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

Nice, I sold my plus 2 earlier in the year. Amazingly fun cars to drive when they're properly sorted. Mine was definitely a whats ever in the Hethel parts bin/kitchen drawer kind of car.

Unfortunately I'm well aware of the trap. But it's fun to have dreams.

On a slightly related note, chatting to my mechanic about his BMW 2002 that sits in the corner of the workshop. He's had it since his apprenticeship but work and life have kept him from fixing the rust in the structure and getting back on the road for 12 years!

But it's fun to have dreams.

The older I get the more I think the dreams are the best bit. The reality rarely lives up to it.

That said, on Friday night a pal and I are going to look at a fibreglass car to put in my shed and hopefully do up. The guy who's selling it had the same dream 5 years ago and has done precisely fuck all in that time. I expect we'll do the same, but it's nice to have dreams.

On More4 there are some old series of No Going Back, about folk leaving the rat race for Wales / Greece / Wherever.

If you need tipping one way or the other it's great watching.

Was offered a robin hood recently, 15 years and never had an engine or gearbox fitted.

Spyder chasis ;)

Any problems in the fibreglass?

This at least has that. Just no electrics or interior.

In theory it's only a week's work...

It's even registered, so no SVA, just an MoT and away we go.

In theory it's only a week's work...

Just quoting for posterity. Ignore me, I'm just jealous.

Don't, the famous say 35-40 hours....maybe

Hit me up in 2 years time. It'll probably look exactly the same as it does now and you can be the next starry-eyed keeper.

Who are you calling massive?!?

looks like the racer is being painted in the new year! happy days. iris blue is the chosen hue. with a royal blue nose (maybe)

aces! the dude I am building the racer with has several elans and a garage full of bits (manly racing bits tho). I may be able to help if you get stuck.

Hmm, I might try to sell my car in Euro ASAP and then buy an M5 next year in say Feb/march when we're at parity (or below) with the Euro.

The Volvo is ready to be collected- £645 to pay. Joy.

Pistonheads have done a 'spotted' on a Japanese import 850 R. I predict renewed interest in yours.

Spooky coincidence or did you know I've just done that with the M3?

Bit of both, I just had (quite possibly as a result of the PH thing that Niall spotted) a Dutch fellow enquiring about my car, and thought that it might make sense to follow your lead on this.

I've got my eye on a couple of M5 Touring - but there's a good chance we won't get "sufficient progress" sign off by December, which means we could see recession start to bite in January, therefore buying an expensive car might make more sense in March as prices soften etc etc.

Yeah, two Dutch guys are flying in Saturday to relieve me of the car and handing over a wad of euros. Makes perfect sense,when you consider currency rate was 1.4 to 1.7 for much of the 'naughties', now approaching parity makes it attractive to look here. Plus, it's going to replace his E36 as a stripped out Nurburgring toy, so he doesn't give a hoot about Cat D or 'investment potential' like most of the bedwetters looking for an E46 M3 in this country.

I am in a similar position pal, work is not so rosy, economic outlook is dodgy and I have a mini-Olly398 to consider nowadays. So its probably sensible car for me.

^Thus I am relying on you to buy a 15-year old V8 estate so I can live vicariously, but say phew its not mine when expensive bits fall off.

Still looking for a sub £2k convertible for Mrs Hammer. Not much locally but it’s probably between MR2 mk3 and MX-5 mk2.5/3.
Mx-5 fans, which is more likely to not be shit at this sort of money? Late NB or early NC? Can probably budget to sort sills in a cheap NB...

Cheap NC will be as rusty as a cheap NB. I quite like the mk2.5 NBs, they started feeling more like a 2000s car rather than one stuck in the late 80s. I can't really comment on an MR2, I know they've got a stereotype of dodgy mid-engined handling but like the S2000 I believe it's over-hyped.

Why not double, ney square yo pain and have another nipper? 😬

Gah. Prolly will crying tears emoji