GTAm

Yeah and there hundreds of schools without playgrounds too. Do you think that there is enough (or that that money is utilized effectively - which is a separate issue I know)? If so then where are the results? If you consider our sports credentials from 20 years ago we have actually gone backwards. And so we must try a new sport that is in the hands of the minority elite of Colombo. Excellent logic. All really badly needed sports where the majority of the population can participate are in shambles so one must invest in an expensive elitist sport. Brilliant. So you are saying that Motorsport was an integral part of their development program? Geez I'm sorry I've never known this. "If we are able to introduce more cars, we will have more sponsors, " I'm sorry I really do not know how this model works too. More cars automatically mean more sponsors??? Perhaps you know something I don't, like many companies have been lining up to sponsor cars and demanded more cars so that they can spend more of the money they have for investment. Maybe. But maybe the major wounds are so bad that if you waste time with the minor pimple you will have no choice but to amputate the limb eventually No offense to anyone. Like I said I like this happening for motorsport as I am a fan of the sport. It's just that I can't agree that this is the most important thing the country or sports in general needs right now.

Being in Motorsport, of course you will. We all like it when something we are close to is positively impacted. And as I said in my post I support it too. It's a good thing for the sport no doubt. But no one can justifiably say that this is one of the most important things this country needs right now and should take precedence over much bigger issues and opportunities out there. Nor can anyone say that this sport which is inaccessible to most Sri Lankans should get favourable treatment while other sports where masses of sports men and women can partake get zilch. What is worrying is the narrow angle of looking at so called "development". Cricket and Rugby are not the only sports in the country. It's a "nice to have" and not a "need to have". And there are loads of "need to haves" out there that need attention first.

.....Or Shihan trying to do a Picasso?

If you are in motorsports it's all well and good. However we live in a country where we cannot afford to take haphazard and ad hoc policy decisions. What about all the other sports that could be developed? Soccer, Athletics after our humiliating performance at the last Olympics??? I can think of many more lucrative sports to develop that will benefit the country a lot more. Malaysia is a much much richer country than SL. India's upper income class could probably buy Sri Lanka. Philippines is not a country anyone should follow. Corruption is and historically has been at levels that shame even Sri Lanka. Why should we follow them? They maybe having regular race events but a large amount of their population lives in abject poverty. Hence every Filipino's dream is to leave the country. If we want to follow any of these countries we need to look at how they developed their manufacturing industries first not how they started motor racing. The problem with many is not about giving racing a boost. I too am in favour of such things that develop ANY sport. But rather the problem is how this sport is singled out. It will always remain a sport that is not reachable to most Sri Lankans, because by it's nature motorsport is expensive. The problem is everyone knows how and why this "policy" has come about. That's why there are so many eyebrows raised and so much criticism. It's something like the surgeon looking at the patient's massive wounds and deciding to ignore them and instead focus on a tiny pimple on her face just because the surgeon (or his son? ) like to see a nice face. To heck with the wounds. OT here I guess.

What this guy needs is a crash course in aesthetics and restraint. If he had stopped with the first 1/3rd of the body it may have looked half decent. He has simply gone way over the top. However his craftsmanship (not design) is quite neat compared to other local "Chip Fooses". The other big problem is that the look of the new car is totally out of sync with the donor car, which is a real shame. He should have made his design a 70's car not this 90's mish mash. Looking at this car most people will expect it to perform like a 90's sports car and it obviously will not be able to. I dread to think what it would feel like. Very creaky I would guess. But hey who knows there could be many people who think this to be a brilliant design and given him a load of praise and recognition. You know what they say....."One man's poison is another man's food"

Thanks esdeez. Yes the Prelude is a contender definitely. It did not cross my mind maybe because there are hardly any in decent shape. Even I owned an 18- one for a while it was a JDM Si with Honda PGMI. It flew and handled well too. However it was in a poor state and a nightmare to find parts. There was a load of rust everywhere and once I got that done the electronics gave up and it would not start. It took close to a year to get sorted (finally managed to get a small electronic box from Malaysia) and I had run out of patience as there was a lot more to do. Some of the newer ones I see around look like they've been through the extra heavy wash cycle in an industrial washing machine. Even from a distance you know they've been in accidents and abused. So I guess there aren't many to consider. E12 and E21 are already on many collectors lists and anyone will pay a premium. I'm focusing on the once people tend to miss out on due to various reasons.

Filler plates are nice. They make the rear look wider.

No idea where it is but I used to see a blackish green one living at Tickell Road Col 08 many years ago.

Hi Crosswind this morning I saw a brown/bronze HQ Kingswood on the Thalawatugoda - Kotte Road. It was parked outside the garage that repairs Hillman Hunters among other old cars. There's a very poor looking Fiat X 1/9 in there too. The good news is the Kingswood's body looked good from the distance of my passing car. The bad news is the number plate was 64- . But it is definitely possible to get a I6 or V8 from Oz.

Spot on Rumesh88. That's why I said "generally poor economic management". They just go on taking short term and personally profitable decisions only simply so that they earn commissions. That's why they do not think like us or of us. It's a lot easier to import 1000 new Ashok Leyland buses a make a fast buck than plan, design, engineer and fund a intra-city fast rail network. They also have no need to arrange things in order of priority based on actual requirement. Again corruption is the cause.

These two are what I cannot accept in your analysis MoneyMaker. First you simply HAVE to consider the initial cost of the vehicle. It is not going to fall from the sky on to one's lap. For example let's say a person who does not own a car right now. He has to decide between buying a car or using taxis instead. Let's say a reliable decent everyday used hack will cost Rs. 1.5m. His financial outlay per month if he has to finance the car will be around Rs. 40,000/- X 48 months. Let's say he has the cash. Then you obviously have to consider the opportunity cost of Rs. 1.5m. In the bank means around 20k income a month. Or he can buy a Tata Nano and start a cab service earning 502% profit as you have pointed out. Secondly wear and tear is not very low in SL given our roads and stop start driving. I believe it is very high. Tyres are very expensive. If the car is leased then a full insurance is a must. This will be an additional 30k per year or 2500/- a month. Servicing, suspension, brakes, A/C all need attention regularly. Only depreciation will not affect a car of that age and price. Of course there are the benefits of having a car instead like the luxury of personal transport where you do not have to share your space with a cab driver with body odor and sweat soaked seats. And that's more the reason why many will consider car ownership.

Good post Rumesh88. The other big difference between a developed economy and us is that their per capita income. This is why an efficient and clean public transport might become expensive for us to use. Add to this our madly rising cost of living, inflation etc and generally poor economic management means this is still a dream.

Some desirable news. If they get it right their products could be fantastic. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/11/renault-and-caterham-join-forces-resurrect-alpine/#more-465867 Renault And Caterham Join Forces, Resurrect Alpine By Bertel Schmitt on November 5, 2012 For a while, TTAC has been following rumors that Renault may be reviving is storied Alpine brand. Renault will do it, together with another motor celebrity, Caterham. Renault and Caterham will start a joint venture to make sports cars. Renault and Caterham will each own half of the resurrected Automobiles Alpine Renault company, which will change its name to Société des Automobiles Alpine Caterham. The company will be managed by Bernard Ollivier, a Renault director. Each company will launch its own vehicle within the next three to four years.

Try Kumho from Djmo they are my favourite value brand. Not sure they'll have your size but worth a try as the tyres are v good.

......Before he smashes another TV........... http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/ferrari-boss-urges-f1-team-to-give-fernando-alonso-a-car-he-can-win-with-for-the-us-gp/story-e6frfkp9-1226511374377

GO FOR IT!

@esdeez, I might be alone here but I think the wheels you have on are very cool. I prefer the original tail lamps though. For me these new ones devalues the look.

Shocking! DC tried to diffuse it a bit and got Rosewater "champagne" on his head

Too little too late from Ferrari I guess. The only reason they are at this level this season is because of Fernando's talent. The wind tunnel story is old now. I think it was known last year too? They've been using Toyota's wind tunnel. Ferrari mechanics were said to have worked the whole night through on Friday, staying in the pits without going to their hotels. That to me shows how desperate the situation is. Drive of the day was from Seb. So many things kept putting him back, but he just kept bouncing back and eventually he hit the podium. Superb. But what the heck was wrong with his team-mate? It's almost a given that he'll cock up every start from the front row. And what a ragged drive. Ice man deserved the win. Happy to see him finally nailing it.

Nice MD.

Any thoughts on a colour for the TR MD? What was the original colour?

AVON - M@Larens There's a Toyo agent too, can't remember the name. Achilles - Metr@ Auto m*rt Yes Pirelli agent is Toyota - weird but smart move by Pirelli I guess. There are many Chinese brands in the market too.

The GTO was not able to gain favorable reviews compared to the FTO as a drivers car. I recall that contemporary road tests said that the GTO had too much electronics numbing the driving experience. And besides more importantly I think there is just one GTO in SL? Don, the MX5 and the S2000 are definite classics and already recognized, here as well. But imo the Boxter is the diamond out there. I don't like the look but it remains the best car I have ever driven, and a car that won almost every group test it competed in even very late in its life cycle. It will definitely be a classic, no doubt about that. But only the moneyed people would be able to afford one in SL. The SLK is no where near in terms on driving. It's a pose mobile imo. Not driven the current model but have done both previous ones. From what I notice Sri Lankan classic "big wigs" tend to have a heavy bias towards Mercedes (and British cars), so you will see SLKs go into collections. Never driven a Z3, but from the reviews I don't think I'm missing much.

Love the 2 door Range Rover Classic. Most have had the undesirable heart transplant though....

Yes as Gummy pointed out the 510 is on the list and was one of my first contenders. Land Rovers are sought after already by collectors. Ser1 and 2 are in high demand.