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

Nice one. Sounds like it would be fun for a few years (as long as you don't mind sweat).

Not personally but I know a couple of people who looked into it and ultimately decided to pay extra and use the services of a specialist importer, both went with:

https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/

They both got very clean, low mileage cars and would do it again without question. Main bugbear in both cases were the radios which wouldn't pick up UK frequencies, promptly ditched and replaced.

BITD loads of people imported Imprezas, seemed to depend on the importers how smoothly it went.

I bought a grey import Impreza from The Netherlands . But that was when we were in the EU.

Yeah plus I don't think they salt the roads in Japan so rust is often much less of an issue.

And because they don't salt most of the Japanese vehicles aren't undersealed. Just something to think about doing if importing directly from Japan.

@luke572
Hmm….I’ve had mine for 5 years. I do 2-3k a year in it…

36k service was £1k, aside from that it’s been between 3-500 a year to service. Parts a readily available online unless you are after rubber bits around the rear windows..they are expensive. Yes it drinks super plus now (E5), but it’s super comfortable and will easily sit at 80mph on the motorway…I get about 350miles out of a tank..not frugal but it’s not terrible (well not what I’d consider bad, having owned a e39 m5 and a cerbera)

Very practical with a massive boot…my next bill will be big though…lots of rubber engine mounts, bushes etc need replacing. I think I’ll spend 2k over the next year or so while it’s at my mums waiting for exemption.

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The roadies here head into Malaysia over the bridge, which if I ever fix my shoulder I’d start doing also.

In terms of driving- you can’t take a non/Brompton style/size bike on the tube or a bus, so if you want to get a mountain bike to the trails it has to go in a vehicle or you have to ride it there and back.

I guess experiences vary. Yours looks great and 36k is very low mileage. If it has no issues with rust it must have been well looked after in it's time.

So it can work out if you buy a good one.

Old cars being lined up outside my hotel this morning, couple of lovely old 4x4s

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Ha, it’s done 220k but I am the 3rd owner…1st owner had it till 2008 and 180k. He was a doctor in Portsmouth and spent whatever needed.

2nd owner had it and did a light resto from the waist down so all the rust got cut out and repainted…it then lived in the south of France and Italy.

Then I bought it…I do agree that I think I have been lucky. All of the major stuff has been done so all I have needed to do is keep it going

Was working in a garage yesterday saw some nice cars, all owned by the same guy

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Wow, nice collectiom!

Sounds like all the big expenses had already happened, fingers crossed!

The Beemer and the 928 are amazing.

Young me was blown away the first time I saw the lights pop-up on the white 928 Al Pacino drove in Scarface. I have had a soft spot for them ever since.

Actually. So many amazing film cars from that era. Apparently you can get kits for the Dodge Interceptor from the Wraith. Now that would probably be my lottery win "Fuck You money" car project.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LB16ofHcpQ

I love the interior with the trippy checkered fabric

Young me was blown away the first time I saw the lights pop-up on the white 928 Al Pacino drove in Scarface

So blown away it made you colour blind. It were silver.

Pasha. That’s what it’s called.

God I’m interesting.

Alfa junior and the CSL are sex.

££££ for both I imagine too.

Fuck. It was! I was thinking of the scene where they drive away from the club/restaurant at night. In my mind it was white.

PS - Goddamn you for shattering another memory of my youth.

It was probably the mountains of cocaine in the film that made u think it was white, it was snowing all over ;)

I live in N14 in the soon-to-be extended Ulez zone and am considering a small used petrol car, eg. VW up! Would want to keep it for at least 5 years if possible.

Is it worth just digging deeper and just going 2nd hand on an electric?
I'm worried about the battery warranty implications on this.

Just wondered what the hive-mind consensus is... and if combustion will be taxed off the roads in the next few years.

I'd of thought a small engine petrol the meets the latest regs would be good for another 5yrs.

Would you really be digging a little deeper? I haven't looked at used electric prices for a bit, but last time I did they were a lot more expensive.

Imo right now off street parking is one of the big factors for EV vs ICE.

Poor choice of words - digging a lot deeper!
I have an off-street space with the option to add a charger.