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

I'm OK with this though because it's not going to fall out of the car.

I began the process of searching for a used car today. Quite overwhelming in some ways.

I'd pretty much decided on looking for a civic like @fox has before I realised that they had one... Reassuring to hear that a couple of bikes will fit in the back

If you just want a cheapo just get the ticket job then Veekay motors on Belfast road n16

Can confirm. Thanks for the tip.

You can fit a bike in a TT with one/both wheels out.

The boot is actually pretty big and flat with the seats down

You don't have the Ulez so more fun options.

Just done an HPI check on the 320d and going to go see it tomorrow. Taking a mate who has one and is in the know, but any other tips?

@Fixedwheelnut might have some insight....

Just be wary if it is the N47 diesel engine as they have timing chain issues over 90,000 miles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N47#:~:text=The%20N47%20engine%20family%20is,is%20indicative%20of%20the%20condition.&text=At%20times%20the%20failure%20has,sometimes%20at%20relatively%20high%20speed.

Check the online MOT history if you haven't already, I find it really helpful as an indicator of how well a car has been looked after

Good tip - just learned about this myself the other day.

The car’s MOT has just expired but they’re going to put it through one before purchase (not that it’ll be worth anything as no doubt will just get a mate to put it through).

Off to go look at it in a bit, quite excited!

Funnily enough I believe Scottish cities are in fact bringing in emissions control zones. Not sure of the details but from a brief Google the limits look similar to the ULEZ..

In any case the 2008 civic I'm hoping to test drive in a few days is Euro4 compliant which meets the requirement I can see for emission control.

Tax is 200 sheets dude. Good luck with the viewing

Yeah.
Had a look earlier, have agreed in principle to buy for £2600, provided they MOT it and I can double check why the v5 was reissued - likely just because the original was lost. VIN matches chassis and v5 etc, HPI check otherwise clear.

Couple issues, big scratch on one side, and a small dent on the front passenger door. Also the airbag light was on and off during test drive, which annoyingly is an MOT fail, but hoping it’s just a loose connection (done a bit of reading on it), rather than something needing the loom pulled out. Can of course wire it through to avoid the light coming on for MOTs, but will try and get it sorted.

Feels a bit funny as I don’t have the car yet, and it needs a few things sorted before I’m fully happy with it. But my mate reckons it’s a fair price and it does look sick!

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A coupe of sexy old Italian's spotted today. A excellent condition 328 GTS, one of the best looking Ferrari's ever IMO. Was parked in front of a modern Ferrari which is no doubt a better car in every way, apart from the looks. Confirmed by the 328 getting much more attention from passers by.


And a lovely little Alfa Giulia Super also in great condition.

Yeah.
Had a look earlier, have agreed in principle to buy for £2600, provided they MOT it and I can double check why the v5 was reissued - likely just because the original was lost. VIN matches chassis and v5 etc, HPI check otherwise clear.

Couple issues, big scratch on one side, and a small dent on the front passenger door. Also the airbag light was on and off during test drive, which annoyingly is an MOT fail, but hoping it’s just a loose connection (done a bit of reading on it), rather than something needing the loom pulled out. Can of course wire it through to avoid the light coming on for MOTs, but will try and get it sorted.

Feels a bit funny as I don’t have the car yet, and it needs a few things sorted before I’m fully happy with it. But my mate reckons it’s a fair price and it does look sick!

There's something called a log-book loan, which is much as it sounds - you hand over your V5 and the company loans you money at 300% APR. Until you pay the money back the loan sharks own the car, but unscrupulous people have been known to take the loan (which doesn't/may-not appear on HPI checks) and then apply for a fresh V5, sell the vehicle and then it's the new owner who discovers that that don't have legal title to the car they just bought.

I'd check this out pretty thoroughly, if it were me.

MOT checker will (if they're on their game) check that all the correct lights go on when the ignition is fired, then go off again as the various modules give the ok. You can bypass the air-bag with a resistor (which I've done in my 911, as my wheel doesn't have an air-bag), just as long as that's the issue, and for e.g. the issue is not that the vehicle has been crashed in it's past and the pyrotechnic safety features are still upset.

The v5 replacement was in 2012, 8 years after it was first registered and while it was still in the original owners name (I will be the second owner).

A worrying post to read tho, lol.

As for the airbag light, I’m not to worried for now. Need to actually have the car in my possession first.

Soz, better safe than sorry I thought.

I did some more bike-packing today:

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• DB606F13-84A7-4291-AF68-89C99CC59757.heic

Hmm, anyone know how to revert back to using a format that the rest of the world uses? I don't understand why Apple are such cunts.

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Looks ace. I wouldn’t worry about the scratch and dent (mine is riddled) but yeah get the annoying stuff sorted. Glad the test drive went well.

Have really enjoyed mine this year. Been a faithful workhorse and totally reliable. I do mainly use it in lieu of small van as moved out if the smoke and lots of shit (sometimes literally) needs moving. Stuff that I just can’t expect from my little fiat.

That Alfa is very special. Nice spots as always dude

This makes me nervous knowing how expensive that seat was, lol.

Cheers, was the reassurance I needed! Found the whole process pretty exhausting, and I still don’t own it yet. Hopefully the DVLA check will be fine and I’ll have the car by the weekend.

Got some work done on the 182 this evening:

• Uprated Cooksport shocks fitted (a little lower and fair bit stiffer)
  
• Drivers seat lowered
  
• Alpine door speakers fitted
  
• Coolant system flush (will do this again next week once the Renault Type D coolant arrives)
  
  

I also discovered that the car has the optional factory Cup suspension pack fitted...ideal.

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Seems like an ejector shat itself on the Saab. Think that car needs to go.