Fleet quandary - what to keep, what to sell...
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From: Timo Geusch on 6 Jan 2008 16:43 Carl Gibbs wrote: > > "Timo Geusch" <tnewsSPAMMENOT(a)unixconsult.co.uk> wrote in message > news:xn0fkvguyrk1pf007(a)nermal.unix-consult.com... > > Iridium wrote: > > > >>"Timo Geusch" <tnewsSPAMMENOT(a)unixconsult.co.uk> wrote in message > > > news:xn0fkvgd5quatf005(a)nermal.unix-consult.com... > > > > > >>> I need the RWD equivalent of a hot hatch (and no, I don't want a > >>> Lotus Sunbeam either). > > > > > > > > > > Clio V6 :-p > > > > Care to drop by so we an see if we can get a decent-sized suitcase > > in? > > > > :D > > > > Actually the bloke I just bought a hardtop off has shown me the > > luggage rack for his MX-5. A lot bigger and sturdier than the > > normal chrome & wood jobbies you see on ebay. Definitely big enough > > to hold the problematic suitcase. > > > > If I could find one of them, this may become a non-issue. > > > When we had our MX5 we bought some specially designed holdalls that > could fit on the self behind the drivers seat, and they had straps so > you could attach them to the support bar for when you had the roof > down. Very useful for a weekend away. They were called something > amusing like Jizz Bags. Dont quote me on that though. Now that would sound like a reasonable idea if it wasn't for the fact that the MX5 is getting a rollbar if I'm going to keep it... > Also the MX5 space saver spare fits nicely behind the passenger seat > if you move it forward, which makes the boot a lot more useable. I'll have to try that. I also seem to vaguely remember that some folks in Oz or NZ managed to mount the spare underneath the car, which frees up a lot of boot space. Of course a can of Tyreweld may be the better overall solution anyway. > And as you say the some after market luggage racks are actually quite > good. It's just a matter of finding the right one and working out if my suitcase is waterproof... > So IMHO, keep the MX5! Possibly. Depends on the insurance shock I may potentially get tomorrow. -- '89 Mazda RX-7 Convertible '92 Mazda RX-7
From: Timo Geusch on 6 Jan 2008 16:47 Tom De Moor wrote: > In article <xn0fku78kkug8b003(a)nermal.unix-consult.com>, > tnewsSPAMMENOT(a)unixconsult.co.uk says... > > > snip > > > Sell everything I'm tempted to sell almost everything :) (the RX-7 convertible stays either way, as it's taken far too much time and money to get it into the condition I wanted it to be). > and buy dedicated cars. Hmmm. > Buy a new Citro�n Berlingo to go shopping, generally farting around, > big enough to seat 4 people and some luggage, etc et Buying a new car for me at the moment is fairly pointless as I can't plan further ahead than about 12 months for various reasons. Buying a new car based on this - even one as cheap as a Berlingo - would be flushing money down the toilet. While I understand where you're coming from, the budget of 3k +/- a little is there for a reason - I can afford to lose most of that, but I can't really afford to throw away the depreciation on something like a Berlingo /and/ buy a Lotus as well. > Buy a second hand, sorted Lotus ELise S1 for the track and the > week-end runs. I dunno, I *could* do this with the RX-7 I've got, but the problem with that is that I'd want something with less power to learn. And hopefully less fuel consumption as well. 7-8mpg on the track doesn't really appeal that much. And while the FD RX-7 is bigger than an elise, it's quite light for its size so we're looking at fairly similar power/weight ratios here.... > Budget? 15 kUKP and you will end up with 2 very reliable cars with > close to negligent running costs. Negligent I can do :D. Seriously, *if* I knew how the next 12 month work out then I can see a lot of merit in your suggestion but unfortunately it's just not working with the kind of uncertainty I'm currently dealing with. -- '89 Mazda RX-7 Convertible '92 Mazda RX-7
From: Tom De Moor on 6 Jan 2008 17:43 In article <xn0fkvld3xn605001(a)nermal.unix-consult.com>, tnewsSPAMMENOT(a)unixconsult.co.uk says... > > > Buy a new Citroën Berlingo to go shopping, generally farting around, > > big enough to seat 4 people and some luggage, etc et > > Buying a new car for me at the moment is fairly pointless as I can't > plan further ahead than about 12 months for various reasons. Buying a > new car based on this - even one as cheap as a Berlingo - would be > flushing money down the toilet. > > While I understand where you're coming from, the budget of 3k +/- a > little is there for a reason - I can afford to lose most of that, but I > can't really afford to throw away the depreciation on something like a > Berlingo /and/ buy a Lotus as well. OK: buy a Berlingo of 4 years old then. They cost (here in Belgium) around 2.5 kUPD, will have around 150 kmiles and stay running forever. The little van is popular with courrier firms and their engine lasts for more than 250 kmiles. > > > Buy a second hand, sorted Lotus ELise S1 for the track and the > > week-end runs. > > I dunno, I *could* do this with the RX-7 I've got, but the problem with > that is that I'd want something with less power to learn. And hopefully > less fuel consumption as well. 7-8mpg on the track doesn't really > appeal that much. And while the FD RX-7 is bigger than an elise, it's > quite light for its size so we're looking at fairly similar > power/weight ratios here.... The Elise on track uses less than 12 l/100 km (can't be bothered to do the math) but it is build for the track with good suspension, never fading brakes (it weighs only 700 kg) and with 110-140 HP out of a super-reliable Rover engine. Sorry: RX-7 and Elise do not compare, not on the track nor elsewhere. Key word is not "power/weight-ratio" but "weight= 700 kg". This reflects enormously on roadholding, braking and confidence. While the Rover 1.8 k-series is no fire-cracker, topspeed is not high (±210 kph) so all the fun is in corners. With all my other cars a day at the track results in (at least) new rear tires, at least 1 set of brakepads. The Elise sits after 5 track-sorties on its orginal rubber and without the pads changed. > > > Budget? 15 kUKP and you will end up with 2 very reliable cars with > > close to negligent running costs. > > Negligent I can do :D. Seriously, *if* I knew how the next 12 month > work out then I can see a lot of merit in your suggestion but > unfortunately it's just not working with the kind of uncertainty I'm > currently dealing with. > Depreciation on a 2.5 kUPD little van in 1 year? 500 UKP Depreciation on a Lotus Elise S1 in 1 year? Nothing: in 2007 a Lotus ELise S1 (year 1998) sells higher than what the car orginally costed. Which is the reason why I bought mine in the UK. Thaught of doing the steering conversion but got quickly used to the UK- version. Tom De Moor
From: Pete M on 6 Jan 2008 18:21 Accompanied by the sound of a chisel on slate Doki,<mrdoki(a)gmail.com> managed to produce the following words of wisdom > Tom De Moor wrote: >> In article <xn0fku78kkug8b003(a)nermal.unix-consult.com>, >> tnewsSPAMMENOT(a)unixconsult.co.uk says... >>> >> snip >> >> >> Sell everything and buy dedicated cars. >> >> Buy a *new* Citro�n Berlingo to go shopping, generally farting >> around, big enough to seat 4 people and some luggage, etc et >> >> Buy a second hand, sorted Lotus ELise S1 for the track and the >> week-end runs. >> >> Budget? 15 kUKP and you will end up with 2 very reliable cars with >> close to negligent running costs. > > I reckon some of the people who've owned cars I've had in the past > have believed in negligent running costs :D. Neglible is that word > you're looking for. > > And I think you're bloody cruel suggesting a Berlingo as day to day > transport. I use a Berlingo in Czech sometimes. It's actually pretty good day to day transport. -- Pete M - OMF#9 "Save your breath for cooling your porridge! W&P Range Rover V8 Turbo Scorpio Ultima 24v
From: Timo Geusch on 7 Jan 2008 01:24
jackhackettuk(a)yahoo.co.uk writes: > I've not been moving in those circles much for the last couple of > years, but they were having a meet once every two weeks in Ashford > actually, of all places, the last time I was. > > You should pop over one Saturday and meet the mate who works down the > local rolling road I told you about, as aside from the fact he's in > the process of finally getting his S13 200SX RB26 conversion ready for > the road, I think he's still well connected with some of the drifter > peeps I mention above. Sounds like a plan, that... -- '89 Mazda RX-7 Convertible '92 Mazda RX-7 |