TBP88's last car

TBP88

Well-known member
Been on a few spirited Sunday drives the last while - no group runs, maybe with summer coming I can join some of the local crews and get some group shots to share!

Weather been holding up better but life is busy my end with year end approaching! Managed to take it on an evening drive dropping a friend at home and also managed to spend this past sunday giving it a clean, always a pleasure to see the metallic paint glistening, when it's dirty and dusty it has an appeal (something nice about a car like this looking "used") but fresh and clean always the best. Pic below a few hours later when the sun had started to set.

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The front splitter underside still catches on steep uphills (for instance the curb behind there pulling into my old man's parking bay!) but I've made peace with it getting scraped at the bottom, I'll likely have to replace it every 5-10yrs, it's not an outrageously expensive piece (it's just plastic, not carbon - thank god).
 

TBP88

Well-known member
One thing I did see - one of the rims has a small rock chip, the front PPF also has a nice stone chip, can't QUITE tell if it's through the plastic though. But for the rest it's still giving 0 issues, starts and runs like a dream, and on the odd chance when I get to ring passed 5k RPM it is truly glorious. *VERY* few things are as fun as a 2nd gear pull or a series of sweeping bends in this car.
 

TBP88

Well-known member
Any updates?

Very little car stuff to report on! Have been on some short drives but nothing worth noting the last few weeks (we have a child due in like 3 weeks time... that chows some energy!)

In all likelihood it'll see a lot of use in the first part of next year, a lot of early morning drives to gym are almost a certainty in Feb/Mar/Apr next year. I'm hoping to spend Sunday on a longer run stretching it's legs more and getting some air through it, if I remember to I'll take some shots!
 

MR_Y

Well-known member
Very little car stuff to report on! Have been on some short drives but nothing worth noting the last few weeks (we have a child due in like 3 weeks time... that chows some energy!)

In all likelihood it'll see a lot of use in the first part of next year, a lot of early morning drives to gym are almost a certainty in Feb/Mar/Apr next year. I'm hoping to spend Sunday on a longer run stretching it's legs more and getting some air through it, if I remember to I'll take some shots!
With a baby on the way, I would forgive you for trading the car in for a Macan GTS or Cayenne GTS:)....
 

TBP88

Well-known member
With a baby on the way, I would forgive you for trading the car in for a Macan GTS or Cayenne GTS:)....
You can spec isofix on a GT4 :p

I'll post a thread when our runaround car arrives, sadly the jimny is no more but it's not a BMW or a Porsche, it'll be a true appliance.
 

GravityLee

Well-known member
Very little car stuff to report on! Have been on some short drives but nothing worth noting the last few weeks (we have a child due in like 3 weeks time... that chows some energy!)

In all likelihood it'll see a lot of use in the first part of next year, a lot of early morning drives to gym are almost a certainty in Feb/Mar/Apr next year. I'm hoping to spend Sunday on a longer run stretching it's legs more and getting some air through it, if I remember to I'll take some shots!

Congrats dude and all the best. If you think it chows energy now, wait 4 weeks and re-evaluate
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
Very little car stuff to report on! Have been on some short drives but nothing worth noting the last few weeks (we have a child due in like 3 weeks time... that chows some energy!)

In all likelihood it'll see a lot of use in the first part of next year, a lot of early morning drives to gym are almost a certainty in Feb/Mar/Apr next year. I'm hoping to spend Sunday on a longer run stretching it's legs more and getting some air through it, if I remember to I'll take some shots!

Lots of morning drives to the gym planned

<Checks notes>

Is having a kid in 3 weeks

:ROFLMAO: Try to make space or build a gym at home.

On a more serious note (more to other future dads LOL since its speaking to the converted), I sold my S2000 when I had my first kid and regretted it. There is always an assumption or expectation that you must give up all your fun stuff (normally because other people have been forced to do this through their own circumstances).

The glee in some 'friends' or acquaintances eyes when they say "ya you must sell your cars now" or "stop playing with toys" tells you how much they hated seeing you with nice things :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:. I've also had many interesting comments from those (mostly family) that imply that you spending money on yourself/your mrs means you are neglecting your kids.

But I digress: The time passes so quickly and special things are becoming so difficult to replace (even like for like)... The (largely imaginary) need for space also passes quite quickly. I have never owned an SUV and my 5ers have been enough (more than enough) even with two kids in nappies. I'd say now that they are older, there is more of a need for one with sports kit, 2 dogs + 2 kids potentially all in the car with us... so the Mrs will be getting one soon (if her car is ever not sitting in a panel shop :ROFLMAO:)
 

TBP88

Well-known member
Lots of morning drives to the gym planned

<Checks notes>

Is having a kid in 3 weeks

:ROFLMAO: Try to make space or build a gym at home.

On a more serious note (more to other future dads LOL since its speaking to the converted), I sold my S2000 when I had my first kid and regretted it. There is always an assumption or expectation that you must give up all your fun stuff (normally because other people have been forced to do this through their own circumstances).

The glee in some 'friends' or acquaintances eyes when they say "ya you must sell your cars now" or "stop playing with toys" tells you how much they hated seeing you with nice things :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:. I've also had many interesting comments from those (mostly family) that imply that you spending money on yourself/your mrs means you are neglecting your kids.

But I digress: The time passes so quickly and special things are becoming so difficult to replace (even like for like)... The (largely imaginary) need for space also passes quite quickly. I have never owned an SUV and my 5ers have been enough (more than enough) even with two kids in nappies. I'd say now that they are older, there is more of a need for one with sports kit, 2 dogs + 2 kids potentially all in the car with us... so the Mrs will be getting one soon (if her car is ever not sitting in a panel shop :ROFLMAO:)
A hot touring is my dream idea for a family car, we're only planning the one child, so I think we'll be fine with a town runabout for now, when the kid is older (and our finances allow!) We'll probably shop for a nicer sedan, tbh there's not much point having a fancy car with a baby given the vomiting and other ugliness, bearable in a japanese runabout but I'd hate to have vomit on the seats of my R2m dream sedan!

Hahaha, I think my partner will kick me out the house every morning at 5am given I'm the one up and annoying at that time of the AM anyway! With a baby on my side annoying her as well she'll need one of us out :p
 

MR_Y

Well-known member
I agree with @TurboLlew comments.
I had a TT 8J and was guilted into selling once the family grew.
Then during lockdown, I indulged in 2x used 981 Porsches. When lockdown lifted and priorities reevaluated, I needed a practical car for myself and one for the wife.

My solution (that works for me) is to have a 3rd (cheaper) car as a toy :)

Anyway, each person is different and what will work out for one, won't necessarily work out for another.

All I can say is enjoy the GT4 as much as possible before the baby responsiblities start and eat up most of your free time.
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
A hot touring is my dream idea for a family car, we're only planning the one child, so I think we'll be fine with a town runabout for now, when the kid is older (and our finances allow!) We'll probably shop for a nicer sedan, tbh there's not much point having a fancy car with a baby given the vomiting and other ugliness, bearable in a japanese runabout but I'd hate to have vomit on the seats of my R2m dream sedan!

Hahaha, I think my partner will kick me out the house every morning at 5am given I'm the one up and annoying at that time of the AM anyway! With a baby on my side annoying her as well she'll need one of us out :p

I have had the sweets, food, scratches, vomit and milk etc in both my Ms LOL - as well as dogs on my seats (I had more comments about the pic I posted of my beagle on the F90 seat with no crate/living her best life than any of my actual car/life posts on instagram). Gyeon Leather Shield is your friend (and maybe an Ozone machine) :ROFLMAO:.

Sounds like you will be fine. I was flitting between an old 'disposable' jap thingy for kids and hounds... or getting the mommy wagon X3 given the dogs and kids are fairly well behaved :ROFLMAO:
 

TBP88

Well-known member
Finally got a chance to have a drive with some of the local lads, photocred for @M3boi (and my license plate editing skills!). Easily one of the cleanest E36s I've seen, his thread details the work he's done to get it to this point but a really nice looking car already!

I'm still feeling my way around the car (still far too fast for me!) and learning the limits of my own (LIMITED!) driving skills but always fun to see what more confident and skilled drivers can manage around Franschoek on a quiet AM. Also spotted a spanking new GT3RS on the pass moving at a rate. Looks like a true race car on the road, wild.

Took the time to also fit this :p
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TBP88

Well-known member
Any updates?
Joining a big crew for a run on Sunday. Went with a few guys on a run a few weeks back, let me find a pic of that. Still very much trying to get to grips with the car, truth is my own abilities are by far the biggest limitation!!! But when I can commit on the sweepers I'm more comfortable on it just seems to stick and stick and stick. Out of corner stability is probably the strongest suite on the car - it squats and goes.

I do also find it a reasonably comfortable cruiser, happy to sit at 120-150km/h relatively kind over normal road surfaces, obviously you need to be alert, a big pothole could do serious damage!

Great comp photos next to a GT4RS - I think I prefer the simpler wing design, but the sound it produces in the flesh is easily another level. As you can see below, a lot of guys joined for this one - so nice to see the 718 Spyders - really cool cars as well.
 

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MR_Y

Well-known member
The Cayman will always be the better (safer) handling car over the 911. The mid engined set up makes it feel so balanced and predictable - the car feels like it pivots where you sit.

The 911, while more tamed from 991 onwards, still can have an occasional feeling of a light front end that can be slightly disconcerting at speed, when compared to the mid engined Cayman.
 

M3boi

Well-known member
Joining a big crew for a run on Sunday. Went with a few guys on a run a few weeks back, let me find a pic of that. Still very much trying to get to grips with the car, truth is my own abilities are by far the biggest limitation!!! But when I can commit on the sweepers I'm more comfortable on it just seems to stick and stick and stick. Out of corner stability is probably the strongest suite on the car - it squats and goes.

I do also find it a reasonably comfortable cruiser, happy to sit at 120-150km/h relatively kind over normal road surfaces, obviously you need to be alert, a big pothole could do serious damage!

Great comp photos next to a GT4RS - I think I prefer the simpler wing design, but the sound it produces in the flesh is easily another level. As you can see below, a lot of guys joined for this one - so nice to see the 718 Spyders - really cool cars as well.

This was actually such a good run. Looking forward to Sunday!
 

TBP88

Well-known member
Morning run complete. Some proper motoring done this time, I hung at the back, as I've said elsewhere I'm not a super confident driver and generally don't really know my limits (let alone the cars) But I'm starting to get to grips with it better:

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I was largely on the M6 and C63s tails. Fair to say the V10 still sounds amazing - but it and the C63 definitely have a hard time in the twisties - the weight and the size makes them somewhat unwieldy and it is apparent, especially chasing them in the (comparitively!) small GT4.

The A45 is amazingly quick, seems to just be all round an immensely capable car - not to my taste but certainly something that may become a 2nd hand bargain in 3-4yrs.

Still a lot to learn on the car but it remains a joy to be in and drive.
 
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