The easy way to spend money on a car is well documented;
1) Buy new, lose probably at least 60% in the first two years.This is the quickest and easiest way of throwing money down the drain - with very, very few exceptions.

2) Servicing. We firmly believe, and have proven, that any sensible person can slash his servicing bills overnight with simple man-management.
(a) To start with join the Owners Club of the car you have purchased. This will probably be the best £25 or so you ever spend.
(b) Find a friendly and trustworthy local mechanic to check the car for you monthly and who is capable of doing the basics ie, oil, filters, brakes, pads - simple everyday jobs. Then, whenever there is a more serious problem entrust the car to the local specialist recommended. (I cannot stress this enough) by other members of your club.
(c)Finally and importantly, buy parts yourself, and inform the specialist you are doing this. You will save a fortune on this alone!

3) Purchase allied parts such as tyres from the people on the list at the end of this report.

4) Always fit a Disklok Steering Wheel Cover + locking wheel nuts and a Thatcham One Alarm Immobiliser fitted at the time of writing @ £250 at your venue.

5) Inform the insurance company exactly what is on your car. All cars from Germany have to have any addenda from standard specification approved by the TUV and written on to the German Log Book
( Brief). This should give you a clear indication of what extras are on the car, but it is still worth checking yourself. The Insurance Companies small type may exclude your claim if the car has larger diameter wheels or a modified exhaust system............!!

1) Caliper Repairs - Classic Automotive. Unit A, Alderley Rd, Chelford, Cheshire, SK11 9AP.
Tel; 01625 860910, Fax; 860925

2) Exhausts - Shaun or Ivor at Scorpion Exhausts, Unit 3, High Holburn, Codnor Gate Industrial Park, Ripley, Derbyshire. Tel; 01773 744123, Fax; 744122

3) New Tyres - Micheldever Tyres, Micheldever, Hampshire. Tel; 01962 774437

4) Wheel Tracking & Alignment - Pro Align, 30 Ross Rd, off Weedon Rd, Northampton.
Tel; 01604 588880

5) Cat Repairs - Apollo Marketing, Kedge House, 39 Mersea Ave, Colchester, CO5 8TL.
Tel;01206 385488

6) Second Hand Tyres - Recommended - Autu Solutions, Maidenhead. (Steve Evans) Tel; 01628 602299 798300, 0468 950022 or Paul at MONTYS 01753 440006/7

7) Brakes - Ferodo. Tel; 01298 / 811200 Fax; 811255 (John Evans). Mintex Tel; 01274 854000 / 0181 9853231 (Steve). AP Racing Tel; 01203 883324 (Shaun Walsh)

8) Engine Check / Tuning - AMD, Oddington, Oxford. Tel; 01865 331226

9) Security Posts - (Guarding when parked in driveway) £60 + VAT. Klampit, Northampton. Tel; 01604 721560 / 0585 174300 (Andrew)

10) Steering Locks - Highly Recommended - From Halfords, Disklok Tel; 01257 795100 , Fax; 01257 795101. Approx £75 Trade

11) Shock Absorbers - (Bilsteins) Autobahn, Lopham Rd, East Harling, Norfolk, NR16 2LK. Tel; 01953 717156. Fax; 718738

12) Leather Seat Renovations - Woolies, Market Deeping, Peterborough. Tel; MD 347347. They supply leather renovation kits for seats at a very reasonable price. Very easy to applicate. Highly recommended.

14) Hartlake Electronics r/o A2 Tollgate Service Station. A2 Watling Street. Gravesend. Kent
DA11 7NU. Tel-01474 326626

15) Audi RS2 - Braking System - Do not buy from Audi. These are Porsche 968 CS parts which can be purchased from a Porsche dealership at approximately a fifth of the Audi retail price.........!!

16) Lotus Omega spares. Again do not buy from a main dealer - go to Derek Dean, Lotus specialist, 290, West End Road, Ruislip Gardens, Middlesex, Tel; 01895 677477 / 0836 227042

17) Lotus Omega Type Approval Stewart McKenzie. Tel; 01953 608000, Fax; 01953 608300