I now have a manly car... grrr...

[durbster]

Just got this beast on the road:


I took an ebay punt on it for half the normal price these go for but was outbid at the last second. I wasn't really that bothered as the winning bid had tipped it over the "bargain" status for me, but the winner of the auction pulled out and the seller offered it to me for my original bid.

I've only done a couple of short trips in it so far but it's in far better condition than I expected. It's got 275k km on the clock (not so unusual in Oz but quite massive for the UK) so is far from fresh but the drivetrain seems sweet.

It's a hell of a leap going from an aggressively setup MX-5 to a vague, wobbly 4WD but I love it so far and after enjoying our off-roading in Oz, we fully intend to get it muddy over here asap

I think it helps to balance out the girly/manly balance of my driveway too

[Dan]

Try not to reverse over the MX-5 :P

[w00dsy]

how does it compare to your first 4wd, The Beast? Does it have a spider gear knob yet?

[9ra55h0ppaH]

I think it helps to balance out the girly/manly balance of my driveway too

Dunno about manly, but anything has to be an improvement on the MX5!

putting the MX5 behind it makes it look much bigger than what it is too

[petey]

my nans corolla is more manly than that!

[Montey]

That goes for manly these days huh?!?!?!?!?

Damn Crab People metrosexuals!!!

[Big Kev]

Ladies (if there are any on here) and gentlemen.....

Durbster is no longer homosexual!!!!!!

[doug99]

I guess for the UK it is manly.....

[AstrO]

I guess for the UK it is manly.....

[durbster]

Ladies (if there are any on here) and gentlemen.....
Durbster is no longer homosexual!!!!!!

Well it'll only be used for weekends really, so I shall maintain the status quo for most of the week

I guess for the UK it is manly.....

*cough*

[Woodee]

big enough to carry your shopping in then kev on those trips for the groceries

[Sambo]

Durbster if there is one saving grace with that car, it is that it has a big many bull bar. If it didnt have that....ohhh boy.

[durbster]

Pah you lot know nothing. Any car that has more ads on farming websites than AutoTrader must be a manly car

[Big Kev]

You didn't fancy a SWB landie? That oozes cool.

[durbster]

You didn't fancy a SWB landie? That oozes cool.

Yep, I wanted a Defender but they are hugely overpriced in the UK. The Fourtrak's basically the same thing for less money and more reliability (hopefully).

[Sambo]

You didn't fancy a SWB landie? That oozes cool.

Yep, I wanted a Defender but they are hugely overpriced in the UK. The Fourtrak's basically the same thing for less money and more reliability (hopefully).

You would have had McCartney's ex after you if you got a Defender. Those things encapsulate the word cool!

[w00dsy]

Jacqui wants to know if that's a daddy car? Is there some news on the way?

[bengatta]

Jacqui wants to know if that's a daddy car? Is there some news on the way?

Fair point, you may be into something, he is in the process of trying to prove his manhoodness... however misguided a car selection it was...

[durbster]

Sadly had to say goodbye to the Fourtrak this weekend, as the MOT (annual roadworthy test) was due and the bodywork rust wasn't worth repairing. The car was still mechanically fine, so I was determined to get it through but after several weekends cutting out the rot and welding new pieces on but it was becoming a bit too much, so I stuck it on Ebay and got a good price for it. The bloke that bought it seemed happy so a decent conclusion all round I think.

I really must stop getting attached to cars.

Not sure what to replace it with to be honest. I'm considering retiring the MX-5 to weekend status and getting something reliable for the boring commute to work, but I can't bring myself to spend money on something that won't put a smile on my face. I did stumble across the Fiat Coupe, which is one of the few cars I'd be happy to drive every day:


Bloody quick, not bad on fuel, decent practicality and a lovely interior (I've never had a car with a nice interior), but with massive potential to become a bloody nightmare.

But if I kept the MX-5 as the daily car, we were also considering one of these:


Finding places to go off-roading has been a bit of a challenge though so I don't know if it's worth getting another 4x4.

[Exar Kun]

Everytime I look at the PH Classifieds I get depressed at how cheap your second hand cars are. But then, rust is a rarity here so at least we don't have to deal with that.

I'm looking at a Renaultsport Clio as my next car. Probably not far enough removed from the Mx5 though (apart from having a roof and being FWD, that is...).

[durbster]

I keep wondering about the hot Clios too - they're superb to drive, great fun to throw around and relatively cheap to run. The 182s can be bought for peanuts here but I'd imagine there aren't that many over there. I don't recall seeing much French metal on the roads at all.

[Dan]

Surprised that being a brit you wouldn't go for a cheap Series II disco?

[durbster]

I was after a Defender but their prices are extortionate here, so I looked at Discos too. The fuel economy and overall reliability swung it over to the Daihatsu in the end.

[Sambo]

The Fiat coupe just doesn't look the same without scythed wheels. It just doesn't have that je ne sais quoi to it.

[bengatta]

I was after a Defender but their prices are extortionate here, so I looked at Discos too. The fuel economy and overall reliability swung it over to the Daihatsu in the end.

Economics entering the decision making process does not bode well for Manliness... See nobody I have ever met actually needs a V8... nor are they very practical. So men buy them.