Poverty Pork - '00 986

Poverty Pork - '00 986

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Rosewood Red

Original Poster:

857 posts

152 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
quotequote all
A little bit of a back-story if you click the spoiler - feel free to skip, it's long smile

There are many cars I'd like to, and could even afford to own. But I'm perhaps a little too sensible for my own good in the sense that I can't justify financing a new car until I've bought a property of my own. The latter seemed like the donkey and carrot scenario for a while. Out of uni, not on what I'd consider great money, and renting a room in a house in Luton. I'm an avid skydiver too and was just about to make ends meet. I was running my trusty 2003 Polo TDI at the time which I'd had for six years at the time.

Anyway, I got my big break a year later when I got offered a Business Intelligence role in High Wycombe. Another room, in another house, but rent wasn't too dissimilar and I was actually able to save up a little every month. Mum lives in Lancashire. Trips to visit her, combined with my driving to and from dropzones round the country to jump out of perfectly functioning aeroplanes** led me to rack up over 17k miles in my trusty three-cylinder Polo over a twelve month period overlapping both my Luton and Wycombe days. I'd always walked to work, just to give you an idea of how many miles I rack up.

Not long after starting in Wycombe, I applied for a more senior position, this time in Cheltenham. They specified they wanted three years' experience in the person spec. I ignored that and applied for the job anyway, being completely honest about my experience, or lack thereof. Somehow, I convinced them that I was the man for the job with only three months' experience. I was utterly sick and tired of house sharing at this point so got my own place. In spite of earning more now, my 'usable income' was now slightly diminished. But it was worth it to have the run of my flat.

Fast forward a year, I get another promotion. This time in Lancashire - 30 odd miles from mum. Still officially single and not particularly bothered about doing anything to change that (this was relocation / promotion three in 18 months, not having ties and the freedom to pack up my bags and move on without a care in the world is beneficial), it made sense to move back in, me being a half-orphan an only child and no immediate family in this continent. I don't see this being a long-term solution as I do miss my freedom, but for now, it'll do.

Anyway, working nearly three years for the organisation, I can tell you anything related to the NHS involves a lot of bureaucracy and red tape, meaning you tend to have a good few weeks if not months before starting a new role. Both Wycombe and Cheltenham resulted in me moving over the weekend and starting on the Monday. It's a ballache. This time I planned for a three week gap between finishing and starting.

In the spare time I had before my last day at Cheltenham (after automating most of my deliverables and delegating the rest to my lackies... hehe ), I was toying with the idea of a 'new' car. I had at this point had the Polo for nine years. I considered a circa 2012 Golf GTD as a replacement. However, with the miles I would be doing (18k+ a year just commuting, factor skydiving and other journeys and you could nearly double that), depreciation would be a bee-atch. Also, the Polo probably wouldn't fetch four figures in part ex. Whilst unexciting and rather bland, it costs pennies to run and having done 80k miles in it under my tenure, I know it's unlikely to throw up a nasty bill any time soon. Man maths suggested I should keep the Polo and get something fun to run alongside.

Brexit had put my house buying aspirations on hold, temporarily. So, I looked at PCP deals. My local BMW stealership was doing a decent deal on the M140i. There wasn't a penalty on excess mileage and thanks to the dealer contribution, including the option to purchase fee and final balloon payment, it actually worked out slightly cheaper than list price once it was paid off. However, I became Mr Sensible again and decided a £30k+ car in my current situation was a stupid idea.

I've always been a Porsche fan. If my lotto numbers came up (I don't play, but meh), my three car garage would be a 993 C2S, a 959 and a CGT. If I had to only have one car, it'd be a 993 Turbo. At 28, I sometimes wish I'd been born a decade earlier as 993s seem to be getting more unobtainable by the day. Even 996 turbos which could be had for 'only' high twenties are long gone. I read the tread that inspired the title to this topic. All 100-odd pages. Now (f)unemployed I started looking at Boxsters. Three stood out. One at Strasse and two private cars. The car at Strasse had sold. I viewed my first 986 and whilst it was good, it needed a bit of work (expected at the price point). I then viewed a second three days later - a silver '98 2.5 with terracotta red leather, FSH and the same owner for 10 years. Mechanically at least, it was a no-brainer that the second car was the one to get. But, it left me feeling slightly underwhelmed. I went home and thought about it.

I'd been in a bad state of health towards the start of the year. Almost being admitted on NYE and in March, in the space of under 24 hours I was at a GP, a community nurse who shipped me off to A&E who were going to admit me, but sent me home, another A&E dept following a conversation with the GP in the morning and finally a course of steroids. My skydiving took a toll because of this, so I decided to book a trip to Portugal, returning a day before my job was to start. The day before I flew out, I called the seller of the first car I saw, and left a £200 deposit agreeing that he do something about the non-existent handbrake.

After a week of this:


I returned to Manchester airport on a Tuesday, got a taxi to a friend's place in Stockport and put my bags into the Polo which was waiting for me on his drive. I started my new 70 mile round commute on the Wednesday. Having debated the options I had regarding insurance, I called up my insurers at the time on Friday after returning from work and paid £80 or so to change the policy over to the Boxster. My best friend drove over the next day in her Golf and drove me down to Leicester. I then transferred two months' wages to the seller and confirmed he'd received it. He texted me whilst I was abroad to let me know the handbrake had been sorted.


I drove back in this:
porsche-boxster-986-96-04-24v-S2528642-1 by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

The Polo was kept off the road for the next three weeks when the policy would lapse, during which time, my latest addition was my only car. Every day, at least one warning light was on (and still is!). And driving 70 miles a day in an unproven machine did sometimes feel like Russian roulette. However, in the thousand miles and then some I put on it before I got the Polo back on the road, it was as good as gold. A couple of days before it was relegated to position of 'other' car, it was inspected by Cath Burrows:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4cn6xbly2v6ak0j/invoice%...

Prior to her looking at it, I had fitted new brembo pads and pagid wear sensors at the front. The brake fluid and rear tyres were replaced shortly after her inspection. The ABS sensor, radiator fan resistor and RARB bushes are in the boot waiting to be fitted. I'm currently in the process of obtaining new Meyle front wishbones, TRW tie rods and control arms. A replacement RARB in slightly better condition is my next part to track down. All of the above are to be fitter before the end of the year before I get a full geometry set up.

For the new year, I plan on having the clutch replaced (the exhaust fittings being routine in that job) and a major service carried out at Cath's along with sundries like the Xenon self levelling mechanism sorted out.

In the spring, I'll be replacing the air con condensers and potentially replacing the slightly damp carpets. Somewhere in between, I'd be tacking little jobs such as replacing the mini-disc player with something more modern and upgrading the speakers.

Anyway, I'm happy. A Boxster with a long list of options, including extended leather, sports seats, litronic headlamps and 18" Turbo Twists. Also, a FSH with most invoices and a spreadsheet that has been kept up to date over the years, outlining over £11k in maintenance. And an MOT till July.

For £3800, I couldn't be happier smile If you read the spoiler and managed to put up with my essay (dissertation?), you'll be glad none of my future updates will be nearly as long hehe

I'll keep you posted with the progress.

note: there are no perfectly good aeroplanes hehe


Edited by Rosewood Red on Saturday 12th November 20:21

Luke.

10,944 posts

249 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
quotequote all
I'm sure there's a whole thread about such purchases somewhere..

6cylGolf

700 posts

189 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
quotequote all
Jesus, I just want to be the first to reply. Il read this mahoosive post once I pour a beer

6cylGolf

700 posts

189 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
quotequote all
Read it all. I like a good wordsmith. Quite how youd kept a 3 cylinder polo for 9 years tho! I've missed bills, and food, for cars.

Rosewood Red

Original Poster:

857 posts

152 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
quotequote all
6cylGolf said:
Read it all. I like a good wordsmith. Quite how youd kept a 3 cylinder polo for 9 years tho! I've missed bills, and food, for cars.
Why thank you smile

My (rational) thinking was walking to work everyday and using a car maybe once a week didn't justify something more exciting. With the miles I was (am) doing, I'd only end up getting a four cylinder diesel of some description. And it'd just depriciate.

Also, the fact that I spend around the price I paid for Suzi the slut (seven owners...) every year on skydiving, already had me skimping on meals. Because the Polo isn't worth much at all, it makes sense for me to keep it until it's either written off or, less likely, the wheels fall off. It'll probably be replaced with a six cylinder diesel of some description.

What I will say is after having to put up with a three-pot TDI for nine years, it's refreshing to have a sweet flat six behind me. And I use it as Stuttgart intended. I think the Boxster will be a keeper - the only other cars on my radar that may be additions to the fleet this decade are a Mercedes CL600 bi-turbo (C215) or, if I have enough brave pills and the ABC pump malarkey isn't enough, a Maserati 3200 GT...

To end on a funny note (if the potential bork factor of the Maser isn't funny enough already), when I used the Boxster as my only car for my 350 mile a week commute, I'd leave it parked up in this end space with no other cars nearby. When I'd return to leave at the end of the day, this younger toyboy would always be parked next to it. Opposites attract and all that hehe Doesn't happen now I use the Polo four out of the five days!

DSC_0625[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr





Edited by Rosewood Red on Saturday 12th November 21:02

benjijames28

1,702 posts

91 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
quotequote all
Love reading posts like this. Good to know I'm not the only one daft enough to spend so much on cars.

I made a mistake buying a Audi a3 1.8 TFSI, I thought it was perfect, ticked all the boxes you want a used car to tick, but it's been a money pit so far. Battery, water pump, thermostat, tyres, service, interior valet, suspension strut top, air bag warning light...

It's at that age where the fly wheel will go too. I feel like I'm always a hill start away from a 700 note bill. Oh it could do with the timing chain tensioner upgrading to the upgraded version, another 500 there.

If I change the clutch then I think I will be keeping the car until it dies. That could be a while.

Good luck.

Rosewood Red

Original Poster:

857 posts

152 months

Sunday 22nd January 2017
quotequote all
Time for the next installment.

So, following Cath's report, I set about buying some parts. Amongst other things, this box arrived:

DSC_0740[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

A few days before Christmas, one of the ladies in the Project Management Office invited me and a few of my Informatics colleagues to their 'PMO Christmas Grotto' meal. Decided it would be rude not to go. I also decided that would be the last time I drove the car before taking it to get the above box of front suspension arms fitted. Anyway, on the commute to work that day, one of the country lanes was completely free of traffic. I decided to go for it. Despite applying the brakes before it happened, I spotted the pothole a little too late. Something didn't sound too right afterwards, a minor rattle which I'm sure wasn't there, but I thought it was in my head.

After a lovely dinner I drove home. Reversed onto the drive and "scraape". Came off the drive. "scraape". Reversed back on. "scraape". Hmmm...

Investigation later suggested the NSF arch liner was loose. I still didn't buy it. Last week, I drove it for the first time since the 21st of Dec. On the way back from work, the handling seemed 'interesting' on the country lanes when going for it. I went to my garage, picked up my mechanic who dropped me off at my house. Before he left, I said "I wonder if it's the NSF spring". "It won't be the spring he said". I also left with him the official Porsche torque specs.

The next day I get a call. It was the spring. I debated my plan of action. Long term, I was thinking about replacing the dampers and going for the H&R -10mm 'M030' kit. At just over £100, it is cheaper than a pair of OE front springs. However, at the time, I couldn't afford the £600 or so for new dampers and the additional labour for doing the rear axle. H&R -10mm at the front and stock springs at the rear didn't seem a wise move.

Cue these for £277 from ECP. OE front springs, OE (apparently) top monunts and Lemforder strut bearings:

DSC_0856[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

Went to the garage to find Suzi looking rather sorry for herself:

DSC_0857[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

Parts left. Straight sailing now I thought. Nope. Get a call on Monday. to tell me something was up with my bearings and top mounts. Turns out the mounts and bearings supplied by ECP had play in them when used in conjunction with each other and my mechanic wasn't happy with them. He said the 17 year old, 115k items on the car were in good shape and had no play. He'd only taken one side off, told me just to use the originals if the other side was fine. I'm friendly with one of the counter guys at ECP and it wasn't an issue getting a straight refund this Tuesday.

Finally Thursday night, guess who's back on the drive smile

DSC_0862[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

Now, I just had to get the geometry sorted out and that's the suspension done. Or so I thought...

To be continued...

Edited by Rosewood Red on Sunday 22 January 20:37

Rosewood Red

Original Poster:

857 posts

152 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
Not that anyone's reading, picking up the story from where I left it brings us to Saturday the 21st of Jan, the weekend just gone...

My car never really steered straight - it had a tendancy to pull to the left and this was prior to any suspension work being carried out. Alignment was always on the cards, but I thought I'd wait till I got the front arms replaced (and the springs - wasn't planned, but as with any project...). Anway, back from my mechanic, the car did feel better. Although the steering wasn't centred and it was still twitchy.

I'd heard good things online about this place from the BMW and MX5 boys and being relatively local, decided to drop in to get the geometry sorted out on all four corners.

DSC_0868[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

DSC_0867[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

Interestingly enough, the front alignment was somehow spot on. The caster was out slightly on both sides, but isn't really adjustable per se. Some tweaks to the toe and camber could probably have these two in the green whilst bringing the caster within spec. The issue was, the eccentric bolts on the rear arms (coffin arm and track rods) were seized into the metal sleve on the bush. No play in the bushes on these two arms or the rear diagonal arms. The arms may be original, however, according to some recipts I have, the rear geometry was adjusted less than two years and 5k miles ago. Bullocks.

DSC_0889[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

Also, depsite changing the RARB bushes, there's still play.

The front suspension arms weren't originally something I'd foreseen or budgeted for. After spending £700 odd on those and the springs, The prospect of spending £500 or so on rear arms does feel like a kick in the teeth. Before I spend any more, I had a word with my mechanic - he'll be taking a quick look at it tomorrow and we'll formulate a plan of action. I thought that was then end of that and it was plain sailing going forward, with the clutch being the only major issue to sort out.

To put it into perspective, over 15 weeks and just over 2000 miles, my expenditure is as follows (list number, date, place, item, cost, miles)
46. 09/10/2016 Euro Car Parts Brembo front brake pads, Pagid wear indicators £58.78 -
47. 15/10/2016 Montague Motor Eng. Labour for #46 £30.00 113,700
48. 18/10/2016 Cath Burrows Full inspection and report - long to-do list ? £108.00 113,888
49. 21/10/2016 Shell Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 1l (Porsche A40 approved) - noticed low level whilst refuelling, likely due to oil filter removal during above inspection £17.99 114,101
50. 25/10/2016 Euro Car Parts Bosch ABS sensor, OE radiator fan resistor, RARB bushes £155.76 -
51. 25/10/2016 Montague Motor Eng. Brake fluid change £35.00 114,304
52. 05/11/2016 Camskill (tyres) / Event Tyres (fitting) 2 x 265 35 R18Y XL Uniroyal Rainsport 3 (rears) £246.78 114,390
53. 14/11/2016 B&B Components 2 x TRW tie / track rod ends 2 x Meyle "coffin arms", 2 x Meyle "tuning forks" £383.94 -
54. 12/01/2017 Euro Car Parts OE front springs £137.85 -
55. 18/01/2017 Montague Motor Eng. Labour for #50, 53 and 54 £240.00 115,103
56. 21/01/2017 Nigel Langs Garage Geometry read out / adjustments, front wheels balanced £95.40 115,135
57. 21/01/2017 Porsche Bolton Oddments tray hinge repair kit, sunvisor assembly screw £27.26 -

So, £1500 in 15 weeks and I haven't really acheived that much. I'm still driving a car that isn't aligned. In fact when pressing on, it is somewhat scary on the motorway. I'm not sure if it's bump steer from the rear toe spec, the front tyres, a suspected engine mount, or a combination thereof.

A lot more work (and money) will be required. It does sometimes make me question my life choices and make me consider throwing in the towel...

Edited by Rosewood Red on Monday 23 January 20:29

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
Ouch, that's a painful list!

Was very tempted to a Boxster this year, I keep hearing very good things about them.

Rosewood Red

Original Poster:

857 posts

152 months

Monday 23rd January 2017
quotequote all
Indeed - I did want a project car, although I've inadvertently ended up with one on a scale I did not imagine.

Bear in mind the tyres, brake fluid, pads, etc are consumables. Still many unplanned expenses and I'm nowhere near done.

Not everything that has been done was outright necessary - for instance, not all the front arms needed doing, but if you're going to do something, do it right and all that jazz. The front spring snapping was just unfortunate. I do pay road tax...errr...vehicle excise duty. That pothole just came from nowhere and sucker punched me curse Some of it was bad luck.

I could have bought something that was (allegedly) 'mint' for a lot more money, but there would have been no guarnatee I wouldn't get a long list and a big bill at the end.

Fun and games. It'll be worth it when summer's here. Or so I kid myself smile Don't let this put you off one, but consider it due dlligence. Lots of info in the Poverty Pork thread on here or over at boxa.net.

Garett

1,622 posts

191 months

Tuesday 24th January 2017
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I've subscribed and will be following this, I was considering a Boxter at one point and yours is an excellent colour. Us PH'ers generally have higher standards than your average motorist in terms of maintenance of our POJs, so don't feel bad spending your hard earned, it will be a well sorted car soon.

I sometimes question my own sanity plowing money into old cars but I enjoy driving and owning them so what the hell!

TheDukeGTi

202 posts

135 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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I've been through similar experiences with my bimmer. One step forward, two back. "There's nothing more expensive than a cheap BMW" and all that. A lot of people only post the good, and not the bad, but you just got to enjoy the journey! It makes you appreciate it that much more when it's working.



...or, that's what I keep telling myself.

delays

786 posts

214 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
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Nice work Ash - perhaps I should do a similar thread on my Pork experiences.

You're going about it in the right way, so that's to be commended! As I mentioned to you, I had similar heartache on my 2.5.

steve-5snwi

8,592 posts

92 months

Wednesday 25th January 2017
quotequote all
was the car cheap though ? I guess nothing on the car is going to be cheap and at that time of life everything is going to start wearing out. I'm tempted to go for a 2.7 987 or an XK8, but I doubt they will be cheap. Having said that I guess a 115k Audi A4 diesel could hurt, or even a 330i E92 ... we have just spent £800 on injectors and £350 on another sensor, all on a 6k car.

Still if you enjoy it and plan to keep it for a while it will be money well spent assuming it doesn't spit you off the road first.

Rosewood Red

Original Poster:

857 posts

152 months

Thursday 26th January 2017
quotequote all
My visit to my mechanic to come up with a plan of action for the rear arms has been postponed.

For now, some more pics.

I ordered the oddments tray hinge repair kit and a missing trim screw from OPC Bolton when I was in the area for my failed geometry setup.

DSC_0870[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

Didn't want to drive all the way back to pick them up. The parts themself were reasonable at circa £22. "Could you post them to me?" "Certainly sir, that'll be £5". Not too bad, I thought especially if they were going to use RMSD / courier. Came home to this:

DSC_0895[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

I presume the additional £4.17 is for the Porsche branded sweets? confused I'll be having a word when I'm there next...

The hinge on my accelerator pedal is rather worn, causing some annoying lateral movement at the base. Apparently, the hinge itself is available as a separate item. The internet and Cath both seem to think so, Cath said it certainly wasn't expensive. Trying to find a part number on the other hand is futile. Porsche Bolton seem to think otherwise and wanted to sell me an entire pedal for three figures. No thank you.

I posted a wanted ad on Boxa net for an OSF headlamp quadrant as a couple of clips on mine are broken, resulting in a slightly dodgy fit. Someone replied saying he had a pair left over, but the NSF one was cracked. Not an issue for me. He also happened to have an entire throttle assembly in good condition from his old 2.5, since sold, where he had done a cruise retrofit. As it's a cable throttle, this required a new pedal.

So a box containing these turned up:
DSC_0904[2] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

The cost? A measly £5 for postage. Eddie was a gent and refused to take any money from me as these were just lying around and would rather see them being used.

And what's this?

DSC_0898[1] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

My car only came with one key, which was always a niggle. According to rumour a new keyhead and blade is close to £200, if not more. So, a German eBay special for €110:

DSC_0902[2] by ash_ashy_mo, on Flickr

Allegedly, you can get blades cut to match your original from a picture, posted to your door for under £20. Cath will be able to code it to the car. So, a nice little saving.

Little bits like these keep me distracted from the more monumental (and expensive) tasks that are yet to be tackled.

Despite being more than I bargained for, I'll see this project through yet. Thanks for reading smile

Edited by Rosewood Red on Thursday 26th January 20:38


Edited by Rosewood Red on Thursday 26th January 21:22

steve-5snwi

8,592 posts

92 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
If it makes you feel any better the wife's station car a 2006 A4 tfsi in the past few months has cost £104 for oil, plugs,filters inc pollen and air, £50 to have them fitted, £50 for a washer pump, £55 for a diverter valve and £74 for the rear number plate light panel because it's cracked and shorted.

Audi's are more expensive ... It also needed £200 for two lower arms and an mot last year, £100 to put proper lights on it because some nimrod put cheap led looky looky lights on it and £300 on proper wheels with real tyres to replace the crappy chinese replicas. Did I mention the £100 on the window regulator and new discs and pads all round .... She only foes 1 mile a day in it now ... Next is £199 on a gearbox service. Then it should be good for another 2 years .... But probably sold in 6 months !

Rosewood Red

Original Poster:

857 posts

152 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
steve-5snwi said:
If it makes you feel any better the wife's station car a 2006 A4 tfsi in the past few months has cost £104 for oil, plugs,filters inc pollen and air, £50 to have them fitted, £50 for a washer pump, £55 for a diverter valve and £74 for the rear number plate light panel because it's cracked and shorted.

Audi's are more expensive ... It also needed £200 for two lower arms and an mot last year, £100 to put proper lights on it because some nimrod put cheap led looky looky lights on it and £300 on proper wheels with real tyres to replace the crappy chinese replicas. Did I mention the £100 on the window regulator and new discs and pads all round .... She only foes 1 mile a day in it now ... Next is £199 on a gearbox service. Then it should be good for another 2 years .... But probably sold in 6 months !
A mile a day? Wouldn't walking be cheaper / quicker even? smile

The driver's EW has started to play up on the Polo - it now sometimes goes down all the way when you press up. I'm hoping it's just the switch. My third brake light corroded at the terminals a few years ago. That was a bit of a faff, but DIYable. Luckily, a friend had a spare lying around which I got for peanuts.


I still think it's cheaper running an old car that's been paid for even if it chucks you a curve ball from time to time, than buying something new(er).

Having said that, if I'd put the money I paid for the Pork towards a deposit, and less than what I've paid a week in repairs as monthly PCP payments, I could have been driving around in a new M140i... I hope my perceptions change when it's fixed.

markoc

1,084 posts

195 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
Looks fantastic in that colour and on those alloys. I'm in a 987 but often wish I still had my 986. Interestingly snapped a front spring in my 987 a year or so ago - huge bang, and apparently not that uncommon.

bgunn

1,416 posts

130 months

Friday 27th January 2017
quotequote all
Rosewood Red said:
Having said that, if I'd put the money I paid for the Pork towards a deposit, and less than what I've paid a week in repairs as monthly PCP payments, I could have been driving around in a new M140i... I hope my perceptions change when it's fixed.
Yes, but you'd have to keep shelling out for PCP *every month* so once you get the Box up to a good state, it'll be there and stay there with relatively minimal maintenance.

The 986/996 are well known for their suspension foibles - god knows as I spent £1500 on the suspension refresh on my 996, but for an 18 year old performance car that's not too bad. Once done, keep the maintenance up, it'll reward you with fine driving and fun.

Edited by bgunn on Friday 27th January 10:38

steve-5snwi

8,592 posts

92 months

Friday 27th January 2017
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Not sure about walking being quicker, the wife has short legs. Having said that me being 6'4" means I have no chance of fitting in a 986.

Yes you could have a PCP on an M140 but at the end of it you own nothing, at least this way you own something, it's unlikely to lose much more money and while upkeep can be expensive it's part of the fun - unless it's anAudi A4 ....