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

@Crispin_Glover i hoped a v8 had made it into the wild :)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-MERCEDES-BENZ-CL600-5-8-V12-1F-OWNER-83K-MILES-7-STAMPS-VERY-CLEAN/292996505596?hash=item4437f3dffc:g:DzIAAOSwNepcVcHO

Now that’s what I call a money pit

1 of 17: An English Classic!

YES YES YES

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-MG-Metro-Turbo-Genuine-15k-Miles-Stunning/113663244757?hash=item1a76db79d5:g:ZFIAAOSwby1bYxlW

This angle:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F113663245004

Guy must have a nice collection. You can see a couple of others poking out in one of the later photos.

Nice, definitely going to get another 205 once I've got the room, just need to decide whether to go authentic (1.6, as I had one) or full beans (1.9 now that I can afford the insurance), Miami Blue of course

Looks like a Capri and a XR2 to me, guy likes his eighties!

Is there a newer equivalent to the audi a2? I'm looking for a small, cheap car that isn't hopeless over longer journeys. I need something with good mpg to take me to client meetings 3.5hrs of motorway away.

Or is an a2 reliable enough? I've always wanted one...

Would love another 205. I will always regret selling my Miami Blue 1.9 GTi, especially as I only paid £500 for it. Wouldn't get one for that now.

Haha same, sold mine for £300 but would happily budget up to £6k for a decent example now, they're good enough to justify the expense rather than just be a nostalgia trip

6k??

You should be so lucky

They're around, they'll need work and I won't get the colour I want but I've only seen the very best ones going for north of that

The only remaining record of my ownership. What a dog.

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They are absolutely out there, on forums and the like. Just need to stay away from the likes of 4star Classics et al who have started listing everything as "the best/most original/fully rebuilt 205 in the UK" and see fit to charge £25K for the privilege.

Car quiz... What's this steering wheel off?
(I actually don't know either)

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There's a few 205's going for silly money down here. But it's kind of fair as they're great cars and considering a good example will go for $14-20k aud then there's no way you can restore one for that.

Hindustan Contessa?

Mazda Capella (70s)

Ooh, yeah, that's probably it. Good car knowledge BRM

Can anyone help me decide on which car to buy...
I’ve been looking at Volvo V50, Audi A4 and Skoda Octavia. However would also consider V70 or A6
I’m moving out of London so think diesel is ok, but should I go for petrol for the odd trip back into the city?
I expect to do around 10,000 miles a year, mainly motorway driving.
Got around £5K to spend.
Thanks in advance.

Or is an a2 reliable enough? I've always wanted one...

Diesel ones are, but fail that London thingy. A2OC.net very helpful forum. Mine has let me down once, self inflicted by not keeping an earth point clean. Around 60mpg available.

That mirrors what I pick up from forums.

There’s a few diesel ones for sale here but the only one without silly miles is bright red and also £££

We don't want your diesel here either! It's not just London that's polluted.

For £5k and the models mentioned I would be looking at a Skoda Octavia estate. Quick check on Auto trader shows a bit of selection and they may be cheaper London way as they fall foul of new emission regs. V50 and A4 have much smaller boots and you're paying badge tax, same with V70 and A6.