The Car Thread.

[plastic penguin]

I never got the Beetle, or the noughties rehash. Someone I used to know had an original - the heater was (to all intents and purposes) non-existent and she binned it in winter because its tail-heavy balance caught her out. But each to their own!

I've always had passionate dislike of Beetles, but this one looks like the hens teeth as it's a 1954 version. Can't be too many this old in the UK.

 

[Vincent Kars]

I've always had passionate dislike of Beetles.

Really?

 

[plastic penguin]

Really?

Yep, they're slow, fugly, miserable, clunky air cooled engine and they were the brainchild of the biggest mass murderer the world has seen.

Just nasty cars.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

That is hideous.

 

[WayneKerr]

Really?

I like bugs and I really like that one, they so lend themselves to customisation

 

[plastic penguin]

I like bugs and I really like that one, they so lend themselves to customisation

This geezer has this old splitty in our village. He's fitted a Subara engine in it. Sounds fantastic.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

From Sniff Petrol:

 

[plastic penguin]

My daughter is looking for a car. Originally she wanted to look at Alfa Mito, but that's gone out of the window.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), she has her hooks in a Mini. We are going to look at two, one convertible (not my scene) and one Cooper saloon. If either are any good I'll let her decide.

 

[WayneKerr]

My daughter is looking for a car. Originally she wanted to look at Alfa Mito, but that's gone out of the window.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), she has her hooks in a Mini. We are going to look at two, one convertible (not my scene) and one Cooper saloon. If either are any good I'll let her decide.

What's the insurance gonna be like for your daughter on a Cooper PP?

 

[plastic penguin]

What's the insurance gonna be like for your daughter on a Cooper PP?

£70 per month or around £700 and something if you pay it off in one lump. Road tax is £150 per year

She's purchased the Cooper which has a few more extras the basic model doesn't have. We're picking it up later in the week, but she's got the two sets of keys and documents.

 

[plastic penguin]

£70 per month or around £700 and something if you pay it off in one lump. Road tax is £150 per year

She's purchased the Cooper which has a few more extras the basic model doesn't have. We're picking it up later in the week, but she's got the two sets of keys and documents.

Also, a nice little bonus. My Alfa is ULEZ compliant, I checked with TFL earlier this morning.

\o/

 

[WayneKerr]

Also, a nice little bonus. My Alfa is ULEZ compliant, I checked with TFL earlier this morning.

\o/

My old oil burner isn't

 

[plastic penguin]

My old oil burner isn't

Very surprising as they say ULEZ compliance is generally from 2006 onwards - my car is 2005.

On the Alfa Facebook register one owner has a 2003 2.5 V6 which is ULEZ compliant. That's the answer: if you want to avoid ULEZ, buy a Alfa.

 

[Friesiansam]

Very surprising as they say ULEZ compliance is generally from 2006 onwards

Diesels have to be Euro 6 compliant, that was not required in new cars until 2015. Our 2013 Citroen DS3 Diesel is only Euro 5 compliant and not London ULEZ charge free. Got no need to drive in London, so don’t care.

 

[plastic penguin]

Diesels have to be Euro 6 compliant, that was not required in new cars until 2015. Our 2013 Citroen DS3 Diesel is only Euro 5 compliant and not London ULEZ charge free. Got no need to drive in London, so don’t care.

Most cities will adopt the same principles sooner or later.

 

[Friesiansam]

Most cities will adopt the same principles sooner or later.

According to the government website, there are 8 Clean Air Zones and, we would only have to pay in Birmingham and Bristol, plus the London ULEZ.

 

[plastic penguin]

According to the government website, there are 8 Clean Air Zones and, we would only have to pay in Birmingham and Bristol, plus the London ULEZ.

Do they mention the other 5 are?

 

[daveh75]

We have a "Clean Air Zone" in place in Newcastle & Gateshead, though private cars (& motorcycles) are exempt.

 

[Friesiansam]

Do they mention the other 5 are?

Clean Air Zones:

Bath
Birmingham
Bradford
Bristol
Greater Manchester (under review)
Portsmouth
Sheffield
Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead)

ULEZ:

London

Reference: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone

 

[WayneKerr]

Very surprising as they say ULEZ compliance is generally from 2006 onwards - my car is 2005.

On the Alfa Facebook register one owner has a 2003 2.5 V6 which is ULEZ compliant. That's the answer: if you want to avoid ULEZ, buy a Alfa.

Nephew has two cars, both petrol and the same age. Vauxhall Astra 1.6 - work vehicle, and an Audi A3 3.2 V6 Quattro. Guess which one is ULEZ compliant? Hint... it ain't the Astra. He's flabbergasted as the Audi does <20mpg if he's heavy with the loud pedal

 

[plastic penguin]

Nephew has two cars, both petrol and the same age. Vauxhall Astra 1.6 - work vehicle, and an Audi A3 3.2 V6 Quattro. Guess which one is ULEZ compliant? Hint... it ain't the Astra. He's flabbergasted as the Audi does <20mpg if he's heavy with the loud pedal

It's the same with Alfas. They're not exactly the most frugal of engines, makes you wonder how the authorities decide which cars are compliant and which ones aren't.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

It's based upon emissions of various things, and not necessarily related to consumption. Mine's OK despite a 4.2l V8...

 

[WayneKerr]

It's based upon emissions of various things, and not necessarily related to consumption. Mine's OK despite a 4.2l V8...

I completely understand what it's based on but I'm sure the amount of road fund licence you pay and your car being compliant must cause some head scratching. After all they are both based on emissions... I just find it all a little confusing for my small brain

 

[plastic penguin]

It's based upon emissions of various things, and not necessarily related to consumption. Mine's OK despite a 4.2l V8...

Nope, don't understand their logic.

 

[Ethics Gradient]

I completely understand what it's based on but I'm sure the amount of road fund licence you pay and your car being compliant must cause some head scratching. After all they are both based on emissions... I just find it all a little confusing for my small brain

Best part of £60 a month. If I had a car with a similar emissions profile bought more recently I'd pay less. I'm looking forward to classic car RFL in 2032...