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

Can anyone recommend a garage that specialises in 90's performance cars, preferably in the South? I'd like to find someone closer than my chap in Leicester, but that is not a Volvo main dealer.

The all electric land yacht. Pointless, but a little bit cool.

It had struck me that there's some seriously good taste in (often) practical, rapid, good looking estates here.

I'd been tempted to buy AWD Subaru Outback, but the thing is long as all fuck and I'd imagine I won't use the extra space (I'll probably buy a bike rack for when I'm going to the mountains with mates, or just lay flat in the back if alone).

I've had a 2006 Outback for the last 4 years and love it

Just got a £2k renewal quote for my Transit Connect. A volvo can't fit 2 fatbikes, enough stuff for 2 weeks camping and a double mattress you can sleep on without moving it.

In the market for a Ducato/Boxer/Relay H2L2 though.

What about Stagea?

I drove a Subaru Outback AWD hire car in the US a few years back. I thought it was fairly awesome. I don't think you would have any problems with the size - it didn't feel unwieldy.

The older model looks ace. For some reason, the new one didn't feel great to drive when I test drove.

A bit 'lollopy' (spelling).

Hmm, leaning more Subaru way at the moment.

Recent Nissans have seemed a little plasticky to me, of late.

Again, still researching, so your suggestion is very much appreciated!

Who's talking about recent?? Stagea 260RS is what you want with the RB26DETT

For anyone who hasn't seen this: Stagea Double Unicorn build by MCM. (Turbo V8 Stagea)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjDGM7noTJw

Ooh I haven't seen that, will watch it at lunch.

My friend in Cornwall has built a forged JUN RB28DETT into a Stagea with a huuuge Borg Warner turbo making ~700 bhp. I think I've mentioned it about 24 times before.

Are roof bars and a bike carrier on top of the car compulsory for tuned Stageas? Looks that way.

I think it's some sort of code, the amount of dross on top signals how much extra power.

Must have missed that memo, 100mph all the way to Margate last weekend!

Fucking hell, not even Audi have got the neck to charge that!

What's the first thing to melt if he pushes that engine too far? Head gasket? Con rods? Valves?

It'll have to go a long way to break the bottom end because it's forged. Valves are OK because he's not revving it too high, it's just got to cope with the massive boost.

There's an argument for the head gasket being selected for a secondary role as fuse in high boost applications, i.e. it's better for that to let go than you melt a piston.

That the pipe that runs around engine bay from the drier to the bulkhead? They rot over time, prob replaced the drier at the same time as every time you open the system its wise to replace it, drier is only like £80 from volvo last time I checked.
Boot trim is the most offensive price there, the kit is less than £20 I'm sure (its some plastic clips and some alloy spacers) and it takes even the most baked ham fisted individual 20 minutes to fit.
Handbrake cables are a lot, had a bill for mine about 5 years ago, parts only were £180 I think for genuine. 5 years on, handbrake is still a boss.

http://jalopnik.com/audi-is-adding-two-digits-to-its-car-names-just-to-make-1798357078

Who refers to power output in Kw? I heard it a lot in australia but surely everywhere else it's ps or bhp!

The R34 front end transforms the Stagea, much more modern.
That is a crazy build, I haven't followed it after the build but I imagine after a proper tune and extra fuel pumps it'd be a bit quick.

Yeah, that kind of project/body kit is a little boy racer for my liking (and age, perhaps). Me around 5 to 10 years ago, would be purchased.

FFS