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I like it too. I wouldn't say this looks like a direct 8 series replacement, as surely that's more a limousine type car which pays more attention to wafting rear passengers along in space and comfort. This concept is due to get individual (i'm assuming just 2) sport seats in the back. Interestingly we didn't get any photos of the rear interior. At 200 inches long I'm not sure how that compares to the 6 series, but I really hope that there is more legroom than the coupe! I reckon BMW have presented their take on a Maserati Quattoroporte (with a price to match no doubt) and from what I can see it's impressive.

My greatest sympathies - this happend to me a few months ago and the feelings that I went through I wouldn't like to repeat in a hurry. My car, which was parked outside the house, was hit by a car which failed to stop. Luckily I got the number of the car that hit us, called the Police immediately, and reported the incident. We called the insurance company the next day and visited the Police station with all our details to report it officially, fill out forms etc. Amazingly the Police had already found the car abandoned a few miles away, and moved it into the pound. The next day a shamefaced youngster came in to ask for it back, as it was his dad's car. He was insured and was allowed to drive it, and also admitted hitting my car and failing to stop. So in the end, it was a simple insurance job for £5k's damage with no cost to me or No claims Discount etc. I do count myself lucky that the car wasn't already stolen, the driver was found quickly etc, as that was always a fear in the back of our mind. My advice is to get on to the Police ASAP and push them to track the offending vehicle, and owner, so it can be proved that the van was the one involved in the crash, so that any claim can be pinned against them.

hmmm, we've had kiddie seats in the back of my 3 series coupe without a great deal of hassle, although not full time. Because the doors are so wide and the seats can go well forward, you actually have a good "angle of attack" to step in and place the child/seat where you need to without much trouble.

I've got mine to do for August 4 this year. Advice I've been given is pretty much the same as above, so just relax in knowing your best man has to try and outdo the Father of the bride and you just have to cover the housekeeping: "thankyous" & "don't you look lovelies"! Some lessons I've learned from my own observations: 1. Don't call your new wife by your ex-wife's name (ouch!) 2. Don't be too drunk and always keep it short - you can only get away with a couple of bad jokes & ramblings before people start getting bored/embarrassed 3. Don't let your new wife speak on a whim, especially if she's had too many champagnes and it's unrehearsed, it can also be very embarrassing 4. Check with the Father of the Bride (and Best Man) that you don't thank/say the same things, or tell the same funny story about how you proposed, or announced engagement etc 5. Don't make any jokes about the new bride (although I am sorely tempted) as it may go down like a lead balloon with her friends/relatives, and have the same effect as (1.) above!

New S Class, or 7 Series for me - in black/navy. Silver makes these cars look too much like taxis/airport carsl IMO.

Would help if you could spell the place you want to go to correctly! :-) would this help: http://www.kohtao.com/

I like it too. But wonder - like the new Mini, how big this version is in the flesh to fit in saftey features and useable space - especially as it is a 4-seater. Is the 1.4 in band G too?!

yeah - I love the brrrm brrrrrrrmmm brrrrrmmmrmrmrmmm of the petrol engine. But can you just imagine the WHHHOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSH!

I like it. It's well "Sci-Fi". Like the Honda Civic, it looks like the sort of cars people thought we would be driving 30 years ago. If you can imagine these run of the mill transporters on the road with some of the futuristic sports designs (r8 etc), then we really will be in tomorrow's world. They just have to sort out the flying/hovering bit, and the fusion engine and we'll be sorted!

Yes it is true, what do you think we're all doing on here!

perhaps they run out of pre-recorded features due to Hammond's accident

White lines just a guide?? Did you not hear about the retarded traffic wardens who ticketed a whole station car park on Pay & Displays during the recent snowy day? The cars were all parked by the sensible commuters in rows but the snow was obscuring the parking bays. Guess what, the snow all melts during the day, and the traffic wardens pounce and ticket every car that isn't parked in a marked bay - basically all of them. So beware Robin - you don't have snow as an excuse! And I'd disagree slightly about London driving - all the traffic has moved onto the North & South Circulars, which have become frankly undriveable nowadays. Fridays & Mondays are slightly better because of all the diligent senior managers who can afford to drive and park in town, decide to "work from home" on these days.

Yes indeed - being upfront and clear is something I want to be doing here - after all, I will still need to work with these people in the future, whatever happens! Yet I don't want to reveal all my cards, quite yet. Being managed by one of my current colleagues is not something I would relish, so if that was to happen, I would hate to have ruined a chance to move to another area if I made a choice too early. I think an informal chat with the right people will help, so I'll have a think on my approach over the weekend. As for which job gives me the best gut feeling, they both do - hence my indecision. They're both challenging, but in different ways. I think the big decider will be how they affect my long term prospects, so I need to look at where each job could take me. All in all, not an entirely bad position to be in!

Just thought I'd run this past the TSN advisory panel: I have been looking for a new challenge at work (I'm a Project Manager in IT operations) and a great opportunity as an Account Manager has come up in another division in my company. I have had an initial chat with the potential new boss and as a result I've got a more formal interview with the big boss next week. I've been told that I'm the only person who has expressed an interest, so I'm assuming if am suitable and interview well, I've got a very good chance of getting the job. Problem is, in the meantime, my current boss has resigned and will be moving from my department at the end of this month. Part of the reason I was looking elsewhere was because I couldn't see any progression in my current department - and now this opportunity presents itself! I am assuming that I would be on the shortlist of candidates to fill this role, as the management have made it clear they want to promote from inside the team so there's also a good chance I could get this one. In this case it would be a managing a team, which is also something I want to get back to. SO - both grades are the same, and both are different, new challenges. Should I stick to the area I know - but with a lot more responsibility, or should I push for something I have wanted to do for a long time, with potentially in the long term more financial reward but is an unknown quantity? I'm going to go for both jobs, but I also don't want to waste people's time by messing them around and playing each other off. Any ideas?

wot he said

It's a hell of a lot more than just handbags. Adding Aston Martin to the stable of Uber-bling Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) makes a lot of sense to the brand image of the company, and is an interesting new direction, that should do neither party any harm. LVMH are a super-brand conglomerate with some highly respected luxury & aspirational brands. Beyond the company name, you have Tag Hueuer, De Beers, Krug, Dior etc etc. After Diageo, this second on my top 10 "companies I would die to work for". It might make it to number 1 now!

Sounds like some kind of car p0rno story! With all the high performance antics, and I'm particularly glad I wasn't driving around the M42 J4 area last night...

Cheers DHA - been on the phone for the last 20 mins to Easyjet waiting to get through, so I though TSN Travel Services may be quicker So I've just got through. The guy on the phone says as all EasyJet flights are treated as separate, so I will have to collect my luggage, clear customs, check back in again, go through security and catch my connecting flight. A bit nonsensical, but there you go. It's not ideal, especially if my original flight decides to be late and I'll end up be running around Gatwick like a loon. I would be better off squeezing everything into my hand luggage as I can check in online, stay airside and so this won't be a problem.

I've got a bit of complicated travelling to do in May, as there's no cheap, quick, direct way to get from Split in Croatia to Pisa in Italy. Yet For £70 including taxes I can fly all the way back to Gatwick, then catch a flight to Pisa. As long as the first flight is not delayed it's doable in about 7 hours. (as opposed to ferry & train in about 15-20 hours) Thing is, I don't really want to have to waste time coming back through Customs & Security in Gatwick, check in with EasyJet and then go back through Security/Customs all over again to catch the next flight. Do I have to do this? I will probably have to check luggage in the hold, so I can't check-in online which would mean I could just turn up at the departure gate. Any ideas?

Privilege has organised a Vectra for me while the 3 series is in the bodyshop. It's brand new but everything seems to rattle already. I'll be seriously fed up if it's for 9.5 weeks! However, what will make that better is the hope that the insurance company of the twonk who ran into my parked car is given such a massive bill (added to the not stopping charge, and the potential wasting police time charge)that he'll never be able to afford to drive again.

My BMW coupe does it. But it can't seal very well any more as you get some bad wind noise from the driver's window on the motorway. BMW wouldn't replace under warranty either.

If I could find one, it woudl have to be a Ford Falcon XB. A GT if poss. http://www.aussiecoupes.com/xa-xb-xc.html Or, failing that a Hilux.

See, BMW drivers aren't all bad.

Nice one Lupobabe - I hope you don't have too many trips to the petrol station, "enjoying" the first few weeks of ownership!

I quite like the sound of it, it must be especially useful for older people whose bowel activity slow down in later years. Enemas have been popular for years, my Grandad used to love them, but then he was a perverted old fecker. My issue is (apart from ingesting all that caffeine the wrong way - would make me go completely loopy) along the same lines like cleaning the fish filter in the pond with tap water - is it a good idea to flush out all the "good bacteria" in your gut with all the gunk that gets stuck up there? I don't believe the thing about pips & seeds, they should flush themselves out eventually (hence the tomatoes growing at the sewage works). BTW Snopes has an interesting view on it all - John Wayne in particular: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fecalcolon.asp