Everyone else will have 'pure facts' about BMW drivers always using fog lights, or Volvo drivers being asleep under their cloth caps, or Jaguar drivers all being publicans. Etc.
But those 'pure facts' are all in the mind of the individual, and can never be proved in practice.
Some mates in the pub went on about fog lights and BMWs, so I bet them free drinks for the evening if they were right, and the reverse if not. So we all sat outside and logged every car after dark driving down the busy road. I got very pissed but with a full wallet. ;-)
I think it's down to cars which are instantly recognised. BMW and MB. The others tend to get lumped together.
An E39 is going make a *much* better daily driver, lovely though it would be to have a classic beemer...
I'd have an E9 3.0 CS[i,L] myself. :)
The E34 is a great car, I don't think it will be too painful waiting for the perfect E39 - B10, M5, B10...
Fingers crossed. It'll either struggle to hit reserve or go for lots is my guess - all it needs is two people to take a shine to it...
I'd split them if you have the original wheels *and* they have decent tyres - I reckon iffy tyres will dampen interest in the car too much.
Not sure if offering the wheels as a fixed price extra would make sense... Thoughts folks?
"Lovingly Maintained" is going to be a bigger sell for some folks that "FMDSH" and I don't think you'll have problems coming over as competent conscientious when people enquire.
Alistair J Murray wrote in news:c9l2s2-6k7.ln1 @florin.fluffy:
That's what I'm hoping. In the meantime, I hope to get a little spar cash in my pocket from the sale of the Primera. I feel quite smug - yesterday I could have finished up with a 96 5 series with 140k for £3195. Instead I got a 96 5 series with 160k for less than half that amount!
It will be sensibly reserved. I would like I'm to get rid of it soon, but I'm by no means desperate. It's going in autotrader first. I have a couple of things to do before it goes on Ebay (replace the original stereo etc) as this would include interior photos.
I'm leaving them on. The main reason for not putting the originals back on is they have cheap, crappy tyres, which adversely affect the car's handling. I reckon this would put the buyers off more. As it happens, I was skint at the time and needed to replace all 4 tyres, so I took the cheap option. Once I'd had some wear out of them, I bought the 17" wheels and tyres, with much better grip and appearance. You'll be able to see how much better they look when I get it on the trader. Just find a photo of a standard GT and compare! I just hope they don't frighten people off. I intend to stress that there are no other modifications, as I always give mods a wide berth when I'm looking at cars for sale.
I don't think that idea would sell. Only other option is to put the originals back on and fit good tyres, but that would cost £250-300, which I would have to try and recoup by selling the 17s. I think the best (and easiest) option is to sell it with the 17s on then flog the original cheap on eBay. One good thing about the 17s is the tyres are like brand new.
To some people that can say, "It looks good but I haven't spent any money on it." But I may be being a bit paranoid, there. BTW, thanks for the C&C compliment :-)
And remember you *should* have your foot on the brake for short stops in traffic. Or take it out of gear. Auto Creep is a useful thing, but only when you are ready for it.
"PC Paul" wrote in news:ghRHe.70404$ snipped-for-privacy@fe1.news.blueyonder.co.uk:
Ah....I've been wondering about this: Take the scenario where one pulls off the Motorway and brakes to a halt to give way at the roundabout. I would now be standing on the brakes with very hot brake discs. A classic disc warping scenario. Would it not be better to hold the car on the handbrake, or is that not normally strong enough?
That issue aside, is it true that I can sit in drive with the brakes holding the car for as long as I like, without fear of causing any wear, due to the mechanical isolation provided by the torque converter?
The h/brake will easily hold it. but if the wait is likely to be long I usually snick it into neutral. On a flat road, I might brake, then put it in neutral without any brakes at all. Then just stick it in drive when I'm ready to move off.
It's not advisable to be stationary in 'drive' for long periods. The g/box 'is' still trying to drive the car, hence the creep factor. A long time under those conditions could cause the box to overheat. I've never heard of anyone damaging a box in that way, but it can't be good for the box in any case.
A point you're probably aware of by now, but I'll mention it anyway just in case, is after starting the car, always put your foot on the brake before putting it into drive or reverse. New drivers to autos have been known to forget the creep factor, and finished up hitting something. Mike.
"Mike G" wrote in news:42f08de1$0$90201$ snipped-for-privacy@authen.white.readfreenews.net:
Ah, right. Wasn't really thinking about the heat factor. Stupid of me really - the energy doesn't vanish just because one's foot is on the brakes, does it?
Yes. Never been specifically told to do that but it's common sense, 'innit ?
You'd think so, but experienced manual box drivers have been known to forget that an auto requires a slightly different technique when pulling away from rest. Mike.
"Mike G" wrote in news:42f1088d$1$24007$ snipped-for-privacy@ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net:
In my (very) brief experince, I found that reversing is the most risky manouvre, as they seem quite sensitive to the lightest touch of the throttle. Hence I will be using the brake only when parking etc.
Nah. Reversing is easy. Initially until you get used to it, and if you're not on a slope, don't touch the accelerator. Use the 'creep' facility with your foot just resting on the brake pedal, until you want to stop.
Hence I will be using the brake only when parking etc.
I have to remember to use the h/brake occasionally as if you always use 'park' when leaving the car as I do, the handbrake can get a little inefficient. :-) Mike.
"Mike G" wrote in news:42f12395$0$39652$ snipped-for-privacy@authen.white.readfreenews.net:
This is what I'll be doing, I didn't explain it very well.
What I meant was, when making a parking manouvre, I won't be touching the accelerator, I'll just use the brake to control the creep, like you describe above. Nothing to do with how I'll use the handbrake, although I do think it's a good idea to leave it in park if stopping only briefly (on level ground) - saves wear on the cables :-)
Most newer auto boxes (certainly on the last two autos I've driven) won't let you move the lever out of park unless your foot is on the brake pedal. They'll let you move it out of neutral, though.
Realised a couple of years back that 99% of my driving is either in town or on fast roads, both situations where an auto is more relaxing to drive than a manual. Manual gearboxes seem like too much hard work now.
Couldn't agree more. For everyday driving, if I had to make a choice between manual or auto, my choice would have to be auto. Most who've made the switch, appear to come to the same conclusion. Mike.
After a few weeks, in some cases. Some people miss "The Control" which is some illusory feeling that changing gear allows you to control the car better.
There's no illusion about it - you can make use of engine braking in a manual, which is why a manual usually has shorter braking distances to an auto. You also don't get the 'box deciding to piss about with ratios mid-corner.
Heavy car, gutless engine, rwd, autobox. Every wet roundabout is a journey into the unknown.
True it's far older technology than most on the road, but it's still somewhere between fun and fright when the box decides to shift down half way round, and the back end thinks it's time for an unexpected wander. I suppose I could stick it in 2nd, but then it's not really automatic anymore, is it?
The same car with a proper box is far more of a joy to drive, more responsive and predictable. The feel of control through being able to balance the car directly, instead of suffering what I can best describe as torque converter lag is much preferred. And I do often wonder what the extra loads of the car always being in gear are on the suspension and brakes. Can't be a good thing, IMO.
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