View Full Version : Top ten cars sales 2013
If you ever get a Bentley Continental GT Marco, you'll be wanting plenty of Flat Earth to drive it on! ;) http://www.naimaudio.com/hifi-products/continental-gt-v8
Lol, Alex - yeah, I know that Naim do the sound systems... They probably sound fab! ;)
Marco.
A parent at my school has a white R8. It looks good, but sounds even better. When he arrives I am just compelled to get a little closer and listen to it.
http://cccfug.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2013-Audi-R8-White-Silver-659x419.jpg
That I like! Looks more American than Japanese (which is probably why I like it) :)
Marco.
Basically that's what it was - a "mini muscle car" modelled (copied...) from the real thing. Agree they are cute, though!
A parent at my school has a white R8. It looks good, but sounds even better. When he arrives I am just compelled to get a little closer and listen to it.
Hehehe... Is it maybe your next car?
I've got to say that I'd take one over anything that BMW or Mercedes make these days!
Marco.
walpurgis
13-01-2014, 23:06
Me? If I lived out in the sticks, I'd be seriously wanting one of these:
http://i40.tinypic.com/wk69ab.jpg
Basically that's what it was - a "mini muscle car" modelled (copied...) from the real thing. Agree they are cute, though!
Ah, I was wondering! There's an inherent 'look' about Japanese cars I just don't get on with. The best of the bunch for me are Hondas.
Marco.
Hehehe... Is it maybe your next car?
Given the choice - honestly - I'd take the F-Type.
However, I'm not unhappy with my car and unless I win Euromillions it's unlikely to happen!
Fair enough... The only way I'd take the F-type would be after test-driving both, and the Audi was a bit of a let down. Somehow, though, I think that's unlikely! :eyebrows:
I do intend to treat myself (and Del) to something special, vehicle-wise, in a year or two, once we cash in on some property sales.
Marco.
Fair enough... The only way I'd take the F-type would be after test-driving both, and the Audi was a bit of a let down. Somehow, though, I think that's unlikely! :eyebrows:
I do intend to treat myself (and Del) to something special, vehicle-wise, in a year or two, once we cash in on some property sales.
Marco.
To be fair Marco the F-Type and R8 are aimed at very different markets, the Jag being more of a GT car whereas the R8 is positioned on the lower rung of the Supercar sector...
Indeed, Dave, and a GT is my kind of car - rapid luxury - more than a supercar.
That doesn't matter to me, though, Dave. I know which one I prefer the look of!
Mind you, ultimately, for me to buy any car, the proof of the pudding is in how it *feels* when I'm behind the wheel. That is just as important to me as superb sound quality is for a hifi system. Looks are of secondary importance in BOTH areas... I couldn't give a toss either about which car is considered as higher up the rung of being a 'supercar'.
Therefore, if I drove both cars, and the Audi felt more 'right', giving me the greater feel-good factor (essentially if it pulled at the heart strings more), then that's the one I would buy (or vice versa)! :)
Realistically, though, there are other cars at that price level I'd have in my sights well before the Jag. TBH, I'm likely to end up with something vintage and sporty, which will be used sparingly (on sunny days), just for fun, with the Merc being kept for practical everyday driving.
Marco.
anthonyTD
14-01-2014, 10:32
Some real cracking cars here, and it just goes to show how individual we are.
For me, if i had a chance to own one of the modern offerings, i would go for Audi R8, Jaguar F Type, or Aston Martin DB7, or 9.
Some of the classics i really like, Dodge Charger, Mustang, [Elinor] The little Celica is a real Jap classic,And last but not least, E type Jag, Even Enzo Ferrari admitted he thought is was the most beautiful looking car he had ever seen.
In the film bullet, the Dodge charger proved to be a much stronger car than the the Mustang, apparently, they had to significantly modify, and strengthen the Mustang for the chase scene, unlike the Charger, which [apparently] was left pretty much standard, however, they had two of each, one set up as camera cars, and one of each for the stunt scenes.
A...
Gordon Steadman
14-01-2014, 11:07
Me? If I lived out in the sticks, I'd be seriously wanting one of these:
My wife used to drive a Seven with a blueprinted BDA engine in it. Fast woman huh?
Strangely, although we didn't know each other at the time, we may have met on the road as we lived very near each other back then. Sadly, I think I would have had a little trouble keeping up as I had an Alfa 1300cc GT Junior at the time. Would have been fun trying though......on both counts:eyebrows:
walpurgis
14-01-2014, 11:43
While we're on the subject of 'pretty things', I thought I'd bung a couple of beautiful bikes into the equation.
http://i42.tinypic.com/ogxq13.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/2i8vtht.jpg
A couple of interesting cars from the 1970's from the GM stable...
http://ralphhosier.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/imag0578.jpg
Vauxhall Firenza Droopsnoot
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7376/opelmantaagte2.jpg
Opel Manta MK1
...and one from Ford which is very close to my heart as my Dad owned an example in which we once achieved 120mph heading along the A2 towards London...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Ford_Capri_2000_GT_MkI.jpg
Ford Capri 2000GT
My father owned one of the very last MK1 Capri's to come off the production line at Dagenham and although he was a bit of a 'boy racer' at heart he didn't like his cars to shout about their performance potential, therefore his Monza Yellow 2000GT was devoid of a couple of the accoutrements commonly found adorning this model, so consequently it lacked a vinyl roof and blacked out rear light panel and looked all the better for it in my opinion. He did decide to keep the black grill with twin driving lamps and the gorgeous Roadstar alloys thankfully, which did at least set it apart from the more humdrum models in the range.
The 3000GT with its Essex V6 tends to steal all the limelight when it comes to fast Capri's but Dad took both models for a thorough test drive before signing on the dotted line after a tip off from an astute salesman and found that the 2000GT's performance was only very slightly down on it's bigger brother and with less weight over the front axle due to it's compact, V4 powerplant it handled better too. My abiding memory of this car was the gorgeous sound produced by that engine, sounding somewhat like a Suburu Impreza WRX with a supercharger bolted onto it. No, it didn't have anything so exotic but as the revs climb the V4 produces a lovely whine which suggests it has. Of all the cars Dad owned I think this was my favourite... ;)
Very nice, Dave - and oh, look... They're all shaped totally differently!! ;)
I love the Manta and the Capri. The Manta, however, is my favourite, as my dad (and also my uncle) used to have one. Fab car - tons of fun and character in abundance, and looked cool (in the 70s at least)!
Marco.
anthonyTD
14-01-2014, 12:54
My brother gave me a standard one of these [without the big wing arches] when i was 23, it was light blue,Over the following years, he also had an 1800 BDA, 1300 sport, along WITH a few really nice RS 2000's. i did a lot with the MK1 and MK2 escorts while i was involved with a friend who used to own a rally prepare shop, amongst many things, i made up new full wiring looms, and dry sump systems etc. The MK1, and MK2 escorts are still my favorite rally cars of all time.
To an extent Marco, there are classic cars I have a huge soft spot for, the Alfa Spider being one of them incidentally, but I am also aware that tomorrows classics are being made today and these vehicles will be as fondly remembered as any of those by our generation, probably more so because in forty years time I doubt very much there will be a single manufacturer producing vehicles with infernal combustion engines...
Incidentally, I would dearly love to own one of these...
http://media.turbosport.co.uk/2005/10/6755066200510070110.gif
Very nice, Dave - and oh, look... They're all shaped totally differently!! ;)
I love the Manta and the Capri. The Manta, however, is my favourite, as my dad (and also my uncle) used to have one. Fab car - tons of fun and character in abundance, and looked cool (in the 70s at least)!
Marco.
Oh shut up you, your like a dog with a bone... :rfl:
My uncle Peter owned a red Manta MK1 and he and Dad were always racing each other when they went out together in their cars. I love the look of the Manta but the 2000GT just had the performance edge, I will admit the Manta edges the Capri in the style stakes with its kicked up tail and Ferrari style rear lights :)
My brother gave me a standard one of these [without the big wing arches] when i was 23, it was light blue,Over the following years, he also had an 1800 BDA, 1300 sport, along WITH a few really nice RS 2000's. i did a lot with the MK1 and MK2 escorts while i was involved with a friend who used to own a rally prepare shop, amongst many things, i made up new full wiring looms, and dry sump systems etc. The MK1, and MK2 escorts are still my favorite rally cars of all time.
I totally agree with you there Anthony, the MKII RS2000 has one of the finest feeling gearshifts I have ever encountered, in fact all the controls are beautifully weighted to the point where one can concentrate on the sheer driving pleasure. Sadly I have always thought the MKII looks a little ungainly in comparison with the MK1, which just looks so 'right' in performance trim. (yeah, yeah Marco, I told you, I give up... hehe)
It's all very well talking about these souped-up Escorts, but I can tell you that my first company car, a bottom of the range Escort Mk. II Popular Plus 1.1l, was the crappest car I've ever driven. There was nothing either popular or plus about it. Milk floats would overtake me. It took five seconds to register which of the three pedals I'd depressed. The back end would slide on a dry road. Etc.
No rosy tinted nonsense about old cars here :eek:
Yup, the RS2000s were a hoot! As for rallying, hands up who prefers watching that to mind-numbingly boring (in comparison) F1? Count me in....!!
Sadly I have always thought the MKII looks a little ungainly in comparison with the MK1, which just looks so 'right' in performance trim. (yeah, yeah Marco, I told you, I give up... hehe)
Lol... The problem with today’s ordinary cars is that designers are now so obsessed with safety, reliability and fuel economy (undoubtedly all enviable goals), but in achieving excellent results in those areas, they’ve also engineered out the fun-factor! :doh:
Now that might be fine if you’re 'Mr Average', for whom driving is simply a mundane necessity, thus it matters not how much fun your car is to drive, simply that it gets from A to B reliably and with the minimum of fuss, or if you live in a crowded city.
However, if you’re someone like me who loves the feel of the open road (and that experience is not in short supply in rural North Wales), whilst driving a car that ignites your passions and makes you smile every time you get behind the wheel, it is an important part of life’s pleasures.
For me, life is for LIVING - and having FUN and indulging in one's passions, is a big part of that. That is why a minty 285 bhp (re-mapped) Mercedes E320 Avantagrde SE is sitting outside my house, which only cost me £10k, instead of a brand new Vauxhall Astra (yes, I’m giving the poor Ford Focus a rest now :eyebrows:), or some equally mundane shapeless blob, for more money than I paid for the Merc!
Sometime soon it will be joined by a nice vintage sports car, such as we’ve been discussing here, which will reflect the fruits of our labour, working our bollocks off over the last 20-odd years, and that will make life even more fun... Quite simply, dude, you’re a long time dead, so life's too short to drive boring cars!!
:exactly:
Marco.
Do you find your Merc fun to drive? If so, then it sort of neuters your argument somewhat because Mercedes designed your car to be safe (it needed to satisfy current rules & regs), relatively economical (you could have chosen the AMG version after all) and it is practical, all traits you seem to be dismissing in this debate :scratch: I am not being critical of your choice of vehicle Marco as it is a wonderful car which obviously arouses a passion for driving but it does rather fly in the face of the views you have posted on this thread and proves that it is possible for a modern car to be safe, practical, characterful and fun....
MikeMusic
14-01-2014, 15:06
It's all very well talking about these souped-up Escorts, but I can tell you that my first company car, a bottom of the range Escort Mk. II Popular Plus 1.1l, was the crappest car I've ever driven. There was nothing either popular or plus about it. Milk floats would overtake me. It took five seconds to register which of the three pedals I'd depressed. The back end would slide on a dry road. Etc.
No rosy tinted nonsense about old cars here :eek:
I had a few Escorts. They were poor to start and got better.
Horrified when I got a Marina on my next move.
Then I had another Escort.
Last twin Cam engines being used up in dead standard cars.
Underbraked, under suspensioned, under everything except power
Dangerous motor - course I could handle it :)
Do you find your Merc fun to drive? If so, then it sort of neuters your argument somewhat because Mercedes designed your car to be safe (it needed to satisfy current rules & regs), relatively economical (you could have chosen the AMG version after all) and it is practical, all traits you seem to be dismissing in this debate :scratch: I am not being critical of your choice of vehicle Marco as it is a wonderful car which obviously arouses a passion for driving but it does rather fly in the face of the views you have posted on this thread and proves that it is possible for a modern car to be safe, practical, characterful and fun....
Dave, the Merc was bought for one main purpose: to be a comfortable and effortless tourer, in which to travel abroad with Del and my mum and dad, and (with a roof box on top), and the fact that it's an estate car, have plenty of space for not only our luggage, but also to bring goodies back home, such as wine and food.
Now, me being me, whilst it was imperative that the above criteria was met, I also had to have something FUN to drive and reasonably sporty, which is why I chose this particular Merc, which is not only very safe (as it was designed to be) but an utter hoot when you floor it (trust me, the acceleration and kick you get in your seat is grin-inducing), but the fit and finish of the whole car is of the highest standard, which all adds to the pride of ownership.
Now, if I was 'Mr Average', do you think, given the brief outlined in my first paragraph (and that £15k was the most I wanted to spend), I'd have landed a car like that or gone for something rather more mundane? ;)
That, muchacho, is the whole point. I simply don't 'do' mundane....
Now, when free from any restrictive selection criteria, and given £40-50k (such as I will have in a few years) to spend purely on a 'fun-mobile', what do you think I'm liable to come up with?? :eyebrows:
Marco.
Now, given £40-50k, such as I will have to spend in a few years, purely on a 'fun-mobile', what do you think I'm liable to come up with?? :eyebrows:
Marco.
How's this for a "fun mobile" :lol:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/new/2208939.jpg
Certainly well away from the herd in car choices :eyebrows:
:lolsign:
Nice one, and it's a coupé, too!!
Marco.
anthonyTD
14-01-2014, 15:36
That's interesting Mike,
I didn't know of any of the mundane stuff from Ford that had the twin cams [BDA's] fitted, do tell. :)
A...
I had a few Escorts. They were poor to start and got better.
Horrified when I got a Marina on my next move.
Then I had another Escort.
Last twin Cam engines being used up in dead standard cars.
Underbraked, under suspensioned, under everything except power
Dangerous motor - course I could handle it :)
anthonyTD
14-01-2014, 15:42
Trabant ? An ex girl friend of mine [many years ago now] parents went to Russia for a holiday not long after the wall came down,they stayed with a family they had got to know over there, and in the evening the last thing they would do after parking the car up, was to take the windscreen wipers off and take them indoors, seems the most valuable thing on the car to them was the wipers!:)
How's this for a "fun mobile" :lol:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/uploads/new/2208939.jpg
Certainly well away from the herd in car choices :eyebrows:
MikeMusic
14-01-2014, 15:53
That's interesting Mike,
I didn't know of any of the mundane stuff from Ford that had the twin cams [BDA's] fitted, do tell. :)
A...
Twas 1978
I had been threatened with a Marina as it was cheap. Managed to get a Ford dealer to come very close to that price with this 'remaindered' Escort. Possibly why it was cheap.
I ran it in before I realised it went like stink.
Then I realised brakes and handling were not to the same standard and had some hairy moments, as well as some traffic light bur ups with various, co is was a Q Car
:)
The Twin cam was being discontinued. They had some engines to use up I was told so dropped them into standard motors.
Not a bright move IMO
MikeMusic
14-01-2014, 15:54
That's interesting Mike,
I didn't know of any of the mundane stuff from Ford that had the twin cams [BDA's] fitted, do tell. :)
A...
Twas 1978
I had been threatened with a Marina as it was cheap. Managed to get a Ford dealer to come very close to that price with this 'remaindered' Escort. Possibly why it was cheap.
I ran it in before I realised it went like stink.
Then I realised brakes and handling were not to the same standard and had some hairy moments, as well as some traffic light burn ups with various, 'cos it was a Q Car
:)
The Twin cam model was being discontinued. They had some engines to use up I was told so dropped them into standard motors.
Not a bright move IMO
Trabant ? An ex girl friend of mine [many years ago now] parents went to Russia for a holiday not long after the wall came down,they stayed with a family they had got to know over there, and in the evening the last thing they would do after parking the car up, was to take the windscreen wipers off and take them indoors, seems the most valuable thing on the car to them was the wipers!:)
...Whereas if you'd have been given access to the car with your girlfriend, the most valuable things would've been the window de-misters :eyebrows:
Not sure there'd have been much room for any antics in the back of that thing, though! Or maybe if she bent over the... Never mind! :lol:
Marco.
I used to work with a chap who will remain nameless, you will understand why later on, who had been bragging for months that for his 18th birthday, and if he passed his driving test in the meantime, his parents were going to buy him a brand new car. He went on about this incessantly to the point that the rest of us were becoming rather sick of it, so we resorted to taking the piddle a bit, like all good work colleagues should. Eventually he gave up mentioning it and frankly we had all forgotten about it until the beginning of a 2 - 10 shift one crisp, October afternoon. In comes chappy to the canteen with a look of pure rapture on his face....
"I've passed my test..." says he at the top of his voice whilst 24 faces remained securely ensconced within their tabloids... Crestfallen, chappy manoeuvres himself over to my table, plonks himself down in disgust muttering inanely into his coffee. At this point 'B' day was a couple of months away. Our friends test pass sparked him into yet another period of bragging which gradually tailed off again until... ... 'THE DAY OF THE CAR!!!' arrived...
Despite our slightly harsh treatment of him we were all somewhat curious as to what sort of car chappy would arrive at work in, so we gathered outside in the yard awaiting his arrival, as it happens before another backshift. The clock marched on towards ten to two and our friend had yet to put in an appearance. A few of my colleagues became bored and entered the factory to get changed for work leaving around twenty or so outside wondering if he'd broken down or got pulled for speeding.
Suddenly one of our forklift drivers came sprinting around the corner of the unit clutching his sides, skidded to a halt in front of us and damn near fell to the floor through a lack of self control. Between guffaws I managed to make out,
"You will never guess what <censored>'s evil parents have gone and bought him..."
Just then, having been spotted of course, a brand new, blush red Fiat 126 Bis sheepishly appears from around the corner containing our equally blush red colleague. After parking up, chappy exits his mean machine and I swear he illuminated that entire side of the factory with his embarrassment, at which point one wag shouts, "You'll never get a shag in that..." Things went very quiet for along while after and eventually we all got used to seeing the little red peril in the factory car park...
...and then one day, quite some time later, chappy arrives in the canteen and shouts, "I'VE DONE IT!!!".
"Done what?" says I somewhat confused
"I did it...in the car...with a girl. It was a bit tight and I had to open the rear hatch so we had somewhere to put our legs, but I shagged a girl in my car..."
http://www.klasyczny.com/wp-content/uploads/a1a31-650x250.jpg
Lol - interesting tale, Dave! :)
Marco.
Ninanina
14-01-2014, 22:51
He he he....
Actually I happen to think the 126 was a super little car really, but not very comfortable for antics.... :lol::lol:
After about fifty-five years of careful thought, I think I've narrowed it down to two. First, good old-fashioned hot Mini. There's simply nothing quicker or more fun round a Devon lane. My brother had a nice one:
http://www.thepippin.plus.com/Misc/Cars1017.JPG
The second choice took a bit longer. The requirement was for something to waft down to the Cote D'Azure in appropriate style, with wild off-the-wall styling, genuinely different but brilliant engineering that in many respects would be considered class-leading today, and a bit of Italian muscle thrown in. Here's the spec:
Four seats.
Quad-cam V6.
140mph max.
CD 0.25
Active suspension and steering.
Front wheel drive.
Manufactured 1970 - 1975.
Looks like it was drawn up by Frank Hampson's latin cousin.
You might call it the bastard offspring of a dysfunctional forced marriage, or you might just call it the most inspired and original grand tourer of the last 50 years.
Got it yet?
Ninanina
14-01-2014, 23:20
Has to be the Citroen SM love it to bits
Ninanina
14-01-2014, 23:22
I've owned loads of Citroens in my time, but would certainly have loved the SM :D
Ninanina
14-01-2014, 23:29
Just look how yummy they are::::
I agree they look adorable but best only get one if you have lots of money and lots of time on your hand as mechanically they are a nightmare with so many things to go wrong - sorry I meant do go wrong. And Marco won't like the 'bulbous' back end - or whatever ;)
The SM was ahead of its time, which is why they are complex and difficult to repair. Fabulous car, though, and inspired as Shane says.
A friend of mine had a Citroen Pallas semi-automatic and working on that was a total bastard.
I agree they look adorable but best only get one if you have lots of money and lots of time on your hand as mechanically they are a nightmare with so many things to go wrong - sorry I meant do go wrong. And Marco won't like the 'bulbous' back end - or whatever ;)
Au contraire, mon ami! J'adore le Citroën :)
I like them purely because they're quirky, unique, and also innovative for their time - and so anyone who owns one has my respect, as they're not just A-N-other boring car! People who drive cars like the Citroën are (intentionally or not) celebrating their individuality and desire to be different, which for me is what it's all about.
The bulbous back-end thing only applies to something purporting to be a sports car, where in my world, sleek, streamlined sexiness is the order of the day ('fat arses' are out) :exactly:
Marco.
Ah so a fat arse is okay providing it is a French fat arse. Maintainant je comprends...
Lol - some German 'fat arse' can also be cool! :eyebrows:
Basically, I think it's cool to be quirky. Trio Leo, who's a member here, turned up at my house to visit in his yellow and white Citroën 2CV 'Dolly', which shows a quirky side to his character. I like that. We need more mavericks.
It's the same as I also like folk who dress differently from the norm, or have an unusual hairstyle. I like people with personality, and if that's also reflected in the type of car they drive, then it all makes for a more interesting world!
Marco.
Got it in one. (I knew you would...)
http://mediastorage.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/e0/971f7/d13bb/06af9/0dbce/6b904/6055e/SM%2025_300x200.jpg?1374144577&displayId=1002
I mean, just look at it. You don't park that, you dock with the mother-ship!
Any car more complex than a Morris 1000 that's forty years old is going to have reliability issues. The trick is to get to know the specialists. Yes, the suspension uses high pressure pumps and so on, but it's really not that bad, just different. Most odfthe engine problems have been ironed out now (air-con pumps snapping camshafts, sodium-cooled exhaust valves snapping off at the head etc), so as long as it's well maintained it shouldn't be a problem.
I had a drive in a Jaguar XF Sportback the other day. Once I'd got past the idea that it was going to bite my leg as I walked up to it, it proved to be fast, quiet and comfortable, but it was boring. And that's from a bloke whose everyday drive is a 10 year old diesel Punto. And if you think an SM is complex, the XF would scare the shit out of you! These things won't be collectable, because once those electronics start wobbling and the factory loses interest, no-one will be able to do anything with them. I foresee a future where the majority of cars head to the scrapper in perfectly good mechanical condition, but with electronic problems that either can't be repaired or aren't economical. Not sustainable, I'm afraid.
Post of the year, so far, Shane!! :clap:
I'll comment properly later.
Marco.
Post of the year, so far, Shane!! :clap:
Awwww shucks... :o
One thing I will say in the meantime, before addressing the very valid points you've made, is this:
Some may not realise it, but by continually, most likely subconsciously, 'conforming to the norm' (which is reflected in your lifestyle choices), you are simultaneously and insidiously being controlled and ‘moulded into shape’ by the government!
That, amigos, if allowed to continue, could lead to a rather unpleasant outcome... It is why I shun having a mainstream lifestyle, and in doing so, divorce myself from 'the system' as much as possible.
Marco.
walpurgis
15-01-2014, 11:14
Shane is right of course.
I've been toying with the idea of getting a Morris Minor (once again) as an everyday runabout, simply because they just keep going, there is nothing that can't be easily fixed and that will be the case for the foreseeable future. It may be slow in standard trim, but can be tweaked to be made quite nippy and retain reliability. The insurance is low (classic car), fuel economy is good and they're fun to drive. That little 'A' Series engine is tough and it can be lifted out by one person and taken one apart in an hour. All mechanical, chassis, body and other parts are available. It makes a lot of sense if you don't want regular motorway capability. The only time I ever got stuck at the side of the road in one was when it ran out of petrol (I was only 18 and too skint to top it up).
No doubt the government would like to find a way of abolishing the use of 'Classic Cars', but at the moment things are OK. There are not great volumes of them in everyday use, so the impact on revenue to the government coffers is minimal.
Gordon Steadman
15-01-2014, 11:30
Cars, don't yer just luvem??
Before we came out to France, we bought an old Sierra Estate because we knew we were going to be lugging loads of building materials for the house and then, hopefully, loads of wood for my business. It cost all of £150!! This was in 2006.
Its been brilliant but sadly, it is about to part this mortal coil as it no longer passes the emissions test. So we had to get a new motor rather quickly. This is not the place to be stuck without transport.
The day after we learned it was a write off, someone advertised an Audi A4 for quite reasonable money so we now have a bit of German engineering sitting in the drive. I now feel a proper member of the old man's club. Sombre dark blue, all the gizmos, air con etc but its front wheel drive, so safe sideways motoring is a thing of the past. I love scaring the natives by a bit of sideways action coming at them round the lovely bendy roads out here.:eek::rolleyes: Admittedly, it takes a bit of effort in the Sierra but it can be done!
Anyway, the dotage beckons it seems. Hopefully, when Ronnie gets her pension too, we will be able to afford something more fun again. Just hope I'm up to driving the way I like by then! Boy racers forever:lol:
I've been toying with the idea of getting a Morris Minor (once again) as an everyday runabout, simply because they just keep going, there is nothing that can't be easily fixed and that will be the case for the foreseeable future. It may be slow in standard trim, but can be tweaked to be made quite nippy and retain reliability. The insurance is low (classic car), fuel economy is good and they're fun to drive. That little 'A' Series engine is tough and it can be lifted out by one person and taken one apart in an hour. All mechanical, chassis, body and other parts are available. It makes a lot of sense if you don't want regular motorway capability. The only time I ever got stuck at the side of the road in one was when it ran out of petrol (I was only 18 and too skint to top it up).
No doubt the government would like to find a way of abolishing the use of 'Classic Cars', but at the moment things are OK. There are not great volumes of them in everyday use, so the impact on revenue to the government coffers is minimal.
...which is why there are significant benefits in remaining 'out of the loop', as it were! That's one of the reasons why I divorce myself from 'the norm', and ensure (as far as possible) that my lifestyle choices mean that the government's ability to control me, is minimal!
I can promise that successfully benefiting from that approach has a tangible impact on life's 'fun factor'... ;)
Nice one on the Morris Minor, Geoff. I totally get where you're coming from. I intend to do something similar, only with a 'fun-mobile' that will provide a bit more of an adrenaline rush!! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Mum had a Minor 1000 Traveler which we fitted with a Sprite 1275 engine with stainless exhaust, Marina front discs and a servo, telescopic shocks all round and a 13" steering wheel. It was brilliant! I honestly don't think it would be any less usable in modern traffic than my Punto is, and it certainly wouldn't have landed me with the bills that the Punto's generated in the last couple of years, recon replacement diesel pump £700, recon replacement electric steering column, £800. Electric steering column FFS? The steering column on the Morris is a steel bar with a spline on each end. It's NEVER going to go wrong! Likewise, when the fuel pump on the Morris got a bit temperamental, a bash with a hammer would get you home and a new one's about £30. There isn't a car I've driven since that had more informative steering (apart from Benn's Mini above). OK, the road-holding limits were low, but that meant that it was possible to have a huge amount of fun without modifying the scenery, and with the modded suspension it met those limits controllably and progressively without scaring you witless.
And there was plenty of room for nefarious activities in the back, once the seats were folded down.
Incidentally, the Classic Car movement has been remarkably resilient against government interference, not least because a lot of MPs are enthusiastic classic owners themselves.
Some may not realise it, but by continually, most likely subconsciously, 'conforming to the norm' (which is reflected in your lifestyle choices), you are simultaneously and insidiously being controlled and ‘moulded into shape’ by the government!
Please elucidate on this 'norm' so that we can ensure that we are not conforming to it and thus risking being controlled and moulded into shape. Ta.
I don't know, Joe. If you describe your lifestyle choices to me, I'll let you know whether or not I think you qualify! ;)
Marco.
I don't know, Joe. If you describe your lifestyle choices to me, I'll let you know whether or not I think you qualify! ;)
Marco.
'Don't tell him, Pike!'
Retired from work, part-time postgrad student, married with two adult children, one clapped-out car, no pets, shop at Sainsbury's. I'm doomed, aren't I?
Lol... Aren't we all? :D
Ok, for fun, we could start a little questionnaire, in order to ascertain how much you 'conform to the norm'...
Question 1: would you say that you are susceptible to the effects of subliminal marketing, and if so, to what degree would you say that your lifestyle choices are influenced by it?
Marco.
Lol... Aren't we all? :D
Ok, for fun, we could start a little questionaire...
Question 1: would you say that you are susceptible to the effects of subliminal marketing, and if so, to what degree would you say that your lifestyle choices are influenced by it?
Marco.
I see very little advertising; eg don't watch commercial TV or read a newspaper. I don't think I have any 'lifestyle choices' as such; the things I spend most money on are books and music, and they tend to be guided by stuff I've enjoyed previously and/or personal recommendations, and a lot come from charity shops. Amazon sometimes reel me in with special offers on box sets of music.
Ok...
Question 2: ‘Newest and latest is always best’ – how strongly do you agree or disagree with that statement?
Marco.
P.S We'll do 10 questions, and then I'll give you my verdict! :eyebrows:
brucew268
15-01-2014, 17:01
Isn't part of the idea of 'subliminal' that you don't notice and are therefore likely to deny such influence automatically? That would take some reflection and/or some exemplars as questions. But then this was meant to be a fun questionnaire.
Do you tend to assume that the cheapest priced tool is rubbish and look at ones just a bit above the median price... but then are sure to snap it up if on a limited time offer? ... but then is that a norm or decidedly non-average? And to what extent is that related to subliminal marketing?
I think I've crossed the line here from fun into party pooper. Sorry.
...edited: predictive text can cause havoc.
Gordon Steadman
15-01-2014, 17:01
Ok...
Question 2: ‘Newest and latest is always best’ – how strongly do you agree or disagree with that statement?
Marco.
P.S We'll do 10 questions, and then I'll give you my verdict! :eyebrows:
Can we all join in?? Er......bollocks:lol:
Sure! :D
Bruce, I agree with your definition of 'subliminal'. However, how the question is answered can indicate the level that the participant is being influenced by it ;)
Marco.
I'm going to be a party pooper too and sit this one out as I can see the bigger picture and no amount of 'persuasion' is going to change my POV ;)
That's cool, but why not express your point of view by answering the questions honestly?
In any case, it's only a giggle! :D
Marco.
brucew268
15-01-2014, 17:32
Q2 : definitely not. But it depends on the industry. For tech, always buy just after the next Gen comes out. Or buy the second build/edition.
How important is it to have "tech" in your life?
I'm deciding if I should make that one an official question or not! :eyebrows:
Marco.
To be honest Marco I think I have made my position perfectly clear. Pick any era in the cars history, including today, and you will find examples which are fun to own and drive and others which are built for the purpose of getting from A to B with a huge spectrum of abilities in between. As much as I would personally wish to own a classic car that vehicle would also need to be my general runabout and there are very few examples which could fulfil that role, with the possible exception of something like the Triumph Dolomite Sprint which would be okay with me. My next car will not be a Dolly Sprint though, it will be something newish, fun, reliable and economical, which is why Jo and I have settled on either a Fiesta or a Focus.
Lol - so that's why you've been taking the huff, because I've been ripping the pish out of your next car? :lol: :eyebrows:
Only kidding, btw!!!
:D
Marco.
anthonyTD
15-01-2014, 17:57
Annnnnnd back to the questionnaire .
A...
Annnnnnd back to the questionnaire .
A...
Or even back to cars...
Annnnnnd back to the questionnaire .
Are you enjoying this? :lol:
Marco.
Audioman
15-01-2014, 18:08
To be honest Marco I think I have made my position perfectly clear. Pick any era in the cars history, including today, and you will find examples which are fun to own and drive and others which are built for the purpose of getting from A to B with a huge spectrum of abilities in between. As much as I would personally wish to own a classic car that vehicle would also need to be my general runabout and there are very few examples which could fulfil that role, with the possible exception of something like the Triumph Dolomite Sprint which would be okay with me. My next car will not be a Dolly Sprint though, it will be something newish, fun, reliable and economical, which is why Jo and I have settled on either a Fiesta or a Focus.
My father had a standard Dolomite (company car) back in the 70's. I remember it was a pain to get running right with the twin carbs needing regular adjustment. Think he had some mod done to improve things. Classic car ownership is frankly if you can afford to run it as a second fun vehicle. Modern cars are so much more suited to current traffic conditions as well as necessary fuel economy. I can't understand the allure of the Morris Minor. I remember going on a reasonably long business trip with a colleague who insisted on using his car rather than my Cortina. It was bloody hairy and felt lacking in safety then (mid 70's). I wouldn't drive one 5 yards now. Only used by the Croppers in Corrie nowadays LOL.
Paul.
Some may not realise it, but by continually, most likely subconsciously, 'conforming to the norm' (which is reflected in your lifestyle choices), you are simultaneously and insidiously being controlled and ‘moulded into shape’ by the government!
Bit of a jump there, Marco. We are still just talking about cars? :scratch:
Yes, but the type of car you drive represents a lifestyle choice, and that lifestyle choice (and how it was decided) could indicate how you qualify, in reference to what I wrote earlier, which you've just quoted...
We're still talking about cars, but I'm extrapolating the discussion :)
I think Joe's got bored, though, so if anyone else would like to take his place, I'll continue the questionnaire, but you'll have to answer questions 1 and 2 first ;)
Marco
Ali Tait
15-01-2014, 18:47
I think most folk just buy what they can afford Marco, choice is limited by their finances.
Sure. I was just trying to get folk to think a bit more about what drove their buying decisions, other than simply just finances. However, maybe we're getting a bit too deep!
That can happen sometimes, as I like to know what makes people 'tick'... :)
Marco.
Gordon Steadman
15-01-2014, 19:31
I think most folk just buy what they can afford Marco, choice is limited by their finances.
Have to agree with this. Lifestyle choices are fine for those that can afford them. Most of us have to cut the cloth etc. We have the Audi because its the best car we can afford right now. Hopefully, by being sensible, it will last until we are able to make the choice on 'want' rather than 'need'.
Sometimes, being different has a price attached. Its one of the reasons I'm out here in France. Property prices mean than someone of my age, starting again from scratch, can actually buy a home. My play safe and extremely boring brother in law is rolling in it because he never took risks and has benefited from assurance and insurance payouts. He wouldn't know different if it smacked him in the mouth. I know that many would say he did the right thing but I reckon my life has been considerably more 'interesting' than his.
Ali Tait
15-01-2014, 19:34
Well just been reading a similar post on an Alfa forum. Some people think I'm daft running a V6 166, but when you factor in the low purchase cost, versus the depreciation you get in a new car, it starts to make sense. Another point with the Alfa, if something serious breaks I can just scrap it and buy another.
Folk don't seem to allow for the money they lose buying a new or nearly new car
Gordon Steadman
15-01-2014, 20:01
Well just been reading a similar post on an Alfa forum. Some people think I'm daft running a V6 166, but when you factor in the low purchase cost, versus the depreciation you get in a new car, it starts to make sense. Another point with the Alfa, if something serious breaks I can just scrap it and buy another.
Folk don't seem to allow for the money they lose buying a new or nearly new car
Anyone that thinks you are daft running a V6 Alfa has never lived.
Ali Tait
15-01-2014, 20:08
Well aye, but I was meaning from a cost point of view! :D
. He wouldn't know different if it smacked him in the mouth. I know that many would say he did the right thing but I reckon my life has been considerably more 'interesting' than his.
Yep poverty is certainly interesting. I had a grand old time when I didn't have a pot to piss in. the only drawback was concern about the future. As it turned out I needn't have worried too much. I've known a few people who had everything from birth, pretty much. And when they lost it all that was it they couldn't take it and killed themselves, despite being in perfect physical health and with friends and family who cared about them.
As for being an individual I think the best way is not to care too much about other people's opinions and just do what you want (and drive what you want, be it a Ford or a Bugatti).
Not sure if this is what Marco is getting at but I see a perfectly ordered society in which everything is optimised and everyone has the same as being a total nightmare. We are not ants and we should not live in a hive. It may work for insects but it is not for man.
walpurgis
15-01-2014, 20:42
Folk don't seem to allow for the money they lose buying a new or nearly new car
Most people know little about cars and I suspect they buy new or as new as they can afford, basically out of fear of having trouble with a car that has no guarantee and I doubt if they are properly aware of the horrendous early depreciation that occurs. Others of us know our way around vehicles and are a bit less fazed around older or 'Classic' stuff.
Ali Tait
15-01-2014, 20:44
Aye, that's the way I look at it, I'd rather have an older nice car than a new Eurobox.
Gordon Steadman
15-01-2014, 21:01
when they lost it all that was it they couldn't take it and killed themselves, despite being in perfect physical health and with friends and family who cared about them.
This is very true. My partner at the time I was wealthy, saw herself very much in terms of how she appeared to others and by her financial standing. When we lost the business, she was devastated by the loss of image as much as anything. I couldn't understand why I should be any different personally or take it all as a personal insult that the world no longer saw me as 'successful'. It took about three months for this difference to finish off whatever it was we had between us.
Having no dosh is character building (well, for some it seems) and requires an inventive turn of mind to keep going and recover. I may not have recovered the sort of financial position that I once enjoyed but my life since has been 100% happier without all the stress that maintaining that lifestyle meant.
I think I now have balance. As I look around me, I seem to see less and less.
walpurgis
15-01-2014, 21:10
I think I now have balance. As I look around me, I seem to see less and less.
The 'Hippie Era' was my formative period and the pursuit of assets and status was regarded as the stuff of 'stiffs', My outlook (and opinion of 'stiffs') has not changed that much.
Having had the problems I've had with the Punto, which isn't the most complicated car in the world, I'd be terrified to own any car made since about 2000 outside warranty. My brother ( who seems to have featured quite prominently in this thread) works for a local car recovery business who do all the local work for Green Flag, RAC, Brittannia Recovery and so forth. Most of their work these days is for BMWs, Mercs, Range Rovers, Jaguars and the like which have developed electrical problems. Usually, there's nothing they can do with them other than carry them back to a main dealer. The problems can be excruciating. That XF I drove has a completely computerised handbrake. So what happens when it decides it's not going to play today? If you're a recovery driver, you drag it onto your truck with wheels locked! Or take a Mini. The battery's in the boot. The boot catch is electric, so what do you do if the battery runs out and the car's locked? Either cart it off to the main dealer or break a window and take the back seat out. What's going to happen when these things are 15 years old and living on a council estate?
Ok...
Question 2: ‘Newest and latest is always best’ – how strongly do you agree or disagree with that statement?
Marco.
P.S We'll do 10 questions, and then I'll give you my verdict! :eyebrows:
Strongly disagree. Next!
Lol... There have been lots of interesting replies since I last posted, which I should comment on, but just to humour you, Joe...
Question 3: If you believe that you have achieved success in life, how would you define that success?
Marco.
Lol... There have been lots of interesting replies since I last posted, which I should comment on, but just to humour you, Joe...
Question 3: If you believe that you have achieved success in life, how would you define that success?
Marco.
To the extent that I have achieved success, I'd define it mainly as having had a good marriage and having helped to raise two wonderful children; in purely personal terms, to have retired early and returned to studying something I'm really interested in.
walpurgis
15-01-2014, 22:36
to have retired early and returned to studying something I'm really interested in.
I've retired early and returned to living life as a (rather old) hippie, after a fashion. :)
Ok...
Question 4: How important is it in your life to have access to the latest modern technology, and if necessary, could you function without it?
Marco.
Joe, you're only on Q3 and I already want to marry you... :D... oh, you already have a good marriage - best I "SHUT IT!!!!" then! ;)
Ok...
Question 4: How important is it in your life to have access to the latest modern technology, and if necessary, could you function without it?
Marco.
Up to a point I could function without it - I don't own and don't wish to own a smartphone, for instance. But modern technology is essential for my MA; course materials are only available on-line, and essays and other assignments can only be submitted online.
Joe, you're only on Q3 and I already want to marry you... :D... oh, you already have a good marriage - best I "SHUT IT!!!!" then! ;)
I believe he's quite broad-minded, Alex, so if you PM him later, you might still be on a promise! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Up to a point I could function without it - I don't own and don't wish to own a smartphone, for instance. But modern technology is essential for my MA; course materials are only available on-line, and essays and other assignments can only be submitted online.
Ok...
Question 5 (and this relates to the previous question): Is it true to say then that you don’t allow technology to control you in a way which is contrary to how you would choose to live your life?
Marco.
Ok...
Question 5 (and this relates to the previous question): Is it true to say then that you don’t allow technology to control you in a way which is contrary to how you would choose to live your life?
Marco.
Definitely true (except that I'd prefer to print my essays off, partly because servers always seem to crash at just the wrong moment!)
Joe, you're only on Q3 and I already want to marry you... :D... oh, you already have a good marriage - best I "SHUT IT!!!!" then! ;)
You can sling your hook, I'm a married man (and so are you!)
Ok...
Question 6: In your adult life, have there been occasions when you have knowingly been adversely influenced by peer pressure, and if so, how often would you say that this has happened, frequently or relatively infrequently? If you have been adversely influenced by peer pressure, briefly describe why you considered that so.
Marco.
The Grand Wazoo
15-01-2014, 23:00
This thread has become a little ..........well.........I'm flabbergasted.
.....how much you 'conform to the norm'.....
Conforming to whose definition of the norm?
Here are a few things to think about:
I'd be surprised if I've ever met anyone who would consider themselves to be normal.
People who consider themselves non-conformist should be grateful to those who are normal rather than knock them for their choices. The reason being that if you consider it important to be different, you need the normals to be different from!
If almost everyone were different, then different would be normal. So now who would be different? The ones who are the same, that's who!
How individualistic is the middle aged man who drools over, and dreams of the day he will buy, a flash vintage Italian sports car? Whether he can afford it or not?
I'd say that he was absolutely and utterly typical of almost every single other man of his age! But that's in some way non-conformist?
How does that work then?
Lol... I'll get to that later, Chris! In the meantime, I have an important questionnaire for Joe to complete ;)
Marco.
The Grand Wazoo
15-01-2014, 23:05
I have an important questionnaire for Joe to complete
Yes I can see
I know this thread has degenerated somewhat from its original intentions (AoS for you!) - and sorry to interrupt Marco's MORI poll ;) - but I made a big choice last year to get a "sensible" daily driver (a very Germanic and amazing (but boring...) Volkswagen CC GT instead of my "gangsta" mobile Chrysler 300C) so that I could invest a considerable sum in having my 1991 Land Rover 110 200 TDi fully refurbished. Had a meeting with the garage today, and we are starting the rebuild - a brand new galvanised chassis and bulkhead, all suspension being replaced and upgraded, every bush replaced - the whole thing being taken apart and refurbished. It is going to cost me a fortune, but should outlive me - even if I make a century, and the only way I will part with it is when I shuffle off my mortal coil, and then I hope the kids will fight over who is going to keep her, rather than sell her and buy Crack... In the meantime, I am planning on using "Maggie" for camping trips, cycling with the family, buying a Canadian canoe to sling on the roof, as well as more off-roading. Heck, we might even take her back to Africa one day... :) She won't look much different, apart from sitting a bit taller, but will be better than brand-new underneath. It might cost me the price of a new Fiesta, but over 40 years it is a bargain - and you know what they say - after a nuclear war only 2 things survive - cockroaches and Land Rover Defenders! ;)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/201324_10150262918629942_4383433_o.jpg
walpurgis
15-01-2014, 23:16
I'd buy a Defender if they weren't so juicy for a diesel.
The Grand Wazoo
15-01-2014, 23:23
......and you know what they say - after a nuclear war only 2 things survive - cockroaches and Land Rover Defenders! ;)
Now then Alex....about these cockroaches. By surviving a nuclear war, would they be conforming to the cockroach norm, or would their survival make them the mavericks of the insect world??
Now then Alex....about these cockroaches. By surviving a nuclear war, would they be conforming to the cockroach norm, or would their survival make them the mavericks of the insect world??
:lol:
Joe must be off to very carefully consider question 6 (either that or he's lost the will to live), so while he's busy with that, I'm off to enjoy some repose in the true non-conformist tradition...
I'll leave you to work out exactly what that is!! :goodnight: :D
Marco.
I'd buy a Defender if they weren't so juicy for a diesel.
True, not great, but then a lot of metal to hulk around I guess - never measured what the MPG is - 25, maybe? I'd love a petrol V8, but maybe with an LPG conversion!
Joe must be off to very carefully consider question 6 (either that or he's lost the will to live), so while he's busy with that, I'm off to enjoy some repose in the true non-conformist tradition...
I'll leave you to work out exactly what that is!! :goodnight: :D
Marco.
Off to have a wank with your other hand? If you lay on you arm for a while it'll go dead and add to the experience! :eyebrows:
Ok...
Question 6: In your adult life, have there been occasions when you have knowingly been adversely influenced by peer pressure, and if so, how often would you say that this has happened, frequently or relatively infrequently? If you have been adversely influenced by peer pressure, briefly describe why you considered that so.
Marco.
Only once. I got very drunk and there was a point at which I knew I should stop drinking, but didn't. The evening ended very badly. And now I'm off to bed!
The Grand Wazoo
15-01-2014, 23:48
I'm off to enjoy some repose in the true non-conformist tradition...
That repose nonsense is over-rated mate:
“There is nothing so insupportable to man as to be in entire repose, without passion, occupation, amusement, or application. It is then is that he feels his own nothingness, isolation, insignificance, dependent nature, powerless and emptiness. Immediately there issue from his soul ennui, sadness, chagrin, vexation, despair.”
Blaise Pascal
And now I'm off to bed!
And drunk? Hold the door, big boy! ;)
Only once. I got very drunk and there was a point at which I knew I should stop drinking, but didn't. The evening ended very badly. And now I'm off to bed!
Ok...
Question 7: Were you ever given a 'Jim'll fix it' badge?
Marco.
How individualistic is the middle aged man who drools over, and dreams of the day he will buy, a flash vintage Italian sports car? Whether he can afford it or not?
I'd say that he was absolutely and utterly typical of almost every single other man of his age! But that's in some way non-conformist?
How does that work then?
Simples, muchacho... I refer you to Dave's earlier (I believe accurately depressing) prediction of the future:
There are new battery technologies within a cats whisker from being market ready which will revolutionize the electric vehicle. Some of these can be fully charged in minutes and yet provide range matching that of the most fuel efficient internal combustion powered vehicles.
So, when you lot are tootling around in your devoid-of-personality electric vehicles, I'll be zooming past you in my vintage Alfa, sticking my finger up at your 'conforming to the norm'!!! :upyours: :ner:
;)
Marco.
Ali Tait
16-01-2014, 08:21
Until they ban internal combustion engines...
Lol... The point is, I'd resist being compliant (read as: how the government sought to 'shape' my life) for as long as possible!
And if I was eventually forced to drive an electric car, I'd make sure that I customised it, so that it looked different from everyone else's!! :lol:
Marco.
Ok...
Question 7: Were you ever given a 'Jim'll fix it' badge?
Marco.
Nope. Never watched the programme.
This thread has become a little ..........well.........I'm flabbergasted.
.....how much you 'conform to the norm'.....
Conforming to whose definition of the norm?
Here are a few things to think about:
I'd be surprised if I've ever met anyone who would consider themselves to be normal.
utjLlBbXCdg
Until they ban internal combustion engines...
I expect when cars first came in, people were saying 'I'd never have one of those things, they've got no personality, unlike my horse-drawn carriage'.
Well, I think it's important to always stay true to what you value/believe in! ;)
I am *very* passionate about that.
Marco.
Question 8: If the government were to introduce a policy that would impact adversely on a fundamentally important aspect of your way of life, would you immediately adapt your lifestyle, in order to comply with that policy, or resist doing so for as long as possible?
Marco.
Question 8: If the government were to introduce a policy that would impact adversely on a fundamentally important aspect of your way of life, would you immediately adapt your lifestyle, in order to comply with that policy, or resist doing so for as long as possible?
Marco.
Not the former, mainly because I'm lazy, but it depends what you mean by 'resist' and 'government policy'. For example, 'government policy' is that people should not drink above a certain number of units of alcohol per week. But the policy isn't policed, so 'resisting' it is easy. Let's suppose for the sake of argument that the government introduced a policy that people should only drive electric cars. If it was voluntary, I'd probably ignore it. Then suppose the policy became law; ie it would be impossible to licence or insure a petrol or diesel car, and thus illegal to drive one. Would I break the law on the point of principle that I have the 'right' to drive what sort of car I want? Probably not.
Ok...
Question 9: On a scale of 1-10 (1 = completely irrelevant, 10 = vitally) how important to you is how you are perceived by others? Please validate your score by outlining your reasons for selecting it.
Marco.
Marco's wheels in an electric age :
http://imagehosting.rodsnsods.co.uk/imported/2011/08/45.jpg
Yeah, baby!! :respect:
Marco.
Ok...
Question 9: On a scale of 1-10 (1 = completely irrelevant, 10 = vitally) how important to you is how you are perceived by others? Please validate your score by outlining your reasons for selecting it.
Marco.
I'd say about 4. It's difficult to know how I'm perceived by others, but I believe (though I may be deluding myself) that I don't behave the way that I do because of others' expectations, and that I do what I think is right , most of the time. On the other hand I have enough social awareness to know that behaviour that's appropriate in one context may be inappropriate in another, and that might affect how some people in some contexts perceive me.
Ok, and finally...
Question 10: On a scale of 1-10 (1 = almost no resistance, 10 = extremely) how resistant are you to trends? Briefly outline your attitude towards conforming to the latest trends, and whether or not being 'accepted' by the majority is important to you.
Marco.
Ok, and finally...
Question 10: On a scale of 1-10 (1 = almost no resistance, 10 = extremely) how resistant are you to trends? Briefly outline your attitude towards conforming to the latest trends, and whether or not being 'accepted' by the majority is important to you.
Marco.
I'd say about 7. I'm too old to want or need to be 'trendy' (what exactly are 'the latest trends'? I genuinely don't know), and have always been a late adopter (or non-adopter) of new technologies. As far as being accepted by the majority is concerned, that's not a concern at all.
"Latest trends", in that context, would be the latest technological, lifestyle or fashion trends, which usually influence the general public.
Essentially, would you tailor aspects of your current way of living, to conform to the above, simply to be considered as 'normal' by the majority, or would you seek to distance yourself from such considerations and retain your individuality?
Call that one a sub-question of number 10!
Marco.
I'm immune from such things for the most part, and have been since I reached the age of 25 or so. It's not a conscious thing so much, more a reflection of the fact that I'm not aware of trends because I don't read the sort of publications, or watch the sort of programmes that feature them. But if I do come across a piece of technology that seems useful, I'll adopt it, so I wouldn't be without a dishwasher, for example, just to to prove my individuality, and I've used computers for so long in a work context that I now find it difficult to write anything other than a short note by hand.
Ok, stand by while the computer processes all submitted information and calculates your susceptibility factor to 'conforming to the norm'................
Marco.
The computer has calculated that you have a susceptibility factor of 4, which indicates that you remain as a free-thinker and are relatively non-conformist in nature.
Your prize for completing this survey is a dinner date with Alex UK, at a venue of your choice. Please note that this occasion requires formal dress, and in Alex’s world, that means only 'slinky little numbers' are allowed. However, if you value your appearance, it would be inadvisable to clash with his outfit.
Thank you for completing the questionnaire. Have a nice day!
Marco.
anthonyTD
16-01-2014, 12:30
Too true.
This is very true. My partner at the time I was wealthy, saw herself very much in terms of how she appeared to others and by her financial standing. When we lost the business, she was devastated by the loss of image as much as anything. I couldn't understand why I should be any different personally or take it all as a personal insult that the world no longer saw me as 'successful'. It took about three months for this difference to finish off whatever it was we had between us.
Having no dosh is character building (well, for some it seems) and requires an inventive turn of mind to keep going and recover. I may not have recovered the sort of financial position that I once enjoyed but my life since has been 100% happier without all the stress that maintaining that lifestyle meant.
I think I now have balance. As I look around me, I seem to see less and less.
I think the heading in this piece sums it all up:
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/meet-the-greatest-car-the-world-over-1424875285/1427096981/@pgeorge
Beobloke
16-01-2014, 12:57
Briefly outline your attitude towards conforming to the latest trends,
Personally speaking, I don't follow trends - I set them! :D
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-xlarge/191kidkmele4ljpg.jpg
Hell's bells, it takes a truly brave soul to venture into that lot :eek:
I thought the Xantia and BX I owned was a plumber's nightmare but the SM mechanicals puts those two in the shade :eyebrows:
I think the heading in this piece sums it all up:
http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/meet-the-greatest-car-the-world-over-1424875285/1427096981/@pgeorge
It's bit daft really. 'Why The Citroën SM Is Better Than An iPhone 5S'. You might as well say 'Why The Rolex Daytona is Better Than A Kenwood Chef' or 'Why A Burberry Raincoat is Better Than A Parker Pen'. Different tools for different jobs.
I'll be zooming past you in my vintage Alfa
I doubt it. Some electric vehicles already have stunning performance and that trend will increase with better battery and motor technology.
Anyway, there is no need at all for electric vehicles to be equated with mundane/normal/whatever category you wish to give them. Right now, anyone buying an electric vehicle is hardly conforming to the norm since the norm is internal combustion.
And if I was eventually forced to drive an electric car, I'd make sure that I customised it
Mmm, hmm. You'll have discovered that Aldi batteries give a better feel while the rest of us are on Duracells :lol:
Beobloke
16-01-2014, 14:21
And if I was eventually forced to drive an electric car, I'd make sure that I customised it, so that it looked different from everyone else's!! :lol:
Marco.
Indeed. I think those Tesla cars are fantastic looking vehicles but the only way I'd ever have one is if someone customised it for me by ripping out all the electric crap and dropping a V8 into it, which sort of defeats the point!
anthonyTD
16-01-2014, 14:53
As i mentioned [in a much earlier post in this thread] Electric cars will evolve dramatically over the next few years, using not conventional battery power, but high voltage, ultra low leakage capacitor technology, this will allow much lower charging times, and quite a considerable increase in mileage between charges, also, electric motors have tremendous torque potential, so, given the right battery, they have the potential to p**s all over conventional combustion engines as far as acceleration and top speed is concerned.
All this from a guy that still has a passion for old stuff, however, i am a realist at heart.:)
A...
Only problem is, they'll be boring shapeless blobs of mass-produced plasticness..... Hopefully, I'll be too old to care about driving before these soulless monstrosities become the norm on our roads!
;)
Marco.
I doubt it. Some electric vehicles already have stunning performance and that trend will increase with better battery and motor technology.
Anyway, there is no need at all for electric vehicles to be equated with mundane/normal/whatever category you wish to give them. Right now, anyone buying an electric vehicle is hardly conforming to the norm since the norm is internal combustion.
So how readily would you give up your Beemer for one? Will you be first in the queue? ;)
Marco.
So how readily would you give up your Beemer for one? Will you be first in the queue?
Perhaps not first, but I suspect I might try one before I die ;)
What happens to one of these hyper-charged mega capacitors when it piles into the back of a 38 tonner at 90MPH? Would you want to be within a mile of it?
Small nuclear-like explosion. Darwinism at work ;)
anthonyTD
16-01-2014, 17:59
Good point, However, I have seen test reports on this type of battery, and as you can imagine, they will have to withstand the worst possible scenario, including having say, a pick axe plunged directly into them, with no harmful shocks or electrical discharge felt by anyone within the vicinity.
What happens to one of these hyper-charged mega capacitors when it piles into the back of a 38 tonner at 90MPH? Would you want to be within a mile of it?
Ali Tait
16-01-2014, 18:02
Another plus point with electric vehicles is all the torque is immediately available, rather than having to get the the right rev point as with a combustion engine.
anthonyTD
16-01-2014, 18:07
For those interested in the technology, here is a link http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:EEStore
A...
I've nothing against the batteries themselves, just the 'style' of the cars that they put them in!!
If I could simply pop one underneath the bonnet of my Merc, and nothing else changed about the car, I wouldn't have a problem with it ;)
Small nuclear-like explosion. Darwinism at work...
:D
Marco.
They have been saying that the batteries will get better for ten years now. They wear out too so you rent them at two hundred quid a month. That still buys a lot of petrol or diesal. Maybe they will crack it one day but at the moment electric cars are still strictly for the mug punter.
"It can allegedly charge within 5 minutes with enough energy to move a car 500 miles on about $9 worth of electricity"
I'd be interested in Ali's views on the effect that would have on local electricity supplies. My household supply has a 100A fuse, so at 240v it can deliver 2kWh max in 5 minutes. That's about enough to drive a car to the end of the drive and back.
To put it another way, lets assume it has a 100kW motor, that runs on average at about 10% full power. That's 10 kWh used per hour. Driving 500 miles will take about 10 hours (if the roads are empty), so thats about 100kWh for the journey. 100kWh delivered in 5 minutes is 1.2mWh, so I'd need an electricity supply capable of delivering enough power to supply a small town. Put one of those in every garage....
It's been a long day so I can't guarantee faultless mental arithmatic, but you get my drift.
walpurgis
16-01-2014, 20:04
They have been saying that the batteries will get better for ten years now. They wear out too so you rent them at two hundred quid a month.
That hints at something nobody has mentioned about electric/hybrid cars. The cost of battery pack replacement, they have a finite life and presumably will probably just last long enough for the vehicle to be out of guarantee. You are then looking at thousands of pounds to buy and fit a replacement, instantly rendering the car beyond economic repair and immediately becoming low value scrap!! (apart from the dead battery pack of course which will be high value scrap for the lithium or whatever else is used in it)
Ali Tait
16-01-2014, 20:55
"It can allegedly charge within 5 minutes with enough energy to move a car 500 miles on about $9 worth of electricity"
I'd be interested in Ali's views on the effect that would have on local electricity supplies. My household supply has a 100A fuse, so at 240v it can deliver 2kWh max in 5 minutes. That's about enough to drive a car to the end of the drive and back.
To put it another way, lets assume it has a 100kW motor, that runs on average at about 10% full power. That's 10 kWh used per hour. Driving 500 miles will take about 10 hours (if the roads are empty), so thats about 100kWh for the journey. 100kWh delivered in 5 minutes is 1.2mWh, so I'd need an electricity supply capable of delivering enough power to supply a small town. Put one of those in every garage....
It's been a long day so I can't guarantee faultless mental arithmatic, but you get my drift.
Well we are nearing an energy crisis as it is, so I've no idea where all the power would come from if all vehicles went electric. Still think fuel cells would be a good way to go, they can produce an energy surplus, which could power your house. Probably still a long way off though. Governments need to start throwing money at fusion, only viable long term solution for the planet I think.
anthonyTD
17-01-2014, 10:23
One thing we can be sure of, what ever energy source we' as the general public will be allowed to have in the future' will be taxable, and metered.
The Hydrogen cell is only of high benefit to us if the car its in produces the hydrogen itself ie; from water, if you have to buy it from a filling station, then chances are, its been produced using conventional fossil fuels, so, where is the sense in that ?
Magnet motors show promise, hi-brid cars only go so far in helping the pollution situation.
Solar cells are great, in the daytime, however, they produce the highest output when most people are at work, so who benefits ?
Yes, you can use inverters and store some of the energy they produce in batteries, but then you have the outlay of the batteries to take into account. Wind power is a real good alternative if you can get permission from the general public to spoil their countryside views.
Harnessing the tide is another good way.
We have the technology, we just have to work out how to implement it' to gain maximum potential from each type, while considering the impact each technology will have on its surrounding area, and the people living in those areas.
A...
We have the technology, we just have to work out how to implement it' to gain maximum potential from each type, while considering the impact each technology will have on its surrounding area, and the people living in those areas.............
...........As well as creating vehicles, which use that technology, that are as fun to drive and as individually styled, as the best examples, powered by the internal combustion engine ;)
If we're simply all going to be shoe-horned into some notionally 'perfect', generically produced eco-car, devoid of 'soul', then the future is bleak for those of us who use a car not merely just to get from A to B, but for the sheer pleasure we obtain from the driving experience itself!
My car is no more merely a 'means of transport' than my hi-fi system is just a 'device to produce sound', or the food I eat simply 'sustenance'... The feeling I derive from indulging in those activities must be in some way worthwhile or memorable. I trust you can see what I'm getting at?
Marco.
anthonyTD
17-01-2014, 11:27
Marco,
Your preaching to the converted, i have had a long standing love affair with the car, and in fact all things mechanical, and Electra-mechanical, since i was a very small boy, you, and the majority of AOS members only know of me from my involvement in Audio related matters, i have done many other things in my life, and been involved with cars in some form or another for a very long time, whether it be working on my own, or helping others etc, i admire the beauty invested in them, and the time and effort it takes to create them, and i agree, if we all end up driving the same bland, UN-interesting blobs then it will be a sad day for the designers who strive to bring us such wonderful creations, that is not what i am hoping will happen, i am sure we will continue to see beautiful, ingenious creations in the transport sector, however, they will share a common interest as far as the power source that propels them is concerned.
A.
...........As well as creating vehicles, which use that technology, that are as fun to drive and as individually styled, as the best examples, powered by the internal combustion engine ;)
If we're simply all going to be shoe-horned into some notionally 'perfect', generically produced eco-car, devoid of 'soul', then the future is bleak for those of us who use a car not merely just to get from A to B, but for the sheer pleasure we obtain from the driving experience itself!
My car is no more merely a 'means of transport' than my hi-fi system is just a 'device to produce sound', or the food I eat simply 'sustenance'... The feeling I derive from indulging in those activities must be in some way worthwhile or memorable. I trust you can see what I'm getting at?
Marco.
Electic cars don't have to be boring, they just have to be feasible.
Nothing boring here:
http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/mmc/researchanddev/lifecar.html
Marco,
Your preaching to the converted, i have had a long standing love affair with the car, and in fact all things mechanical, and Electra-mechanical, since i was a very small boy, you, and the majority of AOS members only know of me from my involvement in Audio related matters, i have done many other things in my life, and been involved with cars in some form or another for a very long time, whether it be working on my own, or helping others etc, i admire the beauty invested in them, and the time and effort it takes to create them, and i agree, if we all end up driving the same bland, UN-interesting blobs then it will be a sad day for the designers who strive to bring us such wonderful creations, that is not what i am hoping will happen, i am sure we will continue to see beautiful, ingenious creations in the transport sector, however, they will share a common interest as far as the power source that propels them is concerned.
A.
I sincerely hope that's the case, mate, but I have my doubts!
I know how 'into' cars you are, as we've had conversations about it before, and moreover, you don't own the type of cars you've had without also having a passion for driving!! ;)
It's that last bit which is the key to my argument.
Remember the feeling you used to get when sitting in your Porsche or Audi TT, not just when driving them, but the sense of occasion/anticipation from merely turning on the ignition, hearing the sound of the engine and looking forward to the thrill that awaited you when going out on the open road?
Well, that's what I seek from the driving experience, and I refuse to own a car that doesn't deliver me that experience. If an electric-powered car can do all that, as well as look 'sexy', then when the times comes to change, I'll be in... If not, I won't be touching one with a bargepole, until legally, I have no other option.
:exactly:
Marco.
Electic cars don't have to be boring, they just have to be feasible.
Nothing boring here:
http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/mmc/researchanddev/lifecar.html
Perhaps not to drive, in terms of its technical prowess, but to look at I see nothing there that excites me or says that 'I've been built with passion by a human being'; in fact quite the opposite: it reeks of 'soulless computer'.
You of all people should know exactly what I mean!
Marco.
Electic cars don't have to be boring, they just have to be feasible.
Nothing boring here:
http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/mmc/researchanddev/lifecar.html
Edit: OK, since the last time I looked they've changed it from an FCV to a series hybrid, but if you're going to do hybrid, then series hybrid (ie where the IC engine only drives a generator) is the way to go.
Here's anther boring electric car:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_C-X75
Even the boring ones aren't all that boring:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_FCX_Clarity
Ok, now we're talking - that Jag is more like it!!
Now, if only they could make 'ordinary' electric cars look less like they've been designed by Spock (devoid of emotion), I might be tempted to raise a smile thinking about the prospect of owning one..... ;)
Marco.
Sad thing about the Jag was that the original idea was to have the generators driven by a couple of micro gas turbines. Imagine the soundtrack to that! That was then changed to a 1.5L Williams F1 mill, then the project was binned due to other commitments, but not before Jag's parent company bought the company that designed and built the gas turbines, so watch this space!
http://www.bladonjets.com/
anthonyTD
17-01-2014, 13:34
I hear you, and i can assure you we are on the same page, However, one of the interesting aspects of the electric car is, due to the low level of noise these cars make, there will at some point come a time when it will be law for them to make some kind of noise in order for them to be heard, so, think of it, you could choose what ever car sound you want, ie Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes, etc, etc.just imagine...;)
I sincerely hope that's the case, mate, but I have my doubts!
I know how 'into' cars you are, as we've had conversations about it before, and moreover, you don't own the type of cars you've had without also having a passion for driving!! ;)
It's that last bit which is the key to my argument.
Remember the feeling you used to get when sitting in your Porsche or Audi TT, not just when driving them, but the sense of occasion/anticipation from merely turning on the ignition, hearing the sound of the engine and looking forward to the thrill that awaited you when going out on the open road?
Well, that's what I seek from the driving experience, and I refuse to own a car that doesn't deliver me that experience. If an electric-powered car can do all that, as well as look 'sexy', then when the times comes to change, I'll be in... If not, I won't be touching one with a bargepole, until legally, I have no other option.
:exactly:
Marco.
However, one of the interesting aspects of the electric car is, due to the low level of noise these cars make, there will at some point come a time when it will be law for them to make some kind of noise in order for them to be heard, so, think of it, you could choose what ever car sound you want, ie Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes, etc, etc.just imagine...;)
Indeed - now *that* I could have some fun with, but only if the car itself looked the part! Imagine sitting driving some mundane 'plastic-blob' monstrosity, and it sounding like a Ferrari... I can just hear the jeers of 'twat!' from folk, echoing in my ears, as I drive by.... :D
Marco.
anthonyTD
17-01-2014, 13:57
:)
Indeed - now *that* I could have some fun with, but only if the car itself looked the part! Imagine sitting driving some mundane 'plastic-blob' monstrosity, and it sounding like a Ferrari... I can just hear the jeers of 'twat!' from folk, echoing in my ears, as I drive by.... :D
Marco.
Sad thing about the Jag was that the original idea was to have the generators driven by a couple of micro gas turbines. Imagine the soundtrack to that! That was then changed to a 1.5L Williams F1 mill, then the project was binned due to other commitments, but not before Jag's parent company bought the company that designed and built the gas turbines, so watch this space!
http://www.bladonjets.com/
Lol, that's madness... :eyebrows:
The serious point here for me is that driving, the same as every other recreational activity I participate in, *must* be a little bit out of the ordinary, above all pleasurable, and in some way, a memorable experience. 'Mundane' simply isn't in my vocabulary. I don't get out of bed in the morning to indulge in dreariness...
The words 'bon vivant' aren't written on my profile here for nothing, you know!! ;)
Marco.
I challenge you to get into a 900bhp coupe with two jet engines without some sense of anticipation! Not that you'll get the chance, sadly.
Yes, the 'sense of anticipation' will be what it will be like to die!! :lol:
Marco.
walpurgis
17-01-2014, 19:52
I challenge you to get into a 900bhp coupe with two jet engines without some sense of anticipation! Not that you'll get the chance, sadly.
That may not happen. But instead how about a road legal motorbike with one jet engine and 420bhp that's available now (to order). The older version with a mere 320bhp was claimed to accelerate to 200mph in 5.4seconds. Here's a link: http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/news/newsresults/new-bikes/2013/january/jan3013-more-power
There are videos on youtube of this thing in action.
I understand that many people need a car to sustain their living (not to say their lifestyle), but cars as we know them today are basically the same as 150 years ago, only heavier with more electronics and they STILL (unbelievably) run on old dirty Nafta. So to me cars are all boring .. except maybe an Aston Martin ;-)
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