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

Yeah - I remember James May lamenting on Top Gear that he wasn't allowed to test drive one from the showroom because Clarkson had written an unflattering review of the interior trim of one some years previous :)

nice work as always dude.

was always amazed by their showroom, from another time in terms of brand awareness and promotion, having that space in Kensington.

they made some lovely machines though. though I am a sucker for twin headlamps

Starting to think buying a car was a mistake.

On the other hand it does good and incredibly small when its parked next to more modern cars...

It's more sloppy than I think it should be. Cup suspension will be my next purchase.

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Thanks! I’ve been in some bagged cars that handle very well, albeit on the performance kits. But yeah a lot are for show for sure.

Cup suspension might tighten it up a bit but you might see more of a difference if you try to go to a setup more like the Trophy. The Sachs dampers on those were pretty expensive and I think hard to get as an upgrade but I would have thought someone will have produced an uprated coilover kit that gets close to what was fitted on the Trophy.

@Cycliste's father has a 403 which he's been restoring since the dawn of time. It's been off the road the decades - long enough that when @Cycliste was 'helping' him by putting pop rivets in holes, she was young enough not to realise that putting a pop rivet in the door lock would not be helpful. Last I heard the work had stalled because the engine block had a crack in it from being stored with water in it. New ones are available, but they're £6k+ for an unmachined block.

I always had a soft spot for the Bristol Fighter with the Viper V10 engine. But if I had that sort of money to spend on a quirky British sports car, I'd prefer a Morgan Aeromax. Manual, titanium grey, with side pipes. I was tempted to buy one many years ago, but decided to pay off the mortgage instead. Doubt I could afford one now.

It's more sloppy than I think it should be. Cup suspension will be my next purchase.

You could try checking the bushes first, you'll need them to make the most of new dampers whatever spec you go for.

Well, it's an ill-wind that blows no good, maybe a savage depression will bring the Morgan back into range.

There’s an aeromax on c&c. £125k

Def Near the top of my lottery win list.

Which would you choose and why?

1. Volvo V60 Polestar https://www.volvocars.com/uk/cars/new-models/v60/variants/polestar-engineered
   
2. Polestar 2 https://www.polestar.com/uk/polestar-2/
   
   

They are the same price.

The V60 is PHEV and an estate, but not as nice infotainment, future economy and costs, lacking the air conditioned seats and other lush things.

The Polestar is pure electric (range anxiety is my biggest concern), and far nicer on the things I care about from a cost and living with it perspective, except it's not an estate (for the rare times I'd need that).

What's this one? Look alright?

I wouldn't go with any full electric apart from a tesla if you want to do long journeys until charging networks are resolved.

The network is too sporadic, slow, expensive etc and the experience will probably be negative.

Having said that, i guess if you're likely to do a single trip a quarter or something, it might be something you can overcome.

V60 on looks alone

range anxiety

Range anxiety is a very accurate term.

When I looked at a super fast EV charging project years ago, their research showed most people wildly over estimate their range requirements.

What have your requirements been over the last two years?

The challenge with getting people to a understand this though is that lifestyle marketing is inseparable from cars.

Anyone remember that research from the US that showed almost no one ever takes an SUV or 4x4 off-road?And when when they do, any modern saloon could manage 99% of the off-road consumers would tackle.

Or that stat that the UK is the largest convertable market.

It's a bit like all the current forums fad for Autobahn barges which may see an Autobahn once in the 1st year, then spend the rest of their lives in town or in a 40mhp speed controlled motorway traffic jam.

Still I'd still probably go duel fuel as I couldn't stomach owning a car as flash as the Polestar, then potentially renting a petrol car for the couple of outlier drives that it couldn't manage.

But from this:

and far nicer on the things I care about from a cost and living with it perspective

buy the Polestar as deep down you already know it's what you want. £10 says you'll be disappointed if you get the Volvo over it.

Get the V60, run it on electric 99% of the time unless youre doing a long journey. My rents have a XC90 and run it on electric whenever they can (no driveway or charging points in the street)

I think you should buy the Polestar and then drive to the Lake District (and other locations) every weekend, and report back on how you get on.

I'm seeing Bristols everywhere. Saw another model today, this is a 412 from 1981. Its another that looks better from the back and wince inducing from the front, they really had a knack for it.

There are elements of this I really like, the boxy back end, the 4 pipes for the town friendly 5.9 litre V8, the targa looking top, and the wheels...

...but the front end I think they just used an upturned garden pond mould and some old washing machine panels, and they blew the overall look of it again. Could have been awesome but they dropped the ball.

Also saw a nice 850 today.

that 850 is beautiful. i wish i had the minerals to take one on.

Bristols are ridiculously expensive fuck-ugly monstrosities.

i don't get it either. that 412 is probably the worst

Another vote for the v60.

+1

Would love an 850.

I don't have range anxiety

I have curb weight anxiety.

the polestar 2 isn't very sexy, is it?

I always like those V60s when I see them, especially in black, but I don't think I'd drive a new Volvo.

I find new Volvo too sedated and the marketing too intense.

I'd much rather a RS3.