The Driving Thread

[Ben]

I think it’s just an advisory if it’s holding pressure. Not sure though.

I’d mention it when you drop it off. It’ll have to be repaired anyway so they will sort it in advance to prevent a potential fail if they would deem it that way. £20 maximum for a repair.

[Magic]

Definitely not.

[Boydy]

I think it’s just an advisory if it’s holding pressure. Not sure though.

I’d mention it when you drop it off. It’ll have to be repaired anyway so they will sort it in advance to prevent a potential fail if they would deem it that way. £20 maximum for a repair.

MOT works differently here. You have to take it to a government owned test centre instead of just a mechanic so no chance of sorting it in advance.

[Ben]

Every day is a school day.

Probably a fail then CJay.

[Pepe]

I mean, you will want that fixed asap before you get stuck in the middle of the road.

[CJay]

I’ll tell the guy when I get there and hope he lets it slide as an advisory to be replaced. Not sure when it happened but will check the pressure in the morning see if it’s held up.

So typical. I hate cars.

[Foe]

Mine passed with a puncture. I don’t think it’s a deal breaker for an MOT in the uk. I even told the man on the desk before the mot I thought the tyre had a puncture.

I still have that issue and have to top the air up every few weeks as my run flat apparently can’t be repaired and it was an absolute pain in the arse trying to find the same tree as a direct replacement.

Don’t tell sincere.

[CJay]

“Aye that tyre’s leaking air but it doesn’t really matter for the MOT”

DonÂ’t know how that makes any sense. Surely a deflating tyre is pretty unsafe. It was down from 32 to 25 this morning.

Anyway the car failed on a broken spring instead. 🙃

Retest booked for 5:25 this evening so IÂ’ve done alright all things considered.

[CJay]

No idea why the formatting is so weird there with the apostrophes.

[Boydy]

You're lucky to get a mechanic to fix it at such short notice.

[Ben]

Your MOT arrangements over there are mad. Over here the guy who did the test would fix the spring then re-test it immediately.

Is it the complete racket it sounds like, or is there good reason for it?

[CJay]

You're lucky to get a mechanic to fix it at such short notice.

Yeah went straight to Modern Tyre here in town and he said no problem and that he’d have it done by lunchtime.

[CJay]

Your MOT arrangements over there are mad. Over here the guy who did the test would fix the spring then re-test it immediately.

Is it the complete racket it sounds like, or is there good reason for it?

It’s a complete shambles. My MOT has been due since August but the first appointment available was December, but as long as your car is road worthy you’re still covered. Apparently.

I don’t know what is gained by us continuing with our own special system when the rest of the UK has an altogether more sensible arrangement.

[Boydy]

How open to abuse is the system in England?

Our system would be fine if it hadn't built up a big backlog due to there being faults in the lifts they use a few years ago and then covid. It hasn't really recovered from that. They just need more capacity really. There is a new testing centre being built but it's behind schedule, of course.

Our main city can't cope with traffic at the minute and it's basically gridlocked every evening.

Our NHS is the worst performing part of the UK too. Nothing here works.

[Giggles]

Ours (NCT & DOE) are basically a copy of the NI MOT, though they came in much later. Neither fix anything.

[Ben]

How open to abuse is the system in England?

It certainly used to be but now it needs to be recorded on the Gov portal by the mechanic, it's virtually impossible (round here anyway) to find anyone willing to issue a dodgy certificate these days.

[Boydy]

Our main city can't cope with traffic at the minute and it's basically gridlocked every evening.


Look at the state of this:

BBC News - Belfast road users 'should consider working from home to avoid traffic' - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g235330eeo

[Mike]

Wife’s 2014 IX35 has been slowly going more and more wrong, got to the point where fixing it wasn’t worth the month. After a week of searching we agreed on a 2019 Kia Sportage. Anyone got one? I’ve got new car envy for sure!

[Giggles]

A Kia is a Hyundai so you'll be on here in 2029 saying the same thing.

[Ben]

Kia have been very solid for quite a long time now. Boring but great family cars.

[Magic]

I was offered no more than 10k for both my cars by Stealers lol. May as well use we buy any car.

I'm selling the Z privately and keeping the Fastra.

[Ben]

I’ve decided this year is the time to get an M3. I’d love a Touring but that’s probably stretching the wallet too far.

[Giggles]

:drool:

[Magic]

I’ve decided this year is the time to get an M3. I’d love a Touring but that’s probably stretching the wallet too far.

Which gen? Assuming brand new if you're looking at a Tourer.

[Mike]

Kia have been very solid for quite a long time now. Boring but great family cars.
Yeah, that’ll be its weekend use. It’s basically the IX35 inside.

The Kia dealership were great though. We’d sold her car already so needed it done quick, they could only do towards the end of the week, so have given her a 2024 Picanto for the week, they even paid the insurance.

[Ben]

That’s the pipe dream. Probably previous gen. Although I would prefer manual (but it’s not a dealbreaker), so M2 and M4 are in the picture still.

[Magic]

That’s the pipe dream. Probably previous gen. Although I would prefer manual (but it’s not a dealbreaker), so M2 and M4 are in the picture still.

I had no idea you even got them in manual. I knew you could get the M2 in manual guise.

[Ben]

Rare as hen’s teeth the M4 but they’re out there.

In all honesty I think I’ll end up with an M2. Not because of the transmission, they’re just easier to come by for the right price. A lad at work got his 240 mapped to over 400bhp. Total animal but lovely to drive still.

If I had the balls I’d go for an older model but the upkeep scares me.

[Magic]

Can confirm. Why I want to get rid. The parts are horrific.

[niko_cee]

Maybe just steer clear of the midlife crisis entirely or get into another dickhead look at me habit like watches?

I'd still have an Evo 6 though, maybe.

[Ben]

I've got the watches. Fake as fuck but they are incredible copies. Unfortunately you can't fake 400bhp. :(

[Pepe]

My Fiat fakes them just fine. :harold:

I think that, when it comes to recent generations, the M2 is far nicer than the M3. M3s have gotten too fat, just like all cars have.

[niko_cee]

Do you even have the option to fake it with creditable alternatives anymore? I parked next to a TVR Tuscan [Speed Six] the other day and thought that I've always had a lot of respect for people who've gone down that particular black hole, but I assume all that sort of thing has been battered out of the market now and if you want something other than the established brands you have to be in the ultra luxe market, which isn't somewhere any sane person ought to be.

[Pepe]

I am not much into acceleration, but if I was, I'd just get a Mustang and call it a day. I assume that they are more expensive over there, if you even get them.

[niko_cee]

I probably mentioned it in here, but if I didn't I lolled a few years ago now when I came across a Mustang, presumably a GT500 with the Number plate G7500 [with the G7 on top and the 500 underneath] with two very confused looking old people in it evidently struggling to make it go. Actually, no, it was 67500 as it must have been all numbers.

Then I found out my cleaner at the time had a mad, and rich, grandparent who bought and hoarded very expensive Porches and would disappear periodically before returning with them. It was probably all a big VAT scam. I don;t think it was him driving it, but more that it seemed all of these cars were being bought by bored pensioners.

[Giggles]

I am not much into acceleration, but if I was, I'd just get a Mustang and call it a day. I assume that they are more expensive over there, if you even get them.

I think they've a 2.3 ecoboost or electric SUV this side of the Atlantic.

[Pepe]

I think the current 4-cylinder ones are putting like 300 hp. They're a pretty good deal.

[Ben]

I think that, when it comes to recent generations, the M2 is far nicer than the M3. M3s have gotten too fat, just like all cars have.

That's why if I end up going M3 it'll be the F80. But there's not a lot of choice over here at the moment. Everything is 4-5 owners and I feel like it's too risky to rely on that many people having taken care of it properly.

[Pepe]

Yeah that is always the challenge with buying anything sporty used. Don't even get me started on people trying to list their mods as positives.

[Ben]

I am not much into acceleration, but if I was, I'd just get a Mustang and call it a day. I assume that they are more expensive over there, if you even get them.

We get them but they're dumbed down. I've seen one murdered by a Golf R on the local "mad mile".

[Magic]

You'd just get a 135i or something and Stage 1 it.

[Ben]

https://www.exclusiveautomotive.co.uk/details/used-car-in-knaresborough/bmw/m3/3.0-biturbo-competition-dct-euro-6-ss-4dr/1319235/

Going to try test drive this on Wednesday as it's not far from me and I've got a free afternoon. It's too soon to buy but they've also got an M2 and M4 so at least I can get a clearer idea.

Plus they've got a Cullinan so I can have a perv at that.

[randomlegend]

Nearly got the RS Megane fund together :drool:

[niko_cee]

Those yorkshire people have a nice Skyline.

200k?

:|

[Ben]

It was the last generation before they fucked it. Pure collectors item now.

My dad had a Lotus Carlton in the 90s and sold it for relatively fuck all. 30 years on he looks a right twat.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, think I might marginally prefer the R32 shape for GT nostaglia, but the GT-R was the daddio performance-wise.

No need for any of that though, just get one of these (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365333190034?itmmeta=01JHE29SBJMKPF6MBXZTWNSQBB&hash=item550f8e1592:g:U2UAAOSwpvlncpyN&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4CodCO1vSDjg2xNOt8By6oBhtJC3O xZz2sgwvkKb4D1t0IRjskWhF5LINqlTL7qa8HFdSfrHrvj8OYO 6Wb4OZLtwNSl4hehT7MxyefkmwxV9sMJ%2BEm1Ydt8KNYP3nCz IuE2XA6VKSwsCstGIDl00Qxn0XSGUzqcpG%2BRjE%2BnkPup5H OD%2FcTRFPlCknlmsARwoMbWWN08GTwwHU%2FPP%2B5KXRXsCi BCfiiWmE3arsDBpe5ndHGqVl5mn%2BQaQKgA6oJ3bj4cDQcgU8 dODOfQmoK707kYRQn6bTwnzzArBpVpPjaLY%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_ CVp8KLZQ).

[Jimmy Floyd]

I really need a new car but I just can't be arsed to get rid of the current one. The very thought of it makes me want to shrivel up and die. I'll only get maybe a grand for it anyway. If I could just go and park it somewhere and walk away I would.

[Lofty]

Just go to a WeBuyAnyCar location then?

[Mike]

Yeah, WeBuyAnyCar is the answer for a quick painless sale, though they lowball you. We sold the IX35 on Motorway to a dealership, he turned up, looked at the engine and turned it down. Webuyanycar offered £700 less, but the guy walked around the car, sat in it, then paid us. Was in the bank in about 20 minutes, if that.

[Ben]

The Car Buying Group are another one. Same principle as We Buy Any Car, but they don't lowball you as much.

[Magic]

They lowball you as much as dealers will now.

[Lofty]

Some dealers promise to beat WeBuyAnyCar, Evans Halshaw had a deal to beat their price by £500 when I sold mine.

[Mike]

All the trade in offers we got, while more, were all "as long as its all in good working order" and it wasn't.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mine works well as a car and only has 90k on the clock, but one of the mirrors needs a repair job which is probably worth more than the car is, hence my boredom with the whole thing. I don't even really care if I get £1,500 or £150 for it, I just can't face having a conversation or going through the tedium.

I'll end up just driving it to one of the webuyanycar type places and taking whatever money they have lying around.

[Ben]

If you're getting a new car anyway just ask for a part-ex. My wife's Q3 had 110k on the clock, back wiper was fucked, she dented a door with a trolley, rear diff needed replacing. They offered £6k without even wanting to look at it (going rate for a similar mileage with no issues is around £7.5k). Easy work.

They'll probably make about £500 out of it. Good for them.

[-james-]

Going to see a 2014 Mazda 3 on Thursday and I strongly suspect I'll drive it away. Five grand, and I think it looks a pretty good deal. My first car got written off in November (I got 170 for scrapping it), and having applied what I know now about buying for a used car to that in hindsight, I'm not sure I could have done much worse for the £2400 I paid for it.

[SvN]

Our old Astra had a knackered exhaust that would cost almost the value of the car to fix. We put it on Facebook marketplace for £600 and it was sold and gone off our drive within 3 hours.

[Pepe]

A mirror? Just duct tape one and drive it for ten more years ffs.

[Pepe]

I need to know more about this mirror. What is the damage? How much have you been quoted to repair it?

[Lewis]

I had two speeding tickets ever, one in 2006 and one in 2018, and now I have received two for Christmas Eve and Boxing Day - both for doing slightly over the fucking temporary reduced limits on the M1 and A63 (the latter at one in the morning). :moop:

[SvN]

What did they clock you at?

[Ben]

The test drive for the M3 I posted on the last page isn't going well.

I think I was a bit naïve in asking some serious questions up front (to save me a potential trip) and it appears the seller is one of these wanky garages who sells to really rich folk who don't do any/much due diligence. The M3 he's got is right at the bottom end of his pricelist, so he's seemingly ignoring me now after I asked about previous owner history and any bearings work. I'm not worth the hassle apparently.

The car seems immaculate on the face of it. Maybe I should have driven the fucker first and then probed further.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've started buying a Peugeot 2008. Croissants all round.

[Lewis]

What did they clock you at?

56 through the 50 zone on the Derbyshire M1, and 50 through the 40 zone of the A63. I think I might get away with a course for the former. You couldn't tell who was driving on either so a less honest/more Indian person might have just ignored them and driven without a licence for the next thirty years.

[Giggles]

I've started buying a Peugeot 2008. Croissants all round.

I never thought I'd see the day.

[Giggles]

Was anyone even working on those roadworks on those days?

[Pepe]

I've started buying a Peugeot 2008. Croissants all round.

Disgusting.

[Pepe]

I am glad speeding cameras don't exist over here. If they ever try, I hope people shoot them down.

[Jimmy Floyd]

56 through the 50 zone on the Derbyshire M1, and 50 through the 40 zone of the A63. I think I might get away with a course for the former. You couldn't tell who was driving on either so a less honest/more Indian person might have just ignored them and driven without a licence for the next thirty years.

I definitely did more than that through there (M1) going to Sheffield the other week (and no doubt even faster trying to get back to the south). Commiserations.

[-james-]

Going to see a 2014 Mazda 3 on Thursday and I strongly suspect I'll drive it away. Five grand, and I think it looks a pretty good deal. My first car got written off in November (I got 170 for scrapping it), and having applied what I know now about buying for a used car to that in hindsight, I'm not sure I could have done much worse for the £2400 I paid for it.

I love it already. :wub:

[Shindig]

Which church did you buy this one from?

[-james-]

This one was from a nice man in Washington, actually.

"Here's the keys, do what you want with it". Legend.

[Ben]

I've started buying a Peugeot 2008. Croissants all round.

My wife just bought one (the GT). Once you get used to the obnoxious steering wheel it's surprisingly a very decent car.

[Pepe]

Mazda 3s are good.

[randomlegend]

Wife has a Mazda 3. Agree with Pepe. "This", if you will.

[Giggles]

I hope it's a petrol because those cunts can't manage the derv.

[randomlegend]

I don't know what that means but yes it's a petrol.

[Giggles]

I don't know what that means but yes it's a petrol.

Their diesels are made of cheese so that's a fine choice.

[Ben]

You might be shocked to learn it refers to diesel.

[Giggles]

Force of old habit.

[Luke Emia]

I've started buying a Peugeot 2008. Croissants all round.

Had one the other year on holiday was alright, definitely better than the Ssangyong Tivoli I got stuck with last year.

[wullie]

I've been done for speeding twice in quick succession recently too after the best part of 15 years with nothing. First was 80 on the M6 which I got away with by paying less to do the course and skip the points, just as I was patting myself on the back for beating the system a second letter popped in after a mobile camera had me at 36 on a 30. Both on completely empty roads but fair cop guv. Not sure if there's been more of a crackdown or that I got a new car a few months ago, but it's probably the former rather than the raw power of a Ford Puma.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Now finished buying the French car, so I just have to get the old Czech tub of shit to a we buy any old shit location. I've been quoted £1,200 but it's got a broken wing mirror frame which is impossible to declare on their system. How much am I actually going to get for it?

[Yevrah]

£12.50?

[Boydy]

Can't believe you've become an SUV prick, Jim. :nono:

[Pepe]

Becoming a manager got to his head. No longer our comrade.

[Lewis]

Can't believe you've become an SUV prick, Jim. :nono:

What else was he ever going to get?

[niko_cee]

I thought he was getting something like those weird little sliding door ones they did, although apparently that is the 1007. I had more of a Berlingo type thing in my mind anyway.

[Pepe]

What else was he ever going to get?

A midsize sedan, but I guess SUVs have taken over as the default option. Don't want to be seen as a trendsetter driving around in an Accord.

[Lewis]

Floyd is a spiritual boomer, so once you had set the parameters to a 'chunky' car from an established (non-Italian European or Japanese) brand it was just a case of setting a price range.

[Jimmy Floyd]

These days it's either a smallish SUV like that or a Fiat 500.

It's an automatic as well. Properly pathetic.

[Pepe]

I'm pro automatics tbh.

Fiat 500 is too cool for you.

Speaking of, now that my wife has a job I have to take the girls to school in the Fiat and they are making a mess of my upholstery. Might need to get myself a beater.

[Boydy]

What else was he ever going to get?

I dunno, a Golf or something.

[Giggles]

Estate > SUV.

[Pepe]

Is an estate a wagon? If so, then yes, 100%

[Ben]

Estate > SUV.

True that. I’ve pivoted from getting an M3 to a M340i Touring. I’d get an M3 Touring naturally but I’m not a millionaire.

[Giggles]

If I ever win the lottery the first thing I'm buying is an RS6 the same shape as the one in Layer Cake.

[niko_cee]

Those early, mad RS6 estates were amazing. Shame they sullied the brand by making everything else an RS, even if they are all good cars. There was something uniquely good about the super high performance variant being an estate.

[Pepe]

If I had a lot more money an RS6 would definitely be in the garage.

[Ben]

Those early, mad RS6 estates were amazing. Shame they sullied the brand by making everything else an RS, even if they are all good cars. There was something uniquely good about the super high performance variant being an estate.

Are you talking about the mid 00s estate? Or the OG (which was called the RS2 Avant)?

https://youtube.com/shorts/0zJo3D23J_Q?si=F0YKHpDfnUXsFs0G

[Pepe]

Shame they sullied the brand by making everything else an RS

BMW says hi.


Are you talking about the mid 00s estate? Or the OG (which was called the RS2 Avant)?

https://youtube.com/shorts/0zJo3D23J_Q?si=F0YKHpDfnUXsFs0G

They were both :drool:worthy.

[Ben]

BMW says hi.

The new M5 is a disgrace.

Especially on the back of the F90 which is an all-timer as far as modern cars go.

[Giggles]

Everything was watered down. Even the smaller brands fucked them up - Focus ST and Octavia VRS diesels :sick:

[Lewis]

Aren't things like the M5 fundamentally pointless in an age where the diesel ones will do 0-60 in less than five seconds?

M635CSi for the first lottery purchase.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's no point owning a good car in southern England. Most of your life is at 15mph. You want a comfortable one.

[Ben]

Aren't things like the M5 fundamentally pointless in an age where the diesel ones will do 0-60 in less than five seconds?

M635CSi for the first lottery purchase.

The M5 is hybrid now. 2.5 tonnes of horror. BMW hardcore fans generally hate anything from the last decade but this one has them in uproar.

[Pepe]

M635CSi for the first lottery purchase.

They really don't make them like they used too. I'd take so many classics over any current supercar.

[Ben]

I’d buy an E90/E92 tomorrow if the maintenance didn’t frighten me.

[Boydy]

My lottery win car purchase would be a Microlino.

[Boydy]

https://car-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/158983/microlino_48.jpg

:cool:

[randomlegend]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410285684716

Considering taking a trip to test drive this. The service history (to someone who's clueless on cars) looks a bit shit though, which I'm guessing explains the low price.

[Giggles]

I’d buy an E90/E92 tomorrow if the maintenance didn’t frighten me.

E60 M5 :drool:

After the C5 RS6 of course.

[niko_cee]

Are you talking about the mid 00s estate? Or the OG (which was called the RS2 Avant)?

https://youtube.com/shorts/0zJo3D23J_Q?si=F0YKHpDfnUXsFs0G

Dunno.

I lost interest in cars in about 2000, so probably more on the OG end of the scale, although I recall it having shiny/chrome wing mirrors. RS2 does ring a bell now.

[Lewis]

There's no point owning a good car in southern England. Most of your life is at 15mph. You want a comfortable one.

I reset the trip computer once to see what a week of driving around Portsmouth consisted of, and I averaged 18mph over sixty-something miles.

I drive a 2015 Ford Ka, which cost me £4250 in September 2021, because I do about a hundred miles per week and it isn't worth my while spending anything above the bare minimum. Whenever I think about maybe getting something else I look, find that a worthwhile upgrade is going to cost me at least ten grand, and don't bother.

[Ben]

Someone smashed into the side of my wife's car last night. The other person immediately said "I'm not saying anything" so the insurance claim is going to be a twat. No witnesses, no dashcam, so likely to be £500 (excess) out of pocket. :eyemouth:

[Lofty]

Volvo 850 T5R if I win the lottery.

[niko_cee]

Is that the old motorway cop rocketship?

[Shindig]

Saw some absolute fucktard of a white van driver drive a roundabout in the wrong direction and then do a three-point turn on said roundabout today.

[Lofty]

Is that the old motorway cop rocketship?

The sport variant of it.

[Ben]

Saw some absolute fucktard of a white van driver drive a roundabout in the wrong direction and then do a three-point turn on said roundabout today.

The amount of people you see going to wrong way around roundabouts is insane.

Gotta be all these immigrants and their stupid right hand traffic.

[niko_cee]

I have never seen someone going the wrong way round a roundabout, I don't think.

[Shindig]

This was my first time seeing it. The real miracle was there was nobody else on the roundabout. He had enough time to enter, perform his turn and then drive off.

[Lofty]

I once came round a bend on a double lane road to find some old dear had ignored the slip road's 'no right turn' sign and tried to kill us all, thankfully everyone was alert to the flow of traffic and stopped. These days some tit watching tik tok whilst driving would have probably condemned us to a 20 car pile up.

[Ben]

Yeah it's almost always old people in my experience. My immigrant jibe was tongue in cheek. I reckon out of the 5 or 6 times I've witnessed it first hand, all but one are fossils who should have had their licence taken off them years ago.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I had a nice experience with a van going the wrong way up a one-way street a few weeks back. Turned onto the road and suddenly the British working class are steaming straight towards me in a dirty transit. I gave it a big hand gesture out the window and they told me to fuck off and that there was no other way to reach the next street. I told them that there was, by using the other roads like everyone else. After a load of effing and blinding he eventually turned around in one movement, nearly flattening someone's garden wall in the process. There is so much pent up aggression in these people, I can't fathom it at all.

[Lofty]

Balls like baked potatoes now you've got the big job eh Jim

[niko_cee]

What's the deal with extremely dirty number plates? I assume it's not really allowed, but I have noticed loads of completely mudded over rear number plates recently.

[Pepe]

Fighting the power. :cool:

[niko_cee]

I would assume that that sort of thing in the US would see you shot by the highway patrol in all likelihood.

Step out of the vehichle sir.

Keep your hands where I can see them!

[Pepe]

I've seen plenty of plates with some sort of dark cover that makes them impossible to read around here.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Number plates is one of the few areas where we remain the best in the world. Proper thick lettering always gives me a patriotic buzz when back from abroad.

[Magic]

What's the deal with extremely dirty number plates? I assume it's not really allowed, but I have noticed loads of completely mudded over rear number plates recently.

Can't be arsed washing. What's the point. Seems to be mild for 5 days then -2 for 2 days where the roads are PLIED with grit and salt.

[Ben]

I've coated my cars in this (https://www.in2detailing.co.uk/products/siramik-lustrous-plus-graphene-spray-sealant?variant=53270830023043). Insane stuff. You use about 15-20ml for the whole car and it actually lasts for months. Dirt just slides off with a touchless wash.

Ceramic coating is dead. You can apply this graphene coating at home for a fraction of the cost and it looks probably 90% as good.

[Pepe]

I'll need to look into that. My car gets too dirty.

[Giggles]

All our speed limits, except motorways, are dropping 20 km/h in a few weeks :happycry:

[Pepe]

Is that environmentalism based nonsense?

[Ben]

Wales did a u-turn on that shit pretty quickly.

[Giggles]

Is that environmentalism based nonsense?

Yep, the greatest nonsense of all.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The speed limits are at the level they're at for a reason. Most countries have very similar limits because this is how you get traffic to flow within the bounds of safety and natural human reflexes. Once you start making them unnecessarily slow because fuck knows why, people will stop
respecting them and then you're in much more dangerous territory.

I'd be more interested in topping out all cars at 90 or 100mph, possibly.

[Pepe]

I'd be more interested in topping out all cars at 90 or 100mph, possibly.

I'm surprised that hasn't been done yet. You mandate rear cameras but not max speeds? Weird. Of course the kind of person who drives that fast would also be the kind of person to pay for a mod to remove the governor.

Someone should also invent a device that automatically takes you off the left lane is you're not actively overtaking someone.

[Dquincy]

I used one of those DIY touch up paint kits to sort some scratches on my BMW. Turns out it was the wrong colour.

[Ben]

I did this before on my wife's NHS lease car. The damage charges on return can be ridiculous so I did a load of paint correction on it and used the wrong black. Fortunately they didn't notice when they took it back.

[Magic]

All our speed limits, except motorways, are dropping 20 km/h in a few weeks :happycry:

What? Like 15mph? Lol.

[Magic]

The speed limits are at the level they're at for a reason. Most countries have very similar limits because this is how you get traffic to flow within the bounds of safety and natural human reflexes. Once you start making them unnecessarily slow because fuck knows why, people will stop
respecting them and then you're in much more dangerous territory.

I'd be more interested in topping out all cars at 90 or 100mph, possibly.

I got up to 120 in my Z4 with the roof and windows down. A bit of the trim between the seats came loose and whacked me in the side of the head. It was on a country road. Fright doesn't even come close.

[Manc]

Gubbed.

[Giggles]

What? Like 15mph? Lol.

12.427 according to Google. It's absolutely ridiculous.

If the greens hadn't been wiped they were going to be pushing for the motorways to go to 100km/h too.

[Magic]

"it's a limit not a target" is also one of the most beta phrases in existence.

[niko_cee]

I feel one of the key failings of the British speed limit system is the failure to use 5 numbers. 25mph is a much superior speed limit to 20mph, as the latter is simply too slow to be a practicable moving about speed. Twenty isn't plenty.

Other than that everyone drives too fast and limits probably should be lower and more punitively enforced.

People driving over 100 should have their cars taken away from them [ie handed to the state] as the punishment. People who park inappropriately should be subject to random crushing. Their cars that is, although I'm open to alternative interpretations.

[Ben]

Going to test drive an M340i tomorrow. :drool:

[Ben]

Going to test drive an M340i tomorrow. :drool:

Ended up being busy at the weekend but just been and done this. Oh my lord what a beautiful beast. Obviously not M3 insanity but it's still mental when you want it to be, plus it's actually practical as a daily.

I tested a saloon but I really want the touring. It's happening at some point this year.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Got my frog car going, it really is luxurious not having to haul a manual clutch through traffic for an hour a day.

[Pepe]

Welcome to the nineties.

[Magic]

I see car tax has gone up, yet again.

[Ben]

Found an M340i Touring :cool:

Trying to haggle the price based on it not being serviced for its first 2 years / 15,000 miles. I know it's the recommended schedule now but fuck that, a proper owner would have changed the oil a couple of times early doors.

[Magic]

Loool avoid like the plague.

I get the Bimmer done every year even though I only do about 2000 miles in it.

Not servicing a performance engine like that makes it unsellable to people with a brain.

[Magic]

You should buy it.

[Ben]

I'm going to go inspect it anyway. The signs would be there already if the neglect had done anything to worry about. Fortunately I'm catching it before any of the other fluids need doing as it's low mileage but that's my angle to get the price down as I'll need to do all that immediately.

[Pepe]

Not a big deal imo, but definitely use it to haggle on price.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Piss on the tyres if he tells you to fuck off.

[Ben]

Not a big deal imo, but definitely use it to haggle on price.

I don't think it is but if the previous owner only serviced it when the car was shouting at him, then he could be the type to rev the tits off it when cold.

99% sure it's fine but I'm playing hard to get with the dealer anyway. I didn't give him my phone number so it's all emails so far. :cool:

[niko_cee]

I was always somewhat dumbfounded by the whole 'running it in' thing, I mean, is it not possible to design these inordinately expensive and largely pointless wankmobiles with that having already been accounted for? Oh, it's been driven a bit hard this Evo 6, why the fuck else do you think you would buy it in the first place?* Presumably one boon of the electric revolution is that has been done away with. Motor goes brrr straight away.

*save for in Guernsey, home of the top of the range never goes over 35mph [or say 60 at a push] sadwagons, where every old dear has a golf GTI or an abarth because they're the most expensive ones.

[Giggles]

Buy it :chief:

[Pepe]

I was always somewhat dumbfounded by the whole 'running it in' thing, I mean, is it not possible to design these inordinately expensive and largely pointless wankmobiles with that having already been accounted for?

Modern ECUs are smart enough that doing damage to an engine just by driving the car hard is almost impossible. Unless you are basically running them dry, either oil or coolant, you'll most likely be ok. Other components are more likely to be damaged by idiotic driving.

The one thing that can fuck an engine up that some people do (especially sport bike riders) is running it at redline while stationary.

If nothing looks bad, I wouldn't be worried about infrequent oil changes. You can always pay for an oil analysis if worried.

[Magic]

Modern ECUs are smart enough that doing damage to an engine just by driving the car hard is almost impossible. Unless you are basically running them dry, either oil or coolant, you'll most likely be ok. Other components are more likely to be damaged by idiotic driving.

The one thing that can fuck an engine up that some people do (especially sport bike riders) is running it at redline while stationary.

If nothing looks bad, I wouldn't be worried about infrequent oil changes. You can always pay for an oil analysis if worried.

It's a what, 50k performance car? With launch control? It'll be a bag of shit.

[Ben]

Do tell.

[Ben]

Collected the car yesterday. The 155mph limiter is a real thing, unfortunately.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm still trying to sell my old car. The scrap value is about £200. The notional offer from we buy fuck all cars is £1250, but one of the wing mirror struts is taped together, so I reckon that halves it before they even look for other defects. I was going to go there this morning but then my Romanian colleague (for whom the idea of turning a profit on anything is catnip) said he'll pay £400 for it, get one of his army of Albanian friends to fix the wing mirror for free, then sell it on for £600. I'm therefore sat here this morning seeing if this clown is actually going to go through with it or if I'm wasting my time. He does work for me, so that should be motivation enough.

[Ben]

If the car is semi-popular, you should be able and to find a replacement mirror on eBay. Changing it isn’t very difficult. A plastic pry tool and a screwdriver should be suffice.

[Lofty]

Collected the car yesterday. The 155mph limiter is a real thing, unfortunately.

My dad used to have a Nissan 200SX that never had a limiter on it, was very nice and surprisingly had a lot of leg room.

[Ben]

Even if it had one out of the factory, it was incredibly easy and cheap to remove it back then.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Got 650 from Micah Richards, dangling mirror and all. Romanian grift factory in the mud.

[Pepe]

Yeah but it's not fair. You're a professional salesman.

[Pepe]

Collected the car yesterday. The 155mph limiter is a real thing, unfortunately.

The m340? Nice.

[Magic]

My wing mirror is also taped together. I bought a used one off eBay described as "minor scratches" and it came damaged worse than the one I've got.

The seller blamed it on the courier but he wrapped it in so much bubble wrap it could have re-entered Earth's atmosphere and made a crater the size of Chicxulub and not received any damage.

Fucking bastard because that was the only one on the whole internet I could find that colour matched.

[Ben]

The m340? Nice.

Yep. The B58 engine is absolutely insane. I can absolutely believe it when people say there’s another 150bhp to get out of it just on stock parts.

[Giggles]

:drool: get cracking.

[Pepe]

:cool:

Enjoy it this weekend before it inevitable explodes./Magic

[Ben]

The weekend came and went explosion-free, so we're booked in for a Stage 1.

374bhp (actually 385bhp because BMW) -> 430-450bhp, just with a software map. The engine is so beastly it doesn't need any upgrades until Stage 2.

[Manc]

Midlife crisis complete.

[Magic]

Stage 2 explosion.

[niko_cee]

What's stage 4? When it has spread to all parts of your life?

[Boydy]

I bet he's got driving gloves.

[Ben]

Midlife crisis complete.

:cool:


Stage 2 explosion.

Not going past Stage 1.


I bet he's got driving gloves.

Give over. :D

[Boydy]

https://cdn.m3cutters.co.uk/data/attachments/11/11906-0276489cf49fd422ca9f7bf7f8137355.jpg

[Magic]

Stressing your internals when you know it's not been looked after is quite the move.

[Giggles]

The weekend came and went explosion-free, so we're booked in for a Stage 1.

374bhp (actually 385bhp because BMW) -> 430-450bhp, just with a software map. The engine is so beastly it doesn't need any upgrades until Stage 2.

I think I just jizzed a little bit.

[Ben]

Stressing your internals when you know it's not been looked after is quite the move.

Further investigation showed four oil changes in its first 33000 miles. Yeah they didn’t do an early one which is annoying but otherwise those intervals are absolutely fine.

[Magic]

The most important one? Oh boy, good luck with that.

[Shindig]

I look forward to Ben flooring it for 100 yards between traffic lights.

[Ben]

The most important one? Oh boy, good luck with that.

Engines aren't as fragile in that respect anymore, so I'm not concerned.

Enjoy ya Z4 ya big fanny.

[Magic]

Launch control at the pelican crossing. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Ben knows he fucked up.

It's that crying behind a mask meme all over.

[Pepe]

There is a Hummer H2 in the parking lot today and the three (unmodded) pickup trucks parked next to it are larger.

[randomlegend]

I appear to be able to get an Ioniq 5N through the NHS salary sacrifice scheme for about £560 a month, which is quite tempting.

[SvN]

Seems like a good price. What term is that?

[randomlegend]

3 years. Includes all costs (servicing, insurance, etc), even a charger.

That's based on 12,000 miles a year which I'm sure I'd stay under, but the penalties don't even seem that bad.

[Foe]

3 years. Includes all costs (servicing, insurance, etc), even a charger.

That's based on 12,000 miles a year which I'm sure I'd stay under, but the penalties don't even seem that bad.

£20k over three years. What sort of car can you get for £20k and assume is disposable for comparison.

[Pepe]

I am not into leases at all and having to pay $700+ per month in a car seems like madness to me, but the Ioniq 5N is a nice car.

[randomlegend]

£20k over three years. What sort of car can you get for £20k and assume is disposable for comparison.

You have to take running costs into account as well. If I were to buy a ~£15,000 car outright I think once you take running costs and depreciation into account, I'd be spending about £5k extra to have the Ioniq.

Seems like because as doctors we're on rotational contracts it's an absolute ballache to access the salary sacrifice schemes, so probably off the table anyway.

Considering going to have a look at this next week. Meant to be fun.

https://www.group1auto.co.uk/used-cars/peugeot-308-1.6-puretech-260-gti-5dr-360026/

[Magic]

My Astra cost £14500 2 and a bit years ago and it's cost me nothing bar servicing/MOT. 25000 miles of awesomeness.

[Foe]

My 3 series is coming up for 10 years old and I’ve driven every mile in it. £30ish grand a decade age after I had a 3 year lease and then paid the ballon payment.

Reckon it’s about £600-800/year on average for service and MOT but the buffer probably hasn’t depreciated much at all the last few years. Until it become a hassle I won’t be binning it. Done something like 51-52k miles.

Leases I can imagine are super convenient to just keep deferring costs effectively. That might be what I do when this thing falls over purely to just keep capital available, but eventually buying a 2 or 3 year old BMW is my base case again. This car has just been so reliable.

[randomlegend]

Should I be wary of a 2018 car that's only done 4500 miles?

[niko_cee]

Has it been owned by an old biddy?

Wary as in you fear it would have been clocked?

[randomlegend]

It's a Mégane RS so I doubt it's been owned by an old biddy.

I wasn't sure if mechanically it's not that great for cars to be barely used.

My other thought was whether it's been used as someone's track car but probably no way of confirming or denying that.


I assumed you can't really fiddle the mileage on modern cars.

[Giggles]

You can fiddle mileage on anything, but 4500 would be a bit too optimistic for that year. Anyone with half a brain would be clocking that to around 40k and there wouldn't be a question asked.

[Pepe]

That is strange. I would definitely ask what the story is. It is not great for cars to sit, but it is not that old and it has been used some, so it would probably be ok.

When I bought my car it had about 4000 miles, but it was only three years old. Looking at the history, it had obviously been repossessed.

[Pepe]

How is it priced? As with everything, if it is too good to be true...

[Ben]

Yeah I'd be wary. Very infrequent heating of the oil will result in sludge/varnish on the engine and that's how you get scored cylinders and boom boom down the line. Unless it has been a track car and the owner regularly serviced it anyway despite the lack of miles.

But Magic told me my car should have blown up by now so what do I know.

[Giggles]

Actually yeah something like repossessed could be likely there if you do a proper history check. Definitely to see if it sat for ages as a salvage job either and someone has bodged a repair to shift it.

[randomlegend]

The garage said they bought it as a private sale from the original owner.

I've emailed them to ask if they have any history about why the mileage is so low (was it used as a track car, was it serviced, etc) so I'll see what they come back with.

It's £21,000 so I think priced pretty much as expected.

[Ben]

Use carvertical or something for a comprehensive check. £20 for a proper check versus a £21k car is nothing.

[-james-]

Have you looked at the MOT history? Usually gives some clues.

[randomlegend]

The dealer have got back to me and it has been serviced twice despite only doing those miles and they will service it again.

I am aware some of these cars had a recall for a fuel pump issue so I asked about that and they've checked and it is part of the recall but it hasn't been done so would need to go to the Renault main dealer to have that done (but would be under warranty).

They said it's not been tracked as far as they know but couldn't be definite.

[niko_cee]

It's a Mégane RS so I doubt it's been owned by an old biddy.


Perhaps, although in my experience elderly boomers often get pushed towards the most expensive variant of a given vehicle. I agree in the case of a Megane RS that would be an odd jumping off point, but you see plenty of relative biddies driving Golf GTis and those 595 fiat 500s, although maybe that was more of a Guernsey thing.

[Magic]

Yeah I'd be wary. Very infrequent heating of the oil will result in sludge/varnish on the engine and that's how you get scored cylinders and boom boom down the line. Unless it has been a track car and the owner regularly serviced it anyway despite the lack of miles.

But Magic told me my car should have blown up by now so what do I know.

Every time I see this thread with a new post I get that fuzzy feeling inside that it's you posting about your engine blowing up. :drool:

[Dquincy]

It's £21,000 so I think priced pretty much as expected.

Glad to see those doctors strikes paying off.

[phonics]

Glad to see those doctors strikes paying off.

Quincy thinks Doctors are paid too much because they can afford a VW Polo.

[randomlegend]

Glad to see those doctors strikes paying off.

Me too, cheers mate appreciate your support. Probably be back out there after April when the DDRB recommendation is either shit or late :thbup:

[randomlegend]

Regarding the car, it's been regularly MOTed and serviced with no problems and the mileages all stack up so doesn't look like it's been fiddled.

[Magic]

Maybe it's just track miles? In which case, run lol.

I'd be less bothered if it was a convertible because you don't drive it as a daily but it does seem weird it's just a normal hot hatch that's 7 years old...

Plus it's French. I'd walk.

[Pepe]

Magic says bad idea, so you should definitely get it.

[Magic]

Whatever. It's just such an odd car to not drive, unless it's a track slut.

[Pepe]

All cars are odd to not drive.

[Ben]

Unless it's a Fiat Multipla. Which is unironically pretty great functionally, just it looks abhorrent.

[randomlegend]

So the garage got back to me and said it was an old guy they bought it from who'd had it from new. He bought it as his dream car but didn't end up driving it much because of poor health and ultimately decided he couldn't justify keeping it.

Depends whether I believe them or not I guess. I think I probably do.

[Spikey M]

I wouldn't be dropping 20 grand on a Renault. It could be their version of the Ferrari Enzo for all I know, it's still a fucking Renault. Just get a Dacia Sandero.

[Magic]

A Megane as your dream car. :D

[randomlegend]

RS Meganes are one of the most popular track cars around (the previous gen particularly), they are amazing to drive.

[Spikey M]

A Megane as your dream car. :D

He was planning to drive it regularly until he injured his back on his dream holiday at Pontins.

[Magic]

RS Meganes are one of the most popular track cars around (the previous gen particularly), they are amazing to drive.

Are you listening to yourself? Does the car come with an enormous red flag included?

[Magic]

He was planning to drive it regularly until he injured his back on his dream holiday at Pontins.

And instead of binning it straight away he let it devalue for years for no apparent reason then decided to get rid of it.

[Pepe]

The Megane RS is definitely cool. Not sure if I would call it a 'dream' car, but I would take it over a Z4 any day, tbh.

[Pepe]

I'd take a Miata over both. :cool:

[Magic]

The Megane RS is definitely cool. Not sure if I would call it a 'dream' car, but I would take it over a Z4 any day, tbh.

:youpi:

Passed it's MOT no advisories. :drool:

[randomlegend]

I'd take a Miata over both. :cool:

Two seater is too impractical unfortunately.

[Manc]

Congratulations.

[Magic]

Two seater is too impractical unfortunately.

"I'm not fit, healthy or agile enough to get in a true sports car"

[Pepe]

Two seater is too impractical unfortunately.

Same reason I'm still on the Fiat. Can't take both girls to daycare on a Miata. :(

[Pepe]

:youpi:

Passed it's MOT no advisories. :drool:

:cool:

Not like that other ticking time bomb amirite.

[Magic]

Same reason I'm still on the Fiat. Can't take both girls to daycare on a Miata. :(

Try putting them in it instead.

[Pepe]

Nah, they'll damage the upholstery.

[randomlegend]

"I'm not fit, healthy or agile enough to get in a true sports car"

I guess you don't have to worry about practicality since you don't see your kid.

[SincereTheRebel]

Putting touchscreen buttons in a car is stupid. You have to take your eyes off the road to turn up the heating. With proper buttons, i can do it with a no-look-pass. Its probably a thing of the past now.

[Magic]

I guess you don't have to worry about practicality since you don't see your kid.

I don't have to worry about it because I've got two other cars.

[niko_cee]

You'll have to let that Red Bull guy know if you ever sell the collection.

[randomlegend]

Not going to proceed on that car I think.

It's more than I was planning to spend and was only considering it because the mileage is so low and it's close, but the mileage being so low also comes with it's own question marks.

I'd have had to borrow some money from my grandad and we've already got the big holiday to pay off so probably not a wise thing to be doing.

[Pepe]

Collect your e-victory, magic.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Doctor's strikes not going so well then it seems, Quince.

[Pepe]

"NHS in disarray. Doctor resorts to borrowing from Nan to cover basic necessities. Can't even afford a Renault!"

[Magic]

Collect your e-victory, magic.

The true e-victory would have been him and Ben consoling each other.