Noticed a couple of posts in recent days where folks have said that they could not live with a car with a particular feature, e.g. electronic only oil checking, no spare wheel.
I can't think of any particular general feature which would stop me having a particular car if I liked the car enough for all the usual things, comfort, performance etc.
Do most people have this view or do most of you have a single feature that would prevent you choosing a car, does it make a difference if it is a company car?
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I wouldn't privately buy a car with an electronic handbrake or a belt cam engine. Nor would I choose a car which could not average 40mpg or more. As for a company car I couldn't care less about any of those factors but would be influenced how affordable it was in terms of bik and how conveniently the nearest dealer was located.
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Electronic Handbrake - no thankyou I prefer the proper way.
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I would probably now not take a car that didn't have an audio system with aux in for ipod use. Nor a car without air-con.
A lot really depends on what you are used to. Every time I change a car I like to get something "better" than the previous one and this usually comes in the form of standard equipment.
Currently have audio with remote and aux in, reversing sensors, climate (note you just assume cars have PAS, elec windows, alloys now!)
Next car I would be looking for integrated bluetooth, possible 4WD and maybe back to having a sunroof which I miss.
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An "automatic" gearbox.
Last edited by: FotheringtonTomas on Mon 4 Oct 10 at 12:45
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A car with tinted windows.
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I wouldn't buy a car which has "bolsters" on the front seats. They press on my thighs and cause bursitis.
And I wouldn't buy a car which has dark security glass.
Last edited by: L'escargot on Mon 4 Oct 10 at 12:48
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Cruise control is a "must have" for me.
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I wouldn't buy a second hand manual car which has had a tow bar fitted. The clutch might be fine but it's just reducing your odds.
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Wouldn't buy a car without Xenon headlights anymore. Too big a step forward to go back from. Probably because i drive a lot at night in unlit areas.
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Wouldn't buy without:
Air conditioning
automatic transmission
Cruise control
Wouldn't buy with:
Tow bar
Privacy glass
Any performance enhancements or signs of customisation
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Four wheels and an engine.. or
IF it's a new Morgan , three wheels.
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Would not buy a car without:
- Automatic Transmission (but must be Dual Clutch or a conventional slushbox)
- Air Con
- Parking Assistance of some sort
- ESP or equivalent
Would not buy a car with:
- "Condition Based Servicing"
- Privacy Glass
- Orange or Red interior illumination (looks like a mobile br0thel)
- Sports suspension
I would also avoid saloons because I need more practicality, and estates because I don't like the shape.
This is all irrelevant though, because we'll just end up getting whatever SWMBO wants as usual.
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"looks like a mobile brothel"
Not sure I've seen one in these parts. Only mobile libraries Are they common in London?
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>> Wouldn't buy with:
>> Tow bar
Towbars are great for giving increased rear end protection. I had a car run into the back of me as I stopped at a junction. My car had minimal damage but (to my great pleasure!) there were parts of the other car all over the road. The towbar had pierced the number plate.
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...and I was once rear ended in my Rover 827 when I had a tow bar and eh whole of the floor pan at the back got buckled. Could have been worse or better without the bar, not sure.
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Towbars are great for giving increased rear end protection...
Sorry to get personal, L'Es, but I find your delight in the discomfort of other road users, as shown here and in the Motorcyclists thread, rather disturbing. Perhaps in addition to the tow bar your car needs a set of bull bars to keep any small children from leaving a dent as they bounce off the bonnet.
Sarcasm apart, a non-removable towbar would be a dealbreaker for me. It's plain antisocial to take a car designed to be as soft-edged as reasonably possible, and leave knee-high lumps of steel sticking out of it. Why they don't have to be removable - and removed - is beyond me.
Last edited by: WillDeBeest on Tue 5 Oct 10 at 13:53
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>> Towbars are great for giving increased rear end protection...
>>
>> Sorry to get personal, L'Es, but I find your delight in the discomfort of other
>> road users, as shown here and in the Motorcyclists thread, rather disturbing. Perhaps in addition
>> to the tow bar your car needs a set of bull bars to keep any
>> small children from leaving a dent as they bounce off the bonnet.
>>
I didn't tell you the whole story. When I got out to exchange details the other driver's excuse was "I was looking to the right". I considered I was well justified in being pleased that her car came off worse than mine.
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>> Sorry to get personal, L'Es, ............
Get as personal as you like. You're an anonymous stranger to me and I wouldn't know you from Adam if I met you. It's like water off a snail's back!
:-D
:-D
:-D
:-D
etc.
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>> a single feature that would prevent you choosing a car,
Looks as though many can't read.
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>> >> a single feature that would prevent you choosing a car,
>>
>> Looks as though many can't read.
>>
OK, a sunroof or origami roof.
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Now y'see I wouldn't want a car without a sunroof ( and no I've never had a dribbly one )
:-)
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Shiny lighty things on the handles :-)
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What exactly are they for PU ? Not criticising you understand just puzzled...
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I don't know or care I just like them :-)
Seriously I assume they're to light up spaces between cars in a car park in case you step in some pooh or on a prostrate Irn Bru'd druggie.
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>> I don't know or care I just like them :-)
PU they are ACE! BMW definitely get the lighting right.
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>> >> I don't know or care I just like them :-)
>>
>> PU they are ACE! BMW definitely get the lighting right.
>>
They are called "Puddle lights" by some car makers, and can also be fitted in the bottom of the door mirror housing.
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yes
the nut behind the steering wheel
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A posers badge.
Poseur's surely.
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>> A posers badge.
>>
>> Poseur's surely.
>>
OK, a "Look at meeeeee" badge.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Mon 4 Oct 10 at 13:34
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Any particular make or type ON?
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>> Any particular make or type ON?
>>
Nothing specific, the sort of car someone who wouldn't be seen dead in a foreign car, (Ford, Nissan, Toyota, VAG, BMW, MB, Volvo, Jaguar,) would drive. :)
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Automated manual gearbox
Central instrument panel
Those two combined to scrub the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, a car I was determined to like, from our list.
LHD wipers on a RHD car. That top corner is vital to a tall driver, and no clever-clever eccentric arrangement is as good as having the wipers the right way round.
Sunroof. Fortunately not the problem it was in the 1990s.
VW PD 140 diesel engine - at least in the Mitsubishi Grandis.
Headlamp bulbs that aren't user-replaceable.
Apart from those, I'm quite easy to please.
}:---)
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I wouldn't buy a car with an automated manual gearbox,
I wouldn't consider buying a car with a cambelt either.
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Showstoppers:-
No spare wheel
Only a tiny speed/distance/load limited spare wheel
Electric handbrake
Petrol engine
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Electronic handbrake - VW Passat
Keyless entry - Renault
I also try and avoid cars with cambelts if possible. The MX5 is an exception as it's non interference.
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I tried a Passat with an electic handbrake and hated it, but afterwards realised I was driving the car without the seatbelt on. Hence impossible to reverse car up a hill without three feet!
Now having it on the S-Max and wearing the seatbelt I love it. Partly because it is auto, and partly it allows me to keep the car in gear at traffic lights and to flick the brake on so I don't blind the guy behind. I just relax and squeeze the throttle when I want to go.
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I am a lover of proper spare wheels rather than space savers. Ive owned cars with the latter, but they are a pain in the behind and Im glad my budget saloon has something that many premium cars cant stretch to these days.
I do really need power steering these days unless its a lightweight car due to my back issues, so thats generally a must ( although in my Reliant and Smart car, I was fine without ).
Im actually not laden down with needs when buying a car as usually mine are old enough that the priorities are reliability and the condition of the car rather than toys - infact the less toys ( which ordinarily go wrong ) the better.
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Lots of interesting replies. I can see where some of them come from especially if it's your own rather than a company car.
The electric handbrake is one option I would have if it had been offered on my current car as my wife sometimes found it difficult to release the handbrake on my previous cars due to a slight problem with her left shoulder.
Spare wheel, or rather the lack of is a bit of a company car thing, especially with runflats as I can't see the problem for me as a company car driver, might be a bit more of a hassle if I didn't have the variety of support options.
A lot of fancy features I find I can take or leave like auto headlamps or windscreen wipers. There are some, like cruise control that I really like but I wouldn't turn down an otherwise ideal car because it didn't have it.
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I've just discovered that the X1 has programmable climate/heating - ideal for winter mornings !!
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...programmable climate/heating...
The CC3 has a cheapo version - it turns on the heated screen and aircon when it's frosty.
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I would never choose a car with an auto box and never have one without aircon.
Pat
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Hmm, interesting one re the auto. My wife dislikes automatics, so does her sister and so does their mother. I probably slightly prefer autos although not by much, my brother and brother in law definitely prefer autos and my father in law doesn't care what he drives as long as it gets him to the golf club.
Does this prove -
A) Men are lazy
B) Men are smarter
C) Women like holding gear levers
D) Men who like golf are more relaxed
E) Other
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Mon 4 Oct 10 at 16:43
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>> ...programmable climate/heating...
>>
>> The CC3 has a cheapo version - it turns on the heated screen and aircon
>> when it's frosty.
>>
That's actually to aid warm-up of the diesel, BMW (on the 3.0d anyhow) have pre-heaters for the water so you quickly get heat in the cabin, a (cheaper) solution is to increase the electrical load to make the engine work harder and thus warm up quicker, SWMBO's 2.2CTDi Civic had this too, still took an age to warm up compared to the 330d - actually a corollary of the thermal (fuel) efficiency of your engine I'd add !
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>> OK, a sunroof ...............
>>
A sunroof is top of my list of optional extras.
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No heated seats, aircon & cruise has me heading for the door. Also, if the car has a heated windscreen I'm off, my eye is always drawn to the elements. I read the road ahead and I'm usually looking four or five cars in front but still get drawn in to the wavey lines.
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if the car has a heated windscreen I'm off, my eye is always drawn to the elements.
>> I read the road ahead and I'm usually looking four or five cars in front
>> but still get drawn in to the wavey lines.
>>
Ah yes I forgot about this, I found my self constantly focusing on the elements in the screen of the focus we had, and ulitimatly it gave me a bad head - I would not have a car with this.
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Now you see I just don't see the element lines in a heated windscreen unless I "want" to. Odd isn't it how it affects different people as I have heard of others who find them distracting.
For me, the thing which really annoys me is the little bluetooth repeater light which flashes on my mobile when it's paired with my car. At night I have to put it in the glovebox to stop it taking my eye.
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Yes my dad has them on his Focus, and he says that he does not see them there.
But i on the other hand, when Ive had them on a Hire car Focuses, I cannot stop focusing on them, and then it gives me a really bad head - I dont think I could live with it on a day-to-day basis
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Now you're just bragging Humph.
Pat
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I don't take mine out of my pocket Humph !
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Tough to make anything but random calls like that though PU !
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>> For me, the thing which really annoys me is the little bluetooth repeater light which
>> flashes on my mobile when it's paired with my car. At night I have to
>> put it in the glovebox to stop it taking my eye.
Yes, that bothers me too. Periodic blue flash can be very distracting and have me inadvertently going for the brake pedal.
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>> Yes, that bothers me too. Periodic blue flash can be very distracting and have me
>> inadvertently going for the brake pedal.
>>
I hope you don't stamp on the brakes if a blue light comes on behind you.
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I'm with you there, RV. I rented a lot of cars in the 90s; my employer's supplier was Hertz and that meant Ford. I found myself asking desk agents for the lowest-spec Escort or Mondeo they could find, partly to avoid the sunroof problem but also because I couldn't get on with the wired windscreen.
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To take Humph's point, it may simply be a matter of familiarity. In my rental example, I had a lot of first days with my Fords. When I first drove an S60, I was concerned that the green tinted strip at the top of the screen might be a problem, and when I ordered mine I made serious enquiries about replacing the screen with a plain one. Within a month of receiving the car I'd forgotten all about the green bit and I'm occasionally surprised to notice it's still there.
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My dads Fiester has Quickclear, its really not too bad :).
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A convertable would need a very long test drive too.
A couple of years ago I had a 307CC on hire for a weekend. Driving at night oncoming headlights combined with potholes produced an blurring effect as seen with slow shutter speed phototrickery.
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For me the only killer features would be a dual mass flywheel or a DMF.
Windup windows would be a killer feature too, as would none PAS.
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Automated manual box, and electric handbrake, other than those not too fussy.
Got two motors with cambelts now and can't say i'm unduly worried by them, no doubt i'll curse the Citroen one when i get the bill for changing it mind.
I prefer auto's but so many only have a gearbox from hell option.
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Timing belt will be a while on yours gb... 10yr or 150,000ml interval isn't it?
Last edited by: Fenlander on Mon 4 Oct 10 at 21:15
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>> Timing belt will be a while on yours gb... 10yr or 150,000ml interval isn't it?
>>
To be honest i haven't looked it up FL, i daresay it'll get done long before it needs doing same as everything else..;)
For better or worse i don't have the aversion to timing belts that others here do, cambelt relatively simple job and not really affected by any previous owners neglect of oil changes (or carp oil) whereas a timing chain and tensioners would be at what cost?
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Privacy glass. Would not consider a vehicle with privacy glass however good it was otherwise. The debate's been had before, but to me it's a dangerous and unnecessary addition.
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In what way is privacy glass dangerous if legally fitted to the rear side windows and rear screen? If that were the case then car based vans with solid panels and no through visibility would be doubly dangerous would they not ? As has been discussed there is little problem in seeing clearly out of a darkened area into a light one.
I would suggest that if there were strong evidence that privacy glass were actually dangerous as opposed to disliked by some ( and I stress where legally fitted ) that it would prohibited, but it is not.
Some may see it as a cosmetic benefit while others do not but for those who actually appreciate its primary function of creating shade and protecting the contents, animate or inanimate from prying eyes at the rear of a vehicle it is of positive benefit and I would prefer its fitment to my cars if possible and available.
I am not commenting on the preposterous fitment of such a feature to front side windows or windscreens where the safety argument undoubtedly holds but totally fail to see why such ire is directed at a product which may or may not enhance a vehicle's appearance but has measureable and tangible benefits.
What exactly is the problem in these qualified circumstances?
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Mon 4 Oct 10 at 22:28
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Humph, sorry if I touched a nerve! I have to admit that I have never been in a vehicle with privacy glass. I'm assuming from your comment, as a layman in this context, that visibility IS reduced, particularly at night - you say that there is little problem seeing from a dark area to a light one so by implication looking from dark to dark IS a problem. I take your point about vans, but am I to assume that you have to drive vehicles with privacy glass like a van, on wing mirrors, rather than line of sight (this isn't a wind-up, just a question).
I guess it's horses for courses, I'm afraid that personally privacy glass yells something to me about the owner....perhaps I need to rethink based on some of the discussion here although as I don't carry animate cargo in the rear of my car very often, always hide valuables, and live in a low-crime country, I can't see myself ever needing irrespective of the dubious aesthetics.
Edit note: just read other comments in this thread subsequent to my original and in reply to yours, I see I'm not alone. As an ex-motorcyclist, I'm also a look-over-the-shoulder man, and I see that at least one other person has safety reservations about that.
Last edited by: Mike H on Tue 5 Oct 10 at 08:05
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>> Edit note: just read other comments in this thread subsequent to my original and in
>> reply to yours, I see I'm not alone. As an ex-motorcyclist, I'm also a look-over-the-shoulder man, and I see that at least one other person has safety reservations about that.
>>
I have managed to ingrain the 'life-saver' into my brain so much, that I find myself doing it when I'm walking!
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I would not have:-
A hatchbackor an estate
a car without a sun roof ( it is rarely opened but I like the extra light)
Run flats or a tube of goo but accept a good sized space saver.
Ultra low profile tyres
S/H car with a tow bar or any silly mods.
Non standard headlamp and indicator controls
Must haves
Auto box
SWMO has warmed to heated seats ( tough my side does not work)
HRW and heated screen with timers.
Probably a 2L petrol with a high spec so lots of toys as standard.
but do not need an Ipod connection.
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DPF is a no go for me. Specifically looked for a car without one when I last changed. Would probably live with one (and susepct without any problems) if I was doing 20k miles each year, but current mileage too low to suffer one. Someone's bound to ask why I didn't buy a petrol, but the thought of re-fuelling the i6 petrol engined Freelander 2 wasn't appealing!
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>> Privacy glass. Would not consider a vehicle with privacy glass however good it
>> was otherwise.
Same here. I'm on a budget, but I must say I wouldn't have one with tart/pimp glass however good it was, *or* - and I say this with reluctance - however cheap.
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I've expressed my safety concern about dark rear side windows here before, Humph. A tall driver sits far enough back in the car to look behind the door pillar before changing lanes. If the glass behind that pillar is significantly less transparent than the rest, that check takes longer while the eyes adjust, and there's a possibility that something might be missed altogether.
This isn't merely theoretical either. The Verso demonstrators we tried were a T Spirit and an SR, both with darkened windows. Having both been disconcerted by the lane-change check -and heard from the small Beests that they didn't like the dark windows either - we ordered a T3 with normal glass.
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I've driven various cars with privacy glass.
On some, specifically US cars and the Ford Focus, I found the difference between the non-privacy drivers' side window and the privacy equipped rear passenger window to be a serious distraction when doing the over-the-shoulder check. However my colleague has a BMW 5 Series with privacy glass and the difference when inside the car is almost unnoticeable even though the glass looks essentially black from outside. I don't what the difference is, whether it's down to better quality glass, different type of tint or less tint.
In Russia they also fit privacy glass to the windscreen!
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Don't cee' many new cars in Cornwall, except for tourists of course,
I live quite near an end of life bakery and whenever I cee' a car with privacy glass, I think its a hearse :(
I wouldn't personally choose privacy glass as an option,
but if it came with it as standard, I wouldn't chicken curry about it.
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I am a company car driver.
Must have -
Air conditioning.
Diesel engine with a bit of grunt.
Comfy seats.
Hands free phone set up.
Cup holder.
Can't have -
Stop start "technology" unless I can switch it off.
Eco features (bluemotion etc)
Low powered diesel engine where to make any kind of progress you have to thrash it.
As for privacy glass, I have it on my estate car and it seems to keep the car cooler in hot weather and is a real winner if the boot is full and I have to fill up the back seat with stuff as it keeps the contents reasonably hidden.
I don't think a Citroen estate would be most drug dealers car of choice.
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Mondeo has a number of features I love. Pretty essential in any car is cruise control.
Other than that, my list is of things which are great but I could live without (in no order):
Xenon lights (but a strong preference for them)
Lights pointing sideways which come on as you turn the wheel (in the dark, lights up kerbs etc nicely)
2.5 turbo engine (so long as it doesn't disintegrate again)
Puddle lights
Built in satnav
Keyless entry and ignition
Reversing sensors front and back
Auto wipers
Leccy heated front seats
Massive boot and plenty of passenger room
Auto lights
Sunroof
Privacy glass
Factory bluetooth
Fantastic sound system with AUX socket
Folding door mirrors
Smart interior, nice external colour
Thinking of selling the motor - anyone interested?
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Must have:
Comfort
Auto box (but not automated manual)
Diesel
Spare wheel (space-saver will do)
Estate/MPV body with roof rails
A/C or climate control
Decent stereo with iPod connection (or ability for me to fit it)
Bluetooth
Rear parking sensors
Alloy wheels
Must not have:
Sun-roof (they always leak)
Run-flats or can of goo as a spare wheel
4x4
Sports seats/suspension
Would like to have:
Decent integrated sat-nav
Leather seats, but if so, must have heaters
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Out of idle curiosity, why so much opposition to automated manual gearboxes? I would't want one myself, simply because I'm used to ordinary manuals, but I'm interested to know why other people don't like them.
In answer to the original question - I don't think there are really any killer features for me - other than a cloth (or folding) roof.
I wouldn't really want automatic transmission, or run flats, or rear wheel drive, or low profile tyres, or sports suspension, or privacy glass (I had it on a hire car in France, and while I didn't like it much, it wasn't that big a problem), or an electronic handbrake, but none of them would be an absolute killer.
I probably wouldn't buy a car without PAS, but then absence of PAS isn't a feature, it's the absence of a feature.
Space savers and cans of goo don't appeal to me, but I wouldn't be too worried, since it's quite easy to buy a full size spare and sling it in the boot.
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>> Out of idle curiosity, why so much opposition to automated manual gearboxes? I would't want
>> one myself, simply because I'm used to ordinary manuals, but I'm interested to know why
>> other people don't like them.
>>
Some people don't like change. A system works for them and they do not see a reason to change.
We have an automated manual and it's just like driving a manual without the third pedal. You ease off the throttle in a manual when you change gear, you ease off the throttle in an automated manual just the same. You can even flip a little lever if you want "control".
I'm not convinced about the economy argument of one but as a driving aid it's no hinderance for my wife or myself.
This is on a single plate system not DSG or Powershift, can't speak for those systems.
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Definitely no electric handbrakes or other such nonsense.
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>> Out of idle curiosity, why so much opposition to automated manual gearboxes?
I've been using these things in trucks for some years now and i think they're junk, slow changes inability to select the correct gear for moving (as against coming to a stop) junctions and the only way to get a good drive from them is to override them manually...pointless then.
I've driven hundreds of cars with the things mainly loading and offloading them in my previous job driving a car transporter, so i've had the pleasure of knowing just how little control you have in close manoeuvering and hill start situations (and clutch judder), and unpleasant traffic crawling which is where proper auto's really do shine.
Driven further they provide jerky amateurish gearchanges and driven faster very uncomfortable changes, no pleasurable smooth cruising that you get with a proper auto and (the aforesaid manoeuver/traffic work) other types of auto transmission.
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Thanks for that, gb.
I realise that this is probably asking a silly question, but I take it that you are including the Powershift and DSG systems that some people are so enthusiastic about?
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>> I realise that this is probably asking a silly question, but I take it that
>> you are including the Powershift and DSG systems that some people are so enthusiastic about?
>>
Without looking it up i couldn't tell you what a powershift goes in car wise, i drove a powerliner Merc truck for a bit and that was hell, if i had a shilling for every time the thing dumped me in neutral on a junction..;)
DSG seems excellent on the road with fast fluid changes and smooth, in extreme tansporter loading angles when small movements were required i found it lacking, but in normal use you would never need such precise inch by inch control like that.
If i had a choice of company car i'd certainly not turn one down though i'd probably have a Citroen with hydraulic suspension and proper auto instead, however in the real world i have to buy my own cars and run them out of warranty so both are non starters, so to speak.
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For me a car must have:
ABS, EBD, EBA, traction control and ESP (Skoda Octavia - you know I mean you)
Front, side and curtain (preferably knee too) airbags (Skoda again, penny pinching)
Aircon and very preferably Climate Control
A leather steering wheel
150+BHP and 200+lbft Torque if possible
Tow bar as safest way to carry bikes / keep interior clean / increase practicality
Nice to have:
Roof rails on estate/mpv (look daft on saloon/hatch though)
DRLs
Auto dimming mirror
Auto headlamps
Cruise control
Rear air vents
RWD (I really miss my 330d)
Won't consider buying:
Anything in urine yellow (or other short-term fashion colours)
I'll avoid leather
Any diesel convertible (tax-break specials)
Any VW PD engine (once you've tried a decent CR you can't go back)
Anything without independent rear suspension (Civic FN3 was the culprit)
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I should have added the 100% killer factor for me - I won't consider anything from Vauxhall (or it's GM parent) - not ever, not even to rent.
Sorry if this offends but once bitten (3 or 4 times actually) - twice shy.
Last edited by: idle_chatterer on Thu 7 Oct 10 at 06:28
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The colour green is bad luck for me.
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>> Out of idle curiosity, why so much opposition to automated manual gearboxes?
I've driven 3 different automated manuals over a total of about 25,000 miles.
In my opinion they only really 'work' as manuals without a clutch pedal. In auto mode they are too jerky to be acceptable. But if the point of an 'auto-box' is you don't want to change gear, they only partly fulfill the brief in that there is no clutch pedal.
The only positive (and the reason for their development) is that they are more econmical than a conventional torque-converter auto (and sometimes more economical than the manual they are based on). My experience shows that this only olds true if you drive them in auto mode, like a nun.
I suppose for those with no interest whatsoever in driving, they might be acceptable (although my sis-in-law doesn't get on with hers either). Apart from jerky changes, the control on hills is a real trial, to put in mildly (especially with an on/off electric handbrake). GB, you have my sympathies!
I have similar feelings about CVT boxes. There constant whine as the gearing gradually changes is just plain wrong to my ears.
I have only had a short drive in a DSG-equipped Golf and was mightily impressed, although the long term reliability still appears questionable. It wil be interesting to see how Ford get on with their Powershift. This is the only other type of gearbox I will consider as an alternative to a conventional auto.
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Do most of the dual clutch gearboxes share the same heritage? Borg Warner were first to market i think?
VAG's DSG was built in conjunction with Borg Warner.
Fiat's was built in conjunction with Borg Warner.
BMW's DCT was built in conjunction with Borg Warner (although WP claims the version in the M3 comes from Getrag?)
Ford's powershift was built in ... ahh wikipedia says Getrag also.
Guess not then :-(
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Thanks to gb & Boxsterboy for clarification.
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Found one today. Had to do 580 miles today. I know I know... Anyway in an automatic.
I've never had a deep vein thrombosis but my left leg...
:-(
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No unintended emergency stops then Humph ?
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Must've looked like Quasimodo running into the bushes/service station toilets/wherever dragging your left leg.
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I don't drink much ( alcohol ) at all now Martin. Lost the taste for it.
Astutely accurate description gmac !
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Thu 7 Oct 10 at 19:40
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Oh yes, I see now, bit tired !
:-)
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Been there done it in a manual.
All you need is a diesel with 700+ mile tank range and an overnight European run.
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Aye, true. I could do just that no bother in my old car. This Qashqai has me in kinks after about 200 miles. It's great around London and so on but it's no use for long hauls for me anyway. Too sitty uppy.
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Who has a 200 mile school run ?
Mondeo was built for mile munching I doubt that was in the Nissan design brief.
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Trying to say it's a girl's car ?
:-)
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I was thinking more playground Tonka but if you want to call it girlie I won't stop you :)
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Have to admit that yesterday for rather complicated reasons I ended up driving 1,400km. Most of it was through the night into the early hours. Apart from missing a nights sleep I ended up quite enjoying it. The roads are (obviously) empty at that time except for the truckers and I was able to drive at very high speed for extended periods of time. No backache at the end of it, able to do a successful customer presentation and the only time I've ever had to fill up twice during the same journey.
Well and truly knackered now though.
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What kind of car do you have again BP ?
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I know I should remember but I'm awfy tired now. My apologies. I want to say a BMW?
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Ah, thought I'd remembered rightly eventually. Jolly nice bit of kit for the purpose you put it to then. More or less ideal in fact.
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>> Ah, thought I'd remembered rightly eventually. Jolly nice bit of kit for the purpose you
>> put it to then. More or less ideal in fact.
Yes, high speed driving is what BMWs are really built for.
Didn't stop my wife going bananas when she found out I'd spent the entire night behind the wheel rather than curled up asleep in a hotel though. At my age she said...
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>> Er...not a Qashqai.
OK, ok I admit it is a bit of a yummy mummy mobile but it was free I suppose and I've not had that luxury for a very long time. There was the option of an X5 in the company fleet going a-begging at the time too but the tax was horrible. Hope to change it for something I've actually chosen in the new year. Haven't very seriously thought about it yet but budget is reasonably flexible.
Very very vague shortlist includes 5 series estate, E class estate, X3, good spec Mondeo estate, V70... Oh I dunno. Not a Qashqai anyway ! Must get on to it sometime.
My leg hurts !
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>> Very very vague shortlist includes 5 series estate, E class estate, X3, good spec Mondeo
>> estate, V70... Oh I dunno. Not a Qashqai anyway ! Must get on to it sometime.
You might want to add the Citroen C5 to that list. I also considered it but with my mileage the leasing rate was not far short of the BMW. Also considered the Passat CC but no 6 cylinder diesel. You would have to pay me to take an X3 (or an X5 for that matter), not very nice to drive, at least the way I like to drive.
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Good suggestion re the Citroen. I'm really not sure what I'd like and I'm still at the stage where I'm almost pathetically grateful for anything which doesn't cost me anything but bik tax after many years of financing my own high mileage cars.
Comfort, big loadspace and reliability would be my main criteria I suppose.
Sorry about the thread drift commerdriver by the way ! Perhaps I'll start a proper one a bit nearer the time to see what the assembled jury recommend...
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>> Sorry about the thread drift commerdriver by the way
>>
Not a problem comfortable seats are probably one of my more important factors, I fully agree on the BMW seats being excellent, even on my cheapo version. Interesting on the citroen as a long distance chariot, the suspension is obviously excellent but I haven't been in a c5 for about 5 or 6 years now and the seats then were too soft for my taste.
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>> Comfort, big loadspace and reliability would be my main criteria I suppose.
Honda Accord tourer? Some of the best seats around, big loadspace with seats down (although admittedly not as much as the older model), and the usual Honda reliability. Excellent diesels too.
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>> I was able to drive at very high speed for
>> extended periods of time.
>>
That's the benefit of diesel. I had a tuned FIAT Coupe that could only manage 50mins. per tankful on empty Autobahns.
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>> That's the benefit of diesel. I had a tuned FIAT Coupe that could only manage
>> 50mins. per tankful on empty Autobahns.
50mins from one tank is impressive. That's probably, what, around 200km which means single figure mpg consumption. Respect.
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It was a quick Sat. morning run Dreieich to Munich. Had to stop at Wurzburg as I'd used a bit more than expected through the twisties out of Frankfurt. I was running on fumes into Munich. The average for the trip was about 12.5mpg if I remember rightly.
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Damn you Squire. I thought I held the record for unreasonable fuel consumption. 13MPG. Mind you that was at 70 mph in a Bedford CF2 4 speed patrol van circa 1984. They don't make 'em like that any more. o;)
Still got new rear brake shoes if anybody is interested!!
M
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Can't tell you what I was doing. Didn't have GPS satnac (sic) in those days and my '98 car speedo only went to 160. Later cars had 180mph speedo.
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I used to drive an original CF minibus around Glasgow when I was at university which we used to reckon was about 12 mpg at its worst. But then it was the quickest van of its size in these days left Transits standing on a few occasions.
Still not as nice looking as the Commer though.
PS would the rear brake shoes fit a Commer? There were a few common parts in them days.
Last edited by: commerdriver on Thu 7 Oct 10 at 23:40
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Do you have a "killer" feature - Runfer D'Hills
