Dick Longbridge

What's the Dutch for 'bonnet Woollarding'?

Wow. I've recently sold my red 'spares' MR2 and have just checked online that the V5 is showing as updated. I see pothole tax is now £290 per annum which seems crazy for what it is. As you say, £230 in 2017 seemed a relative barg compared to today's rip-off prices. I'm not in a rush to tax my long-term silver MR2 after its winter lay up to be honest. Very much this. I looked twice when I spotted the hike to £290.

40k miles, pretty good mot history and under £1k? I can't see the value will ever drop any further. Shame the seller didn't mention the battered front wing, mind.

Find one at a car meet and ask to sit in. Ideally on a warm day. You'll either love it...

I looked at buying one around 15 years ago. Unfortunately it was a bit of a rough one although silly cheap in contrast to today's prices. Values went crazy pretty much straight after. Funnily enough, I went through a phase of watching GT6 startup and drive videos on YT ages back. They do sound phenomenal with a decent stainless setup. Do try sitting in one though...

Dare I ask how much you let it go for? George sure wants to make a quick, easy buck or three but appears to have devalued it since buying it from you.

When do you pick it up? Bargain! I get the impression George is a bit of a chancer.

There's a really clean looking white example for £11.5k currently so I reckon this seller will be hanging onto the car for the foreseeable.

Just spotted it for sale with the current owner on the 'bay. Brush painted green, leaking fuel tank, needs electrics and interior work. £8.2k. I know values are fruity, but even so... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125780311894?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=a-I37k6OTt2&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=FV05_6LQQo2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Oh, that's a stunner. What's the story (ᵐᵒʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵍˡᵒʳʸ)?

Brilliant. I always sing the praises of its sister car, the Aygo. Our experiences of a left hooker on the narrow twisties in France a few years were that it was small, but perfectly formed. Such capable little things, yet with decent interior space too. I liked the sound of the revvy three pot despite assuming it would be rough and sluggish. It was quite the opposite, in fact. Keep looking after it!

Yup. Still such a shame it wasn't given another chance. I don't know how stripped the shell is by now. Engine's for sale here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165652649574?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=OFRhPSGuQ2S&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=FV05_6LQQo2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Great news. I love the way the VDP looks almost space-age in its design compared to the Austin. You just need the 'Murican squeezed in front for the ultimate eclectic car ownership shot.

Until that car, I wasn't really able to fault the (several) PD130s we'd run in a range of Golfs and B6 Audi A4 avants. Overall, they were decent cars. The A3 put me right off though and I've since discovered our long term BMW E91 with the M47 lump (non dpf, decent chain) pisses all over the VAG motors. A bit like JimBell with his Ssssssudeo Ssanyong, it just does what's asked of it without issue.

They got off lightly with that Vauxhall! 🤣

It's the long-life service schedules which have been taken literally which hurt. Cars can still be punted on with 'FSH' but have the increased potential of being money pits.

Datsun Cedric 200 wagon. 😕

I guess it depends on the age, complexity and value of the vehicle along with the mindset of the owner. In theory, if you ran a late 80s/early 90s Toyota, you could likely get away with barely maintaining the thing and it would still reward you with faithful, reliable service. Anything built within the last decade with one or more turbos and a long-life service schedule adhered to is likely to shit itself regardless of future kid-glove attention from a newly caring owner. Mrs DL's old 2008 Audi A3 CR tdi was six years old when purchased, with one owner and full history. 72k on the clock if I remember correctly. We'd looked after it well and the full history was maintained by us. It behaved impeccably until around nine years old and 115ish k. Anything that could go wrong went wrong. Dpf issues. Turbo issues. Water ingress issues. Fumes into the cabin issues. Central locking issues. It used oil too. I drew a line under the hateful piece of shit when my OH informed me of the fumes in the cabin becoming worse. She was pregnant with our lad at the time. We couldn't have done any more to have looked after that car. Moderns terrify me.

"Isn't it part of the mot test?"

Ha! Glad I tentatively asked 🤣 The 1970s/80s have a lot to answer for. Love that. Super rare now, too it would seem.

Cracking photo. I'm guessing you're a similar age to me, looking at the fashion of the time! Is the Strada a Bburago model? I never knew they made one if so. I'm also trying to work out what model your sibling (sister?) is holding. You should repost it in the diecast thread!

Are they from Dan? I'm having to carefully stash mine in darkened corners. He's got a lot to answer for! 🤣

A lad near to us has LB51 KEY on his scene Golf. His name's Luke Bilkey. I read it as LB SIKEY initially and I can't unsee it now. Terrible plate, regardless.