You're dead right Lee, if she's chosen it and likes it then let her get on with it, and Lindsay's quite right and sensible to ask for advice. It's just that the initial posting inferred a bit of 'persuasion' - which Lindsay has now explained (had he done so at the start I wouldn't have posted what I did and wouldn't now be trying to justify it), and I was honest enough to say that my experience of 'persuading' was that it's not a good idea. My wife Stefany didn't stop me buying either of my cars, even though she wouldn't buy either of them herself (I doubt any of our wives would buy what we have) - one because they're too old, and secondly because she doesn't really like them. That's why it's 'each to his own' and I'll let Stefany choose her own car with no input off me this time.
It's hard to offer advice here because there are a few cars I particularly don't like -
BMW 1 series (any of them) - even though my daughter has just bought one
.
Porsche Cayenne - horrible things, just a status symbol for insecure short people with little willies and an inferiority complex who want to say "You may be taller than me but look how much money I've got" (but not as much as an Audi Q7 driver wants to say it). It's not jealousy, we can afford one of these but choose not to, and anyway I don't fit any of the criteria.
And then unfortunately there's the Boxster - which I know I should like but just can't make my mind up about, sometimes I like them, sometimes I don't
, there's something not quite right, and it must be the back-end because I love the Cayman.... a car that is on Stef's shopping list by the way..... but I'm not getting involved.
Moving on... 24000 mile servicing is amazing, I wonder how or why they manage it? Back in 1995 my pal bought a brand new 'P' reg Renault Laguna, I liked it so bought a one year old one, exactly the same but for the colour. His service intervals were 10000 miles, mine were 6000. I asked everywhere for a reason but to no avail. I eventually contacted Renault UK's head office, where a nice bloke was honest enough to tell me that the reason the service interval had increased from 6000 to 10000 was because, quote - "The fleet buyers wanted to reduce running costs". It just shows what a money spinning rip-off the servicing is at main dealers. By Porsche increasing the servicing interval to 24000 they reduce running costs and can appeal to a wider market.
Note - The only reason my oil gets changed every 5000 miles is because Stewart (the mechanic) said that I should start doing it now the mileage is so high. Seeing as I get 'mates rates' he's hardly advising it to make himself money. I've only had it done once at a 5000 interval so far, but my statement "my 944S2 would have had nine oil changes in that mileage" is a fact.
Anyway, can't spend all day doing this, things to do, wife says I've got to pack my bags......... we're going away for a few days on Tuesday, and as everybody knows - the older you get, the longer before the departure date you have to have your bags ready.
Lindsay - my pal Serge (now 71 years old) was a top salesman at an insurance company. His favourite closing line was "Go-on, have it". Just use it on your sister, tell her "Go-on, have it, buy the car and sort the problems out as they arise" (I doubt there'll be any).