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

Uruguay is pretty wealthy. Argentina less so. That's probably the reason for the difference.

We barely ate in Uruguay due to the cost.

Lovely beaches tho.

After three years the lease on the Seat Leon Cupra comes to an end in June, might end it early and swallow the termination fee (40% of outstanding payments) as the option of a stopgap car has presented itself.

Partner's Dad runs a recovery garage in Scotland and he's got a car that someone left him (owner died, family didn't fancy hassle of selling it) that he'll give us for free, we'll cover any parts needed to freshen it up.

The car: 2005 Audi A2 'Special Edition', 1.4l petrol with c. 80,000 miles, one owner. ULEZ compliant.

Hopefully it wasn't specced with the optional three-seat rear bench, the standard two rear seats are apparently really easy to remove so that'd be great for when I need to throw bikes in the back!

Wonder how many of the 73bhp it left the factory with remain...

Wonder how many of the 73bhp it left the factory with remain...

Add a massive turbo. Obvs.

Audi A2

Don't forget these are strictly E5 petrol

Even the 1.4? Gov check website seems to think it'll be fine.

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Oh ignore me! Assumed it was across all petrol models.

Might have to add A2 back into the eBay search list...

The car: 2005 Audi A2 'Special Edition', 1.4l petrol with c. 80,000 miles, one owner. ULEZ compliant.

Hopefully it wasn't specced with the optional three-seat rear bench, the standard two rear seats are apparently really easy to remove so that'd be great for when I need to throw bikes in the back!

The 1.4 petrol is a lovely driving vehicle, smooth quiet and reasonably reliable. The two and three rear seats are not interchangeable, at all. Weaknesses are central locking, CCUs and failing solder joints in microswitches, pretty much same across all VAG groups. Because it is a late one be aware of pressed steel lower wishbones, they all rot and fail.

That's grand, thanks. My partner's brother will do any necessary work on the car so I'll ping him that, if there are any other pearls of wisdom on common faults or things that would be worth doing preventatively do let me know!

A 1966 Toyota Stout .
The owner was really friendly and chuffed to explain his motor .
Pre cursor to Hi lux

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Older Toyotas have aged well to my eyes , even the original Rav 4 looks a sea of class and glass

From memory, parts for wipers are almost unobtainable.

Nice condition 8th generation 1970 Cadillac Eldorado spotted today, the one with the huge 8.2 litre engine, delivering 400hp and 550 torquey things, which sounds loads for 1970. The OPEC fuel crisis a few years later put an end to these behemoths, I like the styling though for a barge, especially the rear lights.

I had the same 500ci engine in my '77 Olds. That was a long standing GM staple and it was only in '78 they they started to reduce the engine sizes.

Great engine. Very smooth and brilliant for highway cruising. We managed 18-20 MPG once in a fully loaded car (6 people plus luggage) on a cold winter drive from the Oklahoma border to Houston. I also idled a 1/4 tank trying to get out of a parking lot after a Def Lepard gig around my 16th birthday.

I loved that car. We got rid of it in the mid 90s. I found my old set of keys for it last week helping my parents clear out their house before selling it. A discovery that made me ridiculously happy.

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I also idled a 1/4 tank trying to get out of a parking lot after a Def Lepard gig around my 16th birthday.

A memory like that won't exist for kids today... Does an electric car "idle"? No awesome gigs either probably

It was Rick Allen's first tour after his accident. Good show.

Our favourite fridge magnet at home says

"I may be old, but I got to see all the cool bands"

I know. I know. LLL thread ------>

and gone are the days of ford falcon and peugeot 504 taxis with a cng tank so big you couldn't even put a backpack in the boot.. :) or the 2nd gen vw gol (no f at the end) "remises" that were all crooked from the factory :D

the 2-door station wagon is a brazilian thing, they seem to like that body config.

keep an eye out for torinos, those are cool!

Lucky kids, no memory of Def Lepard.

I sort of want a little car for getting around on the small dirt roads. The outback is good but is the family car and big. I thought about a Suzuki Samuri, but is there a small car that would work, rally style? Lada was an option too. Dreaming a little and looking left field as cars expensive here. I think 4x4 is mandatory, though a raise fwd with all terrains might work. Panda 4x4 are silly money.

Panda 4x4 was the classic option but no idea how many are still around. Didn't realise they'd become so desirable.

Jimny?

Spotted this a few times. Looks mint.

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Toyota RAV4 or it's less glamorous cousin the Daihatsu Terios? Suzuki Jimny? An old Freelander is always an option if you hate yourself.

Not sure where you are but maybe a little Suzuki Ingnis 4grip or a Daihatsu Sirion/Boon (aka Toyota Passo, Perodua Myvi, Subaru Justy) if you can find a 4x4 model? (Unlikely if uk)

None will win any style competitions, but genuinely good cars that are unlikely to have been abused!

How are the roads? Dacia Dusters are pretty cheap with better clearance, Suzuki Swifts are AWD but low clearance. Some Skodas are 4x4 as well - estates so may fall outside of the cheap category. The first gen Samurais had a reputation as easy to flip - Not sure how the newer ones fare.

Needs be older than a duster. I've an outback for that kind of car. Talking a couple grand max.

Think Lada not duster and you'll be in my mind.

The benefit of a samurai is it will go up my road, small enough.

Jimny equally expensive here sadly or yeah I'd have one.

Cc @ElGonzo

Daihatsu a nice idea! Cheers @Familyman / @ElGonzo And I'm in Spain