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

At least they lowered the tax on cars from 180% to 160%. My moms VW T4 camper costs £2100 in road tax per year.

Which is this reply to, sorry lost the rest of the convo

The 79v is the older platform and boxier one. I prefer them as they're not trying too hard to be anything. Also they are a safer structure than many small cars. The later post 2011 models had quirks like headlights that cost $1200 to replace as the plastic crumbles.

Just check there's no sign of coolant leaks or oil leakage around the top left side of the engine. If you're not sure what you're looking get an nrma inspection or a lot of garages will do one for the cost of an hour labour. Also, tyres, get one with decent tyres as a new set will be $600-1000 depending on brand and quality.

Also, no idea of your budget or actual location but the corolla wagons are ok, certainly less chance of being a total disaster.
Toyota Corolla.
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Toyota-Corolla-2003/SSE-AD-5553224

Versus Subaru Forester.
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Subaru-Forester-2005/OAG-AD-14698467

Or turbo...
Check out this Subaru Forester.
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Subaru-Forester-2005/OAG-AD-16023798

You'd want to careful that turbo isn't about to explode though....

Budget is about $5k, and you got our location pretty much bang on with that first Subaru! We're about 4kms from there...

Problem with the Toyota is you don't get that much more boot space than a sedan, the boxiness of the Forester appeals more for moving stuff around... I think I'm pretty much decided on a Subaru unless I get a bargain through a friend beforehand...

Cool, go for a forester. Just remembered another thing. Check timing belt has been replaced. You'll be looking at a higher mileage one and they need a new timing belt every 100,000 kilometres. Make sure it's done or factor in a $800 job.

Thanks for all the advice, man! 🙏

The one just above, re tax in Scandinavia

C55 had been running for maybe 2 minutes so stone cold, noticed the revs flaring when turning the wheel at idle. Then, stopped on a 14 degree slope turned the wheel at a standstill at close to idle revs and it stalled. My thinking is that the extra power demanded by the power steering pump stalled the engine - steering does periodically feel very heavy at parking speeds. Thoughts?

Edit: bit of Googling says it might be a dirty throttle body

Finally replaced timing belt and water pump on the RAV4. Took ages. Many rusted bolts and tiny spaces that meant sir bolts took 20 mins to undo. BUT started first time when it was all back together!
Backed it out of the garage to let it run for a bit on the drive so I could refill all the coolant, and water starts spewing everywhere.
One of the fasteners holding the new water pump on has cracked the mount on the block. :(
Popped in some radweld, stopped the leak.
THEN while idling on the drive it just stopped. Won't start again. No spark at the plugs, no fuel coming through.
Almost ready to give up now!

Well, I have some good news at least
FINALLY!!!

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That car is so pretty

Amazing.

Such an awesome colour.

what a beaut!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k7yBqxNzzY

https://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/44718-kprs-84-hilux/&

Water got up on cam or crank sensor?
Or you've knocked something loose whilst radweldling it.
Seen it happen where waterpimp isn't fully seated on gasket (or its wrong way around) and then got to do whole job again, such frustrating! Esp as most bolts used on timing equip are stretch bolts and you have to get fresh ones each time.

Colour is amazing, a modern jag colour?

Luftgekuhlt was fucking rad. Would post pics but I think the internet probably has much better quality pics of the all the decent cars.

Interestingly I think it was about 50/50 Porsche and non Porsche owning attendees which I didn’t expect. I thought there was going to be tonnes of fans (like me) and not masses of owners but the cars inside the show + the air cooled parking + the water cooled parking I think either matched or out numbered the non Porsche parking.

Cheers dudes. Proper chuffed with progress this morning, after three failed attempts that cost us months.

Had the wrong calliper bolts delivered so we had to stop before getting the brakes done, though.

It’s Aston Martin California Sage. The lighter version.

Gotta love sage. #peas

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That really is the prettiest MG I've ever seen. So good. With the hardtop it looks like a properly elegant tourer rather than race car.

Also, good choice on bright silver minilities rather than gunmetal or anything.

Thanks. It does feel a bit silly to be racing such a nice car. At least i will look good when I am getting lapped.

I think crank sensor is most likely problem, shorting out due to all the water. Such a ball ache to get to though as it's all inside the timing belt cover.

hells yeah Richie that is insanely good dude