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

Everything on there is functionally perfect- some of it is cosmetically a little ragged though, but you have to stop somewhere.

In terms of ride height it's fine- no problem with speed bumps, and with the Ohlins it's actually more comfortable than the stock, non-sport suspension I had on before.

Although absolutely rock hard suspension is a turn of the adjuster away of course, should I wish to lose my fillings/find myself at Brands Hatch.

but you have to stop somewhere.

I get the feeling you've not quite reached that point yet tho.

a turn of the adjuster away

Is this something you can do yourself? I've always wondered what the actual process is.

On most motorbikes all the suspension adjusted is easily accessible. So it's just a case of stabilising it and cracking on with the relevant tool(s).

Just turn the knob:

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Yeah, most adjustable dampers from reputable brands can be adjusted from the top of the shock body via a rotating dial that has click based settings. Often if the manufacturer knows the top of the shock will be unreachable without removing panels or trim then they’ll include remote adjusters which just extend the dial via a cord. If you’re KYB then you expect users to roll around on the floor under the car like the peasants they are.

Compliance! Softer can be quicker on track.

Does that adjuster just dangle there, loose?

That needs a bracket. Custom. Carbon fibre. Surely?

Funny, but that would annoying me.

Short or installing servos and remote switches surely that remote cable setup could work over the short distance to in cabin?

Would be surprisingly cheap & easy to knock up a 3D printed bracket to secure it, wouldn't it?

Not sure if it would reach that far and stay working, it can't have major kinks or bends. Old school electronic suspension was just coilovers with servos to adjust the dampers.

I have 3 printers and can drive CAD if you actually need anything like that doing

Wow. That makes life pretty easy.

It's in the area behind the rear seats where the hood is stowed, the advantage of it being unrestrained is that it moves out of the way of the hood, but can also be erected (fnar) to use.

That said a bracket would make things neater - I could also do with vacuuming that bit of carpet.

Not sure what the best way of specifying said bracket would be?

"....but you have to stop somewhere."

Neil, you need to stop lying to people on the internet, but more importantly to yourself. ;)

Few articles on the Grauniad at the moment discussing car market risk, including this one:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/19/the-guardian-view-on-car-finance-risky-credit

"Mercedes has doubled its UK sales since 2010"

How will this affect a cheap cunt like me? Will there be an abundance of low mileage, decent condition 2nd hand cars on the market in the next few years?

I don't really get it either, what's the link between handing the car back at the end and your next finance deal? I thought you were just finished with the monthly payments after 3 years and that was it.

I'm guessing they sting you for every little bit of damage too? Will probably be a good time to get into mobile respraying if people are going to get bent over by the dealers for little scratches

Yes, I have been thinking similar. Surely the worst that can happen is that you miss a payment, then hand back the car? Appreciate that that might be inconvenient, but it's hardly the same as mortgage problems.

It's possible I'm missing something massive though - I don't fully understand these leasing arrangements.

Credit rating goes to pot Shirley?

Yeah, that's true. I don't know how important that is. But you're not at risk of being homeless, or at any risk of negative equity on an asset...
I'd have thought the leasing companies might get in trouble at some point.

I think it goes beyond that, the volume of debt owed, the amount of exposure, the suggestions are that this could be 2008 levels of financial crisis based on the fact the debts have been resold multiple times much like the sub-prime mortgage debts were.

On top of that, not as much in the UK as in the USA, a car is the 2nd most important factor to maintaining gainful employment. If you lose your car and end up owing the lender money after they repossess, and then you can't get to work, you're pretty much fucked. Next step, your home is gone too.

A flood of cars to the 2nd hand market drags the value down, meaning the lenders can't get rid of them to cover anywhere near the debt, thus potentially causing further knock on effects much like the 2008 crash.

four year old 812 superfast, coming my way for cheapz

on the fact the debts have been resold multiple times much like the sub-prime mortgage debts were.

Aah - I see, thanks. So some kind of car backed securities are the new mortgage backed securities. That makes more sense.

Related: two year old M3's with eight registered keepers as a result of the finance company taking the car back, then re-selling (on finance), taking it back again when the client can't manage the costs, repeat.

PCP seems like quite a good product to me. So much so, that I've taken one out.

The maths says that my previous strategy was cheaper overall, but it meant owning a car from year 3/4 to year 7/8 rather than from year 0 to year 4 (although I might change my mind at year 4 and decide to carry on owning the car).

The PCP will work out approx £2k per year more, but for that I am driving around in a slightly nicer, newer car that is also fully under warranty so scope for unexpected costs is pretty limited.

Yes, lots of people will enter into these things without really being able to afford it but the same thing happens all the time with all other forms of credit.