coldel

...what an utter tit.

I think its good that its on BBC1, tucking it away on BBC287 or whatever is exactly the problem which Jim mentions above.

Its funny, when I got invited along by some friends to do Hyde Park I thought it would be cack and took a good supply of beer, by the end of the night I was pumping out my chest, shouting Land of Hope and Glory and the blood rushing along to Pomp and Circumstance - unless you have the music bellowing out and a bit of alcohol in you you can't really get in the right frame of mind for it

I was in Hyde Park for it a few years back - top notch entertainment, blankets down, picnic food out, beers and union jacks with a freddie mercury cover act on stage followed by Land of Hope and Glory et al...you can't knock it

But my point was more that the Cayman looks the same - in fact I prefer the Cayman shape at the back. Personally I wouldn't buy a car which looks that dated, I guess it works for some people.

911s are a great piece of engineering but I just don't like the look of them - they just don't look special. There is something about it that just doesn't denote a car that stands out. When a Cayman drives by and you glance a look, it could be a Cayman or it could be a 911. If a Lamborghini Gallardo comes rolling into view its clear what it is and whats is capable of. 911s for me just blur into the background, and there are just so many of them about. No doubting the capability of them, when I went driving a Vantage at Rockingham I was chatting with one of the engineers and he pointed to a lone 911 sat there which hadn't moved for an hour or so and was adamant it was the quickest car round the track (except for the Atom!) yet no one wants to drive it. ...and that fat back end, oh my, horrific.

You could always buy some Rays afterwards? They seem to come up periodically on the For Sale section on here. Or just go the whole hog and get Volks I didnt restrict myself to Rays when looking, they are easy enough to sort out - make sure the clutch has been checked, bodywork, rear clicky axle and electonics (windows prone to failing).

Same here. I think they give prisoners the option to have testing done on them instead. That way the person can decide rather than some poor animal being tortured. Ive been involved with agrochemical testing on animals and its not that easy. Its not nice but its a necessity for the development of medicines and agricultural solutions that these things are tested on animals - the animals are not in pain or discomfort at any time and are treated extremely well I should add. You cant see what the effect of a fertiliser would be on redents by testing it on Mad Pete or Dave the Key ......... you would also need to find 100's, if not thousands of willing volunteers for each stage of each new compound. Yeah as much as we hate animal testing if it meant we wouldn't have half the drugs today that would normally kill an extra 50 million people a year it puts it all on a different slant. I am sure I remember reading somewhere that mice share something like 70% of the DNA of humans, which is why you often find them being tested on.

Hmmm if it were my own money I am not sure either - I only suggested the vauxhalls to add to the current selection that had been suggested, I didn't actually mean it would be my number one choice. Personally, I think BMW have become a souless experience - the cars are generally quite ugly and uninspiring - granted they are german engineered so great, but personally I look for a little bit more than that - again after having a Zed which has such amazing character I would probably sit at the wheel and cry if I bought a BMW diesel

Just looking out for the guy, its going to be a big fall climbing out the Zed and into an 1800cc diesel... Torque steer is something old ladies worry about

Didn't put mine on whilst I was there, just had them handy in case. Just drove between 10am and 5pm whilst there...

Should be ok, but I am guessing. Just bought mine from Halfords. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_172996_langId_-1_categoryId_165458

After a replacement front bumper for my UK Zed, my current one has a dent in it which I dont think will be repairable. OEM is fine although if someone has a replica Nismo or the like kicking around then let me know. One which doesnt need to be adjusted with for fitting preferred

In the same vein get a newer shaped Seat Leon, essentially the same car but much better specced out. Just as long as you are not worried by the badge.

Transit van it is then

Very nice! Thats next on my hit list of refurbs - I think I might go satin black brace and keep the silver Z though.

Haha I just wonder if the first one turned back to the other one and said: 'I parked the Zed right there! I did honestly! Someones had it away boss'

Boils my blood this - insurers at the moment are bottoming out reputation wise. Admiral and other insurers sell accident information to lawyers - they work to claim compensation of which the majority is unwarranted - this compensation has to be paid by insurers - insurers complain that they are losing money by having to pay out to injury lawyers Now, I don't have the ins and outs of this but read the first part and the last part in isolation - I can see a solution here...in fact two solutions...dont sell the info in the first place, or, if you do sell it use the profits to pay off the lawyers Or, is it more likely, that its just a huge scam to rip off the general public. Love the idea of transparancy though - for too long we have just been told by insurance companies that they charge what they do because 'stats say so' but consumers are never privvy to this data or how they get these stats. I think if the government does enforce a series of transparancy measures some companies will be shown up quite badly.

I took the ferry to Dunkirk and the ferry shop sold a tonne of standard bulbs etc cheap - you couldnt actually install them at the roadside but for a few quid would be worth the hassle saved if you could just point at them tucked away in the boot if you did get stopped.

I just got back from going through France and Belgium, you don't by law need bulbs as far as I know (I mean you would have to dismantle the whole front of the car to get the bulb in!) All I took was a hi vis vest which I put in the glove box behind the passenger seat Warning triangle which sat in the boot Beam deflectors for the front AA do a good guide http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/general_advice.html and download this pdf http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/germany.pdf Also take your V5 and both parts of your driving licence.

I put 35psi into my falken 452s and it feels a little too much, they had dropped to 31psi when I topped it up but was certainly nice and comfy!

Nice find that. Amazed how prices are dropping...

I assume the reference to the Nova is some sort of dig at the Astra? I am not saying that Vauxhall are great - I think they are about average - but having driven both a 2.0T and a 118D the Astra wins hands down on fun, looks, performance and ability to modify if you like. BMW is overpriced, more reliable but massively expensive to repair when they do go wrong. If you want to soften the blow of selling the Zed and getting a more sensible car then the 118D is a big step down in my view, the Astra would sit somewhere in between - depends what you want really. And like I said, the 1 series BMW is fugly

Have you tried driving one Col? They are LOVELY to drive...! Yep, I thought they were, well okay to drive - still think they are overpriced for what you get and the body shape, its hideous.

But you suggested an Astra!! I suggested a 2.0T Astra or VXR, the VXR which is probably as quick as a Zed - you guys were going for a 118 Diesel!