So, last summer, I decided to sell the wee Boxster. I loved the wee car, & found it great to drive, but being a 2 seater normally meant that I had to either pick a passenger, or just leave it in the garage & take something else...
Ever since then, I had been trying to think of a modern-classic 4 seater that'd hold its value reasonably well, that we could all go for a drive in on sunny weekends for a bit of fun. I concluded that a MK1 Focus RS was that car. I talked it over with Mrs M, she gave the green light, but told me that she "didn't really get it".
I got chatting to a few old colleagues a while back and one told me to forget the Focus & to get an E46 M3. & It seemed a good suggestion! So, I started my search & found a well cared for Silver manual coupe & agreed a deal. But due to work commitments, the guy just gave me far too much time to see other things...
A few Saturday evenings back, me & Mrs M were having a glass of wine, I was browsing the classifieds & spotted a nice Estoril Cab for Sale in Reading. It was a fair bit more expensive than the Silver car, but seemed to have a few big jobs done, so I sent the guy a message. After a few texts back & forth, I sent an offer. He had a new 911 coming that weekend so counter-offered, we agreed a price & 25 minutes later, the Mrs had disappeared off into the office, had a one-way flight & a ferry home booked & told me I was off to London the next morning!! So, we packed the kids off to their grans for a sleepover & we got to sleep for an early start
So, the alarm went off at 4.30am & the road-trip began!!
Belfast City for 5.30 - headed for Heathrow
...& London shortly after 7.30am, ready to jump on a Bus to Reading!
So, an hour later, I had reached my destination and after a 2+ hour nightmare trying to persuade Danske Bank fraud team that I wasn't trying to send all my money to a stranger, I had myself an E46 M3 & I was on my way!
Straight to the Services for some Super, a bit of lunch & a quick pic to send home!
I have to admit, for the first 15 minutes of driving the car, I had pretty much concluded that I had made a mistake. No regret, but I had decided it was another case of Never meet your Heros. The car felt a bit awkward & clunky & not very nice around the outskirts of Reading.
But once I hit the better roads & the car had warmed up well, it all started to make sense!
With a 4.5hr drive ahead of me, in a car I didn't really know, had me a little nervous, but after 30 or so minutes, all was good! Seat adjusted, Radio on, Cruise control on and we were all set & headed for Holyhead
With the delay with the payment, I hadn't left myself much time for breaks, but still managed a quick stretch of the legs and a photo op somewhere around the Welsh border
4 and a bit hours later & we pulled up safely in the queue at Holyhead, headed for Dublin. By the time I arrived at the boat on Sunday evening, I was really over the moon with our purchase!!
Next stop, Dublin Port....
I arrived home safely in Banbridge just after 1am.
Quite a day, but what a car!!
I am about 2 weeks in now and there have been a few minor jobs along the way, which I will update over the next few days.
But enjoying every minute of it so far
Ever since then, I had been trying to think of a modern-classic 4 seater that'd hold its value reasonably well, that we could all go for a drive in on sunny weekends for a bit of fun. I concluded that a MK1 Focus RS was that car. I talked it over with Mrs M, she gave the green light, but told me that she "didn't really get it".
I got chatting to a few old colleagues a while back and one told me to forget the Focus & to get an E46 M3. & It seemed a good suggestion! So, I started my search & found a well cared for Silver manual coupe & agreed a deal. But due to work commitments, the guy just gave me far too much time to see other things...
A few Saturday evenings back, me & Mrs M were having a glass of wine, I was browsing the classifieds & spotted a nice Estoril Cab for Sale in Reading. It was a fair bit more expensive than the Silver car, but seemed to have a few big jobs done, so I sent the guy a message. After a few texts back & forth, I sent an offer. He had a new 911 coming that weekend so counter-offered, we agreed a price & 25 minutes later, the Mrs had disappeared off into the office, had a one-way flight & a ferry home booked & told me I was off to London the next morning!! So, we packed the kids off to their grans for a sleepover & we got to sleep for an early start
So, the alarm went off at 4.30am & the road-trip began!!
Belfast City for 5.30 - headed for Heathrow
...& London shortly after 7.30am, ready to jump on a Bus to Reading!
So, an hour later, I had reached my destination and after a 2+ hour nightmare trying to persuade Danske Bank fraud team that I wasn't trying to send all my money to a stranger, I had myself an E46 M3 & I was on my way!
Straight to the Services for some Super, a bit of lunch & a quick pic to send home!
I have to admit, for the first 15 minutes of driving the car, I had pretty much concluded that I had made a mistake. No regret, but I had decided it was another case of Never meet your Heros. The car felt a bit awkward & clunky & not very nice around the outskirts of Reading.
But once I hit the better roads & the car had warmed up well, it all started to make sense!
With a 4.5hr drive ahead of me, in a car I didn't really know, had me a little nervous, but after 30 or so minutes, all was good! Seat adjusted, Radio on, Cruise control on and we were all set & headed for Holyhead
With the delay with the payment, I hadn't left myself much time for breaks, but still managed a quick stretch of the legs and a photo op somewhere around the Welsh border
4 and a bit hours later & we pulled up safely in the queue at Holyhead, headed for Dublin. By the time I arrived at the boat on Sunday evening, I was really over the moon with our purchase!!
Next stop, Dublin Port....
I arrived home safely in Banbridge just after 1am.
Quite a day, but what a car!!
I am about 2 weeks in now and there have been a few minor jobs along the way, which I will update over the next few days.
But enjoying every minute of it so far
Last edited: