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

That’ll be ulez exempt next year won’t it? Or just get a 1982 version of the same.

Oh really? so are the parameters changing next year? I also had no idea about 1982 & before being okay

You can apply with the DVLA stop paying vehicle tax if your vehicle was built more than 40 years ago. This date moves forward on a 40-year rolling system. For example, when the ULEZ launched in April 2019, vehicles built before 1979 were eligible to apply for historic vehicle tax class.

All vehicles that have a historic vehicle tax class are exempt from the ULEZ.

From: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions#on-this-page-5

Competent, quick and boring is exactly the requirement. At the nice end of 30 I’ve got time on my hands for something at the lairy end of the spectrum.
A 3l RWD hatchback with mediocre - before said accident- probably wasn’t the best choice, but I thought it sounded romantic at the time. Last of a generation, won’t happen again etc. Amusingly the handling mods were planned for next month. I’m not sure whether to be glad I didn’t spend that money or not!

Now, one requirement I might not have mentioned is leg room. I’m 194cm. TT from memory isn’t big enough. But golf and s3 are. Yet to try a focus r/s - but like the idea as it was my first car. And again, something that will never be repeated!

They can be quite expensive to run though. But you would able to get tax, mot and ulez exemption next year. In my experience this will not be cheaper than the list of parts that you'll need to buy to keep it on the road and the 2.3 drinks fuel, you can see the fuel gauge dropping when you're stationary in traffic.

Yaris GR?

It was roomy for me at 5'10" made entirely of spiderlike limbs. If those are your requirements it would be perfect for you, I would test drive one if I were you. I had the 4wd (briefly, as I said) and found it unshakeable. At the far side of 60, something with more character works for me, I have to die of something!

Competent, quick and boring is the hallmark of VAG AWD/Quattro cars. Unflappable. Although you would have to imagine that the speed when they do let go is very high.

Not really any good for a lanky person due to a low roof / high seats. And I’d suggest not as good as the hype suggests, any of the first 3 Imprezas go faster, turn harder, are lighter and narrower and more practical.

Agreed.. The ability to look good doing donuts in a flat roof pub car park also shouldn't be underestimated.

They’re past that image now. Too old and cheap to impress the dreadful, dreadful working classes.

That space is occupied by RS3s, M4s, Golf Rs, or if you still live with your parents and don’t mind a £1k PCP payment Huracans and 458s.

The A45s seems to be the urban pops and bangs chariot de jour around here. FRPCP motor of choice the M4 Comp.

Pulling away from the chip shop tonight in a Leaf there will be sad spot in my heart.

@yeahdext Abarth?

Ah to be young again. Damn my middle class / age guilt.

I think I may go for some form of slaminated Hiace

A Loace?

I'm sure an EVO would always be park presented outside the finest small plates/natural wine eateries.

Is there a niche for MTB themed adult entertainment?

Thanks all! okay I need to properly think about this and not just make another rash decision.....The scooter is so cheap to run so I need to properly weigh up the pros here, as realistically how much would I be driving about in London, lets see how the bank balance looks end of the month

They can be quite expensive to run though.

Everything you said. I'm not sure why you'd worry about having to pay ulez on a car like that. As a % won't it be a trivial annual cost?

I'm not sure why you'd worry about having to pay ulez on a car like that

I dont know where everyone lives obviously, but ULEZ isn't a trivial cost if you live near to it (or in it, like I now do - just), 12.50 x 7 x 52 = £4,550 a year. I wouldn't expect to budget that annually for regular maintainence, even for something like that merc up there.

Driving an old car like that every single day all year round? Point taken, maybe it won't be a trivial cost of repairs. But I was including petrol in that.

What's the mpg on one of those? 8? 12?

Also, I'm pretty sure after a winter you'd have to do some serious rust repairs. SL from that era are meant to be hideous for hiding rust, so I'd expect that to be similar.

I guess my main point assumed that it's not an everyday car. I would assume that an owner would drive it once or twice a week for 8 or 9 months of the year. So more like £600-800p/a in ULEZ.

If you don't like car maintenance then don't buy one of these. They are fun if you like to get to know all your male neighbours while you spend your days fixing your car.

Probably! Modified cars are illegal here but that doesn’t seem to stop some people from owning clearly modified vehicles.

Old Mercs are lovely cars when they work, but my W124 cost me 6 grand in 2 years, and it wasn't appreciably better afterwards.