Hey Gang,

Sad news - I've just posted my beloved 8 on carsales.

As much as I hated to do it, it just had to be done.  It's just not practical to cart my tool-box around in a boot that size and my back screams in protest as I squeeze the box through the opening.  Besides that I need to get a bigger tool-box and when I do it just won't fit!!

I'm going to replace the 8 with a hatchback - much easier on the back methinks.  Shortlist is Mazda3 MPS, Golf GTI and Focus XR5 turbo.

Focus isn't a bad drive, but is out of contention as cruise control is not fitted nor available as an option - bizarre....

MPS, as we all know, is a snarling straight-line ballistic missile and torque-steer could certainly catch out the unaware!!  I'm used to it from punting our modded classic mini around so not an issue.

GTI is still an unknown.  The one in the showroom was sold yesterday morning just prior to my arrival. I did offer to run it in for the new owner but they wouldn't be in it!  They'll call me later in the week when they've got another one in.

And on the great news front....  Eldest son and his better half provided Sue and I with a gorgeous little grandson 2 weeks ago.  We're all over the moon!

So there we have it:  End-of-the-8-era and Start-of-the-grandad-era.

Cyazall later.....

Thanx Andrew, Kall, Taka.  At this rate I'll still have the car for a while anyway.  Only 2 calls thus far - one from Geelong complained about the price - another from Melb complained about the location and wanted me to meet half-way somewhere!!!  Geez Sue and I have travelled for hours at a time in recent years to check out cars for our sons.  As far as I'm concerned if someone really wants the car they'll travel for it......

BTW I only bothered subjecting the car to one trade-in valuation (from Mazda incidentally).  What a joke.  After telling me what a magnificent car it was, they proceeded to offer me $33,000!!!!!  I bit my tongue and, refraining from colourful language, told them that was no more than a bloody insult......

Mazda's reduction of the new-car price this year certainly didn't do us any favours.  Oh and incidentally my insurance policy is still valued at $53,000!  They must've missed the price drop.

Anyway gotta go - got some painting to do.

Thanx Kall.

The Geelong bloke came with one of his mates to check it out the other nite.  What's the first thing they do?  Start running hands all over the paintwork.

I politely had to tell them that you-touch-the-car-you-face-the-noose!!!  It's always peed me off this magnetic attraction of shiny paint to human hands.....

Anyway he wants black and loves it, but is still shying away from the price.  Am I being unrealistic here?  The on-road price of a same-spec newey is about 15 grand more.

Also sorry to see you go Rod. I enjoyed meeting you down at PI last year.

Good luck with the new wheels, whatever they may be.

Thanx Dave.  We may cross paths again anyway - no sale as yet and I'm not in that much of a rush.

Words of wisdom from Sue, "It's not a bad car to be stuck with...."

BTW the reason the 8 has to go is that Sue is too scared to drive it!  If she'd drive it I could use her hatch for the load carting and there'd be no issue.  Don't tell her I told you this - she feels bad enough as it is.

Hi Kall.  Little grandson's doing fine and growing rapidly.  He's absolutely gorgeous (good genes - what more can I say....)

His uncles (my other 2 sons) are smitten and dote over him like he's their own, so he's pretty much got 3 dads!!!

On the 8 front no sale yet and bugger-all calls.  The last call was a few weeks ago and the guy was coming down for a look on the Sunday.  I spent the better part of the Saturday detailing the car but he never fronted!

Sue keeps trying to convince herself to start driving it so we'll see what happens.  Might not have to cart the tools around for a while soon anyway.  Looks like I might be going on a construction job in WA running through to March/April next year, 4-weeks-on-1-week-off-fly-in-fly-out.  The thought of being up in "cyclone country" during the summer season is a bit daunting tho.......

The 8 will sit in the shed and gather dust for 4 weeks out of 5 (so will the mini for that matter)!!!  Who knows Sue might "familiarise" herself with it while I'm away......

I can see it now:-

Girls let's have some fun fanging around a nice big shopping complex carpark!

Oh rats too many cars - guess we'll just have to go and fang some shopping trolleys around instead........

Sorry Kall - couldn't resist!