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

The misfire I had on my Alfa recently was a fuel leak. Fuel was getting to the engine, but insufficient fuel pressure by the time it got to Cylinder 4. Just needed a union on a fuel line tightening up apparently.

What would stop you going for something like this? Much higher Kay's but at the price you could fit an entire reconditioned engine for about the same budget.

Check out this 2006 Subaru Forester XT Luxury 79V Auto AWD MY07.
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2006-subaru-forester-xt-luxury-79v-auto-awd-my07/SSE-AD-16864832

Having said that, the original silver STi doesn't look bad. I looked at the ad listing and seems completely fine. I mean, maybe offer a cheeky $12800 to cover a new timing belt?

I've been looking at a few Cross Sports, very nice but a bit dull compared to that STi. This one's just down the road, 97,000kms, $15k, ugly wheels.

I'll talk to the STi garage tomorrow and organise an inspection, see where we land from there.

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Feeling a little sour with the Clio purchase. I’ll be transparent with costs here, let me know what you think.

The question is, should I have just splurged a bit more up front, for a better base car. Not bothered about investing the cash necessarily as I don't think I'll lose any money on the car, but still, I'd rather waste as little as possible.

Car purchase price, £2500 with 1 year MOT
Major service parts, paint and bits and bobs £450
Total investment so far is £2950
There’s a catch…or should I say there’s a crunch. Going in to 4th gear. If it needs a rebuild I’ll be £3950 into this car, which has 119k miles

This has just come up for sale, which is cheap for a Cup with this mileage and condition. I think it could likely sell for £6k.

Have I made the right move with my project, or should I have paid 20% more for a car with 60k less miles?

But then how do you know the other car won't have hidden costs? And, I'm not sure, but th spare wheel well under the car doesn't look standard? I remember them being plain undercoat with over spray of whatever the exterior colour was, not undersealed? Maybe that's just Oz cars though?

How....how....does a car do just 60k km in twenty years?

You are asking an impossible question. Unless you buy both and run the numbers against each other for the life of ownership there is no way to know for sure. Stop browsing and crack on with the (lovely) car that you have bought ;)

Having spent plenty of time browsing classified ads for all kinds of Clio Sport I think £2.5k for a 172 cup on 117k is not a bad price, even taking into account the potential need for a gearbox rebuild.

As mentioned above there would most likely be stuff to address on the lower mileage one.
There's definitely an argument for buying a cheaper one and having all the maintenance done in your ownership where you know it will be to your standard.

As briefly mentioned before I'm looking at VAG estates to replace our CitiGo (which we like alot apart from being quite small). Viewing a 2014 Seat Leon this week, but also keen on an Octavia.

For not a lot of money more we could get into a tidy 2012/13 3 Series Touring. I don't see myself as a BMW driver (and my partner has views), but it seems like a lot of car for the cash and is probably better in most respects. Are servicing/parts cost going to be a lot more on a premium brand like BMW?

as long as you use your indicators, you won’t just be another BMW driver

Are servicing/parts cost going to be a lot more on a premium brand like BMW?

Assuming you're not getting it serviced at the main dealer, no. And even then, no, frankly given the amounts VAG dealers charge. BMW parts aren't that expensive normally, and VAG parts aren't that cheap.

Budget for replacement hoses, pipes, gaskets, etc. that are known weak spots on that particular engine. I have an E91 335i and a coolant hose let go a few days ago and pissed coolant everywhere. Left my partner needing recovery in the arse end of Northumberland. Of course these things happen with used cars but BMW appears to use some parts that are made of cheese 🤷🏼‍♂️

Funnily my uber driver was just saying how all of his passengers with BMWs complained about servicing costs.

But if you can find an indy, then that is less of a consideration.

Mildly concerning, especially as we're planning a trip to Northumberland (bad omen, haha). One for sale near us is the 4 cyl 320i F31 - I'm not sure whether similer weak spots but something to look into for sure.

Of course any used car has the potential for issues, but I feel like this gen VW 1.4 TSI engines are pretty solid, and a good sign is that their seems to be a good a few with over 100k for sale. The one we're looking at is under 70k which is nice.

new stable mate procured. not bad for a first car

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Hell yeah brother

Have you got a budget in mind? The F31 started in 2012 I think and it'll be a big step up in features and design because it's a brand new model. The N20 4cyl turbo is a really decent engine and seen as the successor to the brilliant N52 3.0 6cyl.

The N20 also came in the last couple of years of the E91 3 series (the previous gen) but I'd rather have it in the newer car.

Just to clarify, the F31 isn't the current 3 series generation, just that by 2012 the E91 had been around for a while so it was already looking a bit tired in 2012. If you're not bothered about a particular design era or style, then I'd prioritise the newer design.

Handy tips for BMWs:

SE will look a bit more company car in terms of body style but it'll have softer suspension, smaller wheels, and bigger tyres, so it'll be a bit "waftier". Comfort and ride quality are prioritised.

M Sport will have a bit more aggressive body style (different bumpers and side skirts), bigger wheels, lower profile tyres, and depending on what's been optioned when new, it might sit slightly lower (maybe 10mm). Sporty look and feel is prioritised.

What car is it?

Have checked the gearbox oil level and amount? Maybe a change?

If you can take apart a motorbike gearbox a car gearbox is similar. Have changed bearings and sycromesh before. Find a decent service guide.

Also sods law that another comes up after buying yours one.

Want to swap with a mk1,TT that I have worked on ;)

Noice! I like that generation of GTi

Inspection booked for Friday. 🙏🏼

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Gonna hand back our Octavia. Can't justify having both a mildly boring estate and a people carrier / van.

Basic thinking is that if I did want a vehicle in addition to the van and all the associated cost with it, it would be more fun to drive and possibly less practical than the Octavia.

Remind me again what your people carrier / van is.