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

Not sure what your budget is, but I have always found the higher the budget the more likely I am to buy from a dealer, if it is just a cheapish banger I will take a punt on something from gumtree or facebook, if I am spending 1000s then the security of buying from a decent dealer and paying the extra is worthwhile. One thing to check is how good the warranty is you get, a lot of them are not worth anything really.

@malandro buying any used vehicle has risk, it's a gamble.

Been looking at MG TF's loads of cheap ones which might not have much work history, might get one that's had lots done or been bodged that can't be seen as a mid engine layout or go to a Specialist dealer that has done required head gasket/cam belt/water pump a years clean MOT and few months warranty and pay extra, which may work out cheaper if i go cheap and get a lemon dropping a mid engine to work on it is not really in my scope......

Eyeing up MG Midgets (fave, small, fun, easy parts) TF's (mid engine soft tops with modern refinment) Toyota MR2 gen3 roadster, mid engine fun machine 2+ tooth brush :) or a Mk I Mx5 boring but easy to work on and parts.

Private sellers cheaper but you need to research what your buying.

Trade has rep to protect, but have had two FIAT skips from large dealers. Independents with long trading history can be better than large chain dealers.

+1 on the worthless warranty. On an older car the ones they chuck in won't cover anything likely to be worn or have a hidden failure in waiting.

Seen some sneaky ones that don't cover any labour costs, because that isn't usually a fair chunk of the cost of any work...

Trade has rep to protect,

Sometimes they just don't give a fuck though and are all about volume over quality.

This is what we had chucked in, note absence of anything that might actually break on a modern car.

https://www.autochoicebristol.com/files/4714/5512/3505/RAC_Silver_warranty_booklet.pdf

Yeah the RAC and AA ones aren't known for being great...

Fiat main dealers aren't great either.

Minefield, find a friend who is a mechanic and take them car shopping with you :)

+1 to this, a friendly mechanic is worth weight in gold! (my brother is a mechanic, he isn't particularly friendly, but I keep him around for his advice...)

MX5 maybe the 'boring choice' because they are the most common but they are common because they are great. Incredibly good fun, simple and look great. I've driven TF's and didn't like the driving position. Didn't feel nearly as comfortable to drive quickly but that maybe because I've spent so much time in Mxs. If I could only have one 'real world' sportscar for the rest of my life, it would probably be an MX.

Mk3 MR2's have a good rep for handling but I'd argue that they aren't as pretty as a Mk1 MX and with them being mid engined, I'd guess (it is completely without any practical knowledge) that they are bit more of a pain to work on.

MX5 NA is the prettiest without a doubt.

Left field suggestion of an Alfa Romeo Spider possibly?

I guess when you base your car on another of the prettiest small roadsters it's hard to get it wrong.

Alfa Spiders are lovely. Shame that they didn't go with that style when working with Mazda on the new 124.

Selling my girlfriends Clio if anyone is interested...
Already priced about a grand under market value.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183786834268

£5300 to LFGSS

2 Attachments

Did someone say mx5?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F153462931991

Photo 11 : sassy

Steer well clear I reckon

I am not responsible for your licence (I have enough trouble with my own!)

Exactly what you want to hear before buying a car

4yr old car with main dealer service history, stump up to keep it or go independent local?

We'll probably be selling it in a couple of years.

Depends - if you have a manufacturer warranty then you'll have to stay main-dealer for servicing, if you don't have a warranty then a good indy makes more sense (generally).

Not true - can be serviced by any VAT registered garage as long as it's done using genuine parts and to manufacturers spec

European Block Exemption...

https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/service-repair/right-to-repair-campaign

The only thing I would say is that manufacturers have a goodwill budget should something go wrong outside of the warranty, if you've not had it serviced by a main dealer they won't pay for anything once they warranty has expired - this can be potentially costly, I've seen Audi pay £12k repairs on "goodwill" after the warranty has run out that they would have refused to pay if the vehicle didn't have full main dealer service history

I don't have manufacturer warranty, bought s/h from a different dealer who did give me a 12 month warranty. Assume there'll probably be some term in that about servicing?

I main dealer serviced mine up to 5 years, but i don't think i'll bother any more.

I'll probably do it myself from now on using genuine parts

is owning an electric vehicle and not owning a garage / driveway / dedicated parking outside my house as dumb an idea s it sounds?

not having the means to chongle your wheels from the comfort of your own home seems like quite a formidable barrier to entry.

I thought I read one report of a firm trying to offer on-street charging from sockets on street lamps. Would need the support of the Local Authority.

hmm...

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/forms/register-your-interest-in-an-electric-vehicle-charging-point-form