Don636 Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 My first car was an Austin A40 that also had holes in the floor and two Quality Street tins on the parcel shelf under the dashboard to catch the rain coming through the windscreen. Also had three Ford Capris, marks 1, 2 & 3. Great cars and still look fantastic today. There is no doubt that modern cars are nicer to drive and some of the gadgets can be useful but I don't engage with them the same as I did with older, more basic cars that I could work on myself. I hired an old T2 camper van in 2013 for a weekend and it was probably the most fun I have had in a vehicle in years. The steering was awful, the brakes near dangerous, slow as a snail and the noise was incredible but it was so involving and so much fun you had to laugh. I have driven an electric BMW i3 and it was interesting and surprisingly quick off the mark but so boring. A number of manufacturers are building electric cars and boasting of huge horsepower and ridiculously low 0-60 times - Tesla for one. This makes for great headlines but is this what we really need? They are far too exclusive and expensive and it seems electric cars are for the rich who probably have another car with a whacking great engine under the bonnet. What we need are cheaper and simpler electric cars with less weight, more range rather than more power and a much better charging system. Hybrids are another great con as I think most people would struggle to get anywhere near the quoted mpg figures. Once the battery runs out you are left with a small petrol engine and a lot of extra weight and mpg will plummet. They only succeed because of the favourable tax system but that is going to change soon no doubt. I have not seen any real plans as to what is going to be done to make large scale electric cars usage work and until I see that, and evidence that it is being put in place it is not for me. At the moment we just have politicians jumping on the green bandwagon with no regard or interest in how to make it work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 PAJay - 2018-10-21 5:27 PM Bulletguy - 2018-10-21 5:03 PM Don636 - 2018-10-21 9:27 AM I agree with the sunroof. The Starship Enterprise (a Volvo V90) has a huge opening panaramic one and that is another gadget I really like as it lets a huge amount of light into the car. I had a BMW 520 touring for a few days whilst mine was in having the dodgy electric parking brake fixed (electronics issue) and, with an all black interior, including the roof lining, and no sunroof it was like a black hole inside. Meant to be sporty but it was anything but. By the way, the idea that BMWs are way more sporty than a Volvo is a rather large exaggeration these days. Perhaps, if they are driven to the max and way over the speed limits they might corner a bit flatter but at the expense of ride quality and who drives like that all the time anyway. Oh right so i wasn't far off in description?!! (lol) I'd have my reservations about 'panorama' style sunroofs though after seeing a Ford Fiesta totally flip on to it's roof after the guy got cut up on a roundabout. The roof was solid and actually held up well...the driver simply opened the door and got out! Not sure how a panorama roof would fare unless bullet proof? :-S On my Corolla , the sun roof was a solid one. Great car, I had it for 18 years, and when I part exchanged it it still had the original exhaust pipe, but did have to have a new Radiator Only had 33, 000 miles on the clock as well Yeah the metal ones are ok but some manufacturers fit glass the entire roof area. Don636 - 2018-10-21 5:55 PM My first car was an Austin A40 that also had holes in the floor and two Quality Street tins on the parcel shelf under the dashboard to catch the rain coming through the windscreen. Also had three Ford Capris, marks 1, 2 & 3. Great cars and still look fantastic today. There is no doubt that modern cars are nicer to drive and some of the gadgets can be useful but I don't engage with them the same as I did with older, more basic cars that I could work on myself. I hired an old T2 camper van in 2013 for a weekend and it was probably the most fun I have had in a vehicle in years. The steering was awful, the brakes near dangerous, slow as a snail and the noise was incredible but it was so involving and so much fun you had to laugh. Aahh such wonderful nostalgia! :D My first 'Moggie' was fine until one day driving off for work, heard this weird crunching noise and realised i'd run over half the floor pan which was now on the road. Used a piece of wood until i could afford to get a sheet of metal welded in. Another good one was an old Mini i'd gone to look at. Advertised as "spares or repair" for a tenner amazingly even the engine fired up which was a bonus! Already had a Mini but this looked too good to break so took a mate with me to drive my own Mini whilst i drove the other back home. Amazing 'pick up' it had some go in it so when we got back to my house, suggested to my mate we took it for a spin. Shot off to the motorway services (used to be cheap back then), parked up and went for a burger and coffee. Came out and my mate said, "i think someone is interested in your car". Blasted police! So we went back in the cafe for another coffee and when we came out they'd gone. So off we went down the motorway. Only a junction away anyway. But my mate looked back and said, "i think you've got company". Same police car! Anyway he pulled me after we'd come off the exit. Looked the car over with much tut tutting and so on....no tax, no mot, no insurance, dodgy tyres. Then he asked my address and suddenly said, "get this pile of junk out of my sight before i change my mind"! Sheesh....close call! (lol) I have driven an electric BMW i3 and it was interesting and surprisingly quick off the mark but so boring. A number of manufacturers are building electric cars and boasting of huge horsepower and ridiculously low 0-60 times - Tesla for one. This makes for great headlines but is this what we really need? They are far too exclusive and expensive and it seems electric cars are for the rich who probably have another car with a whacking great engine under the bonnet. What we need are cheaper and simpler electric cars with less weight, more range rather than more power and a much better charging system. Hybrids are another great con as I think most people would struggle to get anywhere near the quoted mpg figures. Once the battery runs out you are left with a small petrol engine and a lot of extra weight and mpg will plummet. They only succeed because of the favourable tax system but that is going to change soon no doubt. I have not seen any real plans as to what is going to be done to make large scale electric cars usage work and until I see that, and evidence that it is being put in place it is not for me. At the moment we just have politicians jumping on the green bandwagon with no regard or interest in how to make it work. I've been looking around for a cheap 'shopping trolley' to keep the mileage down on my van but want a £30 ved car. Oddly most are diesel but i'm not bothered about engine size, colour or make so going to look at a Citroen C3 tomorrow. It's an old one but looks in good nick from photos.....amazingly comes with cruise control! A few weeks ago i was looking at a Merc 3.2 C class Avantgarde. 04 reg so fairly cheap super luxury at peanut money and i was tempted! The crazy part is insurance on that would cost me virtually the same as a little 1.6 C3 Citroen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAJay Posted October 22, 2018 Author Share Posted October 22, 2018 PAJay - 2018-10-21 5:27 PM Bulletguy - 2018-10-21 5:03 PM Don636 - 2018-10-21 9:27 AM I agree with the sunroof. The Starship Enterprise (a Volvo V90) has a huge opening panaramic one and that is another gadget I really like as it lets a huge amount of light into the car. I had a BMW 520 touring for a few days whilst mine was in having the dodgy electric parking brake fixed (electronics issue) and, with an all black interior, including the roof lining, and no sunroof it was like a black hole inside. Meant to be sporty but it was anything but. By the way, the idea that BMWs are way more sporty than a Volvo is a rather large exaggeration these days. Perhaps, if they are driven to the max and way over the speed limits they might corner a bit flatter but at the expense of ride quality and who drives like that all the time anyway. Oh right so i wasn't far off in description?!! (lol) I'd have my reservations about 'panorama' style sunroofs though after seeing a Ford Fiesta totally flip on to it's roof after the guy got cut up on a roundabout. The roof was solid and actually held up well...the driver simply opened the door and got out! Not sure how a panorama roof would fare unless bullet proof? :-S On my Corolla , the sun roof was a solid one. Great car, I had it for 18 years, and when I part exchanged it it still had the original exhaust pipe, but did have to have a new Radiator Only had 33, 000 miles on the clock as well Dave I do remember the old morris cars. Mostly I have stuck to Fords. My first being a 195? Escort 100E with the side valve engine. You could see the road through the floor, until Oh repaired it with Stainless steel . Just a problem when going uphill in the rain. had to take foot off pedal while the wipers worked. My favorite was Capri Laser . Probably could not get in and out easily now !! PJay NOT an Escort. It was a Ford Anglia!! PJay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 The original Ford Escort came out about 1955 and lasted about 6 years in production. It was a 100E Anglia 1172cc side valve engine based estate car that, along with the Squire, the same car with higher trim level, both being based on the Ford Thames small (5 cwt?) van. My Dad had a new Escort, his first new car, and later a Squire back in the day and I well remember how lovely and reliable, warm and dry inside they were compared to some of the old bangers we had when I were a wee lad! Apart from the vacuum operated wipers that is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Tracker - 2018-10-22 10:58 AM The original Ford Escort came out about 1955 and lasted about 6 years in production. It was a 100E Anglia 1172cc side valve engine based estate car that, along with the Squire, the same car with higher trim level, both being based on the Ford Thames small (5 cwt?) van. My Dad had a new Escort, his first new car, and later a Squire back in the day and I well remember how lovely and reliable, warm and dry inside they were compared to some of the old bangers we had when I were a wee lad! Apart from the vacuum operated wipers that is! My Dad hired a Ford Anglia and crashed it into the back of a police car on the way to Clacton 8-) ........ Our day's out as kids were never dull :D ......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 pelmetman - 2018-10-22 11:10 AM My Dad hired a Ford Anglia and crashed it into the back of a police car on the way to Clacton 8-) ........ Our days out as kids were never dull :D ......... Back in the day when we had coppers in cars instead of cameras! And you've been trying to avoid the law ever since! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeco Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 The technology in Formula one power units is interesting particularly the generation of power from the braking system to top up the battery packs. I suspect most of us would never conceive that concept. So I am sure that there will be advances in technology that will allow electric cars to travel as far as a typical petrol/diesel car will on the equivalent of a "tank full" and also solve the problem of charging rate etc. Then I will buy one, until then with the distances I cover in a trip it would not be viable. I am reminded of the first calculator that needed a regular diet of batteries to allow you to do 4 tasks, add, subtract, multiply & divide. Never last it was said, what happens if you are not able to buy batteries if you are out in the bush? Well when was the last time you replaced a battery in your calculator - never because it runs on solar. I could never have conceived that technological advancement. There is nothing more certain in life than death & change. The boffins funded by entrepreneurs will find the answers. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Geeco - 2018-10-24 5:01 AM There is nothing more certain in life than death & change. ......... and taxation! I could easily cope with an electric car most of the time as my local mileage is well within the current 250 miles or so range, but - My two concerns are - do I really want to faff about with leads and plugs at home, especially when it's cold dark and wet? what happens when I run out of range away from home and can't find anywhere to plug in, can't just find the nearest supermarket and fill up? On that basis it's not for me - yet - although a plug in hybrid does have it's merits. But you have to do a lot of miles to cover the extra cost and we don't do that many miles now so the only benefits for us would be quiet, smooth, comfortable and reliable - so we ended up with automatic petrol hybrid. I still don't think that they make purely financial sense as the mpg on most hybrids is generally no better than a diesel which costs less to buy, but we like 'em and I, rightly or wrongly, have a deep distrust of the likes of adblue, and current diesel engine technology! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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