Saul

Looks like a bleddy nice day there. I haven't ridden mine for the best part of 10 days and am really missing it. Obviously the weather was a factor but I couldn't have got on the thing anyway as the gout is back with avengence. I am going to ride it on Monday no matter how many layers I have to put on.

No mad keen on mince pies. Will eat them though. Weirdly we were given a food hamper this week with these inside. Quite nice but they were free which puts them in pole position for me

Beautiful

Took the Mrs Christmas shopping today, she called me a 'Fucking Twat!' before we even left

The R100RS without question. Angry ornery sort of beast. Loads of torque, I forget the number, and a joy to travel on for hours on end. Also I have never ridden behind a better fairing. Old school technology but beautifully made and 100 % trustworthy. Thirsty though and the brakes were not close to modern standards. Also a rather weak alternator and a gearbox that took skill to use without protest. None of it deal breaking but stuff to consider. The K100RS had 20 bhp more but was much more clinical. A good bike much better than the R100 on paper but you don’t ride on paper. The R100 has so much character and I instantly regretted selling it, the K100 left me a bit cold really. Put it this way the R had a name the K didn’t.

Depends which Aero, now a 9000 Aero had a lot of potential. Or a 93 Viggen both with the 2.3 Turbo motor. Mind you the Viggen would try and kill you quite regularly. I know a Scottish chap who had a much modified 9000 Aero running 600 BHP, munching gearboxes was his hobby. You genuinely meet the best people through the Saab community. I was a Mod on UKSaabs for years and still think of the owner of that site as a friend.

BMW's are not what they were but then again that is true of most modern cars, they are past their pinnacle as you say. I think it is sad how the drift scene has destroyed most of the Compacts in the UK. Mind you having said that I have a mate with a new 2 series and that is a very nice car, how long it will stay that way is yet to be seen, but as it stands a very nice way to travel. But isn't that the plan keep it for 3 years then bin it for the next best thing . Cars and to some extent bikes are now like white goods, not really long terms prospects as they were.

I do know that It has been documented by many including yourself. My problem is, and it is my problem, I have travelled a lot of miles on my R100RS and K100RS, powerful bikes with good fairings if I were to travel long distance again I would want more of the same. I love my Himalayan for its ease of riding and frugal nature but I can't see myself doing hundreds of miles in a day on it. I know it can, as could a C90 cub, but I think I would find the low power frustrating pretty quickly on faster roads. Horses for courses. I think for commuting and rural bimbling around my Himalayan is perfect for me, for belting up to Scotland or across to Ireland I would want more.

Classic Saab 900 was a surprisingly good handling car, the 99 was better IMHO but you are right the E46 a much better more modern developed package in many ways. Thing is with those old Saabs you have to compare them to their contemporaries to appreciate how good they were. Back in the days when 100 BHP was a lot for a car the Saab 900 was head and shoulders above most mainstream offerings. Not just in power, the double wishbone front suspension was awesome. My C900 in that picture had 200,000 miles on it and was running 200 BHP without hiccup. The motor could have produced much more but the gearbox was the Achilles heel in that model. Again though a lot of modern cars blow both the E46 and c900 into the weeds in every measurable way but it's all about they way they feel. Whoops nearly let the geek out, its alright I have put him away again.

In my mind the two door T16 without the S body kit on 16" Super Aeros was the purest of them but I was a Saab geek. I do still miss my 99T two door and I could geek on about that for pages. But you are right once GM became involved things went down hill. Do have a soft spot for the 9000 which was not a GM inspired product although did get a GM V6.

Cool, I love my E46 318Ti also, right engine, right gearing, right balance, right car. Of course I may be bit biased. I bought it 3 years ago with just 60,000 miles, new cam chain as well for good measure. Can't find any decent photos of it right now but do have them some where. When I was Saab mad I used to do track days mostly at Castle Coombe and Thruxton. Kids came along and took the budget for those high jinx. The E83 is my wife's money pit.

Another stunning looking car. Not my thing but if I had continents to cross that would be a good choice. You can still get a tidy one here for £2000 but you also see nice ones for £20,000. I like the smaller nimble Beemers. E36/E46 Compact or even Z3.

Still allowed to tip here. I always look after the bin men, always good to keep them onside.

Don't see that many E39's now, you can still just about get a decent one for banger money but they are going up. Not Alpinas obs. Great Cars.

Picked my Girl up from College this morning, -7.5C in fecking Cornwall for feck sake.

I do like an E30, would love a 320 Touring. E30 and E34 arguably the best BMWs in terms of looks and quality. I can see you also have an emotional attachment to that one. I love my E46 Compact, wanted one for years but had to wait until they were cheap enough for my pocket. I can't imagine ever selling it as I had to wait to long to get it. I do like old BMW's cars and bikes. If I won the lottery I would have many.

Nice E30, don't know what sort of value they hold in Portugal but that is an expensive car in the UK. What motor in it?

Looks like a cruel cunt if he is mutilating animals for fun.

I know you don't need a BMW but I have done a lot of miles on them in the past, although a different generation to yours. To my mind it's the right choice for long trips, or it was back in the day for me, now I would look at a F700/800GS if I were to go the BMW route again and travel again. Something I can contemplate now my kids are older and have less need for me day to to day. Have to get a lot more miles under my belt before I would attempt to go on any adventures or long trips, a confidence thing. I know my Himalayan would do it as many have done before me, but it doesn't have the grunt to travel the way I would want to. Each to their own choices I suppose.

I really enjoyed all of your reports Pedro. You have a talent for writing and engaging the reader. I had thought long trips on BMW's were behind me but reading your reports had me dreaming of more. Thanks for sharing your feelings also, gave some real emotional colour and context to the trip. The photos were stunning.

Good Call

I am working, kids are all teenagers and just care about the money. I don't like christmas much anyway. Suppose I will get some socks and pants.. Woohoo!

Me too, years as a postie mean I hate winter and Christmas, whole time of year is a PIA.

Twat, Feeling better about it now, showered, smelling all phoo phoo and just had 20 mins of the Stranglers at VMax. Ready to take on the world