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

Jag estate xf the diesel one

For 5k?

don't fuck about dude and just pick this up. I am in Banbury next week so can put some local eyeballs on it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145375810756

Fuck, if I had the means I would definitely get that! 929 (but saloon) was what my dad got as part of his redundancy package. I would love to drive that.

🫡 🇬🇧 @amey buy me this car!

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The C4 is too full of features and electronics which go wrong now they're getting on a bit compared to the Berlingo which is basic and really a van with windows and therefore pretty tough.

They also drive like vans, sound like vans and are significantly shitter to be in than most cars.

Loads of my friends fetishise them too, even some who don’t drive. The only boon that I can fathom is huge interior height (cos it’s a van with windows).

They drive fine, if you're the sort of person who thinks a Touran is significantly better to drive or be in, then I think you're too fussy. If I was doing 20k miles a year I probably wouldn't buy one, but as practical transport that has endless space, is tough as anything and won't throw big bills at you they're very hard to beat.

I don't fetishise them. i don't own one, I just know that when I've steered people into them I've always been glad I did, they are simple cars that do a job and do it well, which is what everyone who isn't into cars and doesn't want to spend much ought to be looking for. I would never recommend anyone bought a 10+ year old Touran, VAG stuff just isn't built to last.

If I had £15k to spare and a driver’s licence🤨
I’d be buying this to haul stuff around a cruise around with ease.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312194940843

I had one as a rental in France, and it had a certain... je ne sais quoi. A bit like the way a Panda just has something about it.

That said driving around sunny French lanes always makes things seem more fun.

Having said that I should be regaining my licence in 37 days🤞

But I’m still 15k short

All fair points of course.

I’ve just been tainted by being driven in, and sometimes driving, friends’ shitbox diesel Berlingos, two of which spontaneously committed seppuku on the side of the road and had to be instantly scrapped.

I drove mine to Girona from Calais in a day. Was pretty comfy.

They are around, but snapped up quick in the south or in Scotland.

There are people with Lexia software and equipment to recode most things.

Also lots of people don't maintain those as they are just a thing.

Actually did these have the prince engine? Look it up seems these had issues.

Am I the only one wondering what would cause such a catastrophic failure?

Both were timing belts/chains I believe. In one instance, the owner had forgotten to renew her insurance, so the breakdown cover refused to tow it, and after a warning from the feds she called a cash-for-cars hawk to delete it from the side of the dual carriageway.

Ah, was just being nosey.

Sort of live in the notion that it has to be really catastrophic for a car to be scrapped. But then I know of cars being scrapped for electronic modules failing

Does it have 10k in the boot?

Could definitely fit 5k in there

Berlingo always.
All the other answers are wrong.

If it was an unrepeatable Individual spec then I could see it , but a silver over grey cloth car with a basic spec that would lose half its value the moment you put a few miles on it or scuffed up the interior does not appeal. No doubt you'd still be into a cooling system simply due to age.

A manual B10 3.3 with loads of miles on the clock for me please.

It’s a meticulously maintained car with minimal miles and impeccable service history.

I love driving sharp handling fast cars but the current state of 95% of roads means that anything set up with a sporty suspension means that it’s often a ball ache to drive.
Also I wouldn’t be buying it as an investment just as something to waft along in and throw stuff in, including a muddy spaniel.
Also I can’t really think of many estate cars made since 2010 that really float my boat.

If you’re wanting an Alpina though

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312054570349

On the suspension front - the stand out of my new m340i is the ride - it has adjustable dampers and in comfort setting it is an order of magnitude better riding than my old 5 series (non adjustable). Less body roll and much less crashy over bumps potholes - despite the 19 run flats. Don’t get me wrong - the 5 series had a good ride but this is soo much better.

Modern suspension tech has come a long way