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

Another +1 for wechillanycar

Had them over recently (2yrs since the last). Good service and good guys.

I've had plenty of VAG groups TDI's over the years.. old 90bhp non-pd engines, then a few 1.9 PD engines, all had over 100k on them and ran them all with tuning boxes.. always went well and gave consistent high MPG's.. My brother still has a 2000 polo 1.9TDI with 260bhp and 380 lb/ft.. it's been to the Nürburgring and we went left the ring it came home to Belfast on one tank of diesel..

hmmmm.... wonder if my mum would notice if i tune it up to 260bhp, i doubt she's ever buried her foot in it, might give her a surprise the next time she goes to overtake and make for some more fun journeys for me

Suzuki Swift 2018 36k had since new
First bill today other than servicing, fuel,wiper blades and front pads a couple of months ago. Full rear brake rebuild required, calipers,discs and pads. Brakes had been binding, i'd never noticed still getting 60mpg and rolled Ok. Dealer surprised, no calipers in the country, up to 10 days to get. Fortunately got a free courtesy car because having recall, service and MOT. £1100 (no dealer contribution, FSH,I asked).
Suzuki From 1:38
The tyres went on when new, the front were down to 3mm so had them replaced on saturday, the rears are still 6mm.
Could have done without it, but £220 a year suppose it is ok

EPIRB for Glasshouse, you reckon? It isn't the Simpson Desert! 🙃 I always keep water in the back of the car tho', essential out here. I figured a UHF radio would be the most cost effective emergency communication but I'll have another look into a satellite phone.

Predictions of a hot one this year so bush fires may be a problem, there's been backburning going on all winter so let's hope that has a positive impact and we don't get what we did a few years back. That was scary.

Yes, let's just say it's quick enough.. it's the power to weight.. being just over a tonne.. good for nearly everything through 3rd and 4th..

I just got back from a 1500 mile trip round mainland Europe in the E39 which was an absolute joy. Had a play on unrestricted autobahn - didn’t really enjoy getting tailgated by super-SUVs at 200kph tbh. Anyhow, it had been an ambition to go on a big trip since I got that car and the opportunity finally presented itself. Lovely stuff.

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I actually have no idea! But I have spoken to a few people (my mechanic is a big 4x4 land cruiser guy) has CB, sat phone and epirb. He likes the idea of just pushing a beacon for location in case of being injured/incapacitated somehow. And anyway, 4x4 life... gotta buy every accessory possible!

Nothing like an estate road trip!

Id say sat phone like Garmin inreach mini. You can subscribe monthly as needed and send text messages/use sos button.

But those guys are mental and the super hardcore guys do go way out into Woop Woop and have to be super self sufficient. I'm never gonna be more than 10kms from a road! An ex-colleague's husband has a 4x4 channel, he does some proper off-road shit, Simpson Desert etc, unsupported, I will never be in that league. He's a bit of an old duffer but his missus, Nettie, is a legend.

I am planning to put a bar on the D-Max, won't need a snorkel, obvs. @skinny I am leaning towards a UHF radio just cuz it's cheaper and it's all I really need.

https://youtu.be/M-HRn9TLj_I?si=rF_8u4mxEFeYeKZN

Dealer surprised, no calipers in the country, up to 10 days to get. Fortunately got a free courtesy car because having recall, service and MOT. £1100 (no dealer contribution, FSH,I asked)

Went back today, a little incensed at cost. Spoke to manager, agrees unusual with calipers, spoke to Suzuki GB, will get calipers for free, have to pay labour.
A lot happier now...

. I'm never gonna be more than 10kms from a road!

Easily walking distance then

some years ago spent time in Dubai for work, did a couple of adventure weekends in the desert, hired Land Cruiser, lowered tyre pressure, a/c on full etc, thought we were hard, over a dune comes a bloke with his fare in an old Datsun Cherry.

My parents have a spare old car that I can borrow for the winter - only problem is that in order to park it outside my house, I need to register the car in my name. But, it's not my car, and that's a pain in the arse.

Is there anyway around this?

Why can't you just transfer the car into your name?

Have you checked - you might be able to get away without registering it - I did exactly this (in Ealing) when I borrowed my dads car for a couple of months but got a parking permit for it in my name / address.

The car was registered to him, but I was keeping it without putting my name on the V5c. I got in touch with Ealing and they gave instructions that weren't much of a deviation from the usual manner of getting a parking permit.

edit: just checked and they accepted an insurance document that showed me as a named driver on it.

Thank you, I'll look in to this.

@Greenbank I could but it's a hassle, re-taxing, adding an additional owner to the history of the car, and then repeating this all again in 5 months when I hand the car back.

I could but it's a hassle, re-taxing, adding an additional owner to the history of the car, and then repeating this all again in 5 months when I hand the car back.

Sure, but that's pretty much the barrier that the councils rely on to stop people easily getting parking permits for cars belonging to friends/family.

You can use the sales slip.....as you are awaiting a new v5.

Hello hive mind - been a while…

Missus needs a new motor. Like a lot of other people, we need ULEZ compliance as well as ample space for transporting all manner of shit around.

Outgoing vehicle is a 2014 XC60 fuelled by the essence of Satan - like everyone else, we’re looking to future-proof ourselves but sadly don’t necessarily have the resources to get on Elon’s train (which isn’t necessarily the fix, more a sticking plaster. Largely because everyone knows that the hydrogen fuel cell is the actual answer), we are wanting to head in the hybrid petrol direction.

Neither of us want to finance a depreciating asset, but seem to have amassed fifteen large to spend on a new whip.

Tell me of your pearls of wisdom, your golden nuggets!

love it. Been too long dude

Now is the wrong time to be entering into any new tech - unless you have a specific need for CC (and I'm sure the hybrid benefits won't last). Stick to a sensible modern petrol engine.

Get a Golf or a Golf plus for £5-10k and put the remainder in a high interest account.

With a roof rack it will provide sufficient space when required.

Eg
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145312723203?

Or

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/355019557547?

Get a Land Cruiser, fuck the world.

Or go totally the other direction and get a Maserati Quattroporte.