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

That's awesome, perfect colour. Keep meaning to get one while we're still allowed. Are the running costs as scary as internet forums would have it?

I started in 89 which I think was the year disco 1 production started. Worked on most of the production lines and vehicles up to my leaving in 2004. I'm back there now at the Engineering centre in Whitley as an emissions tester.

Did get to go round the jungle track at solihull but only the once.

Sweet, my only memories were the test track, seeing piles of freshly cast blocks and wondering how the hell they did it, and the paint line. My brother in law works at Bentley but they're super strict about tours, as you'd expect.

Need to rent a flat... as I have one that means you can cycle to work in about 15mins.

If you are at a loose end and fancy watching a strange film staring a Lancia Fulvia, footage from the Targa Florio, an Ennio Morricone soundtrack check out 'Come imparai ad admare le donne' it is on youtube. Warning that the film has a few beautiful cars destroyed and odd reasons for female topless shots.

Also watch Grand Prix (1966) and play which is real footage of racing and which are the acted scenes then spot the the racing legends in the background.

An old couple have moved in over the road, they normally drive around in an old HiAce they leave parked in their drive... Today I got a proper look at what they've got hiding in the garage, one of these... It's lovely and so super clean... I'll try and get a pic of theirs over Xmas, think I'm getting the 90s JDM bug...

1 Attachment

These have aged really well imo.

Last time I was in France I saw a mint red one. Looked spot on.

Talking of ageing well, had some dealings with a chap with one of these:-

Barely any left, but a great looking car

Picked this up yesterday, just a boring 520i, but good to be back in a petrol car again.

1 Attachment

Unusual sight on today’s ride. Broken down obviously...

2 Attachments

Those 'stralian ones will be in better condition than ones enduring UK winters, but there's a 300ZX I see in Clapham that I always think is a cool looking car whenever I pass it.


Saw this vintage nan-wagon, a Austin 1300 Mk3 in a classic BL beige. Apparently this colour was called 'glider yellow' or 'harvest gold' LOL.


And here's an even older Austin, with a comedy cartoon-like short wheel base, an ex-Navy variant of an Austin Champ, living out its retirement in Kennington.

And agree with @paininthe those Pininfarina pugs always were lookers. And wow @Ducky🦆 you don't see an XJ220 every day, nice.

This is absolutely superb!

I did briefly entertain the idea of buying a P38 but they are truly the pinnacle of unreliability (owing largely to them having Rolls Royce level tech but having been bought in droves by farmers and builders who attempted to maintain them with a hammer)

Really hope yours works out, it looks like a really nice example! Don't be shy with photos of the Autobiography interior too :)

https://www.thedrive.com/news/38406/bmw-will-publicly-shame-out-of-warranty-drivers-with-smart-billboards-and-license-plate-readers

Hey - should I buy this? Just want something to get me and partner out of town for camping/city breaks/maybe sleeping in back with some creative foam placement. Also bike room for MTBs.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012117011182?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=e81jp&model=BERLINGO&sort=relevance&price-to=3000&fuel-type=Petrol&year-to=2020&include-delivery-option=on&make=CITROEN&radius=1500&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&page=1

Full disclosure, I know fuck all about cars.

There are a couple of people that have bought them on here.

Off the top of my head, make sure the air con works well. The rear suspension beam fail that seems to get missed at the MOT. Check when the cambelt was last done.

Looking at the front seat, the base seems quite out of shape for such a low mileage car. Same goes from drivers side rear seat base too. Has pug wheel trims but should have citroen trims. Tyres look mis matched and the kwality brand nexen fitted.

Looking at the MOT history, has an engine oil leak that has gone on for years and the rear wheel wearing on inner edge means you need to check the rear beam. Rear exhaust issue been mentioned for a few years. The defective spare tyre, the way to solve that issue is to not have a tyre for a retest.

Shudder.. The shame..

I think those Citroens are pretty well liked.

I think I’d like to do a journey of over an hour or so in one. Can’t help but think they’ll be noisy and rattle.

If I was looking for something to achieve what you’re after I’d take a look at Honda FRVs

As if it isn't embarrassing enough to drive a BMW.

All of this makes me not want to buy a car.

Very dull to drive. And I'm a Peugeot head... Beautiful though

The 300zx is mad, proper 90s Japanese design and engineering. Future classic and in fact old enough to be on historic rego now

That's probably why so there is so few left. Maybe Peugeot drivers aren't so shallow with looks aren't everything. Seems an awful shame.

Scampers off to ebay.....

As it is from a trader you have some comeback. Also things to haggle on. It is a 15 yer old converted van, there was the citroen version in sutton for sale, twice the mileage and a quarter of the price!

Oh and raise the boot carpet and as some owners wash the rubber carpet and the water sits in the boot panel to floor seem and rots as the water can't escape.

Any car you look at check the MOT history on https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

It is a van, as long as it is confortable and not tiring...

Yeah, cheers - checked the mot (you can edit it down if you want - makes quite a long post). But for someone who doesn't know what's what it's meaningless.