Yesterday's Daily Express had an article on the perfect girlfriend
www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/210647/The-perfect-girlfriend-by-men-who-don-t-have-one-
More than a few of us cannot comment on the above article as we committed to AN Other many years ago.
So what would be your requirements be in one car to make it nigh on perfect?
|
I want my perfect car to have a high sex drive and a hearty appetite!
My perfect girlfriend would be a Caterham Cars Super 7. The wide version with a fairly modest engine. So that would be a sexy but not skinny body, not too much drive for me to handle, but a bit of a goer anyhow. Modest running costs and would make me feel like a teenager again. I would not be ashamed to be out in public with her and would be the envy of my male friends.
Have I got the hang of this thread?
|
I have the perfect car . . .
Low cost spread over a set monthly fee so no large outlay to obtain it,
Economical
Reliable
The wife does not like driving it
Keeps me dry in the rain, warm when its cold, cool when its hot.
If I bend it someone else fixes it and I don't have to pay the bill.
If it breaks someone else fixes it without billing me.
If I bend it or it breaks I get a replacement while it is fixed free of charge.
What else could you want ;-)
|
>> I have the perfect car . . .
>>
It's a Company car and you pay a fixed monthly fee on top.
What car is it?
|
>> It's a Company car and you pay a fixed monthly fee on top.
>>
Not quite - I have an allowance and don't spend it all so they pay me the excess.
>> What car is it?
>>
is that relevant?
|
is that relevant
No thats a big grey animal with a trunk.........
|
...is that relevant?...
Well, put it this way, it's a motoring forum, some of us on here are interested in cars, it's kinda what we do.
|
|
After that buildup it'll be a shame if it turns out to be Skoda rather than Maserati :-)
|
A search of my previous posts would tell you what it is! As an answer to the original question the make/model is not relevant.
In reality what we realy want in a car is not function, but something which stirs the emotion.
But why don't we want the same from a toaster?
Last edited by: IJWS14 on Fri 12 Nov 10 at 07:56
|
>In reality what we really want in a car is not function, but something which stirs the emotion. But why don't we want the same from a toaster?
Forgive me if I challenge your premise, IJWS. Car industry marketing types love to talk about adrenaline, but that's a hormone, not an emotion, and one that has at least as much to do with fear as with excitement. I read something recently about 'turning every journey into an adrenaline rush', or something like that, which seemed a bizarre and alarming idea to me.
Function and emotional resonance are not the polar opposites your statement seems to suggest. Relief is an emotion - one that can be stirred by a comfortable, well-thought-out car when you slip into it at the end of a long day. So is looking forward to a journey because your means of transport - car, train, bike, favourite shoes - makes it a pleasure in itself. All these things depend on the underlying function being performed exceptionally well.
And we find that in other things too. To pick up your toaster-shaped gauntlet - some here will remember that I replaced the family bread-browner in August with an expensive one (albeit got at an advantageous price.) More than I needed to spend on a toaster, yes, but it really is a pleasure to use. It's found a real enthusiast in the youngest Beest, aged 7, who has appointed himself Toastmaster General and gets quite indignant (another emotion) if we make toast for ourselves when he could have made it for us. In other words, there has been an emotional payback for what seemed a high price to pay, and how the thing functions is key to that.
Minor luxuries like that do stir the emotions - they give us a small dose of satisfaction every time we use them. To take another example, you can buy a functional plastic pen for 20p - or steal one for nothing - but it won't be much fun to use. For a modest amount you can have something much nicer that gives that small dose every day - I don't mean a diamond-crusted Mont Blanc, just something whose construction and function are just a bit better than the bare minimum.
I read a little article in a magazine years ago by someone whose favourite object was a leather-cased tape measure by Hermes - but he was an architect, so the tape measure went with him everywhere and gave satisfaction many times a day.
I think you can apply the same reasoning to a car; it's just that a car is bigger, more complex, more visible and more expensive than a toaster, a pen or a tape measure, and that means that the emotions they stir - satisfaction, excitement, disappointment, even anger - tend to be that bit more intense.
|
Top Post, WillDeBeest.
It adds real depth of insight to the thread.
My Goodness! There is a lot of expertise / common sense / interesting observation on this forum. Plus, very little pointless bickering.
Now, this, is a quality forum.
|
OK - I can't hold back any longer !
Everyone is different of course and their needs, wants and desires are equally so. But for me and my criteria I have already got what is in those terms the perfect car.
It'll come as no great surprise to some of you to learn that this is my old Mondeo diesel estate.
Why ?
It was cheap to buy and is economical to run.
It has been reliable way beyond my expectations.
Pleasant to drive, handles well and is very comfortable.
Holds huge loads when required. Truly multi-purpose vehicle.
Nicely appointed, leather, climate, cruise, sunroof, leccy seats, good sound system.
Doesn't draw attention to itself.
More or less perfect in fact. ( For me anyway )
|
I agree the requirements / wants are too fluid, not only on an individual basis, but in terms of time of life and circumstances.
Pre kids, the idea of an MPV would have horrified me. But the Renault Grand Scenic we bought in 2006 won us both over for its near perfect performance as a hard working family car. Did everything we asked of it and more, rode beautifully, and took four of us and a fortnight's luggage 2500 miles in a week along unrestricted autobahns and Alpine passes, in total comfort, and still gave us a genuine 43 mpg. Practical, comfortable, smooth, gutsy, gadget laden, effortless, spacious etc etc. 2 minutes removing seats and you had a decent sized van for dump runs / moving bulky stuff.
It was amazing. Until it got to 60k and started to self destruct. :-(
Last edited by: DP on Thu 11 Nov 10 at 15:30
|
>> the requirements / wants are too fluid, not only on an individual basis, but in terms of time of life and circumstances
Agreed. My dad's got my perfect car already - an automatic, leather-trimmed, climate controlled diesel Mercedes estate. Plenty of space, plenty of go, plenty of comfort and 50 to the gallon. The only non-perfect thing about it is the hefty price he paid for it 6 years ago.
My Escort cost around 175x less (£26k plays £150), but I don't think it's 175x less perfect.
Now, the perfect girlfriend... That could be more difficult. ;)
Last edited by: Dave_TD {P} on Thu 11 Nov 10 at 22:52
|
My perfect car...Hmm...actually, I DO have an ideal spec for my next motor.
- A stylish looking 5-door hatchback with a decent automatic gearbox and lively diesel engine.
- Comfortable ride and lots of equipment.
- Safety and reliability should also be above average.
- Front-wheel drive (or better four-wheel drive)
The only cars that I can think of that fit the bill are the Audi A5, Skoda Superb and the Ford Mondeo.
Not many to choose from, I'll admit, but they are all good 'uns!
|
A perfect car needs to be like a perfect man.
Good, solid and dependable. Does what he's told without question and no nagging when you do it your way anyway,
So that means no flashing lights all over to tell you what you haven't done.
It also means a good chassis and well shod with sensible tyres, none of those low profile things. Size 12 is good.
When you do need him he jumps to please, silently of course. So a push to park button which takes over when you want to parallel park and does it automatically.
A good man is handy with a hoover and washing up, so we need a durable paint work that can withstand a car wash every week, and also and air supply to use an air gun for cleaning it out. How I miss those, every car should have one, open both doors and blow.
A good man does all this without complaint as should a good car so it needs to purr quietly away, and only make interesting sounds when those size 12's tell it too:)
Pat
|
|
Pat, sounds like you're describing a Passat to me. Petrol 2.0T SE with Park Assist.
|
Hmmm....
Reasonable size
Comfortable seats (BMW)
Armrest (dammit, 1-series, it's not hard to get right)
Big meaty torquey diesel engine
Good automatic gearbox
MP3 playback
Quiet inside
Fantastic brakes
Economical
Good multi-function display in instrument panel (BMW, you've lost to Audi on this big time)
Remote unlocking with a good range
Rechargable keyfob
Rear parking sensors
Intelligent climate control
Cruise control
Adaptive servicing
Electronic dipstick
Xenon headlights (missed out on this with the BMW)
Variable wipe on the intermittent wipe setting
Tyre pressure sensors
|
My perfect car would have:
Mind blowing styling but usable interior and boot space.
A V12 engine that does 90mpg (I hate having to stop to fill up).
Go-kart like handling ability combined with a smooth, cossetting ride.
Scratch proof self cleaning paintwork and scuff proof wheels.
|
• Comfortable – Part Leather seats
• Full colour graphic display/sat nav. (Not in the instrument panel, but in the dash console)
• Arm Rest
• Foot Rest
• Xenon lights
• Smooth Gearbox
• A clear uncluttered dash – (no “tubes to look down” they give me a headache)
• Climate Control
• CD Autochanger
• Heated and Electrically Adjustable mirrors
• Rear view mirror and drivers door mirror auto tint (top marks for that one Vauxhall, you lost on that one Citroen “Loaded with tech” C4
• All round electric windows
• Good quality sound system with good quality speakers
• Wipers that do not make a sound as they glide over the window.
• DAB Radio
• Reliable
• Good Quality engineering
That’s about it from me
Don’t want
• Rain sensitive wipers
(If I must then they need to work properly, but there is no need for them IMO)
Last edited by: Redviper on Fri 12 Nov 10 at 13:02
|
>> Wipers that do not make a sound as they glide over the window
Wow, now that you mention it, the Skoda ones manage that. I hadn't thought about that before but yeah there's definitely no noise (and i only use good quality wipers on a freshly clayed screen with the BMW so it's not that i've been scrimping... honest)
>> Xenon lights
I've gone past wishing all future cars of mine have them, and now wishing everyone's car has them.
When the car in front has recent xenons, you can see so far ahead. Also eliminates the much more annoying clowns that load up the rear of the car then have no idea what the dipped beam adjuster on the dashboard is for :-(
My list's v similar to redvipers, only bits i go against are:
>> Full colour graphic display/sat nav. (Not in the instrument panel, but in the dash console)
I'd rather have all that functionality in the instrument binnacle. Replace the standard dials etc. with and LCD screen. Let it change / rearrange to suit different needs for display.
>> Rain sensitive wipers
Too good to not have anymore :-)
|
Dave TD>> Agreed. My dad's got my perfect car already - an automatic, leather-trimmed, climate controlled diesel
>> Mercedes estate. [which cost 26k 6 years ago]
And he wouldn't come up with £500 so you could declare yourself bankrupt? A charmer.
|
Yet another despicable remark MM.
Pat
|
|
A little uncalled for don't you think MM? His family matters are none of your (or my) business.
|
MM,
Dave might have approached his father, he might not, I've no idea.
But I do know there could be any number of reasons for either course of action.
If you can understand your own family you are doing well, if you can understand somebody else's, you are a genius.
|
Dave might have approached his father, he might not, I've no idea.
But I do know there could be any number of reasons for either course of action, and therefore I stand by my assertion that if Dave is unable to approach his patently wealthy father in his time of complete desperation that his father is an absolute charmer.
Pat's a bit of a charmer, too I love being called "despicable" obviously.
Last edited by: Mapmaker on Tue 16 Nov 10 at 15:02
|
You seem to think it's acceptable to speak your mind MM, no matter whether it is appropriate or not.
Why should I not do the same to you?
Pat
|
There is and never will be a perfect car. Everything is a compromise.
One of the best compromise cars i've ever had was a...er...sort of...um...Rover 620. It did nothing more than average (other than reliability, that was spot on), but the compromise was pretty good...comfort/handling...performance/economy...kit/price.
My current car, which i've owned for over 8 years is near perfection for me...(Jag S Type 3 litre petrol)...but it's main flaw, fuel consumption, is nowadays a big one. I've considered diesel and newer (and test driven one)...but the noise and lack of smoothness was a degree of negative...so I kept the old one.
I can honestly say, there's nothing, zilch, nowt, zero out there that is in a realistic price bracket (say up to £30K) that i'd really hanker for. Jag XF comes close, but having gone all over the one owned by a lady at work..the interior seemed to be the sea of plastic that everything else has nowadays.
Maybe a 2 year old diesel XJ, with acres of wood/leather...and put up with the lack of real engine noise and rattle in the morning.
|
Maybe a 2 year old diesel XJ, with acres of wood/leather...and put up with the lack of real engine noise and rattle in the morning.
i am thinking of the same car today to stave off automotive boredom.
a 2-4 yr old xj with the deisel engine would be my best car. I'm going to look at jaguar sale tommorow but may be a lot cheaper private sale.
|
MM,
DaveTD's circumstances are not for you to judge. For all we know he might not have wanted his wealthy father to know his financial problems.
Now wind your neck in please and stop harassing other forum members.
Vx.
|
I wouldn't call my dad wealthy by any means. Prudent, yes, but not well-off.
I asked him for help last year, with several pages of explanatory notes and figures. He very kindly settled some overdue utility bills for me (which ran to four figures) but said no to the bankruptcy fee.
|
Dave needs to make no explanations here, i'm disappointed that his earlier post should have been dissected in such a fashion, and deeply so that he felt obliged to offer personal family business.
|
Perfect car? What would you want? - Notdoctorchris
