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

Oh hai!

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Ha! Didn't realise you'd gone blue as well. Yours is speedy though, right?
Will wave if I see one in the South London hood.

Did you buy this from a local dealer in Kingston? If so we were planning to view it before it was sold!

We're probably looking at a silver one in identical spec and mileage etc this Sunday. Let me know what you think of it

VRS, yeah. There is another Mk3 blue estate up near Streatham Common too.

Yes - that's the one! Was slightly dubious as from MOT check it hasn't been driven much for the last year or so, but they seem to have done a decent job on it - new tyres & bits - and 6 month warranty so should cover if anything is a bit dodgy.
Have only had a test drive and then driven it home so not much to say yet but seems solid so far. Not sure how comfortable the seats will be on a long drive - compared to super comfy Volvo ones - but haven't had time to dial in the driving position. @stevo_com would be better placed.
Not many bells and whistles as it's a 10yr old car, but Bluetooth works for playing phone stuff/directions from maps. reversing sensors and visualisation thing, but not camera.

Chatting to my Dad at the weekend and he's decided it's new (not literally new) car time. They currently have a 3rd gen Leon ST.

Slightly smaller - presumably regular hatchback rather than estate.
Hybrid
~£20k

Despite the size thing, he likes the latest Civic HEV (as do I) although they're a bit above his budget. Got the impression he might be prepared to stretch it if there's no obvious alternative. My mum doesn't like SUVs, which makes me proud.

Any suggestions what he should be considering or - more importantly - avoiding?

Nice! Yes it seemed like a good buy - we were genuinely disappointed it had sold.

I'm very tempted by a VRS half way across the country, as much for the extras (sports seats, cruise, auto everthing) as the extra pace - but the head says this spec has everything we really need.

Just passed it’s MOT 👌

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Oh my - yours? Now that's an Aston.

😭no. Took a picture of it in Lacock village, Wiltshire on my lunch break then drove off in my Honda Jazz

Lacock village

Do you live near there? We have friends we visit semi-regularly in Sandy Lane just round the corner. Presence of ££££ cars does not surprise.

Not too far off, Bradford on Avon - apparently there was a classic Lotus in the village too but missed that one. Good weather brings all the classics out😎

Just spotted these in Reading. Advert states there are foot parts to fit a three door mini.https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/225716913964245/?ref=saved

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Now that's an Aston

I had one of those (but with a roof) for a weekend. From the Classic Car Club. The fuel was quite low when I collected it, so I was vaguely looking for a petrol station. I got 4 miles before it conked out on the Westway. Apparently it got 1 mpg when it was cold.

How hard is it to install a blow off valve in a gen 1 Forester? It looks really fucking easy, I've checked on the YouTubes, should I have an adult present?

I think you’ll be fine, they basically bolt onto a flange on the top mount intercooler if I remember?

It does look very easy on the internet. I'll order the part and then see how brave I feel when I'm confronted with actually doing it.

Get the GFB one, then you can choose when you make noises.

I'm going to, but it won't be the electronic version, as fun as that would be. Just the normal manual adjustable one.

And then the muffler.💨

My mate is selling his VW tiguan 1.4 tsi 160bhp manual just had a clean mot and service ,4 new tyre and new brakes all round does not need cambelt as its chain drive..£6900 very clean no dents and it parks itself .park assist.

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Nice little car park trio

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Dream Aston for me. Green with cream interior, roof preferred however.

The restomod one in grey is incredible.

Speaking to a local TFSI specialist and hoping to book in for the following next month

Full service and health check
DSG service
Smoke and boost pressure test
Roller cam follower upgrade
Injector clean and walnut blasting

Potentially also looking at the freewheel upgrade/balance shaft delete but maybe not this time round.

They also have a rolling road, which is tempting.

Alternator freewheel?

No, for the oil pump