c.a.r.

Thing is if you need a decent runner is that parts on the BMW won't be as cheap as other cars if you should need them. Something common and cheap like an Astra (not as soul-destroying to drive as you might think!) would tick more boxes? If the shit hit my fan tomorrow then I would think nothing of selling up for an old Peugeot 306, but only because I know them inside-out! The 1.8 16v is frugal and parts are cheap.

The appeal of a BMW is definitely there, I would love one instead of the Celica (don't shoot me) but I would not have a 318! It's just wrong. 150hp is 'enough' for a car of that size but I think a BMW should be a 6 cylinder affair, or a diesel... 140 Celica makes sense but won't be as practical as a BMW, have you considered a Corolla? Same kind of thing but cheaper (not that it will turn any heads!)

Dunno about anyone else but when I had my 1.8 Eunos it would be fine on other oils but not Magnatec. For some reason it burned like feck in there, used so much of it. A bottle of Mobil 1 would last much longer. Used Shell Helix in the Celica last.

Mine is definitely a shed! I don't know why but I haven't really 'bonded' with the Celica, not like I have with previous cars. It's odd too cos I'm a petrolhead and the Celica is a lot of fun to drive. I guess it's just laziness. I can't be bothered to clean it, inside or out. I've washed it once in the whole time I've owned it

Haha sweet, you gonna insure it, tax it and fuel it for me too?!

The Alfa is a lovely car to be honest and I did have a brief look at them, looked at the Accord Type R too. I was scared of the Alfas for their costs, didn't fancy a Twinspark engine or a sillyspeed gearbox, and if I get a car that big it would make sense to be a diesel too and I know nothing about the diesel Alfa's! Still, I want to keep the Celica for another 6-8 months yet!

I get roughly 320 miles between fill-ups which usually cost about £60? Averaging about 33mpg. It's all the little trips in-between which do it, but I'm filling up 4 or 5 times a month!

Cheers guys, definately food for thought. Trouble with the Impreza is fuel consumption, the office is 17 miles away and sometimes I have to do site visits around the country, so it's 35 miles minimum every day! Already worked out to be around £250 a month in fuel in the Celica FFS!! One thing which will need doing is the rear boot struts, as the car tries to eat you when putting the buggy in the boot. Not good.

Don't think she'd be too impressed with that suggestion tbh! Try finding an exciting 4-door car though

Just wondered how many people on here use their Celica as their main car and have a young kiddie? We are expecting our first child around May next year (haven't been given a date yet) and I've already sold my Mazda MX5 in anticipation of this, but now I'm being told the Gen7 will be too impractical too I have taken our 18 month old nephew out in it complete with child seat and buggy and I thought it was fine, but SWMBO says it was difficult strapping him in the back seat. Don't want to have to admit to it but looks like I'm gonna need a different car in 6 - 8 months time already!

I'm of the 'boring old man' opinion that wheels shouldn't be a lairy colour on a road car, as you (usually) just look a bit of a chav. Subtle silver or a darker anthracite will do on most cars. Something I've always wanted is some 'Shadow chrome' wheels, which is a paint finish you find on a lot of BMWs, like this -

I want that Pioneer HU with the "Appmode" so I can play my iPhone games on the move

^ Thankyou, I've PM'd him...

Regardless, I fitted a K&N panel at the last service, seems to have made zero difference, but it's a nice clean one for peace of mind anyway! Little point spending much more on a similar foam element in my opinion. Induction cones will get you heatsoak and will reduce fuel consumption, no matter what anybody wants to claim - don't listen. Annoyingly I opened the airbox up last month to put my new K&N in and found a TRD Panel

I haven't, couldn't find him on here...

Also looked for one of these when I first joined but no luck so far...

How do you get rid of the rough texture left behind by the deteriorated placcy roof? Looks like crap

Last car - Mx5 - nothing handled like it, nor will I likely ever own a car quite like it, lowered on coilovers with sticky rubber and correct lazer alignment done, it was the absolute nuts down a fast B-road! New car - Celica gen7 - effortlessly swift (not fast) in a straight line but nowhere near as fun in the corners. Outright speed is what I wanted though and to be fair whilst it doesn't hold a candle to the little Mazda it isn't bad for a fwd car. I want some coillies for the Celica but no amount of searching down the back of the sofa has found me the £700 I need yet...

I moved up to a Celica for practicality reasons, but I was coming up from a MK1 MX5 import! I don't think it will be anywhere near as practical for the things you need it for though, I wouldn't carry bikes around in mine (lifting into the back would be awkward for a start) What about a Corolla T-sport?

Did this on my MX5, it looks really good in my opinion. The trick is to keep it warm as you paint, the warmer it is the more wrinkled the final surface will be.

Aww your car too slow Iain?