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

Cheers. Sadly no easy fix on this one (god i miss my Beetle some days!), the rear quarter is welded in place and complete rear panels are not available, only repair sections. The arch will need to be cut out and a new section let in. Years back i would of turned to my dad for a repair like this but he's out the game now so this'll have to be a pro bodyshop repair. He's gonna get a quote for me today, can only imagine...

If anyone has any recommendations for good body repair in SE London i'd be interested to hear but i'm guessing there's a premium on repair prices around London?

Try the arches near camberwell bus garage.

As it is behind a trim, I say get a repair done just so the metal won't rust behind the plastic trim. Look at the cost of the excess and the cost of premium increase over the next 3-5 years.

Look at the cost of the excess and the cost of premium increase over the next 3-5 years.

Yeah i've tried to do the Maths on this and neither options are great. My insurers think it's repairable so with excess and likely premium increase (which i've been told will go up but perhaps by not too much as i wasn't responsible) it'll still cost me around £400 this year alone. Not sure what my premium will go up by but at least another few hundred lost over the next few years i'd imagine.

Given that my dad's body repair contact thinks the whole side of the car might need painting to colour match it could be a £1200+ repair so insurance claim still looking like the best option. My insurers have actually been very good to deal with today and put forward these guys to do the work which is reassuring.

http://www.goldmotors.co.uk/

That said i'm negotiating getting it to our contact as the car will then undergo a full respray and i'll shell out the extra cost (as i had already planned to do this year).

Sorry if I missed it but what make / model of car is it?

Saab 900 T16S

Fucking polar bear bollocks cool saab 900 ;)

Really can't have anything nice. :(

You do have a lovely car.

This keeps on coming up on Instagram.
Used to have a E39 Alpina, albeit not the estate, still the best car I’ve ever owned.

Life goals right there. Must have been an absolute pleasure to own that.

Certainly was - ended up sat on my parents driveway unused for years when I moved abroad, and subsequently was sold for less than its alloys were probably worth.
Always wanted another one, but a car like that needs to be driven, and central London is not a place for driving.

Don't get me wrong, I'd happily have either but in fantasy land I'd choose a manual M5.

This might also be heresy but I don't love the classic alpina alloys. The headrest stitching is a bit OTT too.

manual M5

Good point well made.

I know nothing about these, and I’d prefer a manual in fantasy land, but this talk of Alpines had me looking on autotrader.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071094533

Did you have an E34? How did it compare?

Hope it went to some that appreciated the car.

I know nothing about these, and I’d prefer a manual in fantasy land, but this talk of Alpines had me looking on autotrader.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details­/202201071094533

Seems like strong money, but everything seems to have gone crazy price-wise in recent times.

I'm finding that I keep going back to look at this.

Having had an e34 525 later 6 pot manual, and that was a great car.

Often thought about sticking in a M engine or a later n62 V8 in it.

I can't remember whether I first saw this guy linked from this thread or not, but he does some very satisfying BMW spannering, including a big old alpina.

https://youtu.be/SVM3xeCWuY8

Love his videos. Very satisfying seeing the old cars brought back and without silly mods. What a funny world though, the guy now makes a living not by fixing cars and selling them, but by making videos about fixing them.

Yeah it's crackers! I think the repairs and sales were mostly a hobby which paid for itself but I'm pretty sure he's now quit his day job, which can't have been badly paid in the first place.

I use his vids to vicariously live out fantasies in which I own a large bmw and am a competent and methodical mechanic.

Haha, I'm living vicariously in the same world. Me attempting car repairs... I have an hour to change rocker cover gaskets... Where's that tool? Ah, just dig around in there... Things drop, knuckles get skinned. 3 hours pass and nothing achieved.

Deffo strong money, but does it matter when you’re not actually buying?

Now I have a work van, the temptation to replace the e46 with something a bit more exotic/cool/faster etc is increasing. Although I’m not sure I’d be keen to trade downwards on reliability for the family car that will be taking us on holidays generally.

Slightly ropey but still charming executive barge 7 series spotted on Friday.

1 Attachment

I doubt it would handle as nicely as the e46, but definitely an option I hadn’t considered.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103310833681

Pros: 224bhp, manual, reasonable tax, ULEZ
Cons: probably 30mpg, it’s a ford mondeo

Sod getting that.

Have a ride in a legacy spec B. The engine is nice and its quick, not fast, but quick. Drinks like a fish though and pricey tax.

6k for an 05 plate Mondeo is something I’d struggle to stomach anyway. Spent plenty time looking at Subarus as well.
But if I went Subaru, I’d want bonnet scoop, lol.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259950904