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

Sad day, but my trusty and much loved 306 is going to a new home. It's been the most loved 306 I'm sure. My kids absolutely love it, even my wife is asking if we should sell it.... But it's going to a young guy who will hopefully keep it in top condition. A boot load of wheels and spares too going too.

Next time I get a car, it's not until I have a garage and the time to do everything myself.

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Screams motorbike.

I never had to hold the rear brake on to stop the E63 pulling a wheelie, but yes - the motorbike project had been continuously delayed for ~10 years, I really need to get round to it.

I think there’s more going on than which cunt is the new / next chancellor.

I think mortgage rates are going to be the defining factor for the performance car market.

Maybe not in London... Was reading that in London only 15% of the population have a mortgage but can't work out if that's because more people rent?

An E type won’t drop, they’re owned outright by men in their 70s without mortgages who have more cash than they know what to do with. An R8 / M4 / Range Rover Sport etc will be 10% down, 90% on tick. When they struggle to pay, or just get to the end of their current finance deal they’ll give the car back and get something cheaper and there won’t be the same queue of scaffolders-done-good to buy them.

Want to go halves on a manual R8 V10 when they get to £35k?

They certainly won’t help. The interest on many, many mortgages is <1.5% at the moment. Lots are ~1%. A £400k mortgage that was costing <£400 a month in interest will go up by well over £1000 soon. That £1000 extra could be offset by flogging your 458.

What you’ll also see now if PCP deals with guaranteed future values going up massively as finance companies worry about dropping residuals. I don’t actually know the numbers, but your 992 Turbo that might have had a 60% guaranteed value after 3 years could now go to 45% meaning you need to finance another £35k over 3 years, another £1000 a month.

I kind of want a 991 turbo now.

I wonder if the 996 turbo is ULEZ compliant? My C2 isn’t because C26.

Yisss!

A 991 Turbo would be ulez safe and would make an excellent only car to cover the C2 tactility / CLS63 brutality spaces. One bike goes the back easily with the wheels off or get a roof rack for 2-up fun.

They’ll be ~£60k now I reckon. If I ever went anywhere other than the tip and screwfix I’d have one as an only car.

A quick look at eBay shows them from 80k upward, advertised anyway. Some way to go.

Here’s a 60k miler at £71k at a dealer. That’d be ~£65k privately or at an auction: https://www.invictusmotors.co.uk/used-porsche-911-bishop-stortford-hertfordshire-3631328

And an S for £66k: https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2014-porsche-911-991-turbo-s-1

Saw this and thought it shows car appreciation at one extreme. Superb cars for all the right reasons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBAMWeKhBr4

If your considering a turbo, definitely test drive it against a GT3
200kgs lighter with similar power and much much more fun

I’m making my own version of a GT3 out of a C2, so go that kind of covered.

Well, there is that

these, or the estate version, especially in diesel, are such fab cars. what engine was yours? did you learn / attempt any work on it yourself. or watch Piggy Power? I have a 406 or similar vintage, it leaks

Need some advice on extended warranties…

Got a new Mazda CX-30 on Monday and got an extended warranty. Can cancel the warranty if I want to within 30 days (24 days now I guess).

I added it for peace of mind initially, but I’m not sure if it’s worth $60 a month. The cost isn’t a problem. Just not sure if it’s worth it.
It is for 7 years or 100,000 miles and has $0 deductible for - in Mazda’s defense - a lot of stuff. Windscreen damage, wheel damage, electrical faults, transmission issues etc etc. pretty much everything. Including issues that are the drivers fault - e.g if I hit a rock and damage something underneath the car. That type of stuff. Also included roadside assistance.

My main hesitation is I figure any major issues with the car - for example a busted transmission - will likely happen after 100k miles. Modern cars are the most reliable they’ve ever been, and I fear this is money down the drain in the long run.

Part of me thinks $60 is nothing and is a good value proposition for the peace of mind, but part of me wants to spend as little on a car as possible. And it is still $3000 in total, before interest. And part of me thinks putting $60 into my savings account every month makes more sense.

For what it’s worth, it’s parked under cover, off street, in Southern California. I anticipate driving 8000 miles a year, but will take it on light gravel roads occasionally to get to trail heads/camping etc.

Thoughts?

How long is the "normal" warranty?

what happened to the "only renting cars from now on" position?

that warranty sounds like a massive upsell to me... how long is the non-extended warranty for? i can't imagine you will keep this for 7 years or 100k miles (no offense..!)

puck you man. 5 months without a car was enough for me lol. Too restricting given I like to go into the mountains 2+ times a week. And ubering was actually ending up being very expensive.

Standard warranty is three years. Since posting this I've decided to cancel it. Soz for making anyone read my comment.

8k is low for the US, especially in LA. 12k is usually the annual mileage estimate. 7 years won't put you much over 50% of that 100k limit. And it's the mileage, not the time that does the most damage. I think you made a sensible decision TBH.

FWIW - Our only experience with Mazda was a Gen 1 1989 Miata that ran until 2010 or so.

Mine was the 2 litre petrol XSi. One step down from the GTi6. I did work on the little things but lack of a garage and 2 young kids makes it hard. Brilliant cars and even at 22 years old still went well, felt tight and solid - the exact opposite of what most people expect. No leaks either... Well after I fitted the new cam cover gasket.

The white GTi 270 is the replacement... But it's not really a contest character wise and it certainly doesn't ride as well as the 306. Rapid though.

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