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Post by Martin on Mar 19, 2024 10:19:14 GMT
Children: causing tonnnes of work for parents since the dawn of time! On the budget tyres, yes I have the pleasure of sometimes meeting the largest UK tyre dealers and wholesalers, and they typically make vastly more on budgets. The example I was given (from the mouth of the MD of a major UK tyre wholesaler and dealer) was a premium selling for £160, they made £10. In the same size a budget selling for £80, was £40 profit. And they generally "drum test" examples before taking them in volume as so many explode at high speed. So think about that, the next time you buy a budget tyre for £60. Which the dealer bought for £30, and which was probably sold from the factory in China for £10-20 originally. Sitting as the only contact between your car and the road on the motorway........... That was exactly my thought, hence replacing two nearly new tyres with BMW * rated ones rather than putting them on the rear and hoping for the best.
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Post by Martin on Mar 19, 2024 8:37:43 GMT
I saw two yesterday, a G Wagon in what I think was Desert Sand (after looking at the configurator) and an electric Q4.
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Post by Martin on Mar 15, 2024 15:04:24 GMT
Easier to change the window trim than seatbelts. They’ve gone for the Sport Classic look on a budget.
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Post by Martin on Mar 15, 2024 14:19:48 GMT
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Post by Martin on Mar 15, 2024 14:09:34 GMT
Collected it this morning, its scrubbed up pretty well. I'm getting two new (proper BMW * rated) front tyres fitted later this afternoon, a s the dealer could only source budget tyres in time for some reason.Call me a cynic but I expect the profit margin on budget tyres is higher and most people probably go "oh I can't be arsed to get my own tyres, go ahead...". Quite possibly. New wipers fitted and 45mins spent doing a better job of cleaning some bits such as the leather seats, steering wheel and black trim. The leather has come up nice and matt. It needs a proper clean and polish really, but I’m not doing it…. Headlight bulbs and replacement gear lever / gaiter will get done tomorrow, I know my Dad will absolutely love supervising him!
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Post by Martin on Mar 15, 2024 11:20:08 GMT
Collected it this morning, its scrubbed up pretty well. I'm getting two new (proper BMW * rated) front tyres fitted later this afternoon, as the dealer could only source budget tyres in time for some reason. It's off to Swindon about 4pm to collect the two eldest boys, then North to Cheshire, as we're all with my parents this weekend for their 55th anniversary.
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Post by Martin on Mar 14, 2024 18:46:53 GMT
I think Porsche wanted about £900 for a paint correction and ceramic coating (inc wheels), more than a decent local detailer would charge but it was included after I’d got them to a price to change I was happy with, so I can count that as free! It’s a 5 year Gtechnic coating and is excellent, makes the car so easy to clean and 10,000 miles in it is beading as well as it did on collection day.
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Post by Martin on Mar 14, 2024 14:58:58 GMT
Olive isn’t the best green, but I wouldn’t refuse it as a gift.
992 GT3 prices are coming down quite nicely, my local dealer has a couple in the £180s and they start from under £170k in OPCs.
From everything I’ve seen and read, I would rather have a Turbo S, they are down in the £130s now.
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Random
Mar 12, 2024 19:06:41 GMT
Post by Martin on Mar 12, 2024 19:06:41 GMT
I wonder how much a £200k, 1000+ hp Taycan with scaffolding instead of rear seats will be worth in a couple of years?!
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Post by Martin on Mar 12, 2024 14:56:04 GMT
My 18 year old has decided he now wants to learn and is a couple of weeks into lessons. £80 a week for a 2 hour session….
They need a a reason to do it. For us it was just wanting to behind the wheel! For my eldest, he was never the designated driver as all his mates drove and he kept fit by cycling to work and when he was accepted into police training that it because urgent as you need a full driving licence. Son number 2 was a bit worried about driving and doesn’t mind public transport, but is on a management development programme at work and knows he’ll have more opportunities to progress when he can travel around more easily, so is now really keen.
It’s a little annoying that he wasn’t given chance to strip the car….his personal stuff was taken out, but I’d spent a couple of hundred £ on new bits such as genuine gearknob / gater, nice leather edged carpet mats, wipers, headlight bulbs, phone holder etc. He’d only just put two new tyres on it and it was nearly full of fuel…. I’m up to £130 in the last hour buying some of that stuff again.
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Post by Martin on Mar 12, 2024 12:19:29 GMT
Yes, triple black but thankfully it doesn’t have privacy glass as well,
It was registered end September 2015.
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Post by Martin on Mar 12, 2024 11:43:41 GMT
They would be, but he likes to them. I’d never buy a black car either, but it’s got a nice amount of metallic to it and does look smart.
As well as the 17” wheels, it’s got part leather, Visual Boost radio with idrive (non Nav), heated windscreen and auto dimming mirror. It’s got the Chili pack which the other one had, which includes a whole load of things including climate control, cruise, MF wheel etc. The first to thing he asked me when I sent him the Autotrader link was whether it had cruise control….
The other one had rear parking sensors, which is pretty rare and this one doesn’t have. The colour screen does make it feel more modern and the seats are in really good condition, most I’ve seen have really saggy leather sections.
It’s just had a major service and MOT and I’m getting two new front tyres. The ones it has have plenty of tread, but ones a Yokohama something and the other is a cheap brand. It’s got Dunlops on the rear, they agreed mismatched fronts weren’t a good idea so offered to swap them to the rear, but I’d rather have brand new * rated (non run flats) on there so a deal has been done.
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Post by Martin on Mar 12, 2024 10:09:04 GMT
We did briefly discuss other options, but he had a nearly new Corsa for a few days and wasn’t impressed by the way it drove. Difficult to beat the 1.5 MINI Cooper at this price point.
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Post by Martin on Mar 12, 2024 10:04:53 GMT
Settlement figure agreed, should be paid in 3-5 working days. Bank of Dad is providing a ‘bridging loan’ as the next MINi adventure starts on Friday when I collect this:
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Post by Martin on Mar 12, 2024 9:55:50 GMT
There is a small electric Volvo (EX30 maybe) in the car park under head office this morning.
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Random
Mar 11, 2024 20:08:02 GMT
Post by Martin on Mar 11, 2024 20:08:02 GMT
£48,652 deposit contribution!
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Post by Martin on Mar 11, 2024 11:15:41 GMT
It’s not a garage forecourt, so should count.
Still nothing despite covering over 1,000 miles since the 1st.
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Post by Martin on Mar 11, 2024 11:10:18 GMT
Definitely better than putting it on its roof!
Just based on a quick search, the insurance isn’t too bad at all, helped by him being 22. Just under £1,500 without a black box (£1,220 with). It’s less than a year since he got the car, so.zero no claims to lose!
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Post by Martin on Mar 9, 2024 18:37:58 GMT
What an atmosphere!!
The Irish were louder earlier, but not now!
Back to the hospitality for a Curry now!
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Random
Mar 9, 2024 16:49:59 GMT
Post by Martin on Mar 9, 2024 16:49:59 GMT
Decent first few mins!
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Post by Martin on Mar 8, 2024 17:20:04 GMT
In more positive F1 news, Sainz is out due to illness and Ollie Bearman has given up his pole position start in the F2 race to take his place. Great news for him and he did well in Q3.
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Post by Martin on Mar 8, 2024 12:24:12 GMT
If she has been suspended then there must (or should be…) a current investigation and the view taken that it would be impacted by her remaining in the workplace.
That’s how it’s supposed to work anyway!
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Post by Martin on Mar 7, 2024 18:24:35 GMT
Sorry to hear this. Worth buying it back and getting it repaired privately using some used parts, if it really is not damaged very badly? Thank you. I don’t know how badly damaged it is Chris and if a similar one can be bought with the insurance payout then it’s not worth the hassle / risk.
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Post by Martin on Mar 7, 2024 17:24:07 GMT
Having been through all the hassle with the i-pace and getting it repaired, i'd be quite happy with a payout like that. You might want to look at similar cars for sale on Autotrader because if they are considerably more than £7,500 you can argue for a higher figure because you are not in the motor trade and can't buy at trade prices. It might not get you all the way to the cost of a replacement but it usually gets you somewhere closer. I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn I've been looking! Prices vary a fair bit, but I think it's a fair offer. There's a 6 month newer one with similar miles only 8 miles from my house up for £7,495. No parking sensors and the part leather I don't like quite as much, but it's got the visual boost radio and a heated windscreen as compensation. Only problem is that it's black...but it's not my car. He might want to get something closer to home as it could be quicker (I'm in London for the Rugby this weekend and away from home most of next), but we'll see.
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Post by Martin on Mar 7, 2024 11:44:22 GMT
Well, this particular MINI adventure is over.
I don't understand how, but he's managed to damage it badly enough for the insurance company to declare it a write off. Somehow he's got it against a concrete post and panicked and made it a whole lot worse by getting stuck. They have valued it at £7,500 (not bad as I paid £8,200 nearly 12 months ago), so the cost must be that less whatever the remaining value is. I'm amazed it's that bad, but I haven't seen it.
He's absolutely gutted, but at least he hasn't put it on its roof in a ditch and there aren't any injuries.
He's had a loan car from the repair place for a few days, but as it has been declared a total loss that's been collected immediately and he's on his own. He can walk into work, so not a major issue in the very short term,
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Post by Martin on Mar 6, 2024 6:35:52 GMT
That’s quite the upgrade Mark, very smart.
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Post by Martin on Mar 5, 2024 9:43:57 GMT
Both our cars have a separate trip that resets when fuel is added, but I don't know which other manufacturers have the same.
I always fill up at the closest fuel station to the airport, it's 'holiday spends' so doesn't matter too much what the price is and I keep the receipt just in case someone tries it on. Which has never happened, but the first time I don't get a receipt I'm sure it will!
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Post by Martin on Feb 23, 2024 9:11:20 GMT
What an evening that must have been!
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Post by Martin on Feb 18, 2024 11:43:59 GMT
Under £50 for 6 days is an amazing price, but clearly they get their money another way. The £200 you ended up paying is still reasonable value for 6 days, but I’d really annoyed being charged for damage I’d not done and wouldn’t use them again. I haven’t used Europcar since they did the same to me back in 2017, even though I got it all back through my excess insurance.
That’s a strange place to get damage.
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Post by Martin on Feb 16, 2024 9:45:22 GMT
34p a litre? That's what it was in 1992 when I hard my first car!!!! Is this subsidised or just barely taxed? The hoops we go through to decarbonise here, and they can buy fuel for less than bottled water.............. I hadn’t looked at any point when passing fuel stations so it was a big surprise to me too! This was a big Shell garage next to the airport, so I assume is as expensive as it gets. Full fat petrol is a high % increase, but still only 58p a litre. I looked into it and there isn’t any tax, quite the opposite….the government subsidises the cost of fuel, covering about a third of the cost.
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