Moving Audi

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1 bedroom flat? £425? How about 12:30. Yep, be there, out front. See you there.

Yes. It is that time again. Housemates off to live with his girlfriend (the turncoat) leaving me to look around over-priced, decrepit, Georgian, hard to heat but characterful flats for one. Love it. Hate it.

Anyways it all means the car hunt has ground to a halt. Except that is, late night browsing, perving on potential good deals placed on the usual suspects sites. How about an Audi 80 estate, SE pack with a 2.6 V6 in green for a grand. Yes and yes. One problem. I'm a student. Putting petrol in that thing would be financially disastrous. 

So back to the light banger concept....

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The Search

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The search for the 75 continues. Looked at a 99' blue manual CDTI sat on a dealers forecourt for £5 short of 2K. No goer. She was chipped, scratched and dinked all over. Numerous suspected key scratches around the lock entry points (boot, drivers door) suggested the previous owner enjoyed a jug or two before struggling to get in and driving home in a semi-stupor. 

That's a negatory captain.

A newish Renault Clio 1.6 with a too good to be true private price was blocked from view by what seemed to be divine intervention. Every time I rang BT's Lady Penelope voice would gracefully tell me "There is an error - please try again".

I haven't looked at any light bangers. They are as ubiquitous as they are cheap. I could pick one up tomorrow so for that reason I feel I need to look just a bit harder for the other two concepts. Going to a few auctions would seem to be the next step...

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Rover Dilemma

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So;

I've had a few different motorbikes, driven a few different cars, vans and the odd light truck (in circles, in a yard) but I've never actually owned what could be defined as a motorcar. What to do?

Well, as it happens, with a bit of money and a dream of mobility beyond the bounds of a push bike, public transport and the odd jaunt in the Starship Diesel I'm ready to join the four wheeled masses. 

So;

What to buy?

Well, it's between three concepts. The light banger, the newish shuttle car and the middling diesel saloon.. A Rover Diesel Saloon no less. Before I try to explain my Rover fetish I'll sort the first two.

The light banger. Think AX, 205, Cinquecento, Uno (if there's any left). Think small, simple, light, chuckable, simple learnable mechanics. Think my God it's cheap but please don't let me have a crash. Think 500 Sterling's or so. Think sneezing on a cheque to pay the insurance. 

Right, enough thinking.

Now the middle sensible option. A tidy Ford Ka, Renault Clio, 106 or some such. A Corsa is completely out of the question. Staid, rubbish gearbox, and not even remotely entertaining. Bloody washing machine on wheels. What I really want is the Ka. Love the way those things drive. All cheeky and pointy. Might even get a reasonable one for 1500 quids. 

Ok, that's that.

Now. 

The Rover.

I want a 75. I think it's good looking, reasonably well engineered and my goodness it's British! Except for one detail: The engine. I believe the only engine that can be trusted is the 2 litre diesel. Underneath the Rover branded plastic covering sits the heart of that perennial motorway bruiser, the 320d. Also, aside from the typical Rover engine gasket problems any of the petrol's really are gonna drink in a way I can't afford. That makes the diesel the most attractive option on two fronts. £2000 advertised might translate to £1600 handed over. There is a chance I could have a sort of tidy compact exec sat somewhere near on a tightish budget.

Decisions, decisions, what to do? Watch this space or let me know what you think.

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