WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 8, 2020 6:43:22 GMT
We all know we’re to Remain Indoors, go out once a day for exercise and otherwise make only essential journeys.
I’m doing my exercise on a bike, using the numerous lanes and woodland bridleways round here — which have dried out remarkably well after the soggy winter. But to link them up I have to use B-roads, which are mostly blissfully quiet — except for the occasional wanker in a Porsche.
Now it’s just possible that these people (all male, mostly middle-aged) are making essential journeys, but it seems unlikely. And just now I’d rather not find myself in hospital because the kind of person who refers to his car as ‘her’ thought we’d kept the roads clear for his benefit.
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Post by EspadaIII on Apr 8, 2020 8:49:58 GMT
Could be their only car and going to the shops. But I understand. Same here. Last Saturday, a day of rest usually observed in the breach by the majority of the population, the only cars on the road were fast, expensive or modified ones. Can't imagine where they were going as most shops will be shut.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2020 9:21:43 GMT
Several older and known-retired people zip in and out of my close several times a day by car. Maybe they're helping out other elderly, less mobile folks, Who knows. But seems rum to be going out by car more than once a day - once a week, even. So I'm seeing more Citroen C1s and Merc A Classes than Porsches moving in my neighbourhood. The 2 households nearest to me also seem to need to go out for exercise more than once a day (i.e. in jogging gear, cycle lycra, with the dog etc).
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 8, 2020 9:30:48 GMT
Could be their only car and going to the shops. Maybe. But it’s not the where so much as the how. Generally, if I notice your driving, you’re doing it wrong. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 9, 2020 21:57:10 GMT
Two WIPs tonight. And another thing: if I can still smell your exhaust a minute after you passed me, you’re also doing something wrong.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2020 22:19:10 GMT
Or, it could be a GDi.
Some GDi engines, like those fitted to Volvo S40s a couple of decades ago, have a distinct smell about them. Almost like you can smell them coking up.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 10, 2020 4:41:26 GMT
Not when it’s a 1980s 911 convertible that I saw, then smelled, then went on smelling. 🤓
It came too fast round a blind corner, straddling the white line and trailing a plume of unburned petrol in the air behind it. No doubt had some urgent medical supplies to collect.
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Post by EspadaIII on Apr 10, 2020 9:21:03 GMT
But the unburnt petrol kills the virus dontcha know..  |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 10, 2020 12:21:35 GMT
Ah yes, how silly of me to forget that.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2020 8:39:54 GMT
The worst sinner in my neighbourhood is a guy with a 1970s Mini, the fumes from which stink to absolute high heaven. I often get corralled (or used to, rather) with him on the commute home in heavy traffic. Maybe he's beyond needing an MOT for it, but it's utterly vile and totally antisocial.
The Mini got stolen once and there were appeals for its return all over social medias, and sadly it was found and returned to him.
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Post by dixinormus on Apr 14, 2020 8:48:35 GMT
Neighbor across the street from me has 3 ageing (classic?!) Holden V8s. Most days he starts 2 of them up to move them 20 feet or to reshuffle them on his driveway.... Can’t be doing them any good. I could get used to the low rumbling noise, but not the stink of unburned petrol as the carb-fuelled one stutters along 😡.
His next door neighbor is a beardie greenie Physics teacher who has converted an old Toyota Starlet into an electric car. What a juxtaposition!
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 14, 2020 8:59:32 GMT
Every step of progress towards cleaner air brings bleatings from the owners of ‘classics’ like these. I suspect both could be made to run tolerably clean, but it would cost money the owners would prefer not to spend.
I like the sound of Norm’s neighbour’s electric conversion. I found one account of someone who’s converted a Saab 900 to battery power, which I think might suit it rather well — although I fear what the extra weight might do to its crashworthiness.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2020 10:28:05 GMT
I'd love to have a electric conversion done on a Beetle 1303. But I understand it costs about £20,000 to convert a car to electric properly. You can buy 2 decent Leafs for that.
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Post by dixinormus on Apr 15, 2020 3:47:55 GMT
My neighbor converted the Starlet himself. He’s a Physics teacher. Took an old car and removed the petrol engine. He uses it almost daily to scoot around town. No idea how much work/hours he put in to it!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2020 8:02:20 GMT
Good work, I'd really like to see conversions become a mainstream thing.
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