Hi guys,

Had a theory. It should, in theory, be possible to purchase a facelift E39 5 Series on around an X or a Y plate, in excellent condition, from a BCA Top Car Auction for around £10k.

You could run this car for a year-18 months, putting no more than average mileage on it, and then sell the car privately for the price you paid at auction - around £10k.

You could then use this £10k to buy a replacement E39 5 Series, say, on an 02 or 52 plate by this time. A year-18 months later, you do the same thing again.

Net result is that you always own a 3-4 year old 5 Series, but depreciation costs are minimal and when you decide to do something else you sell the current 5 and pocket the £10K you originally started with.

No profit, but crucially, no loss either.

Thats the theory. In practice, would it work? What time period would one need to sell an auction sourced 5 Series at in order to receup the money privately, again assuming initial budget of £10k?

Hopefully some of you can see where I am going with this. Is it feasible? Read more

Just had the timing belt on my 96 Golf 2.0 changed at 59K (VW main dealer). The technician came out of the workshop to tell me that the car's water pump was noisy but that it did not necessarily mean that it was about to fail. If I wanted the work done, I would have to book it in again. I'm a bit anxious that the pump might fail and cause other problems. Excuse my ignorance but can anyone tell me if a noisy water pump means that it is on it's way out ? Read more

Who made the first proper automatic folding metal roof ?
When I say proper, I mean like in the Mercedes Benz SLK and (latest) SL, not like the automatic "targa" roofed Honda CRX of the early-mid nineties.

I vaguely recall seeing some American cars of the Fifties/Sixties that had folding roof sections which would be automatically stored in the boot....???

In recent years, MB seems to have been first with the SLK and secondly with the SL, though lately both the Pug 206CC and 307CC along with Renault's new Megane Cabrio have got in on the act.

What the definitive answer?

Chad.
Read more

Has anyone here got a Touran or Golf with the factory fitted 6.5" colour GPS navigation system? I think it's the same system in each car.

I'm thinking of adding it as an option but I can find little or no information about it anywhere...

So, if there's anyone knowledgeable I'd be interested for some feedback.

Cheers Read more

Another example of someone driving the wrong way on a motorway.
This occurred in the rush hour and a picture was captured on a phone camera and published in the Daily M**l today.
An amazing escape as the M way appeared to be busy and he was driving through between other vehicles.

How do they manage to get into this situation and then just plough on? Read more