mystery machine

Nice!

Glad you're enjoying the country! I only wish that was true... but compared to the fancy stuff like Crieff, P&K, etc. some parts are a bit But you're right, we're lucky to have some very varied and attractive countryside Anyway, as the Allman Brothers once sang, "keep on keepin' on..."

Ahem - c'mon with the car pics already, Cathy!

When I saw the thread title my heart sank at the prospect of opening it up and being subjected to some boring Audi or BMW that's "just as much fun as the old Scooby and cheaper to run" (baaah!), but much kudos to you for opting for something truly interesting! Would love to have a shot of one of those one day... is it as involving and exciting to drive as they say they are? Whit a beaut!

Certainly do - like peaches and cream, or Madras and lager, or Pearl & Dean, or... well, you get the picture Bump for the Subota!

That's some nice-looking kit you have there, and a cracking-looking classic - the FMIC is the darts!

Some of us are going to be eating our meals through a straw if this thread plummets any further!

Totally! We want to see Cathy drinking a pint of Guinness through a straw!

Another trip up to B&Q?

This stuff is very good for removing left-overs from self-adhesives.Disclaimer - I've never tried it on car paintwork, so if you decide to give it a go, please try on an inconspicuous area first! Aye, and that'll look well out of place in Dalkeithshire too - where lager & lime is considered 'cocktail'

Aye, but anything's better than wallpaper!

P.S. Did you fit two tailgates today? I'm seeing double

Posting pics of your ex on the internet - tut tut... Just kidding, nice motor Steve. Were those aftermarket alloys? The LF-A looks the cow's clangers, hope we'll be seeing plenty of that in the Toyobaru! It could end up being like the more attractive and - with any luck - more promiscuous sister of the Nissan GTR, if you will

Great stuff! Sounds like you lucked-out on the colour matching too, marvellous You could try some "Bug and Tar Remover" on the tree sap, it might help break it down.

Internet research suggests that even the 'murkan 2.5 STI engine has a forged crank and forged conrods. No 'official' sources for that info, though - so don't hold me to it

It's nice to have you back, John

Sorry to hear you're thinking about giving it all up John, but I know where you're coming from as it is one wh0re of an expensive hobby - and I don't even take my motor onto a track (I must get my thrills easy, either that or I'm a road hog ). Before you sell the car, who not try borrowing/hiring a 'normal' car for a couple of weeks - see if you still feel the same way after the week is out? Speaking from my own experience, I know it's easy to take Scooby ownership for granted - happened to me last year before my WRX went into the garage for a couple of days. Even after that short time it felt so good to have it back - would be gutted to end up Scoobieless! (although it could always happen). Either that or you might consider a 'cheap but fun' driver's car like an older MX5 or similar (if you can get used to the image).

Ended up booking it into a body shop that I had used before, as they did a grand job on a previous motor. After reading the positive comments on this thread about Autotechnique, they were certainly my second choice had the first garage not been able to do the work at the time I needed it done. I'll certainly bear them in mind next time. Thanks again for all the suggestions

You mean there aren't really "girls in my area who'd like to know me better"?

Thanks for that, Frank Are they next door to Muirhall Motors? Pal of mine used to work there as a mechanic, and I used to go there myself for repairs and MOTs. Sounds like they did a fine job on your car. Being a full respray though, I don't suppose colour-matching would have been an issue? Cheers.

See I thought you were still on the subject of chips there, and I was gaunnae say - you're supposed to wrap them in newspaper Cathy, not quotes! Ah, the phone-in order - the takeaway purchasing strategy of the wise and well-informed! P.S. Tell those folks at your work to stop distracting you when you're busy on SIDC!

Just bought a new Scooby. Car is generally very clean, apart from a chip/ding in the wing that I planned to have fixed. Wasn't in any rush until I noticed that the someone has decided to embellish the existing chip with a brand new crease/dent about an inch away on the same panel... (what is it with new cars collecting dings?). Anyway - looking for a paint shop who are very good with colour matching, especially as the car is finished in metallic. Doesn't necessarily have to be the cheapest in town. Any suggestions? Many thanks

Top Marques to the photographer for the deft manoeuvre!

Och, not as long as you might think - I'm a dab-hand with the HTML/forum tags Aye, ah know - just messin' Did you ever go into the chippy, find no-one at the counter apart from one big huge woman, think to yourself "ah great, no queues!", then discover to your utter dismay that this woman is actually collecting an order for a family of twenty-three! Happens to me all the time... who are these people!?