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

With Euro Millions money you could always just get someone to tastefully Alcantara and brushed alu all the things.

In case anyone was ever wondering - I just got a French speed ticket and fine for going 8km/h above their 130km/h limit.

It's apparently enforced without any buffer!

This is excellent.

On the subject of cheap interiors (and exteriors for that matter). I finally got round to buying the clio 182 I was asking about not long ago. Many miles but few £££ and with an impeccable history/service record etc.

I've decided to not compare it to the S5 I had on lease previously as this cost less than the one time up front payment on the S5. First impressions - subtle it is not but an absolute hoot to drive.

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Was it a speed cam or did you get an on the spot fine? I’m pondering a trip to route napoleon but I’m a bit heavy footed on empty motorways

Will always have a soft spot for these. Had a ph1 172 that i trackday'd regularly, and more recently a 220 trophy that spent most of its life sat in traffic.

Well done! They are a load of fun and that looks like a tidy example despite the miles. How many has it done?

On the subject of flimsy french hot hatches, my dad has just bought a 2-owner, standard Saxo VTS which has made my inner teenager incredibly jealous.

I think it was a camera (I can't be certain whether it was that or a speed gun).

The roads there are fantastic - easily done. I was just a bit surprised that you don't get the same 10% grace you get here (or is that a myth too...)

According to my recent speed awareness course, the 10% is discretionary here and by no means a rule.

25k the wrong side of 100k

Low annual average miles though...

At a guess you have heard of the one in the front garden.

10% is there for speedo variation, but most speedo over read. French or Uk reg?

Thought that was why the 10% was there.

I have not. What is it?

UK reg.

Thought that was why the 10% was there.

I thought it was that getting the detectors / staff training reliably accurate to that last ten percent was prohibitively expensive compared to the extra fines they'd bring in.

Also cases above the 10% are less likely to be contested by the driver, avoiding admin effort.

So I’ve kind of decided to buy a fast estate. So I can hit a German autobahn with a bike in the back. What are my options between 15-20k? E61 M5? B7 RS4? Anything else I’m missing? I’d love a Phoenix yellow e46 M3 Touring but building one would probably cost way more.

I’m happy to spend less (obviously) but want something interesting to drive and ideally a nice place to sit in

E55 AMG?

Golf R estate, maybe.

E.G.

Octavia VRS? Or not fast enough? You'd get one a lot newer than Merc & Audi and hopefully less likely to throw a massive bill your way.

Got the E class back from the dealer after them having replaced both front hubs, discs and pads to cure the brake judder. Hubs were off spec/alignment apparently which is why the judder came back after replacing the discs before. Thankfully all under warranty.

Also had the benefit of them having cleaned it, as it was in a bit of a state from 2 weeks camping in France.

I'd go for a C63.

I can never remember- what year did they change from the head bolts that snap to the ones that don’t on the 63 engine?

A red E30-E4?


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-BMW-E30-TOURING-WITH-E34-4-0-LITRE-286bhp-V8-6-SPEED-MANUAL-90k/293185393726?hash=item444336143e:g:9i4AAOSwpkddUStu&autorefresh=true