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

nothing tatty about that. lovely looking Jensen.

There's not much that can match a tesla in a drag race these days.

Except for a VTEC civic

Or a Honda Jazz

Dacia duster?

4x4 panda.

Talking of wheels...

Why is it that car wheels are getting bigger year by year? I have been idly looking at possible future t*sserbarges, and a brisk estate car now seems to have minimum 19" wheels with very low profile tyres.

This doesn't really seem like a good thing. I'm not planning on going round the 'ring in a Skoda Superb / 5 Series / A6 or whatever.

Large, noisy, crashy wheels and tyres don't really seem like an advantage for these types of car where really you just want to waft along with minimum fuss and maximum peace and quiet.

Everything is bigger - I saw a new 7 series this morning and the grill is just comically large

Yeah, that's a odd look, for sure.

I guess manufacturers assume that if you're buying a fast-ish car you'll expect it to handle and stop appropriately.

Bigger brakes need bigger wheels.

Lower profile tyres won't fold as much under hard cornering, and are more predictable.

And because racecar

why not 5 series?
I can get two road bikes in the boot with the security screen pulled over them, ideal.

Aversion to diesel, struggling to find a petrol 530+ that's any newer than 2005 for sensible money.

Lagonda chat sent me to wikipedia.

WHAT THE FUCK

Imagine trying to not ding that around London.

And because racecar

It seems to be this.

E.g. every single warmish 5 series has the M Sport package.

Yeah fair. I couldn't find one either so got the diesel.
It's been mega reliable, even if passé.

i'm on that trip atm. i can't find anything i'd want more than my golf, without spending £££

might have to wait a few years for the petrol estates to start filtering down to the 2nd hand market.

I found this one, surprisingly ok money for an f11, but a) horrifically ugly and b) and I don't think anyone under 70 is allowed to drive cars this colour. link But yeah, if an ~08 E61 tourer popped up with right money/miles I'd be fine with it. My auto trader search is literally BMW, petrol, estate, sub-10k, sensible 0-60. 9/10 hits are 3-series or tired 5s, so I'm focussing on 3s.

that interior!

That colour!

I went through all of the same options for a moderately fast petrol estate as you guys. I was set on a 330i msport touring manual, but any that popped up were all high milers, so I gave in and bought a jap import forester sti instead. My neighbours might hate me and I'll never get into nice golf clubs (who cares, don't play golf anyway), but at least I'll have fun, and the wife, dog and bikes can come along!

You should see my Volvo! Same colour but the top of the dash is a lovely cream colour too, which is obviously constantly visible reflected in the windscreen.

Vinyl wrap?

You'd get to choose the colour and the paintwork would be protected.

the 3 series bmw aren't that big, though. if i am going to hand in my card get rid of the golf for an estae, it needs to be a big fuck off estate that can carry all the shit. i will need one in a couple of years that will get a set of wheels, tools, etc in for the racer.

i think i'll just keep the golf for as long as i can.

I'm genuinely enjoying my (new to me) 2015 A4 Avant quattro. Has all the toys and drives surprisingly well - much better than our old A3. Not very fuel efficient but has enough space to carry a bike with wheels on in the boot or several snowboards etc. Still, it's no rs...

And it has stupid 19" wheels