Deal done, I end up with said friend's Nissan Almera as transport till I buy something else - I offer to help sell it for him, and am a little too successful...It sells a couple of days after I stick it on Pistonheads, and I'm completely without transport...(!)
Cue a call to Arnold Clark rental, and a Toyota Aygo diesel for the next fortnight (great wee car - Got 80+mpg out of it).
Pondering what to get next...
...when Robin's Shed appears for sale - Cue huge amounts of deliberation...I'd always had a soft spot for this car, and know it's history well...In fact I've probably driven it as much as Robin has, if not more!
I'd been looking to get back into an Elise next year (probably a 135R), but with a wedding & home improvements on the horizon this looked unlikely...The Shed offered the opportunity I'd been waiting for, and Hazel was surprisingly in favour...So finances were juggled, and a deal was reached...
(One careful owner?!
... Think Si took this pic...)However this didn't solve the issue of family transport...
...then another friend pops up, and indicated that his brother's immaculate Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon was coming up for sale if I was interested...I've always liked the 156, and the Sportwagon is the best looking of the breed IMHO...Cue more finance juggling, purchase of a mint Veloce pack'd Sportwagon, cherished from day one by it's owner...(He used to remove the alloys every fortnight to clean the inside of them!)
More or less identical to this one...
Delighted with both cars - Although when I picked up the Shed in monsoon conditions a week ago, I had to laugh...You forget the Elise's tendency to wag its tail on greasy roundabouts (!)
Little opportunity to drive it before I returned to work (insurance issues), but during the one little blast I had, I was pleased to see the difference the PTP kit makes over the standard car...(It feels blooming faaaaast!)
Can't wait till the Spring...Roll on 2007!
Ross.
