Your motoring plans for 2026?

mjt said:
The Q7 is and has been amazing. The wife often drives 800 miles across Europe in 1 go with the kids to visit her family and it's so effortless. The massage seats and electronics make it such a stressless experience too. As much as you want to take the M5, you know the RSQ8 will be the better tool for the job, unless you've got some twisties planned :)

It's little things that the Audi does so well as opposed to the X5 though - covered door sills so you don't get dirty trousers, 3 separate adjustable seats in the back, etc. X5 is tighter in the back, but if it's a sideways move then for the money I can't complain :)
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We've done the twisties a few times now across the Pyrenees and the Alps so some twisties would be fun but not a deal breaker. However saying that.....

Nordschleife F90 M5 Competition: Recorded laps in the 7:35.90.... RSQ8 Performance 7:36.698. Which is MENTAL, Proper MENTAL.. I'm not sure even Max V could sense that time over a full lap...
 
Daily Duties

Mini Clubman JCW 306 - Use it as my daily after the departure of the Mk5 GTI
Wife has just got a 2024 Mini Countryman S - which honestly is an excellent family car for our needs.

Fun Car
981 Boxster S - Enjoy it. I think I'll look at a few bits and pieces this year.
Will be done:
- Fit the Michelin PS4S N0 front tyres I ordered the other week, Flash the Steering to GT4 settings, get Alignment done.
- Retrofit Cruise Control
- Investigate Carplay retrofit

Might get done
- X73 Springs & ARBs
- Doubt I'll get a DSC Sport V3 controller, but it is tempting
- 200 Cell manifold cats, BMC Air Filters and then a Remap to suit them - probably with Genome up in Leeds.... 360-370 bhp would be lovely and appears very achievable.

I think at that point the car will be perfect. Not a million miles off a Boxster Spyder experience.
 
mjt said:
covered door sills so you don't get dirty trousers
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Such a first world problem, but I wish I had that in my car lol. Particularly annoying in the winter when the car gets dirty quicker, but not that difficult to avoid to be fair.
 
Nabinium said:
Such a first world problem, but I wish I had that in my car lol. Particularly annoying in the winter when the car gets dirty quicker, but not that difficult to avoid to be fair.
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It's the little things ;)
Honestly I didn't notice it at first, but it makes such a difference to the door sills, etc. Keeps them very clean!
Also, on any review of the X5, they mention the dirty trouser legs :p

-edit, perhaps on most cars this isn't an issue, but if you're getting an SUV, it often gets muddy(ier) than a normal car based on its profile
-edit 2, also raised entry compared to normal vehicles. I climb up into the Q7, where as I fall into a regular 3 series
 
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Keep the Volvo rolling on for another year.

Try to avoid buying another BMW e38…

The latter is far more tempting than the former, despite being the daftest move by some margin.
 
Mustang
General maintenance:
Front brake discs and pads
While it is in, get the Mustang specialist to give it a once over.
Replace the front Pirelli's with Sport contact 7's so they match the rear
New battery, preventative maintenance, never let me down but it is coming up to nine years old

Interior:
New matts, did not come with rear ones, so I have thrown in some I had in the garage
Rubber boot liner

Exterior:
Ceramic coat it, double waxed this and ceramic coated the Yaris Cross and the latter has held up a lot better.
Deck lid, mine is very scratched, but it means a different GT badge and cannot choose one

Would like but possibly not this year:
H or X pipe (cannot remember which I prefer)
lock out kit
Wheel refurb and colour change, I have never liked black wheels, any car really

Drive it more, take it to some car shows

Yaris Cross
New battery, failed 3 times now (12v).
Sort this mismatch rear tyres that happened due to nail/tyre availability
 
S2000 - Just placed an order with Mita Motorsports for a set of their Mugen rep MF-10's in bronze. Fully forged in the perfect OEM+ fitment for the S2000 so no arch rolling or messing about.

Bushing refresh. Front end respray, sort the rear paintwork out with a good machine polish as it's covered in swirls. Also really want a set of Recaro Pole positions or at least one on the drivers side for now.

Fiesta ST - Picked up a few bits on black Friday sales but haven't gotten round to fitting. Airtec intercooler, short shifter and some TRC side skirts to match the front splitter that was on the car when I bought it. Once the intercooler is on will be upgrading my m230 package to the M260 package so 260bhp and 365nm.
 
Probably drive a few more miles in my truck (just short of 1700 miles so far this year) - possibly changing my own car for something financially ruinous like we’re I to do it would be my third e38 BMW - driving up to Stirling Scotland in March (car not truck) which I’m looking forward to.
 
Fit better pads, brake fluid, braided lines and take the Cayman 987 to my first track day and potentially 1-2 more. Oil and filter change and just enjoy it.
 
Hoping my new company car and diet-mid-life-crisis arrives in the next couple of months

alp290gts.png


Yeah, yeah I know - but our scheme only allows EVs and these are a spectacular drive down a twisty A-Road.
 
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Our Q8 lease is coming up in the next few months, so will be looking at options for that soon. I'm thinking Polestar 3, BYD Sealion, or something along those lines.

However, after 10 years driving electric, I think we're going to be buy a diesel motorway cruiser later in the year. Having done a few long journeys in the EV last year, the price of motorway charging is making the idea of going back to diesel for those journeys seem like a better option.

My son will be learning to drive soon, so as I'll need to get an ICE manual for him to learn on, it makes a lot more sense to buy something low insurance, but also something a decent size and and hyper efficient diesel engine that we can use for long journeys as well. Something in the £20 / £35 tax bracket like a Toyota Avensis Estate.
 
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Dis86 said:
Ive largely given up tbh. Roads are in poor condition and im sick of being stuck behind 40mph morons.
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Try 20 mph morons (who tbf are only obeying speed limits) in a lot of Wales. Other than that, I want to ride my motorbike more in 2026.
 
Jony27 said:
Fit better pads, brake fluid, braided lines and take the Cayman 987 to my first track day and potentially 1-2 more. Oil and filter change and just enjoy it.
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Get a GT3 master cylinder for it. Huge difference.

TRW PMN166 is the official Porsche part just without a Porsche parts sticker on it. It’s about £140 from Europe delivered.
 
Needs brake fluid change.
Track day in March/April
Service booked for early May
Nürburgring again in late May
Another track day or two in there somewhere hopefully.
Look at other cars and think about replacing it. Again.
 
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Selling both our cars (BMW640d M Sport and Merc SLK250d) and manging with nothing for a while as we are leaving the UK for some time
 
Few ideas but nothing booked as yet.
  • NC500 is on the cards. Just assessing routes and duration.
  • Travel to Northern France to visit Normandy and the associated war graves then onto Belgium for the Menin Gate and then a more uplifting journey to the Nürburgring.
  • Possibility of lowering springs but still being under warranty is preventing myself from doing this.
  • Proper valet/machine polish and new ceramic coating
  • also I know I'll need new brake pads/discs come the summer :rolleyes:
 
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Conanius said:
Get a GT3 master cylinder for it. Huge difference.

TRW PMN166 is the official Porsche part just without a Porsche parts sticker on it. It’s about £140 from Europe delivered.
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Cheers. That was on my list but wanted to keep it sensible and affordable for now. Once the pads,lines and fluid is change it’s ready for a first outing. If I get serious enough then perhaps will get it done.
I also ended up getting the gt3 from air ducts for £15 from my opc
 
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