Bockaaarck

This is how I'm going to floss some mad loot at the salesman in the dealership when I get my new wheels. When they ask what I want I'm going to say "Word up Mr Halfords, I want the red one fool, the one with the siren......" Or at least that's how I imagine it might 'go down' in my slightly unrealistic imagination

Oops

Note, beetle ? fixed that You cheeky bleeder!

GTR, 911, F-Type, 360 ? Thanks Col, I could do without that kind of encouragement

I've tended to change cars around every 5 years or so. It's normally due to a number of reasons. I fancy something different, become aware of another vehicle that I'd not considered before. Perhaps an opportunity to own something which has suddenly come in to my 'price bracket'. The most compelling reason however is normally when I start getting to the following point. When I look at my current car and think I should do X or I could do Y. Then I think "...but that's £X that could be going on a new set of wheels..." That us normally the point when I know I've got to that 'new car' point. I have been keeping my eyes open for the last year, weighing things up. I have a number in mind already, it just depends on timing, the right vehicle, have I got other priorities for the money etc. I'm currently considering Nissan, Porsche, Jaguar and Ferrari.........I will be keeping my trusty Chilli Red 350Z though

It's just chillin after Christmas and New Year

Ooops! Couldn't make it this morning anyway as the battery is dead again on mine, because I've just not been using it over the last few weeks

Just noticed a black 350Z parked on the Circus. Looks pretty tidy from what I can see

He's gorgeous Adrian, what a lovely hound!

Brilliant and priceless :lol:

DimitriSpain, my advice, for what it's worth. Do not buy this car, walk away, have a bit of patience. Keep your eyes open for a better car that has better history.

Fantastic work, Chris, Bob, Kim, Netti, Graham, Dave and everyone who got stuck in and helped. Another terrific Zed Shed result, seriously empresses guys! It's this kind of willingness to help each other out that makes this forum so great. Well done guys, you must be very happy boy Matt

Dalec123, there's a host of information in the FAQ section, have a read through that, it'll be really helpful. The Zed is a pretty bullet proof car, but it does have its cost. Servicing is not bad (roughly £300 for a major / P3 Service. Fuel is likely to be your biggest cost (other than insurance). Average mpg for most owners is around 25mpg. Tyres are the next thing. Please, please, please do not scrimp on rubber. Make sure you buy the best tyres you can afford. Michelin Pilot Sport probably at the top, Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta in the middle, then next Falken 453's. Look at the cars up for sale on the forum. The link that buster has put up is a great example. Well known on the forum, well cared for, a great example. Check the FAQ's / Check the info on servicing, fuelling / running costs, insurance etc. Check out the cars in the for sale section for comparison to other cars you might see for sale. £7K should get you a reasonable Zed, with mid range mileage

Yes, you're using exactly the correct type of fuel, so well done. In terms of fuel supplier, most owners on the forum use Shell V Power unleaded or Tesco Ultimate if available. Stick with using the super unleaded, as it's recommended in the manual and on the fuel filler flap

I understand Col, and you're right. It can be a very emotive subject. A lot of it is the cycle of economics and we all have to be aware of that and keep out fingers on the pulse / ear to the ground. My point about 100's of thousands of people not being ' homeless' is actually poorly explained. It's very much the point you made, sorry for not making it clear. These people are in housing, are homed in flats, houses etc. However they aren't living in 'their' homes, as you mention, they are living with family, mates or renting. But That's someone else's home, someone else's BTL or their parents spare rooms.They just can't afford to buy their own. A lot of people, due to the 'global market place', the 'mobile workforce' needs. Now work further from home than they ever have done. It's something which this new economic progress has required. Such is life of course and a lot of it is down to making a personal commitment and having the right attitude to getting a home, like a lot if us have done. However the ONS survey in 2000 stated the average UK salary was £18,848. In 2012 the the ONS indicated the average salary was £26,500 The average house price in 2000 was £81,000, in 2012 it was £164,000. I think this is also a significant side factor economically. As house prices increased above average wages, so people had to find a means of increasing their income . A weekend bar job, overtime, a part time job. This requirement for increasing income to meet our housing demands has, over time, made the UK a financially uncompetitive workforce. Hence organisations looking to save money outside the UK, jobs being off-shored to reduce labour costs. This all has, again only in my view, had a significant impact on us all.

I forgot to add that we have had the longest period of the lowest interest rates ever recorded in this country since records began. 0.25 % interest rates are not normal. The fact we have had rates this low, for this long should prove to you that things are not what they seem. I remember interest rates of 15%, I think in 1991. The difference was the cost of housing was significantly lower in relation to income. Think we can manage interest rates of 15% now ? No, neither do I, not that I think we'll get that. Think we can manage with interest rates of 2% or 3%?....

Sorry, this is going to be a long post! I personally believe that houses or 'property', as it seems to be referred to these days, is currently catastrophically overvalued. There are clearly a multitude of reasons for this. Some relates consumer confidence, economic growth during the late 90's / early to mid 00's. Some relates to changing personal circumstances of households ( 2 solid incomes, rather than a previously more common single income). Some relates to more financial options being made available in terms of loans, mortgages etc. some also relates to things like the government raiding of company pension scheme's. A move by government to try and stop what it thought to be moves by companies to squirrel away money from the treasury. This of course meant working people had to find alternatives to funding their retirement, who can blame them for that! Leading to competitive investment in Buy-To-Let, pushing up prices of low end or more traditional first time buyer homes. Pricing the first time buyers out of the market. The introduction of the Bank of Mum and Dad, doing their best to help finance their childrens needs for a home, a home is what it should be after all. This unintentionally kept the price of homes bubbling upwards. The introduction of 'Self Certification' mortgages also, from some very unscrupulous sources. Need an income of £40, £50, £60,000 a year to get the mortgage on that house you want, but only earn £30,000.....just 'self certify your income my friend, then you'll get the MIP and off you go. Meaning again, prices of what some might argue was an already inflated asset, continued to bubble. The simple growth of our countries population. Naturally over time, some through immigration (economic and political). People living longer, staying in their own homes longer. Land being held by developers rather than being built on, when it could have been developed. Often we are told there are not enough houses, there are not enough homes. We need to build more. Where then are all the homeless people? There must be there in their hundreds of thousands, and yet I don't see them? Why is it that it seems to be fantastic when petrol comes down in price? Why is it terrific when your weekly shop comes down a few pounds? Why is it great when your holiday, your take away, your bottle if wine, your season ticket, your book of stamps costs less. Yet when the cost of putting a roof over your head, or your children putting a roof over their heads, increases year on year, it's so wonderful? That seems about face to me. On the whole (in my view),very few people, as in the general man and woman on the street, benefit from high house prices. I think have, again in my view, allowed ourselves to be put in a position where we pay too much for simply having a hearth and a home. If someone, or indeed a couple, working a 40 hour week, doing average paying job. Cannot afford to buy themselves a home, then there is something drastically wrong. Earlier this year, the better half and I stayed in Dartmouth for a long weekend. Lovely place, especially in the summer. Ice creams, lovely scenery, beautiful boats bobbing on the river. Beautiful little houses, a lovely spot to live I imagine. We spent some time on the Dart river, a trip on the paddle steamer, a tourist jaunt. The crew were very knowledgable, talking about the river, the history, oyster beds etc. they pointed out an old engineering works. A family run firm that produced wonderful boats, engines etc. They told us that the site had been bought by a development company, looking to transform the site, redevelop it, add a small marina etc. They told the development would include a variety of housing, including affordable housing which would start at £750,000. The crew and passengers all laughed at that. This whole situation reminds me of the Tulip Mania in holland in the 17th century. From Wikipedia "At the peak of tulip mania, in March 1637, some single tulip bulbs sold for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman." Remind you of anything?

Glad you're keeping her Will. An appropriate application of 'man maths' has meant you have some practicality and comfort with the Skoda. While still having all the smiles, fun and friendship that Rosie brings. It's not just about the look, the acceleration or the 0-60 time is it? Sometimes it's difficult for people to understand, it's about the 'feeling' too. That's why we have to keep these cars.

Welcome aboard

I finished on the 10th of September, been nice to have a decent break. Starting back in January, if all goes to plan

Spotted just now, parked in the square, while I was heading for a coffee

When I get phone calls from a withheld number or suchlike I always pick up the phone and just say something like "Smith" or "Roberts" straight away. Then they say like "What, I'm sorry...." And I say "Colonel Smith here, what do you want?..." and normally they put the phone down. If they don't quite get what I've said I say "You've called a British military establishment, how did you get this number? Do you realise who you're calling? I demand to know how you got this number?......" They soon put the phone down........but not before I've traced their location......enabling me to press the 'Launch' button

Good work buster and the Zed Shed

I forgot to add favourite staff is the Sanguine Rose, because it summons a 'bad-ass' Dremora. Favourite shouts, got a couple of those probably, Whirlwind Sprint / Marked for Death / Ice Form. Spells I like: Conjure Storm / Flame Atronach, Fireball, Lightning Bolt / Chain Lightning.

Oop, double post!