Your motoring plans for 2026?

Rilot

Rilot

Rilot

Don
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
23,711
Location
Wargrave, UK
What are your motors-related plans for 2026? I've got a couple of things planned but nothing major.

- IRS lockout on the Mustangn along with some more chassis bracing
- Lowering springs - probably Steeda progressives
- A tune - again, probable Steeda
- Start looking at replacing the CX5 - Not sure whether I can be bothered though as everything is super expensive and / or a bit crap
- A road-trip to either Holland or the south of France is on the cards for the summer

So, nothing particularly major. What about you? Is 2026 the year you finally get that McLaren you've been promising yourself or is it the year to really get down the bangernomics?
 
Ive largely given up tbh. Roads are in poor condition and im sick of being stuck behind 40mph morons.
 
To not change my bike this year like I always do, or have zero willpower and swap my ZX10R for a Panigale V4S.
Really does depend which way the wind is blowing.
 
marinersfan said:
The same as every year. The car only gets a wash when Toyota do it for me :cry:
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I wash my Duster before I take it to my independent mechanic for its annual service, when I have family coming to visit or when it gets so dirty I forget what colour it is.

One of the few disadvantages of living in the middle of farming country.
 
Decision to be made this year with the M440i.
Owned it 2 years next month & still enjoying it, so either will keep it & do a few upgrades such as wheels, possibly lower it by 20mm more for looks than handling & possibly a stage one map.

Alternatively, it will be traded in for something, what I have no idea!
Thought about M4's, Jaguar F type , even an older Aston Martin, but nothing is leaping out as an upgrade as the 440 is a very good all rounder.
 
I need to make a decision whether to keep driving my 10 year old Astra with only 20k miles which so far has been flawless, or get rid of it before it starts having issues due to age. Not really a car guy so it's hard to know if it's likely to just keep being flawless due to such low mileage, or whether age is more of a factor and issues will occur soon.
 
Audi Q7 TFSIe needs replacing before Jan 2027 as I'm not running it without a warranty and it makes sense to punt it in the spring with a decent amount left for a private purchase (logical in my book?)

I want minimal outlay for a replacement so X5 45e is on the cards, but not sure we really need such a massive hybrid thing (for rear space, luggage capacity & occasional towing) if the i3S continues to offer free local electric motoring. G30 Touring or E Estate might be a more sensible option (but non-hybrid due to lack of boot space).

Not particularly exciting. May also punt M2 but might make sense to keep it as I've just forked out for a large service, etc.
 
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71 plate 320 saloon, trying to decide to get it remapped or chop it in for a M340 touring, not sure I want to spend more changing a car with absolutely nothing wrong with it but an estate would be handy loading up for the caravan
 
Replace the Navara which has long ago seen better days - but haven't had something come along which ticks the boxes yet :( and it will be a bit depressing going down to the 4 pot engine on the newer one after the 3L V6 - would go for something else but with so much Navara centric accessories and spare wheels specced for the D23 it would mean shifting a lot of stuff on / spending a lot of money (the only other option which works with the Nissan stuff and has a V6 engine option is the Mercedes X class but I hate the interior on most of them it is way too try hard).

Umming and arring over getting a newer Tiguan but I've gone off VW massively in the last few years and I much prefer Nissan's approach to driver controls but Nissan doesn't really have anything like it.

Dis86 said:
and im sick of being stuck behind 40mph morons
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This is definitely starting to grate.
 
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Plans are far from concrete at the moment. Lots of ideas but can’t commit to anything too expensive until I’m working again.

Race car MR2 is always chasing more power, more grip and less weight. Would like to do a turbo upgrade and I’ve got a few ideas around bodywork/aero stuff to do to it. Also need to do some off season maintenance as downshifts into 4th were consistently crunchy at the last event.

Road car MR2 is in the middle of winter maintenance, engine and gearbox are out for a spruce up and service, will get back onto that next week. Need to get it to a state I can move it out of the garage by the end of the month really so I can focus on the race car before the season starts. Also got a retro style modern headunit for xmas to put in it, will see how that sounds with the existing speakers but that might turn into a full refresh/upgrade. Tempted to turbo this one as well but that will have to wait until the race car is upgraded as I’ll use some of the cast off parts to do it.

Truck has been neglected for a while now. Need to put it back together at which point I’ll either fall in love with it again or move it on.

Volvo workhorse is still chugging along but it’s getting tired and should probably be replaced if and when funds allow.

At least the wifes GT86 doesn’t give me any grief (It did have a new battery just before xmas though)
 
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throwaway4372 said:
I need to make a decision whether to keep driving my 10 year old Astra with only 20k miles which so far has been flawless, or get rid of it before it starts having issues due to age. Not really a car guy so it's hard to know if it's likely to just keep being flawless due to such low mileage, or whether age is more of a factor and issues will occur soon.
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I'd say keep it and reconsider getting rid of it when it does start to show issues.

As for me, a few road trips this year hopefully, UK most likely. Mostly due to hiking and exploring, but I do love the thrill of country road driving and the B roads.

I had a potentially sketchy driving moment in 2025 when I was driving in the Peak District. 20% incline road - driving uphill and the road had quite a few bends. There was also a car behind me at the time, so had I lost momentum during any of that... RIP. I loved it though, good practice to be driving on roads like that, as I don't have any roads as steep as that down where I live.
 
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For me:

1. Import something else, got a long list but probably a Daihatsu Boon x4 or Blade Master. I have the full USS auction membership this time, so its easier to see stuff quickly. There are loads of other things on the list, but those are current top.
2. Impreza Spec C needs the AVCS solenoids cleaning, awaiting that at the moment, really missing it, its such a fun car compared to newer, smoother stuff
3. The Trafic LWB that gets used for family duty will be 2 years old, getting tempted by the 2.5 PHEV Transit though, I keep looking but to be fair, the Renault has been solid and its the first time ive noticed something feel better with miles, now at 20000, its pulling much better (170)
4. The MG4 EV we have has been great, but Im tempted by the Renault 4 for second family car duty. Its on Salary Sacrifice, but if a good deal appears for the 4, I might finish early and take the leap
5. Edit, my Mum bought me this for part of Xmas as she didn't want me getting just socks, so this might take a while!

 
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Well I need a new cheap car.
Probably going to be a VW touran (to have dog and mountain bike in).
But I also want to get a Mercedes sprinter to do a full conversion with.

That's a big purchase.
 
I just need to start using the MX5 really. Might consider getting the wheels refurbished but probably won't bother.

I'll also go through the monthly "I should really sell it and get some garage space back/buy something else with more seats." debate with myself.
 
Rilot said:
What are your motors-related plans for 2026? I've got a couple of things planned but nothing major.

- IRS lockout on the Mustangn along with some more chassis bracing
- Lowering springs - probably Steeda progressives
- A tune - again, probable Steeda
- Start looking at replacing the CX5 - Not sure whether I can be bothered though as everything is super expensive and / or a bit crap
- A road-trip to either Holland or the south of France is on the cards for the summer

So, nothing particularly major. What about you? Is 2026 the year you finally get that McLaren you've been promising yourself or is it the year to really get down the bangernomics?
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I'm on the Steeda Progressives (Part no 555-8210) and can't say I've had any issues with them - wasn't really expecting anything performance-wise though, I just wanted to drop the car about an inch and these did the trick ;D
What tune you running? Noticeable diff? I'm still on stock tune, only change I've made engine-wise is a full cat-back exhaust system though (from Cobra Sport in Sheffield) so I can't see a tune offering me much..

My car plans this year though... after doing all the audio work these last few months, I plan on trying to spend as little as possible on the Mustang this year. I've got the GT500 bumper getting painted and fitted at the end of Jan and then hopefully that's gonna be all she costs me this year - though I suspect I might need new tyres come MOT time as they'll be 2 years (and 20,000+ miles deep) so that's another £1k or so to find.... These next 2 years I want to try and spend as little as possible so I can pick up the Cayman GTS 4.0 for my 40th (2027) ;)
 
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I'm really torn, I currently own an Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Ti and I love it (own outright).

However, I took at a look at our company car list the other day which was underwhelming, the interior of a lot of the EVs on there look awful - even the Lexus model on there. Apparently if 3 or more colleagues want a Polestar 4, the lease company can do a deal where they fit in the bracket the business will pay.

I'm not wowed by the P4, four or five colleagues have them before their price went up and I just find them bland inside, although the best of a bad bunch vs the others on the list.

So essentially:
- Financially I'll be worse off as I'll lose the car allowance and will lose some tax free allowance, even factoring in insurance, servicing. Although I've not factored in any further depreciation of the Alfa
- I'll be driving something far less dynamic and slower than the AR, although to be fair, limited opportunities to have fun on the poor roads
- Paying for an asset I'll never own
+ I think the Alfa would get £20k to £25k, which I could bank/invest
+ The P4 boot space will be better with our first child due end of Feb
+ I can pretend I'm saving the planet
 
Mekrel said:
I'm really torn, I currently own an Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Ti and I love it (own outright).

However, I took at a look at our company car list the other day which was underwhelming, the interior of a lot of the EVs on there look awful - even the Lexus model on there. Apparently if 3 or more colleagues want a Polestar 4, the lease company can do a deal where they fit in the bracket the business will pay.

I'm not wowed by the P4, four or five colleagues have them before their price went up and I just find them bland inside, although the best of a bad bunch vs the others on the list.

So essentially:
- Financially I'll be worse off as I'll lose the car allowance and will lose some tax free allowance, even factoring in insurance, servicing. Although I've not factored in any further depreciation of the Alfa
- I'll be driving something far less dynamic and slower than the AR, although to be fair, limited opportunities to have fun on the poor roads
- Paying for an asset I'll never own
+ I think the Alfa would get £20k to £25k, which I could bank/invest
+ The P4 boot space will be better with our first child due end of Feb
+ I can pretend I'm saving the planet
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Basically 20k and a bigger boot? I wouldn't go for the P4 just for a bigger boot if you don't like the rest of it.
 
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