Stutopia

You really should, it was part of the attraction of the car just to say I'd owned one Surely a V8 has to be american before you can properly tick it off? :stir:

Mmmmmmm V8.

Beautiful Zed.

I'm always browsing Auto Trader but nothing's stirred me yet, coming up on 2 brilliant years with the Zed so I no longer feel guilty about making eyes at other cars, but everytime I think about selling her when I'm actually behind the wheel, I can't shake the feeling I'd regret it

WARNING: There's no conclusion or questions to this, just my ramblings on the car I had to ferry 3 colleagues to Birmingham as part of working this weekend, which meant the Zed got a rest and Enterprise got a phone call. The upshot, I met a beautiful young lady in a car park who gave me... the keys to a 2014 BMW 320D M-Sport Automatic. I was very pleased to get something new (to me) as I've never been given the keys to a Beemer and I was also worried I might get a Vauxhall! Obviously you all know that looking directly at a 3 Series (the one you think is yours amongst all the others) doesn't exactly make your tummystick tingle. The "roar" of diesel being warmed up 'til it burps into life isn't quite the same as the bark of igniting the Zed either. I actually found the Start button a bit irritating, as I wanted somewhere in the dash to put the keys but for them not rattle or slide around. I don't drive with a coat on and you have to get them out to unlock it, but then there's nowhere for them to sit I also still don't know why you have to press it twice to switch it off??? I'm sure keys were working fine. There was some fairly irritating tramlining, but I think a change of rubber might help there. I also saw the traction light more times in three days that I have in three winter months on the Zed, which is beyond my comprehension (maybe the winter rubber on the Zed ???). However, the BMW has that "good" TC that allows you to keep pressing on, whereas the Zed stops you where you are and gives you a bo!!ocking before letting you go on - I guess that's just 10 years of technology it's missing. Last of my moans was the diesel grumble that never seems to totally go away, even while cruising it is a bit irritating - I'm sure the zorst on the Zed is a lot louder, but it seems a whole more interesting to hear. However... The ease of having only two pedals around town was great. I also fell for the nav/stereo/everything display, controlled by the all ruling MEGA DIAL. Having a quaint rear seating area is an interesting touch, I can certainly see the benefit of from time to time. The giant boot was amazeballz when I had to take something to the tip, but having said that, if it was my BMW, that filthy waste wouldn't have gone anywhere near the boot I also enjoyed spending 30 odd quid getting to Brum and back instead of 60. Something I didn't expect to like, but actually did, was the d!cking about with Sport/Comfort/etc modes. At first I couldn't figure out why you wouldn't just live in sport mode and simply go easy on the right foot when you weren't pushing, but the comfort mode softened the throttle response off really nicely and it didn't hold on to the gear quite so aggressively either, which made the proceedings a chunk more relaxing when I was just pootling about town with passengers. I also liked how much of our crap roads it soaked up without me noticing. I soon cut down scanning the road surface as much as I do in the Zed. What I liked most was the auto box, and not just in town. I've driven autos before, but only in a Camaro and an Insignia - both of which were a bit slow and clunky when responding to sharp jabs of my right foot at roundabouts and the like. However, I was super impressed by the auto in the BMW. I think it had at least 12 gears, as it was always shifting, particularly when you stick the foot in on the motorway for an overtake. But it was so quick and smooth the frequent changes didn't bother me. In fact, even with it normally dropping two cogs and that slight auto delay when you request maximum warp, it felt as quick as shifting down with a blip in the Zed and pulling out - though nowhere near as tuneful or satisfying The feature where you can flip it left and have a little sequential fun is something I'd like to spend more time with to see if it's proper or a novelty. All in all, I wanted to be a bit hipster about the 320D and BMW in general, but by Monday afternoon I was definitely sad giving her back - until I saw it next to the Zed at least - but I couldn't fault it for anything big and even the little niggles are things I'm sure I'd adapt to. I think I've learnt that I enjoy very much an auto box and a bit more comfort and modernity in the cabin than the Zed. I couldn't imagine selling her for a 320D but the 335D or 335i could find me reaching for my wallet, though I'd want to test drive a Jaaaag XF too before I keyed in my PIN. Would the super MPG of an oil burner versus a petrol make up for the less good noise? Maybe an auto 370 would give me the step up in interior quality and switch to auto I enjoyed this weekend, but would also still deliver the sense of theatre and a proper sound - albeit without the rear seats or big boot. Maybe an Infiniti G37 would be worth a test drive too? In the car park before the BMW went home, if it was just a charm and beauty contest I wouldn't need long to know which keys I was reaching for Any thoughts or suggestions for future cars welcome...

Thank god the Tories will save us and ensure the legislation "never sees the light of day". They're a bloody good bunch aren't they, looking out for the common man and regular EU road tripper. In no way did that story have any whiff of EU scaremongering and a Tory Party Political Broadcast, all rolled into one..

This or this

Spanish steps??? They've got them everywhere in Barcelona..

My word, I could get into that. Nice one Dan. Had a Beeeeemer this weekend as a rental, I wish it had sounded like that, might have livened proceedings up a bit

Textbook Clarkson response WW :lol:

+1 for BCN - never been to Rome but hit Barca for the last 3 years for NYE. Head to the Moritz brewery (http://moritz.com/en) for some lunch and a drink (check out the menu including a chicken with a can of beer stuffed up its @ss), then treat her to a stadium tour of the Nou Camp - most romantic thing I can think of...

Very nice glossy looking paint you've got there Can't do mine it's parked up at work this weekend as I've got a 320D for transporting 2 work colleagues who refuse to get in boot of the Zed, despite me assuring them you can comfortably fit two golf bags in there . I miss our weekly mitt time... Perhaps some woollies mate? http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/wheel-woolies-wheel-brush-kit/prod_1037.html

That sucks, sorry mate. Shame as it's a classic motor.

Feels like normal Zed noise, mine did it before the clutch was replaced and still did it after. Get a vid up.

So, having read that, I think we all need to know; why hasn't the scooby had a run out in 5 years?

The drag coefficient of that OEM aerial alone requires FI

What's the point of charging, but having all that excess plate plinth and rear wiper weight on there? Get it stripped down because racecar I originally bought a square plate for the front, but it wouldn't fit in the grille recess and the plate people wouldn't do me a smaller oblong plate for legal reasons, so it's not entirely down to you two naggin'

In line water filters - any good or is it just a case of getting the big tank things? Compressed air for the irritating bits - badges, wing mirrors, lug nuts - is it just a case of buying a small cheap compressor, I guess huge pressure is neither necessary nor desirable for detailing? Ta

FFS - small front plate ordered just now - thanks you two

One pound for a spray trigger! Dars not really from Yorkshire r thee? Cheers mate, I emailed them.

I'm never wrong. I'm not always right, but I'm never wrong. It does make the bumper look a lot cleaner, but I still think plates look slightly out of place down on the grille personally. It doesn't look terrible by any means, it just doesn't quite look... perfect I suppose. Might look better if you trim down the 6 feet of white space at either end of the plate. Just as well you discovered WetCoat recently then just keep White Diamond/Black Hole stockpiled to make up for that new wash technique. Vis-a-vis the WetCoat it arrived today from Ultimate Finish, but with no spray head?????? Does it usually come with one? I'm guessing it should as it's a spray on product. GRRRRRRRR. PS - I take your point on acres of white on the number plate

Bald FTW! I knew it had to pay off eventually. Now just need to order some immac for my gooch...

Have I read that correctly? I can take under the limit for each one of those for breakfast, then wash it down with a single Wild Turkey and still be legal to drive yeah? Just say no kids, like Zammo.

You know how some music is all like, doo deee daaa waaa weee aahhh ummmm... But then other music is all like, UNTER MMCHA ERRRRRRR QWENNNT ZZEERD BOOMKA He means your wheels would be the second one. If they were music. I think that clears it up

Thanks mate. Incorrect about the plate, but other than that you're right Shiny is down to harsh car park strip lighting and the excellent AMMO Skin Defense (and the new one bucket, sponge wash process ) which is now sadly empty