Miles - we've never met, but I'm certain I would like you if we did. Therefore, DO NOT buy the Charnwood. A six month old lump of stilton is less cheesy! Another member, whom I'm pretty certain will be along later, has described it before as more suited to anchoring a small boat.
I'm sure that were you to replace your car, if your budget stretched to a VW Golf you wouldn't then go out and buy a Lada.
Sorry if this offends anyone with happy experiences of Charnwood lathes. I am sure that good examples exist here and there, but the reality is that you are in an almost negligible minority.
Oh dear. Potential contentious post alert
