Cars, cars, cars...

Tashman

shirley_basso said:

^ what's not to like?

The nasty silver contrast mainly

briantrumpet

Passed by some hideous big black box with wheels this morning from the Chelsea Truck Company, driving in the war zone between Exeter and Exmouth. The driver had no idea how wide it was... and, to be fair, with the wheels set proud of the body (thank goodness, the tarmac there is liable to tip cars over into the Exe), it was almost as wide as a bus.

MattFalle

shirley_basso said:

That's the worry - they are hideously unreliable and equally expensive to fix, but they do look so awesome. I'll take the plunge one day. Skoda estate for now....

Sorry - are you saying a Rangey looks awesome?

seriously?

DeVlaeminck

Sign of aging no doubt but I just find this a much better looking vehicle

MattFalle

DeVlaeminck said:

Sign of aging no doubt but I just find this a much better looking vehicle

nah - that's a pile of shite as well.

shirley_basso

I prefer the 5 door one but the original is lovely looking.

DeVlaeminck

focuszing723 said:

Suzuki did a good job with the new Jimny, bet it's still good off road too at a good price.

Yes I was trying to think of a modern car I'd describe as cool (though it sounds uncool to use the word cool).

Those little Suzuki 4x4s fall into that category for me. Can't think of many others.

pinno

Only one place for an RR:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xUuAn9A538

john80

DeVlaeminck said:

focuszing723 said:

Suzuki did a good job with the new Jimny, bet it's still good off road too at a good price.

Yes I was trying to think of a modern car I'd describe as cool (though it sounds uncool to use the word cool).

Those little Suzuki 4x4s fall into that category for me. Can't think of many others.

They are loud unrefined bouncy boxes not great for anything other than a field. I live a mile down a dirt track and this would annoy me as soon as I got on the road.

jimmyjams

Pross said:

veronese68 said:

wavefront said:

MattFalle said:

In a week I haven't seen on 4x4, SUV or other such pile ofshite.
perhaps its just a UK thang?

The UK is on a par with Germany for SUV sales, with other European countries selling 20-25% less

I'm a little surprised at that. Totally unscientific observations when on holiday in Europe it seemed the British, Italians and Eastern Europeans like the bling of SUVs. Scandinavians and Germans seemed to favour regular estate cars, although the scandi's often have a 4wd version.

My first thought when MF suggested it was a British thing was that when I visited Lake Garda the other week it felt like every car was an SUV (and were mainly Italian plates). Obviously a small sample size in one particular, and possibly self-selecting, area I know but they certainly seemed even more prevalent there to me.

Wavefront is correct saying SUV sales (new vehicles) in the UK and in Germany are on a par.
However, what he neglected to say is that 70% of SUV sales in Germany are to businesses, so some locked away on business premises outside of working hours while others, if allowed to be used by employees outside of working hours, strictly-speaking only for travel to/from work.
Which means at holiday, tourist and recreational locations in Europe, you shouldn't see that many SUVs around with German plates.
So Matt and Vero are also correct in their observations.

jimmyjams

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

First.Aspect said:

rick_chasey said:

Look at Top Gear and tell me cars are cool.

Bit out of date, no?
Fast cars are cool. Always have been. Always will be. Who doesn't want to be a racing driver when they grow up?

Me. Though still hoping not to grow up. I blow raspberries for a living (and teach other people to), and ride bikes.

This is inconceivable. You didn't HAVE to want to be Nigel Mansell you know. You could have wanted to be Stirling Moss or James Hunt.

Or Nuvolari ?

wavefront

jimmyjams said:

70% of SUV sales in Germany are to businesses

That’s really interesting, I wonder why businesses spec SUV’s specifically? It does tally with my observation that Germany loves a touring/wagon/estate (whatever you wish to call them!).

pinno

jimmyjams said:

Pross said:

veronese68 said:

wavefront said:

MattFalle said:

In a week I haven't seen on 4x4, SUV or other such pile ofshite.
perhaps its just a UK thang?

The UK is on a par with Germany for SUV sales, with other European countries selling 20-25% less

I'm a little surprised at that. Totally unscientific observations when on holiday in Europe it seemed the British, Italians and Eastern Europeans like the bling of SUVs. Scandinavians and Germans seemed to favour regular estate cars, although the scandi's often have a 4wd version.

My first thought when MF suggested it was a British thing was that when I visited Lake Garda the other week it felt like every car was an SUV (and were mainly Italian plates). Obviously a small sample size in one particular, and possibly self-selecting, area I know but they certainly seemed even more prevalent there to me.

Wavefront is correct saying SUV sales (new vehicles) in the UK and in Germany are on a par.
However, what he neglected to say is that 70% of SUV sales in Germany are to businesses, so some locked away on business premises outside of working hours while others, if allowed to be used by employees outside of working hours, strictly-speaking only for travel to/from work.
Which means at holiday, tourist and recreational locations in Europe, you shouldn't see that many SUVs around with German plates.
So Matt and Vero are also correct in their observations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T7-G4jIz6s

pblakeney

22.6 mpg.
Things have progressed.

pinno

pblakeney said:

22.6 mpg.
Things have progressed.

@ 43p per litre.
I paid £145.9 per litre for the last lot.

Given the fact that 87% of that is duty and that the got. are making a killing, there's a distribution capacity shortage, key workers haven't stopped through this pandemic, they would cut the duty a little to relieve pressure.

First.Aspect

£145 a litre is steep.

pinno

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

Local rural prices innit.
Bit less in the Highlands. Although 4p per litre more for diesel.

Fuel Average for Fort William
Unleaded 95 1,440
Diesel 1,512
Unleaded 98 1,383

Funny how Su/l is @ £1.38. Morrisons have blanked the Su/l pumps off.

photonic69

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

We'll probably be paying that price in 2028! We will all be driving cars that do 6603 mpg

pblakeney

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

I think Pinno is still misreading this. 🤣

MattFalle

pblakeney said:

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

I think Pinno is still misreading this. 🤣

its because when you get to his age your eyes have generally given up....

pinno

MattFalle said:

pblakeney said:

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

I think Pinno is still misreading this. 🤣

its because when you get to his age your eyes have generally given up....

Well, [you bunch of baskets] I was making the comparison that normally we pay more for petrol than they do in the highlands.

pblakeney

pinno said:

MattFalle said:

pblakeney said:

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

I think Pinno is still misreading this. 🤣

its because when you get to his age your eyes have generally given up....

Well, [you bunch of baskets] I was making the comparison that normally we pay more for petrol than they do in the highlands.

You've still not noticed the decimal point error. 🤣🤣🤣

pinno

pblakeney said:

pinno said:

MattFalle said:

pblakeney said:

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

I think Pinno is still misreading this. 🤣

its because when you get to his age your eyes have generally given up....

Well, [you bunch of baskets] I was making the comparison that normally we pay more for petrol than they do in the highlands.

You've still not noticed the decimal point error. 🤣🤣🤣

You knew what I meant.

pblakeney

pinno said:

pblakeney said:

pinno said:

MattFalle said:

pblakeney said:

First.Aspect said:

£145 a litre is steep.

I think Pinno is still misreading this. 🤣

its because when you get to his age your eyes have generally given up....

Well, [you bunch of baskets] I was making the comparison that normally we pay more for petrol than they do in the highlands.

You've still not noticed the decimal point error. 🤣🤣🤣

You knew what I meant.

This is Cakestop. No error goes unpunished. 😉

thegreasedscotsman

What do people think about taking cars to the specific dealers for servicing? Not when it's brand or nearly new and probably is required by the warranty, but if it's a few years old.

pblakeney

thegreasedscotsman said:

What do people think about taking cars to the specific dealers for servicing? Not when it's brand or nearly new and probably is required by the warranty, but if it's a few years old.

You'll get ripped off. Go to a good independent.
Question is how to find a good independent? Recommendations.

Wheelspinner

pblakeney said:

thegreasedscotsman said:

What do people think about taking cars to the specific dealers for servicing? Not when it's brand or nearly new and probably is required by the warranty, but if it's a few years old.

You'll get ripped off. Go to a good independent, where you'll get slightly less ripped off, maybe.
Question is how to find a good independent? Recommendations.

FTFY

pblakeney

Wheelspinner said:

pblakeney said:

thegreasedscotsman said:

What do people think about taking cars to the specific dealers for servicing? Not when it's brand or nearly new and probably is required by the warranty, but if it's a few years old.

You'll get ripped off. Go to a good independent, where you'll get slightly less ripped off, maybe.
Question is how to find a good independent? Recommendations.

FTFY

Fair point, maybe. My servicing costs halved and the intervals mysteriously doubled from 9k back to standard 18k so I am now paying 25% of what the dealer was getting.
Also very, very few people these days will be capable of properly servicing their cars.

MattFalle

Always used the local Honda dealer for the Anaconda and they've been blinding - cannot fault them and won't use anyone else.

the local Merc/Beemer dealer though - total arseholez and wouldn't touch them with a bargepole - independent for the M4

On the flipside, used and independent once for the Anaconda - TDV got talked into it - and they were massively expensive and total shiters.

much like bike shops, it depends on the individual garage.

pblakeney

TBF, I had a similar experience with Subaru. I thought I'd save money by going independent and a faultless car started going wrong and eventually died to the point Subaru said it was a financial write off. Key phrase in my original reply was good independent.