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Old shoes... #1638279
15/01/2020 18:36
15/01/2020 18:36
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline OP
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Berlin
The Bravo had a bit of a technosulk yesterday, requiring Anita to drop it in at the local Kiplings.

So I had a choice: Anita's Seat Cupra or the Coupe?

No brainer, really, in spite of rude comments the coupe made about driving in the rain when I opened the garage door - it's not used to behaviour like that! I don't drive it so much these days - A trip to Joe or two, a trip to Carlisle, and maybe the odd dirty weekend trip in summer. Slamming it on the commute (a mere 110 mile round trip) was unkind, I know... but my word, it's like putting on an old pair of comfy shoes.

I get in that coupe and it just *fits*. All the smells and squeaks and groans are just as they should be, as is the sound of the motor spinning up past 7k and watching things get smaller in the mirror (these are things that just don't happen in the Bravo). And best of all, the trip home was mostly in daylight, so the car could be seen and appreciated by other road users.

laugh

(And it's going into storage next week box while I move to Germany)

Neil

Last edited by barnacle; 15/01/2020 18:42. Reason: a more suitable smiley

[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638283
15/01/2020 19:32
15/01/2020 19:32
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
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Forum is my life

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Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
All the very best to you and Anita on the move Neil. I presume you have retired then?
Mainland Europe eh.

I know you both are going to have a great time.



Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638298
15/01/2020 23:39
15/01/2020 23:39
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,519
Motherwell - Scotland
Rosso Offline
Club board member 1442
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My life on the forum

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Motherwell - Scotland
Originally Posted by barnacle
The Bravo had a bit of a technosulk yesterday, requiring Anita to drop it in at the local Kiplings.

So I had a choice: Anita's Seat Cupra or the Coupe?

No brainer, really, in spite of rude comments the coupe made about driving in the rain when I opened the garage door - it's not used to behaviour like that! I don't drive it so much these days - A trip to Joe or two, a trip to Carlisle, and maybe the odd dirty weekend trip in summer. Slamming it on the commute (a mere 110 mile round trip) was unkind, I know... but my word, it's like putting on an old pair of comfy shoes.

I get in that coupe and it just *fits*. All the smells and squeaks and groans are just as they should be, as is the sound of the motor spinning up past 7k and watching things get smaller in the mirror (these are things that just don't happen in the Bravo). And best of all, the trip home was mostly in daylight, so the car could be seen and appreciated by other road users.

laugh

(And it's going into storage next week box while I move to Germany)

Neil



It wouldn't be the same without the odd squeak or groan

Very happy for you and Anita with the big move although it's going to be a bit of a trip up to Robs for Xmas.


[Linked Image]
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638302
16/01/2020 08:51
16/01/2020 08:51
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,366
Staffordshire
Nigel Offline
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Nigel  Offline
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Posts: 17,366
Staffordshire
It's funny you should mention this Neil

Just before Christmas, my daily hack (a very leggy Alfa GT diesel) gave its first breakdown in my ownership - a gearchange cable popped off the selector mechanism, requiring its first ever trip home on the Truck of Shame

Until I could get a new cable end, I had to use the Coupe. Bear in mind that the Coupe had only four tanks of fuel in 2019 (and one of those was used by my son) and you'll see how much use it gets.

However, after the initial shock of how much noisier the Coupe is, I very quickly remembered why its such an enjoyable car to drive. The only downside is that the Toyo tyres that were way past their best a couple of years ago are now really poor - wheelspin in 4th gear in the dry.....

If only I could find somewhere to store it, I'd hang onto it...


[Linked Image]
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638313
16/01/2020 14:48
16/01/2020 14:48
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline
Forum is my life
Trappy  Offline
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Posts: 5,390
Essex
I took my Coupé out for the first time in just under two years at the weekend. Only for an MOT so literally from the house to the garage… and then straight back, as it failed spectacularly.

The sense of occasion in this car though is absolutely off the scale! The noise, the poise, the feeling that it just wants to be unleashed at all times. It’s a real bulldog of a thing, I’ve missed it so much.

I cannot wait to get stuck into the next stage of my little project this year!


F****** b****** thing...
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638341
17/01/2020 09:23
17/01/2020 09:23
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
Jüst tö clarify - I'm nöt möving qüite yet - this wäs by wäy of being explörätöry.

In particular, meeting with the medical insurance people to find out whether we could join the existing government health schemes, or if we would have to pay prohibitive prices. Those fine folks with the bizarre ideas about leaving the EU have *really* stuffed things up for my retirement plans (apart from anything else, devaluing both my house and my pension by fifteen or twenty percent...).

<Cough> Er, anyway, now we've confirmed that we can get on the insurance, at a cost of only an arm and half a leg, the general plan is:

- coupe in storage, frees garage up
- twenty-five years of shit goes into garage in convenient boxes
- Now we can see the walls, the house gets tarted up
- Once it's a bit internally prettier, get the house on the market - beginning of March, if anyone wants a delightful pied a terre in sunny Hemel, wonderfully inconvenient for both Joe and the Carlisle xmas do
- When it sells, give my notice in at work and live in a hotel if necessary until we move in with the kids for a while.
- Possibly look for a left hand drive coupe. It won't be a patch on N707, but it might quell the craving!


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638347
17/01/2020 13:25
17/01/2020 13:25
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
DaveG  Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
What do you mean, not moving yet, you have a new "handle" already don't you?

Seepocke laugh


1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus
1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
Re: Old shoes... [Re: DaveG] #1638348
17/01/2020 13:58
17/01/2020 13:58
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by DaveG

Seepocke


sick sounds contagious


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638360
17/01/2020 20:00
17/01/2020 20:00
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
That's because it has a penis ten times longer than its body! shocked


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638363
17/01/2020 22:42
17/01/2020 22:42
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
DaveG  Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,385
Lightwater, Surrey
Ah so that's how you got your forum name then? Anita must be a happy lady wink


1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus
1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
Re: Old shoes... [Re: DaveG] #1638367
18/01/2020 01:30
18/01/2020 01:30

G
GrahamL
Unregistered
GrahamL
Unregistered
G



Originally Posted by DaveG
Ah so that's how you got your forum name then?


Or did he invent this ?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51133807

Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638371
18/01/2020 10:38
18/01/2020 10:38
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
G_Man Offline
Club member 1656
G_Man  Offline
Club member 1656
My job on the forum

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
Originally Posted by barnacle
The Bravo had a bit of a technosulk yesterday, requiring Anita to drop it in at the local Kiplings.


Now that's what I call diversification - the purveyors of the cherry bakewell turning into Italian car specialists shocked Ask them how much for a coupe cambelt change while you're at it .. wink

Last edited by G_Man; 18/01/2020 10:39.

77 77
Re: Old shoes... [Re: G_Man] #1638384
18/01/2020 13:49
18/01/2020 13:49
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,660
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted by G_Man
Ask them how much for a coupe cambelt change while you're at it .. wink


The icing on the cake?


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638391
18/01/2020 16:39
18/01/2020 16:39
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
Well I can tell I'm in Berlin... yesterday I was in a greek restaurant eating a pizza and drinking beer smile


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638393
18/01/2020 17:26
18/01/2020 17:26
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Cooperman Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
Cooperman  Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
My job on the forum

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Is that called eclectic living Neal?


[Linked Image]
Re: Old shoes... [Re: Cooperman] #1638396
19/01/2020 01:35
19/01/2020 01:35
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,051
South Cambs
B
Barmybob Offline
Hon Club Member: 003
Barmybob  Offline
Hon Club Member: 003
Je suis un Coupé
B

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,051
South Cambs
Really happy to hear that your both going to be able to obtain the retirement you have been planning for years.


Gone Audi mad!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: Barmybob] #1638406
19/01/2020 15:43
19/01/2020 15:43
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
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Forum is my life

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
Originally Posted by Barmybob
Really happy to hear that your both going to be able to obtain the retirement you have been planning for years.





Another upside is we can all go visit them Bob!



Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638412
19/01/2020 16:43
19/01/2020 16:43
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
You're all welcome, with a little advance notice, but at present the house is either a house we can't afford, or a field we can't afford either. But we think we know *where* it will be, once I can prise the necessary paperwork out of the NHS to get insured with.

Spent the last three days tramping around various outflung bits of Berlin, trying to reconcile estate agent's terminology with what's actually there! (My favourite today: 150m2 house on 2700m2 land, completely failed to mention that it was (a) half a house, and (b) shared the land with seven other houses...


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638416
19/01/2020 17:13
19/01/2020 17:13
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,480
Aldershot
PeteP Offline
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
PeteP  Offline
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Posts: 21,480
Aldershot
Originally Posted by barnacle
Spent the last three days tramping around various outflung bits of Berlin, trying to reconcile estate agent's terminology with what's actually there! (My favourite today: 150m2 house on 2700m2 land, completely failed to mention that it was (a) half a house, and (b) shared the land with seven other houses...

I have 2 favorite quotes from estate agents, Both in the UK and many years ago.

The first was an advert in a Bognor Regis newspaper which stated that the house was " within wanking distance of the train station" and another estate agents blurb of a Towcester house we were interested in which had a " bathroom with matching yellow shite " The poor typist got upset when I burst out laughing and explained why.

Last edited by PeteP; 19/01/2020 23:27.

16VT and X1/9 1500

We must all do our part for the planet.
I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638441
20/01/2020 16:09
20/01/2020 16:09
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
neil_r Offline
Enjoying the ride
neil_r  Offline
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
Originally Posted by barnacle
Spent the last three days tramping around various outflung bits of Berlin, trying to reconcile estate agent's terminology with what's actually there! (My favourite today: 150m2 house on 2700m2 land, completely failed to mention that it was (a) half a house, and (b) shared the land with seven other houses...


We are always hearing that the demand for property in and around Berlin is extremely high and with low mortgage rates, prices are very "solid". The days when Berlin was cheap have well and truly disappeared frown

And then, even with property basically selling itself, estate agents charge an arm and two legs when you buy through them!

The the government takes another 5% or so in "stamp" duty.

But good luck with the hunt. I'm sure you will find something nice.


1997 20V
2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR
2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD
2018 Mazda2 GT
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638447
20/01/2020 16:59
20/01/2020 16:59
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 974
Behind Enemy Lines
Master_Mariner Offline
Club member 583
Master_Mariner  Offline
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Enjoying the ride

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 974
Behind Enemy Lines
Plenty of desirable and empty soviet era social housing for you to choose from in and around Leipziger Platz 9-10117 Berlin....comrade!


In fact the soviets just loved to build high rise flats for the "workers".. not sure there are many houses in Berlin Barnacle...but certainly some on the outskirts.

What beer there is though. Berliner Kindle....the very best.

Enjoy the shopping!

Regards

MM

Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638449
20/01/2020 17:50
20/01/2020 17:50
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
G_Man Offline
Club member 1656
G_Man  Offline
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My job on the forum

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,450
Scottish Borders
This is not much help to you Neil but stumbled across this:

https://www.thelocal.de/20180827/be...ling-prices-but-are-they-really-to-blame

Similar situation for most capitals I'd have thought though..


77 77
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1638451
20/01/2020 18:46
20/01/2020 18:46
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
That's a year and a half old, and I don't think it's gone anywhere. But yes, it's a lot more expensive than when we started looking!


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: magooagain] #1638507
21/01/2020 18:28
21/01/2020 18:28
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,051
South Cambs
B
Barmybob Offline
Hon Club Member: 003
Barmybob  Offline
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Je suis un Coupé
B

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,051
South Cambs
Originally Posted by magooagain
Another upside is we can all go visit them Bob!


Another stop to add to our trips around Europe.


Gone Audi mad!
Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1639243
21/02/2020 16:56
21/02/2020 16:56
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,159
,
S
samsite999 Offline
I AM a Coop
samsite999  Offline
I AM a Coop
S

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,159
,
Let's all go visit Neil!

Re: Old shoes... [Re: barnacle] #1639248
21/02/2020 18:19
21/02/2020 18:19
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline OP
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
Still in Hemel at the moment, Sam!


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!

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