Dave.Wilson

I think you've done the right thing... as a pet owner myself I think it could be the kiss of death having a picture of your pet on your card, as they are usually valid for 5 years.... same with a relationship really... so it's a safer bet to have a car picture on there! ;-)

I don't have a Barclays account.... but if I did, I would do exactly the same thing as you... that's cool!!

Hi all, Well, as some of you know I was (and have been for a while) in the process of buying a MK3 Escort Cabriolet, but every time I went to collect and check it out there was a fault... which is sort of understandable as the car had been sitting un-used for 8 years before being bought up, tidied up and put through an MOT before I bought it. Well, after finally getting it working the car AGAIN developed a fault last week while I was driving over to collect it... it runs (which is better than it was) but it's running lumpy and keeps stalling... the guy selling it (who is also a very good friend before anyone thinks I'm being knocked) was trying to fix it, taking parts off his show-condition XR3i to see which one got it running... but after a couple more hours of him getting covered in grease, oil and a bit of petrol while I watched bemused, it still wouldn't have it. Although disappointing that it's not running when we are having the biggest and longest heat wave this country has seen in a while, I didn't lose hope, or faith... so rather than shopping on eBay for a replacement (which I couldn't find with mileage as low as 49k with history to prove) I'm buying the car anyway, at a discounted rate, with a 'lumpy' engine. I've lined up a mate who has a garage with so many tools that it would make Edd China jealous... he's willing to come over, help me strip the whole thing part by part and put it all back together again to find out exactly what is wrong (although he thinks he knows and it sounds simple) and all I have to do is supply him with beer while he's there, bargain!! Although I was looking forward to uploading photos of me in my MK3 cabby in brilliant sunshine, at least I will learn more about the car and the engine (as I'm more of a driver than a mechanic) and it also gives me some time to take panels off and get them touched up while we try to repair the engine.... worst case scenario it will be ripped out and a Zetec turbo put in its place... but the car is completely original and I really want to keep it that way. So, keep your fingers crossed for me fellow Cabby fans... and I will keep you all in the loop on its progress!