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

This is probably the page that was linked a while back about z3 -> ferrari kits.

https://www.rcnmag.com/garage/a-rolling-stone

Obviously that one's had a load of time spent on it, but to my eye it looks pretty spectacular. It's certainly high up on the daydreaming list of something to do once (if) I move out of London and have a workshop / garage.

Insurance is daylight robbery for any car. It's an absolute mafia.

It's insane, probably around 3 times more expensive than in NI, which is in itself a fair bit more expensive that mainland UK as far as I'm aware.

Yeah it's not a fun time down here at all lately :(
By the way if you've any chums up North who might be interested in a lovely Alfa Romeo estate send them my way!

Really? Just looks like a Z3 with a Cobra front end badly grafted on to me.

Also putting all that effort in to 4 pot autos is just madness. At least with a 6 they'd sound good.

What could go wrong?

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The MK1 cortina had a tow bar just attached to the bumper....

Did you meet the owner?

Probably safer than worn splines...which is my fear after having a spline strip.

What is the point of the Z3 copy? Thought the idea is that the car handles and sounds the same?

Yes I had the Banham Audi TT look alike, but it still drove like a metro. Ok it was a k series engined metro but still a metro.

Yes I had the Banham Audi TT look alike, but it still drove like a metro. Ok it was a k series engined metro but still a metro.

Fuck me (aside from being a Metro) they're ugly, were you not embarrassed to drive around in it?

Ironic when you can pick up a TT so cheap now, makes you wonder why they bothered.

Slightly OT - does anyone remember:
Rude mercs / Rude bimmers
On Cambridge Heath Road?

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So I’m 36 and only just learning to drive. I’ve only had 12 hours lessons so far but it’s going well so I’m thinking about what sort of car we might want to buy once I’ve passed. My wife wants to learn too but she’s convinced she only wants to learn automatic......so looks like we will need an automatic.
I literally have no idea about cars so I don’t even know where to start. I’m guessing insurance is going to sting to start with.
We live in SE27 just outside the south circular.
Any ideas or info welcome!

Something electric?

Budget and use requirements are important otherwise every one will say honda jazz, or V12 mercedes.

Second hand DSG Golf.

literally waiting for Honda Jazz

There is even one for sale on here!!!

Has anyone said Subaru Legacy yet? Seriously though, I bought James's last car for sale on here and very pleased.

Yeah. Great place.

Yeah and he bought a honda jazz afterwards!!!!

I am offended, a second class ride is worse than a first class walk. Also whilst in the car I could not see it.

This banham was an early one with the TT lights, so didn't look as bad as the later ones. It comes with a great ok interesting to me and my friends story. In the end, I just used it till it was finally sold. Suspect it went for parts for another metro and then got scrapped as the reg is no longer on dvla.

Ok here is one for you.

Squell/shrill noise that goes up with engine speed. It is in the area with these so what could it be:

-Alternator;
-Alternator idle bearing;
-Water pump;
-Water pump idle bearing.

Place your bets.

Budget: flexible but I don't think we will use it all that much.

Usage: seeing family and weekends away, plus IKEA trips etc. I would expect 99 percent of the time we will be driving away from London from here.

Zipcar followed by a rental for your long journeys.

Being realistic even at 36 as a new driver your yr 1 (and probably yr2) insurance will be absolutely insane. Especially if you're parking on the street in London.

If you're happy to lease, get whatever deal you can wrangle the 1st years insurance bundled in.

Otherwise I'd see any car as a 2yr stop gap with the cheapest insurance possible until you can get something you like once your premiums come down.

From this list a Polo seems a good shout.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/motorway.co.uk/amp/guides/cheapest-cars-to-insure

Another left field option is to get some sort of old saloon or estate which qualifies for classic car insurance - given you expect your mileage to be low. This is on the basis that from your brief 99% will be either motorway driving or stuck on one of the London ring roads. It means you could get away with a larger engine which will make motorways more pleasant - otherwise it's hard to square the circle of a small engine which in a big car will be underpowered, or a small car that will be too small for IKEA...that's why the Jazz always gets suggested.

Also on your OH doing her test, probably best that she does a manual test so she at least has the option of driving a manual, if say for eg you go somewhere where you can't rent an auto. Also driving a manual isn't much harder to learn. The challenge of learning is having to coordinate a whole new set of physical and mental skills all at once - moving the gear lever and clutch obviously adds to that, but it doesn't remove all the other elements.

Yes! Had a summer job that had a driving route past there.

Skoda Fabia estate, 1.2 turbo, would be good. Or the 1 litre 3 cylinder. (mind you, no idea of actual models available in the UK)
I've driven a few of the newer Honda Jazz models - apart from clever use of space they're a pretty average driving experience. But without any frame of reference you may not mind them.

I'm always going to suggest these - T9 series Peugeot 308 - safe, modern, light and rate very well for reliability. And they use a japanese made 6 speed auto, not DSG so will be smoother in slow moving traffic. Large hatch/boot. compared to other hatches.