The Car Thread.

[Al ears]

I must admit that if I were ever to change my car, and I hope never to do so, 4wd is now essential as far as I am concerned - at least beyond a certain level of oomph.

Me too, not just for oomph here in Wales, which is why i own a Subaru and have owned many.

 

[plastic penguin]

Getting towards the limits of FWD traction, I would imagine. There's a supercharger kit for the RS4, takes output to over 660bhp. Costs £16k+. I think not.

Yeah, you certainly need a Quaife limited slip diff. If it's a Q2 version, fitted with the Quaife from the factory, that's fine. The early V6s never had the Q2 diff, which isn't cheap either.

Not for me. Keep it stock spec.

 

[plastic penguin]

Never use full throttle in the first 3 gears, even on dry roads methinks, unless you can get a bulk deal on tyres...

In my 2.0 version, due to the nature of the narrow lanes, I never take it over 3000 rpm.

 

[Al ears]

In my 2.0 version, due to the nature of the narrow lanes, I never take it over 3000 rpm.

Surely it doesn't spend all of it's life in narrow lanes??

 

[plastic penguin]

Surely it doesn't spend all of it's life in narrow lanes??

Mostly, Al. I never use a motorway, nearby M25 is dreadful.

A lot of time there are tractors in the lanes. They all narrow sweeping bends, and due to horses exercised by the stable owners, it'll be careless to drive too fast.

All the 'A' roads have average speed limits (usually around 40-50 mph) or there's speed cameras.

 

[Shrek]

Eleven basic car features that should come back, including CD players

With motorists being overwhelmed by the amount of gadgets and features in modern cars, a new report has revealed that plenty still prefer a more basic way of driving life.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

The motoring press has been banging on for ages about the need for physical controls for important things. Not being able to adjust climate control without taking your eyes of the road for more than a split second is just an accident waiting to happen. It does seem as though the manufacturers are (very gradually) starting to understand this.

And the systems intended to keep you in your lane seem universally loathed.

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

And the systems intended to keep you in your lane seem universally loathed.

Testers on Autocar always praise any car, on which ADAS systems can be very easily turned off, especially those cars where it is just a couple of button presses. European law requires at least two actions needed to turn off ADAS.

Nobody wants a car that will try to stop you driving round a pothole or, slams the brakes on, because it has seen a shadow. I have seen that second point reported in a road test!

 

[DougK1]

That's why my next used car will be a Hyundai or a Kia, they've kept knobs and switches for regularly used items.

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

That's why my next used car will be a Hyundai or a Kia, they've kept knobs and switches for regularly used items.

Our 2016 Citroen C3 Picasso, is completely touchscreen free and, my wife and I are happy with that.

 

[Gray]

My 2010 Toyota Aygo is a first for me in 4 respects:
1) Foreign (non- UK) brand.
2) Automatic
3) 2 door
4) No passenger door switch to bring on the interior light.
Never thought I'd have 1-3.
As for 4, I wouldn't have thought it was even possible. I still can't believe it - an indication of how basic the car is.
But, a major bonus is, there's not a touchscreen in sight.
(Nor those fashionable, antisocial, dangerous, headlights)

 

[Dave_]

Never thought I'd have 1-3.

1 shouldn't have been much of a surprise given the rot set in 50+ years ago....

In between strikes they were pumping out utter shite.

 

[Cricketbat70]

That's why my next used car will be a Hyundai or a Kia, they've kept knobs and switches for regularly used items.

My Mazda CX-30 has kept push buttons and knobs for most controls. I read a headline in a news feed last week that says Mazda are going to touch screen route now. I just thought "really!! you held out for so long and now manufacturers are starting to go back to physical controls, your going to do the opposite"

 

[robert02]

Had my 156 Sportwagon for nearly 6 years, beginning of the year I had the engine rebuilt. Also had a new clutch assembly and I treated it to a bespoke radiator. Got the car back from the Alfa specialists everything was great: more bhp, sounded great blah blah blah... until July when I started to smell petrol. Wasn't much, just like if you had dripped a little on a station forecourt. Lifted the bonnet couldn't see anything significant, other than some moisture around the rocker cover.

It transpired one of fuel injector seals were leaking. The specialist replaced them free of charge. Now things go all Pete Tong.

You really couldn't make this up.

At the beginning of August had to the 147 loan car back because the MOT had expired. When I walked through their reception door, the main technician looked ashen-faced.

"I'm sorry Mr. P, but there's a problem with your car. We took it out for a long test drive to make sure the seals didn't leak. Unfortunately, someone pulled out of a side road and hit your car."

I asked if it's structurally damaged and he said no. They had it up on their ramp and it's purely cosmetic. They said they will get it professionally repaired and resprayed. I said make sure the body shop doesn't go by the paint codes, instead scan the original paint to get the perfect match. They said they will...

The accident happened in late July. The insurance company have sent two assessors, and it looks like they want to scrap the car due to it being 17 years old. But as the specialist have valued the car at over twice the repair cost, and the sheer rarity of this particular model, suggests it should be saved.

The accident had nothing to do with me, unless I get compensation for a replacement, I'll get really angry.

5 months on from the accident and still no real progress. The only positive thing is the loan car I'm only paying for petrol. The tax and insurance is paid by the Alfa specialist.

Here's pictures before and after

Wow, what a saga! After all the work on your 156 Sportwagon—engine rebuild, new clutch, bespoke radiator—having a fuel injector seal leak is one thing, but getting hit right after? That’s rough.

Good that the car isn’t structurally damaged and the specialists are handling repairs properly. Given the rarity and specialist valuation, it makes sense to fight the insurance if they want to scrap it. At least the loan car costs are minimal, but five months of waiting is brutal. Fingers crossed you get the full repair or fair compensation soon.

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

Wow, what a saga! After all the work on your 156 Sportwagon—engine rebuild, new clutch, bespoke radiator—having a fuel injector seal leak is one thing, but getting hit right after? That’s rough.

Good that the car isn’t structurally damaged and the specialists are handling repairs properly. Given the rarity and specialist valuation, it makes sense to fight the insurance if they want to scrap it. At least the loan car costs are minimal, but five months of waiting is brutal. Fingers crossed you get the full repair or fair compensation soon.

The post you have replied to is over 3 years old…

 

[Angle Poise-Lamp]

My Mazda CX-30 has kept push buttons and knobs for most controls. I read a headline in a news feed last week that says Mazda are going to touch screen route now. I just thought "really!! you held out for so long and now manufacturers are starting to go back to physical controls, your going to do the opposite"

Mazda are not renowned for following the herd.