The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at This/O/T [Vol XI]
Discussion
I finally bought something so thought I'd share it here with you. I won't be offended if you can't be bothered to read it!
A couple of weeks ago I was hanging around these parts when a classified advert popped up that I'd seen ealier, and discounted.
When it cropped up again I decided to pull my finger out and call the seller (a PHer), and a verbal deal was agreed there and then for a 2004 Subaru Legacy 3.0R estate.
Over the next few days I was in Atlanta so couldn't collect until I returned. In my wisdom whilst over there, I decided that the best thing to do was to get an evening flight on Friday, that landed on Saturday morning in Manchester. I could then catch a succession of trains over the next 5 hours that would deliver me to Stirling, meet the seller, do the paperwork and drive home to Shropshire. What a great idea.....
It turns out I did exactly that. I was picked up from Stirling station by Sam the PHer in his E34 540i who took us back to his gaff to complete the paperwork. I was so tired and just wanted to get on the road that I chose not to look over the car, rather to just load my luggage and be on my way.
Sam (I suspect you're reading this), I apologise for not hanging around as I would love to have talked more but I think you understood why I had to leave sharpish. As I explained on the day, the deal was done on my behalf based on instinct and "gut feeling".
I was now on my way to the fuel station in need of coffee and petrol for the return leg. In that mile or 2 between Sam's house and the station I knew I already liked the car. Strange thing to say but I just felt immediately comfortable in it.
Over the next 280 miles the car was just magnificant and an utter delight to drive. It cruised so comfortably it was a bit of a revalation, particularly given my Germanic persuasion. 300 miles isn't a long time to review the car but these are my initial impressions I thought I'd share as I know these cars have come up in conversation in the past.
Ride & Handling - Extremely well damped, rides the bumps without becoming troubled except by the w
kiest of potholes or ill-fitting drain covers. Suprisingly roll-resistant and very grippy but never crashy or shocking. I think compliant and surefooted sums it up well.
Steering - A touch light-weight for my liking but it does suit the character of the car. The Momo wheel is a pleasure to hold.
Engine & Box - The boxer 6 is a staggeringly smooth unit and pretty much whisper quiet in the cabin unless you are in sport-manual mode. The auto box is also super smooth with no "joltiness" at all. It can be slow to react in full auto mode but that's what the other modes are there for. I've not driven a manual equivalent but the auto seems very well suited to the engine and I love it. The cherry on top the iced cake is that I may well achieve around 400 miles and more from a tank on motorway run which is way, way better than I had expected. Average economy on the return journey at an indicated and cruise-controlled 85 leptons showed 29mpg.
This included 30 miles of a "well known to me" route where I had a test to "see what it could do". What it can do is very impressive. Not electric pace but just a continual building of speed that pulls well in to naughty figures.
Interior & Switchgear - Easy to use, slightly older design language and digital displays but perfectly pleasant with a bunch of toys to use. It has cruise, OBC, MFS/W, traction control, heated and electric front seats, leather, automatic climate control & ice cold aircon, panoramic electric sunroof (love this), pretty decent sounding stereo, puddle lights on the front doors, hard-shell boot floor and integrated load cover. There's probably a few more toys I'm yet to discover but the above is more than enough to satisfy me coming from a fairly sparsely optioned E36 318is.
Final thoughts - The car has done 112,000 miles and has a fully stamped book (although no supporting paperwork). It is an absolute joy to drive and suits our family and occassional business needs perfectly.
The only potential downside of the car is fuel economy but even that looks like it will be more than acceptable given everything else it offers.
We now have a very comfortable, swift, safe, spacious, 4x4 in a sober suit that is excellent value for money. In the 2 days we've had it we know we'd buy another without hesitation. In fact, I'm looking for one to go with it that I can use for business use and leave this one with the wife as her daily.
And one more thing, Sam you were a gent to deal with. I thank you for looking after the car and passing it on to us. I love PH when it works like this!
Thanks all for reading if you made it this far.
A couple of weeks ago I was hanging around these parts when a classified advert popped up that I'd seen ealier, and discounted.
When it cropped up again I decided to pull my finger out and call the seller (a PHer), and a verbal deal was agreed there and then for a 2004 Subaru Legacy 3.0R estate.
Over the next few days I was in Atlanta so couldn't collect until I returned. In my wisdom whilst over there, I decided that the best thing to do was to get an evening flight on Friday, that landed on Saturday morning in Manchester. I could then catch a succession of trains over the next 5 hours that would deliver me to Stirling, meet the seller, do the paperwork and drive home to Shropshire. What a great idea.....
It turns out I did exactly that. I was picked up from Stirling station by Sam the PHer in his E34 540i who took us back to his gaff to complete the paperwork. I was so tired and just wanted to get on the road that I chose not to look over the car, rather to just load my luggage and be on my way.
Sam (I suspect you're reading this), I apologise for not hanging around as I would love to have talked more but I think you understood why I had to leave sharpish. As I explained on the day, the deal was done on my behalf based on instinct and "gut feeling".
I was now on my way to the fuel station in need of coffee and petrol for the return leg. In that mile or 2 between Sam's house and the station I knew I already liked the car. Strange thing to say but I just felt immediately comfortable in it.
Over the next 280 miles the car was just magnificant and an utter delight to drive. It cruised so comfortably it was a bit of a revalation, particularly given my Germanic persuasion. 300 miles isn't a long time to review the car but these are my initial impressions I thought I'd share as I know these cars have come up in conversation in the past.
Ride & Handling - Extremely well damped, rides the bumps without becoming troubled except by the w
kiest of potholes or ill-fitting drain covers. Suprisingly roll-resistant and very grippy but never crashy or shocking. I think compliant and surefooted sums it up well.Steering - A touch light-weight for my liking but it does suit the character of the car. The Momo wheel is a pleasure to hold.
Engine & Box - The boxer 6 is a staggeringly smooth unit and pretty much whisper quiet in the cabin unless you are in sport-manual mode. The auto box is also super smooth with no "joltiness" at all. It can be slow to react in full auto mode but that's what the other modes are there for. I've not driven a manual equivalent but the auto seems very well suited to the engine and I love it. The cherry on top the iced cake is that I may well achieve around 400 miles and more from a tank on motorway run which is way, way better than I had expected. Average economy on the return journey at an indicated and cruise-controlled 85 leptons showed 29mpg.
This included 30 miles of a "well known to me" route where I had a test to "see what it could do". What it can do is very impressive. Not electric pace but just a continual building of speed that pulls well in to naughty figures.
Interior & Switchgear - Easy to use, slightly older design language and digital displays but perfectly pleasant with a bunch of toys to use. It has cruise, OBC, MFS/W, traction control, heated and electric front seats, leather, automatic climate control & ice cold aircon, panoramic electric sunroof (love this), pretty decent sounding stereo, puddle lights on the front doors, hard-shell boot floor and integrated load cover. There's probably a few more toys I'm yet to discover but the above is more than enough to satisfy me coming from a fairly sparsely optioned E36 318is.
Final thoughts - The car has done 112,000 miles and has a fully stamped book (although no supporting paperwork). It is an absolute joy to drive and suits our family and occassional business needs perfectly.
The only potential downside of the car is fuel economy but even that looks like it will be more than acceptable given everything else it offers.
We now have a very comfortable, swift, safe, spacious, 4x4 in a sober suit that is excellent value for money. In the 2 days we've had it we know we'd buy another without hesitation. In fact, I'm looking for one to go with it that I can use for business use and leave this one with the wife as her daily.
And one more thing, Sam you were a gent to deal with. I thank you for looking after the car and passing it on to us. I love PH when it works like this!
Thanks all for reading if you made it this far.
Output Flange said:
Gravy said:
Bought a Legacy 3.0R, like it lots.
Bought some coffee, no further info supplied.
For those with a short attention span.Bought some coffee, no further info supplied.
You sure about that??
I read:
Bought a Legacy 3.0R, like it lots. But the tight git wouldn't make me a coffee and only just left me enough fuel to get to the petrol station.
Gravy - very good to hear you've purchased something on a whim, from a distance, unseen, trusting in the power of PH. It's the way all good car purchases should go!
Gruber said:
Gravy - very good to hear you've purchased something on a whim, from a distance, unseen, trusting in the power of PH. It's the way all good car purchases should go!
Indeed. A bit like when Vixpy bought that Range Rover at the other end of the country, which Lefty had given the professional once over.Chrisw666 said:
Pva mixed with water makes a good sealant for concrete floors doesn't it?
Yes, are you painting the floor or tiling it?If you're tiling then better to use a dedicated tile primer
E30M3SE said:
Yes, are you painting the floor or tiling it?
If you're tiling then better to use a dedicated tile primer
Was planning to seal it and then either paint it or use the roll of carpet we have left over.If you're tiling then better to use a dedicated tile primer
V8mate said:
Gruber said:
Gravy - very good to hear you've purchased something on a whim, from a distance, unseen, trusting in the power of PH. It's the way all good car purchases should go!
Indeed. A bit like when Vixpy bought that Range Rover at the other end of the country, which Lefty had given the professional once over.
I know this divided opinion before but I still think it looks thadunkilicious -
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3991375.htm
I know some (nay most) will say it's too dear or got the wrong this or that but I find it uber appealing and that is what matters
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3991375.htm
I know some (nay most) will say it's too dear or got the wrong this or that but I find it uber appealing and that is what matters
L100NYY said:
I know this divided opinion before but I still think it looks thadunkilicious -
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3991375.htm
I know some (nay most) will say it's too dear or got the wrong this or that but I find it uber appealing and that is what matters
It looks very appealing to me and is probably fairly priced for pretty much any other market than the UK.http://pistonheads.com/sales/3991375.htm
I know some (nay most) will say it's too dear or got the wrong this or that but I find it uber appealing and that is what matters
E30M3SE said:
4 part water to 1 part pva, properly mixed should do the job fine.
Ta. Got the junk out today, 4 trips to the tip worth and thats just the obvious crap, phase 2 will be to do a sort out of what is left and then seal the floor rear to middle then middle to front at the weekend. Off to browse shelving and stuff on t'internet with a beer. 
Zwolf said:
Fester Zetec S is a hoot and there's a fair chance my next demo will be one (that or a Focus Zetec S, but diesel).
If she's looking at new, the facelift is imminent, so choices are built 1.6 120PS stock units or factory ordered (Jan delivery) 1.0 EcoBoost 120PS. There's a 180PS 1.6 EcoBoost ST on the way too, can't wait to play with that one.
If used, then I might just have a few - as will Gandalf of course.
we have a few 125bhp ones about at the moment, and they're gems, we're also aboutIf she's looking at new, the facelift is imminent, so choices are built 1.6 120PS stock units or factory ordered (Jan delivery) 1.0 EcoBoost 120PS. There's a 180PS 1.6 EcoBoost ST on the way too, can't wait to play with that one.
If used, then I might just have a few - as will Gandalf of course.
to de-fleet some 100bhp ones (including my own properly run in example
with 4000 on it) and we're getting some 6sp 125bhp one from this week, which we'll run
for three months and then they're up for sale
if you fancy one pm me and i'll see what's what..
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