Automotive Perfection

[Waugh-terfall]

I didn't just mean "affordable" in the purchase price sense - fuel costs, road tax and insurance would be monumental on a Z. Brilliant cars though.

There is a difference between being able to afford to buy a car and being able to afford to run one.

And that's going to be much different to a G37?

I believe they pretty much have the same engine? Both pump out 330bhp, both do between 18 and 26 US-MPG and both cost USD$30,000, infact, the G37 is roughly USD$5,000 more than the Nissan

[cmcpokey]

And that's going to be much different to a G37?

I believe they pretty much have the same engine? Both pump out 330bhp, both do between 18 and 26 US-MPG and both cost USD$30,000, infact, the G37 is roughly USD$5,000 more than the Nissan

yeah... G is a bit more than the Z. so if a Z isn't affordable to you, then a G definitely wont be. think of it as being equivalent to a BMW 330 or 335, or IS300.

[Pando]

if i had moved to the UK instead of California, I would probably be rocking a TVR. So I am inclined to agree with you.

Switch CA with Spain and it's something I could have written.

If only the Brits would finally smarten up and switch to LHD like the rest of us ( ), they could really start exporting all the goodness.

[Clivey]

Didn't your previous car have a petrol engine?

Nope, but my first did!

Messing about aside, my original point was this:

If you could afford to run either a 318Ci or a 330Cd, what would your choice be?

Or put it another way: How come you didn't get a 116i rather than the 118d?

i meant for choices... we dont really have more. probably a similar number, just different. and you have access much more hardcore sports cars, for cheaper, than we do here.

Oh believe me: You have far more choice when it comes to performance cars than we do. - In the 'States, insurance and fuel is way cheaper, meaning that enthusiasts can actually afford to run the used sports cars that they can find at dealerships.

If I lived in the US, I could afford to drive that E46 3-Series. Here it's a different story.

And that's going to be much different to a G37?

I believe they pretty much have the same engine? Both pump out 330bhp, both do between 18 and 26 US-MPG and both cost USD$30,000, infact, the G37 is roughly USD$5,000 more than the Nissan

That's all true with the first G37 model that's coming to the UK, but sooner or later they're bound to follow everybody else and offer smaller-engined versions for the European market.

Switch CA with Spain and it's something I could have written.

If only the Brits would finally smarten up and switch to LHD like the rest of us ( ), they could really start exporting all the goodness.

Ahem...you may want to get that cheque book out - TVRs CAN be had in LHD!

[clutch-monkey]

If only the Brits would finally smarten up and switch to LHD like the rest of us ( ), they could really start exporting all the goodness.

not even that, if they actually bothered to export their TVR's in the first place...
not that they'd pass any crash reg's/emissions anyway by the sound of how they're built

[Pando]

Ahem...you may want to get that cheque book out - TVRs CAN be had in LHD!

I know, but they are rare and mostly out of my reach pricewise. What annoys the crap out me is that there are tens of low milage Cerberas for sale for less than 10,000€ for instance on your little island. But obviously not LHD.

If I'd win the lotto (which is unlikely as I wouldn't waste money on that), a LHD Sagaris would be a very easy choice to make.

not that they'd pass any crash reg's/emissions anyway by the sound of how they're built

Who cares with all that RWD awesomeness! (and don't say - "the law")

[cmcpokey]

not even that, if they actually bothered to export their TVR's in the first place...
not that they'd pass any crash reg's/emissions anyway by the sound of how they're built

which is one reason i wanted to move there... nowhere else in the civilized (with a Z) world could you get away with cars like that.

[Clivey]

not even that, if they actually bothered to export their TVR's in the first place...
not that they'd pass any crash reg's/emissions anyway by the sound of how they're built

The tubular steel chassis is extremely strong (I've heard of people having massive accidents and walking away), but there are no airbags. Emissions-wise you're screwed, though!

[clutch-monkey]

Who cares with all that RWD awesomeness! (and don't say - "the law")

well i don't, but when it becomes impossible to import except via personal import (and i don't really want to live in england for two years just so i can import a car) it kinda becomes a bit of a negative..

The tubular steel chassis is extremely strong (I've heard of people having massive accidents and walking away), but there are no airbags. Emissions-wise you're screwed, though!

well at least the chassis is strong, because nothing else on it is the one in my family is a 350C though, dunno if the tuscan is built any better (looks fussier imo).

[Ferrer]

Nope, but my first did!

Messing about aside, my original point was this:

If you could afford to run either a 318Ci or a 330Cd, what would your choice be?

Or put it another way: How come you didn't get a 116i rather than the 118d?

We got a diesel because at the time I thought it was the better choice.

Today, without any doubt I'd go for the smaller engined petrol model.

Let me put it this way. The 1er is a brilliant drive, yet whenever I have the opportunity I always find myself in the Mini.

[cmcpokey]

We got a diesel because at the time I thought it was the better choice.

Today, without any doubt I'd go for the smaller engined petrol model.

Let me put it this way. The 1er is a brilliant drive, yet whenever I have the opportunity I always find myself in the Mini.

i thought you got rid of the mini

[Ferrer]

i thought you got rid of the mini

We did, it's at my aunt's place now.

But I usually go there every weekend.

[Waugh-terfall]

So she replaced the Scenic with the MINI and he replaced the Audi with the Jaguar?

[Ferrer]

So she replaced the Scenic with the MINI and he replaced the Audi with the Jaguar?

Correct.

[Waugh-terfall]

Nice.