The British are starting to manufacture top quality cars that sell all over the world.
Discuss
Last edited by: smokie on Fri 19 Feb 16 at 12:59
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You go first this time Fluffy, please flesh out your statement with some supporting data which we can then get our teeth in to :-)
btw as previously mentioned to you, you should not select a make of car when posting a Miscellaneous post. just choose Miscellaneous in the Category drop down, which allows you to post without a make of car. I've corrected this one for you.
Last edited by: smokie on Fri 19 Feb 16 at 13:01
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It's also in the wrong forum.
8o)
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I do not have a car I get on the bus or use a train. I mainly walk on average 3 to 4 miles a day
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>> I mainly walk on average 3 to 4 miles a day
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You have come to the right forum then. We have an expert on shoes.
What ar your favourite shoes Fluffy? Do you have special ones for winter?
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I'm not sure what you're asking about?
Favourite car
Vw beetle
British made cars?
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Money no object - top spec Range Rover
Life's ok for now - Mercedes E class estate
Got to be a bit careful - Mondeo estate
Utterly skint - old Mondeo estate
More than totally skint - anything really
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>> Even a Scenic ?
you mean Espace
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I feel a bit sick now. Your fault.
:-(
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That's why I shifted the model a bit - "externalising" they call in counselling...
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>> That's why I shifted the model a bit - "externalising" they call in counselling...
I prefer the "slap the round the face and say "pull yourself together"" method
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>> That's why I shifted the model a bit - "externalising" they call in counselling...
>>
I'm starting to think that if the moderators would "externalise" the OP they'd be doing us all a favour.
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Money no object - top spec Range Rover
I've driven several real ones, and drove in the delivery procession of the final proper Range Rover to Gaydon. (I drove one of the converted ones, a BBC technical vehicle).
Money no object for me is either a factory supercharged 4.5 litre Bentley, or an Alfa 8c 2300.
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Money no object, one would have three or four, or even more, as well as some competent runabout, Mercedes 600 in the smallest available body for example.
There was a very pretty stark Bentley 3-litre next door to my London fettler one time. Impeccable shining brg too... point about the 3 litre was that it wasn't so much of a mighty truck as the big ones, had a lot of delicacy by Bentley standards. Speed Six all very well, but a monster and a handful.
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There was a very pretty stark Bentley 3-litre next door to my London fettler one time. Impeccable shining brg too... point about the 3 litre was that it wasn't so much of a mighty truck as the big ones, had a lot of delicacy by Bentley standards. Speed Six all very well, but a monster and a handful.
Yes, in terms of visual appearance, an early 3 litre is a very pretty car. Not the only maker where early models are better looking than later ones.
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>> Yes, in terms of visual appearance, an early 3 litre is a very pretty car. Not the only maker where early models are better looking than later ones.
There is such a thing as 'functional beauty' Sp, and the Bentley 3 litre has it usually in Spades.
This sort of thread makes me wish I was rich and could afford to run a few old lorries..
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Fri 19 Feb 16 at 19:27
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Really Runfer, a top spec RRover? I'm surprised. Money no object, give me a Panamera any day. Never travelled in one, only drooled over on occasion. I know several people with RRovers, and a retired friend who used to collect them for servicing. The feedback from actual owners was unreliable piles of poo, and ultimately a great disappointment. Although I suppose if you do spend getting on for six figures any issues rankle.
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I have driven a Panamera, a friend had one and let me have a shot of it. Absolutely fabulous thing, you are absolutely right, and if I had multiple cars ( and means ) there would definitely be one on my shortlist. But, if I was limited, or limiting myself to one car, I'd have something more versatile.
Could be persuaded by an E63 AMG estate I suppose...
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Now you're talking
Or an S6 Avant
With panoramic sunroof of course
But with plenty of readies, doubtless there would be room for a Westie ( not the terrier variety) in the stable for use on sunny days
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With that sort of dough I'd probably be snobbish about it and have a Caterham.
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If money was no object.Rolls or Bentley.
I liked the Mustang when I saw one in the States.Don't really have a favorite.
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I still think a Daimler is spot on.
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I used to go out in a Daimler every Friday night for a few pints.
It had 64 on the front.
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Real Daimlers had a preselector gear arrangement. It worked very well.
Had a long lift in the far North in a 2.5 litre one. The cat was a good driver, but too gentle for my Notting Hill hooligan companion whom I kept having to shut up...
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I still think the Germans make the best top quality cars.BMW, Audi, Porsche are spot on for me.
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But is there room in the pedal box area of a 620R for a pair of size ten Crocs?
Only joshing, have a nice weekend...
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Of a couple of dozen cars owned I liked my 425cc 2CV best, more like sailing a dinghy than motoring. I also liked Jeeps, far less clumsy than Landrovers (both company issue).
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I managed to get my size 10s in the pedal box of my brother in laws' 620R (!not ensconced in Crocs though!). Not too cramped, but very hot down there after an hour so.
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Gordini Twingo.
An absolute go-kart.
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Its about time we bought British. The trouble is what is British. Our car industry is owned by overseas companies.
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I drove home in a German car, wearing American boots, Italian jeans, a French shirt, a Swiss watch and a British jacket. Not sure about the kecks but I'll check later if anyone is interested.
Today I did business with people from Scotland, England, Northern and Southern Ireland and a nice lady from the Netherlands. A chap from South Africa would like to be supplied and a lady from Japan wanted a quote for some goods. Oh and another from Australia.
The products I was hawking were designed in Britain and warehoused and distributed here too but manufactured in the Far East in a production plant utilising local labour but with European management.
This is how it is now and the sooner we stop living in hope of a return to an insular economy ( did we ever really have one? ) and accept that we operate in a global marketplace and benefitting from the opportunities that creates, the better.
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Tue 23 Feb 16 at 20:44
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I would be surprised if fluffy had all UK kit in his house, no doubt the device he is using to access the internet is of far eastern origin.
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Cars are a mixture of everything Fluffy.The majority of the big companies share knowledge software and platforms.The majority of cars are reliable if serviced. some have different glitches to the other.
The original Golf GTI was special, the German Engineers build it for fun and was a top seller.
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No one can beat the Model T Ford or the Volkswagen Beetle.
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Golf?
The ones you mention were 'for the masses'.
They did a job.
We've moved on from there.
Stop obfuscating your own subject.
YOUR favourite car.
I'd say E30 3 series BMW. I drove one in the 80s and 90s. And again recently. They are crap compared to modern cars.
Last edited by: Ian (Cape Town) on Sun 27 Mar 16 at 14:31
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Why the attack.
Are not I entitled to my opinion.
Stop the belittering.
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>> Stop the belittering.
I love it fluffy. Keep them coming comrade.
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No one can beat the Model T Ford or the Volkswagen Beetle.
Absolute round things. Might be your opinion, but both pale into insignificance compared to many other cars. Indeed, the car in my garage is way ahead, loads more fun to drive and faster than both too in their original forms. A Morgan Super Sports Aero circa 1930.
And if money was no object, a Alfa Romeo 8c2300 also of the 30s would join it.
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Fluffys Motoring opinions must be taken with a large pinch of salt. As he does not drive he must have a depth of knowledge beyond our comprehension
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Better salt this a bit too, as I've only briefly driven one, and to nowhere near its limits, but the car I'd love to have - for its looks, its reputation, its design, its engineering pedigree and for what I'd like it to say about me - is a Saab 900 Ruby, the UK-only sunset version from 1992-93. Three doors, of course - the Rubies all were, although there were two, four and five-door versions of the regular Turbo. Still a decent four-seater with an accessible rear seat, loads of cricket bag space behind - or sideboard space if you fold it down. With the right specialist to do the maintenance it would still do as everyday transport.
An old car - and an older design - now, of course, but I reckon 185hp in 1.4t would make it manageable in modern traffic. 28mpg would feel very old fashioned, though.
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>> Better salt this a bit too, as I've only briefly driven one,
No salt required, at least you can, and do, drive.
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Similar colour to my Forester :)
turbotsd.com/classic_900/specials/ruby.html
gtcarlot.com/car/44736584
Last edited by: Dog on Sun 27 Mar 16 at 18:45
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That will be the colour of our next car.The missus choice.
Going back many years I got a lift once in a Dodge motorcar with push button gearchange,problaby was a automatic.I like big cars most of the stuff in Europe is small with tiny bootspace.Fuel cost and space I suppose not enough room on our streets.
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Burgundy is a colour that can look absolutely great on some cars and equally bad on others. White is like that too.
On a straw poll of one, the bigger the car the more likely it is to suit burgundy and the smaller the car the more likely it is to suit white.
"Neutral" colours like silver, grey etc can work on almost anything ( hence their popularity I suppose ) black can be hit or miss and wishy washy colours like beige, pale blue, or pale green are rarely successful.
Red, strangely enough, can be really striking or a complete disaster depending on car size and shape. Navy rarely offends but can look a bit flat on some body styles.
Hard isn't it?
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My ex had a new Insignia in Tamarind Red. Looked nice, but at the moment I especially like the new C class estate in Hyacinth red metallic, and the Mazda C3 looks good in Soul Red.
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Talking of pale green, my pals new AMG A45 is in Elbaite Green. Looks fabulous in the metal ( apart from the larger rear roof spoiler).
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The right shade of dark blue looks good on any car, but it has to be the right shade.
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Even ugly cars can look quite nice in black.
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My V60 was bright red - it suited it well, and received quite a few positive comments.
Some of the new Mercs look good in white, especially the ones with a black roof
The Lexus is Silver - bit dull really, but didn't buy it for the colour
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I think all cars are inherently ugly, certainly en masse. Have you ever seen a beautiful car park?As a rule the smaller they are and the less intrusive the colour the better.
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I quite like small cars too. I "get" those. I especially like large roomy cars but that's because I've always needed one. I don't really like medium sized cars. Neither fish nor fowl. Compromised. Bleh !
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Obviously some have a need for larger cars but by and large cars are a blight on the landscape. Just too many cars around and large cars, SUV's look hideously out of proportion with our small scale urban landscapes,especially when littered all over our pavements.
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Inclined to agree with some of that. When I am Lord High Grand Dictator, it will be illegal to use a car for journeys of less than 2 miles ( unless you are disabled ) and it will also be a capital offence to park on pavements.
In town or city centres I walk or use my bike unless I have a large amount of kit to drop off in which case I'll do that and then go and find somewhere to park legally.
"Our" town centre is a 1 mile level walk away across a pleasant and lit park. I never take my car into town, again unless I have to deliver or collect something bulky, but my neighbours routinely drive in. It's an originally medieval town centre with narrow lanes and is totally unsuited to traffic. It takes twice as long to drive in and park as it does to walk and cycling takes only minutes so I do struggle to understand why people do constantly drive in.
I read somewhere that some survey or other revealed that other than when they are on holiday, some vast percentage of car owners are rarely more than 400 yards ( yep yards ! ) from their car.
No wonder so many are obese.
Vote for me ! I'll soon sort them out.
;-)
Last edited by: Runfer D'Hills on Mon 28 Mar 16 at 12:15
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I read somewhere that some survey or other revealed that other than when they are on holiday, some vast percentage of car owners are rarely more than 400 yards ( yep yards ! ) from their car.
When I was a kid, in the cul-de-sac in which I lived, one chap used get his car out of the garage, go and buy a paper, drive back, and put his car away. His house was probably 75 yards from the road end, and about 50 yards further down the road was the paper shop. He was not disabled as far as we knew, and accounting for the messing about getting the car out, parking and putting it away almost certainly could have walked there quicker.
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>> When I was a kid, in the cul-de-sac in which I lived, one chap used
>> get his car out of the garage, go and buy a paper, drive back, and
>> put his car away. His house was probably 75 yards from the road end, and
>> about 50 yards further down the road was the paper shop. He was not disabled
>> as far as we knew, and accounting for the messing about getting the car out,
>> parking and putting it away almost certainly could have walked there quicker.
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A practice carried on by at least half of todays parents on school runs.
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>>
>> getting the car
>> out,
>> >> parking and putting it away almost certainly could have walked there quicker.
>> >>
>>
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>> A practice carried on by at least half of todays parents on school runs.
>>
... who will wonder why their catalytic convertor goes belly-up after a relatively short life...
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>> When I was a kid, in the cul-de-sac in which I lived, one chap used
>> get his car out of the garage, go and buy a paper...
maybe he really really didn't like walking ;)
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Perhaps that was the only exercise the car got. And an older engine with no Cat or other stuff was perhaps just fine with it.
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Perhaps that was the only exercise the car got. And an older engine with no Cat or other stuff was perhaps just fine with it.
I've one word - mayonnaise.
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I disagree Humph; 'burgundy', as in dark, muddy red, looks awful on just about anything, and not just cars. I watched a dark-red LEC - the only one that came up that wasn't black or a shade of grey - for a while before buying a silver one. The red car hung around on the dealer's site for ages; having seen a couple like it on the roads since I can understand why.
Proper metallic reds, on the other hand, can look great and really lift the look of a car. The Saab Ruby red is on such, and certain big Citroens (used to?) come in a vivid red that would have been my choice if I'd gone for a Grand Piano over the (silver) Verso. Rover in the 1990s offered the original, angular 200-400 in Nightfire Red, which was similar: rich and vivid, not dull and muddy. Lexus today still does a nice red; pity it puts it on such ugly cars.
Non-metallic red seems to be on the increase again. I think this may be due to the rise in private leasing: I noticed last year that metallic has gone back to being a (high-)priced option rather than thrown in FOC, and customers are picking plain red as the cheap option. Looks a bit tacky on a Mercedes C, to give one example I've noticed round here.
As for pale blues and greens, I think of them as 'tinted silvers' and like them a lot (unless it's that baby pink that Honda used to put on Jazzes.) BMW offered a few in the mid-00s that looked subtle and expensive on a 5 or even a 3 saloon. I see at work a pale blue 3 coupé of similar age to mine; certainly nothing wishy-washy about it.
Black cars used to work because they had nonconformist shock value and rarity on their side. Now that everybody's 1.6 Focus or Golf is black, they don't even have that and just look awful. I suppose black is lazy shorthand for 'cool', but there's nothing cool about a grubby black Astra, while a black M3 just screams 'trying too hard'.
Last edited by: WillDeBeest on Mon 28 Mar 16 at 12:05
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I'd have a burgundy metallic LEC. Or any "dark" colour really. Don't like white ones.
Inspector Linley's burgundy Bristol is quite gorgeous. I could live with that.
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Local Dunhill salesmen used to drive burgundy Rollers.
Beautiful. BUT as one chap told me, no colour shows up dust or road grime worse.
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Burgundy seemed to be a popular colour for the Vectra, as I recall.
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[Bites very hard on hand.]
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Careful - you have to feed yourself later...
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" I suppose black is lazy shorthand for 'cool
I've got a black Golf. Never thought of myself as cool before but now I come to think about it I must be ;-) . Brightened my day.
Mind you never would have another black car. Looks awful in the sun when it shows up my minimal car washing technique
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It is a beggar for swirl marks as well.
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>> It is a beggar for swirl marks as well.
Yep. The Roomie's black 'cos that was what was available at right time and price. PLentiful swirls suggest previous owner put it through the car wash on a regular basis.
Black also emphasises the 'baby hearse' appearance of the body style.
Red or metallic blue would have been nicer. Still loving having it though.
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>> Mind you never would have another black car.
>>Looks awful in the sun when it shows up my minimal car washing technique
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I think black is OK for Undertakers vehicles.
Worse looking cars in black in my area - Ferarris.
I would never have a black car. Thank goodness that trending thing is passing.
There are a vast number of white cars in my area.
Used to see black Teslas but now see white ones.
I have always chosen white cars until recent years when that became impossible in the Model /high spec I wanted.
Never seen a white high spec Mondeo II so bought a then very popular colour silver one.
Never seen any white X types ( in this country) so bought a Glacier blue ( silver blue) one.
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>>Never seen any white X types ( in this country)
.....until yesterday afternoon, 28 hours after my comment, when one was parked less than two miles away from home on a route I use at least once every week.
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>> Never thought of myself as cool before
Vespa 50 years ago.....That's cool, man.
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Funny how anoraks were cool then too
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>>Rover in the 1990s offered the original, angular 200-400 in Nightfire Red
Howls about a red 70's Rover 3500s: www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C714090
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My biker pal commented the other day just how nice he thought the Vitara's colour scheme was....Metallic burgundy over silver grey bumpers and lower body panels.
A man of exquisite taste.
The Jowett looks good in burgundy or black ( like mine )' It could do with a bottom half respray, Thinking of two toning it, the factory did do some. There's a natural break line. It would look good black over silver. They were selling metallics in the late forties/early fifties. The Note is metallic charcoal....and it's staying that way !
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...red 70's Rover 3500S?
That's awful. Horrible colour that does a stylish shape no favours at all.
Something similarly grim was among Peugeot's launch colours for the 306 - of which the best was white, just as it was beginning its 15 years in the wilderness.
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>>...red 70's Rover 3500S?
>>That's awful. Horrible colour that does a stylish shape no favours at all.
Looked ok 40 years ago - before you were born.
:}
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If only! There were 3500s about when I was at primary school; a doctor friend of my mum's had a dark green one that seemed very grand to someone used to a Renault 4. I liked it in the popular butterscotch yellow too. Maybe that red's been too long in the sun but it doesn't look good now.
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This is a Rover P6 3500 VIP. I worked on many P6's back in the day but I've never heard of a VIP model.
I wonder how much this one will go for: www.swva.co.uk/classic-car/rover-3500-p6-vip-1976/
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BMWs calypso red, along with Rover's nigtfire red, are a couple of my favourite car colours - though they wouldn't work an all cars...
tinyurl.com/hrvabmn
thevdm.com/forumpix/r8002.jpg
Our A3 is misano red pearlescent, which despite its extra cost appears to me to look exactly like a flat bright red! Suits the car though I think...
tinyurl.com/z68tax6
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>> Our A3 is misano red pearlescent, which despite its extra cost appears to me to
>> look exactly like a flat bright red!
...which is what ours is, and so far, very happy with it; still looks nice and shiny.
Looking on the Audi website, I think they now only offer white or black without paying extra - perhaps too many were going for the red.
Last edited by: Focusless on Mon 28 Mar 16 at 20:55
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Saw a new Clio this morning in a very nice metallic red - certainly not a 'burgundy'. Like Humph, I like small cars and feel a slight regret that there isn't room for one in our life at the moment.
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.......a free one. (Before the days of BIK)
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I too like 'fun' small cars. Decent dynamics and a high power to weight ratio. The Fiesta ST is a case in point.
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Cars made in the U.K. are now top quality.
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....well, I think he's not "right".........
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I was thinking of Jap & German metal, not GM.
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>> ....well, I think he's not "right".........
Well, I think he's "special".
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>>....well, I think he's not "right".........
Yeah, okay ;-)
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I spend a lot of my time on public transport such as the bus and train.
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Why not learn to drive and buy a car?
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What is your favourite car - smokie
