quote:

Originally posted by Bamford:
I told a guy to take a look at a used 2005 Corvette, 404 bhp, 1475 kgs, absolutely superb performance, more than acceptable handling and brakes, lovely sound (more so once the right pipework is in place), dirt cheap running costs compared to a German or Italian competitor car and available here for £35K.
In USA that car would be £22K.
Just one example of great American car value.

All quite true but whenever I see anyone step out of a Corvette I see a man with a chest wig, gold medallion and a moustache. Linda Evangelista could arrive buck naked in one right outside my front door but all I'd actually see is an extra from Night Fever.

Whopping great engine .... whopping great bang for yer buck .... whopping great image problem.

Turning up anywhere in Britain in a Corvette is akin to arriving at the CBI dinner in a gimp suit....chained to a man in flared trousers.

Corvette image?

You telling me turning up in a 5 series or Audi A8 gives you a better one?

For me, i see a real car enthusiast, when someone climbs out of their Viper, Corvette or Ford GT.

quote:

Originally posted by Bamford:

You telling me turning up in a 5 series or Audi A8 gives you a better one?

Nope. When someone emerges from a 5-series or A8 I see a man in a suit, intermittently vibrating from the blackberry in his jacket pocket .... which is pretty much what you'll get anyway.

Corvette man may well be a rabid car enthusiast ..... but I'll always have the impression he also moonlights in 70's skin flicks

Vipers are cool, there's no argument there.

Ford GTs .... a fast car that needs filling up so often it doesn't actually get you anywhere fast. Clearly one for the eccentrics, and you gotta love an eccentric.

The BIG mistake here is to assume that any given car is driven by a particular type of person.

In two years, i had;

Citroen 2CV 1957
Vauxhall Monaro VXR 6.0
Lancer Evo 340
BMW 535d
BMW M3 CSL
Lada Niva
Fiat Punto Turbo
Peel P50

I didn't change lifestyle or character for each car!

I had various others also in that time, but you get my drift.

On a less chest-wiggy, more serious note, what happened to your Punto Bamf? Last I read you were about to "tinker" with it.

I moved it on, with a slight profit of £200, because it's market value was going to make spending a grand-plus on it, unworthwhile.
Also it had a coolant system problem, which i was unable to cure.
All in all, i decided that the Works GP can do the hot hatch duties in the household!