cainchapman

Before I opened I hoped you'd gone to Hooters Simon! Well done. SR71, best plane ever.

Do I put my money into your Nigerian account?

And that's why they pay you the BIG bucks Grant. It is a BMW motorbike.

Just checked mine on the way back from the airport today. This tank is getting me 11.2l/100km around Auckland. That's the 540LE. Onto my 7th tank of fuel in the VW, 5331km, so I'm averaging 888km per tank. I got 920km on the last one. The drive to Mystery Creek and back I averaged 5.2l/100km.

And I thought there were some childish people here. My car won't break traction with the ASC+T on in snow either and it's got more power and fewer wheels driving. It's diabolical in the snow actually.

Use you existing muffler, cut it open and get someone to rebuild it internally. Get it welded up nicely. Then you won't get nailed by the new Audible exhaust laws.

It looks nice. I'd love to have a look for you Paul, but I'm not heading down before the auction finishes. I'd get it to DCH or Christchurch BMW for a more knowledgeable opinion. A well maintained car can overcome mileage.

And to put it in perspective. It is the first time since Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 that a driver from a team other than McLaren, Ferrari or Renault leads the points standings. Quite a moment.

And there you have it. Robert Kubica wins his first GP and is ahead of Kimi and Lewis. Well done!

Nice cars and welcome.

Gee Doug, you didn't look over 21 the last time I saw you. How time flies... Happy Birthday!

That'd be Prisoner of Mother England.

You can have mine too for a realistic price.

She doesn't have both. Only the pink one.

The wife's a Pom, born in Stoke. Lived here since she was 5. But still won't relinquish her passport.

No, I noticed that too Grant. 1856 now.

No they don't. The problem is that mine is a special build and so they order me normal parts for the 540, when it has the M suspension and other bits and pieces. So, I have to wait another 10 days for them to airfreight the correct stuff in from Germany.

Super. He should be thankful, that it wasn't a US pilot. They'd have lit that baby up!

http://www.bimmersport.co.nz/forums/index....050&hl=540* Post 6 in there shows what a genuine one looks like without the throwing star cover and centre insert. I'm glad all those stonechips are gone!

Sage advice Simon. I agree with the higher education. Don't go and do a qualification for the sake of it. "Do a job you love, never work a day in your life". We didn't stay too long. Thanks for coming out (although it appears Doug is already out). Great to put faces to Greg and yourself. Always humbling to sit next to the MASSIVE Doug. Good to see a bit of Ponsonby infiltrating the Hawkes Bay lifestyle.

Registered here. Nick owned Ihug. Lovely car. Slower and more expensive than the standard one. I don't know why Alpina did that. Very nice car though. There are pics of Gus the pimp-meister in it.

Genuine Turbine II's (Throwing Stars) are about $800 each from McMillans currently. The replica versions spin the wrong way on one side of your car.

Not to my knowledge. Only been there 6 months, and half of that somewhere other than Auckland. Some pretty interesting careers you all have.

Hi Paul, as I wasn't paying for the car, I never considered the Skoda. However, if I was coughing up the coin. Definitely. The DSG and diesel engine are great. The Skoda as a little less in the interior, but is still excellent value for money. Getting nearly 1000km per tank around town driving. Just got into a new XR6 here in Dunedin. Don't miss my Ford. Let's see how it goes through Clyde/Queenstown/Balfour and Invercargill over the next 2 days. Doug, I've probably lost your phone number. Send me a text 0274 824 713. I get in about 2pm on Wednesday and will be keen for a beer in the evening! Just waiting for the Southern road-trippers to arrive so I can have one down here.

I'm with Grant. I was actually interested in what people did. National Sales Manager for one of Tyco's divisions. Lucky enough to have a nice new Passat Variant. Although I spend equal amounts of time in a Hertz rental as I roam the countryside. My other transport is generally an Air New Zealand jet or turboprop. Sitting at Auckland airport now and looking forward to catching up with the Dunedin crew this afternoon and the Hawkes Bay ones on Wednesday night. Ciao, Cain