had 3 tyres fitted this afternoon.. got a decent deal.£144
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had 3 tyres fitted this afternoon.. got a decent deal.£144
Ah Marco,
I posted some mad figures to illustrate the direction in which we will be pushed, but I wasn't quoting anyone, these figures were for illustrative purposes only (although just how "ridiculous" those figures will look in five or so years, we shall see).
And as for emissions regulations, and how realistic they will be about them, we'll see. Conservatives, and Realistic, the two words don't even rhyme.
I know there will be a few people who can either afford to stick with petrol/diesel car ownership, or are prepared to spend beyond their means in order to "make a stand", but your average joe is at some point going to be compelled to "conform" for economic reasons. I count myself among their number, and while I sure as shit don't want to be forced to move from internal combustion to electric, I'm also realistic about the possibility.
On the subject of "conforming to the norm", most of us are already doing that without thinking about it. Hands up everyone who drives a diesel? Wow, that's a lot of hands. Mostly they are popular because they give decent performance and reasonable mpg. Diesel fuel costs (compared to petrol) has been rising at some rate of knots for some years now, yet we still buy them. Is this a big "Fuck you" to the government? No, its because driving diesels is still economically viable. There may come a point where diesel fuel is so much more expensive than petrol that we abandon diesels in droves and move to petrol cars. We are not being brainwashed, but we are being manipulated.
And the same will happen with ownership of electric cars. It's got nothing to do with "brainwashing" and everything to do with the alternative no longer being affordable.
Also I shouldn't have put in the "character assassination" paragraph, as NONE OF US give a flying fuck what other people think (except maybe a handful, and they're saying nowt.)
Oh and while I've got you on the line, the 50mph limit is not a French thing. No one driving any amount in England can fail to see that in recent years many of the previous "national speed limit" roads have been reduced to 50mph, one of the best known examples (if you're a biker) is the blanket 50mph limit on the Cat and Fiddle imposed about 12 years ago with helicopter enforcement. So you can count yourself lucky Marco!
I disagree. For me, there's definitely a safety issue; the question is simply how serious it is. It won't apply to me though, as I'll never be driving a Hydrogen-fuelled car.
I agree about it all being a trade-off, but in normal circumstances a naked flame will not be near the petrol tank of your car, so in that environment, petrol is as safe as any flammable liquid can be.Quote:
Try putting a naked flame near an empty petrol tank and see what happens. Diesel won't blow but then you are driving around giving everyone asthma and cancer. It's all a trade off.
Liquid hydrogen is dangerous in ways [which petrol isn't] outside of its extreme flammability, and that's why, when used as a fuel, it's *potentially* overall more dangerous.
Marco.
It's dangerous if you deliberately explode it but why would you do that? It won't blow up in a collision if that's what you are thinking? In any case it is already been passed as safe in Europe and the US where standards for automotive safety are the highest in the world which would indicate that the risk level is small to none.
Diesel has to go since the pollution levels are unacceptable. That's why they were faking all their tests. Whilst I'm not keen on the idea of Government manipulating people like this there is a pretty strong case for reducing the number of diesel vehicles to an absolute minimum. I live near an 8 lane highway and in the summer if the wind is low the air quality is appalling. Fortunately there is mostly a stiff breeze blowing (or a gale) so it's not so bad. But in the recent weather I've not been able to open the window on some days.
I've been riding motorcycles for 32yrs and there's always been this thing of acknowledging a fellow biker, usually a nod, however bmw riders always seemed exemped , seemingly above the Japanese bike riders. I now ride a bmw and still the fookers don't nod!!!! Mebe should be in the FFS bit:)
I understand and accept that, but I'm not (and never will be) your 'average Joe'; not because I'm special or anything, but simply because I think and live differently from most people, largely due to the lifestyle I'm fortunate enough to lead.
Manipulated perhaps as a by-product of being surreptitiously brainwashed?;)Quote:
On the subject of "conforming to the norm", most of us are already doing that without thinking about it. Hands up everyone who drives a diesel? Wow, that's a lot of hands. Mostly they are popular because they give decent performance and reasonable mpg. Diesel fuel costs (compared to petrol) has been rising at some rate of knots for some years now, yet we still buy them. Is this a big "Fuck you" to the government? No, its because driving diesels is still economically viable. There may come a point where diesel fuel is so much more expensive than petrol that we abandon diesels in droves and move to petrol cars. We are not being brainwashed, but we are being manipulated.
The main reason why I drive a performance diesel car is, rather obviously, because I enjoy its performance (torque), which you simply don't get with petrol cars of the same engine size. Secondly, and it's quite a distant second, is because I get more miles to the gallon than I would if my car was petrol driven.
However, for me (within reason) diesel 'costs what it costs' [I almost never pay attention to the per-litre price]; I simply fill up the tank and pay whatever the total is. Unless it goes up to some crazy price, like £20 a litre, I shall continue buying it and driving a performance diesel car, as I can afford it - especially as I only do, on average, 30-40 miles a week.
The only time my car does significant mileage, is when I go down south (or up north) within the UK, or take it on holiday abroad - and that's no more than once or twice a year.
Sure, but that will only apply to your 'average Joe' (to coin your phrase).Quote:
And the same will happen with ownership of electric cars. It's got nothing to do with "brainwashing" and everything to do with the alternative no longer being affordable.
Lol... Why do you think I live where I do?:eyebrows:;)Quote:
Oh and while I've got you on the line, the 50mph limit is not a French thing. No one driving any amount in England can fail to see that in recent years many of the previous "national speed limit" roads have been reduced to 50mph, one of the best known examples (if you're a biker) is the blanket 50mph limit on the Cat and Fiddle imposed about 12 years ago with helicopter enforcement. So you can count yourself lucky Marco!
I will always seek to divorce myself as far as possible from the worst effects of modern society!
Marco.
And do you honestly think that the organisations concerned who've passed it as "safe" aren't in any way corrupt, or being controlled by their respective governments, in order to drive home an agenda?
I don't agree at all that it's safe [certainly not safer than petrol], and my research shows that.
I completely agree, and of course sympathise. Plus, something definitely needs done.Quote:
Diesel has to go since the pollution levels are unacceptable. That's why they were faking all their tests. Whilst I'm not keen on the idea of Government manipulating people like this there is a pretty strong case for reducing the number of diesel vehicles to an absolute minimum. I live near an 8 lane highway and in the summer if the wind is low the air quality is appalling. Fortunately there is mostly a stiff breeze blowing (or a gale) so it's not so bad. But in the recent weather I've not been able to open the window on some days.
All I can do, of course, is look at my own situation and reasons for desiring to drive a performance diesel car. As I've said before, mine can lay dormant 5 days of the week. It's used 100% for personal pleasure and mostly short journeys.
This week, for example, I've driven the grand total of 25 miles, and that's not liable to go up much by the time the week ends, so I'm by no means a major diesel polluter.
Marco.
I think if there was a safety issue it would be pretty big news. Not everyone is controlled by the government and the technology isn't new.
As far as owning a diesel is concerned it's fine providing there are not a lot of them. It's the numbers that have become a problem. You've got to get the masses to drive something else, get the percentages right down. If only a few percent of people stick to diesels just because they prefer them at an enthusiast level that won't be an issue. Buying a new one might be though.
Sure, but the fact is it's not been around for long enough yet, properly implemented as a fuel for motor vehicles, for any meaningful conclusions to be drawn on its safety in that context. That's why I don't 'buy' any of the claims currently being made on how safe it supposedly is.
The bit in bold applies to me. Also, I've never bought a brand new car in my life, diesel or otherwise, quite simply as they deteriorate too quickly in value. I prefer to benefit from someone else having taken that financial hit.Quote:
As far a owning a diesel is concerned it's fine providing there are not a lot of them. It's the numbers that have become a problem. You've got to get the masses to drive something else, get the percentages right down. If only a few percent of people stick to diesels just because they prefer them at an enthusiast level that won't be an issue. Buying a new one might be though.
Therefore, the last bit won't apply to me. Plus, for the foreseeable future (certainly within my driving lifetime), they'll be plenty of secondhand diesel cars available, especially performance ones, if the cost of diesel rises substantially, and people shun big diesel cars for reasons of economy or otherwise.
Marco.