R114

Watched a few episodes so far. I like spotting the inaccuracies. I find it interesting what they put effort into recreating, yet some areas they let slip. Some others I noticed that spring to mind: Rear of a Mk3 (or 4) Police Transit in the first episode. The Mk3 Granada already mentioned displaying a B registration on it, yet the scene was not long after the robbery, so early 1984. The man opening the modern looking UPVC window of the grotty flat to climb out of and escape. LED light panels in one of the gold shops. They all seem to have an identical cordless phone, that has admirable range. The Samsung ring tone going off in the background of a Tenerife scene. Entertains me more looking out for these things than trying to follow the storyline!

Went to look at an MGF once. It'd been on Autotrader for a few weeks, gradually getting a little cheaper. I'd asked if all was well head gasket wise before setting off and told it was. "Everything is perfect, I've never had any trouble with the car" Drove 90 mins to the location. Nice area, expensive houses, seemed ideal. Looked around the car, it seemed fine, seller was well dressed, could string a sentence together, he was chatting away, saying he'd always wanted one and had owned it a few years. He pointed out a few things he'd had done that showed a good knowledge of the cars and their quirks. I mentioned that I was surprised it hadn't sold yet and he quickly tried to change the subject. I asked for the key to open the boot and he seemed a bit reluctant but handed it over. There was a 5 litre coolant bottle in the boot. "You can have that, only bought it last week so there's quite a bit left." Not a good sign. I pulled the inspection flap back and reached for the expansion tank. Seller goes quiet. I unscrew the cap and am greeted with overflowing contents that Hellmann's could have bottled and passed off as their own. "Errmmm, you told me there were no issues, that's head gasket failure." I said curtly. "Err, ummmm, what do you mean?" he responded, now visibly trembling, glancing nervously about the street. "You clearly know about these cars, head gasket issues aren't exactly a secret are they?!" I reply, wife sensing a situation brewing, begins to pull my arm away. "There isn't a problem, it's fine, it's always been like that, it's never bothered me." I shook my head in disbelief, handed him the cap, wiped the residue from my fingers on the boot seal, got back in my car and drove away with him stood staring after me, cap still in hand. It stayed on Autotrader for a few more weeks before "NEW HEAD GASKET" being added to the description. I could tell by his demeanor that I wasn't the first and probably wasn't the last that he'd tried it on with, before finally giving in and getting it done. Maybe the embarrassment of the curtain twitching neighbours seeing his best bullshitting skills played a part too.