[Big Bird]

Hey,

Just popped in to say hello and have a look around the forum. Not been on here for ages, but it's good to see the forum is still growing and developing- well done Ed (i'm guessing you're still in charge?!!!!).

Rab pointed me back on here to see the thread on my old ATR at the ring- nice to see the car still looking good, although Terry, whats the ICE install all about??!!!

Update on me- for those that remember what my job is- i managed to get promoted and now work full time at the college teaching advanced driving, security defensive/offensive stuff to military/royal drivers, pretty much if it involves driving at advanced level, i have to teach it. Spent some time with foreign companies and colleges bringing them up to dated with our way of driving, so it's all good. Plus, no shifts- 8-4 Mon-Fri!!

On the car front, i had my impreza at 370bhp and had two great years with it. The fuel wasn't anywhere near as bad as i had feared and running costs were surprisingly good. That said, i got a bit fed up with the basic interior,rough ride on local journeys etc and i fancied a change; plus, the bigger commute wasn't always fun!! So, at the start of the year, i managed to flog it for £13k, which i was well pleased with, bearing in mind it cost me 16k.

I took a completely different direction and bought an Audi S4 Avant- the 2009 model with a 3.0 supercharged engine and 330 bhp. It also had full leather, sat nav, RS4 alloys, bang an olufson sounds, and pretty much all the toys you could want. This is pretty much the perfect car for me as it allows a good, comfy commute but can still excite on back roads. It's not too much slower than the scooby either, but a far better drive.

I'm also looking to buy something more hardcore for weekends and the odd track day, so have been looking at Lotus Exige S2's etc, but not made my mind up yet.

So, thats me. I've been on numerous subaru and audi forums since moving on from the ATR and have never found a forum to match this one- we had some pretty good banter, some excllent days out up here in Scotland and some good local meets. I made some good friends on here, some of which i'm still in contact with, and i'm glad to see that although the numbers have increased, the banter still seems good.

Before you ask, yes, i do occasionaly miss the ATR, but considering the money i got for it when i sold it, i have totally no regrets!! It was a great car, i had my fun and games with it, thrashed the backside out of it (usually chasing or being chased by Phil....) and it was time to move on. I think i timed it pretty spot on.

Col.

This post has been edited by Big Bird: 23 July 2010 - 10:50 AM

[stux]

Welcome back.

[Big Bird]

Ta.

Still can't believe how this place has grown- i remember finding the forum for the first time, must have been late 2004/early 2005, and finding it had 6 members!!! Didn't even join then as i thought "where can this forum go?!!" and joined some other forum instead!!!

How wrong was i......!

[stux]

I've read a lot of your old posts from years ago. It seems That you were one of the original members.

the forum is quite different now. Lots of the owners are a little younger now because of the selling price of accords and that it's one of the cheapest type r variants to insure. Some members here are as young as 19 or 20.

when I was 20, an ATR was merely a distant dream......

This post has been edited by stux2004: 23 July 2010 - 11:09 AM

[planet_page™]

Hi Colin nice to see you back and sounds like things have been good to you Work wise

Hope you and your family are well too.

[Big Bird]

planet_page™, on 23 July 2010 - 11:04 AM, said:

Hi Colin nice to see you back and sounds like things have been good to you Work wise

Hope you and your family are well too.

Hey Lee,

Yes mate, family all good thanks. Wife still has monthly scans and checks, but thats just a part of life now. After all we went through, it's just good to be "normal"..!!

Work has been good- a lot of hard work, exams and interviews, but worth it in the end. It's still more of a hobby than a job though.

And yourself? Still got the maddest ATR in the country???

[planet_page™]

Yeah still got the asBoBaRge although I have a severe hankering after a 993 C2 and missed out on one with all the necessary upgrades I'd want a few weeks back

Will more than likely just run the ATR for a few more years though, only goes from London to Newbury and back now

[Big Bird]

planet_page™, on 23 July 2010 - 11:17 AM, said:

:although I have a severe hankering after a 993 C2

MMMMM, very nice. If i could find a decent porker for reasonable money, i'd be sorely tempted too. Good to hear the barge is still going strong though- i think i've still got the vid you made up when you got the exhuast fitted for the first time?!!!!!!! Infact, 2 vids- one from the rear with you after a motorbike, IIRC???

[vtecdirect]

Excellent to see you on here again Col, glad to hear things all settled down with your wife too, oh and what a jammy git landing a cushy day job teaching people to try and catch me lol.
Oh just realised you might not know its irishteacher, as i now own and run vtecdirect, cant remember if i told you. I have had few health issues myself, had a small stroke a few weeks back, but am recovering well.

This post has been edited by vtecdirect: 23 July 2010 - 11:37 AM

[Big Bird]

vtecdirect, on 23 July 2010 - 11:36 AM, said:

Excellent to see you on here again Col, glad to hear things all settled down with your wife too, oh and what a jammy git landing a cushy day job teaching people to try and catch me lol.
Oh just realised you might not know its irishteacher, as i now own and run vtecdirect, cant remember if i told you. I have had few health issues myself, had a small stroke a few weeks back, but am recovering well.

Bloody hell mate, thats not so good! All those malts finally caught up with you??!!!!!! Joking aside, i hope you make a full and quick recovery.

The last time we spoke, you had mentioned the possibility of VTECdirect taking off and Phil has been keeping me up to date since then. I'm sure it's the success you hoped it would be and i'm glad to hear it all worked out for you.

My job's been cushy for almost 11 years now and i'll know it'll end one day, so i make the miost of it when i can!!!!

On a side issue- anyone - i am having difficulty viewing some posts- the screen seems to almost tilt the content on it's side? Anyone else experienced this?

[TJ]

Lo Col, good to hear you and the family are well mate, congrats on the work front aswell, sounds ace

[planet_page™]

Big Bird, on 23 July 2010 - 11:42 AM, said:

On a side issue- anyone - i am having difficulty viewing some posts- the screen seems to almost tilt the content on it's side? Anyone else experienced this?

Could be the IE6(or7) issue I'm sure there's a post around here somewhere detailing what's required to get rid of it

Aye those vids are of mine... shh don't tell the Rozzers

[Le8]

Hey Colin.

Nice hearing from you again.

[Big Bird]

planet_page™, on 23 July 2010 - 12:30 PM, said:

Big Bird, on 23 July 2010 - 11:42 AM, said:

On a side issue- anyone - i am having difficulty viewing some posts- the screen seems to almost tilt the content on it's side? Anyone else experienced this?

Could be the IE6(or7) issue I'm sure there's a post around here somewhere detailing what's required to get rid of it

Sorted! Downloaded IE8 and fixed. Thanks.

Le8, on 23 July 2010 - 01:21 PM, said:

Hey Colin.

Nice hearing from you again.

TJ, on 23 July 2010 - 11:45 AM, said:

Lo Col, good to hear you and the family are well mate, congrats on the work front aswell, sounds ace

Hey Teej, is that a new car you have there?

[Paul™]

planet_page™, on 23 July 2010 - 11:04 AM, said:

Hi Colin nice to see you back and sounds like things have been good to you Work wise

Hope you and your family are well too.

+1 Lee

Hope your doing well Col

So you got rid of the PPP I take it

[Big Bird]

Paul™, on 23 July 2010 - 01:58 PM, said:

Hope your doing well Col

So you got rid of the PPP I take it

Vey well Paul, thanks. And yourself?

Yes, after two fun filled years, three sets of bridgestones, many, many tanks of V-Power, numerous laps of Knockhill and some great drives up North, i decided to sell up and move on before getting bored (in much the same way i did with the ATR). The only things that annoyed me was the way you couldn't really commute in it (!) and the crappy interior. That said, loved the car and the power and grip never failed to amaze me.

Onward and upward with Audi ownership for the time being though........

[Paul™]

Big Bird, on 23 July 2010 - 02:04 PM, said:

Paul™, on 23 July 2010 - 01:58 PM, said:

Hope your doing well Col

So you got rid of the PPP I take it

Vey well Paul, thanks. And yourself?

Yes, after two fun filled years, three sets of bridgestones, many, many tanks of V-Power, numerous laps of Knockhill and some great drives up North, i decided to sell up and move on before getting bored (in much the same way i did with the ATR). The only things that annoyed me was the way you couldn't really commute in it (!) and the crappy interior. That said, loved the car and the power and grip never failed to amaze me.

Onward and upward with Audi ownership for the time being though........

Yes im good thanks Col

Im pleased you enjoyed the PPP, I enjoyed my old one very much. I knew you'd like it

I have an M5 at the moment, I quite like it too

Pleased your doing well anyway, I often wondered when you'd be popping back on

[ADC74]

Am I right in thinking that you owned a 'post red' fitted with remus b/boxes ?

[toyracer69]

Big Birds back.

Great to hear that you, your family and your life in general is all good.

[Little Legs]

Hi Big boy welcome back