if you don't know your way around cars, they are a bit heavier on injectors/turbos/ clutch /flywheels and other £££ issues than the lower powered ones, and "pd" is older type, less power but way more wallet friendly.
1.4tsi is the pick of the petrols, maybe again avoid early dsg 6 speed gearboxes. At this age though they will have mostly failed and been fixed by now so not a deal breaker tbh.
Also people putting common issues abd then fixed in a description is a very good thing by my book, means they understand that they have issues abd this example has been fixed, rather than usual "runs great, excellent condition" and it's actually a total shed that would fetch more at a scrappers

Yep. Car Captain. John Mack used them too. I'd recommend them unreservedly.
Do not do your test on Hainault. Worst pass rate in the country due to the weird roundabout on the test route.

So yesterday this happened... Eunos Roadster S-Special Type II

After a change in circumstances I sold the Ninja and was on the hunt for something with 4 wheels and again Japanese. Considered quite a few old Hondas but in the end the price and grin factor of the MX-5 Mk1 won me over. Oh and the pop-up headlights.

Current plan for the car is to address the very small amounts of rust then look at sourcing parts to largely return it to stock... 15" BBS wheels, black Nardi wheel - gear knob and a hard top in Montego Blue if I can find one. Once that is done then look at handling upgrades.

Pretty chuffed I found the exact model and colour I was looking for after reading so much online about difference in spec.

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...and any ideas what this button does? Thought it was some kind of child lock for the windows but doesn't seem to do anything that I can tell. @NurseHolliday

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Very nice!!! Great choice.

What's wrong with the silver centre Nardi?

Never seen that button before, sorry, no idea what it does!

Rust wise, MX5 restorer next to Brands Hatch is the go to guy. He's very good.

Thanks, can't help staring at it on the driveway! I like the understated-ness of 90's Japanese interiors and the silver wheel somehow doesn't fit my stereotype. Even the silver speaker surrounds seem a bit much to me. Will do some googling re the mysterious button and much appreciated on MX5 restorer.

I may have an original black gearknob for you. I need to have a dig through the shed.

If you get on one of the fb groups, there'll be a fleet of kids ready to swap your nardi for an OEM one. That's if you don't want to sell it separately

Oh and looks like you need some JDM split sun visors. I happen to have some if you want them?

I'll PM you regarding the gear knob if that's okay, would be amazing if you do have it. Good to know about the FB groups too. Just checked the sun visors and they seem to have the OG Japanese writing and look JDM but likely I'm missing something!

Yeah of course, I'll have a look through the shed tonight. 2 groups worth checking on fb are MX5 Buy and Sell and MX5Nutz for sale. There are a lot of young time wasters and cretins you have to wade through though.

Rust on a mk1......hahaha. Bets on the rearof the cills and inner and outer?

@diable thanks will investigate!

@lynx thankfully not, previous owner already sorted the cills just a small amount on the bottom of the door.

Anybody know if lancia ever made a 2L non turbo FWD delta? Been considering building up a turbo lump for mine and have a chance at what I'm told is a 2l engine and gear box out of such a car. With twin dellortos.

I'm thinking it'd be a good base to strip
Down and rebuild with dished pistons but I'm also wondering if it'll even fit as I don't know of any 2L fwd delta let alone n/a