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Post by Martin on Sept 27, 2024 8:48:42 GMT
Good choice Tim, be interested to hear how you get on with it. I was going to say black is probably a mistake for you, but it doesn't seem what to matter what colour they are, they all end up the same.... Although that's not fair, Mrs Tim looks to have done a decent job on the tip run vehicle!
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Post by Martin on Sept 19, 2024 8:48:51 GMT
I found the best way of dealing with leaves was to get a tree surgeon in to remove the trees from the back garden! We’ve got trees outside our garden, but the leaves don’t come our way. I do have a number of bushes to keep on top of, but if I split the ones at the front and side of the house into 2 different weekends and don’t leave them too long, it all goes in the garden waste bin.
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Post by Martin on Sept 17, 2024 12:18:51 GMT
We really like where we live and have the house exactly as we want it now (extended, 3 new bathrooms, new kitchen, garden done etc), the only thing I’d change in an ideal world is more space around it and a bigger garage. The local area is really nice, close to open countryside, can walk/cycle for miles from our house without going near a road, 10min walk into a small town with everything you need and really importantly it’s a very good location for work. It’s 20-30mins into Head Office, easy access to M1/M6/A1 and I can get into London in not much more than an hour from leaving home, c90 mins into our corporate offices. I’ve got 60 warehouses in my Division spread from Northallerton & Barrow in the North down to Dover, west into North Wales and east as far as Stowmarket. So a central location is important to minimise driving time and staying in hotels.
So I wouldn’t charge where we live now, we had a pretty open choice when we chose it and nothing has changed. Maybe when we retire, but I’m not so sure., only if I can get a great view of an ocean which is unlikely to be affordable.
I like both the countryside and cities, but to visit, not to live in. Travelling down the same road (or worse, lane) most days would drive me mad, although not as much as living in a large city, I would hate that. It’s not just the driving, public transport is worse.
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Post by Martin on Sept 17, 2024 12:03:07 GMT
Went past the Ford dealer in Northampton earlier and half of it is now a Omoda Jaecoo dealerships. Who?! Never heard of them, assume it must be a new Chinese EV brand and that’s broadly right, but they do offer a 1.6 petrol SUV thing. www.omodajaecoo.com/
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Post by Martin on Sept 16, 2024 13:29:13 GMT
Talking dirty cars, last winter I discovered one surprise and delight feature on the Disco Sport that I'd never really considered before. The doors all have added trims that go over the sills. That way, when you climb into the inevitably filthy car, you don't get shyte all over your trousers as the sills are clean. I think all LRs are like that (or the door goes over the sill) and I agree, it’s a great feature in the winter, even more so on a car you step up into.
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Post by Martin on Sept 16, 2024 13:18:02 GMT
Let’s not spoil an interesting thread with Tesla bashing! We’re really happy with ours, Lindsay especially so…. I won’t go into why, as I’ve covered that before but the latest ones are much improved in many ways.
Anyway, I’m pleased to hear you’re keeping the Alfa and I’m sure if you do stick with it for a couple more years the total cost of ownership will be pretty reasonable, especially compared to buying a new car.
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Post by Martin on Sept 14, 2024 12:27:49 GMT
The latest and final Grand Tour is out on Amazon - it is well worth a watch - less scripted silliness and all the better for it. Much better for it, we watched (and enjoyed) it last night.
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Post by Martin on Sept 14, 2024 6:23:51 GMT
How much is too much is a question only you can answer. But in your position I would keep it for another year, be less concerned about using it and plan some trips to really enjoy it. Then see how you feel.
I don’t think a normal Giulia is the right next step, you’ll likely end up with something you like the look of but is slightly disappointing every time you drive it. You’d also be a lot less forgiving when you have to spend a chunk of money on it or it lets you down. I remember having a facelift 740d for a few days when I had the 750, it’s a car that should have been perfect for me (30k+ miles a year, majority on motorway, good range/economy, goes well etc) but not having voodoo suspension and a V8 made it feel very much second best. Because it’s so similar, you constantly compare. Better to get something different if you do change imo.
I won’t talk about it on your post too much, but for the first time I’m having a lot of second thoughts on spending based on ‘value’ or ‘how much is too much’ and saving for the future. I’m usually pretty decisive and spend what I can comfortably afford, but as that number increases it gets harder, even though I’m saving / putting into a pension a lot more than I was even 5 years ago.
Remember, you only live once!!
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Post by Martin on Sept 13, 2024 16:33:07 GMT
Sounds like you need to give up Golf! Or..... why don't you just use the i4 when you need a bit more boot space? That might cause a bit of friction since I play about 100 rounds a year. We did discuss it a while ago but Susan dismissed it after she realised how many times I would be taking her car! Surely she'd be delighted to have a Boxster/Cayman instead! That's OK though, we've moved on now it's clear practicality isn't really an issue.....I've already started looking on the Porsche used car finder for you
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Post by Martin on Sept 13, 2024 10:56:21 GMT
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Post by Martin on Sept 13, 2024 10:53:09 GMT
I know! it's actually 5 1/2 years now but to be honest nothing else really interests me. I have a client who got a great deal on a 9mth old 850i but they do free fall in values. BMW's new prices are now so ridiculous I wouldn't consider them. Macan GTS possibly but nothing really has me looking up the road tests and feeling a sense of anticipation and excitement. Part of that is that I need something big enough to carry golf clubs because a Boxster or Cayman would otherwise be very acceptable. I will just wait until something sparks an interest. Sounds like you need to give up Golf! Or..... why don't you just use the i4 when you need a bit more boot space?
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Post by Martin on Sept 12, 2024 18:58:25 GMT
Sounds horrendous, I couldn’t work in that environment. I enjoy my autonomy too much and if it’s a big decision then a phone call to my boss is all it takes, which is really only when I want to push things to get new business and need his backing.
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Post by Martin on Sept 12, 2024 14:44:32 GMT
£10 refundable deposit for all appointment's, no deposit, no appointment.
But don’t spend £billions on a payment system and a new department to manage it all……
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Post by Martin on Sept 11, 2024 11:39:04 GMT
I'd have gone home I think. Having a black car has given me detailing OCD - I regularly wipe it down after rain to prolong it looking clean (I just did) as it gets mucky so fast! You have the car for it, as people have said - an SUV sloshing though mud is in its elements. When it’s raining I take the silver Porsche, which barely shows any signs of being used in the wet. #sonofchris I wasn’t confident getting out of Prescott one year when I took the Boxster, but mid engine and momentum saved the day. An SUV is really only as good as the tyres it’s on, you won’t get all that far in mud on performance summer tyres which would be rather embarrassing. Like my old Q7 driving neighbour who confidently left his drive when it had snowed and only made it half way up the road, then hit the kerb trying to get back down. My RWD winter tyre equipped 5 series estate drove up without so much as the traction light flashing.
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Post by Martin on Sept 5, 2024 13:45:46 GMT
Looking good. I've never noticed before the little Italian tri-colour on the rear diffuser. It just adds something. I've never seen it before either, so must have been a 'mod' by the previous owner.
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Post by Martin on Sept 5, 2024 12:32:51 GMT
Back to school, I don't have any issues with private education.
I went to an independent junior school, but we moved from Yorkshire to Hampshire just before starting secondary school which changed my parents financial position a fair bit. That wasn't a great school, but I was only there before we moved to Cheshire and I went to a really good school, which had the only Sixth Form in the area. I did reasonably well academically, but at the end of my A levels I really didn't know what I wanted to do and didn't want to go to University if it wasn't for a specific degree that I needed. I got a really hard time from my teachers for not going, but my parents were supportive. I don't think not having a degree has harmed my career much (if at all), I'm doing OK and if I'm honest, better than I ever expected.
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Post by Martin on Sept 5, 2024 12:20:57 GMT
Whaaaat?!?!?! Christ, I feel even older than usual, reading that!!! Just to rub it in: one of the boys is a lecturer..... Blimey! That's two facts that make me feel old, although two of mine kind of do that already. My eldest is 23 (24 in Dec) and a Police Officer. As of last week he's out in a Panda Car (or Incident Response Vehicle iirc) on his own, although he's not allowed to use the lights or siren because he isn't response trained yet! My middle son is 19 (20 in Nov) and has just been promoted to Duty Manager in a 200 room town centre Premier Inn. As the Hotel manager doesn't like working evenings (or much at all....), he's responsible for everything including the restaurant/bar. He blew me away when I went to visit and saw him in action with customers and the team. To give things a bit of balance, my youngest is 4 and started school on Wednesday.
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Post by Martin on Sept 5, 2024 8:48:55 GMT
Lindsay's Dad had talked about visiting visiting his Grandads grave, but passed away suddenly late 2014, so we made the trip in July 2015 and spent some time in the local area, such a huge amount of interesting things to see. We visited again in July this year on the way back from Paris, it's great to see how well kept even the small cemeteries are.
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Post by Martin on Sept 4, 2024 18:24:39 GMT
It was money well spent getting new electric garage doors, but I do regret not spending more and getting the pillar removed and one large door instead as not everything will fit comfortably through the single door. There’s always next time.
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Post by Martin on Sept 4, 2024 17:22:27 GMT
Ouch….annoying, but could have been worse and fairly easily fixed if it annoys you. I’d have to get it fixed.
Hopefully that’s the end of it.
Lindsay would be really upset if she damaged her car and is very good at parking (driving in general to be fair, although is sometimes quicker than I’d like..), the Golf wheels were completely unmarked after 6 years. I hope she never damages mine, more for her sake (as she’d be devastated) than anything else.
I can’t believe you really need permission to spend 1k euros, especially as it could be classified as a ‘home improvement’!
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Post by Martin on Sept 3, 2024 10:39:32 GMT
I used to have a magnetic GB sticker which was a good solution, but there isn’t any steel on the rear of the Panamera. The window solution was fine, worked well from above anyway….
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Post by Martin on Sept 3, 2024 9:25:33 GMT
Looks good, I hope the kids are behaving themselves in the back!
I couldn’t bring myself to put a UK sticker on the paintwork and don’t like the look of UK plates, so had one inside the rear window. It wasn’t quite as visible as it probably should have been, but I didn’t have any issues.
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Post by Martin on Sept 3, 2024 9:21:21 GMT
It’s getting sillier and does make you think twice (at least!).
Finance rates have been too high for me for a while, the last car I bought that way was the 535d and that was mainly because I was coming out of a company car at fairly short notice at a time I was saving for a house deposit. Since then, it’s been cash as it has made the most sense for each time.
The 750 felt like a huge amount of money at the time (and was), but that amount wouldn’t get you much now, only 6 years down the line. In fact it was about the same as the Tesla would have cost if we’d bought it! The Tesla is leased, but that’s because it’s through a salary sacrifice scheme and is the cheapest way to fund it, the money from the sale of the Golf has been added to the savings for its replacement and is tucked away in case we need to buy again in the future.
I had a finance quote on the Panamera, only because they presented it to me when we were negotiating, the interest per month was frightening.
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Post by Martin on Sept 2, 2024 17:43:54 GMT
I knew what it was, but wish I didn’t…
I’ve not seen a 74 plate yet, other than a 6x2 tractor unit on trade plates.
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Post by Martin on Sept 2, 2024 9:19:07 GMT
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Post by Martin on Sept 2, 2024 8:48:54 GMT
That would be a huge improvement Tim and surely not that difficult. There were a number of different views available in the Range Rover, but I always has it set with the twin dials. No options in the Panamera, but I love the analogue central rev counter, better than any digital display. So disappointing that Porsche are phasing that out.
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Post by Martin on Sept 2, 2024 8:46:09 GMT
McLaren Solus GT. It’s just been unloaded from a trailer and into a Silverstone pit garage, hopefully it runs before we have to go….
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Post by Martin on Aug 30, 2024 13:14:23 GMT
We had rain like that in Florida on the way back from the East coast, couldn’t see anything around us at all, not even cars that weren’t that far in front, but we had to keep going as the other worry was a lorry hitting us from behind. Scary stuff.
I'm surprised re Santorini in the summer, it's just come up in the news feed on my phone funnily enough.....nice view, but the experience of being there looks horrendous to me!!
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Post by Martin on Aug 30, 2024 11:02:31 GMT
New windscreen in and no cracks…..third time lucky! 24 hours for the adhesive to cure is it not? .. .. Apparently not, I can collect it any time from 12:00 (they started just before 8:30)
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Post by Martin on Aug 30, 2024 10:04:05 GMT
New windscreen in and no cracks…..third time lucky!
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