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

https://youtu.be/7J6rRj98A5s

Would protect the paint and future value.

Out of interest, anyone reckon the Mk1 Skoda Octavia VRS will ever go up in value?

Details? How much do you want for it?

If anyone is wondering, the Adrian Newey book is excellent.

I'm not planning on selling it at the moment, it's still going strong and I really like driving it. Inevitably there's more stuff that needs fixing every time I take it for its annual service (at a very good independent VAG specialist). I think it'll need a new brake caliper next time and it's coming up for another cambelt/water pump change as well.

Kinda concerned I'm going to be continuing to plough money into a car that's never going to be worth more than £1500 or so, but it'd be a shame to get rid of it...

If anyone is wondering, the Adrian Newey book is excellent.

I bought it having seen it in this thread and am enjoying it.

Ditto

That's because the French don't lie about the diesel emissions.

But no one should buy a diesel car anyway.

I just called the place selling the 52k mile M5 Touring:

Me - Hi, could you talk me through the maintenance history of the car please - things like the clutch, brakes, VANOS system?
Salesman - It's got all the stamps in the book
Me - I'm sorry?
Salesman - That's all I've got, the service book and the stamps in it
Me - So no details of what work the car has had over the past ten years?
Salesman - You can call the BMW garages it's been to?
Me - Thanks

They've got it up for 27k, with absolutely no information other than it's had it's oil/filters/plugs changed on schedule

Could you tell how shiny his suit was?

Most people just care about a full dealer service history...as if it has been serviced that all the work need has been done.

Even when the same engine, is in different makes of vehicle.

I've got all my invoices and receipts in binders, along with a note describing the work (if required).

if you give me the last seven digits of the chassis number I can look up what it had under warranty on Wednesday, otherwise it is a case of ringing each individual dealer :(

Note the comment most, the ovlov is not a run of the mill car is it.

Yeah but if it's an older 'enthusiast' car with known issues, you expect someone selling it to at least know the potential problems.

Espresso or old diff oil?

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The service book should tell you when it had major services (called Inspection I and II). And he's right that if it's been serviced in the BMW dealer network then call them, they keep a lot on file. Yeah annoying they don't care more.

I've just removed that one from the list of possibles, I didn't like the wheels anyway!

@Fixedwheelnut - if I get the correct Westfalia removable hitch and wiring harness can your place fit them for me?

I'll look in to it, we don't retro fit towbars anymore, not done one for fifteen years :) It will probably need programming as well.

Cheers.

This would also annoying the fuck of of me.
Remember driving hours to help a mate see a crv, full Honda history apparently. There's a thing that needs done on them, has asked on the phone and they said it had come straight from dealer, everything done, don't worry he knows the guy...

Turned up. It's the usual book of stamps and not a single slice of paper demonstrating what they all mean.

Fair enough if it's a 500£ focus 1.4, but when you are asking serious money for something I expect to see a receipt for everything.

Yeah as you can't make a stamp, and a dealer may not just stamp a record.

Most don't care, all they want is the service stamps. As a car being service means everything will be alright....

I have bought cars that have records of the number of miles per fill up. Record of everything spent on the cars maintenance including measure of fluids topped up.

Bit of progress this weekend

• Finally got a new dipstick
  
• Changed the diff oil
  
• Trickier than expected but replaced the CAS O-ring. The 'shoulders' on the CAS did move when pulling it out so had to take off the rocker cover and CAS cap to get everything lined up. Think the O-ring was replaced when the 14° timing advance was set, but now I know for sure.
  

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Use a multimeter on the horn connections and press the horn, this will check that the steering wheel and wiring is ok.

If you get a voltage the steering wheel and wiring is good, if not its looking like the horn.

Why is everyone changing the steering wheels in their fucking Porsches?

Lolz