skeeter

Car is being delivered on Thursday of next week. I am currently out of the uk and Easter is in the way of any earlier in the week. First trip to the office is therefore next Friday. S

Right now I am sitting at the Cafe De Paris in casino square in Monte Carlo....... People and car watching. We might head down into Italy or head home depending how the weather changes for the weekend. S

In my mind at least, that's what I am looking for. The point is I want to change the M5 and nothing that I have tried from the modern range works. They are either a poor comparison or an M5 with a different badge (in character). So if I am going to change I am making it a big change . Time will tell - idiot or genius.... But I will report back as it develops. S

Although what is the worst that can happen? I guess that would be that I hate it, in which case I will buy something else. S

I love those wheels too. This is my 2nd M5, I ran the first one for 2 years and have this one for 18 months. I average around 15k miles a year so feel well qualified to comment My views on 50k+ miles in an M5 then; - Amazing performance in full M mode, my car is delimited and therefore technically capable of 204mph (in theory at least). It really is hard to believe the performance in what is essentially a big 4 door saloon. - The ride on 'sport setting' far too hard for UK roads so never really used it - The active seats were great (seat bolsters pump up as you go round bends to hold you in the seat, so if you turn hard left, the right seat bolster moves) and I never stopped smiling when using them in 2 years - A couple of minor problems which the dealers were completely inept at fixing - Fuel economy isn't great. The on board computer shows that over the last 23,000 miles I have averaged 12.1mpg - Tyre wear pretty reasonable too - SMG gearbox is terrible in auto mode (never really used) - SMG fantastic when out of town and really suits the car, when pressing on you dont have to lift on the throttle, just pull the lever and BANG next gear, the novelty of full throttle upshifts never wears off - The engine auto blips on downshifts, when is that never not cool? - Head up display possibly the best thing on the car, someday all cars will have it - Fuel range poor, less than 200 miles between fill ups means a lot of stops at the garage which is a real pain and seriously limits long range cruising Overall the performance is intoxicating. In my quest to find something else I have tried all the usual suspects over the last couple of months; - 997 TT (didn’t "get" the whole Porsche thing) - GTR (faster than the M in every situation but bland) - C/E63 (brilliant build and engine but the Mercedes dealer locally are shocking) - Lotus Evora (really liked this but worry about long term support given the financial issues Lotus have) - F10 M5 (Faster than the E60, which was a surprise but for me, it has become a luxo barge and there isn’t enough to distinguish it from any other 5 series) - XFR (best interior of any modern car I have been in but didn’t gel with it and it is blinged up too much) - XJ 5.0 (for the size this was amazing but way toooo big) So, I have come to the conclusion that ultimate performance isn’t for me any more, so have decided to go a completely different direction. S

I like the new look, but being a new member I hadnt had time to get to 'love' the old version S

The Cortina 1600E passed its inspection with flying colours. To say I am delighted is a bit of an understatement and I am now waiting for it to be delivered, likely to be 10 days or so. The M5 will also be going at about the same time, I am try to arrange it so that I have both cars here at the same time as I think some pics of the two together will be kind of cool. The current M5 is; Right now my friends think I am mad, but I am as excited as anything. I think it is something to do with the fact most people have an old ford in the family history somewhere and therefore they mean something to us. I have already got myself a pukka Haynes manual, the wife thinks I am like a little kid but she was the one who encouraged me to buy it. S

I know I sometimes forget to buy the milk when I am in the shop, but quite how people forget they had a car in a barn never fails to amaze me. Lovely find though. S

Thanks all. My current car has a tracker with link to my mobile phone so that if it moves without the keys it sends me a text, funny that I never thought of using the same in the osf S

Having now found the car I want I am keen not to let some nefarious individual take it away. What sort of security do you use on you OSF? Do you go for physical like a steering wheel lock or alarm/immobiliser? I would prefer a Thatcham approved immobiliser but don’t know if old Ford electrics are up to that sort of thing. Any advice gratefully received. S

Thanks

Hello. When I was younger I always wanted a rs turbo, but couldn't afford it so ended up with a white xr3i. An itch I never got round to scratching. S

Hi Yesterday morning I posted a question about security on old fords in the Osk forum. This morning it seems to have vanished. Maybe I can't see it for looking, but any ideas? S

No, it is up north. So I hope you didn't see it! S

I know if there aren't pictures it didn't happen.... So here it is; Now just hope it passes the inspection. S

Well, I have done it. I have put a deposit down on a 1968 Cortina 1600e, an early version with the 'hump' on the dash, the car is completely original with only 3 owners. I have some independent engineers going to look at it for me and give it a once over to confirm it is as good as it looks. As long as they give it the thumbs up I will become the 4th owner of the car. It also means that I have been on the phone today trying to tie up a deal on my current car, E60 M5. All being well that will be going soon. So, will be moving from 507bhp, 7 speed fully computerised M5 to 1968 1600e.... I hope the experience is as good as I imagine. I have been thinking of swapping the M5 for a while but have never found anything modern to compare. The only realistic thing is to try something completely different. Time will tell if it is an inspired or stupid choice. Thanks to the members on here who gave me some advice earlier or indeed, offered me cars  S

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Yes it is a real change, but I have been struggling what to get next and to be honest, most other modern cars pale in comparison. So my thinking is if you are going to change make it a real change. S

Hi I am looking for a MkII Cortina and there are two which seem interesting to me. Does anybody know either car or have any observations for a "newbie" The two are; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Cortina- ... 43b85241a4 http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C368680 Thanks for reading. S

Hello all, I have decided to give up modern motoring and move to an older car for the daily drive to work and at the weekends. Having been looking for a while I seem to be settling on a MkII Cortina and have seen a couple that I am currently investigating. Should be quite a change from my current daily driver (E60 M5) but I am looking for something completely different. S

I'd also be asking questions about why they're charging VAT at 23% rather the 20% the rest of the country pays It is in the Republic of Ireland where the VAT rate is 23%, nevertheless still some price! S