texasjohn

It was a non-event. I got there and the bloke says, sorry I thought you said 'TS' on the phone. Waste of bloody time. Still, they have one during the week and it's not far from work. Apparently one of the directors has it this weekend. Cynical translation - someone probably thought they had it there when I phoned but didnt check til I got there. Went via Honda on the way home (remember I had an S2000 in the US?) Anyway, drove one of the (old) civic type R's there on the forecourt. What a great car! Said to the bloke to check if there are any unsold old shapes knocking about the UK network, I'd be interested to see what they will sell it for assuming there is one, what with the new model coming out in a couple of weeks. He suggested I come back and try the new one as well. Reckons if there is an unregistered EP9 in a showroom somewhere then they will be glad to get shot of it. Nice chap, very helpful. Quite honest too, we talked about integras and he says only reason it's not in the UK as it would kill all the civic sales. Trouble is I then saw S2000s and it's just a shame they are so expensive here in the UK... (I sold my 37k 2002 model in the US for $19000 last June, which was about

Bear in mind he wants to sell you the car, he will tell you (moreorless) anything to seal a deal! Some dealers are sneaky like this, not all though. The stutter IS a problem on some cars. If he thinks it's not then he will be happy to write you a 100% 'money back guarantee' signed in blood. Ask him to do so. Of course it will devalue more when the new model comes out, but we are talking 12k car which has a great reputation so it's not going to be a huge impact. If the price he's offered is the 'best he can do' then phone around other dealers and offer them your business - say you are ready to do the deal and have deposit in hand but want a better price than your local dealer is offering. Then go back to local dealer with lowest price and beat him down on that. If he is adamant that he cant move on price tell him he ought to speak with his regional manager or Skoda UK as he's thus going to loose your business to another local dealer. See how you get on with the strategy above and post back. I am having similar 'fun' with Subaru and Mazda at the moment!

Indeed, I had one of these heaps for a few months back when I was 18. I couldn't wait to get rid of it. A647XRX It was so unreliable I spent more time in loan cars from the garage I purchased it from than I did in the MG Turbo. Pile of poop. Although the one in Shifty's vid does look nice, I must say. Sounds like it has straight cut gears as well. In my experience Pistonheads classifieds is a good place to look for mint cherished examples of older hot hatches. Are there any decent ones left? Probably one or two, yes. Will the price reflect the condition? Without a doubt.

This damn thread (and Tom's comment) has made me do a lot of reading of MPS road tests, and today I've got up early to go and visit Mazda! Assuming I like the way it drives, Broadspeed are offering the 3MPS with a £1200 discount, so that should be the 'target' to try and hit at the dealership. I'll take the printout with me.

Hello Mrs Shifty and welcome!

My current mortgage owing is the same as my salary, but thats a combination of wage doubling since 2002 and paying some off over and above the repayments. Plus, my property initially cost very little being in the middle of a dodgy area of Preston. Being sold now for a five figure sum, even with current prices and the fact it's gone up nearly double in value. But, as others have said when I move up to the next step (just selling now and will buy again within 3 months) I will have 3.5 or 4 times my salary tied up in a mortgage. That's with a fair deposit too. Gotta love house prices round here. Not. Might have to sell the BMW and buy a 7k or 8k car to afford furniture and have some £ aside for emergenies. Could well be looking for an Octy I soon. We possess a bed, 2 sofas and 2 nightstands, oh and a dining table/chairs. Luckily the place we are renting has built in wardrobes.

1980 Chevette. I didnt realise at the time, but I think it's rear wheel drive. About the only good thing I can say! Had a whine from the diff over 70mph but it never let me down. Then at Uni three or four years after I sold it I saw it parked up in Plymouth. Must have gone on and on, that car.

Chain gangs it is, then! Litter picking. Pollution clean ups. Etc

I would write it in 1st person, myself.

Indeed. I did similar (can't use current UK direct report boss as they dont know I am applying, can I use for the company I was working with in the US) Sure, no problems.

Pimp der Wagen, shirley? Put extended range fuel tanks in and cover Poland in a matter of days

I think this is very true if you have the experience and skills that they are looking for and also those skills are very rare. My profession gets paid a bit more than we should (no post grad quals nor professional post grad charterships needed) but good ones are few and far between, it is an experience* and aptitude based profession, thus headhunting goes on a lot. * specific to the industry within which your career progresses, I mean: I'd struggle to get a job as a building firm commercial manager having just Aero and MoD/DoD experience. I just don't have the 'industry' experience. A guy I work with is a Project Manager, it's different for him (he's worked in quite a few diverse industries) as he relies on theory rather than any industry OTJ experience. JMHO, thats my take on things. You need the feelgood factor to take the job though, why not ask them if you can go back and 'meet the people you will be working with', and have a second chat about the company, its plans, career paths etc. Sniff about a bit more, ask questions you might have thought inappropriate (steady though lol :P ) for the interview.

There should be no death penalty but higher maximum terms for incarceration (i.e. life means until you die) and whilst an inmate people should be put to work for the benefit of the community, chain gangs or working in state factories. I.e. they 'pay' for the cost of their incarceration. Trouble with the death penalty other than the moral issue of taking a life is there is the risk (in some cases without DNA evidence the risk can be high) of putting an innocent person to death.

Have fun, Tom BTW you might find the seats on the BMW SE very 'flat' also. Have a look at a sport model if this is the case.

Happy New Year!

Paid 15 for mine, July 2004 and 39k miles Spec - SE plus just the two options - leather seats and maintenance package (5yr or 60k). Although I have since fitted an Alpine mp3 CD changer in the boot (same size as the BMW one so slots straight into the empty bracket. Adaptor to connect to the prewiring and hey presto) SE spec is climate, rear sensors, cruise, 17" alloys (same as those on the 260k one you posted a link to) headlamp washers, auto lights and wipers. Very comfy (although the ride is hard even on the SE and little body roll, the M Sport with sports suspension and 18s would be less comfy!) and quite quick 03 on models have 204hp/300lbft motor and 6 speed gearbox - Quite rare to find them in manual transmission so I read. I was actually looking for a 330i but typed in 330 to autotrader and it popped up so I thought what the heck and went and looked at it. Owners manual claims it is quicker than the 330i 50-70 in 4th. 0-60 in 7 and top speed 150. Spins the back wheels in 2nd on a damp road. DSC very much needed! Will probably part with it myself in June when the warranty is up - not that anything has gone wrong since I bought it, just will be ready for a new car by then!

Not with 260k on it, although you hear of these old German taxis with 500k on them still going strong...

How about a 330d or are you looking for new only? I only suggest it as I picked mine up for the sort of £ you are talking about.

I'll pour you out a Jamesons to help console you, Mr G. Ice?

Hello and welcome!

Welcome to Briskoda!

Welcome to the site, John

Sorry loz

I bet it was special tea

steady, she might give you a good licking* for that comment! *obviously meant in the context of a 'clip round the ear'