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

Hassle to find another car. Lets see what is actually wrong
Scrap: III
Fix: IIII

Toyota are pretty reliable cars, if this is the only major thing that have gone wrong, fix.

Scrap: III
Fix: IIIII

It's kippered with rust, and is currently 1.5 wheel drive

Oh dear...

Oh that’s riseable, someone sponging if you at Christmas and leaving you in an jam.

Reliable or not 10 Year old Avensises are invariably knackered after a million minicab miles. Plus rust, and broken driveshaft. Plus they are totally boring in every way. If they can't even be reliable then there is literally no point in their continued existence.
Scrap it and buy something nicer.

Scrap: IIII
Fix: IIIII

Here is a brand new Avensis for £160/month: https://www.contracthireandleasing.com/independent-brokers/leasing-options-limited/toyota/avensis/254212013/

You'd need insurance and petrol- should be no other costs (depending on servicing requirements, but they'll be minor).

I reckon this will cost less than fixing the current one, and cost none of Loic's time.

Plus they are totally boring in every way.

Well yeah, cause it's a car.

People who think all cars are boring clearly haven't driven anything nice. I wonder why they are on this thread.

Scrap, it's an avensis. Boring or not a knackered and potentially rusty car is not a safe family shuttle. Do you want a subframe collapse on the motorway?
Edit, this was a reply in general...

Yes maybe boring, that's the car we need! It's an estate, perfect boot size for all baby gear needed. If I do works at home I can carry shit on the roof. It's underpowered and accelerates like a tractor, which I actually don't mind at all. We mostly don't use it. A weekend now and then to visit Louise's parents outside London (under two hours drive), and to France for holidays once, maybe twice a year (Normandy, an hour drive from harbor)... I'd be surprised if we did more than 3500 miles yearly. Hence the leasing option not cheaper in the long run. Hopefully our old car with moderate use should remain a cheaper option per mile over few years. Not too stressed about the abuse it may get on London roads compared to a new fancy car.
It hasn't got mini cab mileage, just 75000 miles. Yes previous owner didn't look after it so there's rust to underbody, my fault for not checking thoroughly, but i hope it's manageable using a cheap solution like @lynx suggested, or even good old oiling... It's about slowing rust propagation (as far as I can tell it's not very deep), not about keeping a car pristine (everything other that underbody is actually pristine, and has hardly aged, everything works as it should electronically/electrically, etc)
I'm sure cars can be fun, but if/when I have time in my life for fun things it's going to be dedicated to do a bit of cycling, or take the motorbike out with usual peeps from the relevant thread...

If it turns out to be as bad as that (garage in France said it was nowhere near this, hence I hope it's manageable) I would obviously go for scrap option.

I wonder why they are on this thread.

I realise I must come across like someone on current project with a name like @user**** and a specialized cheap otp from Evans...

But this is the friendliest forum on the internet right? Thanks all for your helpful contributions!

Not sure how I haven't noticed this before but neither of the air intakes on my car were actually connected..

What would be the best way to keep this in place you reckon? doesn't fit tight enough that the car moving doesn't shake it loose

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He aimed that at Ed I think...

Ok. Back to my subaru rebuild (worth less than ^ Toyota and will cost considerably more to fix).

Plans to simplify engine and increase performance a little bit.

Going to delete the SAI system, the TGVs under the inlet manifold and the majority of the PCV system.

Walbro 255 pump and 3 port boost solenoid to support a stage one map, with switchable boost levels and a tune to suit 95 RON too.

Already got a 3" system with sports cat fitted.

Have I made an obvious and shameful error in this?

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Surely there's literally no way you'd refrain from spending thousands on the BMW if you bought it?

Missed a zero off the M5 service cost.

I'm making the assumption that the M5, from a dealer with full BMW main-dealer service history, and a recent clutch and brakes all round, will just need standard servicing.

However, I can chuck 5k per annum in there and get this:

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Which makes it slightly more than the Golf R Estate, per month.

Why assume that the BMW gains £500 in value over 24 months? Surely with further mileage / age it will depreciate rather than gain in value?

Maybe a grand a year on servicing? It's got four new tyres.

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They're going up in value at the moment, that's a guess but one that's relatively safe I'd say.

A word of warning -

On Christmas Eve a friend had the rear bumper of her year old Astra GTE stolen whilst the car was parked in her drive. The car alarm was not armed - not too sure if it would have sounded anyway. Police attended and advised it was probably stolen to order. I have seen similar in the USA but never here. Cars used to get stolen for parts but never parts from a parked car (Audi S4 mirrors being the only exception).