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Post by EspadaIII on Mar 8, 2021 12:04:31 GMT
It took the Mondeo and the Focus Mk1 for Ford to become a marque of some interest (apart from the odd Sierra with a lot of power). Vauxhall were building far better cars but came unstuck and could not compete once Ford started building interesting cars. I Can't think of a Vauxhall I would really want to buy for myself, but lots of Fords. Edit - Carlton (esp Lotus!). And Senator/Omega with V6 engine... But my experience of 1990s Vauxhalls was weak gearboxes. |
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Post by dixinormus on Mar 8, 2021 20:12:06 GMT
Ah, but our expectations were lower in those days! (As was the benchmark). Nobody had really even heard of Kia or Hyundai back then, for example!
Can’t see Ford even surviving in the mainstream car market for too much longer; aren’t they giving up on cars in the US to focus on pick-ups (and Mustang)? Britain’s love affair with the Fiesta isn’t replicated in other countries, and the Focus has been gradually slipping from its perch hasn’t it?
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Avant
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Post by Avant on Mar 8, 2021 23:59:08 GMT
It surprises me that Ford and Vauxhall have been so slow to join the PHEV party. They are reliant on fleet sales, and it's as company cars that PHEVs make the most sense.
If the Focus is 'slipping from its perch' I should think some of those sales are going to Skoda and Toyota.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 9, 2021 0:32:13 GMT
Toyota/Lexus also needs to do a lot more with PHEV and BEV. They thought they were far ahead with their hybrids but with WLTP they are shown for what they always were.
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Post by dixinormus on Mar 9, 2021 6:36:18 GMT
Not sure that a few million Prius and Camry taxi drivers have any complaints Rob?!
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Post by EspadaIII on Mar 9, 2021 9:49:55 GMT
Even ten years ago there were hybrid Fords as taxis in the US; even models that were European in size and character. Why did they not bring them here?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2021 9:52:42 GMT
Because diesel was a better choice here at the time. Nobody wants diesel in the States, hence the popularity of hybrid.
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Post by dixinormus on Mar 9, 2021 11:28:06 GMT
One of the States’ better decisions, when you look at all the diesel smog in European cities over the past 20 years...
Weird to think we were all rushing to buy diesel cars barely 20 years ago. Haven’t things changed quickly the past few years?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 9, 2021 18:20:06 GMT
My brother bought the 'new' Beetle when it came out (1999?) in California as a diesel. Often the diesel fuel pumps at filling stations was well away from the ones for cars. The car before it was a 5.2 litre V8 Jeep.... so I suppose the Beetle was a little better for the environment. Replaced the Beetle with the Tesla Model S.
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Post by dixinormus on Mar 9, 2021 19:49:44 GMT
I bought a new Rover 220d in late-1996; definitely not that many diesel cars in circulation back then. Quite a lot of garages kept their diesel pumps separate from the main forecourt. And there were far fewer instances of misfuelling...
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Mar 11, 2021 11:42:06 GMT
What do we think might be wrong with this? www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1136044No turbo — which is fine by me and (I imagine) the insurers. Navy blue — but a nice navy blue. And I love the blue velour interior. From a dealer too, so at least a bit of protection if it turns citrusy. |
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Post by Humph on Mar 11, 2021 12:03:55 GMT
...and, it has a sunroof !
Go for it !
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2021 12:04:28 GMT
Failing to find fault with that, pending examination of MOT history. Looks like a good find.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2021 12:09:39 GMT
...and, it has a sunroof ! Go for it !  But it's a SAAB and therefore properly designed to accomodate a range of strangely sized people, even with a sunroof. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Mar 11, 2021 12:23:15 GMT
Yes, that’s been my experience when I’ve driven these in the (now rather distant) past. There’s plenty of room below the sunroof, even for me.
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