Barry Cade

You're getting Erich Honecker mixed up with Nicola Sturgeon again.. Oh.

Eeek. I like those too, and considered one. My Triumph lives outside under a cover and has no signs of this at all at 11 years old. Is it pitted or just tarnish? Is your garage damp?

VOSA went away in 2014... its really DVSA, who deal with everything now..

I don't think the gubbermint would or should get involved in actual testing, would be better to have a TUV type body, or even the like of the AA or ADAC type thing. Standalone testing stations with fixed price and countrywide tester compliance testing. I'd go even further and test trailers and caravans. But, this would never make Brits think like Germans who seem to like rules and regulations.. but they can also do 160 on the Autobahn. I really do think the DVLA are skirting round the edges. That testing manual needs re written for a start, instead of appendix 1 ,section 3 ,revision 4 etc. Start again for this century at least.

I think like the majority of classic car owners, you are an enthusiast and maintain your car properly. I did worry when the exemption was introduced that some unscrupulous folk would buy an old car just to save cash but that didn't really happen. I probably wouldn't get an exempt car motd either, but it would be kept to beyond mot standard.

I filled in the DVLA survey, and that's pretty much what I said. I also said it should be taken out of private garages hands and a system like Germany or Spain put in place.

We had a 55SX, picked up from Perth auctions for £200.. Had it 3 years and it never put a foot wrong. Much better car than a Mk2.

Local spot.

My driveway many years ago... A driveway close by. They got scrapped before I could get to them.. My work. You can't just have one...

Great wee cars, used to change a lot of rear arms on them, and saw some overheating issues but otherwise pretty bulletproof.

Has nobody mentioned a Twingo yet?

I'm usually not bothered about the latest and newest bikes, nothing nowadays really does it for me, until this came along.. really really like it. Never had a Guzzi yet!

I'd say forget the make and just try on as many as you can and get one that's comfortable, and most importantly, fits properly. Too many people are either brand snobs, or worry about the looks. I do like AGV helmets though, good quality and they fit me well. I remember years ago, I decided to spend a bit on a helmet and always wanted a Roof Boxer. Bright red to match my BMW... ordered it online and got it a few days later. Stuck it on my head , flipped the front down and it squashed my nose. Gutted. I've got an LS2 now which is about 3 years old and I like it a lot, but its getting to the point it needs replaced so I'll be shopping myself soon. I also really liked a Caberg I had, but it was matt grey.. the bugs really made a mess of that. Think about the strap too, if you want D rings or a clip type. I use kevlar jeans and just carry waterproof trousers under the seat, have a long and short textile jacket and winter and summer gloves. Try and find a jacket with a zip in liner. Heat in summer can be just as bad as cold in winter.

I always hear from folks with " interesting " cars that every time they fill up with fuel, or they park it outside , someone is desperate to give them twice what it's worth and it's the coolest thing they've ever seen .. My experiences. Fiat X1/9's.. rusty piles of shite, never liked them when they were new. 72 Dodge Challenger. Isn't it supposed to be orange? 6.6 litre Dodge D100. WHY IS IT SO LOUD? White Volvo 850T5. Did you fail cop school? Black Pontiac Fiero. Does it talk then? Loads of others, along the same lines. I just smiled and dropped a virtual piano on them. As for talking about what was my job, in the pub... no. Stopped doing anything to do with cars a long time ago..

Up to a point. I've seen people get so far in the hole they will be stuck for years. The way fuel prices, ULEZ zones etc are going people need to do the maths. If you love the car and it's a keeper then fair enough, but if a car is just an appliance, you need to treat it like that.. not many people would spend £300 repairing a 5 year old washing machine.. It's taken me 30 years to think like this.

Might just be the beginning.. 😆 mine was trouble free for 3 years, then......

Finally remembered to snap the Turbo Tigra across the road..

Funny you should say that.. My Focus was at 106,000 and I just had that feeling..

All this talk of the Sweeney.. Here's me doing my best Regan impression with my uncles 2.0L... SHUUUT IT..

We thought that about this one too!

Grandad again here 🙂 wee boy this time, named Zephyr.. all doing well born yesterday morning.

Fitted a towbar in a chaps driveway today, Octavia estate. Left Edinburgh at -1, got to the job it was -9. Finished a few hours later it was -11.. 2 hours drive home because of that stupid bridge.. I'm aching all over, not moving off the couch tonight.

Sorry.. In Scotland that just does not compute. I still get annoyed my bike costs 5 times more to road tax than my car.. Bloody government.

Clutch is expensive, even if you do it yourself- best to replace everything in there at the same time. I wouldn't entertain a BMW with servo brakes. just no. I'd have a mint R1100RT over an 1150 or a K.

Transits just do not warm up at all at idle.. miss the heated screen and seats in the Custom that was written off.. this one doesn't even have heated mirrors 😣 people are still wanting towbars fitted in this weather, plastic is like glass at -6... At least I wasn't trying to defrost this!