Hmm, well that particular one was a complete lemon – pulling hard to one side, lack of power, horrible noise in 1st and 2nd, aircon knackered etc etc

It might be ever so slightly more preferable for him to wait around at East Midlands airport for a few hours before getting the shuttle bus thingy to Derby station. At least there are toilets, seats and places to eat at EMA through the night (you can get a decent whisky at 4:30 I’ll have you know)

Well we need something big enough for mini RRR’s isofix extended rearward facing seat – that rules out most of the smaller hatchbacks.

I test drove another one and it seemed nippy and smooth enough tbh. I’m just scared of electrical gremlins ..

Oh :-/

What did you all do about transfers with little uns? I’m guessing they have to sit on your lap on a coach of whatever?!

Can you hire cars with decent child seats abroad?

Or just buy a stripper – we got one from wickes for about £20 and it did the entire house very easily.

Wicki – I’d be interested in details of the place you know but can’t seem to PM you.

Sun stroke – yeah I am worried about that as mini RRR rips off his hat the second it’s put on and is too young to really understand / obey orders!

Hmmm it could be do able then?! Mini RRR isn’t really interested in the iPad or videos/TV so we’d have to be creative with the in flight entertainment!

Where’s warm but not too hot for a toddler in mid August (only time we can go)?

Hmmm the camping pods are an option. The caravans look good but it says no single sex groups :-(

Bumpety bump bump

* cue tumble weed

I’m not sure if it’s better or worse than poking Harry potter’s mangina :-/

^ I feel a little better now

Anyone?

BigDummy – ah that’s ok then, thanks :-)

What about the dream involving my wife ‘giving a hand’ to a gentleman with no arms, in a forest? Should I feel guilty about that one?!

I had another one last week actually. I was extremely upset with my wife as she was caught er edit:manhandling off a guy with no arms, in a wheelchair in a forest.

Her defence was “he’s handicapped you b@std”

I am a little concerned about my head :-(

^^ hmm that could be worth a try. I’m not sure if BMW franchises buy cars outright or just as trade ins tbh. Worth asking I guess!

Yep, so I’m familiar with how the chip works and how you can get uber cheap ones from eBay. It’s more that personally I don’t feel it’s right to fit it and then sell the car. If the buyer wants to do so then that’s their choice.

Webuyanycar currently offering £5100 which they’d reduce significantly once they’ve noticed the odd scratch or three.

Typically, I just went out to the car and tried my hardest to set the light off but couldn’t! I wiggled all the connectors, jumped up and down on the seat etc!

I’m fairly sure it’s not just the wiring as I’ve jiggled it about quite a bit – it does seem linked to the seat sensor itself.

In retrospect I should have part ex’d but the dealer offered me a pitiful amount (and at that point I hadn’t had to spend £450 ish).

Thing is , I don’t want to not mention it all as I’d be very annoyed indeed if I spent £6k on a car and a light came on within a week or two (which it probably will).

Should I advertise it with the fault or just mention it when someone enquires?

^ yep my coupe had foldy down seats but like you say a lot of saloons don’t. I ended up getting an estate in the end anyway (see pic up there ^^)

Oh you know Brian?

You’re probably right , I don’t need a remap as such more I just like the idea of a bit more powerrrrrr.

Having said that; the car’s in-gear acceleration is really very impressive for a 2L and it feels quicker than it’s supposed 7.5 secs to 60 (fairly meaningless i know)!

Yep the saddle brown interior takes some getting used to but tbh I got a bargain and I think it’s because quite a few people might be put off by it.

True Kryton. Thing is there’s a BMW performance upgrade that can be done by a dealer, fully warranted etc!

I’m not sure I could justify £1k cost for 20BHP and half a second off the 0-60 time though!

The pic doesn’t really show it well but it’s a very light silvery blue. And ta, already thinking about remaps despite the fact it already has a flip load of torque :D

Kryton – tis blue!

Well the interior .. I think this is the reason I got a cracking deal on the car. It’s saddle brown leather , apparently a £1500 option but not to everyone’s taste certainly!

Can I not jet wash my wheels or is that as harmful for cars as it is bikes?!

Soooo… Picked it up yesterday. It’s only a 320d (184 bhp and 60mpg is a good compromise) and it’s the “old” style but I can’t complain.. M sport with all the gubbins. . I must thanks the STW masses for helping me realise a saloon is daft. :D

What’s the difference between a dirty bus station and a lobster with breast implants?

One’s a crusty bus station and the other is a busty crustacean

IGMC

Anyone else (before I finally shut up and just buy a car any car just buy a car)?

It’ll be on PCP or hire purchase (but using the proceeds of my current car to pay off more expensive debt rather than use it as a deposit).

^^ ohhhh don’t say that!

What is the most reliable family run around (with isofix) for £1k then?!! Foci (focus’s) don’t have isofix , Peugeot 307s I thought were even worse than the Renault?

Help meeeeeee

DBW – why not? They seem about the safest car you can get for £1k. I’d only be looking at those with service history etc etc

Cynic-Al – do you mean a warm hatch plus a wife car?

I think the wife’s concern is having something reliable for long trips. We’re thinking about driving to le France this summer for instance and I’d have no qualms about it in the bimmer but less so in a £1k scenic..

Cheers Kryton – um I couldn’t possibly comment about w**k but all first time buyers get f3cked (with a 10% deposit).

I do love alfas but the wife wouldn’t feel any happier scratching that..

Well the lack of foldy seats in this particular lovely looking saloon has put me right off. I’d have to buy rails and a bike rack before I could contemplate getting my mtb anywhere.

I’m familiar with the E90 bimmers as have an e92 coupe currently – it seems a bit daft getting the same “old” model as my “new” car (will also depreciate quicker)

Hmm

Non foldy seats on the saloon I’m looking at , which is rather annoying as my coupe has them and has had two mtb’s stuffed in it!

Well it’s not the engine that’s up for debate as common sense says a 320d.

I’ve no chance of an estate in that lovely blue – about 4k over budget :-(

Currently it’s a silver 320d Sport Touring Vs Estoril blue M Sport saloon

I know I shouldn’t really be asking about saloon vs estate on a bike forum!

But but but bikes aside (as they can go on a rack)… How often do you really NEED an estate?

If I could afford the estate in the same spec it wouldn’t be so much of an issue. I just really love the colour of this m sport saloon. Damn heart vs head type stuff!

Blurty – any issues with it all?

Cheers_drive – I’m not so keen on the 3 series GT , it doesn’t look quite right imo. The 4 series Gran Coupe (5 door) is lovely but currently waaay beyond my budget (looking at 2/3 yr old cars)

.. And I can’t afford an estate in the same spec / lovely colour :-(

Oh but I’ve seen an m sport saloon in Estoril blue – tis lovely!