Davie's french attraction.

[daviemck2006]

I was the second highest bid. My biggest problem is geographical. Either £120 for a train from Aberdeen to Manchester or £90 odd to fly, then 400 odd miles home, which would be £60 so I would need to allow for that. London is cheaper to get to with easy jet, £25 to 35 to either Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton.

[Northern_Mike]

If you hit that problem again with something in the North West , let me know. Fly down here, and I'll run you up to Manchester. I have a new nephew I need to go at some point in the nearish future.

[Hell Razor5543]

We have GOT to find you a good Xantia HDi Exclusive at a good price.

EDIT; Saying that, look what I found. It doesn't have heated leather seats, but (according to those who know) the wiring is in place to accept them;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Xanti ... 233a252927" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[daviemck2006]

Thanks for the offer mike, where about in the country are you? If I saw a good xantias hdi exclusive in estate form preferably with leather heated seats I could see me being interested in that. Even, and I know it could make me do more maintainance dare I say an XM 2.1 diesel? Until I do buy something goodness knows what will go through my head. I just know that the c2 is notthe car for me long term, too small too uuncomfortable and the gearbox, although fun and quick in the country lanes using the flappy paddles, gets caught out in wrong gears at times on junctions, and very difficult to control at parking speeds. I think it would be very frustrating in the city.

[Northern_Mike]

Thanks for the offer mike, where about in the country are you? If I saw a good xantias hdi exclusive in estate form preferably with leather heated seats I could see me being interested in that. Even, and I know it could make me do more maintainance dare I say an XM 2.1 diesel? Until I do buy something goodness knows what will go through my head. I just know that the c2 is notthe car for me long term, too small too uuncomfortable and the gearbox, although fun and quick in the country lanes using the flappy paddles, gets caught out in wrong gears at times on junctions, and very difficult to control at parking speeds. I think it would be very frustrating in the city.

I'm down in Twyford near Reading. Heathrow is about 25 mins away on a normal day...

I've been looking at Honda Accords. I saw a 2000 model with leather and all the toys, full dealer history, everything working, in mint condition for £690 the other day. A friend of mine had his 2007 Passat (he's up your way in Cumbernauld) give up on him the other day. Steering lock. Car totally dead. Electric handbrake... can't release it if there's no power. DSG. Couldn't be towed. He had to dismantle the electric calipers in the supermarket car park, apply reverse power from jump leads to get it to release the handbrake, then it could be towed. Having had his fill of this kind of stuff (and he builds his own Locosts and does hillclimbs), he asked the recovery man what he never sees - Hondas. Reckons if everyone had a Honda, he'd be out of a job. Japanese good, Honda best..

[Hell Razor5543]

That Xantia estate I posted is in Walsall. It could (if they became available) have heated leather seats added.

[daviemck2006]

That xantia does look nice James. I did have a Honda civic 1.6 auto for a while, it was the least inspiring most boring car I have ever owned and I could not get comfortable in it. I have no desire for another Honda.

[Northern_Mike]

That xantia does look nice James. I did have a Honda civic 1.6 auto for a while, it was the least inspiring most boring car I have ever owned and I could not get comfortable in it. I have no desire for another Honda.

I don't really have the desire for one, but I do drive around in a noisy bathtub most days, so something boringly reliable would be a nice diversion..

[daviemck2006]

I suppose whatever you have your gonna get driving fun by taking the three wheeler out for a spin. My son is trying me to get a road legal quad for fun. It ain't gonna happen!

[Northern_Mike]

Ozzy Osbourne, Rik Mayall. I need say no more.

[CitroJim]

That xantia does look nice James. I did have a Honda civic 1.6 auto for a while, it was the least inspiring most boring car I have ever owned and I could not get comfortable in it. I have no desire for another Honda.

I don't really have the desire for one, but I do drive around in a noisy bathtub most days, so something boringly reliable would be a nice diversion..

For a daily driver boringly reliable can be good. A Honda Accord will tick those boxes a treat. I hear you now get a lifetime supply of Wurther's Originals and free dry cleaning for the obligatory tartan blanket on the back seat for as long as you own it. Some even come with two free Saga holidays a year. You only get a batter deal than that with a Honda Jizz - Three saga holidays a year...

An S2000 would tick them better though. Boringly reliable but a fantastic package of fun and usable as a daily driver. I have a friend who does just that and commutes from here to Cheshire and back in it twice a week. Bar a sticky rear caliper it's been 100% trustworthy...

[Northern_Mike]

My dad who's owned a top-spec Jazz since 2005. It's the 1.4 SE CVT job with VTEC, leather and toys loves it. He also says they are for "boring old farts like myself".

I'll tell you though, with the flappy paddles switched to manual mode and one's foot nailed to the floor on the throttle, it's really very good fun on the Greek mountain roads. Much better than the French thing he had, a brand new Twingo, which burst into flames of it's own accord nearly toasting them alive.

[lexi]

For a daily driver boringly reliable can be good. A Honda Accord will tick those boxes a treat. I hear you now get a lifetime supply of Wurther's Originals and free dry cleaning for the obligatory tartan blanket on the back seat for as long as you own it. Some even come with two free Saga holidays a year. You only get a batter deal than that with a Honda Jizz - Three saga holidays a year...

The image is there. The Jazz however is a car and class of it's own. More room than a Focus. Easier to get in and out than many bigger cars.
It is just an incredible package which is streets ahead in engines, space , economy and reliability. The loading is so flexible, I could not believe it. This 1.4 VTEC has 100bhp.
I was screaming around in Cortina GT's with less than that ?........was a long time ago mind .

[Northern_Mike]

I agree, the Jazz is a brilliant little car, and as you say, the storage and combination of the rear seat folding ability is absolutely brilliant. I love the way the seats are on "legs" and the bases can fold into the backrest vertically, so you can leave the backrests in place, yet get a bicycle in behind the passengers, or tall plants, or a bookcase.. with the seats up. My mate who's 45 (and really rather gorgeous) has one out in Oz, and with two kids and two dogs, it's still a decent sized motor for her to do Oz length drives in.

[daviemck2006]

Well on Saturday I shall be off on some travels to pick up the next motor I shall own. C5 2.0 HDI 138 on a 07 registration with 108K covered. Looks ok on photos, and seller says mechanically sound. In Ayr, so not too far to travel, train costs £36 and takes 5 hours, and I'll drive home from there in 4 hrs. Just a nice day out. Best, bit, the price. Less than a grand, even with train down and diesel home and a chippy supper! Bad bit, MOT only to mid june. Now does anyone want a C2 with the fullest service history ever seen, a newly repaired gearbox, new battery and broken front springs? Free new springs included but not fitted