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

If they can get a trolley jack under the car it’s not low enough (I have a low profile trolley jack for just this reason- a conventional one won’t go under).

You can cover it in that racy exhaust wrap stuff, they can’t use the wheeled pipe cutters on and and it clogs up an angle grinder so they’d have to remove that first. It won’t stop them, but it’ll slow them down.

Hey everyone.
I have a driving experience voucher for Thruxton circuit. I bought it for my girlfriend but she can’t use it before it runs out.
It’s valid until the end of October.
It cost me £150.
Would anyone like to buy it £75 inc a forum donation?
I just phoned them and it’s ok to transfer it to a different name & there are still dates available 6th, 7th, 27th and 28th October (I didn’t ask about sooner dates).

Dibs, what kinda experience?

It’s basically a £150 voucher that you can use for any of their experiences. Or towards one that is more money.

DM me if you’d like it.
✌️

Battery sounded weak yesterday and is not turning the engine over today despite 2 x 45 min journeys which i thought would charge it back up a bit, and some time on a charger today which suggests it is full. Green dot still shows through the lens thingy, though battery relatively old (5years at a guess)? Headlights are dull when switched on.

Is there anything else I should try to rule out before simply swapping the battery over for a new one?

We had a similar criteria as you and got an Alfa giulietta three years ago. It's been superb, hasn't put a foot wrong and is more exciting than other cars on your list. The 1.4 multiair turbo is good fun.

edit:

still haven't nailed the carrying bikes on it though. Had a roof rack for a while and knackered the paint. That was an expensive mistake. Saris racks work well, but I should probably get a number plate board when i'm using it. Have considered getting a towbar fitted but £££ and thinking of selling it in a few months to buy a Caddy instead.

She said it does look a bit like a bug though....

🙄

I think you mean an insetto

Check the earth connection?

Meant to say thank you to you all for your replies to my battery question a week or so ago. I'm scheduled to go check on it in a week's time, after about a month sitting there. Fingers crossed, and all that!
On portable jump / battery packs, should that be needed because the Kangoo emptied its battery – would they be fine staying in the car, i.e. would they hold the charge better?

Something like the Noco Boost is small and it makes sense if you keep it with you and charge it before you got to the car. They do seem to hold a charge when fresh and as long as you don't overdo it trying to many times without a rest and permanently damage it.

Ta, 99.9% sure battery is fine & it is ignition/starter motor problems. Attempting bump start later to help diagnose but either way it is off to the garage tomorrow.

Carbon body 11k redline early 911 looks like fun.

https://youtu.be/AndH7Xm3ds0

Any recommendations for things to check out with 2 days to kill on my own in Stuttgart other than Porsche and Mercedes museums?

Extra points if classic racing liveries are involved.

Spotted a blue Cullinan in the eurotunnel car park on the way back from France. I stand by all my previous comments.

Also spotted a minty fresh red/grey Alfa Romeo 164. No photos unfortunately. But they've aged nicely imo.

Seen a few Ineos Grenadiers out in the wild. Like a weird slightly oversized mashup of a defender and a g-wagen. Doesn't really work for me

Can you check voltage with a multimeter?

Bump started to garage who confirmed battery ok but starter motor fucked, sorted late today.

Eurrr jinxed it didn’t I….

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On the above…has anyone had success changing to their spare at the roadside?

This ^ should have been perfect conditions - in a car park, access to tools - but still failed due to smashing the key for the locking bolt to bits.

I wonder if it’s worth the fuel carrying the spare around.

Was wheel theft rife before security bolts? I don't use them for that reason ^

I've done it a few times.

Once the wheel refused to budge even though all the studs were out. I was wrestling with it at the kerbside until eventually a helpful passer by said "let me help".

He gave it a couple of big kicks at 12 and 6 o'clock and it dropped off.

ime it's always more difficult than expected, though.

Back in the day my flat mate had two wheels nicked from his Renault 19 GTi.

Annoyingly it was the day I was due to borrow it so I had to sort out the replacements …

A pedant writes..Renault 19 16v? My friend had one, really good car. Same wheels as the Clio 16v.