Affordable Family Car

[Guest]

Built in the UK is no prize these days. The last two LRs I've had (02 Freelander, 04 Disco) have had more than their share of issues.

Mostly electrical in both cases, which of course led rise to the comments about either POETS day assembly or Scousers stealing electrons (both built in Solihull, look up Scouser if you don't understand).

Now I might have been unlucky in both cases, but none of the German cars I've had have had any problems in the first two years. Apart from the egregious 3000mi oil changes - ever hear of synthetic? - nor have the American ones...

Of course I'll probably get another LR, just to fly the flag, but that's not the point.

 

[DrEntropy]

Somewhere inna archives there's a rant I posted with regard to Americans' opinion that driving is a "Right" guaranteed by the Constitution... I would love to see a "licensed driver" here TRY to pass the German "drivers' test." BWUHHAAAAAHAAAA!!! "Chech the oil, the battery, and change this tyre."

"Failed Miserably" would need to be added as a "grade".

My 'fifty percent' solution: Outlaw automatic transmissions. That would cull the herd initially by half... They'd be eliminatin' themselves rather quickly, then do the same with AirCon and *POOF!* another chop. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

 

[Guest]

More than half. More like 90%.
I happen to like a/c.

[rant]
Eliminate cruise control would be my preferred solution. You'd get rid of the jackasses who tailgate you then pull out at the last minute because they don't want to have to turn it off, also those imbeciles that have a speed differential of 0.0000001 mph who sit in your blind spot for an hour trying to pass but who can't comprehend that pressing the accelerator would help them out considerably here.
[/rant]

 

[DrEntropy]

I go back to my opinion as to added electronic/electrical devices: If it ain't a wiper motor, a heater fan or LIGHTS, Why, oh why should it be built into a CAR?

...but I'm just a crotchety old f**t.

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
... you are going to get people wanting to drive juggernauts - not because they like them , but so they feel safe from the other idiots on the road.

[/ QUOTE ]

These juggernauts are very popular here too... unfortunately.

But I think of them as a self-inflicted economic pain, given local fuel prices at £.90 a liter....

 

[DrEntropy]

I'd love to see a two week mandatory "duty" for SUV drivers: They are relegated to Yugo sized vehicles while WE who drive LBC's and the like get to be the juggernaut pilots.

On second thought, nevermind.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
If it ain't a wiper motor, a heater fan or LIGHTS, Why, oh why should it be built into a CAR?


[/ QUOTE ]

If I can't have a/c then you for sure can't have a heater fan. Fairs fair.

 

[DrEntropy]

heh...'k, it's a deal.

<sittin' inna hovel with all the windows wide open.>

 

[Steve]

[ QUOTE ]
Built in the UK is no prize these days. The last two LRs I've had (02 Freelander, 04 Disco) have had more than their share of issues.

Mostly electrical in both cases, which of course led rise to the comments about either POETS day assembly or Scousers stealing electrons (both built in Solihull, look up Scouser if you don't understand).

[/ QUOTE ]

I never knew they had Scousers in Solihull........Brummies, yes! Even Brummies need a Visa to get into Solihull though, it's a rather ritzy suburb of Birmingham.

The trouble-and-strife has a Solihull Freelander too, an '03. Not the greatest, I must say! Nice little vehicle, but somewhat lacking in some respects.

 

[swift6]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it was "Cannonball Run" wot "immortalised" it: "What is behind me is UNIMPOTRANT!" This from a Ferrari pilot as he rips the rear view mirror from its mount and cavalierly tosses it over his shoulder.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not to be nit picky here but that quote is from Raul Julia in "The Gumball Rally". Driving a 375GTB Daytona Spider whose main competition in the movie was the 427 Cobra. I actually like "Gumball" (yes I own a DVD of it) better than the Cannonball Movies. Although I do really like the opening scene to Cannonball Run with the Lamborghini Countach and the Callifornia Highway Patrol Camaro. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Otherwise... I'm very happy to hear so many opinions on this thread that mirror my own thoughts.

'nuff said

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
I never knew they had Scousers in Solihull........Brummies, yes! Even Brummies need a Visa to get into Solihull though, it's a rather ritzy suburb of Birmingham.


[/ QUOTE ]

Bloody heck - to think I've wrongly been blaming Scousers for the last few years when I could have been cursing Brummies. You lives and learns...

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

 

[Steve]

I curse Brummies with monotonous regularity! I used to work amongst them.

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
....They are relegated to Yugo sized vehicles while WE who drive LBC's and the like get to be the juggernaut pilots.

On second thought, nevermind.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know.... for a while I owned a 17 seater bus... it couldn't accelerate... it couldn't corner... but it could intimidate the heck out of any shiny new Range Rover or other high-end SUV- they weren't used to looking up to the opposition....

 

[Guest]

I have a friend in London owns an 88 SWB LR with a V8. He uses railroad ties as bumpers (don't ask about the MOT). No-one (and I mean not even white vans) cuts him up.
That's the ultimate in urban transportation as ar as I'm concerned
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tdskip]

Although it has been mentioned already - a couple year old X-Type, S-type or even a 1999 XK8 would be in the high end of that range.

 

[Nunyas]

well... since the original question was for *current* British metal, I'll try and throw in my 2 coppers. I'm kind of fond of the MG ZR and the MG ZS. Not really feasible cars to get with the current issues surrounding the marque, but they're the only "affordable" British marque cars not being imported into the US (that I know of) that I'd want.

I sometimes wonder if they'd be in their current predicament if they had found some way to export to the US.

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
... but they're the only "affordable" British marque cars not being imported into the US (that I know of) that I'd want.

I sometimes wonder if they'd be in their current predicament if they had found some way to export to the US.

[/ QUOTE ]

If the dollar were worth a bit more... then British cars would be more affordable. But I won't complain since I got to "repatriate" a Healey because of it all.

Makes me wonder why more American auto companies aren't try to develop THEIR own export products....

 

[Nunyas]

hmmm... good point there... hafta wonder whats going on these days... :\

 

[jessebogan]

Ya want to REALLY improve peoples driving ability, and thin the herd as well, require the first year or two of driving be on two wheels. First year 250ccs or so, second year 500 ccs, and then, and only then, could they graduate to 4 wheels. People would either not drive, or they would learn damned quickly.

 

[DrEntropy]

This plan has merit.