NorfolkNWeigh

My youngest changed her SLK for an e92 325i a couple of weeks ago and was pleased that her insurance only went up £15 per month for the remainder of her policy , which expires in July.
Yesterday  she received this ;

 
Contrary to what it says her new payment had gone up by £15 , now they want another £30 per month, taking it to £80, more than doubling what she was paying. If they’d given her this price originally she might not have bought the BMW. 
I know it’s been said before, but, bunch of cunts.

Not anoraky enough , now tell us which colours had body colour grille and which had chrome bumpers 😊

That’s the thing. A Mini or MGB is reasonably easy to restore and keep going because they are so popular they have the spares back up. It might not be OEM quality but it’s there and you can have it within a few days usually. 
That makes them able to be used a lot, or even all year round if you don’t mind putting up with their drawbacks through the winter months. 
Most other things could be used like that but without the spares backup you’re going to be screwed if/when something does break. You need a second car!
Ive just restored my Capri, and if that one mentioned above at KGF is a good one it’s not badly priced. Considering what restoring one to a high standard would cost. 
With mine the new panels alone came to just under half the cost of the KGF one! You could trim that down by buying used or repairing the old parts but the end result is better if you do go for new old stock wherever you can. But it costs! 
Will I be using my Capri now throughout the year? Absolutely no fucking way! I’ve spent a fortune in money and my time getting it how it is now, it’s as close to a new car as it could be, and I’m not letting it get destroyed and messed up by the shit weather in winter. Many of the parts I took ages finding I’d never find again either to repair it.
Although I’m not one of those types, you can sort of understand why some people buy these as investments. Imho this doesn’t help the market and prices of these cars in general, but they’re so hard to come by now when you do find a nice one, if you keep it like that it’s probably going to appreciate. Unfortunately this has the trickle down effect of making any lesser examples ‘worth’ more when they come for sale, and then people get priced out of them. 
If you think about what a Capri was originally, it was a cool looking mass produced car that the working man could have. It’s not any more! They’re priced beyond a working man’s budget now, which is a shame.

This is particularly pertinent for me at the moment, I’m 60 in a weeks time and MrsN wants to buy me a “ Classic Car”  I’d like an early Range Rover or a MK1 Granada, but the available budget is only £5,000 that would get me into a lopsided P38 or a scabby Scorpio, neither of which hold much appeal . Similarly I couldn’t justify to myself £4/5k for an average Sierra or dodgy Mk4 Cortina. She was trying to talk me into an MGB after seeing @SiC’s at the weekend, but I’ve seen how little use my Dad’s TR4 gets due to his Mrs struggling to get in and out of it and I moan about how low our E Class is, now!
I’ve found myself looking at the aforesaid 50’s stuff that’s coming down in value but if I was to have a P4, Wolesley14/44 or MO Oxford , I’d want it to be perfect not usable or oily rag and they’re not getting cheap if really nice.
Which brings me to late 80’s early 90’s executive stuff, when new if I had the choice of a Sierra for the weekend or a W124 or XJ40 , did I take the Sierra ? Did I bollocks, I’d have been cruising down the M50 at 130 wondering where I was going to allocate the fuel to on Monday morning. So why would I pay more money for less car now ? Also even when they were 10 a penny or even free , I was never a fan of the 80’s hot hatches my peers are willing to throw tens of thousands at to regain lost youth. Whisper it , but a BMW 535 is ten times the car a Cossie is, I know I was there.
 

This was on eBay for weeks with a buy it now price of £3250, it actually sounds alright and even at £3750 is at the  lower end of what some chancers are trying  to get for Mk3s. As I’m a weirdo it would be more appealing to me with its original cloth and steels.

I think 2 tones had body coloured grilles with black bumpers and the others black grilles with chrome bumpers 🙂

Not anoraky enough , now tell us which colours had body colour grille and which had chrome bumpers 😊

Nicked from an Ebay listing:

This was on eBay for weeks with a buy it now price of £3250, it actually sounds alright and even at £3750 is at the  lower end of what some chancers are trying  to get for Mk3s. As I’m a weirdo it would be more appealing to me with its original cloth and steels.

This was on eBay for weeks with a buy it now price of £3250, it actually sounds alright and even at £3750 is at the  lower end of what some chancers are trying  to get for Mk3s. As I’m a weirdo it would be more appealing to me with its original cloth and steels.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1835008260285236/

Parts situation is mental, it's such a big part of keeping things on the road. You wouldn't think a Maestro was particularly exotic but because it falls in between the 'unloved' and 'classic' category, there are next to no body panels available. When Old Ken discovers a rear arch panel in his shed, it gets listed on ebay for £300 and sells within minutes.
If I had a Mini, no problem, everything's available.
It took some serious research, luck and cash to get hold of panels to get my Maestro back to MoT-able standard. The sills came from Ireland (I think) with a 12-week waiting period and cost about £150 for the pair, perhaps not too bad but the wait was the killer.
Even  after all that I paid A Man a lot of money to fit and paint them for me. Suddenly those KGF prices don't seem so barking mad anymore.
@NorfolkNWeigh the XJ40 that I shared with @Cluffy was pretty special. There are quite a few ropey ones around but somehow we landed a low mileage Sovereign 4.0 without any (serious) rust. It was a really nice car to drive and a good compromise between special/historic/usable/pretty/affordable.

I agree.
My missus will never know the true cost of my 2 restorations, I'd wake up one day with my balls in my mouth if she did. Fortunately I deal with the money side of things here and she leaves me to it.

I can see why people spend ££££££ for a top notch example.
I bought my SD1 in my late 30's. It took a lot of hours to make the bodywork good.
I am now in my early 50's. Would I do it now? Like fuck I would. Most of my life is now firmly in the rear view mirror - what time I have left will not be taken up with cutting grinding and welding.
Buy the best you can afford. And enjoy it.
No pockets in a shroud.

This is particularly pertinent for me at the moment, I’m 60 in a weeks time and MrsN wants to buy me a “ Classic Car”  I’d like an early Range Rover or a MK1 Granada, but the available budget is only £5,000 that would get me into a lopsided P38 or a scabby Scorpio, neither of which hold much appeal . Similarly I couldn’t justify to myself £4/5k for an average Sierra or dodgy Mk4 Cortina. She was trying to talk me into an MGB after seeing @SiC’s at the weekend, but I’ve seen how little use my Dad’s TR4 gets due to his Mrs struggling to get in and out of it and I moan about how low our E Class is, now!
I’ve found myself looking at the aforesaid 50’s stuff that’s coming down in value but if I was to have a P4, Wolesley14/44 or MO Oxford , I’d want it to be perfect not usable or oily rag and they’re not getting cheap if really nice.
Which brings me to late 80’s early 90’s executive stuff, when new if I had the choice of a Sierra for the weekend or a W124 or XJ40 , did I take the Sierra ? Did I bollocks, I’d have been cruising down the M50 at 130 wondering where I was going to allocate the fuel to on Monday morning. So why would I pay more money for less car now ? Also even when they were 10 a penny or even free , I was never a fan of the 80’s hot hatches my peers are willing to throw tens of thousands at to regain lost youth. Whisper it , but a BMW 535 is ten times the car a Cossie is, I know I was there.
 

This is particularly pertinent for me at the moment, I’m 60 in a weeks time and MrsN wants to buy me a “ Classic Car”  I’d like an early Range Rover or a MK1 Granada, but the available budget is only £5,000 that would get me into a lopsided P38 or a scabby Scorpio, neither of which hold much appeal . Similarly I couldn’t justify to myself £4/5k for an average Sierra or dodgy Mk4 Cortina. She was trying to talk me into an MGB after seeing @SiC’s at the weekend, but I’ve seen how little use my Dad’s TR4 gets due to his Mrs struggling to get in and out of it and I moan about how low our E Class is, now!
I’ve found myself looking at the aforesaid 50’s stuff that’s coming down in value but if I was to have a P4, Wolesley14/44 or MO Oxford , I’d want it to be perfect not usable or oily rag and they’re not getting cheap if really nice.
Which brings me to late 80’s early 90’s executive stuff, when new if I had the choice of a Sierra for the weekend or a W124 or XJ40 , did I take the Sierra ? Did I bollocks, I’d have been cruising down the M50 at 130 wondering where I was going to allocate the fuel to on Monday morning. So why would I pay more money for less car now ? Also even when they were 10 a penny or even free , I was never a fan of the 80’s hot hatches my peers are willing to throw tens of thousands at to regain lost youth. Whisper it , but a BMW 535 is ten times the car a Cossie is, I know I was there.
 

This is particularly pertinent for me at the moment, I’m 60 in a weeks time and MrsN wants to buy me a “ Classic Car”  I’d like an early Range Rover or a MK1 Granada, but the available budget is only £5,000 that would get me into a lopsided P38 or a scabby Scorpio, neither of which hold much appeal . Similarly I couldn’t justify to myself £4/5k for an average Sierra or dodgy Mk4 Cortina. She was trying to talk me into an MGB after seeing @SiC’s at the weekend, but I’ve seen how little use my Dad’s TR4 gets due to his Mrs struggling to get in and out of it and I moan about how low our E Class is, now!
I’ve found myself looking at the aforesaid 50’s stuff that’s coming down in value but if I was to have a P4, Wolesley14/44 or MO Oxford , I’d want it to be perfect not usable or oily rag and they’re not getting cheap if really nice.
Which brings me to late 80’s early 90’s executive stuff, when new if I had the choice of a Sierra for the weekend or a W124 or XJ40 , did I take the Sierra ? Did I bollocks, I’d have been cruising down the M50 at 130 wondering where I was going to allocate the fuel to on Monday morning. So why would I pay more money for less car now ? Also even when they were 10 a penny or even free , I was never a fan of the 80’s hot hatches my peers are willing to throw tens of thousands at to regain lost youth. Whisper it , but a BMW 535 is ten times the car a Cossie is, I know I was there.
 

This is particularly pertinent for me at the moment, I’m 60 in a weeks time and MrsN wants to buy me a “ Classic Car”  I’d like an early Range Rover or a MK1 Granada, but the available budget is only £5,000 that would get me into a lopsided P38 or a scabby Scorpio, neither of which hold much appeal . Similarly I couldn’t justify to myself £4/5k for an average Sierra or dodgy Mk4 Cortina. She was trying to talk me into an MGB after seeing @SiC’s at the weekend, but I’ve seen how little use my Dad’s TR4 gets due to his Mrs struggling to get in and out of it and I moan about how low our E Class is, now!
I’ve found myself looking at the aforesaid 50’s stuff that’s coming down in value but if I was to have a P4, Wolesley14/44 or MO Oxford , I’d want it to be perfect not usable or oily rag and they’re not getting cheap if really nice.
Which brings me to late 80’s early 90’s executive stuff, when new if I had the choice of a Sierra for the weekend or a W124 or XJ40 , did I take the Sierra ? Did I bollocks, I’d have been cruising down the M50 at 130 wondering where I was going to allocate the fuel to on Monday morning. So why would I pay more money for less car now ? Also even when they were 10 a penny or even free , I was never a fan of the 80’s hot hatches my peers are willing to throw tens of thousands at to regain lost youth. Whisper it , but a BMW 535 is ten times the car a Cossie is, I know I was there.
 

This is particularly pertinent for me at the moment, I’m 60 in a weeks time and MrsN wants to buy me a “ Classic Car”  I’d like an early Range Rover or a MK1 Granada, but the available budget is only £5,000 that would get me into a lopsided P38 or a scabby Scorpio, neither of which hold much appeal . Similarly I couldn’t justify to myself £4/5k for an average Sierra or dodgy Mk4 Cortina. She was trying to talk me into an MGB after seeing @SiC’s at the weekend, but I’ve seen how little use my Dad’s TR4 gets due to his Mrs struggling to get in and out of it and I moan about how low our E Class is, now!
I’ve found myself looking at the aforesaid 50’s stuff that’s coming down in value but if I was to have a P4, Wolesley14/44 or MO Oxford , I’d want it to be perfect not usable or oily rag and they’re not getting cheap if really nice.
Which brings me to late 80’s early 90’s executive stuff, when new if I had the choice of a Sierra for the weekend or a W124 or XJ40 , did I take the Sierra ? Did I bollocks, I’d have been cruising down the M50 at 130 wondering where I was going to allocate the fuel to on Monday morning. So why would I pay more money for less car now ? Also even when they were 10 a penny or even free , I was never a fan of the 80’s hot hatches my peers are willing to throw tens of thousands at to regain lost youth. Whisper it , but a BMW 535 is ten times the car a Cossie is, I know I was there.
 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266667137912?hash=item3e16999b78:g:kAwAAOSwwjVlx5gn&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwD4Av1nKFLP7dLX1FPjWR2pat6MeZ%2BW7tpDYkbwK1%2BL5nIn%2Bn%2FRvPSSqzI4%2FW2c%2FuZZLtRKKAm%2FgwScpE%2BmQwtYq6LnVcojn4IifSgOIiH1f6KnJ199CTL4Jv5Rsq0aFJSqt%2B10RSajeAP1tII3Bb7T69r5lZflp9RgN%2Bvt67HIgI3U%2BVeiQxM5Z7NpKcFTpePsQCuVG%2FS%2FEbgHnlxfeLoLL0NhvaDGGtGNHwH7aggIK4FX1Z82T80tAoRbIgaZZsQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4rI_-6zYw
seems a bit of T-Cut and some pictures has already doubled the value of the ex-bollox Zephyr since that shit Geordie auction. Don’t tell @jmsguzzi how easy it is or that bargain W124 won’t be a bargain anymore.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266667137912?hash=item3e16999b78:g:kAwAAOSwwjVlx5gn&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwD4Av1nKFLP7dLX1FPjWR2pat6MeZ%2BW7tpDYkbwK1%2BL5nIn%2Bn%2FRvPSSqzI4%2FW2c%2FuZZLtRKKAm%2FgwScpE%2BmQwtYq6LnVcojn4IifSgOIiH1f6KnJ199CTL4Jv5Rsq0aFJSqt%2B10RSajeAP1tII3Bb7T69r5lZflp9RgN%2Bvt67HIgI3U%2BVeiQxM5Z7NpKcFTpePsQCuVG%2FS%2FEbgHnlxfeLoLL0NhvaDGGtGNHwH7aggIK4FX1Z82T80tAoRbIgaZZsQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4rI_-6zYw
seems a bit of T-Cut and some pictures has already doubled the value of the ex-bollox Zephyr since that shit Geordie auction. Don’t tell @jmsguzzi how easy it is or that bargain W124 won’t be a bargain anymore.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266667137912?hash=item3e16999b78:g:kAwAAOSwwjVlx5gn&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwD4Av1nKFLP7dLX1FPjWR2pat6MeZ%2BW7tpDYkbwK1%2BL5nIn%2Bn%2FRvPSSqzI4%2FW2c%2FuZZLtRKKAm%2FgwScpE%2BmQwtYq6LnVcojn4IifSgOIiH1f6KnJ199CTL4Jv5Rsq0aFJSqt%2B10RSajeAP1tII3Bb7T69r5lZflp9RgN%2Bvt67HIgI3U%2BVeiQxM5Z7NpKcFTpePsQCuVG%2FS%2FEbgHnlxfeLoLL0NhvaDGGtGNHwH7aggIK4FX1Z82T80tAoRbIgaZZsQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4rI_-6zYw
seems a bit of T-Cut and some pictures has already doubled the value of the ex-bollox Zephyr since that shit Geordie auction. Don’t tell @jmsguzzi how easy it is or that bargain W124 won’t be a bargain anymore.

I thought it was just a term for fake wood (until now)

Ringers, the numbers were still showing as VW Caravelles on the day of the funeral.
Just checked and they still are ! It seems JLR jumped in with an opportunistic product placement for the funeral knowing millions would see them, the Palace just stuck the plates on for the day and the Rangies went back afterwards, any Range Rovers you see being used by Royals since are not that colour.