What are you driving and why would we be interested?

Just doing my bit to bring two and four wheels together…
Only a matter of time before I go electric :slight_smile:

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Everyone’s welcome, much bikes, motor bikes and cars :slight_smile:

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Eh, no! I’ve owned 7

I’ve owned 2, loved them but have to agree the quality is scary at best.

I’m eagerly awaiting @Don posting a picture of one of his planes :grinning:

Let’s hope it’s not a 737 MAX 8 :grimacing:

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Should be plenty on the ground to take pictures of.

Perfect for those crisp early morning Spring drives …

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I would have thought you might have posted this instead, Debs

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You know if Mr. D Dastardly spend all the time racing instead of cheating, he would have won every race in that super fast rocket car of his.

[ Mr. Dastardly’s first name is a naughty word that’s not permitted on the forum! ] :laughing:

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Which model of Alfa is this?

Beautiful car

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I have a 1988 Mercedes-Benz124 300E. Its 6 cylinder and nicely smooth to drive. The downside is its a 4 speed auto and heavier (better built?) than todays. Owned it for 2/3rds of its life. Has all the toys of that era, alloy wheel, leather and A/C.
As I take the view that whatever you drive it costs and I like the car, I have kept it as pristine as I can. All the rust spots sorted and a complete re-spray in Alamandine Red. Metallic Bergundy. Everything works at the time of writing. My nearest MB dealer is in Epsom. Their parts stock on old cars is really pretty good, but the showroom makes the Starship Enterprise look old fashioned. Even the parts man has no trace of old oil under his fingernails.
My previous fun car was a 1969 Lotus Elan. It had to go when my head had difficulty in bending to get out of it! Had that one for about 35 years. Loved it when I was younger but no regrets.
Douglas.

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124’s will go forever, I had two 320 coupes and once you keep the rust at bay particularly on the front wheel arches they should just keep going, having said that I didn’t really like them that much as I prefer something a bit more visceral but they’re undoubtedly good cars

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We ran a W123 230TE from it’s 10th birthday until its 25th, at which point it could not pass another MOT. Still love that car. Took a new C Class estate out on a test drive last year. What a load of plastic rubbish! Bought a BMW instead.

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@mattl - that’s a 2012 concept car - Superleggera Disco Volante. I just love when manufactures let their designers run loose!

An 2013 ‘facelift’ E46 318Ci with MTech2 body, suspension, 17” wheels in Metallic black & black ‘cube’ interior with climate control, short-throw gear change.
Had it since ‘05 @ 30k to its current 102k miles, 13 years later.

Yes it’s only a 4-pot N42B20 BMW engine and not the M54, however the N42 was developed from the M42B18 used in the E30 & E36 318is (had a ‘98 E36 318is before), and the basis of the S42B20 raced in the touring cars.
Plus it much lighter than the 6-pot, and the weight sits closer to the centre of the car, battery is in the boot, plus manual seats, no sunroof.

List of work outside service items over the last 13 years includes 2 sets of front-wishbones, rear springs, trackend rods, CCV replacement, plugs & coil packs, fuel pump, Air conditioning compressor (twice & this one whines), pre-cat Lambda sensor, screen washer pump, multiple batteries & both air bags under recent recall. Plus swapped the interior for complete black leather (manual Sports seats, rear bench, door cards)
To do: Solenoid oil seals, Timing chain tensioner, oil filter housing gaskets (oil leaks when crankcase pressure was high due to CCV failure in the ‘10 winter).
Not used daily, as let Public transport take the 7 km journey to work, so annual less than 5k, sometimes as low as 1500 miles.
Simon

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My third company supplied BMW was a black E46 318Ci. A 323 manual was on offer but I wanted the autobox. So 318 it was. I put 65k on it in two years and it was a superb car for what it was. It’s the best straight four I’ve ever had for refinement and delivery. Six months after mine arrived, BMW bought out the straight six 320Ci. The auto version went onto the car list and within six months the company car park was full of hem.

Yes, but the N46B20 was just a powerful as the earlier M52TUB20 and 20 HP behind the later M54B22, but this was much heavier with extra 2 cylinders. The N46B20 was fitted with twin balancer shafts and Valvetronic (lift & timing)


The 4-pot engine in the E46 coupe chassis sits quite back, behind the front wheel hubs, leaving quite a space between the front of the engine & the radiator, compared to those with the 6-pot engines.
Yes, it’s not a 330ci or M3, but doesn’t come with €1,809 a year Roadtax cost (Irish pre-2008 rates are based on displacement) and can still easily get you points & fines.

I’d take the straight six any day - for driving enjoyment. A legend in its own lifetime. The fours are very good, for what they are. We are on our fourth four pot BMW. Although it’s the first one we’ve ever bought with our own money. It’s a diesel and it’s a superb performer - for a four pot diesel. It’s all relative.