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

blokpod graphics spoil the stealthy airport shuttle camouflage, remove?

The extendable awning on the other side does that as well.

It's fun, nowhere near as fast as the E63 but has a lot of different things it does that I enjoy.

I'll start seeing how best to get some bikes in tomorrow.

How did the E63 compare with the C55? I had a contretemps with BiL over the pointlessness of super fast 2 ton estates a few years ago.

E63 is much torquier - two close coupled/hot-V turbo chargers give it amazing thump from low revs. The C55, whilst it's certainly got low-down torque (5.4 litres, lets not forget) is actually much more rewarding to rev out. It also gets much more Nascar sounding.

The MCT gearbox in the E63 is a masterpiece in comparison to the C55, it's the thing that is unquestionably better. The C55 famously saw AMG bin the clever auto that the new turbo-diesel C-Class used on the basis that the petrol V8 would destroy it, instead they went back a generation for a unit that was sufficiently primitive/over-engineered that it would survive.

It would make a huge (positive) difference to have some kind of rev-match on the downshift for the C55, which is where the gear change is at it's worst.

Steering wise the C55 is miles ahead, lots of feel, nicely weighted, you get the feedback you want and not the chatter that you don't.

Ride and handling - again, I prefer the older car. It's stiffer, less sophisticated, but actually feels a lot more sports car than the E63 which is very GT.

But, the E63 is a much more polished, more modern proposition. If you want something objectively better it's the E63, if you want to know which I'd have again - C55.

Also, the C55 had a much better stereo

One of these (exact same livery, but I didn't take a photo), was parked across the road last night, in deepest Thornton Heath. Bold.

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Stormzy's?

He regularly visits a certain cafe in South Norwood and parks his Lambo outside.

No.

Is that the turbo or the 1.6 twingo? The Mk3 floorpan is shared with the smart car.
Thought about the 160sr k12 Micra.

@jambon Imp has the coventry climax engine and the engine bay in tiny.

@midlife You are in the right area...

Mmm nice flammable wood.

I think he has one of the SUVs. And this is a purely residential area.

I think I’m sexually attracted to this.

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Also very sad today that the Xpeng G9 doesn’t look to be coming to British shores. Looks a great electric 4x4* with a really good range about 500km.

*visit Cairngorms and Other snowy icy destinations almost weekly need 4x4.

Sitting out child no2's morning nap round the back of a BMW dealer.

Fuck. Me. The state of some of these new cars. Anything with chrome trim now looks beyond ridiculous.

I'm sure they've done their market research and everything, but still... I feel old.

Love this e34 touring. BBS and chunky tyres look great.

Also, barn find e30 touring.

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Did a double take there

This is mine

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I'd be a little bit concerned about what lurks beneath the wheel arch trims on the black one.

It's only going to be one thing isn't it

Is it anymore controllable oversteer than the saloon?

Schrodingers rust

Why be concerned, it’s clearly lots of rust, lol. Still rad tho.

10/10 would bang.
Don’t see many e34s about!

True. And I guess the chrome covers stop it making a whistling noise as you drive.

Half tempted myself when mine go through. Cut out the rust, treat as best as you can, lots of 2 part filler, cover with awful trims. Might look vaguely less rank than trying to respray.

Or, option number 2 which I have fantasised about for ages - repaint the whole car in textured hammerite paint. Painted an old Peugeot in yellow eggshell for an artist years ago, looked fully sick.
Reckon a green hammerite e46 would be jokes.

I think the way to go would be copper paint - then let it verdigris like an old roof.

It’s a bit of a nod to European machine green - the colour of many lathes, drills, saws etc you get in workshops. Although that’s a lot lighter green than the Oxford Green 2 on the e46

Ah, got you - I helped a friend go and get a Hardinge lathe a few years back in just that colour.