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Mini Cooper convertible
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Need a car for the winter months, (using a motorbike at the moment)
Fancy something a little different and fun, never owned an open top car and always fancied it.
Though I acknowledge that convertibles arnt optimal.
Looked at a fair few different cars and the idea of a mini is growing on me. Cheap fast fun and with 4 seats ish.
What are people's thoughts and experiences of mini's I'd love to hear. |
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I've worked on a few of them and in all honesty BMW are now just living on the badge. Build quality and design in my opinion anyway has just fell off a cliff but no dawt many will disagree with venom but I look at a car more from a macanics view not for driving if that makes sense |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Need a car for the winter months, (using a motorbike at the moment)
Fancy something a little different and fun, never owned an open top car and always fancied it.
Though I acknowledge that convertibles arnt optimal.
Looked at a fair few different cars and the idea of a mini is growing on me. Cheap fast fun and with 4 seats ish.
What are people's thoughts and experiences of mini's I'd love to hear. "
Are you a hairdresser .....busy time of year coming up ....not much time for driving...  |
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"Need a car for the winter months, (using a motorbike at the moment)
Fancy something a little different and fun, never owned an open top car and always fancied it.
Though I acknowledge that convertibles arnt optimal.
Looked at a fair few different cars and the idea of a mini is growing on me. Cheap fast fun and with 4 seats ish.
What are people's thoughts and experiences of mini's I'd love to hear.
Are you a hairdresser .....busy time of year coming up ....not much time for driving... "
 soxy you are a twat |
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"Need a car for the winter months, (using a motorbike at the moment)
Fancy something a little different and fun, never owned an open top car and always fancied it.
Though I acknowledge that convertibles arnt optimal.
Looked at a fair few different cars and the idea of a mini is growing on me. Cheap fast fun and with 4 seats ish.
What are people's thoughts and experiences of mini's I'd love to hear.
Are you a hairdresser .....busy time of year coming up ....not much time for driving... "
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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago
carrbrook stalybridge |
buy a fiat500 abarth a lot more fun to drive nippy damn fast handles well good brakes proper successer to the original mini cooper a lot better then that plastic hair dressers car masqurading as acooper |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you particularly want something for winter, and will be back on the bike once the sun returns a convertible would be a terrible choice surely? "
Maybe but It's not like there will be a summer ban to me driving a car.
I had a car this summer it's just that it was a boring Ford Focus. It was leased and I didn't renew the lease as I only drove it once a week.
Obviously in the winter months I'll be using it more than that, also in the summer if I want to go places with family and friends I wouldn't go on the bike, and wind on the hair driving would be lovely. |
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"Buy a Toyota one of the best cars around. ..I have a celica they don't make them anymore but bomb proof"
Which 1 have you got. I love the old 1s and the supras when they was 2 different cars the celica and supra I mean |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Need a car for the winter months, (using a motorbike at the moment)
Fancy something a little different and fun, never owned an open top car and always fancied it.
Though I acknowledge that convertibles arnt optimal.
Looked at a fair few different cars and the idea of a mini is growing on me. Cheap fast fun and with 4 seats ish.
What are people's thoughts and experiences of mini's I'd love to hear.
Are you a hairdresser .....busy time of year coming up ....not much time for driving...
soxy you are a twat "
Wot----wot----wot...... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Cooper is a better ride than the cooper s.
Cooper s, some parts different and harder to get hold of.
Love the speed these things go.
Luck of the draw really I guess. Same with any car |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Just bought my wife a 2016/17 john cooper works convertible with every option going...cost a fortune but what a car...moves and drives awesome..and we still don't know what all the buttons do....haha |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I know nothing about cars, but i do know my partner bought a landrover for the winter and the convertable is for summer. Thats all i know"
I can't really justify a land rover a convertible and a motorbike |
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"If you particularly want something for winter, and will be back on the bike once the sun returns a convertible would be a terrible choice surely?
Maybe but It's not like there will be a summer ban to me driving a car.
I had a car this summer it's just that it was a boring Ford Focus. It was leased and I didn't renew the lease as I only drove it once a week.
Obviously in the winter months I'll be using it more than that, also in the summer if I want to go places with family and friends I wouldn't go on the bike, and wind on the hair driving would be lovely. "
A focus being boring is simply down to which model. The ST on the years your talking are fantastic cars and you can pick them up at a good price |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know nothing about cars, but i do know my partner bought a landrover for the winter and the convertable is for summer. Thats all i know
I can't really justify a land rover a convertible and a motorbike "
I can't justify why I need so many pairs of shoes either.... so I don't try |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Hang on your a manc do you really think a pram top is the best of ideas. Your going to get ripped to peaces. In fact I'm not sure which will get ripped up quicker you or the hood"
I never said it was the best of ideas, I said I wanted one.
I'm not sure what you mean ripped to pieces. Do you mean as in getting the piss taken out of me. In which case I'm not really arsed about that.
Or do you mean vandalised, in which case any car is easy to damage. And as for being broken into, who is going to be arsed with cutting thru the roof when putting a window thru is easier, like on any other car. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you particularly want something for winter, and will be back on the bike once the sun returns a convertible would be a terrible choice surely?
Maybe but It's not like there will be a summer ban to me driving a car.
I had a car this summer it's just that it was a boring Ford Focus. It was leased and I didn't renew the lease as I only drove it once a week.
Obviously in the winter months I'll be using it more than that, also in the summer if I want to go places with family and friends I wouldn't go on the bike, and wind on the hair driving would be lovely.
A focus being boring is simply down to which model. The ST on the years your talking are fantastic cars and you can pick them up at a good price"
I agree, I'll probably own one of those next but I really fancy a rag top this time round. |
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"Hang on your a manc do you really think a pram top is the best of ideas. Your going to get ripped to peaces. In fact I'm not sure which will get ripped up quicker you or the hood
I never said it was the best of ideas, I said I wanted one.
I'm not sure what you mean ripped to pieces. Do you mean as in getting the piss taken out of me. In which case I'm not really arsed about that.
Or do you mean vandalised, in which case any car is easy to damage. And as for being broken into, who is going to be arsed with cutting thru the roof when putting a window thru is easier, like on any other car. "
Hang on I'm not having a dig. You asked for opinion and I gave mine that's all. I ment ripped in both senses and I was talking more along the lines of jealous fuck wits more than opertunist thieves |
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By *LUKCouple
over a year ago
Loughborough |
"If you particularly want something for winter, and will be back on the bike once the sun returns a convertible would be a terrible choice surely? "
My thoughts exactly.
My advice would be to not go for a rear wheel drive car if you're only going to be using it for the winter months.
If you are set on getting a convertible look at something like a TT quattro and a set of winter tyres. You'd get a 05/06 one with decent mileage for around 5k and when the ice/snow does come you have 4 wheel drive. |
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"I know nothing about cars, but i do know my partner bought a landrover for the winter and the convertable is for summer. Thats all i know
I can't really justify a land rover a convertible and a motorbike
I can't justify why I need so many pairs of shoes either.... so I don't try "
 |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Hang on your a manc do you really think a pram top is the best of ideas. Your going to get ripped to peaces. In fact I'm not sure which will get ripped up quicker you or the hood
I never said it was the best of ideas, I said I wanted one.
I'm not sure what you mean ripped to pieces. Do you mean as in getting the piss taken out of me. In which case I'm not really arsed about that.
Or do you mean vandalised, in which case any car is easy to damage. And as for being broken into, who is going to be arsed with cutting thru the roof when putting a window thru is easier, like on any other car.
Hang on I'm not having a dig. You asked for opinion and I gave mine that's all. I ment ripped in both senses and I was talking more along the lines of jealous fuck wits more than opertunist thieves "
I didn't think you were having a dig, just replying to your comment that's all
And I am interested in your opinion, especially if you have mechanical experience |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you particularly want something for winter, and will be back on the bike once the sun returns a convertible would be a terrible choice surely?
My thoughts exactly.
My advice would be to not go for a rear wheel drive car if you're only going to be using it for the winter months.
If you are set on getting a convertible look at something like a TT quattro and a set of winter tyres. You'd get a 05/06 one with decent mileage for around 5k and when the ice/snow does come you have 4 wheel drive."
Well the mini is front wheel drive, also I live in city centre manchester so might get away with it
I do like the Audi tho. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I've worked on a few of them and in all honesty BMW are now just living on the badge. Build quality and design in my opinion anyway has just fell off a cliff but no dawt many will disagree with venom but I look at a car more from a macanics view not for driving if that makes sense "
I've owned loads of BMWs & Audi's and tons of Ford's Vauxhalls & the BMWs are by far the best if you buy the right one..
Diesel manual 3 series are fantastic cars and better than anything else the same size or money..enough said |
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Google F.T.O. if you fancy something a bit different. I think Rachel has 1 on hear if I remember right and I'm sure will agree a really nice car all be it a little old but don't look it. Just a thought |
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"Hang on your a manc do you really think a pram top is the best of ideas. Your going to get ripped to peaces. In fact I'm not sure which will get ripped up quicker you or the hood
I never said it was the best of ideas, I said I wanted one.
I'm not sure what you mean ripped to pieces. Do you mean as in getting the piss taken out of me. In which case I'm not really arsed about that.
Or do you mean vandalised, in which case any car is easy to damage. And as for being broken into, who is going to be arsed with cutting thru the roof when putting a window thru is easier, like on any other car.
Hang on I'm not having a dig. You asked for opinion and I gave mine that's all. I ment ripped in both senses and I was talking more along the lines of jealous fuck wits more than opertunist thieves
I didn't think you were having a dig, just replying to your comment that's all
And I am interested in your opinion, especially if you have mechanical experience "
Eh good. It's way to easy to miss interpret posts so no worrys mate |
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"I've worked on a few of them and in all honesty BMW are now just living on the badge. Build quality and design in my opinion anyway has just fell off a cliff but no dawt many will disagree with venom but I look at a car more from a macanics view not for driving if that makes sense
I've owned loads of BMWs & Audi's and tons of Ford's Vauxhalls & the BMWs are by far the best if you buy the right one..
Diesel manual 3 series are fantastic cars and better than anything else the same size or money..enough said"
As I said I'm sure many will disagree. It's an opinion nothing more |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know nothing about cars, but i do know my partner bought a landrover for the winter and the convertable is for summer. Thats all i know
I can't really justify a land rover a convertible and a motorbike
I can't justify why I need so many pairs of shoes either.... so I don't try "
Shoes don't need justifying - they are a basic human right |
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"Stop messing around and get a Subaru!
Do they do convertible Subarus?
No but they break a hell of a lot funny that which most reliable car winner year on year subaru "
Not always been that way though and the years the op is talking about they was pathetic. Which is probably why they have got there act together in the same way alfa have |
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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago
West Wales |
We've had a few rag tops, E30, E46 BMW, mx5, now H has an old C70 Volvo, a proper four seated rather than 2+2 with lots of legroom in the back. The engine on the T5 is an earlier version of whats in the Focus.. But with regard to the Mini's I know some had issues with the steering racks but think they were earlier models.
S |
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If you're after a cheap, reliable rag top thats a little different, have a look at the Saab 9-3.
Lovely car to drive, luxury with a good burst of speed when you need it and the diesel version does the best part of 50mpg on longer trips |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you're after a cheap, reliable rag top thats a little different, have a look at the Saab 9-3.
Lovely car to drive, luxury with a good burst of speed when you need it and the diesel version does the best part of 50mpg on longer trips "
I actually considered a saab 9-3 but wanted a fast one and couldn't find one near me. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Op I've got to get off now but if I can help mail me and as your a biker and in Manchester if you need something looking at some long as I'm free I'd be happy to. Ps what happened to the cbr ?"
Yer will do cheers, cbr has been and gone, liked it but it was a little too sporty for the amount of city miles I do. I got a fair size twin that was less hard on the wrists and was more torquy |
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"Op I've got to get off now but if I can help mail me and as your a biker and in Manchester if you need something looking at some long as I'm free I'd be happy to. Ps what happened to the cbr ?
Yer will do cheers, cbr has been and gone, liked it but it was a little too sporty for the amount of city miles I do. I got a fair size twin that was less hard on the wrists and was more torquy "
Yep I get where your coming from especially if your tallish. OK mail anytime and the saab is a good idea I'd forgotten them |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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A convertible for the winter is not a particularly brilliant idea - OK if you're planning on using it in the summer, but if it's basically for use when you can't use the bike, then I doubt you're going to get the roof down very often - consider that Convertibles suffer from body flexing and often have to be strengthened due to the compromise in structural rigidity from removing the roof.
Personally, I have the best of both worlds. My car has T-Tops. All the strength of a hard top, with the benefits of being able to get a large portion of the rood off when the sun comes out - but my car is 20 years old and they have been out of production since 2002.
Given you are mentioning a Mini, I doubt very much that your budget would be able to stretch to what I would suggest, which would be a Mustang Convertible - but then, given the restricted numbers that Ford have allocated for the UK, most customers are waiting anywhere between 6 - 18 months and I gather that your needs are rather more urgent.
I also have the use of a small Toyota and my advice would be to avoid like the plague - particularly if you are enthusiastic about driving. They are dull, dull, dull, dull, dull and Boring as hell. And I haven't been impressed with the quality of the product and the drive ability has been bloody awful. To put it mildly, if it was a car I had bought, it would have found it's way back to the dealer for a full refund - it's THAT bad! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"A convertible for the winter is not a particularly brilliant idea - OK if you're planning on using it in the summer, but if it's basically for use when you can't use the bike, then I doubt you're going to get the roof down very often - consider that Convertibles suffer from body flexing and often have to be strengthened due to the compromise in structural rigidity from removing the roof.
Personally, I have the best of both worlds. My car has T-Tops. All the strength of a hard top, with the benefits of being able to get a large portion of the rood off when the sun comes out - but my car is 20 years old and they have been out of production since 2002.
Given you are mentioning a Mini, I doubt very much that your budget would be able to stretch to what I would suggest, which would be a Mustang Convertible - but then, given the restricted numbers that Ford have allocated for the UK, most customers are waiting anywhere between 6 - 18 months and I gather that your needs are rather more urgent.
I also have the use of a small Toyota and my advice would be to avoid like the plague - particularly if you are enthusiastic about driving. They are dull, dull, dull, dull, dull and Boring as hell. And I haven't been impressed with the quality of the product and the drive ability has been bloody awful. To put it mildly, if it was a car I had bought, it would have found it's way back to the dealer for a full refund - it's THAT bad!"
I never said it was a brilliant idea, and I don't expect to have the roof down in winter.
I need a car, I can only have one car and even a car that has a pram as a roof is better than a motorbike when it's pissing down and windy. Then one day next year we will have a nice day or three, I'll take myself and my loved ones off to the sea side or where ever and I'll have the roof down and the stereo up, and all thoughts about wether it's practical or a good winter choice will dissolve. |
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By *oyce69Man
over a year ago
Driffield |
I bought a BMW 320ci convertible at the beginning of summer and enjoyed it immensely, and although I will be putting it away for the winter months I have no doubt it would be a cosy place to be with the heater on. Modern convertible roofs are triple layered so will act as a barrier against the elements.
And you cant take the family out for a summers drive on the bike.  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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" I bought a BMW 320ci convertible at the beginning of summer and enjoyed it immensely, and although I will be putting it away for the winter months I have no doubt it would be a cosy place to be with the heater on. Modern convertible roofs are triple layered so will act as a barrier against the elements.
And you cant take the family out for a summers drive on the bike. "
I have considered one of those, problem is the age of the car at my budget looks quite dated and drugdealery. Although I'm sure they are a fine car, and I am tempted |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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A Mini tag top?! Your profile says you're straight!
Bladey's suggestion of an FTO is a good one if you can find one (avoid the semi-auto though).
The Saab 9-3 is another great choice, the diesels have the Alfa engine too so they're pretty much bullet proof provided the belts and water pump are changed every 60k miles or 4yrs and serviced properly.
I wouldn't bother with a soft top though, they weigh more and the chasis suffers from flexing (this goes for all convertibles). |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"A Mini tag top?! Your profile says you're straight!
Bladey's suggestion of an FTO is a good one if you can find one (avoid the semi-auto though).
The Saab 9-3 is another great choice, the diesels have the Alfa engine too so they're pretty much bullet proof provided the belts and water pump are changed every 60k miles or 4yrs and serviced properly.
I wouldn't bother with a soft top though, they weigh more and the chasis suffers from flexing (this goes for all convertibles)."
I do quite like the saabs |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If you want a convertible get one that was designed as one, not a saloon with the roof chopped off.
MX5 Or S2000, driven both and they are good fun and nice to look at.
Money defines your options."
Drove a few MX5's not enough seats and too low for city driving. |
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By *ot40sCouple
over a year ago
birmingham |
"buy a fiat500 abarth a lot more fun to drive nippy damn fast handles well good brakes proper successer to the original mini cooper a lot better then that plastic hair dressers car masqurading as acooper "
Nippy unless you need to go u any steep hills then you lose power !! |
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"I'm probably going to be looking at something on a 05-06 plate as that's what my budget will allow"
If you are buying anything with a badge which is later than 2000 saying Mini it is a fake. And should be badged as a BMW 0.5 series.
They stopped making minis in 2000.   |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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" I bought a BMW 320ci convertible at the beginning of summer and enjoyed it immensely, and although I will be putting it away for the winter months I have no doubt it would be a cosy place to be with the heater on. Modern convertible roofs are triple layered so will act as a barrier against the elements.
And you cant take the family out for a summers drive on the bike. "
I've got one too .it's my smoker only mines a :320d six speed..I love it and have had the same cars with a tin top too.. nothing is better than a 3 series convert other than say a vantage or a continental gTC and that's not Inc quality ..mines gotta go along with the classic cars as I'm after a modern fast toy next and don't need a turbodiesel |
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