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

Yeah, most things about it are positive apart from Musk.

I don’t know what the charging facilities are like in Briancon as I have not yet rented somewhere.

A quick search brings back a handful, all over 100k miles- reckon the battery would still be in good shape?

I have no idea. You could write the sum total of everything I know about cars on a post card.

I do know you can't get a Tesla now, as Musk is a crypto-fascist.

You can get a WBAC quote before you even buy it

In general, EV infrastructure in France is miles above the UK.

Musk is a gold plated cunt for sure.

Taycan cross turismo are basically half price used at the moment.

I think Musk just generates a cloud of embarrassment that would emanate from a Tesla, the emotional labour of explaining that no, you don’t agree with him politically but it’s a good car, honestly, and the partnership with the PRC doesn’t have any real downsides as the Xinjuang thing is overstated etc etc isn’t for me.

Hard to tell just by looking at the pictures on eBay but I reckon the V90 is probably bigger than the Taycan Cross Turismo.

It’s a very long / wide car but low. Nowhere near the same space inside but they look ace.

Same footprint as a new FFRR, aren't they?

I can't help but feel something has to give on this brief.

It sounded like the chrysler was a joke post. But based on the requirements, it's far, far ahead of any other suggestion so far.

So the requirementswishlist is:

• extra long premium German estate
  
• super fast
  
• good handling
  
• undesirable
  
• non-fwd
  
• can hold 2 x mtb + 1 x road bike (without removing the seat posts natch)
  
• cheap, but low maintenance costs
  
• reliable
  
• easy resale
  
  

Anything else?

So after much fucking about I will not be getting the father-in-law's Merc, probably just as well, incredibly impractical and a bit hairdresser-y for my tastes.

So the STi is back on. Pretty sure I'm gonna do it, got a buyer lined up for the XV so if that goes through okay (and the STi isn't a turd) it's a done deal. OH has been resistant, she's been using it lately, but too bad, too sad, etc. I need a non-business vehicle that I actually wanna drive and doesn't sit idle in front of the house.

Perfect old git mobile.

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Enduro bike, downhill bike, probably my travel road bike, so two that take up a lot of space and one that packs down to normal suitcase.

Although thinking about it I do need to get the bikes over to Europe. Maybe I should bike-flights one or maybe two of them.

Hmm. This living a long way away thing is tricky.

Personally I think a fast Passat (or superb), debadged with a remap would be the best choice. Embrace a rustic aesthetic.

I can't recall if anything went wrong with the E class, but your experiences have presented a strong case against buying 2nd hand mercs / in favour of financing new ones. My takeaway from this thread is that the sorts of car you're after should be sold once they hit their 3rd birthday.

Edit; to build out the point about a VW/Skoda - you like fettling, so it give you the ability to geek out on the tunning aspect, and tuning parts are much cheaper than for Mercedes.

Get a job in France, Shirley?

I'd be minded to go for the rental and save myself the ownership grief.

But only with very good excess insurance.

Went for the HRV diesel. Very happy wife. Which means I’m happy.

Just had a look at a V90, it’s very sleek but not all that big.

This is bad, isn't it?

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Just had a look at a V90

looks like they don't make them anymore and the second hand market is mostly fairly rough diesels.

Is that a shonky Chinese clone next to a Mini?

I've solved dammit's Gordian Knot

I just found my dream van... Search for yours https://www.autotrader.co.uk/van-details/202403197741902?advertising-location=at_vans&atmobcid=soc5

Nice C O O P E R

                                    S