Be Excellent To Each Other

At my new place, for reasons that are too long winded to get into, I can get on the BMW employee only car lease deal thingy. Hmmm....

M850i.

Yeah, that was my first thought!

It's literally paying money for nothing though, as I haven't even driven my current car for the past 3 weeks, so I really really don't need a new car...

I'd get the 2 series myself, best looking BMW in the current range.

I think that the 4 Series Coupe is nicer to look at.

I'm sure the Manhart MH5 will be on the list. Get that!

John Player Special.

That was my first thought, too. I still love it, though.

That makes it better. Easily my favourite livery as a kid. Effective too, the first packet I ever bought were JPS!

Absolutely fucking rotten cigarettes, though.

The X6 would like a word with you.

/sarcasm, in case it wasn't obvious

I'm not going to get a new car, I don't need it, it's money better used elsewhere, it's a stupid thing to do.

I've asked to see the details of the deals, just to confirm that I really don't need a car.
I expect I'll go into a BMW dealer at some point in the near future, to sit in a car that I don't want and see how it feels, to make sure i'm making the right decision.
I'll talk to the sales agent, to make sure it's a deal that is stupid to do.

Under no circumstances am I going to pay for a new BMW that I don't need...

How do you feel about a Rover?

Gutted for the one on Mars.

You know something, I don't think I have ever owned a Rover.

I've had two, if you don't count Land Rovers.

One was good for the short while it lasted (which was my fault), one was fantastic but possessed.

Hooooooo, boy! Is today your lucky day or what?

That was a boast, not an invite.

But if you get something fun like a Mini, you'll be more likely to use it..

My Dad had a Rover 416 SLi Tourer that was amazing.

We were behind a Rover 416 the other day. Old style short metalwork with big greenhouses look really weird now.

Listers bought the Disco back on Tuesday.

Skoda collected the mx5 off them today. They've offered more part ex than JLR did 4 months ago, despite taking 100 off for "a ding on the door and a mark on the bumper." No wonder it wasn't available to view before undoing everything. Just a final bit of cuntishness, thanks Listers.

The cupholders in my car creak. I'm writing to the new CEO of VAG now, worse than dieselgate!

(In seriousness though, the fuel economy is shocking)

Was behind a 2 series today, an M no less. They do look good, sounded quite nice too. The 3 series looks bloated in comparison but the new M5 I saw recently looked very, very nice indeed. But like all BMWs, they only seem to be relatively quick in a straight line.

They're closing the mountain road for a few hours every day next week for the launch of the new Audi TT. 25th anniversary edition or something. I'd give almost anything to have a go on closed roads!

The Audi TT is 25 years old?!

Fucking hell, it is.

Oh is that what it's for? I saw the Advance Warning sign this morning when I was driving out of Ramsey.

I remember when the TT first came out and lady hairdressers all over the world lusted after it. (Preferably the 225 with two exhausts, or if they couldn't afford that, a 185 with the second exhaust mod to make it look like a 225.)

My first car was the closely related, Honda Concerto.

I hated the TT when it first came out, Golf in a bubble dress.
The new TT though... I like it, I'd have one.

That's just the prats behind the steering wheels. Even the M5 and M6 are pretty good around corners (although my M5 Touring was very boat like, but it's an estate so what do you expect? )

The M2 is apparently one of the best handling cars in its class, and I can well believe it.

I'm highly tempted to get a motorbike / scooter to replace my knackered car. It was used almost exclusively for commuting, and I spent a lot of time sitting in traffic. I'll have to go get my CBT etc, but i reckon I'd save a TON of money and time.

Depending on how far you need to go each day and the kinds of roads it might work for you but I love taking my electric bike to work, but then I live by the coast so there's a bike path that takes me nearly all of the eight miles there and I don't even need to wear special clothes or crash hats.

Motorbikes are rarely cost saving.

It's more the time, to be honest. On bad days I can be sitting in traffic for 45 mins grinding into Bristol. Some sort of bike should allow me to bypass much of that.

After doing my CBT, I decided never to ride a motorbike again.

Quite possibly! Although they must exclusively be driven by prats over here then as they go much slower around the bends than I'd have thought they need to. This M2 took off rapidly in a straight line (typically of male drivers, he clearly wasn't that bothered about racing home until I'd caught him up).

Probably frightened of what would happen if they lost traction going around the corner.

Ironic really, as the modern Ms (well, all BMWs really) are so loaded up to the gills with driving aids that it'd likely catch all but the most serious fuck-up.

I find that a lot of people who try and 'race' the Celica (irrelevant of the car they're driving) are alright on the straight but come to a corner and they slam the brakes on.

I can imagine you were a bit tender but that's hardly the motorbike's fault.

That's probably because they don't have 4WD.

Now that's what I call kerbing an alloy.

TO THE QUOTE-O-TRON.

Get some black wheel nuts too.

Oops. This is why I like to get my wheels pre-kerbed.

and paint your calipers.

No, I don't tend to do that.

Already got a quote for £60 to get it sorted, which seems very reasonable, and the guy is based in Ramsey as well, for extra convenience.

The calipers should be painted really, and black wheel nuts would look good.

These are both things I will clearly never, ever, get round to doing.

Of course not, the car will be sold before next pay day

Painted brake callipers are one of the biggest scams in modern car specs. Some of the higher end marques charge the price of a small family hatchback to do it.

They look well weapon tho

Only £7ish for a tin of calliper paint.

Very easy to do, hardest part is scrubbing all the crud off them before painting. Autoglym Engine & Machine cleaner works well with a stiff brush and upper lip.

Off to Chichester this afternoon. Friday and Saturday will be spent drooling over Gas Guzzling Money Pits at Goodwood FOS