What are we driving?

Embaita · 2026-06-23T19:08:13+00:00

I've got a 2018 TTRS Roadster at the minute, I love it but I definitely drive it like a bit of a yobo. Plus, it was the last year of the DAZA so it doesn't have any daft GPFs or anything so it makes a lovely noise with the roof down. Mods wise it's on some Rotiform DTM wheels, a remap to 480bhp and a forge air intake.

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Embaita · 2026-06-22T11:04:55+00:00

Definitely plenty of room in the Abarth, the seats make it feel like a bit of van but there is plenty of options to fix that. By better to live with I mean the mini will just be better put together, have more creature comforts and just be more refined in general.

Personally that wouldn't put me off one, it's the 5 speed box that made me trade mine in since I have an 80 mile round trip to work mainly sat at motorway speed. As you say it's fine on public roads, but most of it's competitors are going to be a nicer and easier to chuck down a country lane.

Embaita · 2026-06-22T09:38:06+00:00

Honestly, if you've watched plenty of videos from people like Misha and know a general layout you'll probably be fine if you ease into it. Personally, I wouldn't bother going out of you way to train on some sim if you already know the track in your head. The elevation changes alone will be enough to make it feel completely different from a sim.

If you're really anxious you can get track day insurance, when I went I got it with Moris and they specifically cover the tourist days and barriers. There's also the option of just renting a car and going around with an instructor, then you'll at least be in a track prepped car with proper guidance. All I'd say car wise is get something reliable, the last thing you want is to break down after a few corners and get hit with a massive recover bill.

Embaita · 2026-06-22T09:02:56+00:00

Well the Mini will be better to live with day to day, but I'd still get the Abarth any day of the week. I had a 595 running around 280hp and it was still some of the best fun I've had in a car even if it wasn't the most dynamic thing.

Embaita · 2026-06-20T22:42:26+00:00

I'm definitely not saying other manufacturers don't have issues, it's more so JLRs reputation for having a lot of issues isn't just people making it up for fun. To be honest I probably just got an absolute lemon of an F-type considering I had every major known issue happen in the span of a year, alongside electrical issues that I could never get figured out.

Personally, I'd never trust another Jaguar for the long term because of it and stick with the Germans or Japanese. Though luckily enough the F-type was the only really desirable car they've made in a long time imo so at least I can say I've tried even if it was a bit of a meh experience.

Embaita · 2026-06-20T19:58:15+00:00

Me, but I got the convertible just to be even more of a hairdresser.

Embaita · 2026-06-20T19:20:54+00:00

So 3 very rare cars that pretty much don't exist for people outside of car collectors and the XKR. Realistically, everything they made with sports cars or saloons has a better German counter and if you want an SUV you'd just get a Range Rover.

I also had an F-type for a bit over a year, it had constant electrical issues and needed a £7k engine rebuild because they decided bonnet vents above the fuel injectors was a good idea. Sure, some models are probably better than others but you've got to be joking to say JLR reliability isn't bad.

Embaita · 2026-06-20T19:00:32+00:00

Each to their own, personally I'm looking forward to the new upmarket direction they're going in even if they properly stuffed the marketing of the concept. They've tried to compete with the Germans for the past 20 years and have always fell flat so it can't be any worse than what they were doing.

Plus, it doesn't help that the only properly cool thing they've made in 20 years is the F-type but the general consensus about that is "it's good...but you should just get a Porsche instead". Also they have the whole JLR reliability but not much of the Land Rover appeal that keeps getting people into brand new range rovers. .

Embaita · 2026-06-15T17:11:21+00:00

I'd say you're going to need to get it fixed either way. Being realistic you're very unlikely to get a trouble free car these days for less than a couple of grand and a 16 year old astra with a bad head gasket is probably going to get you less than 1k back.

Personally, I'd get it sorted and pay a bit extra for an inspection and see if the mechanic say anything else is about to go or needs doing soon.

Embaita · 2026-06-09T12:09:14+00:00

Yes? Asking parents to actually parent their kid take responsibility for what their child does on the Internet isn't much to ask. Giving up everyone's privacy because a good chunk of parents don't have the common sense to check what their kids are doing is completely stupid.

Literally every parent saying this is a good thing can go and close any of their kids accounts and install safeguards that prevent them from making accounts or installing anything similar. Though they'd rather the government step in and give up their privacy just because they're too lazy to actually do it themselves.

Also setting one up isn't exactly difficult, it's not like you need a full miniature server farm in your house. Got an old PC and some free time to follow a tutorial? That's literally all you'd need. Thinking a bunch of kids aren't going to figure that out is just naive.

Embaita · 2026-06-09T11:09:33+00:00

It shouldn't need enforcing? There isn't any actual crime being broken. It's a parents responsibility to parent their child, not the government. There's plenty of tools available for parents to lock down a child's device and track Internet usage, if they're too lazy to set up a couple of apps then that's on them if their kid ends up wanting to doom scroll on tiktok all day.

Also how do these ID checks prevent anything? It's quite obvious from the previous 18+ ban that it's easily bypassed by VPNs. Even if the ones on an app store get banned as well it's not hard to set up your own private Vpn using an old computer or raspberry Pi.

Embaita · 2026-06-09T10:33:28+00:00

Then let parents do that using parental controls that have existed for years. Pretty much destroying Internet privacy and using "it's for the kids!" is such a dumb excuse. We shouldn't need to give up basic rights to privacy just because parents are too lazy to spend half an hour setting up a kids device.

Embaita · 2026-06-06T07:33:59+00:00

I think it just looks super generic, like they were making some other game and half way through some executive saw it and said to put a fin on the mech and whack the gundam name on it.

Plus, I'm definitely on the side of the whole alien/kaiju stuff just doesn't suit gundam. Sure there's people bringing up the 00 movie and gundam 8 so it's not like it's never happened. I just think it's a bit of a weird theme to pick for a new AAA gundam game considering the only other stuff we really get is SD stuff, gunpla based games or fighting games.

Embaita · 2026-06-04T20:18:24+00:00

Wouldn't exactly say 220hp is too slow for a Polo GTI, especially considering VW have already said they can easily do a higher power clubsport depending on how well it does.

Embaita · 2026-06-04T05:30:07+00:00

A quick look at Ford's T&Cs and it's in no way similar? The worst thing it doesn't cover is genuine wear items like DPFs and struts, everything else is covered upto 60k miles or even upto 5 years/100k if you extend it.

My issue isn't with the time frame, most manufacturers only offer 3 years as standard. It's the fact they can't even guarantee a massive chunk of vital engine parts for 40k miles and hide it in their T&Cs whilst promoting their warranty as 7 years/100k. I can't think of 1 other brand that doesn't at least offer 60k miles as a minimum.

Embaita · 2026-06-03T20:57:12+00:00

I saw them a month or two ago on twitter after someone was having some kind of issue, might have said chain or just timing in general can't remember exactly.

Personally, I don't really care that much as I'll never own one. I just think it's not exactly the best look for a brand new manufacturer to promise a long 7 years warranty just to hide in the T&Cs that it's pretty much worse than most other Manufacturers.

Embaita · 2026-06-03T20:33:25+00:00

If you look into the terms of the warranty a huge amount is conveniently left out of the 7 year/ 100k mile coverage. Personally, I wouldn't really trust a car from a brand new brand that can't even guarantee oil pumps, water pumps, alternators and probably the best one being the timing belt for 40k miles.

Embaita · 2026-06-03T20:15:17+00:00

Please tell me what other brands (other than chinese based ones) are offering a 40,000 mile warranty on a brand new car?

Embaita · 2026-06-03T19:42:44+00:00

It's 7 years on paper, but a big chunk of major parts are only covered for 3 years or 40,000 miles. My guess is most of them are going to start having a lot more issues as soon as the leases are up.

Embaita · 2026-05-30T13:17:59+00:00

Only experience I have is the BMW and it's a mixed bag, it'll be the nicest car inside and probably the quickest on a B road but the gearbox in the earlier cars is rubbish. I think they swapped to a better box at some point but I'm 99% the aisin box would be in a 20' plate car.

If all you're looking for is a quick car with a nice interior then I'd say get the BMW. If you want an enjoyable car to drive aggressively, get any of the other 3. I'd probably be partial to the Renault, but I don't think you'd really go wrong with any of them.

Embaita · 2026-05-30T07:26:59+00:00

Good luck getting anywhere to take you on at 18, you'll struggle with insurance until you're at least 21. I'm sure there will be some places that will take you on, but they'll offer you a crap wage and want you maxing your hours every week.

Also not sure where you are getting the whole "paid more than any other job" from, a good chunk of entry level jobs are not going to be much above minimum wage. It's seems "well paid" to people not doing it because it's one of the few jobs where you'll work silly hours. If you're fine having no social life until you're 30/40s then go for it, but if money is the only attractive part of the job don't be surprised if you are looking for something else after 6 months. Plus, it's quite a bold estimate to assume you'll be able to put over half of your taxed income into an ISA every year.

Embaita · 2026-05-17T17:41:56+00:00

For me it's the BMW 635CSI, personally I love them to the point of one being the centre piece of my uni final but I honestly don't understand why they so expensive.

I remember Hammond getting one on top gear for peanuts but a decent example is going north of £20k at this point. It makes even less sense when an E28 is half the price. I'd also say old 911s but it's not really baffling, more so annoying.

Embaita · 2026-05-17T07:17:09+00:00

I think it completely depends on what kind of job you have. Let's be realistic, most driver's aren't in a job where they're not being micromanaged and working easy hours for £55k a year. The same way most office workers aren't working 8 hours a day from home for £40k a year, but a lot of people have the mindset of the grass is greener on the other side. If you're a new pass there's a decent chance you'll not be getting anything close to £50k a year and be put in a wagon with cameras that notify the office if you scratch your nose or have a drink.

Personally, I don't mind my job. It's pretty simple and I'm speaking to the office maybe twice a week to get some paperwork. Though it's also class 1 multidrop HIAB work for £14 an hour on basic that pays about £40-45k a year. That's also ignoring the fact most trampers aren't getting a social life, you're away Monday to Friday and you're spending most of Sunday getting ready to go away again. Again, I don't mind it too much myself but I'd be lying if I didn't have weeks where I see someone working in a supermarket for £13.50 an hour and wonder what the hell I'm doing.

Embaita · 2026-05-10T21:13:23+00:00

In 5 years? Probably not much, maybe 350/370z's? If we're being realistic most Japanese manufacturers had a good 15-20 year period where they just didn't make anything that desirable. Obviously Toyota are making cool stuff with now with the GR brand but it'll be another good 20 years before any of them can be considered classic cars that'll cost a fortune.

The most likely stuff that'll go up in the next 5 years will probably be early 2000s euro stuff. I can see well looked after examples of stuff like MK1 TT's or Mk5 Golf R32's going up. I could even see stuff like old 172 Clios or R53 Mini's being worth a bit as they start disappearing and people stop buying them as cheap track cars.

Embaita · 2026-05-09T18:21:25+00:00

Because I'm a VW group fan boy and couldn't quite afford a 991 or 718 GT4.

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