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

What I badly got across lis the idea of the SD1 being old feels strange to me. It is old, but the lines of the car I think are quite modern.

Almost there.

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Saw these and thought of you. Love your car.

The second more than the first.

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In an effort to remove all non essential monthly costs I sold our BMW 330i GT 2017 and brought a BMW X5 e53 2003 (88k FSH careful owners).

The 330 GT is like the modern Saab 900 (above) in its sleek long body, oodles of boot space and touches of coupé.

It’s the first X5 facelift 3.0 and a joy to drive. I love the naughtiest style and will be upgrading infotainment system for practicality. I hope it’s good for another 100k before any serious work needs doing. The rims are freshly cut and powder coated, all mechanically and electronically functioning.

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P.s we had a Saab 900 Turbo (89 plate I think) in the 90’s, beautiful looking thing. It got nicked every week (W14) for a few months before my dad brought some anti theft bits. It was used to ram a police car at some point. The cop car was totalled, only scuff marks to the front bumper of the Saab.

I’d like one now too, but the fear of reliability and parts. I could never as a family car.

Isuzu was owned by GM until about 2006 when they sold it off, the majority share holder is currently Mitsubishi

Ah right 👍I mean it's an 80s car not super old I guess. And looking at it or does have a modern look to it

4o years plus since the SD1 came out!

Side on, the car shape doesn't look dated imo.

Also that looks in better nick than the ones I had.

I always thought they were one of the more unconventional Group A Rally Cars

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Tony Pond took the SD1 rally car round the isle man circuit quite quickly, then beat that time in a road going normal rover 827 Vitesse!

Then there is the Miami vice Daytona that looks like an SD1 to me more than a Ferrari

Yeah the IOM average speed attempt was quite interesting - i think the first time was slower partly because he got caught in the rain on the mountain

People can neglect to factor in the condition of the engine before tuning. Plus they'll stick to the the factory recommended service intervals even after a tune (bad idea!).

This is why I'd be speaking to my garage (TFSI/TSI specialist) before doing anything. They've already recommended servicing the DSG box as frequently as I can rather than the 40k interval. One of the guys there drives a fairly rowdy TT.

Anyway, had time to kill before swimming (half term, innit) so got a wash in the Tesco car park. Still happy with the wheel colour choice. Also tried the ceramic coating stuff I bought on the roof bars and it barely did anything.

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Just parked on the street in Stockport

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Excellent buying. I've been really tempted by an E53 myself for the last while.

just looking superb. best car in here by a mile at the moment (shout out to Fixedwheelnuts BMW of course)

SD1 or Daytona?

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LoL

What came first? The chicken or the egg?

Some might say the F80 was derived from the Allegro.

Prefer the later Vitesse airdam.

Miami vice 'daytona'

As I said, great to drive…..until the altimeter died while on the outside lane of the M3 after J3 northbound in the dark with my 3 yo asleep in the back on the way home this evening.

The battery light came on, the info screen went, the instrument cluster went, no power to engine and no indicators or hazards, some how I managed to glide to the coned off works lane. Through articulated lorries and tail gaiters.

Scared the bejaysus out of me.

Recovery man said it’s probs the alternator. So collect and deliver to a garage for inspection and repair tomorrow.

alternator?

All the Rover chat... You should listen to the Carmudgeon podcast episode on Rover. Many interesting anecdotes from Jason Camissa (he owns an SD 1)... According to him the interior gauges were purposely copied from Ferrari so I'm sure the exterior was no accident either.

This was the early gauges
This is the later gauges

While this is the Daytona

Had a panda with an altimeter and inclinometer!

Ah cheers, i'm really happy with it.