P reg Honda Accord 2.2 VTEC petrol in a lovely green. Cost me £700 with 150,000 miles and all I did was change the brake pads and the oil and filter (every 4000 mies).

Went to 234,000 miles and the engine was still sweet and pulled big time. However, the back end was rusting and would have cost me more than the few pounds the car was worth. I loved that car though – I’ve had faster and visually more satisfying cars but that was BY FAR the best!

Perfect, thank you very much.

Thanks very much for that information. It looks like I’ll just have to suck it up. I had used Transferwise when paying them to avoid bank charges.

Like the idea of Command Post but it’s only in 30.9mm otherwise I’d be in. Maybe for when my Reverb dies on my 30.9 bike! Thanks, maybe I should just take the plunge and get the new Reverb.

The Magura looks like the secret but I don’t think I’ll have enough space, because of a kinked seat tube, to use it it’s 446mm long!

Might be worth a look at La Palma (canaries) too. I can’t see past Madeira but I met some Germans in Madeira who loved La Palma – trails were hardly through rainforest but weather’s more reliable at least.

Risky but the last couple of years, January has been mostly okay (not so much rain and warm). April this year was mostly tragic (from bitter firsthand experience!).

It’s a great place with great folk and it’s predominantly rainforest. Take the waterproofs, have a great time and if you get 40% sunshine and warmth you’re doing a lot better than UK!

That BMC Trailfox looks good and I’m shocked to say the medium looks like it will fit – it’s just a wee bit shorter than my 29er!

Good shout about the seat mast Northwind – I noticed that and it bothered me. Completely agree with that – no good for confidence on the crazy downhills.

On One Codeine is a deal but never really appealed, maybe wrongly so. Plus I’m steadfast Shimano. Good shout though.

Thanks for that, looking at that now – long is GOOD!

Might stick with the Jeffsy then!

Transferwise is awesome. I just told the dude at Freeride Madeira that the bank charges were ridiculous so I just paid the full amount once I was there. I know what you mean about Transferwise – it seemed a bit weird at one point but don’t worry about them at all.

Have a great time in Madeira – I had Pedro as a guide and he’s an amazing rider – especially on wet clay – he just hardly touches the ground!

Magic, thanks very much.

therag – I’ve seen XLs available in May – they’ve been updated with earlier dates recently so maybe worth a wee recheck?

Magical, thanks so much for that info – that’s what i figured – shock could maybe be improved on but all the adjustment of the fork is fairly unnecessary for me at least.

Much appreciated.

Thanks for the advice, maybe best go for the slightly better one.

The seats are great. I was riding in some taxi Vitos and Vianos too in Madeira and they are so comfortable like mine but obviously much plusher overall. We’ve travelled across Europe in ours and I’ve done it in a oner from Central Scotland through Britain to East Switzerland. It wasn’t much less comfortable than a very comfortable Volvo.

OOPS, double post

Oh and the Vito is rear wheel drive, which can be fun if you put rubbish tyres on (albeit predictable still)

If you haven’t already, try driving a plush Vito or Viano – I think you’d be surprised how un-van like they can be. Mine’s tuned and quick too and honestly feels more like a car (and mine’s a shabby 2011 Kombi type too with only six seats).

Otherwise I was impressed with Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen van derivatives. Big and practical.

Magic, thanks.

I mean either upgrading the shock (I had thought that this was around £100 – £150 but can’t think where I heard that). The rest of the details are a fork, which isn’t something I think I’d notice and SLX vs. XT, which I’m not bothered about. Wheels are the same etc. so I thought get the cheaper bike, have a cheaper groupset (happy with SLX regardless) and put the money into the likes of a Cane Creek OR upgrade the shock so I have some sort of propedal/platform/whatever Rockshox call it and put the rest of the money saved to some new wheels…

I may be insane, hence the question, but I just can’t see a big advantage of one model over the other for £465.

For such a short time you don’t have to go too far. Various folk on here (including me) would happily show you some of the awesome trails around and near Stirling. You could be here a week no worries. Alternatively go to Innerleithen – you can stray off the typical trail centre – speak to the likes of Steve at I-Cycles. Both are close enough to ensure you’re not in the car the whole time.

Sorry, should have explained myself better – I mean I could upgrade the shock maybe by buying a Cane Creek or upgrading the Monarch (I believe there’s some sleeve that I think could give me the platform switch I desire?).

Don’t worry – only goal is to get what I am owed. Would rather be a “man with van” for a while or whatever I need to do to pay the mortgage.

Guess what though….They never paid up. Now that shocked me to the core!

The recruitment consultant was external – so yes, he would benefit from this (or not in this case). I suspect that is another part of the problem. I informed him last week when he called but didn’t want him going after him like a bull in a china shop. Obviously I just said that I would love to keep working, I’m just looking for my first pay and expenses.

I fear this is about to get ever more farcical (but hopefully more entertaining for STW folk!

The “boss” emailed me at 1657 on Friday to tell me that he will pay me late Monday (today…) and he hasn’t seen my expenses (odd but I sent them straight through to him after his email. So we’ll see. Never had a situation like it and now it’s just comical. I’ll laugh a wee bit more once I have some money in my account of course. Thanks for your help.

Can’t get hold of him – emailed tons, called but keep getting told he will get back to me. Believe me, I want a simple situation and not have to take this to the next level. Good point though! I’m infuriated because of how many emails and calls I have made but have been ignored.

Thank you – a “deemed contract” is good enough for me. I just want to be paid my expenses and wages for the last month and walk away. I’ll hand them all the work I have developed for them so hopefully amicably too. Beside the fact I don’t know what I have done wrong, I would be happy with this! From what I’ve heard, it seems as though they have extended themselves too far by bringing on too many people too quickly and they have financial woes. Not my concern but it actually REALLY is too!!

Nickjb – glad you appreciate that this is crazy. I’m actually more laughing than concerned (which is weird because I do have bikes (!), house, wife and children to pay for).

Muffin-man – understood – it’s not completely abnormal but obviously not perfect – the fact I have received what I have so far shows I am in employment…!

Thanks Matt – I have printed out everything pertaining to this and am on the way to CAB in an hour or so. I want to send them a warning shot across the bows to try to get this resolved beforehand but I cannot appear to come up with anything – simply because I’m worried that my lack of legal speak and knowledge may somehow get me in trouble!

Yes, ludicrous. I have been in recruitment prior to this and would always tell everyone that they have to receive a contract first. I know I’m wrong but at the same time, what am I meant to do? I asked for this repeatedly and received an offer letter. I had also sent in my P45 and they asked me to fill out a New Starter Form, so while I don’t know the law as maybe I should, I thought that these would prove something at least?!

I don’t think I’m alone, not that that is excusable. My colleague who started a few weeks before me, has been paid but has not received a contract of employment either.

If you’re in Scotland, try Paul Winston at Angel Tuning Scotland. He does a proper job, none of this box nonsense and the power gains I got from a van and car (admittedly not Renaults but he does them too) are exceptional. He’s the only man I would trust.

WOW, thanks! No need to go and get cold for me but much appreciated. Sounds like I should play it safe and buy a 2.1″, looking like a Ground Control.

I don’t have a minimum amount for my First Direct account because I took out a credit card too (which I never used, oops). However, I’m not sure if they still do this so it’s worth checking? Either way, I would just move money about if one month I don’t have the magic £1000 in order to make it appear as though I do.

Magic, thanks very much. I remember that name from my past! It looks really good.

WOW! Thanks so much ravingdave, that is truly phenomenal. Well, I have got hold of them now and apparently they’re awaiting a shipment to send on to me…. I shall see what happens in the next few days but at least I spoke to someone at long last. Thanks again though – a hugely appreciated gesture.

Speaking about hoarding – I have three desktop computers with AMD 64 processors. I kept them because I thought they’re worth £50 each. I’m kidding myself on aren’t I? Would just like confirmation before I stuff them in the wheelie bin!

DickBarton – Member
Got to be the VR4 version though. I was having a mild disagreement with a mutual friend about manual vs automatic. I think manual, he thinks auto. He’s wrong.
Still: £2-3k, 280+bhp, 0-60 in 5.5s, acres of space in the boot – it’s a good shout. Horrendous on fuel though.

Agreed…on all of it…I was getting 22mpg before I was attempting anything spirited…

That’ll be why then – the manuals were very short-geared and mostly crap. I owned both. We had the AC on in an auto VR-4 at (almost) full blast with a full boot through Germany and averaged 30.6mpg. Good luck getting that with manual VR-4s. We generally averaged 25 – 27mpg otherwise. My manual gave me around 19mpg!

Rockape – perfectly possible – somehow on my 234,000 mile Honda, I only ever changed the front discs once (I had it from 140,000 miles). I changed the oil and filter every 4000 miles because I’m pedantic too but that’s all.

Petrol Hondas were phenomenal. I had a 2.2 VTEC Accord to 234,000 miles and everything was sweet apart from the back end slowly rotting. Engine was absolutely amazing. Modern Hondas are just a bit well, crap really, which is a MASSIVE shame. We have a 10-year old Civic Type R and this is the first year we have had to spend any money on it other than dropping the oil – wheel bearing.

The most future proof car would have to be something like a Tesla (if you can change the batteries to the obviously more advanced ones the future will have). Diesels are dead any day now and any petrols without a small engine and a turbo will be following them (and I can’t see them having any longevity anyhow).

Do it – I would never regret the changes I made. You can always go back to what you were doing and where you were living later if it doesn’t work out.

I’m terrified of NOT making a change – I want to live abroad and have done for just about all my adult life. My wife doesn’t and it’s eating me up – I know a few more years of this, and I’ll have huge regrets from NOT trying out something new.