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

Hmmmmm

https://youtu.be/_iE6fzT2bwo

Love this.

Ooh, it's got flashing lights. How exciting.

£134k that Audi

Not the answer you were looking for but: Everyone on here is a Subaru fanboy these days. They are adding to global warming producing loads of co2. There's little justification for permanent 4wd unless you live in somewhere the roads end or the weather is awful. Expensive to run too. They are crap on mpg, parts are expensive and they rust badly.

I guess this will not be a popular opinion here but I think we all have to do our bit to minimise the fallout from the mess we are in.

*Previous Subaru owner, now seen the light

I'd have to add that the "dirtiness" of the engines is one of the things that swayed me away from them when I was looking for an estate. Although truth be told I'm not sure how much better the diesel e46 is in that regard.

Current Subaru Outback owner here. Living in semi rural Scotland, the 4wd and winter tyres see us right when it snows or when launching a boat (quite a frequent occurrence).

Other car is a Leaf and we charge it from a big solar PV array on the house whenever possible.

The subaru is used maybe 2 or 3 days a week and does less that 5k miles a year.

I would certainly consider swapping the scooby for something more green yet similarly capable.

I think I remember someone here renting a 7 seater, any advise on the cheapest place? Also seem to remember something about kids seats at the very back, any advice or direction of where to look greatly appreciated. Sixt only offered a mini bus at nearly £600 for a weekend, seemed a bit rich, but maybe not?

Zipcar do 7 seat Tourans which will just about seat adults in the back.

Almost no luggage space behind the third row, but that's true of most 7 seaters.

Bit of a curve ball but maybe somewhere like Vans For Bands would have something that'd suit you? Depends how much storage room you need on top of the 7 seats. They're in Oxford but I'm sure there's a London based equivalent.

Good shout, their splitter vans with the conference style table are perfect for bike trips too, space for bikes at the back and enough storage in the cabin for helmets, bottles etc...

Does anyone have any experience buying from auction, or though auctions brokers? I'm looking for a van through Manheim and BCA but they are only running online auctions at the moment for motor traders and not lowly self employed people like me.

Thanks for the hire advice, think we have found a Seat Alhambra for £300, so much more like it. Anyone know if the kids seats can go in the back row? Thanks

Edit - @ltc Thanks for the Vans for bands option, have emailed.

Sounds like the right tool for the job.

I was was driving a 3l Outback solely within the M25 which was just stupid.

more green yet similarly capable

Lifted model x on chunky winter tyres

Nice to know you were prepared to venture into the outback beyond the M25 if you ever needed to though :)

A few classic spots recently, this very stylish and excellent condition 3.0 litre 1974 Ford Consul Coupe/Granada Mk1, in a typically 70's colour.

And from today, I don't recall ever seeing one of these before, a curvy Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Star


...and Holy fucking shitbox, what an absolute beauty, kerrching, swoon etc, a 1961 Ferrari Belinetta.

Do you count as a usual scoobie owner ;)

I did have that noisy 2.5 turbo Forester too

My advice would be check out the fee on top of buying and what indemnity you get.

Are you paying vat? Might be worth a wander round the van sales places as there used to be commercial auctions where 5/10/15/20 fleet vans were sold off as one lot, bought by the van sales places and then sold on individually and prices could be lower than auction prices for individual vans.

If buying a fleet van be aware that some fleet people such as BT do things to the ECU to limit speed.

Does it need to be cosmetically perfect? As have bought vans that were beyond economic repair but could be repaired cheaply with second hand parts or left cosmetically challenged. But then you need to view to see the damage.

It struck me half way through: I might be wasting his time. He might never get to drive something fuelled by dinosaurs.

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Ruislip High Street Friday lunchtime,

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Thanks bud -- the one that comes up the highest on Google is called 'flipping cars' (which is really not a company name that imbue's trust!) The fees seem quite fair (£395 for up to £20k), the reviews are all extremely positive (which feels dodgy), and all of the literature that they put out comes across quite agro and badly written. So in short I'm a bit worried about handing them £15k to go do some bidding for me! It will be going through a VAT registered company so that's not really an issue.

It doesn't need to be perfect condition, but I want something that will last. Really good point on the ECU -- will make sure to check that.

Good news for fans of Ogmios zen school of driving!
https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2021/02/2­3/47892/bbc_orders_an_asmr_comedy

Wondered why he'd been quiet on YT. Good for him.

Hoping it can capture the same quality with a writing / production team behind it.

yeah loving his work. as @Soul said I hope the Beeb don't fuck it up.

in other news. this weekends choicest spot was a Fiat Multipla driving along a country lane. All three front seats in use. was brilliant to see