I did think about getting a new car having received a lump sum settlement on a wrongly sold pension, I ummed and ahhed about what to get and then I thought about how much I would lose in depreciation after 3 years which I reckon will be between £10 to £15,000…So, I decided to treat my self to a second hand Dream Car…an Aston Martin Rapide. It’s a 2010 model which had been re-imported from Japan and only had 17,000 Miles on the Clock, it is Sheer Luxury, a 4 Door Grand Tourer with high quality Cream Leather Seats and Door panels, Alcantara Suede headlining, Ash Wood Centre Console with Electric Everything and Heated and Cooled Seats front and rear and DVD Screens in the Back of the Front Seats. And the Top of the Range Hand Built Engine a 6 Litre V12. I believe that it was priced at a level that I should be able to get the same back, with some saying I my get even more than I paid even in 3 years time. So, yes it will be expensive to run but it brings a smile to my face even just looking out of the window at it.
Sounds very nice RCS and it must be a peach to drive. I look forward to hearing your appraisal.
A bit too high spec for me though, and not something I would be happy leaving in a desolate layby while I do a walk.
Enjoy.
The most beautiful car in the world, now it has its new soft top. 
It’s a dream to drive and so comfortable, I’ve stuck a Solar GPS Speedo on top of the dash to ensure I know the exact speed I’m going, if I glance at the actual speedo the position that I’m used to seeing 30mph is 80 mph on the Rapide because the speedo goes up to 220 mph. It’s so smooth that it is easy to creep up way past 70mph if you don’t keep an eye on the speedo, I’ll have to get used to putting it on Cruise Control and limit that to 70mph, after all I don’t want speeding tickets.
It shows the ultimate, almost foolish, optimism that so many British drivers drive open topped cars. I see about two a year here.
A friend of mine in the late 60s/early 1970s had a frog eyed Sprite and later a Triumph Spitfire and if you liked arriving somewhere looking like Michael Foot they were definitely the car to own.
That is why most open tops are owned by “Slapheads”
Well when I watch old Cary Grant films with a bird by his side, and they are driving an open topped car, their hair hardly ever gets blown about at all…
I have a 2nd Car that is a Convertible, but it is a steel roof convertible. It’s a 2010 Vauxhall Astra (Mk5) Twin Top, roof up it looks like a coupe, roof down it’s a 4 seater Convertible, although the rear seats are more suited to shorter youngsters. Best of both worlds as long as you keep the rubber seals well conditioned which stops any leaks.
An all year convertible is of no use to anyone, a special car has to be good in one area, and useless in all others, just ask Bruce.
I am not being critical of people with open cars they just demonstrate the indefatigable British optimism that they buy them and they are so common on the road there when they live with such an unfortunate climate.
My two cousins showed that optimism in spades with their enthusiastic embrace of Morgan Plus 4s (I think that is right) one even going so far as to name his son Morgan. He later bought a convertible F type Jag (again I think that is right).
I don’t think the latter even has a driving licence now even though he is a couple of years younger than me. Perhaps open cars aren’t good for your health? 
Hi
I have never , ever, purchased a brand new car for myslf.
I have had a few brand new ones from work.
I don’t like them, the depreciation is too high and they all have had niggly little faults.
I like them ready and raring to go.
I also dislike the snobbishness around them.
Some people are so shallow.
Comments like, yes, this is the car I would have liked, but in my position work insisted that I had the next model up.
It a so so tempting to say they don’t know what is under thebonnet or how fast it can corner and stop.
TBH, I would never have a soft top as a main car, a van is more useful.
My last three cars I bought new. The Starwagon I kept for 17 years, the Colt only 5, my current car, a Dmax, is 11 years old. Think the Colt was the only half decent car that I kept less than a decade ( excluding a few old bangers that I paid peanuts for). I regret selling it in some ways it still ranks as my favourite.
That’s why I mentioned my Vauxhall Astra Twin Top, it’s Not a Soft Top / Rag Top it has a steel roof but is still able to covert to an open top, which I suspect was the reason for the name Twin Top, a car truly suitable for wet or dry, warm or cold weather.
I had an Astra H (mk5) hatchback that I bought as a stop gap before buying a newer car, I ended up running it for 10 years with annual servicing done by myself and little else needed doing. I only changed it when I knew it needed welding done for it’s next mot and I didn’t have welding equipment.
The passion for cars and girls never really leaves you, there is a song about it, lets see if we get a black screen.
I must admit that my fondness of cars only lies in it’s ability to get me to the Tesco on a rainy day, or the occasional visit to the coast. My only concern is the reliability and the need to shift when required.
Foxy, I have three options for everyday travel, if one or more lets me down but, I love my Beamer and because of other commitments, it hasn’t been driven for three years, that is the thing, don’t need Car SOS to recommission it, just need more time to drive it 
Don’t misunderstand me Spitty, I have no problem with petrol heads who appreciate fast posh cars…I’m just not one of them. I like driving (anything) but why buy caviar when I love fish and chips.
Never been excited by cars.Motor bikes , now they are different.Wouldn’t be able to get on one without a lot of difficulty these days though 