As per the title I just wondered how long you should reasonably expect
a car battery to last for?

Cheers

John

I can't remember when I last logged in, but I think I mentioned looking 
at a BMW 530i. The whole thing has been "flog the MR2, get an estate 
car/comfortable motorway car to do until the house sells, if it's good, 
flog the Suzuki too". I've been messed around by one guy with the 
"perfect" XM estate, I've seen some rough cars, and I've argued with XM 
fanatics over the fact that I don't want to spend enough to get a 2.5TD 
in the same condition as I'd get a good 2.0 petrol one, then got offered 
a 24V V6 one for £500.

So after all that, I woke up on Saturday to the Citroen dealer calling 
to say they've been trying to see if they could get me into a C6 on a 
cheap finance deal before the house sold (I said, when looking, that I'm 
spending £400/month on cars what with repairs, depreciation and stuff, 
so if they managed that I'd have one early).

Well... they bloody well did it. I think I'm safe; I've paid the small 
cash part of the deposit... so I think in two weeks, I will have a 
delivery miles, pre-reg Black/Cream C6 2.7HDi. They're trying to find me 
an 08 Exclusive in black with cream leather and no lounge seats (the 
sunroof has been dismissed as only likely to show up if I did a special 
order which would not be pre-reg and not be Very Heavily Discounted), 
though I've said I'll have the lounge seats if they're there, I just 
don't want to pay for that option when it means losing through-loading.

They even remembered what I wanted, and included proper mats and 
mudflaps and extended warranty in it. I had to divert them away from a 
third-party towbar though; "Find out if the Citroen one needs any 
messing with the wiring or bodywork or if it is purely a bolt-on option, 
I'll do without if I have to butcher any part of the car".

The neat bit of the deal is that they offered £2,800 for the Ignis.

The REALLY neat bit of the deal is that they offered almost their entire 
"trade in adjustment" budget too (I thought they were going to take the 
money they have for making an £11,000 Citroen worth £15000 when traded 
it for another and then deduct the Ignis value).

So I only had a small deposit to pay on an already heavily discounted 
car. And used C6s still don't seem to have ducked below £15,000 for the 
oldest examples. Not that residuals scare me at all.

Two weeks.

And then I've got to keep one car. I've planned to keep it for 7 years. 
I'm still unsure about how best to deal with the finance; my original 
plan was to pay it off when the house sells but the monthly payments are 
contract-hire-car-that-I'd-have (not C6 price) level and the residual is 
£11000; APR 2.9%. I'm considering sticking the money in something like 
Abbey's 8% account and letting the payments come out of there, or seeing 
if there's something even stronger than that and putting the residual in 
there.

I suppose I might get all environmentally crap and if they update the C6 
considerably, do the "normal" think and trade in for a new one in three 
years. I don't PLAN to, though.

(I still have the MX-5 shared with my gf and the use of her A-class, 
though).

Got to drive one again, too - it fits in the driveway. The parking 
sensors are damned handy as I have to do a 90 degree swing past a tree 
to get in and the driveway is 9ft wide at best.

I nearly forked out £1300 for an XM estate - it was sold out from 
underneath me. Had I done that, I wouldn't have been able to take the C6 
offer.

Cross fingers for the right colour one being in the stock of pre-reg 
cars, please?

(Also, the same day I chose not to drive to the RIAT in Fairford at 
$dafttime to play with some new camera gear - got a D3 a couple of 
months ago and just got the Sigma 300-800 f5.6 APO EX DG - and turns out 
it was cancelled anyway - and some stuff I sold on eBay went for a tad 
more than I was expecting. I really should have bought a lottery ticket).

Richard

"Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>
>
You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to 
just burning huge wads of cash?   Is that a good idea?  Serious question, 
I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure SteveH will do that enough for us both heh 
;)).

Also, I didn't really get the bit in the middle, about trade in adjustments, 
are you trading in an £11k car?  Or just the Ignis for, a frankly 
astonishing, £2.8k?  Is the new C6 you're buying £15k?  Now, I know at least 
one part of that must be wrong, and I'm sure C6s are more than £15k new... 
Indeed the cheapest pre-regs I can find are £23-24k for the 2.7HDi 
Exclusive, although they are 57 regs and they all seem to have done 1 mile 
heh.

Is Exclusive the top model?  I bet that'd 
weeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll comfy.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"DanB"  wrote in message 
news:6dvlooF4ir5cU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> Is Exclusive the top model?  I bet that'd 
> weeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll comfy.
>

Something went wrong there.  Where there is a line break, it should say 'be' 
heh.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

DanB wrote:
> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
> news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
> 
> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to 
> just burning huge wads of cash?   Is that a good idea?  Serious question, 
> I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure SteveH will do that enough for us both heh 
> ;)).

Buying any car is burning cash, frankly; doesn't matter what you get, 
unless it's a shed of an old Focus or similar and you don't maintain it, 
it's going to cost.

So what I'm getting is:

Pre-reg C6 Exclusive 2.7 HDi - delivery mileage (though I'm not really 
expecting it to be the "less than 100 miles" quoted) - £36K new, for 
£28K with extended warranty and flaps/mats on it (protection pack - full 
tank of fuel too), then I get the tradein stuff. Basically, when they 
first approached me, the Elect 3 deal needed a £7K deposit - I'd just 
bought a D3, I didn't have it, and wouldn't have spent that much in one 
go anyway, it's needed for fixing the house.

Rather than being content with me buying one for cash when I sold up, 
they found a way of using bonuses, trade in and so forth to bring the 
deposit down to "what I was about to spend on an XM". The credit check 
went through, much to my shock, and so the deposit was paid and it's 
just a case of them finding me an acceptable colour (I want black and 
cream but black had gone from the Citroen site for that model, so I've 
said I'll have dark blue or the very darkest grey. I know I'll be able 
to live with black for 7 years, I'm not sure I'll tolerate blue or grey 
that long).

If this somehow goes tits up now, I will almost certainly cry for a bit, 
because I'd put "being able to afford deposit", "getting the finance 
accepted at the cheap APR or at all" (he didn't help with that one, with 
"Oh, you're much younger than a typical C6 buyer, they may just chuck it 
back") all out of my head and was just looking forward to the house 
selling eventually and ordering one in 2009.

As I mentioned before, I already got C6 RTK off the DVLA site (the VED 
is £400; a similar amount (less, really) for a non-age identifying plate 
will a: look quite cool, since I'm not trying to make it make a word, 
and b: stop me from going "Oh, 08 is looking a bit old now" in a few 
years). I know buying a French car is madness, I know buying an 
expensive one is doubly so, but you know what? I can't find a single bad 
word said about C6s "in the field". No reports of porous V6 diesels, no 
LCD dash failures. The worst thing I've found is griping about the 
inability to upgrade the older satnav to the HD based RT4 telematics.

The pre-reg ones you're finding are probably from the same batch (or 
mislisted if you're looking at eBay, at least one of those I called 
about and it had 1100 miles on it) and they're using that trade-in 
adjustment and not including the extended warranty - I'm getting the car 
effectively for £24K less the Suzuki and including a grand of extras.

Yes, the Exclusive is the top model. And IMO the 2.7HDi is the only 
engine to have. I was horrified by how easy it was to speed in it.

See, what I find interesting in these depreciation measures is the money 
lost, not the /value/ lost. My RX8 was pre-reg delivery miles too. I 
think anyone NOT buying that way is a bit silly as the dealers are using 
their registration bonus to drop the car prices, even the excellent 
Jaguar XF gets sold pre-reg - you just don't get a discount.

So I think that nobody pays £36K for a C6. I think they pay between £24K 
and £31K depending on proximity to sales targets and how much they shop 
around. By that measure, the C6 isn't losing much money - just perceived 
"value".

I'm quite happy for people to think I'm driving a near £40K car and 
losing money if they want. I suspect that after four hours in the 
climate controlled, perfectly soft, perfect driving position serenty of 
the C6 I'll be quite happy for people to think whatever the hell they 
want to think :D

Oh, and it has heads up display, satnav, in-car phone (I have been 
saving an 02 PayG SIM for it that ends 001), all the usual big Citroen 
suspension cleverness. It might have electric heated reclining rear sets 
too, though I'd rather it didn't. I don't sit in them, and if it has 
those I can't fold them down and fit a background roll in it.

The Jaguar dealer would probably be saying "but you didn't even drive 
the XF, how can you choose the C6 over this!" - and the simple answer is 
that the XF doesn't get a £10K discount for being pre-reg, or feel as 
unique and comfortable. In a few months XFs will be everywhere, but I 
haven't seen a C6 on the road in months. The one I did see, the driver 
was smiling.

Richard

"DanB"  wrote in message 
news:6dvlooF4ir5cU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
> news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>>
> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
>
> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to 
> just burning huge wads of cash?

Except buying any new car is like burning a wad of cash.  Buying a used one 
means burning less, relative to the same new car, but still burning it. 
Here, Richard has decided what he wants and that's the end of it, bought, 
job done (we hope).

> Is that a good idea?  Serious question, I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure 
> SteveH will do that enough for us both heh ;)).

You're sounding like SteveH...  Richard sounds nothing like SteveH.  Richard 
likes C6s and has bought one.  End of.  SteveH likes Alfa Romeos and has 
written mini reviews of all sorts of machines under the sun but appears no 
closer to buying a non-Alfa Romeo.  Or something; I've lost interest / touch 
/ the will to live.  Oh and SteveH has loads more money than I do.

> Also, I didn't really get the bit in the middle, about trade in 
> adjustments, are you trading in an £11k car?  Or just the Ignis for, a 
> frankly astonishing, £2.8k?  Is the new C6 you're buying £15k?  Now, I 
> know at least one part of that must be wrong, and I'm sure C6s are more 
> than £15k new... Indeed the cheapest pre-regs I can find are £23-24k for 
> the 2.7HDi Exclusive, although they are 57 regs and they all seem to have 
> done 1 mile heh.
>
> Is Exclusive the top model?  I bet that'd 
> weeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll comfy.



-- 
The DervMan
www.dervman.com

Richard Kilpatrick  gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

> Cross fingers for the right colour one being in the stock of pre-reg
> cars, please?

To be honest, I don't think I'd sweat it - I've not seen one yet in a 
"bad" colour - all the various dark greys look superb, the reds are good, 
even "boring" silver works well.

...you bastard...

Richard Kilpatrick  gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

> So I think that nobody pays £36K for a C6. I think they pay between £24K
> and £31K depending on proximity to sales targets and how much they shop
> around. By that measure, the C6 isn't losing much money - just perceived
> "value".

You won't like me saying that at the CCC rally over the weekend, there 
was a dealer advertising £20k for pre-reg v6 HDis, then...

I don't think they were 08-plate, but...

Adrian wrote:
> Richard Kilpatrick  gurgled happily, sounding much
> like they were saying:
> 
>> Cross fingers for the right colour one being in the stock of pre-reg
>> cars, please?
> 
> To be honest, I don't think I'd sweat it - I've not seen one yet in a 
> "bad" colour - all the various dark greys look superb, the reds are good, 
> even "boring" silver works well.
> 
> ...you bastard...

I've yet to see a red with cream interior, which would be the really 
"confident" combination. I like the dark blue, the dark green, I'm very 
curious about the brownish/purple/Ganache (I think) colour, but black 
will always win out for me.

The overriding requirement is for a cream interior though, rather than 
the exterior colour. I'm just sick of silver and grey cars. Be thankful 
they don't come in yellow.

Richard

Adrian wrote:
> Richard Kilpatrick  gurgled happily, sounding much
> like they were saying:
> 
>> So I think that nobody pays £36K for a C6. I think they pay between £24K
>> and £31K depending on proximity to sales targets and how much they shop
>> around. By that measure, the C6 isn't losing much money - just perceived
>> "value".
> 
> You won't like me saying that at the CCC rally over the weekend, there 
> was a dealer advertising £20k for pre-reg v6 HDis, then...
> 
> I don't think they were 08-plate, but...

Eh, if they're doing pre-reg, rather than ex-demo with a few thousand 
miles on, then maybe some will get sold. Were they Exclusive or Lignage 
spec, though? I've seen Lignage pre-reg for around that, but then I lose 
Navidrive, satnav and leather.

I've driven two Lignage models with dark grey cloth/cloth and part 
leather interiors and there's "missing button syndrome" as well as the 
black interior being very dull - the little telematics screen with the 
big bezel hiding where the PROPER one goes is very obvious, rather than 
making a lower-profile dashboard design.

I might not have a towbar fitted; it needs to have the bumper removed 
and modified apparently. It doesn't LOOK modified but clearly it's not 
just a bolt-on accessory.

I have found instructions that suggest the USB port can be added, though 
it needs wiring to be done very carefully with a port modification (for 
all RT4 cars) - so I reckon I'll have that for direct iPod connection.

Richard

"Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:6dvofdF4jok2U1@mid.individual.net...
> DanB wrote:
>> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
>> news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
>>
>> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to 
>> just burning huge wads of cash?   Is that a good idea?  Serious question, 
>> I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure SteveH will do that enough for us both 
>> heh ;)).
>
> Buying any car is burning cash, frankly; doesn't matter what you get, 
> unless it's a shed of an old Focus or similar and you don't maintain it, 
> it's going to cost.

Um, you can run old stuff and maintain it at not much cost. On a bad year my 
car costs about as much as one of your monthly payments :-)

(of course to me Focus still counts as new)

You want to spend the money, fair enough - but don't go pretending it's a 
budget option.

cheers,
clive

Clive George wrote:

>> Buying any car is burning cash, frankly; doesn't matter what you get, 
>> unless it's a shed of an old Focus or similar and you don't maintain it, 
>> it's going to cost.
> 
> Um, you can run old stuff and maintain it at not much cost. On a bad year my 
> car costs about as much as one of your monthly payments :-)
> 
> (of course to me Focus still counts as new)
> 
> You want to spend the money, fair enough - but don't go pretending it's a 
> budget option.

Yeah. I mean, I doubt I'm all that experienced really.

At present, and for the foreseeable future, I won't have time or a 
garage to work on cars in. The cheapest banger I've had realistically 
was my 1999 Astra 1.7TD; unlike most cheap cars I've had it drove well 
on the motorway and was comfortable (when you're doing up to 4,000 miles 
in a month, vibrating front ends and imbalanced brakes get a bit tiresome).

It cost £650, and lasted 8 months as a second car; it lasted about 
17,000 miles IIRC. It suffered wheelbearing failure at a cost of £67 and 
I had time to DIY that, I'm not counting tyres or brakes as they are 
wear and tear items (though in the course of used cars, I've always had 
to replaced one or both of these, whereas when I've run a new car I've 
often had the duration of the contract hire without ever needing either 
replacing, so the odd £150 here and there certainly comes out of my 
budget when it may not otherwise do so).

When the Astra died it needed a diesel pump at a minimum cost of 
£500+labour.

Middle aged cars depreciate fast; that's a cost too.

IMO and IME, you can run old stuff if you're not fussy about it all 
working correctly, having to deal with replacing it when it goes wrong, 
and can deal with vibrations, odd noises and rust. Which before you 
decide I'm being a snob, I've done plenty of putting up with. I'm rather 
fussy about my cars working as designed, so for me, the Citroen is an 
affordable option.

I wouldn't say it was a budget option because I could choose a new car 
that cost a third as much and have all the benefits of "a new car" in 
terms of bits not falling off, etc - but if I wanted to run a 
middle-aged executive car my experience is that I would spend as much on 
buying it, losing money on it, and repairing/maintaining it as I do with 
a new car, or have a much less satisfying ownership experience (there's 
no point in buying a luxury car if the AC and electrics don't work, the 
seats are worn out and the steering is shagged, which the last BMW I 
looked at was).

A good example, actually, that BMW. The spec lists servotronic PAS, 
Aircon, etc. Well, the aircon was shot, the servotronic was leaking all 
over the inner wing and felt heavy, the brakes pulled quite badly, the 
gearbox was a bit obtrusive, and the 3.0i V8 with 200bhp felt slightly 
less powerful and smooth than the 1.5 in my Ignis. Yes; it was still 
functional as a car, but every single positive aspect of the car's 
"prestige" status was shot - all it had left going for it was a big boot.

Now, someone might get a car like that from me at market price after 
I've sunk thousands into fixing the A/C and steering etc, and they might 
get a good ownership experience as a result, but overall, someone's 
paying to keep the old cars intact. This isn't a bad thing, it's better 
for the environment etc. I'd probably be more inclined to run an older 
car if I hadn't had such awful experiences with garages being thoroughl 
incompetent.

Richard

"Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:6e12aoF4qh8dU1@mid.individual.net...
> Clive George wrote:
>
>>> Buying any car is burning cash, frankly; doesn't matter what you get, 
>>> unless it's a shed of an old Focus or similar and you don't maintain it, 
>>> it's going to cost.
>>
>> Um, you can run old stuff and maintain it at not much cost. On a bad year 
>> my car costs about as much as one of your monthly payments :-)
>>
>> (of course to me Focus still counts as new)
>>
>> You want to spend the money, fair enough - but don't go pretending it's a 
>> budget option.
>
> Yeah. I mean, I doubt I'm all that experienced really.

No need to get snarky - I know you've had loads of old stuff. Which makes it 
all the more odd what you originally said.

> At present, and for the foreseeable future, I won't have time or a garage 
> to work on cars in. The cheapest banger I've had realistically was my 1999 
> Astra 1.7TD; unlike most cheap cars I've had it drove well on the motorway 
> and was comfortable (when you're doing up to 4,000 miles in a month, 
> vibrating front ends and imbalanced brakes get a bit tiresome).
>
> It cost £650, and lasted 8 months as a second car; it lasted about 17,000 
> miles IIRC. It suffered wheelbearing failure at a cost of £67 and I had 
> time to DIY that, I'm not counting tyres or brakes as they are wear and 
> tear items (though in the course of used cars, I've always had to replaced 
> one or both of these, whereas when I've run a new car I've often had the 
> duration of the contract hire without ever needing either replacing, so 
> the odd £150 here and there certainly comes out of my budget when it may 
> not otherwise do so).
>
> When the Astra died it needed a diesel pump at a minimum cost of 
> £500+labour.

Yeah. My current BX has lasted me > 4 years, cost 500 quid, and I still 
think is comfortable. Biggest bill has been a new clutch, which I count as 
wear and tear. So I think that's "our experiences vary".

> Middle aged cars depreciate fast; that's a cost too.
>
> IMO and IME, you can run old stuff if you're not fussy about it all 
> working correctly, having to deal with replacing it when it goes wrong, 
> and can deal with vibrations, odd noises and rust. Which before you decide 
> I'm being a snob, I've done plenty of putting up with. I'm rather fussy 
> about my cars working as designed, so for me, the Citroen is an affordable 
> option.
>
> I wouldn't say it was a budget option because I could choose a new car 
> that cost a third as much and have all the benefits of "a new car" in 
> terms of bits not falling off, etc - but if I wanted to run a middle-aged 
> executive car my experience is that I would spend as much on buying it, 
> losing money on it, and repairing/maintaining it as I do with a new car, 
> or have a much less satisfying ownership experience (there's no point in 
> buying a luxury car if the AC and electrics don't work, the seats are worn 
> out and the steering is shagged, which the last BMW I looked at was).
>
> A good example, actually, that BMW. The spec lists servotronic PAS, 
> Aircon, etc. Well, the aircon was shot, the servotronic was leaking all 
> over the inner wing and felt heavy, the brakes pulled quite badly, the 
> gearbox was a bit obtrusive, and the 3.0i V8 with 200bhp felt slightly 
> less powerful and smooth than the 1.5 in my Ignis. Yes; it was still 
> functional as a car, but every single positive aspect of the car's 
> "prestige" status was shot - all it had left going for it was a big boot.

So it was fucked - the right thing is to run away screaming. Aren't there 
plenty more out there - surely that's merely an extremely bad example?

> Now, someone might get a car like that from me at market price after I've 
> sunk thousands into fixing the A/C and steering etc, and they might get a 
> good ownership experience as a result, but overall, someone's paying to 
> keep the old cars intact. This isn't a bad thing, it's better for the 
> environment etc. I'd probably be more inclined to run an older car if I 
> hadn't had such awful experiences with garages being thoroughl 
> incompetent.

Well, yes, garages can be shit.

But your elucidation above of why you're spending the money is actually a 
rather different set of points to

>>> Buying any car is burning cash, frankly; doesn't matter what you get, 
>>> unless it's a shed of an old Focus or similar and you don't maintain it, 
>>> it's going to cost.

"Buying any big car you want to be in near-perfect nick is burning cash" - 
that seems a fair summary of what you're actually trying to say, and I don't 
have a problem with that. It's somewhat different from what you orignally 
wrote, and it's the original which I disagreed with.

cheers,
clive

"DervMan"  wrote in message 
news:487af601$0$2527$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
> "DanB"  wrote in message 
> news:6dvlooF4ir5cU1@mid.individual.net...
>> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
>> news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>>
>> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
>>
>> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to 
>> just burning huge wads of cash?
>
> Except buying any new car is like burning a wad of cash.  Buying a used 
> one means burning less, relative to the same new car, but still burning 
> it. Here, Richard has decided what he wants and that's the end of it, 
> bought, job done (we hope).


I was asking a genuine question, I wanted to know whether I'd been 
mis-educated, and whether Richard had got a stonkingly good deal.  I'm all 
for Richard spending lots of cash on a new car.  It's good, new cars are way 
nicer to own than second hand ones to me.  I was just interested to hear 
Richard's thoughts on it.  I didn't ask for yours, but as usual you turned 
round what I said, to pick faults in it.  Why do you always do that?  Go 
along replying to all my posts and polite disagree with it?


>> Is that a good idea?  Serious question, I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure 
>> SteveH will do that enough for us both heh ;)).
>
> You're sounding like SteveH...  Richard sounds nothing like SteveH. 
> Richard likes C6s and has bought one.  End of.  SteveH likes Alfa Romeos 
> and has written mini reviews of all sorts of machines under the sun but 
> appears no closer to buying a non-Alfa Romeo.  Or something; I've lost 
> interest / touch / the will to live.  Oh and SteveH has loads more money 
> than I do.
>

No, you're just obsessed with SteveH - who had nothing to do with anything I 
wrote aside from a VERY obviously tongue in cheek remark.  We all know I'm 
the only other person in this group that doesn't care that much about 
depreciation, and doesn't mind losing lots of cash too it whilst buying a 
new car - hence why I spent £13k on a Renault Clio.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
>
> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to 
> just burning huge wads of cash?   Is that a good idea?  Serious question, 
> I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure SteveH will do that enough for us both 
> heh ;)).

And doubtless the impending recession that the media's talking itself into 
will creep into the thread somewhere at least a few times.....

> Also, I didn't really get the bit in the middle, about trade in 
> adjustments, are you trading in an £11k car?  Or just the Ignis for, a 
> frankly astonishing, £2.8k?  Is the new C6 you're buying £15k?  Now, I 
> know at least one part of that must be wrong, and I'm sure C6s are more 
> than £15k new... Indeed the cheapest pre-regs I can find are £23-24k for 
> the 2.7HDi Exclusive, although they are 57 regs and they all seem to have 
> done 1 mile heh.

Can I butt in and half-guess what Richard was trying to say?

I think he was basically saying that their maximum "buffer zone" for 
trade-ins (i.e. the difference between what they'll offer on paper as part 
of the deal and what it's actually worth) is around the £4k mark - i.e. if 
someone was trading in a car worth £11k, they'd get offered £15k, but he 
expected them to deduct the actual value of the Ignis (I forget the age, but 
was it worth about a grand, £1500 tops?) off that buffer zone?  But if it 
was worth £1-1.5k, then surely that's pretty much what they did do, didn't 
they?

I'm probably completely missing the point too, mind.

> Is Exclusive the top model?  I bet that'd 
> weeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll comfy.

Yup - Exclusives are pretty nice - equivalent to an Elite spec Vauxhall, but 
probably more comfy, and more in the way of arse-warmers and bollock-coolers 
too.

-- 
"For want of the price of tea and a slice, the old man died."

"Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:6dvofdF4jok2U1@mid.individual.net...
> DanB wrote:
>> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
>> news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
>>
>> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to 
>> just burning huge wads of cash?   Is that a good idea?  Serious question, 
>> I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure SteveH will do that enough for us both 
>> heh ;)).
>
> Buying any car is burning cash, frankly; doesn't matter what you get, 
> unless it's a shed of an old Focus or similar and you don't maintain it, 
> it's going to cost.

Oh of course, I have a £13k Renault Clio on the drive heh!  A yellow one at 
that.

> So what I'm getting is:
>
> Pre-reg C6 Exclusive 2.7 HDi - delivery mileage (though I'm not really 
> expecting it to be the "less than 100 miles" quoted) - £36K new, for £28K 
> with extended warranty and flaps/mats on it (protection pack - full tank 
> of fuel too), then I get the tradein stuff. Basically, when they first 
> approached me, the Elect 3 deal needed a £7K deposit - I'd just bought a 
> D3, I didn't have it, and wouldn't have spent that much in one go anyway, 
> it's needed for fixing the house.
>

Niiiiice dude nice.  Plus you get that awesome new-car ness too.  Interior 
damage/stains are my big bug bear.  Thats why new cars are good hehe, they 
don't have that.  I tooth combed the 197 before I bought it, as it was 9 
months old - but that model wasn't available new, and the couple left 
unregistered were up at £16/£17k which I just refused to pay because at one 
point they were discounted to £13,995 plus options by Renault.  So I bought 
mine, which judging by the registered date would've been that discounted 
price (plus £1,300 for the paint and about £100 for the upgrade stereo) for 
£13k.  So, It was only £2.5kish off the new price, but it was only 9 months 
old, and utterley spotless.  Also it had 10k miles on it, which I was 
actually quite happy about heh, 'cos by all accounts from other owners they 
take 10k miles to really loosen up, start making all the power and get more 
economical.  One guy took his on the rollers at less than 1,000 miles (was 
about 700 iirc) and it made about 190bhp, then the same car, at about 10k 
miles, no mods, always run on V-power - 202bhp on the same rollers.  Before 
people start saying it was just the rollers been inaccurate the same came 
has since made very similar figures elsewhere too on a group rolling road 
shootout on ClioSport.


> The pre-reg ones you're finding are probably from the same batch (or 
> mislisted if you're looking at eBay, at least one of those I called about 
> and it had 1100 miles on it) and they're using that trade-in adjustment 
> and not including the extended warranty - I'm getting the car effectively 
> for £24K less the Suzuki and including a grand of extras.

I didn't look very hard, just a quick glance on Autotrader for some figures 
so my post was vaguely accurate heh.

> So I think that nobody pays £36K for a C6. I think they pay between £24K 
> and £31K depending on proximity to sales targets and how much they shop 
> around. By that measure, the C6 isn't losing much money - just perceived 
> "value".

Hehehe this is like new Clio Sports.  Everyone pays £2k off list heh.

> I'm quite happy for people to think I'm driving a near £40K car and losing 
> money if they want. I suspect that after four hours in the climate 
> controlled, perfectly soft, perfect driving position serenty of the C6 
> I'll be quite happy for people to think whatever the hell they want to 
> think :D
>
> Oh, and it has heads up display, satnav, in-car phone (I have been saving 
> an 02 PayG SIM for it that ends 001), all the usual big Citroen suspension 
> cleverness. It might have electric heated reclining rear sets too, though 
> I'd rather it didn't. I don't sit in them, and if it has those I can't 
> fold them down and fit a background roll in it.
>

I bet it's the most comfy car on the market today (aside from like, rollers 
and stuff heh) pretty much.  Big Citroens are so nice to sit in.  I've never 
sat in a new C6, perhaps I'll take the trip to Whitby to see it one time 
when you're there hehe :-)  It's only 20 miles or so from here!

Awesome dude - good luck with it, hope it all goes smoothly and the dealer 
doesn't dick you about.  It sounds like you're as picky as me, so I assume 
you'll be going over the bodywork with a magnifying glass checking for 
imperfections before you sign on the line ;-) ?


-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"DanB"  wrote in message 
news:6e1574F4p8lvU1@mid.individual.net...
> We all know I'm the only other person in this group that doesn't care that 
> much about depreciation, and doesn't mind losing lots of cash too it 
> whilst buying a new car - hence why I spent £13k on a Renault Clio.
>

Just in case anyone was gonna say anything, I signed for the Clio before I 
knew I was terminally ill :-)

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

> The Jaguar dealer would probably be saying "but you didn't even drive the 
> XF, how can you choose the C6 over this!" - and the simple answer is that 
> the XF doesn't get a £10K discount for being pre-reg, or feel as unique 
> and comfortable. In a few months XFs will be everywhere, but I haven't 
> seen a C6 on the road in months. The one I did see, the driver was 
> smiling.

Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone else 
thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or manual that 
you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch any 
french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, but for 
the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got an 
extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an idea....

-- 
"For want of the price of tea and a slice, the old man died."

"AstraVanMann"  wrote in message 
news:DImdncZA1dWj_ObVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@bt.com...
>
>> Is Exclusive the top model?  I bet that'd 
>> weeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll comfy.
>
> Yup - Exclusives are pretty nice - equivalent to an Elite spec Vauxhall, 
> but probably more comfy, and more in the way of arse-warmers and 
> bollock-coolers too.
>

Or a Sovereign spec Jag?  Or a GT spec Honda Civic Type-R hehe!  I read the 
bit about finances too, and that made sense, but it doesn't really matter 
heh - it's not my money so I don't really care :-)

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"AstraVanMann"  wrote in message 
news:4dWdnd2agIIr_-bVnZ2dnUVZ8qvinZ2d@bt.com...
>> The Jaguar dealer would probably be saying "but you didn't even drive the 
>> XF, how can you choose the C6 over this!" - and the simple answer is that 
>> the XF doesn't get a £10K discount for being pre-reg, or feel as unique 
>> and comfortable. In a few months XFs will be everywhere, but I haven't 
>> seen a C6 on the road in months. The one I did see, the driver was 
>> smiling.
>
> Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone 
> else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or manual 
> that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch 
> any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, but 
> for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got an 
> extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an idea....
>

Well, if it's anything like the Pug 407 Coupes SteveH has been looking at, 
with the V6 HDi box they're only available with the tiptronic 'box - but 
it's a ZF box these days so it might be ok he reckons.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

DanB wrote:

> Niiiiice dude nice.  Plus you get that awesome new-car ness too.  Interior 
> damage/stains are my big bug bear.  

Mine too - and the way it's been driven. I've seen how the salesman 
handled the C6 Lignage I drove, and moreso, the state of the 18,000 mile 
demonstrater their accountant/sales staff use. My Ignis was tidier inside.

I've just been offered the PERFECT spec, too, but with 21,000 miles on 
it (as in it's not in the pre-reg stock, but ex Citroen management). 
Black, cream, sunroof. Turned it down because that's a year's worth of 
use; I won't get a sunroof anywhere else but I don't want my new car to 
have had a year of abuse!

> Hehehe this is like new Clio Sports.  Everyone pays £2k off list heh.

Does anyone pay list for any car these days? I bet Contential GTs get a 
few grand off and the punters asking for free mats.

> I bet it's the most comfy car on the market today (aside from like, rollers 
> and stuff heh) pretty much.  Big Citroens are so nice to sit in.  I've never 
> sat in a new C6, perhaps I'll take the trip to Whitby to see it one time 
> when you're there hehe :-)  It's only 20 miles or so from here!

April '09! I'm skipping the October one but I might make a daytrip.

> Awesome dude - good luck with it, hope it all goes smoothly and the dealer 
> doesn't dick you about.  It sounds like you're as picky as me, so I assume 
> you'll be going over the bodywork with a magnifying glass checking for 
> imperfections before you sign on the line ;-) ?

I'm going to be sensible, but yes, basically it's got to be perfect. 
They have one almost right in stock, but it's grey and someone scratched 
the bumper. My gut reaction is "don't want it", but realistically, what 
would I do if someone scratched my bumper in a carpark? So if they offer 
something which has a paint imperfection I will allow them the 
opportunity to put it right.

Richard

DanB wrote:
> "AstraVanMann"  wrote in message 
> news:4dWdnd2agIIr_-bVnZ2dnUVZ8qvinZ2d@bt.com...
>>> The Jaguar dealer would probably be saying "but you didn't even drive the 
>>> XF, how can you choose the C6 over this!" - and the simple answer is that 
>>> the XF doesn't get a £10K discount for being pre-reg, or feel as unique 
>>> and comfortable. In a few months XFs will be everywhere, but I haven't 
>>> seen a C6 on the road in months. The one I did see, the driver was 
>>> smiling.
>> Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone 
>> else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or manual 
>> that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch 
>> any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, but 
>> for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got an 
>> extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an idea....
>>
> 
> Well, if it's anything like the Pug 407 Coupes SteveH has been looking at, 
> with the V6 HDi box they're only available with the tiptronic 'box - but 
> it's a ZF box these days so it might be ok he reckons.

It's only available with an auto - the only Manual C6 is the 2.2 four 
cylinder, which is... well, it probably has some merits, but the gearbox 
(a six speed manual) is not one of them.

My C6 will get frequent gearbox oil changes, which was the main death of 
autoboxes in the XM - a poor service regime. I think it will be fine, 
and it does have the warranty, so I'm not worrying.

I find smaller cars, like Golfs, usually give more trouble as FWD autos 
than big ones anyway.

Richard

"Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:6e16gfF4obd2U1@mid.individual.net...
> DanB wrote:
>
>> Niiiiice dude nice.  Plus you get that awesome new-car ness too. 
>> Interior damage/stains are my big bug bear.
>
> Mine too - and the way it's been driven. I've seen how the salesman 
> handled the C6 Lignage I drove, and moreso, the state of the 18,000 mile 
> demonstrater their accountant/sales staff use. My Ignis was tidier inside.

See with the Clios, it seems the trick is, make sure they're all warmed up 
then just give them a good thrashing heh.  Change the oil at 5k and 
continue.  That way gives a 'fast' one :-)  Mine had dead front tyres when I 
went to see it with 11k on, so I assume it's been driven reasonably 
spiritedly!  I know it's making about the right power anyway, because in 
some private road testing with my mates new Corsa VXR, they were dead even 
off the roundabout and up the hill till over 120mph.  The only difference 
was, I could get round the roundabout quicker - if he was leading, I was 
backing off, if I was leading, I got a little gap between us hehe.  We're 
very grown up.


> I've just been offered the PERFECT spec, too, but with 21,000 miles on it 
> (as in it's not in the pre-reg stock, but ex Citroen management). Black, 
> cream, sunroof. Turned it down because that's a year's worth of use; I 
> won't get a sunroof anywhere else but I don't want my new car to have had 
> a year of abuse!

Yea, plus 21k is quite a lot, I probably would need 3 years to put that on 
it.


>> Hehehe this is like new Clio Sports.  Everyone pays £2k off list heh.
>
> Does anyone pay list for any car these days? I bet Contential GTs get a 
> few grand off and the punters asking for free mats.

Audi R8s and Ferrari 599s I think - because they sell for a premium 2nd hand 
heh!  I dunno if they both still do actually, but they were doing when they 
first came out :-)  But I suppose, I bet the original buyers will have got 
*something* thrown in, even if it is just mats!

>> I bet it's the most comfy car on the market today (aside from like, 
>> rollers and stuff heh) pretty much.  Big Citroens are so nice to sit in. 
>> I've never sat in a new C6, perhaps I'll take the trip to Whitby to see 
>> it one time when you're there hehe :-)  It's only 20 miles or so from 
>> here!
>
> April '09! I'm skipping the October one but I might make a daytrip.
>
>> Awesome dude - good luck with it, hope it all goes smoothly and the 
>> dealer doesn't dick you about.  It sounds like you're as picky as me, so 
>> I assume you'll be going over the bodywork with a magnifying glass 
>> checking for imperfections before you sign on the line ;-) ?
>
> I'm going to be sensible, but yes, basically it's got to be perfect. They 
> have one almost right in stock, but it's grey and someone scratched the 
> bumper. My gut reaction is "don't want it", but realistically, what would 
> I do if someone scratched my bumper in a carpark? So if they offer 
> something which has a paint imperfection I will allow them the opportunity 
> to put it right.
>

I'd want to see the damage first.  If it has gone real deep, and would need 
filler, I'd want a new bumper on it.  And I'd wanna see it once fixed before 
I signed for it.  Preferably under some flourescent lights.  Or I suppose 
I'd wanna take some pictures and get them on the computer first - as that 
always shows up different coloured panels (how many do you see on eBay heh).

That may all be unreasonable - but when I'd paying all that money for a car, 
it's perfect, my idea of perfect, or I'm not doing it :-)

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"AstraVanMann"  wrote in message 
news:4dWdnd2agIIr_-bVnZ2dnUVZ8qvinZ2d@bt.com...

> Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone 
> else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or manual 
> that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch 
> any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, but 
> for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got an 
> extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an idea....

It's PSA, not Renault. Renault are the ones with the cheese autoboxes.

cheers,
clive

"Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:6e109sF4o11bU1@mid.individual.net...
> Adrian wrote:
>> Richard Kilpatrick  gurgled happily, sounding 
>> much
>> like they were saying:
>>
>>> Cross fingers for the right colour one being in the stock of pre-reg
>>> cars, please?
>>
>> To be honest, I don't think I'd sweat it - I've not seen one yet in a 
>> "bad" colour - all the various dark greys look superb, the reds are good, 
>> even "boring" silver works well.
>>
>> ...you bastard...
>
> I've yet to see a red with cream interior, which would be the really 
> "confident" combination. I like the dark blue, the dark green, I'm very 
> curious about the brownish/purple/Ganache (I think) colour, but black will 
> always win out for me.
>
> The overriding requirement is for a cream interior though, rather than the 
> exterior colour. I'm just sick of silver and grey cars. Be thankful they 
> don't come in yellow.
>

Yellow for the win :-D  Liquid Yellow at that!  Pearlescent yellow, in the 
sun it has all kindsa colours in it, purples, greens, it's a brilliant 
colour.  For the love of god don't get silver.  I hate silver cars, it's one 
of the reasons why the Vee went.  There is no satisfaction in cleaning them, 
cos they hardly look any better when you're done.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"Clive George"  wrote in message 
news:U72dnRobpPEC--bV4p2dnAA@posted.plusnet...
> "AstraVanMann"  wrote in message 
> news:4dWdnd2agIIr_-bVnZ2dnUVZ8qvinZ2d@bt.com...
>
>> Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone 
>> else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or 
>> manual that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not 
>> touch any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole 
>> newsgroup, but for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and 
>> if it's got an extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* 
>> mental an idea....
>
> It's PSA, not Renault. Renault are the ones with the cheese autoboxes.
>

Ah not anymore though!  One of the good things to come out of the Nissan buy 
in apparently.  Obviously I have no personal experience to call on, but 
that's what I've read heh.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

DanB  wrote:

> > Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone
> > else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or manual
> > that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch
> > any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, but
> > for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got an
> > extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an idea....
> >
> 
> Well, if it's anything like the Pug 407 Coupes SteveH has been looking at,
> with the V6 HDi box they're only available with the tiptronic 'box - but
> it's a ZF box these days so it might be ok he reckons.

I was wrong with ZF, it's actually Aisin.

Renaults are the ones to avoid....
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

AstraVanMann  wrote:

> > You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
> >
> > Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin to
> > just burning huge wads of cash?   Is that a good idea?  Serious question,
> > I'm not taking the piss (I'm sure SteveH will do that enough for us both
> > heh ;)).
> 
> And doubtless the impending recession that the media's talking itself into
> will creep into the thread somewhere at least a few times.....

It's not 'impending' it's here, and the effects are starting to
snowball. Just about every major housebuilder has pulled out of
part-completed developments and laid off hundreds, if not thousands of
staff. 100% mortgages just don't exist any more, 90% attracts hefty
penalties and even 80% mortgages are a struggle at competetive rates
these days.

All this means that car dealers are really struggling to shift stuff -
the ready supply of never-ending credit raised on the back of house
price rises has dried up.

That's an amazing deal on the C6 and I'd be tempted, too, at that price.

A few of us at work are checking the deals available almost daily to see
what's out there - Audi are desperate to shift A6s, personal leases on
A6 Limited Editions can be had for under 300 quid a month, and Saab have
just thrown a load of toys at the 9-5 Estate, meaning you get a £35k car
for £26k. Even better, some of the brokers have got that down to £21k in
the last week.

It's all good news if you're getting a car allowance, though, as there
are some great deals to be had out there - I'm toying with the idea of
walking into a Pug dealer with a few days left of August to see how much
I can get off a new 407 Coupe - the only problem with this is that the
'everything but the kitchen sink' GT spec. is now discontinued -
replaced by 'Sport Multimedia' which doesn't have the JBL audio or
leather. But it's worth a try, even if I have to add the JBL kit and
leather.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

"SteveH"  wrote in message 
news:1ik2sml.17h8ytq1fa1qhsN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
> DanB  wrote:
>
>> > Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone
>> > else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or 
>> > manual
>> > that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch
>> > any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, 
>> > but
>> > for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got 
>> > an
>> > extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an 
>> > idea....
>> >
>>
>> Well, if it's anything like the Pug 407 Coupes SteveH has been looking 
>> at,
>> with the V6 HDi box they're only available with the tiptronic 'box - but
>> it's a ZF box these days so it might be ok he reckons.
>
> I was wrong with ZF, it's actually Aisin.
>
> Renaults are the ones to avoid....
>

No no, as I said elsewhere, Renaults are apparently ok now thanks to Nissan.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

DanB  wrote:

> > I was wrong with ZF, it's actually Aisin.
> >
> > Renaults are the ones to avoid....
> >
> 
> No no, as I said elsewhere, Renaults are apparently ok now thanks to Nissan.

Didn't Nissan fit self-destructing CVT boxes to the Micra?
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

"SteveH"  wrote in message 
news:1ik2tat.1e9ehatl6hrtnN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
> DanB  wrote:
>
>> > I was wrong with ZF, it's actually Aisin.
>> >
>> > Renaults are the ones to avoid....
>> >
>>
>> No no, as I said elsewhere, Renaults are apparently ok now thanks to 
>> Nissan.
>
> Didn't Nissan fit self-destructing CVT boxes to the Micra?
>

Dunno, but anyone buying a CVT Micra deserves anything they got tbh.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

DanB  wrote:

> > You're sounding like SteveH...  Richard sounds nothing like SteveH.
> > Richard likes C6s and has bought one.  End of.  SteveH likes Alfa Romeos
> > and has written mini reviews of all sorts of machines under the sun but
> > appears no closer to buying a non-Alfa Romeo.  Or something; I've lost
> > interest / touch / the will to live.  Oh and SteveH has loads more money
> > than I do.
> >
> 
> No, you're just obsessed with SteveH - who had nothing to do with anything I
> wrote aside from a VERY obviously tongue in cheek remark.  We all know I'm
> the only other person in this group that doesn't care that much about
> depreciation, and doesn't mind losing lots of cash too it whilst buying a
> new car - hence why I spent £13k on a Renault Clio.

Given that he's supposed to know what he's talking about with regards to
this kind of stuff..... he is well aware that there isn't a big auto
Alfa saloon or coupe available within the constraints of my budget,
whilst ignoring the fact that for 8 years now we have owned and run at
least 1 Alfa as a daily driver.

Anyway, who cares. I'll continue posting when I drive something vaguely
interesting - my D-Day is something like the end of the month to decide
if I need to order a Kraut saloon or take the cash. Then there's 2-3
months in which I'll be shopping around looking for my ideal car.

Who knows, I may even be able to get a Brera JTDM Q-Tronic by then....
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

"DanB"  wrote in message 
news:6e165gF4p7r3U1@mid.individual.net...
> "DanB"  wrote in message 
> news:6e1574F4p8lvU1@mid.individual.net...
>> We all know I'm the only other person in this group that doesn't care 
>> that much about depreciation, and doesn't mind losing lots of cash too it 
>> whilst buying a new car - hence why I spent £13k on a Renault Clio.
>>
>
> Just in case anyone was gonna say anything, I signed for the Clio before I 
> knew I was terminally ill :-)
>

This has apparently caused confusion - what I mean is, I didn't stop 
worrying about depreciation only after I'd found out it wasn't going to 
matter to me, because I wasn't going to have a future to save money for - I 
signed for the Clio before I was told that (although I must admit, I 'knew' 
deep down anyway...).  But I'd have bought it either way anyway 'cos I liked 
it and it puts a smile on my face :-)

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"DanB"  wrote in message 
news:6e1574F4p8lvU1@mid.individual.net...
> "DervMan"  wrote in message 
> news:487af601$0$2527$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
>> "DanB"  wrote in message 
>> news:6dvlooF4ir5cU1@mid.individual.net...
>>> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
>>> news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>
>>>>
>>> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
>>>
>>> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin 
>>> to just burning huge wads of cash?
>>
>> Except buying any new car is like burning a wad of cash.  Buying a used 
>> one means burning less, relative to the same new car, but still burning 
>> it. Here, Richard has decided what he wants and that's the end of it, 
>> bought, job done (we hope).
>
> I was asking a genuine question, I wanted to know whether I'd been 
> mis-educated, and whether Richard had got a stonkingly good deal.  I'm all 
> for Richard spending lots of cash on a new car.  It's good, new cars are 
> way nicer to own than second hand ones to me.  I was just interested to 
> hear Richard's thoughts on it.  I didn't ask for yours, but as usual you 
> turned round what I said, to pick faults in it.  Why do you always do 
> that?  Go along replying to all my posts and polite disagree with it?

It's not all about you; why do you always assume I'm having a go?

<re-reads>

Nah it doesn't read bitchy to me, but perhaps that's my problem?

>>> Is that a good idea?  Serious question, I'm not taking the piss (I'm 
>>> sure SteveH will do that enough for us both heh ;)).
>>
>> You're sounding like SteveH...  Richard sounds nothing like SteveH. 
>> Richard likes C6s and has bought one.  End of.  SteveH likes Alfa Romeos 
>> and has written mini reviews of all sorts of machines under the sun but 
>> appears no closer to buying a non-Alfa Romeo.  Or something; I've lost 
>> interest / touch / the will to live.  Oh and SteveH has loads more money 
>> than I do.
>>
> No, you're just obsessed with SteveH - who had nothing to do with anything 
> I wrote aside from a VERY obviously tongue in cheek remark.  We all know 
> I'm the only other person in this group that doesn't care that much about 
> depreciation, and doesn't mind losing lots of cash too it whilst buying a 
> new car - hence why I spent £13k on a Renault Clio.



-- 
The DervMan
www.dervman.com

"Clive George"  wrote in message 
news:stWdnT7fHreYxebVnZ2dnUVZ8vSdnZ2d@posted.plusnet...
> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
> news:6e12aoF4qh8dU1@mid.individual.net...
>> Clive George wrote:
>>
>>>> Buying any car is burning cash, frankly; doesn't matter what you get, 
>>>> unless it's a shed of an old Focus or similar and you don't maintain 
>>>> it, it's going to cost.
>>>
>>> Um, you can run old stuff and maintain it at not much cost. On a bad 
>>> year my car costs about as much as one of your monthly payments :-)
>>>
>>> (of course to me Focus still counts as new)
>>>
>>> You want to spend the money, fair enough - but don't go pretending it's 
>>> a budget option.
>>
>> Yeah. I mean, I doubt I'm all that experienced really.
>
> No need to get snarky - I know you've had loads of old stuff. Which makes 
> it all the more odd what you originally said.
>
>> At present, and for the foreseeable future, I won't have time or a garage 
>> to work on cars in. The cheapest banger I've had realistically was my 
>> 1999 Astra 1.7TD; unlike most cheap cars I've had it drove well on the 
>> motorway and was comfortable (when you're doing up to 4,000 miles in a 
>> month, vibrating front ends and imbalanced brakes get a bit tiresome).
>>
>> It cost £650, and lasted 8 months as a second car; it lasted about 17,000 
>> miles IIRC. It suffered wheelbearing failure at a cost of £67 and I had 
>> time to DIY that, I'm not counting tyres or brakes as they are wear and 
>> tear items (though in the course of used cars, I've always had to 
>> replaced one or both of these, whereas when I've run a new car I've often 
>> had the duration of the contract hire without ever needing either 
>> replacing, so the odd £150 here and there certainly comes out of my 
>> budget when it may not otherwise do so).
>>
>> When the Astra died it needed a diesel pump at a minimum cost of 
>> £500+labour.
>
> Yeah. My current BX has lasted me > 4 years, cost 500 quid, and I still 
> think is comfortable. Biggest bill has been a new clutch, which I count as 
> wear and tear. So I think that's "our experiences vary".
>

This is the dilemma I have at the moment. I now have money, but I'm finding 
it hard to bring myself to spend it on something that will depreciate a lot. 
So far I've looked and tested a couple of MX-5s, a Robin Hood Caterham 
thing, an MGF,a couple of Focii a VR6 and a Imprez and a Puma. All very nice 
at what they're supposed to do, but I could also find an old, but well 
treated Xant or Mondeo that will do me for 1/4 of the price I'm looking to 
spend.  It was more fun looking for a car when I couldn't afford one..

Mike P

Clive George wrote:
> "AstraVanMann"  wrote in message 
> news:4dWdnd2agIIr_-bVnZ2dnUVZ8qvinZ2d@bt.com...
> 
>> Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone 
>> else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or manual 
>> that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch 
>> any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, but 
>> for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got an 
>> extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an idea....
> 
> It's PSA, not Renault. Renault are the ones with the cheese autoboxes.

BX autos used a ZF gearbox AIUI.

-- 
Douglas

Clive George wrote:
> "AstraVanMann"  wrote in message 
> news:4dWdnd2agIIr_-bVnZ2dnUVZ8qvinZ2d@bt.com...
> 
>> Sounds you're going to end up really happy with it, so fuck what anyone 
>> else thinks and enjoy the thing!  Just one thing - is it an auto or manual 
>> that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not touch 
>> any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole newsgroup, but 
>> for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice, and if it's got an 
>> extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be *too* mental an idea....
> 
> It's PSA, not Renault. Renault are the ones with the cheese autoboxes.

Oh, and the GM auto in my Clarton was made in France.  I broke it at 
180,000 miles by running over a lorry tyre.

-- 
Douglas

DanB wrote:
> "SteveH"  wrote in message 
> news:1ik2tat.1e9ehatl6hrtnN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>> DanB  wrote:
>>
>>>> I was wrong with ZF, it's actually Aisin.
>>>>
>>>> Renaults are the ones to avoid....
>>>>
>>> No no, as I said elsewhere, Renaults are apparently ok now thanks to 
>>> Nissan.
>> Didn't Nissan fit self-destructing CVT boxes to the Micra?
>>
> 
> Dunno, but anyone buying a CVT Micra deserves anything they got tbh.

Are you trying to say that my gran deserved to die simply because she 
bought a CVT Micra?  Because thats what it looks like.  You cad.

-- 
Douglas

In article , news@dmc12.demon.co.uk 
says...
> April '09! I'm skipping the October one but I might make a daytrip.
> 
You better bloody had make a day trip.
I'm doing my first one, and accomadation booked, and ticket booked from 
vagabonds.com as the office site is currently "Out of stock". 

Did you know so far confirmed is
Specimen
Christian Death
Wayne Hussey solo
Voltaire.
Plus a couple of other TBCs
-- 
Carl Robson
Audio stream: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com:8000/samtest
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

Elder wrote:
> In article , news@dmc12.demon.co.uk 
> says...
>> April '09! I'm skipping the October one but I might make a daytrip.
>>
> You better bloody had make a day trip.
> I'm doing my first one, and accomadation booked, and ticket booked from 
> vagabonds.com as the office site is currently "Out of stock". 
> 
> Did you know so far confirmed is
> Specimen
> Christian Death
> Wayne Hussey solo
> Voltaire.
> Plus a couple of other TBCs

I saw Wayne Hussey with The Misson before, he was good. And drunk. He 
piggyback rode his minder out of the stage...

There will definitely be a daytrip - it's just that I'm going to 
Convergence, so the money for that means no Whitby. That, and the 
accommodation is fiercely expensive lately.

Richard

"Mike P"  wrote in message 
news:6e1as0F4q9oqU1@mid.individual.net...
>
>
> This is the dilemma I have at the moment. I now have money, but I'm 
> finding it hard to bring myself to spend it on something that will 
> depreciate a lot. So far I've looked and tested a couple of MX-5s, a Robin 
> Hood Caterham thing, an MGF,a couple of Focii a VR6 and a Imprez and a 
> Puma. All very nice at what they're supposed to do, but I could also find 
> an old, but well treated Xant or Mondeo that will do me for 1/4 of the 
> price I'm looking to spend.  It was more fun looking for a car when I 
> couldn't afford one..
>

Well you could, but I was of the impression you were looking for something 
fun as a 2nd car?  Not just an old Mundano...?

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"Douglas Payne"  wrote in message 
news:6e1bm6F4qoohU3@mid.individual.net...
> DanB wrote:
>> "SteveH"  wrote in message 
>> news:1ik2tat.1e9ehatl6hrtnN%steve@italiancar.co.uk...
>>> DanB  wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I was wrong with ZF, it's actually Aisin.
>>>>>
>>>>> Renaults are the ones to avoid....
>>>>>
>>>> No no, as I said elsewhere, Renaults are apparently ok now thanks to 
>>>> Nissan.
>>> Didn't Nissan fit self-destructing CVT boxes to the Micra?
>>>
>>
>> Dunno, but anyone buying a CVT Micra deserves anything they got tbh.
>
> Are you trying to say that my gran deserved to die simply because she 
> bought a CVT Micra?  Because thats what it looks like.  You cad.
>

"Everything they got, from the car" then heh!  Unreliability etc heh!

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:49:19 +0100, Mike P wrote:

> This is the dilemma I have at the moment. I now have money, but I'm
> finding it hard to bring myself to spend it on something that will
> depreciate a lot. So far I've looked and tested a couple of MX-5s, a
> Robin Hood Caterham thing, an MGF,a couple of Focii a VR6 and a Imprez
> and a Puma. All very nice at what they're supposed to do, but I could
> also find an old, but well treated Xant or Mondeo that will do me for
> 1/4 of the price I'm looking to spend.  It was more fun looking for a
> car when I couldn't afford one..
> 

Well you could always go for a real classic - get the right car and 
depreciation becomes something that happens to other people.An F40 or 959 
might be out of reach, but I'm sure there are classics in your price 
range that are both fun to drive and practical enough.

"DanB"  wrote in message 
news:6e1c4gF4q7nrU1@mid.individual.net...
> "Mike P"  wrote in message 
> news:6e1as0F4q9oqU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>>
>> This is the dilemma I have at the moment. I now have money, but I'm 
>> finding it hard to bring myself to spend it on something that will 
>> depreciate a lot. So far I've looked and tested a couple of MX-5s, a 
>> Robin Hood Caterham thing, an MGF,a couple of Focii a VR6 and a Imprez 
>> and a Puma. All very nice at what they're supposed to do, but I could 
>> also find an old, but well treated Xant or Mondeo that will do me for 1/4 
>> of the price I'm looking to spend.  It was more fun looking for a car 
>> when I couldn't afford one..
>>
>
> Well you could, but I was of the impression you were looking for something 
> fun as a 2nd car?  Not just an old Mundano...?
>

Yeah, I am looking for something fun,  My moan is more that I'm actually 
finding it hard to convince myself to part with the cash and then inevitably 
lose money,  rather than decide what car I want :-)

Mike P

Mike P wrote:
> "DanB"  wrote in message 
> news:6e1c4gF4q7nrU1@mid.individual.net...
>> "Mike P"  wrote in message 
>> news:6e1as0F4q9oqU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>
>>> This is the dilemma I have at the moment. I now have money, but I'm 
>>> finding it hard to bring myself to spend it on something that will 
>>> depreciate a lot. So far I've looked and tested a couple of MX-5s, a 
>>> Robin Hood Caterham thing, an MGF,a couple of Focii a VR6 and a Imprez 
>>> and a Puma. All very nice at what they're supposed to do, but I could 
>>> also find an old, but well treated Xant or Mondeo that will do me for 1/4 
>>> of the price I'm looking to spend.  It was more fun looking for a car 
>>> when I couldn't afford one..
>>>
>> Well you could, but I was of the impression you were looking for something 
>> fun as a 2nd car?  Not just an old Mundano...?
>>
> 
> Yeah, I am looking for something fun,  My moan is more that I'm actually 
> finding it hard to convince myself to part with the cash and then inevitably 
> lose money,  rather than decide what car I want :-)

Want an MR2 T-bar, '97, for £1650? If I remove the satnav gear and fit a 
new alternator, that's what I'll take for it.

It might depreciate a little bit still, but not much ;)

Richard

"PCPaul"  wrote in message 
news:BWKek.26594$E41.25567@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> On Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:49:19 +0100, Mike P wrote:
>
>> This is the dilemma I have at the moment. I now have money, but I'm
>> finding it hard to bring myself to spend it on something that will
>> depreciate a lot. So far I've looked and tested a couple of MX-5s, a
>> Robin Hood Caterham thing, an MGF,a couple of Focii a VR6 and a Imprez
>> and a Puma. All very nice at what they're supposed to do, but I could
>> also find an old, but well treated Xant or Mondeo that will do me for
>> 1/4 of the price I'm looking to spend.  It was more fun looking for a
>> car when I couldn't afford one..
>>
>
> Well you could always go for a real classic - get the right car and
> depreciation becomes something that happens to other people.An F40 or 959
> might be out of reach, but I'm sure there are classics in your price
> range that are both fun to drive and practical enough.

Oh, there are many, but here's my problem again - I'd use it a lot as a 
daily driver as it's . I could buy a nice Scimitar or a Triumph Vitesse for 
what I want to spend and it would be a minter. It might not be by the time 
I've had if for two years though. I like to use the cars, not clean them 
incessantly and I'd be scared of it rotting away before me or me "spoiling" 
a good classic that could be better treated by someone else IYSWIM.

We're going to look at another MX-5 tonight. I wanted an MGB, but I reckon 
spending the same amount on a MX-5 will get me a car that does the same 
thing as a B, but doesn't break down or leak oil all over my drive ;-)

Mike P

"Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
news:6e1d7mF4sqlbU1@mid.individual.net...
> Mike P wrote:
>> "DanB"  wrote in message 
>> news:6e1c4gF4q7nrU1@mid.individual.net...
>>> "Mike P"  wrote in message 
>>> news:6e1as0F4q9oqU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>
>>>> This is the dilemma I have at the moment. I now have money, but I'm 
>>>> finding it hard to bring myself to spend it on something that will 
>>>> depreciate a lot. So far I've looked and tested a couple of MX-5s, a 
>>>> Robin Hood Caterham thing, an MGF,a couple of Focii a VR6 and a Imprez 
>>>> and a Puma. All very nice at what they're supposed to do, but I could 
>>>> also find an old, but well treated Xant or Mondeo that will do me for 
>>>> 1/4 of the price I'm looking to spend.  It was more fun looking for a 
>>>> car when I couldn't afford one..
>>>>
>>> Well you could, but I was of the impression you were looking for 
>>> something fun as a 2nd car?  Not just an old Mundano...?
>>>
>>
>> Yeah, I am looking for something fun,  My moan is more that I'm actually 
>> finding it hard to convince myself to part with the cash and then 
>> inevitably lose money,  rather than decide what car I want :-)
>
> Want an MR2 T-bar, '97, for £1650? If I remove the satnav gear and fit a 
> new alternator, that's what I'll take for it.
>
> It might depreciate a little bit still, but not much ;)
>

Have you got pics? Missus wants a trip to Scotland as it happens..

Mike P

In article , news@dmc12.demon.co.uk 
says...
> it's just that I'm going to 
> Convergence,
> 
You are excused then.
Want plenty of photos of our colonial cousins in black.
-- 
Carl Robson
Audio stream: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com:8000/samtest
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

"DanB"  gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

> I'd want to see the damage first.  If it has gone real deep, and would
> need filler, I'd want a new bumper on it.  And I'd wanna see it once
> fixed before I signed for it.  Preferably under some flourescent lights.
>  Or I suppose I'd wanna take some pictures and get them on the computer
> first - as that always shows up different coloured panels (how many do
> you see on eBay heh).
> 
> That may all be unreasonable - but when I'd paying all that money for a
> car, it's perfect, my idea of perfect, or I'm not doing it :-)

A very large percentage of new cars have been damaged & repaired in 
transit to this country/the dealer - and the customer never knows.

"AstraVanMann"  gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

> Just one thing - is it an auto or
> manual that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not
> touch any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole
> newsgroup, but for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice,
> and if it's got an extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be
> *too* mental an idea....

Only the 2.2HDi comes with manual box - and that loses a RAFT of kit over 
the v6s - adjustable dampers, pop-up rear spoiler, pyrotechnic bonnet...

Don't get PSA autoboxes confused with Renault - La Regie make their own, 
badly. PSA use proper ZF boxes.

Douglas Payne  gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

> BX autos used a ZF gearbox AIUI.

BX, CX, XM, Xant, C5 etc etc.

"DervMan"  wrote in message 
news:487b74ac$0$26078$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
> "DanB"  wrote in message 
> news:6e1574F4p8lvU1@mid.individual.net...
>> "DervMan"  wrote in message 
>> news:487af601$0$2527$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
>>> "DanB"  wrote in message 
>>> news:6dvlooF4ir5cU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>> "Richard Kilpatrick"  wrote in message 
>>>> news:6dvjneF4j9mgU1@mid.individual.net...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> You're financing a brand new, big Citroen, with your own money...?
>>>>
>>>> Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always been taught that is akin 
>>>> to just burning huge wads of cash?
>>>
>>> Except buying any new car is like burning a wad of cash.  Buying a used 
>>> one means burning less, relative to the same new car, but still burning 
>>> it. Here, Richard has decided what he wants and that's the end of it, 
>>> bought, job done (we hope).
>>
>> I was asking a genuine question, I wanted to know whether I'd been 
>> mis-educated, and whether Richard had got a stonkingly good deal.  I'm 
>> all for Richard spending lots of cash on a new car.  It's good, new cars 
>> are way nicer to own than second hand ones to me.  I was just interested 
>> to hear Richard's thoughts on it.  I didn't ask for yours, but as usual 
>> you turned round what I said, to pick faults in it.  Why do you always do 
>> that?  Go along replying to all my posts and polite disagree with it?
>
> It's not all about you; why do you always assume I'm having a go?
>

Because for some reason, you reply to every one of my posts in the same 
patronising manner, disagreeing with everything I say as if you're doing me 
a favour and 'educating' me - then go on to talk about SteveH/Passats/etc 
etc etc.

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

"Adrian"  wrote in message 
news:6e1e4nF4ktmrU1@mid.individual.net...
> "DanB"  gurgled happily, sounding much like
> they were saying:
>
>> I'd want to see the damage first.  If it has gone real deep, and would
>> need filler, I'd want a new bumper on it.  And I'd wanna see it once
>> fixed before I signed for it.  Preferably under some flourescent lights.
>>  Or I suppose I'd wanna take some pictures and get them on the computer
>> first - as that always shows up different coloured panels (how many do
>> you see on eBay heh).
>>
>> That may all be unreasonable - but when I'd paying all that money for a
>> car, it's perfect, my idea of perfect, or I'm not doing it :-)
>
> A very large percentage of new cars have been damaged & repaired in
> transit to this country/the dealer - and the customer never knows.

ISTR I was the one who posted that first in that other thread heh.  If I 
don't know about it, I can't be upset about it - so that's ok :-)

-- 
Dan
Clio R27 F1 #65

Adrian  wrote:

> "AstraVanMann"  gurgled happily, sounding
> much like they were saying:
> 
> > Just one thing - is it an auto or
> > manual that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not
> > touch any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole
> > newsgroup, but for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice,
> > and if it's got an extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be
> > *too* mental an idea....
> 
> Only the 2.2HDi comes with manual box - and that loses a RAFT of kit over
> the v6s - adjustable dampers, pop-up rear spoiler, pyrotechnic bonnet...
> 
> Don't get PSA autoboxes confused with Renault - La Regie make their own,
> badly. PSA use proper ZF boxes.

Aisin, in this case. I assume it's the same box as fitted to the 407
Coupe.

I'm pretty hacked off with Peugeot - they've discontinued the GT spec.
coupes, replacing them with a cut down 'Sport Multimedia' - which is
missing the lovely saddle stitch leather, JBL audio, front parking
sensors (lets be honest, with a nose that big, you'll need them),
bi-xenon headlamps and a few other more minor bits and pieces.

I had been kind of hoping to force a deal on a new one, with their 0%
finance deal, but it looks like I'll have to settle for one that's a
couple of years old instead.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

Adrian wrote:
> "AstraVanMann"  gurgled happily, sounding
> much like they were saying:
> 
>> Just one thing - is it an auto or
>> manual that you've bought?  Obviously the sensible thing would be to not
>> touch any french auto with the combined barge poles of this whole
>> newsgroup, but for the type of car, auto would be the obvious choice,
>> and if it's got an extended warranty, then I suppose it wouldn't be
>> *too* mental an idea....
> 
> Only the 2.2HDi comes with manual box - and that loses a RAFT of kit over 
> the v6s - adjustable dampers, pop-up rear spoiler, pyrotechnic bonnet...
> 
> Don't get PSA autoboxes confused with Renault - La Regie make their own, 
> badly. PSA use proper ZF boxes.
Since you mentioned PSA slushboxes, do you have any experience of the 
EGS? Sounds like an automated manual box.

http://www.citroen.co.uk/technology/innovation/egs/

>> Dunno, but anyone buying a CVT Micra deserves anything they got tbh.
>
> Are you trying to say that my gran deserved to die simply because she 
> bought a CVT Micra?  Because thats what it looks like.  You cad.

Yeah, and I heard about someone who bought a CVT Micra who then went on to 
get syphilis.  What are you trying to say, Steve?

-- 
"For want of the price of tea and a slice, the old man died."

Chris Bartram  gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

> Since you mentioned PSA slushboxes, do you have any experience of the
> EGS? Sounds like an automated manual box.
> 
> http://www.citroen.co.uk/technology/innovation/egs/

Not personally, but everybody that I've spoken to who has tried it 
_loves_ it.

"DanB"  gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

>> A very large percentage of new cars have been damaged & repaired in
>> transit to this country/the dealer - and the customer never knows.

> ISTR I was the one who posted that first in that other thread heh.  If I
> don't know about it, I can't be upset about it - so that's ok :-)

"What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over" Or something.

Years ago, my landlord at the time rolled up in a brand-new-just-
collected-this-morning Chavalier.

"Mmm. Very nice. Shame it couldn't have been repaired better"
The front wing was a completely different shade, massive overspray on 
rubber around a couple of edges, bad orange-peel... Took me ten minutes 
to persuade 'em, but when they "saw it", they SAW IT.

Next time I saw 'em, they were in a different car, having thrown that one 
back at the dealer... Did I get a thank-you? Did I buggery.

I also went round Skoda UK in Kings Lynn, back in the mid 80s - you could 
tell which panels had been UK-rectified on the cars kicking about. They 
were MUCH better painted...

Adrian  wrote:

> Chris Bartram  gurgled happily, sounding
> much like they were saying:
> 
> > Since you mentioned PSA slushboxes, do you have any experience of the
> > EGS? Sounds like an automated manual box.
> > 
> > http://www.citroen.co.uk/technology/innovation/egs/
> 
> Not personally, but everybody that I've spoken to who has tried it 
> _loves_ it.

Looks like it's yet another self-destructing Sillyspeed / DSG box.
-- 
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Ducati 750SS - Hongdou GY200
Alfa 75 TSpark - Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE

In article , toomany2cvs@gmail.com 
says...
> I also went round Skoda UK in Kings Lynn, back in the mid 80s - you could 
> tell which panels had been UK-rectified on the cars kicking about. They 
> were MUCH better painted...
> 
A fellow Skonut bought a 1200 mile from new 1984 120L estelle from an 
old bloke.

There was a little overspray on the wing but no sign of bog or dents 
visible inside the panel.

The concesus was that it was damaged on the boat over. They weren't 
loaded below deck like modern western cars, they lived on top in any 
space available. They were strapped down but a lot of heavy tat on the 
deck wasn't.

-- 
Carl Robson
Audio stream: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com:8000/samtest
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

Adrian wrote:
> Chris Bartram  gurgled happily, sounding
> much like they were saying:
> 
>> Since you mentioned PSA slushboxes, do you have any experience of the
>> EGS? Sounds like an automated manual box.
>>
>> http://www.citroen.co.uk/technology/innovation/egs/
> 
> Not personally, but everybody that I've spoken to who has tried it 
> _loves_ it.


An acquaintance is about to buy one. He test drove it and liked it, but 
I didn't even know PSA did such a thing.