The question is, at what point does it become fair on the dog?

A police dog trainer advised us 6 hours max alone daily, when we were considering a dog but advised that really was the max. I’m no expert and I’m just passing on the info I was given.

I get home at lunch time for 40 mins walk them, so they are only alone 9:20 – 1 then 1:40-5 for a max of 4 days a week as I sometimes work from home. We recently got a puppy and our first dog (now 2) seems to enjoy the company. No behavioural issues and as said above they sleep, play with toys, sleep and sleep.

Can’t believe nobody has suggested an old golf gti. My 2000 mk4 has 136k on the clock and fits the everyday fun requirement completely. I’m not selling though…

Don’t worry, I’m not buying. There’s a very specific reason why no one suggested a Golf GTi of that era.

As said above MX5 or Focus 170.
Toyota Celica (gen 7 facelift)
Toyota MR2 3rd gen, reliable but labour costs can be high
Nissan QX V6 if you want a q-car, would be big for London though
Fiat Coupe but reliability can be an issue

boxelder – Member
Baby robin’s getting bigger these days….

POSTED 40 SECONDS AGO #

Oh a baby robin joke. My sides are splitting.

I worked in a newsagent were we sold them. There was one a boat if I remember correctly that was stopped 3/4 of the way through an old man came in to collect his next part and was devastated it was discontinued, I felt sorry for him. There was another which built into a remote control car someone bought an issue for about £5 and all you got was a few screws and washers and a crap leaflet. The worse were the ones with animals each week, there was one were you got a dead scorpion or spider in resin.

People who have never owned such a car will tell you it’s unreliable and gets poor mpg compared to their VRS.

Why would I spend another £20k? what would it get me? It wouldn’t look any different externally (apart from beat the jone’s 2013/2014 plate)

I’m with you on that but most Evoque owners will be buying on lease. These types of people don’t buy things outright and value for money isn’t an issue.

I’m glad that
A) they create employment in this country
B) there are marketing departments in the UK savvy enough to brand them successfully
C) there are finance deals available to punters

However I have driven one and it feels like a large car on sponges. It doesn’t drive well, it is not nice looking, it’s not quick, it isn’t very economical & it’s expensive. It does however have that important x-factor that the marketing people have cleverly given it, it appeals to a certain personality type that puts an AGA into a ‘detached’ red row new build, that also wears schuuuues and boasts about having a pedigree dog. As others have said they are now easier to spot on uk roads.

I’m glad it’s a success. It’s good for the country.

My best mate has a 500 pop, he went from a 5-series BMW to it as his commute changed were city parking became an issue, despite being 6’3” he loves it. He said he had done the big car big bill thing for too long. It was one of the very early 500’s and he’s not had any issues with it other than the water pump working itself lose. I’d quite like a 500 despite every blonde Cheshire girl around here now ditching their mini’s and 1 series for a cream or baby blue one. My father in law worked for Alfa and thinks the mito’s aren’t as well made and has seen a few come back and forth to the garage. For me the 500 is all you need in a small car, cheery, cheap, easy to fix & fun.

When I was 27 I was told my mums Dad was adopted following a health scare. He passed away when I was 10 and I don’t think I would have thought of him any differently (at 10) and I certainly wouldn’t now if he was still here, but it did feel like everyone knew something I didn’t which in a weird way hurt me a little.

I’ve had my car parked down the road for 3 months now, didn’t realise that someone may consider it abandoned and mentally change it’s ownership rights.

Someone’s probably posting a similar OP to mine on a car forum at this moment. I would move your car a few feet to be on the safe side. Or at least be seen licking it :-)

After I started this thread i have been keeping my eyes open. There seem to be a lot of bigger Audis around here. E-class merc’s too.

If Chester is nearby I’d suggest looking at jigsaw in Cheshire Oakes, I bought a very nice unlined suit in your budget which was very well made, the hems are very neat. The staff were superb too especially the manageress who I wanted to take home. There is also often unlined suits in Hugo Boss in your budget too in the outlet shop. I would steer clear of places like Moss and Suits Direct and pick an end of line unlined suit, you can also have it altered to fit. Look at the shop assistant and if thier suit fits well, if it doesn’t they won’t have good advice for you. On a budget pick a shirt with a well constructed collar especially in the heat, if you open the top button later in the day you won’t look too scruffy. For your shoes pick either a brogue (not full wing tip) or a Gibson style dress shoe, if your savvy you can find a bargain if you know were to look, I bought recently some Grenson dress shoes for £30. I have paid over £200 for grensons before and know the quality. Wear some organic/bamboo socks and your feet won’t get too hot and you can avoid that dreadful loafer/schuuues look first generation Londoners are so keen on.

I’ve not been logging in as much as it’s becoming a pain to navigate the pages as the adverts keep popping up.

I never have or will shop at REISS as I don’t ‘think’ I’m stylish or have a tendency to wear overpriced high street garments.

I just got back from the shops, I quite like the specialized tri-cross range. The helpful guy recommended the Allez Sport at £750

Interesting, I quite like the novelty of it… Huge difference to my current cars

LMT – Member
Its salary based now, mine went up to £5k I nearly fell over, quickly reduced my limit down to £900. Far too tempting at £5k!
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

Not too sure on the rules but my company offers c2w schemes to other companies from what I can gather it’s run slightly different for us. Anyhow £1000 limit is fine for me as I’m more of a mountain biker.

I will look a sirrus today. I don’t mind it being a bit overkill on the commute (I’ve been using my 150mm BFe – which I love for what it was intended) so it’s going to feel a lot more purposeful and comfy than that, but Ideally I’d like something I can use to join my mates on longer rides.

Thanks! I think I will nip to halfords and the specialised shop today. I wasn’t aware of the £1000 limit? My colleague just bought a £1500 bike.

I intend to drive in on Mondays and leave clothes for the week at work, so luggage isn’t too much of an issue, mud guards a great tip though :-)

Man hug.

I went through this with a cat, I was about 18 and my cat was 21, so I knew him all my life. He was a huge Maine Coon, and I mean huge. He had a seizure on Christmas Day and we called the vet out to put him to sleep. The images of his eyes and the pain he was in is something that I won’t forget but I don’t look back now with the horror I had at the time. I just remember all the happy times now. it’s going to feel shit for a bit I won’t lie but it gets easier it’s just very raw at the moment. Just think of how he’s not in pain anymore and of the great times you gave to him.

simons_nicolai-uk – Member
That Z3 is horrific. Cars modified to look a bit like classics are the lowest of the low.
POSTED 2 DAYS AGO #

The lowest of the low? Really? That’s a bit over dramatic. If I was rebodying a Z3 I would have done it slightly differently but that’s kind of the point of it being your own, it’s your creation. I like it, it fires my imagination. More power to people who so things like this, just think he could have bought a fully loaded Octavia VRS instead.

Someone please suggest an Octavia, standards are slipping here.

Read the first 2 para’s, looked at pictures.

A Skoda Octavia VRS estate :p

MrSmith – Member
If you work in I.T you are not cool no matter how close your office is to silicon roundabout.
POSTED 3 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

This +1, or drive an Audi or Skoda. Even more uncool points awarded for s-line & VRS variations.

Also look at the MR2 – slightly quicker feeling and more refined to drive day to day.

Don’t know which MR2 your referring to but we have one of the last ones and I’d say it’s less refined than an mx5. We have had 2 mx5s over the years and both myself and my girlfriend have commuted in all weathers ( inc snow)

I love them apart from the mk3 which felt too big and I have a real soft spot for mk1’s.

I don’t think you will ever tire of driving one, but YOU WILL tire of people making unoriginal hairdresser jokes, mostly from people who drive the bastion of bland an ‘Octy VRS’. Whilst it’s water off a ducks back it does get old very fast.

I disagree, the current production models are the strongest they have been for a while. I thought the F430 wasn’t sharp enough and the 458 looks sharp, modern and pretty.

Op can you be specific on which car you saw? Was it infact a rebadged old toyota/ nissan?

Told this story on here before but….

I used to commute on bike to work wearing 3/4’s then pop my work trousers on at work. A guy who sat opposite me was away from his desk when he text me “can I borrow your shorts” ok I said and then he asked if I could take them discreetly to the toilets. I did and he confessed he didn’t like sitting on the toilet when pooing at work and had ‘hover bombed’ and not pulled his trousers down enough and there was poo now sitting in them. I couldn’t stop laughing, I lent him the shorts and he asked if I would kindly explain this by saying he spilled coffee down himself and his trousers were dirty to the very attractive receptionist we had…

…I didn’t

Similar commute, i cycle when I can but sometime have stuff to take in so can’t. If I commute every work day it costs me £20 a week in fuel. My cars not the most economical though but it’s been drop dead reliable (touch wood) and never missed a beat.

I did have my tongue in my cheek when I wrote that. MOD will be well maintained I presume?

I saw the water in London could look at it for hours .

Do you really need to ask this question? Octavias are like Coldplay inoffensive and no one can really claim to despise them, and the VRS is like Coldplay trying to do heavy metal at a village hall. It’s all very sweet and harmless.

UK I think, the JDM ones have a different bumper if I remember correctly, however I could be wrong. Nice car :-)

I had similar but not by 5 minutes only say 10 seconds. I uninstalled it and reinstalled it and it worked fine.

fd3chris – Member
I cannot believe there are some people on here who think a Skoda VRs is a quick car, never mind able to keep up with a scooby! Bloody Skodas are not performance cars. They are mildly modified shopping cars!!
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO #

But this is STW every car needs to be compared to an ‘octy VRS’ and come off worse. It’s a warm taxi and it’s fine as such and will suffice as exactly that, but it’s not really a performance car and it certainly lacks that x-factor. Regardless of if it’s had a re-map. I’m sure there are many happy Octy owners in the same way they are many happy owners of other white goods.

I’d take those ratings with a pinch of salt if I’m honest. Especially if they are generated by users not road testers. We have an MR2 and someone have it a low rating as ‘there was no room for a buggy’ and compared it to a focus 1.3 which they liked more, while this is an extreme example my point is unless the cars compared with like for like etc it may be best to try it yourself.

suburbanreuben, I wasn’t actually contemplating travelling that distance to look at it even if it was cosha!
Still like the reg of JWG though!
POSTED 6 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

I’m lost now, you weren’t actually thinking of buying the car you just likes that it had your initials on the number plate and wanted to share that?

How about a forester?

You can’t go far wrong with a turbo charged Impreza. My best mate has had several he’s a mechanic so works on it himself but recons if you look after the servicing then you won’t really get any huge bills. He’s seen plenty of the older ‘classic’ ones were they have now fallen into chav territory and servicing hasn’t been kept up needing work.

I really can’t see the R being value at all when you total up the running costs over a number of years. You may as well get the real deal. A VRS may be only slightly slower in a straight line but it’s miles away on the corners and fun stakes, and pedigree.

Wobliscott is that based on experience? About. 5 years ago My girlfriend had a cooper S worth about £8k written off on car d when it was nicked and crashed. In my experience cat d (and above) on 8k cars means more than a dented wing, a £1500 car maybe. I’d want more than 10% off too if your situation changed and you needed to sell the car a cat d will be harder to shift.

Plus we don’t know the history of the car, the advert could always be a mistake.

“Stunning example” and it’s in a CAT D? No chance at that price. I’d buy a banger on vcar for a chance but not blow that kind of money on a car that will be hard to shift.

I really like the GT-86/BRZ, however it’s going to feel gutless after your golf. I am considering one to replace my Celica which has similar power to the GT 86. I don’t know if your children need child seats but getting them in/out is a ball ache, the boot is reasonably wide but is very shallow however it can take a pram but once in notch else. I found the interior nice enough looking but the plastics are as Ox said poor. However after all that I like the way it drives and think they are good value overall (not the TRD kit though) it really does need more power but I don’t rag around like I used too. I like RWD and the flat four, skinny wheels. I was tempted by a BRZ a few months back at a bargain price, a guy had gone from an impreza to buying it new and was disappointed with its lack of power after his impreza, so he traded it in for another imp losing £5k in the process.

Octavia seems to have become a default answer, I’m sure they are very nice but they are a but when the OP wants an interesting car after a 250bhp golf it’s hardly going to excite. S3 however is a good shout.