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Post by Humph on Jul 9, 2021 15:56:30 GMT
I liked the Subaru...
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 9, 2021 16:12:50 GMT
There's something kind of cool about that Subaru Al. Long way from you mind. Does anyone under 50 still consider Subarus cool? Or did you mean Vić is a long way from cool? 😈 |
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 9, 2021 16:12:56 GMT
I test drove a 340DL back in the day, must have been about 30 years ago, in blue. You were never going to get into any trouble in one. Safe and steady I think is a good description.
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Post by Humph on Jul 9, 2021 16:21:35 GMT
My dad, having had a succession of 140 and 240 series Volvos while he was still working, thought he might go for a 300 series when he retired. He did go and look at one, but he just couldn't do it. Can't blame him really. It looks like a car that has been designed by someone who has had a car described to them, but who has never actually seen a real one.
😉
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 9, 2021 16:30:00 GMT
An ex's dad had a 360GLS saloon. It was a comfortable enough car but no ball of fire considering it had a 2.0 petrol engine. He used it to drag his toilet and bed around the country for family holidays.
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Post by Humph on Jul 9, 2021 16:32:10 GMT
Sounds about right. Fair Isle sweater too no doubt.
😉
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 9, 2021 17:21:11 GMT
Yep, college lecturer. No stereotypes to see here, move along.
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Post by dixinormus on Jul 11, 2021 1:54:34 GMT
I’ve still got a soft spot for the S40/V40 series that ran from around 1995-2005 - particularly the V40 wagon. Just good looking motors IMHO. Shame that Volvo have gone “upmarket” these past few years with associated price hikes.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jul 11, 2021 9:24:31 GMT
A very smart car - almost the spiritual descendent of the Triumph Dolomite ("the car you drive whilst wearing a dinner suit"). With good Focus Mk2 underpinnings.
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bpg
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Posts: 2,812
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Post by bpg on Jul 11, 2021 11:14:31 GMT
Think dixi is referring to the one built on the Mitsubishi Charisma platform.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 11, 2021 15:39:10 GMT
Yes, the Focus one was the C30/S40/V50.
Anyway, first Aygo session with Boy1 this morning. He just wanted some time to get acquainted with it, so we did multiple laps of a quiet loop very near home, while he got used to its pedals and its need for right foot to get it moving, which his instructor’s Clio diesel apparently doesn’t share. The circuit requires a couple of mild uphill starts, which he got quite good at after a few laps.
We paused in front of the house before venturing farther afield. I waited by the car while he ran inside, which left me looking head-on at the i3 on the drive, and reflecting on what an absurd faff a clutch and gearbox are. Boy1 — a road cyclist since he was eight — can essentially drive; he’s reading the road, managing his speed, positioning the car and dealing with the antics of other road users who park on junctions or appear on scooters in the middle of the road. And all that’s really holding him up is the process of mastering the nineteenth-century technology that propels the thing. He’s getting there but we really should have ditched this junk before now.
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Post by Humph on Jul 11, 2021 17:35:32 GMT
You could, I suppose, just bin the Aygo idea and teach them on one of the autos. As you infer, it won't be long now until all cars are automatic or gearless . The only short term benefit to learning on a manual now is the wider availability of cheaper cars in the early years of their driving lives I guess.
Having said all that, some people still prefer manuals. I'm not really bothered either way, I maybe ever so slightly prefer an auto, whereas my wife is probably 60/40 in favour of manuals.
I think though, if I were to buy a more overtly sporty thing, I might still go three pedal. But it wouldn't be a deal breaker.
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Post by EspadaIII on Jul 11, 2021 18:17:30 GMT
You can't buy a sporty car with a manual gearbox these days anyway unless it's old tech.
The amount of time spent teaching someone to manually crash through gears, is way out of proportion to the need to teach proper roadcraft. In advance of EV only in 2030 I would ban the sales of manual cars by 2024 and get rid of the difference in driving tests by then. Who cares any more? It used to be a badge of honour to drive manual but now it is becoming irrelevant.
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Post by dixinormus on Jul 11, 2021 20:06:03 GMT
Not many manual cars left, or available new, in the Antipodes, and was stick shift ever really a thing in North America? Seems to be a lingering European peculiarity.
I guess dishwashers in kitchens weren’t that common 30 years ago, and who washes up today?
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 11, 2021 22:42:40 GMT
I had a Mk3 Focus RS manual and now have a MK4 ST automatic. The RS was fun but 'involving' the ST can be just as quick in a straight line without the faff.
The great thing about the ST is in a standard colour it could be a 1.0 ST-line no one knows if you take the ST badges off.
The RS 4 wheel drive system was fantastic, the ST with standard Michelin Pilot 4S tyres can be found wanting in the rain, I'm going to put some RS spec tyres on it and I reckon it will be 9/10ths of the way there. Especially with the remap, 20PS down and 100kgs lighter as an estate.
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