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

This guy is a kiwi legend, he rallied mazda rotaries in nz then globally. When the works Ford team got out to Nz millen with a pretty much home built Rx3 thrashed the Escorts and was 16 mph faster in a straight line than Ari Vatenan with the Cosworth BDA engines.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nhn4FvJzxY4

The engine builder was a guy called Bill Shiells, worth looking up what he did with them. Mazda Japan were so impressed that he got invited to their factory to assist them.

Love Rotaries. Love. Check out a company called rotron - owned by a very interesting character. Main business is small rotaries for drones but they've also built a 700cc motor for a race bike project with Brian Crighton, ex of Norton. 200hp and sounds like the devil with indigestion.

Wedding present? Kind of to me, from me kinda thing?

Or stick it on your wedding list. I'd I kick in for that as would just about everyone else that knows you... :)

Oh and congratulations!!

That group B RX7 is the utter horn.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OOOOHX9DnOg

Rx3 doing its thung.

Have seen Rotron, great industry there. My uncle was involved with sponsoring the Norton team when he worked for Duckhams, so knew mr Crighton, amazing what that man did with thoes engines. I have about 4 rotary engines and a garage full of stuff i need to clear soon. Wish i had a good shell to stick an engine into. Mazda 818 would do nicely.

I've about had it with insurance companies already.

Just been denied insurance due to my occupation "we don't insure any type of mechanic as the supervisor deems in unacceptable" Is this seriously something that happens or are they making up an excuse?

What kind of mechanic are you?

It's code for Hit-Man

Try maintenance engineer or something elaborate. In my schooldays I was a transparent wall maintenance engineer. I still have that shammy.

Thought that was cleaner.

I think Cleaner is spy talk and mechanic is more Elmore Leonard :-)

In July I need to be in the Alps with a road bike and a mountain bike and some gear for two weeks for two different and consecutive holidays with two groups of people. All travel options are proving to be a nightmare. Am I mad to consider buying a cheap estate car to do the trip, then selling afterwards? Can you tax/insure for a short time without losing money? How cheap could I safely go? Can you get RAC coverage for the continent? And if I break down, what do they provide?

I'm seeing a lot of 3 series for under £2k that look about right. Spoke to my cousin at the weekend who has one and took it to Germany and he said anything over £500 would get me a safe one! That seems optimistic to me, but his has been running for months without bother.

Peugeot 407 estate, cheap, and parts, labour (if in france) cheap too

minimum tax 6 mths initial outlay but may be able to recoup a month or two if your declare SORN or sell it. Insurance TPFT, 3 mth may cost 75% of an annual policy - check it out on moneysupermarket, etc..

RAC/AA for continent yes, check out their websites/cover when taken as an optional extra with the motor insurance policy - dependent on what you want to pay you could be recovered back to UK

Or - buy/rent a van
Or - rent a people carrier

Renting means all of your fears are absorbed (at a cost) by the rental co

Sounds like a good option to me. If I was doing it the only thing i'd worry about is that I don't have enough expertise to buy and sell well. But then you'll learn doing this.

If you are looking for cheap and reliable then maybe you will get more for your money with a less prestigious badge than BMW.

Also consider left hand drive as you're going to be driving on the wrong side of the road. It might be cheaper to buy, more to insure but probably worth the same on return.

I looked into renting but it was going to be mega-bucks.

How much out of interest?

Mega, mega bucks. At least £900 for something of a decent size.

Christ, you can hire a narrowboat for a week for that! Bit slow mind, and you can't take them onto the ocean

You can do anything once...like eating toadstools.

Actually that's about average, they cost a frigging fortune, and you don't even get deckhands to do the locks for you

Get a Galaxy or Sharan tdi around 2004, and keep it. Economical, fast, enough and reliable take the seats out and fill it with bikes. Budget about 1200 and try getting one under 130k miles. We have done 9 years with our Galaxies (2) and they have both been great( sold our 99 one last year) Current one is a 130 pd. make sure cam belt has been done within last 50k miles or 5 years and that the engine sits nicely on tickover not a choppy idle as this is fly wheel replacement and not cheap. If too big for what you want consider a passat.

I go past this little beauty twice a day, I really want to buy it cos it's such a bargain even though I have no need for it. Should be perfect for your requirements

http://www.pedestalgarage.co.uk/used-cars-for-sale/peugeot/406/peugeot-406-1.9td-lx-diesel-estate-5d-1905cc-7-seater-18214160

Likewise I was looking at this, seems like a good deal on the face of it. Cheap tax, good mpg

http://www.kenmouldcarsales.co.uk/used-cars/peugeot-206-sw-2-0-hdi-xt-5dr-nottingham-201601220316436

Absolutely hideous mind