Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

I never realized what the car I always promised myself was until I stumbled into buying it. After 3 Jeeps (two XJ Cherokees and a Liberty), I found true love in the form of a 2021 Kia Soul EX. I'm far from being techie, but I am amazed by and appreciative of all the technology built into this gorgeous red (very red!) car! Although that may be because the Liberty I dealt in on it was 17 years old at the time, so fairly anvil-like for technical sophistication. This car is  smarter than I am. Compared to anything I've owned in the past, it's like this Kia suddenly materialized from another dimension. I've had it for 6 months, and I'm still discovering cool features on it - no wonder the owner's manual is almost an inch thick. It has a kind of insolent look to it that I really admire as well. It's comfortable, it's fun, and it's a whole lot better on gas than the Libbie was!

 

Sentimental choice? 1956 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan. Had 3 '56 Fords, long, long ago; I still want another one before I get towed away to that Big Wrecking Yard in the Sky...

 

John

  • Like 2
Posted

There isn't a modern car that really excites me. Way too much electronical nonsense and poor interior design, and most of them look like 6 other models from competing manufacturers.

 

I'll keep my 15 year old WRX, thank you, and keep dreaming of that 1970s 911 Carrera RSR.

  • Like 1
  • Agree 1
  • 100% 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Rob G said:

There isn't a modern car that really excites me.

Oh, I dunno… apart from afore-mentioned new Renault 5 (especially in RS Turbo 3E guise), I’d make room for an Alpine A110, a Hyundai Ioniq 5N, a GMA T.50, a GR Yaris or GR86, pretty much any McLaren, a 296GTB or a Huracan Sterrato…

best,

M.

Posted

 

Dream / wish list car 

 

Volvo P1800. 

 

No brainer. 

 

So what is the best car I've ever had????

 

My VW Tiguan mk2. Just ticks all the boxes.

 

Nearly 8 years later .... still going strong and I would only swap it for another one.

 

Dick

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, jenko said:

Dream / wish list car 

 

Volvo P1800. 

There was one down the road from us sitting in a front garden, slowly rotting over many years (at least 20). This month it disappeared. Hope it went to a good home. I did consider asking the owner how much he wanted for it when I walked by. But common sense prevailed as I have neither the time or space to work on a car.

 

If I did, it would be either a Triumph Stag or TR 6 

 

Cheers

 

Colin

  • Like 3
Posted
On 18/12/2024 at 22:18, cmatthewbacon said:

I’ve always been surprised at the lack of a decent Capri kit. There are a couple of terrible ones, and the Tamiya silhouette racer, though even that’s hard to find these days. You’d have thought that Matchbox/AMT might have done one, or even Finecast at a pinch. I think our best bets now would likely be Chris at C1 Models (Professionals version anyone?) or the guys at Ukrainian Scale Car Production…

best,

M.

Welly makes a 1/24 scale model of the 1969 Ford Capri MkI and Burago a 1983 Capri MkIII.Academy made a kit of the RS race car.

 

Saluti

 

Giampiero

  • Like 1
Posted
22 hours ago, Jochen Barett said:

Remember those days, when it was OK to have balls and to have fun?

 

 

Never saw that advert. Did have 3 740 estates though. Bloody good car, I would like a new build example with the proper D5 powertrain.

Posted
On 19/12/2024 at 13:42, cmatthewbacon said:

I wonder if we’ll see Academy coming into the the 1/24 model cars market: the only companies really innovating in the electric market (or at least which make an electric vehicle today that I actually want that isn’t a Renault 5 or the Alpine version thereof) are Hyundai and Kia…

Especially now this is going into production…

DSC01053.jpg?w=1784&h=1004
best,

M.

 

Got to admit that I also loved the look of this when the photos were released. Unfortunately, the pricing is such that it will never be a realistic choice for me.

 

12 hours ago, cmatthewbacon said:

Oh, I dunno… apart from afore-mentioned new Renault 5 (especially in RS Turbo 3E guise), I’d make room for an Alpine A110, a Hyundai Ioniq 5N, a GMA T.50, a GR Yaris or GR86, pretty much any McLaren, a 296GTB or a Huracan Sterrato…

best,

M.

 

And looking at this it seems our tastes are not too different, the two bolded ones in particular may be near or at the top of the list when I finally go and buy another car assuming depreciation does it's thing (although it appears the depreciation hope isn't working with the Toyota :( )

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted
On 12/18/2024 at 1:18 PM, cmatthewbacon said:

I’ve always been surprised at the lack of a decent Capri kit. There are a couple of terrible ones, and the Tamiya silhouette racer, though even that’s hard to find these days. You’d have thought that Matchbox/AMT might have done one, or even Finecast at a pinch. I think our best bets now would likely be Chris at C1 Models (Professionals version anyone?) or the guys at Ukrainian Scale Car Production…

best,

M.

A 1/24 Capri Mk.I 1973 vintage 2000, 2600,2800,3000 with the deluxe interior would be most welcome, I still wait.

There was a new tool 72 RS2600 advertised on scalemates, by a company called Decalcas, kit # DCL-001. It was listed as a 2019 new tool. From Spain, it was supposed to be injection moulded with rubber tires. I had it on preorder from Spotmodel, but my preorder was cancelled and the kit never materialized. Box art was a profile of the RS2600 #23 crewed by Walter Röhrl + Hannes Rothfuß in 1972, showing rally lights, minilites etc. and no bumpers. This forum has some nice photos of the real thing and some discussion about the kit from 2018, but the thread ends with no further information.
https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/136867-ford-capri-mk1-rs2600/

 

Yamada did a 1970 Mk.I in stock configuration in 1970, the last time this moulding surfaced was under Doyusha in the 90’s. It goes for stupid money now, it’s billed as a 2000GT, yet it has the flat hood (bonnet). I have the Bandai 1/20 Capri Mk.I, it’s a workable kit with a basic interior and engine compartment, it’s a 1600 with the flat hood (bonnet). The shape looks good except for the side flip out windows, but there’s enough meat there to reshape it. It’s electric powered with the motor hidden behind the rear seat much like the old FROG Cortina, which makes me wonder if they were tooled at the same time. I was fortunate to have snagged it in May of this year for a whopping $20! It was at a model contest at a vendor’s table and it wasn’t priced, when I asked how much, I was expecting $100+, when he said $20, I could have beat Matt Dillon in a draw getting my wallet out.

Detail Cars did some very nice 1/43 diecast Mk.I’s, they are 1973 2600 with the hood bulge and minilites. Wiking does some Mk.I’s in 1/87, and in spite of their size, they are quite accurate and come in a variety of colours, a nice collection can be had at an affordable price and they don’t take up very much real estate.

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Posted

Having always driven saloons until this year when my wife persuaded me to get a new SUV, I have to say I’m so impressed with my Mercedes GLC 300 AMG. It’s a truly brilliant car; comfortable, quick, packed with electronic wizardry, and petrol driven (though a ‘limited hybrid’). It’s close to my idea of a dream car, with its badge and poise too. 
 

IMG-5524.jpg


 

I will one day buy my ultimate dream car though, the ‘full fat’ new marque Range Rover. That is vehicular perfection.

 

As less realistic fantasies, I really love the 60’s Jaguar 420G, it looks so cool.
 

IMG-0181.jpg

 

 

And, rather less flamboyant, I’ve always liked the old Austin Cambridge, and original split screen VW camper van. But old cars are so impractical and uncomfortable, there’s no way I’ll actually buy one.

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted
On 11/22/2024 at 1:39 PM, Anteater said:

Being more aspirational, I keep thinking about a Jaguar XJ-S. It would need to be a V12 though, even if they're not that quick and I would be deeply disturbed by the fuel bills. The 6 cylinders are fine but at some point somebody would ask, "is it a V12", and I wouldn't want to disappoint them.  

 

 

I like mine, although as always I want to change it. I'm only 43 so unless I live to a thousand years old like a Tolkein-esque Elve I'll never be old enough to want an automatic gearbox, and the General Motors TH400 3 speed automatic is hands-down the worst thing about the car. It's the reason it's not that quick, and it's the reason it's as thirsty as any other V12 GT car and frankly most V8 GT cars.

 

The good news is that a manual conversion is a well trodden path that transforms the V12 XJ-S into something more like it always should have been; much faster, much more responsive and yes, much better on fuel without the fluid-filled box of misery between flywheel and differential. Complete kits of parts are available to buy for it. Getrag 265 gearboxes are starting to get a bit rare so SimplyPerformance is well on with developing their new kit around the Tremec TKX which to be honest is a nicer gearbox with a choice of ratios and a nicer shift action anyway.

 

For people who for whatever reason do want to keep their XJ-S V12 an automatic but agree the TH400 is a mechanical tragedy, JagBox in the UK is about to release their conversion to use the 6 speed ZF 6HP26 gearbox from an S-Type which has been in development and road testing for some time, again being a lot quicker and around 30% better on fuel.

 

The only other V12 coupes available for the same ballpark pricewise are the BMW 850i and Mercedes CL600, both of which are capable of generating absolutely mind-bending bills. The XJ-S is very maintainable DIY with no need for main dealer computers and minimal special tools - and those special tools one does need for an XJ-S are easy to make. It's also a surprisingly small car on the roads nowadays, despite people imagining them as large:

a613e2eb-1335-48d5-a8eb-c27190b9a0cb.png

 

It's a shame because the Jaguar V12 is an absolute gem of an engine that gets a bad reputation for being slow and thirsty, all because of a crap 3 speed automatic gearbox.

 

I've driven both X100 XK8 and XKR too. The XKR is quite nice but the XK8 feels dog slow to be honest. Whereas the more classic-feeling XJ-S in standard guise kinda gets away with feeling slow off the mark but is actually quite quick if you put your foot down at 70mph, the XK8 is still quite slow off the mark but feels lacklustre at 70mph - a lot slower than they look. You find yourself asking "is that it? is it broken?" when driving it. The XKR is a much stronger proposition but they are admittedly much stronger priced too.

  • Like 2
  • Confused 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

 

I like mine, although as always I want to change it. I'm only 43 so unless I live to a thousand years old like a Tolkein-esque Elve I'll never be old enough to want an automatic gearbox, and the General Motors TH400 3 speed automatic is hands-down the worst thing about the car. It's the reason it's not that quick, and it's the reason it's as thirsty as any other V12 GT car and frankly most V8 GT cars.

 

The good news is that a manual conversion is a well trodden path that transforms the V12 XJ-S into something more like it always should have been; much faster, much more responsive and yes, much better on fuel without the fluid-filled box of misery between flywheel and differential. Complete kits of parts are available to buy for it. Getrag 265 gearboxes are starting to get a bit rare so SimplyPerformance is well on with developing their new kit around the Tremec TKX which to be honest is a nicer gearbox with a choice of ratios and a nicer shift action anyway.

 

For people who for whatever reason do want to keep their XJ-S V12 an automatic but agree the TH400 is a mechanical tragedy, JagBox in the UK is about to release their conversion to use the 6 speed ZF 6HP26 gearbox from an S-Type which has been in development and road testing for some time, again being a lot quicker and around 30% better on fuel.

 

The only other V12 coupes available for the same ballpark pricewise are the BMW 850i and Mercedes CL600, both of which are capable of generating absolutely mind-bending bills. The XJ-S is very maintainable DIY with no need for main dealer computers and minimal special tools - and those special tools one does need for an XJ-S are easy to make. It's also a surprisingly small car on the roads nowadays, despite people imagining them as large:

 

 

It's a shame because the Jaguar V12 is an absolute gem of an engine that gets a bad reputation for being slow and thirsty, all because of a crap 3 speed automatic gearbox.

 

 

A tad harsh on the TH400 methinks. I am a bit biased though.

I've had a string of old US muscle cars over the years, most GM ones were TH400 boxed. The transmission is pretty much bulletproof and well sorted for a torque monster V8 that gets the job done at lowish RPM. It does sap a bit of power, the TH350 is better there but not as strong. The lowly two speed Powerglide takes even less power to run it but the sheer torque put out by pretty much any V8 compensates for the seemingly severe lack of gears. US transmissions are built to work with US engines.

I have a two speed powerglide behind a Chevrolet 350 in a '65 Suburban and it just gets the job done without me being aware of the single gear change. It is well suited to the truck and I've used it to tow a car and trailer without any drama. Put your boot in it and it kicks down and flys. Stone age engineering that works. Easy to work on but rarely needing any work in the first place. The price paid for all this simplicity, regardless of box or engine, comes at the fuel pump but there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Period road tests using the tried and tested US quarter mile times get virtually identical times with either four speed manual boxes or three speed autos. Many times the auto is quicker. 

 

Tony.

  • Agree 1
Posted
3 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

 

For people who for whatever reason do want to keep their XJ-S V12 an automatic but agree the TH400 is a mechanical tragedy, JagBox in the UK is about to release their conversion to use the 6 speed ZF 6HP26 gearbox from an S-Type which has been in development and road testing for some time, again being a lot quicker and around 30% better on fuel.

 

 

Now that is interesting.

 

I note the SimplyPerformance Tremec manual conversion kit starts at £5,200 + VAT and that doesn't seem to include the pedal box etc. I know good low volume engineering doesn't come cheap but that means a large bill by the time it's all fitted, perhaps half the value of good V12 auto. Nice in principle but you'd have to be keen. 

 

The 6-speed auto conversion using the S-Type box is the really interesting bit but I can't seem to find a website for Jagbox, only a Friendface page. In principle it sounds like a very good solution because the transmission in the S-Type enhanced the driving experience, whereas the TH400 only sapped the life out of the XJS. I assume the same solution would work for the 6 cylinder XJS as well.

 

Having driven a couple, I flirt with the idea of a either an XJ-S or an XJS (pedant) but it's always that rubbish auto box that puts me off. The factory manual is ok but a bit heavy work which feels at odds with the point of a nice wafty Jag. 

Posted
4 hours ago, Anteater said:

 

Now that is interesting.

 

I note the SimplyPerformance Tremec manual conversion kit starts at £5,200 + VAT and that doesn't seem to include the pedal box etc. I know good low volume engineering doesn't come cheap but that means a large bill by the time it's all fitted, perhaps half the value of good V12 auto. Nice in principle but you'd have to be keen. 

 

The 6-speed auto conversion using the S-Type box is the really interesting bit but I can't seem to find a website for Jagbox, only a Friendface page. In principle it sounds like a very good solution because the transmission in the S-Type enhanced the driving experience, whereas the TH400 only sapped the life out of the XJS. I assume the same solution would work for the 6 cylinder XJS as well.

 

Having driven a couple, I flirt with the idea of a either an XJ-S or an XJS (pedant) but it's always that rubbish auto box that puts me off. The factory manual is ok but a bit heavy work which feels at odds with the point of a nice wafty Jag. 

 

Running a website doesn't appear to be their (might just be one guy actually) forte but here it is:

http://www.jagbox.uk/

 

The XJ-S (or XJS) is quite good at doing the racing car thing as well though - Tom Walkinshaw did win the Bathurst with one after all so whilst the 6 speed automatic would maintain the lazy character it came with, it's quite a good basis for a more aggressive and somewhat sportier and more exciting car too. Again where else would you get to pedal your way through gears behind a V12 for a 5 figure sum of money? (if you enjoy that of course).

 

I'm sorely tempted to buy another and keep one soft and make the other a worthy successor to my much loved and much missed TVR Cerbera which used to split flames out the tailpipes on overrun, and frankly cross-plane crank V8s don't interest me much. I owned Jaguar's supercharged 5.0 litre crossplane crank a V8 and it didn't particularly reward or encourage giving it a thrashing - indeed it gave the same results at 2500rpm as it did at 6000rpm.

 

Then again an XJ12 would be better at being soft. I do like my 2 door cars to have a more aggressive character. With the 5.3 litre engine being over square and quite enthusiastic high up the RPM range when unburdened by that TH400, it seems to be an engine begging for a manual gearbox.

 

Harry Metcalfe seems very happy with his XJ-C V12. Have you seen that?

https://youtu.be/P_GNk0Yn6lg?si=_zxs8AKUndgCvhTH

  • Like 2
Posted

Yes, Harry Metcalfe's XJ-C V12 is a wonderful thing and it has a set of pipes that unleash the full aural potential.  A good exhaust system makes all the difference on many a Jag. 

 

The Group A XJS's were fab, as were the Rovers and the 635CSIs, I'd find room for any of them. I love the 80s Jags with the TWR kits (which were never homologated for Group A) and the all new Supercat is now grabbing some headlines. What I'd really like at the moment would be an XJ40 TWR but with the 4.0 replaced by the Double Six, breathed on, and now I know I could have a six-speed auto box.... but I'll have changed my mind after my next pint. 

 

As much as I like an XJS, the XJ40 or X300 in V12 mode really flick a switch. 12 cylinders, space for travelling 4 up and shooters in the boot. Now you're talking. The only Jag we've had in the household was a 3.0 S-Type, bought at the bottom of the depreciation curve as a stupendous bargain. I have fond memories of dominating the A14 in various X300s in period and I've more recently got to play with a pair of XJS. But a nicely resto-modded XJ40, hmmm.... 

 

In my head, I might look a bit like this. Sorted. 

 

p?i=34a2bac7954ee6b8c44e53aa09293dbe

  • Like 2
Posted
12 hours ago, Lord Riot said:

my wife persuaded me to get a new SUV

I’m really interested to hear what the winning arguments for an SUV are. I genuinely don’t understand why they’ve come to dominate the market, but I’m obviously in the minority. As far as I can see, SUVs are badly packaged, inefficient, have worse aerodynamics and fuel consumption, are simply too big for most of our roads, driveways and garages, and are by and large ugly and undifferentiated. Unless one has a real need to go off road and across the farm (in which case a Land Rover, or Rangie if you have the money is hard to beat), there’s literally nothing an SUV can do that a well-designed estate car (I’m looking at you, Skoda, Volvo or Peugeot as well as BMW, Audi and Merc) can’t do better. So what’s the appeal?


Full disclosure: if it was up to me, I’d whack up Road Tax based on weight and size, and put even higher duty on fuel to try and incentivise manufacturers  to produce, and people to buy, smaller and more efficient cars that actually do the jobs they need to do in people’s lives better…


best,

M.

  • Like 1
  • Agree 2
Posted
11 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

I'm only 43 so unless I live to a thousand years old like a Tolkein-esque Elve I'll never be old enough to want an automatic gearbox,

 

When I was 43 I thought the same. Now I'm 67 with knees that don't work like they used too, I really would appreciate an auto - but when I bought my new Vitara the auto was about £2&1/2K more. So I thought I'd put up with the pain of still changing gear....

 

21 minutes ago, cmatthewbacon said:

I’m really interested to hear what the winning arguments for an SUV are.

 

For me, see comment above. Just being able to step into and out of the car is why I'll never go back to a saloon. Getting in, & especially out of, the wife's Focus was a nightmare - she's just changed it for a Suzuki Swift and that's even worse! And as to my son's Volvo V40 'R design' I try to avoid going anywhere in that like the plague...!!

 

21 minutes ago, cmatthewbacon said:

have worse aerodynamics and fuel consumption,

 

My 1.4 Vitara 'mild hybrid' will do 40-42 around town, easily 55 on a motorway run - better than the 1.0 ecoboost Focus the missus has just got shot off (it was just getting to 60K miles when Ford's idiotic 'wet belts' started showing signs of disintegrating!) OK, my previous 2.4 litre Grand Vitara did an average of 25 (!) mpg, but that was from a different era!!


Keith

Posted
39 minutes ago, keefr22 said:

 

When I was 43 I thought the same. Now I'm 67 with knees that don't work like they used too, I really would appreciate an auto

 

I bought my first auto when I was at university, the whole 3 speeds don't-cha know. Then I had a big automatic gap until I was about 46, sated only when 'er indoors had the aforementioned 3.0 S-Type for a bit. My return to the wonderful world of automatics hit the buffers when the scrapyard dodging 520i inevitably **** its gearbox. Sealed for life? Uh-huh... I suspect it may be a selector issue so it's parked in the barn for now, where it's been for 9 months. When it came to the hastily bought bargain Yeti (an SUV, the horror) I wasn't going anywhere near the dreaded DSG; you have enough trouble with EGRs and DPFs without another TLA in the mix. But hear-ye, all you doubters. Automatics are cool because, assuming you time it just right, you can wave your hand like a conductor (Albert Hall rather than bus) and the car will magically change gear. It's witchcraft and you don't even need to ask your passenger to hold your G&T.     

 

Being a rally man @keefr22, I bet you wouldn't say no to a works 500 SLC, even with the missing pedal. 

  • Like 2
  • Agree 1
Posted
14 minutes ago, keefr22 said:

Now I'm 67 with knees that don't work like they used to,

14 minutes ago, keefr22 said:

Just being able to step into and out of the car

 

Fair enough, but _everybody_ (including lots of late-20s-eary 30s gym-going yummy mummies and bench pressing yuppies) is buying SUVs, and "I can't get into a regular car comfortably" can't be the reason for all of them doing it... I mean, my grandparents at 67 had a Ford Anglia and FIAT 850, and my parents and in laws had a Subaru Legacy and a Ford Granada at the same age...

best,

M.

  • Like 2
Posted
1 minute ago, Anteater said:

I wasn't going anywhere near the dreaded DSG

14 years on, the DSG has never been a problem (though I have had the transmission oil changed every four years, because my Skoda Main Dealer knows what's what...)

best,

M.

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Suv's are getting bigger. Much bigger. Whilst car park planners still mark out spaces for vehicles with dimensions for 70's sized csrs apart from Lidl.  Also some crew cab pick ups exceed the length of car parking spaces too.

 

A driver's age, health and mobility determines what they drive rather than what they might like to. So one cannot be too pedantic and say not in a thousand years would I change from a manual to an automatic gear box. I had a Wolseley 6/110 back in the 70'. That was an automatic with leather bench seats front and bsck. Such a relaxing car to drive and the auto really saved a lot of left leg effort when stuck in traffic and made long journeys feel so much easier at journeys end.

 

So what would be the car I always promised myself ?   Well a Mustang will be out of the question. If I parked between two  SUV's in a car park, I would probably not be able to open the wide door enough to get out !

Ah well, there is always an Abarth Fiat 500 that might do the trick !

Edited by Noel Smith
  • Like 3
Posted
1 hour ago, Anteater said:

the car will magically change gear

For many years I avoided automatics like the plague but now I'm not as adamant in opposing them. My one early experience was with a borrowed Daimler Conquest Roadster, which had what was then Daimler's standard four-speed preselector gearbox and a fluid flywheel. I discovered after a week or so that this was very slightly out of adjustment, so instead of being a preselect transmission, it was a random select gearbox that chose for itself, including on one occasion opting for reverse instead of first gear as I prepared to accelerate away from traffic lights.

 

Maurice

  • Haha 2
Posted

The car I always promised myself?

I'll let the picture do the talking... :wicked:

 

spacer.png

TVR Tuscan, when I first saw one, I thought, I NEED IT!!! Preferably with Nebula or Chameleon paint.

Of course, being that these cars will slowly be eligible for importing into the USA starting next year, I fear that the prices will only climb.

Will it still be attainable? Sure, but not as soon as I hope to have it.

 

If not, I'll be quite happy with a TVR Cerbera V8. It still looks (and sounds) like a beast.

 

I also have a passion for 67-69 Thunderbirds, as it was one of the few lower priced big block muscle cars around.

  • Like 3
Posted

On a side note, I dream of one day finding one of these on Facebook marketplace... (queue the laughter :lol:)

 

spacer.png

Geo Storm, in Magenta. 

Seriously, I'm nuts over this car and color. Just finding a nice one is a problem.

  • Like 1
Posted
11 hours ago, cmatthewbacon said:

I’m really interested to hear what the winning arguments for an SUV are. I genuinely don’t understand why they’ve come to dominate the market, but I’m obviously in the minority. As far as I can see, SUVs are badly packaged, inefficient, have worse aerodynamics and fuel consumption, are simply too big for most of our roads, driveways and garages, and are by and large ugly and undifferentiated. Unless one has a real need to go off road and across the farm (in which case a Land Rover, or Rangie if you have the money is hard to beat), there’s literally nothing an SUV can do that a well-designed estate car (I’m looking at you, Skoda, Volvo or Peugeot as well as BMW, Audi and Merc) can’t do better. So what’s the appeal?


Full disclosure: if it was up to me, I’d whack up Road Tax based on weight and size, and put even higher duty on fuel to try and incentivise manufacturers  to produce, and people to buy, smaller and more efficient cars that actually do the jobs they need to do in people’s lives better…


best,

M.


There’s certainly nothing untrue about all of the negatives you listed there. However, we did choose one for a number of reasons; firstly my wife lived in America for twenty years and got used to owning big SUVs in which she feels safer than a smaller car. It’s great to have a higher driving position, especially with more bigger cars on the road.

 

Also, we go on a lot of holidays within the UK so can fit in all of the luggage, hiking gear, etc neatly in the boot space without having to put any of it in the passenger area. Another good thing is the 4-wheel drive; my previous cars have been rear wheel drive and were not great on slippery roads.
 

I think finally it’s also down to personal taste, I like them! I’ve always liked big German cars, and got used to them living in Cheshire and the hotels we go to. I honestly don’t think a road tax increase would stop me owning one, though I guess it would reduce the numbers on the road. I do get your point of view, but I want one, so I bought one!

  • Thanks 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...