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

the micra has a leak in the back right wheel arch, soaking the rear seat.

smells very very damp in there. what a joy to find out 30 hours before going on holiday 😂

Get a good mechanic and it may not cost the earth. I’m in Norn Iron so my Audi/VAG specialist is probably not much use to you. As someone mentioned, ask around for a good mechanic who doesn’t change millions. There are some about.

Main bulbs are easy enough to replace.
I'm swapping mine for LEDs, hopefully they'll last.

I've never driven a beamer but I must admit I always liked their Touring models. Maybe later in life when I'm bored of the Leggy.

Just be careful with the bulb holder clips - the plastic that the metal clip mounts to has a habit of breaking...

This is my 4th bmw; two separate e36 m3 evos, e39 520i msport saloon, and now this. They've all been a bit of a nightmare to own but stunning to drive.

You could do a combination. We went to Mull a couple of years ago. I drove with all the stuff, she took the train with 18 month old. I started the day before, staying cheaply on the M6 somewhere near Lancaster - breakfast at Tebay made up for that. She got an early train from London to Glasgow. We met up around 12.30 then made it to Mull for about 5pm and everyone was happy. Unfortunately we all drove back together, trying to do it in one day, which was less than fun.

True that.
I think my 2.5 had a broken clip though it didn't stop the bulb from working normally.

Can also recommend this approach - it's how we've got 2 children plus a load of stuff to Scotland several years running. To Arran this exact way last year. I camped overnight somewhere in the borders, then met family at the ferry terminal station. It's obviously not the cheapest option, but is best for preserving everyone's sanity while still taking bags, bikes, etc.
Ardrossan wouldn't be too painful a drive to do in one go if you started early.

While I'm in the car thread - any biggish estate recommendations for a budget of 5-10K? Must be ULEZ compliant and comfortable (I have a bad back). Sold our previous car and realising not having one is a massive pain. Was looking for a late 2000s V70 but there aren't many non-diesel ones around and we have to get something before Easter so probably need to widen the search. Would sort of like a 5 series due to having a bmw before and liking it, but suspect this would end up horribly expensive to keep going.

Standard forum answer

I just found a great car on Auto Trader: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002046947148

Slightly over budget, but you might get lucky. I think they're great cars, and very comfortable.

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biggish estate ... non-diesel

The second point makes it tough especially with your budget. Keep in mind that many diesels will still be ULEZ compliant, so you don't necessarily have to rule them out. But long term they're probably not the sensible choice.

Most scoobys are petrol, although not very fuel efficient. Not very exciting, but the Passat is comfortable with one of the biggest boots around. Mercs are gonna be more comfortable than the other premium German cars.

Amazingly that Subaru I linked above is ulez compliant

Yes was just checking and was surprised it was too. Older than I was considering but I do quite like them. Plus want to finally get a towbar bike rack so towbar is useful.

Passat last time I looked non-diesel seemed pretty rare.

I thought usually it was only post 2015 diesels that were ULEZ? Which I assumed would put most over our budget.

If you want to get rid of your car for a stupidly low price Neil, I'm keen... must be about time for a new project?

Not very exciting, but the Passat is comfortable with one of the biggest boots around.

@ad441 R36 Passat?

Sounds fun. Also sounds very unlikely to come up very often in non huge mileage.
Plus I don't need something super fast. I don't want something super sluggish either, but I should probably be prioritising 'reliable family car' a little more.
A less fancy version of Neil's car does sound quite appealing.

~10k! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C55-AMG-5-4-V8-only-50-000-miles/143535324138?hash=item216b5f3bea:g:yEoAAOSwsAdeSsEC

Nissan Accord. Or the JDM Nissan skyline estate.

JDM car tho.

That's super low mileage, I think it might be an import as it doesn't have the sound system that the UK cars came with (there's a luggage net and cubby on the right in the boot of the car pictured, said cubby doesn't exist on UK cars as the amp and sub live behind the panel there).

Looks like an after market head unit and reversing camera setup rather than COMAND.

I'd bet on it being Japanese, although the rear numberplate surround is the correct UK shape, so I might have the wrong end of this particular V8 stick.

You'd need to refurbish the brake calipers I think, but otherwise it looks pretty clean.

Ah, read the description now which confirms it's a Japanese car. The "completely original" is, erm, not wholly true. Still a lot of car for 10k though.

if anyone is selling a semi alright run around clio/picanto/whatever for £2-3k my girlfriend is after something as her mini is just costing her tonnes in repairs

A less fancy version of Neil's car does sound quite appealing.

The small petrol engine C-Classes don't have a great second hand value, so that could well be a good move.

Surely E-Class is the answer if you want to actually fit stuff in it though?

I was surprised at how my C Class estate compared to the Volvo 850 (neé V70) - significantly smaller than the Volvo. But then the Volvo is really in the 5 series/E class bracket for size and the C Class is a 3 series equivalent. I'd just not really thought about it.

I thought yours was an e class. I'm really unobservant when it comes to cars.. . Definitely want closer to e class sort of size. Last two cars have been 3 series (tiny boot) and skoda octavia (much better). Don't want to go smaller.