Car (or bike) Chat!

[walpurgis]

Yes, applying brakes to avoid imminent collision is a sensible response. One wonders what degree of distraction would prevent any 'normal' driver from doing this. There again, some drivers are so bad, that I wonder if they actually know that the big round thing in front of them is used for steering.

[struth]

difficult if unconcious/dead

[dave2010]

My car has that, although its switchable. Handy and does work, although I doubt I would want to trust it too much. It can also decide if youve taken ill/fallen asleep and stop the car at side of rd(not tried that lol).
The motorway system is good in that it will follow traffic speeds in front.. that does work, even on non motorway rds although you have to be careful there, as its not really intended there... sharp bends can cause major accelerations lol

It's probably a good extra safety feature to have, and indeed I knew someone who might not have died had that been fitted. However, this is presumably a newly available feature, and people (in general) have been driving for over a century now, and most people do try to avoid head on crashes. If they're already dead there's little to be gained - other than saving the car - or perhaps the other occupants. If they're unconscious possibly a bonus.

The motorway adjust speed feature seems a good idea - presumably you can set the cruise control, and it'll override the preset value if you're creeping up on vehicles in front.

One feature I've not got the hang of, and which seems to differ from car to car, is the lane drift feature. I've noticed this on several hire cars I've had recently, but really I don't see it being too much use. Maybe I've not understood it, or been using it wrong, but basically cars now seem to bleep at the driver if they cross a white line - though this seems variable, and works erratically - depending on whether there are white lines on both sides of the road. Perhaps that feature isn't supposed to be used on windy country roads, but I quite often straighten out the bends and go over white lines if I can see that there isn't anything coming the opposite direction. The extra distraction of a beeping system isn't helpful.

Oh - and relating to features which can be switched on or off - that's OK if the driver/owner knows how to do that.
I have no idea how to turn the lane drift feature on/off, but one feature which I've found a real pain on two occasions recently is sat-nav. People hand you over the car, tell you that the sat-nav will work, but don't tell you how to turn on (or off) the audio. We have found it a lot easier if the audio is set to on - otherwise a passenger has to keep looking at the screen to advise in the case of completely unknown roads. I don't mind if on/off is easy to find, but we've had two cars recently where this important bit of knowledge was not communicated to us, and where it was almost impossible to find while actually driving and in traffic. A lone driver would probably have to turn off the road, and consult a map!

[struth]

lane drift with mine can be adj to sensitivity and also resteer if you want/ or off.. ie if you ignore the bleeps it will correct the steer back into lane. if indicator is used its ignored of course. i usually have it on bleep only in town. think also you have to be going above a certain speed too.. 30mph or so I think.

as for the stop feature, it helps other users as much as anything tbh

[Pigmy Pony]

Yes, applying brakes to avoid imminent collision is a sensible response. One wonders what degree of distraction would prevent any 'normal' driver from doing this. There again, some drivers are so bad, that I wonder if they actually know that the big round thing in front of them is used for steering.

Or even that the big oblong thing piled high with rubble is going to hurt. Mistrust of electronic driver aids is prudent and anyone who thinks otherwise is likely to come a cropper at some point

[Pigmy Pony]

[QUOTE=dave2010;1152755]

I quite often straighten out the bends and go over white lines if I can see that there isn't anything coming the opposite direction. The extra distraction of a beeping system isn't helpful.

Been doing that for years, especially on the bike. I'm sure it is a recognised safe driving method - it gives an early view of oncoming traffic and obstacles, and reduces cornering forces when done correctly. Well this is what I tell myself, and I have done it in full view of traffic police with no problems.

[CageyH]

I am looking at replacing my uber-barge soon, and I am wondering about what other people think is going to happen with regards to legislation etc.

I currently have a BMW E46 320d touring. The Mrs complains that the boot is too small, so I need something bigger.

She has two requirements - a boot large enough to take everything on a family holiday, and something ecological.

My requirements are something comfortable for a 9 hour drive, which can cruise at 130 km/h. It needs to be reasonably economical as I do quite a few kilometres a year. I would prefer RWD, but could cope with going back to fwd. I reckon at least 150bhp is a sensible figure for comfortable overtaking.

The question is, do I go petrol, petrol hybrid of some description, diesel or diesel hybrid? Electric is out as the infrastructure is not in place yet.

If going petrol, I would look at an E85 conversion as here is France it is pretty cheap.

Fuel is getting expensive here. Diesel is currently €1.479 and SP95 is about €1.519 per litre. It is not going to get cheaper with Macron in power.

So, suggestions for sensible family car that ticks all of the above requirements would be appreciated.

I have a few thoughts, but would be interested in what other people think as I have missed some interesting choices.

[hifilover]

As you've already got a BMW and know their build quality; why don't you 'upgrade' to the next sensible BMW touring and buy this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/02-BMW-53...YAAOSwJUBdzpfn



Plane ticket to Manchester, train to Preston, taxi to the garage and then enjoy the drive home in a superb touring, with a decent M57 diesel engine and what looks to be a very well looked after & cherished car

FYI it's nowt to do with me, it's just the diesel twin of my current touring

[struth]

Mileage your doing a diesel seams logical.. Or Petrol I guess at a push. Not sure A plugin hybrid will be your cuppa.. My sis in law has an X3 she loves. got lots of room in it etc.. or the bigger x5 maybe . pricy tho. as would be the Lexus rxl.. Station wagon's like the rxl but from different makers may be your best bet for room. Skoda and VW etc..

[CageyH]

Looks good, but the I.port process is likely to get complicated dur to Brexit, and French paper work.

The 5 series Touring is on the list, but only the 520d.