Hope my brother in law doesn't mind me sharing this, but he went to B&Q yesterday, bought some paint and then couldn't quite work out why every driver behind him kept flashing him when he was driving home...
Ok team. Here she is. The most ridiculous car purchase I've ever made and may ever make. But I love her. An absolutely spectacular car. Will likely take me a week to clean her after driving back from Maidenhead in biblical weather but who cares.
I own an 8.32.
Dream achieved. I love it. Taken a lot of hard work to get to a point where I could justify buying something like this. In fact I'm still not sure it's justified but... well, I've done it anyway.
What are the best rear lights ever fitted to a car?
(Doing this for an actual thing rather than engagement farming, BTW!)
A few options for you below to get you thinking.
I'm genuinely overwhelmed by the reaction to the Thema. I thought a few people would "get it" but that it would remain, as it has always been, very much a niche interest, but it seems lots of you like it.
So here's the tiny back story to how I came to own this car.
๐งต
Didn't wake up thinking I would be going to Egham today, but that's what I did. My reward was seeing one of my all time automotive heroes. In the RIGHT colour (the same as the one in the brochure, albeit with black rather than tan leather).
Ladies and gents: Lancia Thema 8.32
I'm biased, obvs, but I still don't get why these remain so cheap. You won't find a cheaper modern classic that gives you as much fun in something so usable. Rasping twin cam, superb handling, Pininfarina styling, practical, lovely (albeit creaky) interior. All for 2-3k. Superb.
People = weird.
Just took the Sprite to Marlborough to buy ball-ended allen keys and wine (as you do).
Nissan Navara guy lets me out at a roundabout, looking very angry, then yells "it stinks" at me from his window when we stopped at the lights.
Anyway here's the Sprite y'day.
Well I am absolutely delighted with this. A tad soft of suspension after 160k miles, but superb engine, 50mpg at 80mph, comfortable and everything works apart from the rear windscreen wiper. Assuming it doesn't go bang any time soon (...), could be the best ยฃ750 I've ever spent.
What is fascinating at the moment is the fact that our broadcast journalists are finally growing teeth. And almost all of the ones who are finally skewering the politicians' lies are female. Massive respect to
@KayBurley
@maitlis
and
@susannareid100
Just been for a spirited hour's drive in this to fully charge up the battery. Just the best fun.
If you've never tried a GTV, do so. I don't think they'll ever be worth big money but they'll never be cheaper than they are now. ยฃ2-3k for this much fun and those looks? Bargain.
Twitter, predictably, a sewer of political arseholery now. So fuck it all. I'm putting my blinkers on, inserting my earplugs and starting to tweet pics I've taken in 2024 of nice cars.
Starting with this. Because if you can't appreciate an orange Montreal, you're dead inside.
Of all the cars you've owned, which did you love the most?
Mine was a 2007 Skoda Octavia vRS estate in black like this one. Reg was OE57EWR. My first performance car, very lowly spec (rear keep fit windows) but I adored it. A perfect all round car.
One of the other dads from my son's football sells Land Rovers for a living + turned up in this tonight.
Me: 'Ooh a Wolf? Not your usual thing.'
Him: 'No... But it's got a 390bhp, 4.9ltr V8'
Me: 'Wow. Fun?'
Him: 'Actually it's a bit much. All 4 wheels spinning in 2nd'
A metallic black G60 Corrado running on 944S2 rims and a most agreeable stance feels like just the tonic for a Tuesday evening.
#marlboroughalwaysdelivers
Had my first quote on the belts for the Thema. I won't share the exact details here, but to give you an idea, c.ยฃ250-300 for parts (belts and bearings) and "up to 2 days' labour".
All basically due to lack of access.
Hey ho. It's worth it. (And more quotes to come).
Brilliant day at
@rustivalfest
today. You will not find a more eclectic mix of cars and owners anywhere. I literally chatted from 9.00am to 3.30pm.
This is going to be a quick thread as I want to mention all of the people who I chatted with. Deep breath...
Having achieved a dream in January this year, I'm finding myself wondering if I see the 996 as a long term car.
Here's a little thread on it and its predecessor, the 986 Boxster I had for 6 years.
Had a great fun experience at Goodwood today sliding a BMW M2 around. But this on the way home was probably the highlight... GL spec with original wheeltrims FTW
@ChodSpot
@Keith_Adams___
@James_Walshe
@Scrof
Couldn't fail to stop for this. BX 4x4 estate parked up in deepest Wiltshire. Judging by recent exhaust it's still very much in use. Paging
@ChodSpot
@HubNutVids
@UPnDOWNvids
Annoying. In 32 years of driving, and c.450k miles, I've only ever been done for speeding once (no points - did a speed awareness course).
Went to the Netherlands for less than 24 hours a couple of weeks ago, drove for 2.5 hours and got nabbed on a motorway.
Hey ho. Mea culpa.
Genuine question: I probably can't afford the Type R, BUT with finance now available on classics I could spend the theoretical money on something totally different.
A quick search on
@carandclassic
tells me I could get any one of these for the same money. Which would you go for?
@CarProductsTest
Thing is, I don't actually mind paying it. The fact is that public services cost money.
But the increases in vehicle excise duty have been inversely proportional to the quality of the roads we drive on.
That's why it feels unfair.
With the BMW's MoT a week away, I've been looking at possible replacements if it fails majorly (it might, but then again it might not).
Given ยฃ4k to spend on a reliable, practical, but interesting daily, what would you go for?
Me? W124 I think.
To think that
@jeremycorbyn
could have avoided all this unpleasantness by simply using a non-gender-specific term like "fucking cretin" instead...
#PMQs
#stupidwomangate
The GTV is back! 7 weeks and a day since it went off for a cam belt and an MoT.
Long story but very pleased to have it back. Less pleased about the bill but let's ignore that.
I put in my usual Lancia search criteria but forgot to complete the "year to" field. And there, by accident, was the car I'd seen 2 yrs ago, on a new but quite poorly written ad, well within budget.
I assumed it would be a shed but it's really not. So basically I HAD to buy it.
Bye bye, 911. You were a fabulous thing, when I was in the mood.
Two days to wait until the successor arrives.
Suspect there will be limited sleep between now and then due to extreme excitement. And some nervousness...
Always worth shopping around. Remember I had a quote to change the oil cooler on my 996? ยฃ2k+VAT, because "the engine needed to be dropped"?
Quote from another specialist: ยฃ444+VAT.
So, sadly, the old specialist I'd used for years won't be getting any more of my business.
Off to Goodwood Revival Friday. Nervy about taking the Sprite as I've only done c.80 miles in it. VMax = 60, it's 61 y/o, no room for right shoe, flimsy hood.
The Lancia comes back tomorrow after cambelts done. Cold air con, big comfy seats, woofling V8, roof.
Which do I take?
Spotted this magnificent survivor yesterday at Porlock Weir. Proper colour, lovely nick, busy doing what they do best and just being a highly practical barge.
Cleaned, polished (kinda) and chammied, waiting for
@carandclassic
to turn up tomorrow to take photos.
When I look at it, I literally can't understand why I'm selling it.
But as wonderful as it is, it's just not the car I want right now. Dream fulfilled, now time to move on.
Belatedly wanted to introduce you to this. It's in no way fun, interesting or exciting. But early signs are it's just the job as a daily.
58k miles, FULL service history, decent but not lavish spec, excellent condition (not a mark on it), painfully white. Perfect family wagon.
Interesting test drive experience this morning. Was pootling along in this beautiful Fiat 124 Coupรฉ. Came round a mild right hander onto a long straight, gently accelerated...
...and the offside rear wheel fell off.
All four nuts and one stud gone. Other studs loose. Fun times.
Err, listen up team: there's an immaculate Thema going up for auction on
@carandclassic
in a few days. For some reason I can't link to it but here's a pic.
Non turbo 2.0ie, 65k miles. Weston Super Mare. Someone from
#weirdcartwitter
will surely want this?
Does anyone else get a kind of mania when planning a vehicle buy? Like you can't think about anything else, all objectivity vanishes and only when you've pushed the button does the horror of what you've done kick in? Anyone?
Anyway just put a holding deposit down on a new KTM.
C.5 yrs ago a couple of disastrous jobs knocked my spannering confidence. A big reason for buying the Sprite is to get it back.
You'll laugh at this, but today I replaced a sidelight, adjusted the idle and cleaned the air filters.
Baby steps / tons more to do, but it's a start.
In disturbing news, Child
#1
did a trial shift waitressing in a v nice Italian restaurant tonight.
She got the job. Good pay BUT they also give all staff a meal to take away at the end of their shift.
So basically, delicious pizza will now be entering our house 3 times a week.
Darling wife wanders into the kitchen sporting a natty new jumper. Pink and off-white stripes.
Wife: I have bought a new jumper.
Me: Ooh. You look like a Drumstick.
Apparently this is not the appropriate response when your spouse has a new jumper.
Arsebags.
ยฃ60 fine for entering Birmingham's "Clean Air Zone".
My fault so it's a fair cop, but I literally had no idea Birmingham had a clean air zone.
You live and learn.
I spotted the very car I've now bought lurking in Waitrose car park. Got quite a few likes then too...
Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, and I'd just received money for my 996 and was planning to buy a Fulvia. Had found the one I wanted, and then just did a last search on C&C...
In 1988 my dad took me to the motor show at the NEC in Birmingham. That was back in the day when motor shows meant something. Great day, saw the XJ220 and wandered round picking up brochures. Including this one.
Just done the BIG Christmas shop at Sainsburys in Swindon and what should I see outside but this S-reg beauty. Sorry for the average photo but the owner was sat in the car with his son so couldn't get too close...
@ChodSpot
Why wouldn't you take your slightly ratty GT350 to the garden centre on a Sunday?
Sounded awesome as it pulled away. Suspect it might be owned by a Lindsay, as they live about 2 miles from here and the condition and motorsports stickers suggest it's very well used.
Grey. Someone has painted an F40 grey. Not metallic grey, you understand: just shitty undercoat grey.
This colour is the greatest con ever foisted upon the car buying public. Stop. It. Now.
Refinished in Nardo Gray, this 1989 Ferrari F40, Chassis No. 80782, provides up to 1000hp from its tuned, matching-numbers V8. Crossing the block at the 2023 Scottsdale Auction with No Reserve, January 21-29 at WestWorld.
Ok. Let's try again.
12 months advisory free MoT applied two days ago. IMS and clutch done 2 years ago, superb condition, PCCM+, sports seats, 103k miles.
It's a beauty. Get some.
I just loved how mad this car was + this interior shot has been stared at for countless hours over the years.
I toyed with buying one yrs ago but life got in the way, but I regularly checked eBay, AT, C&C etc for 8.32s...
Anyway, two yrs ago I went to Egham unexpectedly and...
Impossible to overstate the condition of this E30. Just superb. The interior is literally like new.
Oh and don't slag off the parking: everyone parks on the pavement on this road as it's very narrow.
Having flogged 2 cars + only bought 1 replacement (strict-one out, one-in policy), i needed to fill the spare garage.
So I've bought a Mk2 Austin Healey Sprite. Paintwork's awful and it's only just been put back on the road so unproven but should be fun to drive and tinker with.
Never heard of DR Automobiles until today. Apparently they buy in Chinese cars and rebadge them.
No clue therefore what this actually is.
Also... awful badge.