The Jaguar X-Type is a small luxury car that looks nice and is comfortable to drive. It was made to appeal to more people, but some folks had mixed feelings about how well it performed.
The BMW 8 Series is a fancy car made by BMW that is designed for comfortable long drives. It has a stylish look and is known for being powerful and luxurious.
Buick is a car brand from America that makes cars known for being comfortable and a bit luxurious. They have been around for a long time and are part of General Motors.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a famous sports car from America that looks really cool and goes super fast. It's been around for a long time and is loved by many car fans for its style and performance.
The Citroen 2CV is a very simple and cute little car from France that was made for many years. It's famous for being affordable and easy to drive, and many people love its unique look.
Car
Citroën 2CV
The Citroën 2CV is a small, simple car from France that many people love. It was made for a long time and is known for being easy to drive and very economical.
The Land Rover Range Rover is a fancy SUV that can drive on rough roads and still feel comfortable inside. People like it because it looks nice and can handle tough conditions while also being a luxury vehicle.
The Ford Everest is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that can carry more people and is good for both city and off-road driving. It's often used by families.
The Ford Ranger is a type of pickup truck that is good for carrying things and driving on rough roads. It's popular in many places, including New Zealand.
Renault is a car company from France that makes different types of cars, including small cars and vans. They are known for being stylish and affordable.
Peugeot is another car company from France that makes different kinds of cars. They are known for their good-looking cars that are also economical to drive.
Car
Renault Mégane R26
The Renault Mégane R26 is a sporty version of a regular hatchback car. It's known for being fast and fun to drive, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
The Vauxhall Zafira VXR is a sportier version of a family car called the Zafira. It's designed to be faster and more fun to drive than the regular version.
The Vauxhall VX220 is a small sports car that is fun to drive and very light. It shares some parts with another car called the Lotus Elise, which is also known for being sporty.
The Lotus VX220 Turbo is a small sports car that is very light and fast. It has a turbocharged engine, which means it can go faster than regular engines of the same size.
The Ford Focus RS is a sportier version of the regular Ford Focus. It's built for speed and has features that make it fun to drive, like a powerful engine and all-wheel drive.
Car
Austin Metro HLE Mark I
The Austin Metro HLE Mark I is a small car made by the Austin brand. It was designed to be economical and easy to drive, especially in cities.
Brake lines are tubes that carry brake fluid to the brakes, allowing your car to stop. Older cars may have rusty or worn brake lines that need to be checked and replaced.
Fuel lines are pipes that carry fuel from the gas tank to the engine. In older cars, these pipes can wear out and need to be replaced to avoid problems.
A fire extinguisher is a tool that helps put out fires. It's important to have one in your car, especially older ones, to stay safe in case of an emergency.
The Geo Metro Turbo is a small car that is designed to be very fuel-efficient. The Turbo version has a more powerful engine, making it faster than the regular models.
Discs are the round metal parts that help stop the car when you press the brake pedal, and pads are the pieces that press against the discs to create friction. Better quality discs and pads can help your car stop more safely and effectively.
Car
Citroën Saxo
The Citroën Saxo is a small car that was made in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It's known for being fun to drive and is often used in racing events.
The BMW 3 Series is a small luxury car that is fun to drive and has lots of nice features. It's popular because it works well for both daily driving and sporty adventures.
The BMW 325 Ti is a small car that is part of the 3 Series lineup, designed for sporty driving. It's known for being fun to drive, especially because it has rear-wheel drive.
The Audi A8 is a big, fancy car that is very comfortable and packed with cool technology. People like it because it feels luxurious and drives smoothly.
The BMW 5 Series is a bigger luxury car that is comfortable and has lots of tech features. It's great for families and people who want a nice car that drives well.
The BMW 6 Series is a stylish and comfortable car that is great for long drives. It's designed to look good and perform well, making it a favorite for those who enjoy a sporty ride.
The BMW E64 645Ci is a stylish two-door car that is designed for luxury and performance. It has a strong engine and a beautiful design, making it a great option for those who want a sporty yet comfortable ride.
The BMW E61 530i Touring is a type of car that combines a sporty feel with extra space for passengers and cargo. It's a wagon version of the BMW 5 Series, which means it's designed to be both fun to drive and practical for everyday use.
The BMW M6 is a really fast and sporty version of the BMW 6 Series that also feels luxurious inside. It's popular because it offers a thrilling driving experience while still being comfortable.
The BMW Z4 is a small, sporty car that you can drive with the top down. It's designed to be fun to drive and looks really stylish, making it a popular choice for people who like sporty cars.
The BMW Z3 is a small, two-seater car that you can drive with the top down. It's known for being fun and sporty, and many people love it for its unique look.
The BMW M3 is a super sporty version of the regular BMW 3 Series that goes really fast and handles well. It's popular among car enthusiasts because it’s fun to drive and looks great.
The BMW Z8 is a beautiful sports car that looks like a classic but has modern features. It's very powerful and special, which is why many people want to own one.
The Alpina Z8 is a special version of the BMW Z8 that has been upgraded to be even faster and fancier. It's a rare car that many collectors want because of its unique features.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom is an extremely luxurious car that is very expensive and made with the finest materials. It's known for being super comfortable and is often seen as a sign of great wealth.
LIVE
Why choose a sleep number smart bed?
Can I make my site softer?
Can I make my site firmer?
Can we sleep cooler?
Sleep number does that.
Cools up to eight times faster
and lets you choose your ideal comfort on either side,
your sleep number setting.
Enjoy personalized comfort for better sleep night after night.
And now, during our president's day sale,
take 50% off our limited edition bed.
Shop now for a limited time.
Only at a sleep number store or sleepnumber.com.
Active Campaign is the marketing automation platform
built for big swings and big dreams
with intelligent suggestions powered by AI and your data.
Generate ideas in seconds, import your brand
and create full campaigns with simple prompts.
Set personalized messages backed by real-time feedback,
smart segmentation and effortless reporting that tracks every win.
Let's redefine what's possible together.
Get started for free at activecampaign.com.
This is Indomicon Sue from the No Free Lunch podcast.
Ever feel like your workload is out of control?
Like you're wearing every hat and expected to be everywhere at once?
Running a business means juggling books, payments, leads, payroll,
basically everything.
But with Intuit QuickBooks, your workload gets unloaded.
QuickBooks gives you access to Intuit's powerful AI agents
and trusted human experts who work together
to handle the tedious stuff so you can get back
to what actually grows your business.
And because everything's streamlined on one platform,
your customer management, accounting, expenses and payroll
all work seamlessly in one place.
So go ahead, outdo it with Intuit QuickBooks.
Get 50% off QuickBooks online for three months.
Terms and conditions apply.
Feature availability may vary by product.
Visit QuickBooks.com for details.
I'm Richard Porter.
I'm Johnny Smith.
And this is On the Other Side of Things,
the Smith & Sniff spinoff in which we answer your questions.
Hello and welcome again on a Friday to us answering listeners' questions.
I was going to start with a quick one from a listener called Matthew
who says, following the assessment that feeder like a car with leather seats
and a CD player, and it's probably a Jaguar X type,
it got me thinking about other songs that drop actual car brands.
This keeps going.
Oasis casually throw in BMW in Supersonic.
But Blondigo absolutely wild in Rapture.
Subaru, Mercury, Cadillac and Lincoln all in one verse.
That's commitment.
I love that.
I love that song just for that really.
So I wanted to ask, what's your favorite song that mentions a car brand?
Brackets.
Chinese brands like Cherry are out.
That feels like cheating.
Oh, what? Because you're going to go, oh yeah, Neil Diamond's Cherry.
I mean, George Michael mentions BMW in Fast Love,
which we've probably talked about before, haven't we?
Yeah, we have.
Because didn't we decide that, given when that song came out,
George Michael in our heads had an eight series,
but that when he says, let me make a little room in my BMW,
he's got to like clear some roadmaps and like Snickers wrappers off the passenger seat.
It's slightly awkward.
It's like my dad.
Yeah, let me just make a little room.
It's like, oh my God, you've got so much stuff on the passenger seat.
Why is there a microphone?
Yeah.
Leave it at home.
Do you know what?
No, he's got two.
He's got another guy already in the car.
So you've got to get in the back, but it's a three series compact.
Oh, no.
Yeah, it's a little tight back there.
Cheryl Cole, not Cheryl Cole.
Cheryl Crowe, easily confused.
It's all I want to do.
Oh, Buicks and Datsons.
Yeah, shiny Datsons and Buicks.
Yeah.
The lyric, she's about the car wash.
That's good.
You have to assume that's a hot state related song because no one would clean their Datson
in Britain because it would have just dissolved in God.
Yes.
So that song is, well, I don't know where it is because it's actually the lyrics are by,
it's a poem that Cheryl Crowe just set to music.
I don't know where it was set, but in my head it was always in California.
Yeah.
I don't know why.
Hot state.
It's like a desert-y town.
Yeah, hot state, definitely hot state.
So yeah, you could shine a Datson without it instantly turning into a handful of dust.
There's a lot of Lexis being mentioned over time in rap songs and also Beyonce famously mentioned it.
Beyonce, yeah.
But the thing about Beyonce is I think she takes herself too seriously.
So she's not in the final hit list for me.
She's an incredible singer, but I think she just takes herself too seriously.
And I think she's too good for Jay-Z.
So I'm just going to put that out there.
I didn't expect this, but we'll just be honest.
Watch yourself, Knowles.
Mustang Sally, we've talked about that, I think, on the side of things.
Is it not an actual horse in that song or some kind of propeller aeroplane?
I'm not sure.
Oh, Prince Little Red Corvette, of course.
Oh, yes.
Yeah, and we talked about it in previous times, trying to work out whether it's a smog era and it's about 130 horsepower.
I think the generally accepted reading of that song is that Corvette is a metaphor for something else, possibly, and Edie's part.
Right.
My absolute favourite song genuinely that mentions it.
It's not a car brand, but there's a song called 2CV by Lloyd Cole.
And it starts with, she drove her mother's car.
It was a De Chavaux.
I was most impressed with her casual dress.
And a few years ago, Lloyd Cole, I'm a huge Lloyd Cole fan.
Lloyd Cole was on his website, was offering handwritten lyrics.
He did this sort of limited thing where I can't if it's a money for charity or not,
or just for him, because, you know, fair enough, I happily give Lloyd Cole my money.
But he said, you know, like 30 quid or something,
I will hand write out the lyrics to a song of your choice.
And I'm doing, there's 10 slots.
And I jumped in there straight away.
Please, please, please, please.
And he hand wrote me the lyrics to 2CV, which I have framed at home.
That's brilliant.
If you like Lloyd Cole, it's really cool if you don't give a toss.
I've never heard that song.
I must hear it.
It's, yeah, it's on the Rattlesnakes album, one of his finest.
It's Lloyd Cole Scottish.
He is not Scottish.
He's sort of honorary Scottish because he was born in Derbyshire,
but he formed the Commotions when he was in Glasgow.
I knew there was something Scottish about it.
And then he moved to America when the Commotions broke up,
and that's where he's been ever since.
You're listening to Britain's number one Lloyd Cole fact podcast.
I think I will end this because we can,
we can drone about this for a long time.
And we welcome the listeners to write to us and say their favorite.
But I think it's got to be for me.
It's got to be Lil Deuce Coot by the Beach Boys because I grew up
listening to my mum playing the Beach Boys nonstop.
So I've always liked the Beach Boys and they're jolly.
And the songs are so short, really short and beautiful.
But Lil Deuce Coot is great because it just goes on and on and on
about all the mods they've done to this, this old car.
And when I was younger,
I just thought that that was the coolest thing ever.
So they did lots of other things about fuel injected Corvettes
and stuff like that.
But I'm going to go with that, I think,
but I'm sure as soon as we send this podcast out to air,
I'll be kicking myself because I will have forgotten another really good song.
There's that Chainsmokers song,
Pull Over in the Backseat of Your Rover.
Yes, where they're obviously referring to a Range Rover
or they think they're obviously referring to a Range Rover.
But we think otherwise, don't we Rich?
Well, that's it.
As soon as you hear that track, I think anyone in this country
who just goes, what, like a sort of 200 or something?
Yeah, 75.
It's a 75.
It's either way, not the roomiest backseat.
But find whatever works for you.
I actually think a V8 Rover 75 is more gangster than a Range Rover.
I'm just going to put that out there.
I suppose if you're doing a drive-by on a National Trust property,
then yes, maybe so.
Anyway, let's move on to another question from a listener called Adam.
Now, Adam is one of our New Zealand listeners, except he's sort of not.
His message is entitled Anglo Kiwi Relations.
He says, hi, you pair of bumbling flutaginists.
Having been living in Christchurch, New Zealand for 10 years,
where the Ranger, Everest and Land Cruisers roam so free.
I work as a Ford main dealer alongside another listener, Tom, from the Motherland.
I see me means the UK.
We often talk about the cars that we had and loved growing up with,
such as Renault's, Peugeot's, Alfa's, SSC's, Bracket's, Sweet Sweet Cars.
When our Kiwi colleagues hear these discussions and see us searching the web
for what's still available back in Blighty,
they mock us and refer us to the JDM or Australian power
that was available to them with such low insurance prices when they were younger.
My question to you is, if you had a choice of one affordable European car each
from back in the day to show these Down Under Dinguses,
these Adam's words, not mine, what they were missing out on, what would it be?
What era is this? Did he specify an era?
He doesn't specify.
So I think we could just have free reign with this, but sort of, I don't know.
He says Renault's, Peugeot's and Alfa's say, I don't know.
Let's just make it up as we go along.
Something from the 90s maybe, or the 2000s.
OK, 90s or 2000s.
So something that has got power and pace, agility,
which I think quite a lot of Australian cars probably didn't have the agility bit so much
just because of their market not needing it or wanting it so much.
I'm going to just go straight out there, whether it's too late or not, I don't know.
Renault-Morgan R26 or R26R, please.
Yes.
Because it remains my favourite hot hatch of all time.
Yes, for some reason I suddenly thought 106 Rally.
I'm not sure that with these cars not sold in New Zealand, then I think they might have been.
I feel like they might have been, but perhaps not.
I mean, yeah, 106 Rally because it's very, very small and heavy and a small engine.
So it's sort of the opposite of a Commodore with a V8 in it or something like that,
or indeed a Land Cruiser that was subsequently bought by Lord.
What about a Vauxhall Zephyra VXR with a really vapy remap?
I mean, that would be quite a weapon to deal with.
To dispatch that quickly with a rival vehicle would be hard because you can take the piss or you like
that it's just from P7C today.
They were rapid.
So what about a Vauxhall VX220?
Yes.
Because obviously, it's a good idea.
Yeah, I mean, we borrowed them and our O's and things.
Yeah, yeah.
So maybe we could lend them the rebadge Lotus.
I don't know.
Yeah, no, that's a good idea.
Is that all right?
I bet they didn't make it down there.
So it's four cylinder, so it's not big engine.
And it's light.
Oh, gosh, yeah.
And our listeners will well know that the Turbo VX220 was, I think, quicker than any Lotus iteration.
In my own words, it was bastard fast and quite a hard car to better for the cash.
I thoroughly love the VX220 Turbo and the non-Turbo.
They were quite lively, weren't they?
They were very lively.
I think famously on the VX220 press launch, several cars got sent home in a different
shape to that which they arrived at.
I'm trying to think if we're missing like a really obvious choice here.
Well, I mean, you know, something else that I don't know if the Ford Sportcar made it
down to New Zealand, but they were always delightful.
I mean, they've all dissolved now, but they were such fun and, you know, but quite low
power.
Panda 100 horsepower.
Did Australia and New Zealand get the Ford Focus RS or Five Pot ST?
Oh, because.
I don't know.
Well, Adam, you can tell us if any of these are good suggestions and if anyone else in
New Zealand has a thought or a car that if you're New Zealandish and you're like, oh,
I always wish we got those sent here, but we didn't, then do get in touch.
Yeah, we're keen to be educated.
Just bear in mind that if you have a five, if you have a warmed over five cylinder ST
Focus, I think it's actually in the owner's manual.
You've got to smoke, but covering up the cigarette and the ember.
So the under the underarm approach to toking whilst talking about the spec of the car as
you're breathing out, it's the only way.
It's the only way, unfortunately.
So yeah.
Fifty percent off our limited edition bed shop now for a limited time only at a sleep
number store or sleep number dot com.
This is an ad by BetterHelp.
Did I talk too much?
I can't just let it go.
I should have stopped.
I was thinking so much.
I didn't go well.
Did I talk too much?
I should have stopped.
I was thinking so much.
Let it go.
Take a breath.
You're not alone.
Let's talk about what's going on.
Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals and online therapy
makes it convenient.
See if it's for you.
Visit betterhelp.com slash random podcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy
and let life feel better.
Yeah, let's go on with a, that was a good question.
I feel like that one's not going to not going to end soon.
People will chime in.
And we love our Australian and NZ listeners.
Hi guys.
I've got a question and it's from somebody called Elliot Moore.
Hi, you pair of flutes.
Taking inspiration from Johnny's recent mention of under-ceiling any old car is an essential
thing to do.
And my recently purchased Opeline Green Austin Metro HLE Mark I.
Is it Opeline or Opeline?
Opeline.
I did get it right.
Good.
I'm thinking of finding or making some front, finding, I think he meant finding.
I'm thinking of finding or making some front wheel arch liners to prevent it from rusting
through its wings.
But what are the modifications on older cars?
Would you guys describe as essential when buying any old cars that prevent issues that
they're renowned for these days?
I mean, the obvious ones for me are fuel lines and brake lines.
I mean, check and replace.
Definitely fuel lines more than brakes probably because of the way that old brake lines don't
like modern fuel particularly.
And all the unions for said where it goes from hard line into flexi.
Just make sure everything's really buttoned up well.
I would also say it's essential to carry a fire extinguisher of some sort.
I know I sound like a right dad, but they're not paying me to say this, but the fire safety
stick is the one I would go for because it fits in a glove box and it's like a flare
looking thing.
But it seems to work better than a normal fire extinguisher last longer and doesn't really
cost any more.
So and if it isn't your car that catches fire, you never know.
You might save someone else's.
Yes.
Yeah.
It's true.
It's funny enough.
Oh, exciting news the other day.
I've got a solid lead on getting hold of some OEM coolant hoses for my Metro Turbo because
slag of the crystal.
As I mentioned before, the guys at the den pointed out that on the original hoses, a few
heat cycles and they'll probably all split and horrible things will happen and you don't
want to muck around with this stuff because if all your coolant disappears, that's a problem.
So yeah, it is just stuff like that, isn't it?
It's just sort of being sensible, replacing things that perish.
And yeah, I would say that also includes tires.
Don't muck around with tires if they're a bit old.
Just get some new ones, particularly on older cars.
A lot of older cars, you know, as long as you can still get the size, they tend to be
narrower than a modern car.
And so they're not mega expensive, but I always think it is worth spending money on tires
because, you know, they're what keeps you on the road.
Yeah, it's true.
And I've tended over the last three cars or so, including the Eagle Quest, to get decent,
the best kind of discs and pads you can get for that car.
So not going as far as going bigger calipers or anything that heavy duty, but buying the
bittiest pad and the best disc because old brakes are notoriously sketchy, especially
when people in modern cars don't seem to realize that if they cut you up or do any sudden movements,
you are having to work twice as hard and preempt all of that.
So I would recommend that, definitely.
And yeah, rust proofing.
You can't, again, a bit of a dad comment, you can't over rust proof a car.
You just can't.
So don't be afraid to just drown it, inject it in the doors, in the sills, any cavity
you can find.
It's a great thing to do in the spring slash summer, ready for the winter ahead.
And it's really, really worthwhile investment.
Gosh, we're so sensible.
Should we talk about toilets or something now, just to counter it or not?
Well, my advice is if you have an old car, simply keep it completely immersed in a tank
of wax oil, like sort of Damien Hurst installation, until you need it.
And then, you know, there's no worries about it going rusty.
Just blow candle wax on the seats.
Yeah.
Just light a load of say on spec candles and just blow them out at the underneath of the
car, making sure the car is clean underneath and grease free.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Just, just embalming, like set it in amber like a dead fly.
Yeah.
That's it.
Yes.
Exactly.
All right.
We're going to move on to a question from a listener who hopefully introduces himself
in his opening paragraph.
So I don't need to say his name.
He says, my name is Benjamin.
I am 21.
And last year, me and my friend decided we needed to try trials.
So we went out and bought a 1.1 liter Citroen Saxo.
After fabricating a sump guard, we went to compete in the Exeter Trial.
It was a lot of fun and we'll definitely do it again.
But now we have a problem.
We like the fact that we could buy a car we can't afford on our own, but together we could.
So they want to get another car.
What should we get?
We have a couple of thoughts.
Mini R53 or Jaguar XJ308 spec or a BMW 325 Ti.
Basically, it needs to be interesting and cheap.
And this is for trialing also.
No, I think this is just the fact I've realized that they're buying power together.
It's great that on their own, it's got a bit giddy.
So no, I think the Saxo sounds like that's the trials car.
They want something for road work now is my reading of it.
I don't think you'd try the Jaguar XJ308 or would you?
I was just thinking, I think the wheelbase is what might hinder you there.
So first things first, well done on the trials.
It's still one of the most exciting motorsports I've ever done.
So grassroots still so affordable and the camaraderie is almost unrivaled.
Two, chipping in and buying a car.
I like the idea of the Jag, not because me and Rich just constantly talk about old Jags, it seems,
but because if they're young, I like the idea of propagating more and more interest in cars,
brands like Jag amongst younger car perverts,
because that way the brand has a stronger chance of returning and surviving.
And also, I think they are quite affordable to ensure it's one of those things where it's a big engine car,
but it's not a high risk as such.
And you can have an exciting, heavy breathing, big piston car,
which you otherwise wouldn't normally be able to go near if you were a young driver.
So that's cool. I had Jags when I was young.
Now I'm older, I don't actually have Jags.
Although I have had a rather naughty XJS,
I just waffed under my nose last week, which I'm trying to, yes, with three puddles.
OAP owner.
Giving up driving needs to sell.
Yes, we'll talk about it later.
We'll talk about this afterwards.
I would say as well, I'm sure Benjamin and his mate are sensible blokes and they like cars,
they pay attention to driving, but I don't know how much experience they've had with rear-wheel drive,
because I think that suggestion of a BMW 325 Ti, so that's the compact, isn't the Ti,
they're really nice.
If it's the E46 shape, they're, I think, a really, really nice car.
I mean, even the E36, but they just haven't got that slightly unsophisticated rear suspension,
I sort of thought, and a short wheelbase.
If you're not used to rear-wheel drive and you start getting a bit carried away,
that could all get a bit exciting.
The Jag, slightly longer and more laid-back, might be a good way to get your eye in with rear-drive,
or a bigger BMW, an old 5-series or something like that.
You still get a nice straight 6, but...
Get a 7.
Well, that's an option.
Get a 7, my friend.
Get a 7.40.
Benjamin hasn't set a budget here, he's just said cheap.
Well, I mean, I suppose an old 7-series can be quite cheap.
Also, I don't know how much they are able to work on the car themselves to keep costs down,
but if they are quite handy, then that sort of helps, doesn't it?
Those minis are good as well.
I just watched...
Audi A8.
Top-dead Centres video of the cheap Clio they bought and what an absolute nightmare it was.
So, I suppose there's a lesson there by cheap by twice,
but I wonder, a temptingly cheap sporty Clio would be an enormous amount of fun.
Very much, yeah, I think it could be.
Although in this instance, I would gravitate to the Land Yacht a little bit, the Luxo barge.
What about a Lexus GS 300?
Oh, straight 6 or get a 430 and it's got a V8.
Jingle, yeah.
I think they're sort of quite underrated, aren't they?
I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them and they sort of got better with the generations, but yeah.
And also, if you feel so inclined, if it's one of the ones with the 2JZ in it,
then there are possible tweaking opportunities there.
Completely.
Completely.
I think that may answer so.
We want to know which decision you make, please.
Let us know.
I think, yeah, final answer, I'm going to go Lexus GS because why not?
What the hell?
I am talking of Luxo barge.
Is this next letter might lead on to more of that on that side of things from a chap called Brett.
Brett Bolam.
Chaps, my 2CG is autobiographical and your words of wisdom will have significant sway on my forthcoming purchases as they have already.
2CG?
2 car garage.
Oh.
He's dropped it right down from 2 car garage to 2CG.
I thought it was a lesser known Citroen.
Yeah, because well, the G and the V are quite close on a keyboard.
I just thought it was a typo.
My 2CV is autobiographical, isn't it?
OK.
So 2 car garage.
OK.
Your words of wisdom will have significant sway on my forthcoming purchases as they already have before.
I'm a proper bangle tragic, he's put.
I currently run a 2008 Beamer E61 530i touring and a 2004 E64 645CI.
I bought the touring six years ago.
The 645 joined the fleet two years back as a milestone birthday present after it was wholeheartedly endorsed by someone called Chris Harris and his friends.
Was it really?
Well, it says here.
OK, guys, here's the dilemma.
Important context.
I'm in Melbourne, Australia, where the second hand Euro market isn't quite the rich seam as it is in UK Europe.
Yeah, Brett, but you get like amazing weather and lethal creatures.
Anyway, both were bought.
And if cliches have to be believed, there are relatively few worries, in fact, possibly none at all.
That's true.
Both were bought at what felt like a dangerously reasonable price point, around 25,000 Australian dollars each.
But as you'd expect at this age, I'm now spending a healthy amount of time, money and patience every year keeping them on the road.
I'm at the point now where I need to consider surrender and moving on to something less troublesome.
Further important context.
We have club registration here in Victoria, which means the 645 will become dramatically cheaper to register and ensure once it ticks over the 25 year old mark.
It's also an absolute joy.
So I'm planning to hang on hard to the 645.
The touring, however, is taking liberties that its charm can't cover, as you may be picking up with all the purchases.
With my car history has been a string of foolish but deeply enjoyable choices.
Mini JCW Roadster, Alfa Brera, etc., etc.
Roadster.
With all these purchases being influenced in one way or another by you two, Clarkson and Chris Harris and also friends.
Long may this continue.
So what is your 2CG 2-car garage for a pro-bangle Melbourneian who thinks peaking car was mid-2000s to mid-2010s and needs the following boxes ticked?
Daily, whole people, bicycles, cases of wine.
I'm a winemaker in brackets.
In comfort.
Auto and a sunroof are non-negotiable.
Weekender.
Convertible.
Four seats preferred.
Naturally aspirated preferred.
Manual or auto.
Budget 50 grand Australian for both cars.
Yours in automotive ambitiousness.
Brett.
Wow, Brett.
Very specific.
I bet you go into a barber shop and you know exactly how you want your hair cutting.
So, right.
Bangle.
Yes.
Well, so this feels like we're sort of boxed in a bit and less.
I mean, just I'm going to get this out of the way.
It's bangled but not BMW.
Fun car.
Fiat Coupe.
That's about to say the same because obviously I did a car cave recently on a really immaculate Coupe 20 valve turbo and it still looks so good from so many angles that car.
It's not to everybody's taste, I admit.
But it is a, it's a car person's car.
Now he, so that could be a weekend thing.
Well, it could, but it seems like I'm slightly confused.
Is he saying that he's, he's hanging onto the 645 but he would welcome suggestions for a replacement or just something to go alongside it.
He's just put what is your two car garage for pro bangle.
Okay.
Melbourneian.
So two cars, 50 grand in Australian monies.
And he just want, I think he wants us to, to, to kind of brainstorm blue sky.
I mean, about these vehicles.
So when did bangle, when did bangles era stop?
Because obviously the seven was the first one and we thought it was a bit what crackers in hindsight.
It wasn't as crackers as what we have now.
The five is always the best looking one.
I always thought that five is, I think, a fabulous looking car and has really sort of weathered nicely.
That kind of hard line down the side of it is really good to my eyes.
Yeah.
I never got on with that 645.
I had some time in EVAD was a long-term and it was a manual and I just didn't get on with it.
I don't like it at all.
And so I'm afraid, sorry, Brett, I'm not a fan.
And I'm quite surprised that Chris Harris and also his friends would recommend that.
But, you know, if you like it, then that's fine.
I remember the 645.
I remember they did a diesel version.
I drove that when it was new.
Oh, yes.
I think I did that for fifth gear.
I drove that the diesel one from the UK to Poland on one tank of fuel or did something like that.
It was a good tour.
I always found that the convertible letterbox rear window was sort of weird but kind of cool.
Oh, yes.
The M6 version was devastatingly quick for its time.
I remember it really blowing my socks off.
I was like, shitting hell, this thing is very, very, very quick.
Now, that's an interesting question because Six Series Grand Coupe.
Oh, I really rather like.
Now, obviously that's a later generation.
They were really interesting cars and the M6 version of that was spectacular.
It was really, really good.
But I don't know whether these would be in budget because 50,000, it's about two for one on the Aussie dollar at the moment, I think.
That's like 25 grand here, but I don't know what used prices are like in Australia.
So we can only go on what we have here.
I'm warming to this theme of the M6 Grand Coupe, but look here.
In this country, you could get one for 17.
So theoretically in budgets and leaving Brett with approximately eight grand, which would buy him a Fiat Coupe.
Quite a nice one, I think.
So that would be my vote.
Although I'm not entirely sure whether Bangalover saw that, I guess he still did.
I'm thinking Z4, but I don't think that fits any of the criteria that he's laid out.
Well, but didn't he say soft top preferably four seater?
So you just ignore that bit?
Yeah, because I thought about that.
The Z4M, quite a car that and definitely doesn't really get a great deal of mentions compared to the Z3, you know, the clown's shoe.
But the Z4M, whether it's hard top or coupe, I went on the launch that car and I really, really enjoyed it.
I think they're good value, too.
And you can decide whether you want to modify it or not.
And I'm pretty sure it's Bangal's back.
Yeah, Z4, that Z4 with the sort of curved up sill.
Yes, that's the one.
Bangal era car.
And they've weathered it quite nicely as well, haven't they?
Better than the one series.
The Bangal one series, I think, looks horrible.
And I never liked it.
Actually, you could have a one series cab of that era, but they're very bath tubby.
What else did Bangal do?
Bangal did.
Bangal stuff.
I think he, does he go by, does he go by?
He was in The Bangals.
Yeah.
He calls himself Bangalay these days just to sound a little bit more international.
Bangalay.
Chris Bangalay.
I'm not, I have to say, I'm looking at some of other Bangal Bangalay designs.
I don't like the look of the V8 M3 that he did.
Was it the E90?
I'm, I never really...
Do you not?
No, I never liked the Superhero Bonnet bulge and the little sort of like smiley face above the quad exhaust.
It doesn't look right.
It's sort of like the bump has been put on slightly upside down.
It always irritated me.
Although the wheels were good.
So, well, oh, hang on.
Oh, here we go.
Why doesn't he buy a completely crashed BMW Z8?
Because that might fit his budget.
How about that?
I'm not sure that was, was that a Bangalay era?
Oh, yeah, it was Bangal.
I'm losing track of the, of the Bangal, the Bangal from Rainbow Era.
What?
Bangal, when did he, because he, he...
She bangles, she bangles.
Oh, baby, where'd you do this?
Ricky Martin sung about Chris Bangalay in that song.
Technically, he was in charge when the Rolls-Royce Phantom was signed off.
And I mean, if Brett wanted something automatic and spacious,
I think that may be just slightly out of budget.
Or if it's in budget, it would be a high stakes gambler.
Kind of.
Yes.
But I like those.
I think they look better than the, the, the, the Phantoms that came after.
I agree.
Again, they've weathered in nicely.
It is said here, I would have to check if it is strictly accurate,
that he was involved in the design of the Alpha 145.
Oh!
Do you want one of those, Brett?
I don't know.
Have we dwelt on this question too long?
I think we might have to.
Yeah, well, I think that's, and also we're running out of time.
So, um, well, thank you, everyone who sent in questions.
Do keep them coming.
Hello at smithandsniff.com is the email address.
And if it is a question, put Ottersot at the start of the subject line.
It just helps us to find them.
Yeah.
We'll do this all again on Friday, normal show on Monday.
Until then, goodbye.
Bye everybody.
Why choose a sleep number smart bed?
Can I make my site softer?
Can I make my site firmer?
Can we sleep cooler?
Sleep number does that.
Cools up to eight times faster and lets you choose your ideal comfort on either side,
your sleep number setting.
Enjoy personalized comfort for better sleep night after night.
And now, during our president's day sale, take 50% off our limited edition bed.
Shop now for a limited time.
Only at a sleep number store or sleepnumber.com.
ACAS powers the world's best podcast.
Here's a show that we recommend.
Here's a man who understands precision.
It's about answering the questions that are hard, not about answering a bunch of teed up questions that are fake.
What we're looking for are real stories and practical advice that you can use with your teams right away.
Subscribe to Lead Human with Jack Meyers and Tim Spengler wherever you get your podcasts.
About this episode
A lively discussion unfolds as Richard and Johnny dive into songs that mention car brands, sharing their favorites and debating the merits of various tracks. From Oasis to Beyoncé, they explore how cars are woven into music culture, with humorous anecdotes about their own experiences. The conversation also touches on listener questions about European cars that could impress their Kiwi friends, leading to a nostalgic look back at iconic models. The episode is filled with banter, personal stories, and a unique blend of music and automotive passion.
In this episode of On The Other Side Of Things, Jonny and Richard answer listeners’ questions about car brands in songs, essential mods for older cars, a fun car for two 21 year olds, and a two car garage for a Bangle fan.
