Car demographics ? What your car says about you ! (if you have one).

[Colston36]

I have never been able to drive, but have got the women I was with to do so.

I did learn one thing, though. The brand makes a HUGE difference to how people see you.

Years ago I got rid of a business partner who had a Rolls. Did he want to keep it? No, he'd prefer some money.

So I said to my remaining partners let's keep the car and each drive slowly past people we hate.

Then my financial partner told me that depreciated value meant it made more sense to keep the thing.

So my third ex-wife (by far my most expensive investment ever) drove it for about three years before trading it in.

It was fascinating to see how other drivers deferred to that car.

Yet it was a cash-gobbling pain in the arse. The boot never closed properly, I remember.

But the experience taught me a lot about the power of a brand.

I now have no car, no wife and more fun - though that one was amazing on the job till she discovered I was fucking her hairdresser.

[lillythesavage]

I have never been able to drive, but have got the women I was with to do so.

I did learn one thing, though. The brand makes a HUGE difference to how people see you.

Years ago I got rid of a business partner who had a Rolls. Did he want to keep it? No, he'd prefer some money.

So I said to my remaining partners let's keep the car and each drive slowly past people we hate.

Then my financial partner told me that depreciated value meant it made more sense to keep the thing.

So my third ex-wife (by far my most expensive investment ever) drove it for about three years before trading it in.

It was fascinating to see how other drivers deferred to that car.

Yet it was a cash-gobbling pain in the arse. The boot never closed properly, I remember.

But the experience taught me a lot about the power of a brand.

I now have no car, no wife and more fun - though that one was amazing on the job till she discovered I was fucking her hairdresser.

At least you have no need to buy a Honda Jazz 

[berksboy]

"Timing chains and more importantly tensioners do need changing and for most competent mechanics is not a difficult job on most cars, they join the new chain to the old one and feed it around the engine, change the tensioner and job done. "

You should never ever put a new chain on to old sprockets as the new chain will wear out fast. Yes lots of mechanics do it as they earn more but its a bodge job.

[lillythesavage]

"Timing chains and more importantly tensioners do need changing and for most competent mechanics is not a difficult job on most cars, they join the new chain to the old one and feed it around the engine, change the tensioner and job done. "

You should never ever put a new chain on to old sprockets as the new chain will wear out fast. Yes lots of mechanics do it as they earn more but its a bodge job.

That would depend on a visual inspection of the visible sprocket, the age, value and expected life of the car, most cars, by the time they need a new chain have done a few miles and are quite old, if someone has actually bothered to go to the trouble of looking at it, they probably have not kept using it with a worn chain, if they have and there is obvious wear to the sprocket, then it is decision time, end of the road or a strip down and paying up.

Chain problems are usually caused by servicing neglect, and worn tensioners, if you hear it rattle get it done.

I got lucky with a Rover P6 2200 TC, I bought it very cheap with an engine knock, a very obvious knock, decided to drive it home, very slowly, on the basis it needed a replacement engine or rebuild anyway, after about 100 miles the knock was gone, a hot engine had freed the tensioner, never had a problem again.

[lamboman]

I also appear to have inadequate dick syndrome as I have owned a V12 for many many years 

Same here  make the most of them they are a dieing breed.
Filled mine up ready for some decent weather £120 good job it's economical 

[Markus]

Can’t see the point of buying a new car.  Especially keyless cars as they are too easily stolen.  I drive a sensible mid range car I bought pre-Reg about 6 years ago. Only done about 55k miles and is worth more now then two years ago due to the increase in used cars.  I’d rather blow my money on a nice time piece or a luxury holiday.

I would love the Discovery 4x4 but can’t justify the expense as wonderful as it looks.

[lamboman]

I would love the Discovery 4x4 but can’t justify the expense as wonderful as it looks.

It would only break down.

[Bogof60]

Same here  make the most of them they are a dieing breed.
Filled mine up ready for some decent weather £120 good job it's economical 

Just love the noise 

[webpunter]

+1, fine when new ish & with a manufacturer warranty

Had an old shape 2000 ish 4.0HSE rangey
Quality & ace when it used to properly snow back then
It was the vehicular equivalent of the 'money pit' 

The tdv8 RRsport is half decent but again unreliable & costly as it gets older
Sounds nice & there is the air of superiority smokin round in it

Once you have got the Land Rover nostalgia bollox outta your system you soon realise that zee german 4*4s are streets ahead

Edit:  a Discovery ?, how boring is that.  Even worse the freelander 

It would only break down.

[Blackpool Rock]

+1, fine when new ish & with a manufacturer warranty

Had an old shape 2000 ish 4.0HSE rangey
Quality & ace when it used to properly snow back then
It was the vehicular equivalent of the 'money pit' 

The tdv8 RRsport is half decent but again unreliable & costly as it gets older
Sounds nice & there is the air of superiority smokin round in it

Once you have got the Land Rover nostalgia bollox outta your system you soon realise that zee german 4*4s are streets ahead

Edit:  a Discovery ?, how boring is that.  Even worse the freelander 

Thought the savvy people went for Toyota Landcruiser's / Mitsubishi Shoguns

[mr.bluesky]

+1, fine when new ish & with a manufacturer warranty

Had an old shape 2000 ish 4.0HSE rangey
Quality & ace when it used to properly snow back then
It was the vehicular equivalent of the 'money pit' 

The tdv8 RRsport is half decent but again unreliable & costly as it gets older
Sounds nice & there is the air of superiority smokin round in it

Once you have got the Land Rover nostalgia bollox outta your system you soon realise that zee german 4*4s are streets ahead

Edit:  a Discovery ?, how boring is that.  Even worse the freelander 

Aaaah the Chelsea tractor. Usually driven by mums  ferrying their little brats to and from school and although four wheel drive have never been driven off road in their lives. Defenders usually seen towing a horse box and clogging up the country lanes.

[standardpostage]

A friend of mine always wanted a Jaguar car. He bought one, not sure which model. Secondhand, a few years old..
12 months later, got rid.
Said it was the nicest car he had ever driven 
"But" used more fuel than a fully loaded HGV.
Think he said he got 10 MPG 

[Blackpool Rock]

A friend of mine always wanted a Jaguar car. He bought one, not sure which model. Secondhand, a few years old..
12 months later, got rid.
Said it was the nicest car he had ever driven 
"But" used more fuel than a fully loaded HGV.
Think he said he got 10 MPG 

Top Gear compilation about Jags or rather stereotypical Jaaaaaaag owners 

External Link/Members Only

[lillythesavage]

+1, fine when new ish & with a manufacturer warranty

Had an old shape 2000 ish 4.0HSE rangey
Quality & ace when it used to properly snow back then
It was the vehicular equivalent of the 'money pit' 

The tdv8 RRsport is half decent but again unreliable & costly as it gets older
Sounds nice & there is the air of superiority smokin round in it

Once you have got the Land Rover nostalgia bollox outta your system you soon realise that zee german 4*4s are streets ahead

Edit:  a Discovery ?, how boring is that.  Even worse the freelander 

German suv,s are streets ahead, on the road, but mostly useless for the fun stuff, or working on the farm where my Discovery has been, it was rotten filthy, inside looked like a stable, complete with Straw bedding.

It has also done 192000 miles, towing for a lot of it, it belonged to a guy who repaired and maintained farm trailers, proved very reliable and suitable for him. Because he could not be bothered to clean it, or mot it, it cost me 300 quid, can legally tow 3.5 tonnes and is a very useful vehicle to have around. It makes 500 quid for scrap over the bridge, loads more in parts.

Only the Diesel can tow 3.5 tonnes, the V8 petrol can only tow 1 tonne.

The latest discovery, is far superior on the road and off it, to any Range Rover, will match the German suv.s on the road, and leave them behind on a muddy hill.

[Bogof60]

A friend of mine always wanted a Jaguar car. He bought one, not sure which model. Secondhand, a few years old..
12 months later, got rid.
Said it was the nicest car he had ever driven 
"But" used more fuel than a fully loaded HGV.
Think he said he got 10 MPG 

This kind of annoys me.
To have got 10 MPG it must have been a large engine suspect 5.0 ltr plus and he must have been tearing around at full throttle
What did your friend expect from a  big engined car driving it like he stole it.
I suspect two things.
One a bit of  eggsageration
Two he couldnt afford it.
Better to return to his Honda Jizz

[standardpostage]

This kind of annoys me.
To have got 10 MPG it must have been a large engine suspect 5.0 ltr plus and he must have been tearing around at full throttle
What did your friend expect from a  big engined car driving it like he stole it.
I suspect two things.
One a bit of  eggsageration
Two he couldnt afford it.
Better to return to his Honda Jizz

He said that the 10 MPG was around town. Not sure what model it was, or how old it was.
Don't know if he was exaggerating 
Now that you mention it, he did have about 15 points on his licence for speeding. Normally banned on 12 points, but he appealed on domestic circumstances.
Think your right also about him finding it unaffordable to run.

[lillythesavage]

He said that the 10 MPG was around town. Not sure what model it was, or how old it was.
Don't know if he was exaggerating 
Now that you mention it, he did have about 15 points on his licence for speeding. Normally banned on 12 points, but he appealed on domestic circumstances.
Think your right also about him finding it unaffordable to run.

The Honda Jazz was not such a bad choice, could be worse.

External Link/Members Only

[Bogof60]

He said that the 10 MPG was around town. Not sure what model it was, or how old it was.
Don't know if he was exaggerating 
Now that you mention it, he did have about 15 points on his licence for speeding. Normally banned on 12 points, but he appealed on domestic circumstances.
Think your right also about him finding it unaffordable to run.

My Jaguar is a 5.3 ltr V12 3 speed automatic and 33 years old.
In its day it was very fast and even today is not too shabby.
Over the many years I have owned it the total average fuel consumption is 19 mpg.
Yes when I rape it I can get the instantaneous consumption into single figures but the total is as above.
If I could not afford it I would have bought a Honda

[lamboman]

Think he said he got 10 MPG 

That's not bad I'm in single figures.

[cunningman]

My Jaguar is a 5.3 ltr V12 3 speed automatic and 33 years old.

Some 50 years ago my father worked for someone who like XJ12s.  Also Ferraris.
Said that you had to have two of each, to alternate driving and getting them fixed.

[Bogof60]

Some 50 years ago my father worked for someone who like XJ12s.  Also Ferraris.
Said that you had to have two of each, to alternate driving and getting them fixed.

Can only speak from my own experience.
My first Jaguar was a cat that barked

This one has been remarkably reliable

[lillythesavage]

I was told by Ford this morning, production has ceased for Mondeo, Galaxy and S max models, no real surprise, they are dated and not big sellers.

Focus production has ceased and the Fiesta is about to follow, 2 very good sellers.

The reason? The already in short supply processors are made in Ukraine, they have yet to find another supply.

[Marmalade]

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a ‘car expert’. Nor do I intend to say what car I drive.

I do maybe claim to have good taste, however personal such things are. So presuming you bought a car, it maybe says something about your taste or lack of taste.

A Porsche Boxter (for instance) is aesthetic.
A white Lexus 250h Hybrid is about as ugly as you can get. Looks like a fucking Darth Vader fan club accessory. Sadly many cars seem increasingly based on such unaesthetic lines.

Second disclaimer: I haven’t always had taste.

[standardpostage]

A white Lexus 250h Hybrid is about as ugly as you can get. Looks like a fucking Darth Vader fan club accessory 

Quote from Marmalade

[webpunter]

 
What about the sister mag, Reader's Wives ?

Focus production has ceased and the Fiesta is about to follow, 2 very good sellers.

[lillythesavage]

What about the sister mag, Reader's Wives ?

Jesus, now you are going back.


You could do a lot worse than a new or used Toyota/Lexus self charging hybrid if the boring, ugly, everyone has one tags do not bother you.

The Prius should tell you all you need to know  , and popularity means battery changes are not so hard on the bank account.

Just avoid ex private hire, they may have had many haircuts 

[GreyDave]

I work in property refurb and a while ago one of my work mates who drives a BMW X5 was taking the piss out of the then clients 11 year old Skoda which he had just got as road tax only 30 quid...

The client smiled and  said " yep, but the biggest problem with this car is with 6 houses and a hoilday home paid for where should I park it ???"

My work mate is still in a rented flat 

[pbrown355]

If you have several cars what does that say about you?

[standardpostage]

If you have several cars what does that say about you?

Your polygamous 

[standardpostage]

I work in property refurb and a while ago one of my work mates who drives a BMW X5 was taking the piss out of the then clients 11 year old Skoda which he had just got as road tax only 30 quid...

The client smiled and  said " yep, but the biggest problem with this car is with 6 houses and a hoilday home paid for where should I park it ???"

My work mate is still in a rented flat 

One of my neighbours, who is an electrician, just bought a Skoda ENYAQ iV 60. All electric. No road tax. Lucky man.

Says he got a good deal £33,000. List price £36,605.

[lillythesavage]

If you have several cars what does that say about you?

Do you name them 

[GreyDave]

If you have several cars what does that say about you?

Your arse is very busy and maybe...

 "youre responsable for more crap than you get credit for!" *

* said orginally by Dennis Pennis to Micheal winner when he said he had several WC`s in his house 

[the groper]

Used to own a Proton Wira, green. Fabulously reliable but invisible to everybody which I liked very much. I once left the keys in the drivers door after coming home late and tired one night. Still sitting  where I parked it the next morning. To this day my favourite motor

[Marmalade]

Invisible to everybody … I once left the keys in the drivers door after coming home late and tired one night. Still sitting  where I parked it the next morning.

I’m told the Lada has the same charm. You could always test the theory by paying the council a few quid to tow it away and see if they manage it.

[Cambridgy]

Have got to put a word in for the proper M cars - anyone who’s been lucky enough to have had a recent M2, or an original M3, realises the stupidest, most over-engineered car from the BMW accountant’s pov and the sweetest thing for the passengers. A proper M car will always let you out in traffic - what’s the bother - unless we are going 150mph