What car do you drive/own?

[bella]

doesn't sound good for the resale price though...

/stuck record

[d-b]

hi there

i decided to buy brand new this time as i had a very expensive time with a Jaguar
Rotten thing cost me £6000 to buy and £3,500 approx spent on it in two & a half years to keep it going

full engine fuel system
new computer (£1600 !!)
new brake booster (£600 lasted 18 months)
new door locks (both lasted 18 months again)
new boot lock (why ?)
wheel center (£36 !)
wheel (£200!!)
key (£36 !!! for one key!!)

also the handbrake was useless and the car would only occasionally start with the gearbox in park (which sometimes would slip and leave the car rolling forward or backward with a clicking noise,which was fun without a handbrake)

finally gave up when i realised that for the dreaded MOT i would need another brake booster (last one bought brand new by Jag & fitted by them) and more door locks (which you get as a bag of bits and have to build yourself)

no wonder they're worthless now

mines a very nice leather seated tool box now

d-b

ps don't mind about depreciation as i won't never get rid of the car (Chrysler PT Cruiser)

[daz90]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

I've also been thinking about a Mondeo for when I change, the Mk3 shape prices are getting cheaper by the day

I was also thinking about the new shape Mondeo, but my state of mind at the present time is against spending that kind of money. Although 5 grand will get you a decent mk3 Mondeo now, great for the buyer but a nightmare for the seller. I would like the Diesel 2.0ltr Ghia model, and in the saloon version, the hatch is a little ugly, it would also need to be fully loaded inside with all the toys.

[touringlegend]

I would have to have one with leather seats...lush!

[daz90]

I know what you mean. I think i would prefer an Audi A3 though, or VW Bora, Smaller but better engines, 1.9 tdi 115. The 115 bhp is plenty fast enough. I cant think of many more 'new' cars i like the luck of (that are in my price bracket).

[garcon]

Mk 3 Mondeo prices are indeed getting cheaper by the day. But be warned... sod's law states that as soon as you buy one they'll start getting cheaper by the hour!

Good point of daz90's. If you have a budget of no more than five grand or so, you will always run the risk of finding a car (even a statistically reliable one) that will suddenly hit you with big bills. Might aswell just spend three grand and have a nice holiday.

On the diesel options, instead of Mondeo/Vectra I'd go for the 406. And I hate French cars!

[touringlegend]

Ford's are rock solid though.

Fate is something will likely happen now I've said this, but I bought a 98 S Reg Escort 1.6 for £1450 last summer with 52k on it. The only stuff I've replaced on it are down to wear - front brakes and the timing belt which is reccomended at 60k. That's providing you don't count the track rod I bent, but that's my fault not the car's.

I don't think you could go far wrong with many cars around 5k, as long as you aint stupid and buy something thats 'hingin'..

[F1JordanUk]

If you want a Diesel car its got to be french, either 406 or Xantia, 5000 will get you a top of the range stunner, and they got a 12 year rust guaentee, And I had a diesel Xantia and treated it like hell and it only let me down once, glow plugs, 20 quid for a new set, and don't be scared of the hydraulics, it's really quiet simple, unless it's an activa, but they only come in two litre turbo petrols anyway.
Go to some where like car craft they have just about every model there, don't buy from there, it's just good to sit in the cars, It's surprising how many VW' you can take apart with your bare hands!!!!

[147owner]

I drive a 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, featuring the fabulous, if somewhat thirsty 3.2 litre V6. A joy to drive.

[garcon]

Welcome to ten tenths 147owner!

Nice car, bit of a beast according to the magazine test drives...

[Truckosaurus]

As mentioned elsewhere, I have done the deal on some new wheels. It is a sad state of affairs when I chap decides the best match for his requirements is a diesel Volvo.
I'm getting an S60 D5 and will be chipping it soonest (199bhp, 320lb/ft, 43mpg).

[G_Ilott]

Daily driver: Honda Concerto 1.6i SE, which is very reliable though very oddly geared. 60mph is 5th @ 3500 rpm which is noisy. 70mph is 4000rpm. For a 1600cc injected, it has no guts whatsoever. My brothers old 1.3 Astra pulls a lot better.

The Rover 216 or whatever it is - the Rover version of the Concerto - that my uncle has seems to ride a lot softer and is geared lower meaning dual carriageways are nicer to drive.

Sunny day / weekend car: TVR V8S 4-litre V8 in Cooper Green metallic. Puts a grin on my face.

http://british-motorsport.co.uk/tvr/gallery.html

[Truckosaurus]

Nice photos of the V8S Graham.

With my Spotter's Hat on, are the photo locations: Portland Heights, down by the beach around Victoria Square/Chiswell and up at Hardy's Monument?

The video of the roads around Bov also brought back some good memories.

[G_Ilott]

'ello,

It must be months since I've checked in on here. Came to see if there were any threads about the Combe meeting a week ago.

Ta for comments - piccies are at West Bexington, Whiteway Hill, Portland Heights / Verne (well-spotted), Shell Bay at Studland and another at Whiteway (overlooking Tyneham).

I regularly burble around the lanes.

Pics taken with my brother's little digital - I'm planning to take some better shots with my proper stuff (entitled: My Tiv at ....) in the run up to summer, when the car doesn't get filty so easily!

You a Dorset bloke?

[Truckosaurus]

You a Dorset bloke?

Grew up in Weymouth.

[G_Ilott]

Ah-ha. I'm near Sherborne.

Traffic still diabolical down there in the summer. Much nicer restaurant on Portland Bill now. Roads still abysmal everywhere.

More pics of non-Tiv stuff (including Dorset) on homepage at:

www.british-motorsport.co.uk

[Truckosaurus]

Before we get even more off-topic, I'll not post anymore Dorsetshire related chuntering, but will issue Graham another 'good work fellow' award for his photos, it just reminds me how crap the countryside in Cambridgeshire is, and commend everyone to check them out.

Bonus Points also for using the proper spelling of '****terton' too.

[G_Ilott]

Ta.

Do I win a prize?

[Aysedasi]

After 9 years of Daewoos, I now have a Lexus IS200 Sport.

[garcon]

An excellent choice sir. Got fed up of the beep in reverse yet?

[IainT]

Just signed on here to check out the Marshal forum, though I'd add my toy to the list...

'92 3rd Gen RX-7. Lightly modded (~300bhp) but in the process of adding some real welly, uprated suspension and breaks!

Pics here

[G_Ilott]

Originally Posted by IainT

'92 3rd Gen RX-7. Lightly modded (~300bhp) but in the process of adding some real welly, uprated suspension and breaks!

You ought to have bought some stronger suspension then.

[IainT]

Originally Posted by G_Ilott

You ought to have bought some stronger suspension then.

guess i deserve that. Nice V8S mate.

[robfenn]

I have a new Mini Cooper. It's proved reliable and the build quality is great for a small hatch (although it doesn't have a small hatch price..). It handles and goes ok but doesn't quite excite me as i would of hoped. I pound the motorways most weekdays though so really it's an ideal car for me.

-Rob

[evo]

Back in the olden days when this thread started, I didn't have a job and was driving my dinged up BMW. Not long after I found a job, and now 6 months later I have a job and I just bought a new car 2 weeks ago.

...Oh, it's a 2000 Audi S4. Amazing car.