The Car Thread

[Shez]

I've known them become noisy before a clutch plate is worn, and on the odd occasion collapse, but with them being bearing based, you'll hear them when they start to wear.

A clutch should always be changed as 3 parts i.e clutch plate, thrust bearing and pressure plate, and ideally avoiding reconditioned parts.

Also, add in hydraulic slave cylinders these days, a lot are situated inside of the bell housing, so it's a matter of course to change them while you have the gearbox out.

[VR46]

A nice little find

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7807210.stm

the Aston and E-Type just about get a mention.

[ChrisF]

Crikey, a "barn find" as they call them in America. Does anyone watch Chasing Cars? I only ever saw the one episode but it had a barn find of a very similar looking Bugatti. Apparently it used to belong to the guy who owned Bloomingdales. It broke down, he couldn't be bothered to fix it, so he left it in the garage.

They actually auction them with the dust & dirt on them, just to prove the state they were found in!

[Richard.John]

Amazing really. Fifty years just rotting away, and 3 million for the taking. Where did I leave that 250 GTO, if only it would come back to me, I'd be rich...

In other news, fancy a 3 series PAS. BMW has lost its mind.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/BMW-Concepts/236714/

[CMcK]

Progressive Activity Sedan - WTF.

You would think with the global downturn in the economy car manufacturers would be sticking to core models instead of trying to fill every niche possible let alone inventing new ones.

[ChrisF]

As if the X6 wasn't odd enough!

[Richard.John]

You get the feeling it has been designed for US 'soccer moms' type, or old fogies who want an easy drive. Will probably be superb though in Beemer tradition.

[VR46]

As if the X6 wasn't odd enough!

I've only ever seen two on the roads, they've not been the best of sellers over here (or anywhere?) I assume.

[ChrisF]

Likewise, I've only seen a couple as well. Oddities.

See, said they were called Barn Finds http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/b...-57s-atalante/
(same story, but "in American")

This was a link to the show I was on about... http://www.locatetv.com/tv/chasing-classic-cars/5087092

Seems it was pretty much the same car! Unless the 57C Atalante and 57S Atalante are totally different

[Richard.John]

Ouch.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/15/how-i-not-i-to-deliver-an-aston-martin/

Imagine the sinking feeling as the proud new owner realised what had just happened.

[ChrisF]

Struggling to find words other than "Ouch" like you say. Bet that's one upset and angry owner.

[VR46]

Does look splendid in White though. If that helps.

Mentioned to Chris the other day, did anyone see Tonight on Monday or Tuesday this week? was all about true running costs of cars/devaluation/negative equity etc etc.

eg: Guy bought a 03 plate Shogun in Jan 07 for £15k, is now worth £5k, he still owes £11k on the loan. £6k negative equity in a flash. Shogun is losing a £100 a week in value and costing him about six grand a year to run (all in). Did he sell it when this was pointed out to him. No. He wasn't alone either.

[ChrisF]

Bet they didn't mention voluntary termination in that documentary? That's exactly how my car is going back in a few months

[Richard.John]

Cars are life's biggest money trap, when you think about it. The second most expensive purchase we make, for most people, yet they are depreciating assets. Property and shares tend to rise in value over time, though I bet we wish we could say the same about cars.

So why do we buy them in such numbers? After all, the motor industry is huge in terms of global presence. I think it's to do with personal freedom, and that's why people love them so much. A car beats a train, or a bus, etc for the simple pleasures in life. Being able to spread one's wings, thus free as a bird (well not quite).

[charlesr]

Some cars are going up in value:
Honda CRX MKII SiR import.
Lotus Carlton
Escort Cosworth
Impreza P1

As long as you don't actually add too much milieage to them each year.