Now I still have a bit of my savings left and I really need a stereo, as no matter how much I love listening to the sound of the gases through the manifold or the engine noise I just want to hear some music too...

Now Im having a difficult time decided whether to spend £120 on a stereo or go for function over design and get one for £60 thatd do a similar job.

Normally I would suggest the cheaper version - unless you want to go all out and deafen yourself. The noise of the car will reduce sound quality quite a bit anyway.

a saxo vts engine could have been had by now

That maybe be true, however there were other mechanical parts apart from the engine that needed replacing. I was tempted to get a VTS engine in it and I might do that, save in my "engine fund" incase my current one breaks, but its DAMN faster now than ever I remember, so much so after driving the slow ass Volvo for about 6 months. Although still not fully confident with the car, need to drive a lot more but I just drove to near Durham and back. Just got back now.

I cant wait to get it onto the drag strip!!

With the stereo...

I REALLY like the look of this:
http://www.lowcostcaraudio.co.uk/shop/Pioneer-DEH-50UB-DEH50UB-CD-Tuner-with-iPod-Direct-Control-USB-in-and-Aux-in_pageJJ2ZZproductJJ3866ZZcategoryJJ/CD-Tuners/With-USB-Link/

Although this would still do the job nicely
http://www.lowcostcaraudio.co.uk/shop/Kenwood-KDC-W3041G-KDCW3041G-WMAMP3CD-Tuner-Receiver_productJJ3751ZZcategoryJJ/CD-Tuners/With-AUX-Input/

Im not thinking "get a more expensive stereo to deafen myself" honestly... I just want it for the looks factor. Although when I wake up I think Im going to go into a few ICE shops and see what there is.

I was in Durham few months ago getting a greggs

LOL, did you just go to Durham for a greggs?

yep, pretty much, and had it on the steps there directly in front of it. Cant get them over here you see, and there arent too many places to buy them in Hamsterley! (And I dunno if there is a greggs in Bishop or Darlo)

I used to work down from one of the greggs factories and on every thursday the whole industrial estate would smell of strawberry or some close variant it was quite nice.

yep, pretty much, and had it on the steps there directly in front of it. Cant get them over here you see, and there arent too many places to buy them in Hamsterley! (And I dunno if there is a greggs in Bishop or Darlo)

can you remember when they used to do chips too ?

I was only a little kid.... but damn those were nice chips.... I can still remember the time I went in for a cheese and onion pastie and chips... and the woman behid the counter said "we dont do chips anymore"... I just stood there and looked at her, frozen in some sort of chipless time bubble... was only a little kid at the time, my sister had to come over and explain it to me