Discussion
So it’s been over 4 years since I last posted on PH, I used to enjoy reading others car journeys and trying to diarise my own on here was fun. However I’d always wanted to scratch the itch of 2 wheels and in 2023 I sold my M3, did my direct access course and passed my motorbike licence.
I had fallen out of love with cars a bit and with doing track days / touring on my bike with the wife joining me, I put all my focus into that and securing our first home.
Pic of me at Brands for anyone interested in the organ donor stuff
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, all moved in and I have a decent sized driveway filled will a 2009 Focus which is not long for the scrapyard.
A chat with the wife ensued and a decision was made, let’s get something interesting again.
But there are rules.
1. It has to be sensible for the family, no coupes etc
2. It has to be cheaper to run than the old M3 Tax / Ins
3. It has to have some decent tech so it’s useable
4. It had to be under £5k
I wanted to get back into a BMW and I looked at some ropey Alpina D3’s and a couple of E91’s but there wasn’t anything that really made me go ‘that one’.
It was at this point I decided to go over some of my favourite old threads that used to make me think, I’d like to own one of them.
I remembered a certain one, from a user called ‘573’ and the thread was ‘The V8 Bike Bus’. I don’t think he had it long but the looks of his made me want one.
So a bit of searching and it was small pickings, so colour wasn’t something I could be picky with (ideally wanted a grey one) but I managed to find one in the end and less than 24 hours ago I purchased her.
It was an eBay sale and after a 3 hour train ride to the midlands I was driving home my new to me X5.
The photos terrible
I haven’t had chance to clean it yet but once I’ve got a few little jobs done on it (front brakes being one needed desperately) I’ll give it a good valet and take some nice ones to show it off.
It’s a 2004 4.8is and I’m still working out what exactly the spec is, so I’ll share that soon too.
Going back to my rules list..
1. It’s a 4x4 and perfect for my football coaching / trips with my boy for his matches etc
2. It’s the £430 tax bracket (so cheaper than M3) insurance is much for much
3. The cars got Apple CarPlay so that’s enough tech for me
4. It was under £5k.. happy days
First impressions it’s a very smooth car to drive with great road presence and it makes an amazing noise. Needs some work like all 22 year old cars with a whacking great engine.
The local Esso owner is my new best friend, great timing to with the yanks going all yeehaw in Iran
but other than that I’m well happy with it.
Fingers crossed to give lots of trouble free updates in the future.
I had fallen out of love with cars a bit and with doing track days / touring on my bike with the wife joining me, I put all my focus into that and securing our first home.
Pic of me at Brands for anyone interested in the organ donor stuff
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, all moved in and I have a decent sized driveway filled will a 2009 Focus which is not long for the scrapyard.
A chat with the wife ensued and a decision was made, let’s get something interesting again.
But there are rules.
1. It has to be sensible for the family, no coupes etc
2. It has to be cheaper to run than the old M3 Tax / Ins
3. It has to have some decent tech so it’s useable
4. It had to be under £5k
I wanted to get back into a BMW and I looked at some ropey Alpina D3’s and a couple of E91’s but there wasn’t anything that really made me go ‘that one’.
It was at this point I decided to go over some of my favourite old threads that used to make me think, I’d like to own one of them.
I remembered a certain one, from a user called ‘573’ and the thread was ‘The V8 Bike Bus’. I don’t think he had it long but the looks of his made me want one.
So a bit of searching and it was small pickings, so colour wasn’t something I could be picky with (ideally wanted a grey one) but I managed to find one in the end and less than 24 hours ago I purchased her.
It was an eBay sale and after a 3 hour train ride to the midlands I was driving home my new to me X5.
The photos terrible
I haven’t had chance to clean it yet but once I’ve got a few little jobs done on it (front brakes being one needed desperately) I’ll give it a good valet and take some nice ones to show it off. It’s a 2004 4.8is and I’m still working out what exactly the spec is, so I’ll share that soon too.
Going back to my rules list..
1. It’s a 4x4 and perfect for my football coaching / trips with my boy for his matches etc
2. It’s the £430 tax bracket (so cheaper than M3) insurance is much for much
3. The cars got Apple CarPlay so that’s enough tech for me
4. It was under £5k.. happy days
First impressions it’s a very smooth car to drive with great road presence and it makes an amazing noise. Needs some work like all 22 year old cars with a whacking great engine.
The local Esso owner is my new best friend, great timing to with the yanks going all yeehaw in Iran
but other than that I’m well happy with it. Fingers crossed to give lots of trouble free updates in the future.
My wife has a 4.4 V8 on a 05 plate and she loved that car, I was also a fan. The panoramic sunroof needed some attention as it caused a leak, so if yours has that I would recommend cutting the end of the drainage tubes, as they are a stupid design and clog easily.
At the point she had that I had a 5.0 CLS and a 5.0 1981 Mercedes 500 SEL (which I still have) so it amused me that we had 14.4 litres of V8 on the drive at the same time.
I have a V6 Bike Bus in the shape of a Japanese imported 3.5l V6 petrol Viano, but just the one V8.
Enjoy, they are surprisingly car like to drive and we both enjoyed it whilst she had it.
At the point she had that I had a 5.0 CLS and a 5.0 1981 Mercedes 500 SEL (which I still have) so it amused me that we had 14.4 litres of V8 on the drive at the same time.
I have a V6 Bike Bus in the shape of a Japanese imported 3.5l V6 petrol Viano, but just the one V8.
Enjoy, they are surprisingly car like to drive and we both enjoyed it whilst she had it.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff