Wendy

4 cars lined up for viewing tomorrow, 1 x 2005 350Z with GT pack , 1 x Z4 Coupe 3 lit, 2 x 996's (1 is a Carrera 4) And a further 996 with GT3 Aero kit from factory for Tues evening in Warwick. All North of me, so watch out Jim if you are on the road !!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I once bought a car with very low annual mileage. It took ages to get the oil flushed through so it was not all gunky (water from condensation I know). It had been owned by a "single lady", in her early 30's. One of those that toodles around and does masses of short journeys. The engine was really tight, I actually ran it in not daring to boot it until I had steadily easied it in. On saying that it had been looked after too, properly serviced etc. I think buying a car of low mileage relative to age of car can be ok, if you understand the problems that may be related to it. Have spent the whole evening on net lining up cars to view over the weekend - so excited :clap:

Ditto, Thank you for that write up. Appreciate your thoughts and financial info. Thank you. I really thought it was me with the Z4 driving experience. I am this weekend, Sun/Mon, going to be viewing and test driving all I have mentioned. These are all going to be Road Cars and not taken to Track - that's a seperate issue. So viewing;- Z4, 3 litre Coupe - yes, I will give it another chance ! Nissan 350Z GT pack version 996's - Taken on board the points with the 993. I personally prefer the looks of the 996 Let you know how I get on. Wendy

What a nightmare, I really feel for you having this agro. Sadly not my area of expertise, hopefully someone on here will be able to help.

And, my girlfriends thought I was sad !! :lol:

Yes, but Boxters are soft tops and for girls !!!!!! :D Serioulsy, I will not have a soft top for road car or Track.

Oh, well of course - esp. the 996 or Cayman - but sadly in the real world - its not going to happen. :( The Track Day Car share idea - surely taking continous sessions - with differing drivers - is somewhat overworking the car - isn't it ? Most sessions are 20 minutes unless its not an open pit lane. I guess this is better than a continous 2 hour drive ? What about several people having their own Track Cars and going to Track Days together :clap: - actually might just as well set up our own race series - I know me - I would race you all . I have been told - I am just little competitive !! :wink: PM sent to you Tom & John. Anyway guys, lets stay on the main topic that was started here - the new Road Car. I am starting to think more Porsche - thanks to you lot. Someone has said about depreciation being less - well that has got to be quite a large consideration in this. A concern I do have with Porsche - despite the running costs - is, how easy would it be to sell ? There are hundreds and hundreds of them ??????? !!!!!!!!!! Views ?

Well obviously fast and fun - but unlikely will be able to afford it. Will have to see what funds are left after purchase of road car. Can't see that i would have more than 6k, probably nearer 4k and then have to get another lodger so i can actually race or do the Track Days. Anyone looking for a house share ? :lol: My house is nice - seriously, all just renovated and decorated and most imprtantly off road parking. !!

Thanks for all the comments. The BMW Z4M is out of my price range. Hence the 3L being the one I would have to look at with M seating in particular. Has anyone ever tried to reverse one of these things ?? There is xero visibilty !!! RX8's not my thing - don't like them very much. Having spent hours researching, I can find loads of Track prepared cars for reasonable prices, Mk 11 Golfs, 16v and 8v. 2k to 6k. With the various comments made this does confirm my belief about the Corrado - besides it would probably break my heart to treat it so hard. Ideally of course the Exige would probabaly be my choice. Sadly i don't have the funds for both a good road car and Track Car - rubbish parents did not push me enough through schooling, so my earning potential was better !! :lol: Not entertaining any soft tops. even though I know Caterhams, Westfields are excellent Track Cars - if you recall, the accident was in one of these - so completly put off, not stable enough in adverse conditions. Besides did a Track Day at Mallory 2 weeks ago in a Honda Civic Type R and by the time I got half way through the 2nd session, there were only a few Caterhams that managed to pass me !!! I was having an excellent day - two cars MR2 and a 320 BMW went off straight infront of me !!! :lol: Not that I was pushing them or anything !! :lol: Hoping to take my Race Licence very soon, so might even want to take up some form of Racing Series. :D Found some nice 996's for around 18k. Next few weeks of test driving could be interesting. Toad - forget it - many items I could put on a visor - you and Nick somehow does not appeal - especially in 'that' pose. !!! Jim - when I come to sell it, I will let you know. Would a buy back deal be suitable ??!! :lol: Might take you up on that offer re the Porsche garage in Coventry. Gosh - this is so hard. :scratch:

Guys, thanks for all your comments. As some rightly comment, I really do want a 911. The Z4 and 350Z are 2nd best choices, of which I have to try and convince myself are suitable. !!! I am very nervous of running costs of the 911, I would go for a 996 I think. I have even found a local Porsche specialist, Francis Tuthill in Wardington, who comes recommended. Of course, I will need to take a trip there and do more homework. Its just that I will be spending sooooooooooo much money, I really have to get this right. I think if the Cayman was only Boxter prices, I would have the answer. So, I am right at the initial stages.............. Took a friend's 3 lit Z4 Roadster out this morning... in the wet. Although, I would be interested in the coupe not a Roadster. I did not get out of it buzzing, leg tremble or anything, but I think some of this was related to I could not get comfortable, the seats are huge, and I was sliding from side to side, so basically the car and I were not as one - if you know what I mean. :( I found for sale a Z4 Coupe, 3litre with M seats, M steering and Suspension (apparently the car is much better with these )- so I guess I need to try that. Benn looking on the Internet and I can't afford the M Sport they are still silly money. Run flat tyres cost £750 for 4 - so I was told. Frankly they sound S...T , as sad as the Corrado spare. AS for economy, the guy who owned it, said on average he got 28mph - well that's ok. Anyway, unless I find a Z4 that holds me in the seat, so i can properly drive it - they will be ruled out before we get started. Been looking at 350Z's on the web most of the afternoon and will fix up some Test drives for next weekend. Is is me, or have 2nd hand car prices gone up ? Surely this is people being a tad too optmistic - current state of the country and all that. Ok, so the government is offering the 2k scrappage, but surely this should barely effect 2nd hand cars over 10K ?! Then - just for a further complication - what to do with the Corrado - I will keep it for a while no matter what - but then, as I am interested in a Track/Race car, do I buy one or prep the Corrado for this? This is related to the first dilemma in terms of available cash. Something tells me it would be better to buy a Track/Race car already prepared - as it would probably cost considerably less than getting one preped myself, or in my case, probably paying someone to do it. Has anyone's mates that have owned either of these had a Corrado VR6 also. I am interested in their thoughts of comparrision.

Does anyone own either of these and able to pass on their experiences of ownership ? Things like ;-Running Costs and problems, what to particuarly watch for when purchasing. I am interested only in Coupe versions myself and hope to go car viewing next weekend. :) Also, I would like to know if you have owned a Corrado VR6 and how you think it compares. Thanks in advance. Wendy

I missed the last F1 race and could not find a repeat on any TV station. I have Freeview but not sky. Even looked on the net, could not find a repeat there either. :(

Excellent idea though - should be adopted immediatly !! :D

The excellent road from mine to Stealth has also been reduced to 50, only when you hit the Warwickshire border though. Listening to all the bikers - they are ignoring it though. I think it may be time for me to purchase some kind of camera detector, I fortunately managed to avoid getting any points to date, but with this reduction happening everywhere, the risk is getting higher. More research to be done now - on which model to purchase. Best time to go for a blast - late on a Friday or Saturday evening - when the whole Police Force appear to be in our town centres. ! It makes me really mad though, when i have followed someone out of town at 50mph, for them to continue through villages and towns at 50mph. As for the Advanced Motorists - in my experience they of course will suggest you keep to the speed limits, but in fact are much more concerned about safety of driving than speed reductions.

The Web page of this - suggests you can use your Tesco Club card Vouchers to book these events too !! Excellent result :D

Thanks for that Jim, I will have a look into that. :) Just been offered a Track Day at Mallory which I am very tempted by, it is one of the circuits I have not yet driven, quite ridiculous when you consider how close it is.

I have done this one - it is absolutely amazing - enjoy. :D Jim - any chance of an Internet address for the Pro Drive event you did. Sounds like super time was had, really want to drive an R8 too 1

Fantastic photo's - really good. Think Alex PoseGil was going last weekend - not sure if he is still on here. Think he was taking a C down the track. Great weekend for it - fantastic weather in this part of the country.

I say 'have a car weekend', invite all your mates, or invite people from here to come and help and start your motivation again. You might have to provide a few refreshments but if the motivation returns then it was worth it. And, yes, I am happy to help - car cleaning, leather restoring - mechanical stuff I personally leave to Vince.

That was so exciting !! :clap: Look forward to the Race - wonder what the fuel load differences will make tomorrow. Would rather like Jenson to do well - infact the whole team - they have worked hard enough that is for sure. Lets hope I have a signal on my BBC channels tomorrow morning - think i will be setting the alarm early !!!!!! :D

Assinate Bernie - is all I can say - and why didn't someone do it yonks ago. Ferrari probably came up with the idea of the rule changes and we all knows who pulls Bernie's strings !! :)

Round here many of the roads are now 50 limit. Which of course i ignore !!! Really winds me up though, those that do the 50 or 40 in rural areas then continue at 50 in the towns and villages. I actually really believe in the 30 limit in towns and villages and if honest, wish there were more camera's in these places as i am totally fed up with these folk sitting on my rear bumper. Does anyone think they may just carry out some highway repairs soon - the really must be the cause of some accidents. !!!!!

Similar stories from me. The front reception desk may be good, but i have heard of many examples of the Service mechanics at Mercedes not having much of a clue. Obvioulsy each garage is different and you could have geninuely found a good one. But again - labour rates will be high and as in all garages a car that is more than 3 years old is called a Old Dog and generally treated even worse than others. It is rare to find a mechanic older than about 25 in most dealerships, so what real knowledge do they have of older cars. Better to find a specialist - I know the Mercedes dealership should be just that - but is rare either in my experience or friends. Good Luck with what ever you decide.

What an excellent video. Really can't wait for the season to start, seems to have been a very long winter. !