Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: tunnie on 06 August 2016, 10:28:04
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I've decided to sell my motorbike :'(
Recently someone I had met only once, but was an extended family member on MrsT side had a bit of a smash. By the description of being air-lifted to hospital and it being touch and go, I assumed it was a 60mph+ smash. But no he was on a 30mph road, he went through back window of someone turning in front of him. (it was his fault sadly)
I'd seen smashes before, when riding into London you would see odd bike down and people around him/her. But this time it was how it affected his family, I was getting the stories of impact to his family. Wife having to get Kids with friends to be looked after, so she could go visit him. Kids asking where is Daddy and so on, he will also need a lot of after care having to go daily to a nurse/doctor even when he is released from hospital. Some of the meds were so strong, he was not making sense on a lot of visits his family would make to hospital as well. I could not put my family through that....
So that combined with fact I used bike for 60 days in total last year (I kept a record) and so far this year around 30, thanks to crappy June weather. I'm not using it that much, I don't ride in the rain, don't like it.
With 2.2 getting on a bit and to be honest I'm getting a bit fed up of a manual in heavy daily traffic (pass the humble pie?!) - I think it's time to let the bike go and put what I can together for a replacement to the Omega.
I'll open up the floor to guess what I'm looking to replace it with and no it's not another Omega. ;D
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I'll open up the floor to guess what I'm looking to replace it with and no it's not another Omega. ;D
Errr? ::) ::) ;)
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Re the crash. It doesn't haveto be a motorised bike for the consequences to be huge.
A year last Jan, one of the lads (nearly 50yr old) from work was cycling home after his shift in torrential rain. For what ever reason .. he can't remember what happened ... he crashed into a parked car. He suffered spinal damage, to what turned out out to be an already restricted spinal cord, and the poor bugger hasn't walked unaided since. :( :(
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He going to buy a zaffee mumsy bus, like TB got, but with a wesal engine.
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....., but with a wesal engine.
getting warm ..... ::)
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He going to buy a zaffee mumsy bus, like TB got, but with a wesal engine.
His does have a wesal engine :)
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I'll open up the floor to guess what I'm looking to replace it with and no it's not another Omega. ;D
Errr? ::) ::) ;)
::) ::)
:-X
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Re the crash. It doesn't haveto be a motorised bike for the consequences to be huge.
A year last Jan, one of the lads (nearly 50yr old) from work was cycling home after his shift in torrential rain. For what ever reason .. he can't remember what happened ... he crashed into a parked car. He suffered spinal damage, to what turned out out to be an already restricted spinal cord, and the poor bugger hasn't walked unaided since. :( :(
I rarely cycle now as well, used to cycle to office. Too far now! (Since moving)
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You can`t run away from your fate :-\ so why worry about what might happen.
I`m guessing you rode the bike to beat the daily snarl-ups on your commute.
I ride mine for exactly the same reason, only I arrive at work in a good mood; cos I`ve passed all the stationary drivers fuming at the prospect of going nowhere fast.
I fully understand your reasoning, I got news at the end of last year about a fella i know; had a devastating accident Brighton way & lost a leg :(
My cuz has just bought a New Kia Carens & he can pile his small family in with room to spare :y
100.000 mile / 7 yeay warranty I think it was around £18k.
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Good decision Tunnie. :y
Now you just need to get yourself an E38 7 series and waft about in retro comfort. 8)
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Iirc, I believe you have kids now :-\
If your anything like me and many others, you start to look at risks and life different after you get the vomit on your shoulder and those little smiles as they fill there nappy ;D
Do what you think is best bud ............ ;)
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Thats the trouble of a close family member having a prang, it brings things a bit closer to home. But, just because he has had one it doesn,t follow that you will. I cycle for fun,(just did 25+ miles this morning) and would i get a m/bike if i could afford it? you bet your arse i would :D and thats at 71yrs old But it,s for you to decide in the end.
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"Ronnyd", if you at 71 are ok with the idea of riding a motorbike, then I at nearly 73 ought to pull my finger out and rebuild my Sunbeam S8 that is languishing in my garage in all its component parts1
I would treat the 1952 machine with respect and ride defensively, with due decorum, of course..... 8) 8) 8)
Ron.
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"Automatic" electric car with free charging at work?
I think they are called Gee Swizz
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"Ronnyd", if you at 71 are ok with the idea of riding a motorbike, then I at nearly 73 ought to pull my finger out and rebuild my Sunbeam S8 that is languishing in my garage in all its component parts1
I would treat the 1952 machine with respect and ride defensively, with due decorum, of course..... 8) 8) 8)
Ron.
Thats a classic Ron, get it goin. :y
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"Automatic" electric car with free charging at work?
I think they are called Gee Swizz
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Ar yes, a milk float would be appealing to tunnies "careful" side and free charging,no road tax, and all the cuddly fluffy polar bears will love him, and all the girls too, for being green. Mmm griffin runs to check Tesla prices. :D
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For a Sunbeam S8 you just have to get it sorted and give it at least one go :y
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I agree: I am ashamed! :-[
Ron.
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Either a rusty W211 E class or a CLS... Which is about as practical as a bike ::)
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cycling home after his shift in torrential rain. For what ever reason he crashed into a parked car.
I did that when I was a kid,lashing down in the dark winded myself buckled the wheel and bent the frame.Luckily it was only a Fiat 850.
With regards to motorbikes, statistics are clear about 1% of road users but 20% of deaths and serious injuries.
John.
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cycling home after his shift in torrential rain. For what ever reason he crashed into a parked car.
I did that when I was a kid,lashing down in the dark winded myself buckled the wheel and bent the frame.Luckily it was only a Fiat 850.
With regards to motorbikes, statistics are clear about 1% of road users but 20% of deaths and serious injuries.
John.
Did the same some years ago, biking home from work and came to a very sudden halt ;D. Car was parked under a tree so didn,t see it and lights those days were no better than candles. Luckily it was a saloon car i hit. Front wheel was ok but forks bent right back. Car undamaged so just slunk back home on two feet. :-[
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"Ronnyd", if you at 71 are ok with the idea of riding a motorbike, then I at nearly 73 ought to pull my finger out and rebuild my Sunbeam S8 that is languishing in my garage in all its component parts1
I would treat the 1952 machine with respect and ride defensively, with due decorum, of course..... 8) 8) 8)
Ron.
Nice bike Ron, lovely shaft drive, whatever happened to the British bike industry? Oh. I remember, they forgot to invest in R&D. >:(
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Yes, you know the story: complacent management because they could sell in quantity to America so why innovate? Then the Japanese came along.....
Ron.
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Everybody I've known with a bike has at some stage ended up in hospital. Sometimes quite minor, sometimes devastatingly major. Right decision :y
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New car,,,,green astra maybe.. ;D ;D ;D
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New car,,,,green astra maybe.. ;D ;D ;D
Focus salon... Eminently practical 8)
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I know the made fool will go for a Merc, suspect the ugly one (CLS?), mainly because he's tight :P.
Fortunately, with his sedate style, he won't find the deficiencies in *ALL* MB chassis.
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I know the made fool will go for a Merc, suspect the ugly one (CLS?), mainly because he's tight :P.
Fortunately, with his sedate style, he won't find the deficiencies in *ALL* MB chassis.
I don't know. Have they managed to stop them rusting now? ;D
Not that I'd consider a CLSuppository based on looks alone.
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I know the made fool will go for a Merc, suspect the ugly one (CLS?), mainly because he's tight :P.
Fortunately, with his sedate style, he won't find the deficiencies in *ALL* MB chassis.
I don't know. Have they managed to stop them rusting now? ;D
Not that I'd consider a CLSuppository based on looks alone.
Only a four seater too,so absolutely sod all use as a family car :-X
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All depends what the bike will sell for, that will determin what I can get. It's primary role will be work and back, I want to be comfy and it be an automatic, on the list:
1) Merc CLS 320. Just as practical as current 2.2, so no issues there. 5th seat not required. Stretching the budget, not many with spec I want.
Driven one recently, very much like driving position and silky smooth and silent V6 diesel.
2) Volvo S80, just like Omega they had heavy depreciation.
No way a near good looking in my view, but it good value.
3) Volvo V70. Very practical option, sat in one straight after a CLS. Very impressed how comfy the seats were, think they are THE most comfy I've sat in. Loads around for my budget.
There others I like but for budget and less than 100k miles, not many others I want.
Don't want BMW 3/5/7 series, or any Audi.
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If your commuting within the M25 don't buy a diesel. If Mayor Khan has his way, it will cost you a bloody fortune from next year.
I'm currently trying to source a Range Rover for the daughter, who lives in London, and diesels ar out of the question for that reason.
Looks like its going to be a 400bhp petrol, which is a worry. She hasnt driven at all for twelve years, and the one year she was on the road, she couldnt drive a pig with a stick. ::)
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As for giving up the bike. I can understand that. Ive always loved bikes. Had a life threatening / changing accident on one before I was even old enough to ride anything bigger than a moped. It didn't put me off, but once I had kids I didn't have anything bigger than a 125 commute bike until they were at school leaving age.It just seemd too selfish to take the risk. Then the bug bit again. ::)
I have currently given them up, but its a struggle. I feel a bit like a recovering addict trying to stay away from their addiction. ;D
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Mixed road 50 mile daily commute down M3 via Heathrow, so diesel should be fine. I don't go near the congestion or emmisions zones :)
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All depends what the bike will sell for, that will determin what I can get. It's primary role will be work and back, I want to be comfy and it be an automatic, on the list:
1) Merc CLS 320. Just as practical as current 2.2, so no issues there. 5th seat not required. Stretching the budget, not many with spec I want.
Driven one recently, very much like driving position and silky smooth and silent V6 diesel.
The 320 petrol engine is a peach. And probably not much different in terms of fuel consumption in my experience.
Build quality pre-2006 was shocking. And new injectors on the diesel will cost a fortune if required. Sensotronic brakes are shit (think they disappeared in 2005)
2) Volvo S80, just like Omega they had heavy depreciation.
No way a near good looking in my view, but it good value.
Fugly as...
3) Volvo V70. Very practical option, sat in one straight after a CLS. Very impressed how comfy the seats were, think they are THE most comfy I've sat in. Loads around for my budget.
Gearboxes weak as cheese. (especially 4wd R models). Throttle bodies pre 2002 a problem. Whole engine problematic post 2.3L era apparently.
ROAD TAX ANIHILATION POST 2005 :(
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Sensotronic brakes are shit (think they disappeared in 2005)
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My mates E Class has SBC brakes. They work OK, but have a strange feel to them as you first start to press the pedal
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All depends what the bike will sell for, that will determin what I can get. It's primary role will be work and back, I want to be comfy and it be an automatic, on the list:
1) Merc CLS 320. Just as practical as current 2.2, so no issues there. 5th seat not required. Stretching the budget, not many with spec I want.
Driven one recently, very much like driving position and silky smooth and silent V6 diesel.
The 320 petrol engine is a peach. And probably not much different in terms of fuel consumption in my experience.
Build quality pre-2006 was shocking. And new injectors on the diesel will cost a fortune if required. Sensotronic brakes are shit (think they disappeared in 2005)
2) Volvo S80, just like Omega they had heavy depreciation.
No way a near good looking in my view, but it good value.
Fugly as...
3) Volvo V70. Very practical option, sat in one straight after a CLS. Very impressed how comfy the seats were, think they are THE most comfy I've sat in. Loads around for my budget.
Gearboxes weak as cheese. (especially 4wd R models). Throttle bodies pre 2002 a problem. Whole engine problematic post 2.3L era apparently.
ROAD TAX ANIHILATION POST 2005 :(
Thanks for feedback, but to go back on a few points:
1) There is no '320' petrol? Only the 350... which is just as crap on fuel as 3.2 Omega, on my commute and driving style, the diesel makes sense. No SBC brakes on the CLS of vintage I'm looking at (2007-ish)
I've been doing cost service comparison between CLS and Insignia, some things are cheaper on CLS, glow plugs are (but you need more), Injectors are more for CLS, but not by much. A diesel injector for an Insignia is £176 on ECP, compared with £230 for the CLS. Over-all when you include plugs, filters etc, the CLS is only tad more.
2) And the Omega is no fugly? Put it along side a S80, side by side, only a true Omega fan would say which is the better looking. Besides, did we really buy the Omega because of it's good looks? - No we, well I, chose it because they turned out to be a depreciation disaster, which is good for second hand buyers. The S80 looks in same boat, up against the 5 Series and lost so it's dirt cheap. Seen 2010 Plate examples for £5k!
3) Volvo V70's seen plenty of high mile versions, I'd be looking around 2007 vintage again with diesel autos. Tax not an issue on the D5's.
I personally love the looks of the CLS and smooth V6 diesel was effortless, but a Volvo does mean more practical means and there is an Indie Volvo dealer less than a mile from my house. Which would be good for parts and stuff I don't want to do!
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I'd also hazard a guess that 10 years ago, if you posted on a Volvo forum or Merc and stated you were getting an Omega they would all say you are mad because they leak from the cam covers, HBV's fail and the suspension is rubbish unless you put on poly bushes ;D
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Later D5s eat head gaskets... practically a service item every 50k, especially if Polestar chipped... autoboxes simply can't cope with the torque either.
That said, the 1.6d in the D3 is just as rubbish... same lump as Focus... doesn't do miles, life expectancy is 60-100k miles.
Before you commit to the CLS, try fitting the child seat and little one into it... not to see if they fit, sure that they do, but rather to see how you physically get on with the shape of the rear door/roofline ;)
If you can find one with it, the V70 does has a built in child seat option, which would save you some faffing :y
Petrol and lpg would be my suggestion... but then car needs to be large enough to still fit a push chair in... :-\
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Later D5s eat head gaskets... practically a service item every 50k, especially if Polestar chipped... autoboxes simply can't cope with the torque either.
That said, the 1.6d in the D3 is just as rubbish... same lump as Focus... doesn't do miles, life expectancy is 60-100k miles.
Before you commit to the CLS, try fitting the child seat and little one into it... not to see if they fit, sure that they do, but rather to see how you physically get on with the shape of the rear door/roofline ;)
If you can find one with it, the V70 does has a built in child seat option, which would save you some faffing :y
Petrol and lpg would be my suggestion... but then car needs to be large enough to still fit a push chair in... :-\
For Petrol & LPG, I'd have to factor in £1-2k for professional LPG conversion, so that leaves budget of say £4k... which leaves generally poor examples. MrsT also can't deal with LPG pumps, so normal fill and go would be better.
For the CLS, I tried a local one to get a drive. So might need to try another local one to pop a baby seat in. But I'll keep the 3.2 for the family bus. As 2.2 aircon has been buggered for years and MrsT does not like manuals, the 3.2 has been the family bus for past year. Full boot helps too, so we will continue to use that. The 2.2 only does the works run at the moment, which is what the CLS would do as well. I'd only use the CLS as family bus, if it was a mega long run to Euroland or something.
As I'll probably look at XC90 or Galaxy or Zafira Tourer for MrsT in a few years time, so long term the replacement is only the work commuter.
Are the D5's really that bad on HG's? I can't believe they fail every 50k. :-\
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For Petrol & LPG, I'd have to factor in £1-2k for professional LPG conversion...
:o
Surely not those cowboys, after all we've learnt?
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For Petrol & LPG, I'd have to factor in £1-2k for professional LPG conversion...
:o
Surely not those cowboys, after all we've learnt?
Say I bought a Jag XJ V8 or a Lexus, I doubt little fatty would have time to help me convert a car he knows nothing about. I would need it done fairly quickly too, so what other option?
That's why I want to go diesel route, rather than another car with LPG.
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Kevin, you can't tell someone what they don't want to hear...
T, the D4/2.0 four pot diesel is better, but not by much... Diy LPG a 1.8 Vectra C estate and put the money saved towards a holiday ;)
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Kevin, you can't tell someone what they don't want to hear...
T, the D4/2.0 four pot diesel is better, but not by much... Diy LPG a 1.8 Vectra C estate and put the money saved towards a holiday ;)
I'd rather walk!
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Re Volvo diesel reliability, it's not how you're going to drive/treat the car, it's how the previous owner has used it...
Perhaps Kevins dad might be persuaded to sell his...
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Re Volvo diesel reliability, it's not how you're going to drive/treat the car, it's how the previous owner has used it...
Perhaps Kevins dad might be persuaded to sell his...
I didn't mention that my Dad uses his to test the soundness of drystone walls on a regular basis, being a motorist of advancing years. Didn't seem relevant to the discussion before, but... ::)
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Scuffed body work and a London commute are a marriage made in heaven... My concern is the mechanical longevity... ;)
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Scuffed body work and a London commute are a marriage made in heaven... My concern is the mechanical longevity... ;)
It's not really a London commute, not doing central and the car goes into a secure ANPR car park for staff only.
RE mechanicals, hence my concern around a CLS, my budget sees examples of 110-120k, where as S80 I can get them below 100k.
Also seen S80 has radar/adaptive cruise, this is a tempting feature for a motorway commute.
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Also seen S80 has radar/adaptive cruise, this is a tempting feature for a motorway commute.
It's an option on a Merc ... as with everything ..... Distronic. It's the Merc badge that's black & shiney around the 3 point star
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If I had a pound for every Volvo D5 on ebay with "Spares or repairs" after it I'd not need to go to work. The fact that some of them have done 300k doesn't tell you anything other than that some poor bugger had to pay through the nose to keep it on the road.
The other thing to watch with the volvos is a truly SHOCKING turning circle. Like really really bad. So if parking in a multi storey daily might want to factor that.
If you've got the money for 2007+ mercedes I'd do that. Personally I wouldn't pay extra for sat nav as the pre 2010 (i think?) one is pretty poor.
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If I had a pound for every Volvo D5 on ebay with "Spares or repairs" after it I'd not need to go to work. The fact that some of them have done 300k doesn't tell you anything other than that some poor bugger had to pay through the nose to keep it on the road.
The other thing to watch with the volvos is a truly SHOCKING turning circle. Like really really bad. So if parking in a multi storey daily might want to factor that.
If you've got the money for 2007+ mercedes I'd do that. Personally I wouldn't pay extra for sat nav as the pre 2010 (i think?) one is pretty poor.
I hate to tell you this, but Mercedes dealers are the ones I visited most as a recovery driver!
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If I had a pound for every Volvo D5 on ebay with "Spares or repairs" after it I'd not need to go to work. The fact that some of them have done 300k doesn't tell you anything other than that some poor bugger had to pay through the nose to keep it on the road.
The other thing to watch with the volvos is a truly SHOCKING turning circle. Like really really bad. So if parking in a multi storey daily might want to factor that.
If you've got the money for 2007+ mercedes I'd do that. Personally I wouldn't pay extra for sat nav as the pre 2010 (i think?) one is pretty poor.
I hate to tell you this, but Mercedes dealers are the ones I visited most as a recovery driver!
And? Did I say it was the most reliable? How many volvo S80's were sold for every mercedes sold? 0.0000001 perhaps? ;)
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I hate to tell you this, but Mercedes dealers are the ones I visited most as a recovery driver!
probably due to the same fault that they couldn't fix ::)
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If I had a pound for every Volvo D5 on ebay with "Spares or repairs" after it I'd not need to go to work. The fact that some of them have done 300k doesn't tell you anything other than that some poor bugger had to pay through the nose to keep it on the road.
The other thing to watch with the volvos is a truly SHOCKING turning circle. Like really really bad. So if parking in a multi storey daily might want to factor that.
If you've got the money for 2007+ mercedes I'd do that. Personally I wouldn't pay extra for sat nav as the pre 2010 (i think?) one is pretty poor.
Yeah 2009 they go hard drive :y
I'd want Xenons though, so usually means sat nav to as always with Mercs, they are optional and not many have Xenons :(
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I'd want Xenons though, ....
I miss my Omega's xenons
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If I had a pound for every Volvo D5 on ebay with "Spares or repairs" after it I'd not need to go to work. The fact that some of them have done 300k doesn't tell you anything other than that some poor bugger had to pay through the nose to keep it on the road.
The other thing to watch with the volvos is a truly SHOCKING turning circle. Like really really bad. So if parking in a multi storey daily might want to factor that.
If you've got the money for 2007+ mercedes I'd do that. Personally I wouldn't pay extra for sat nav as the pre 2010 (i think?) one is pretty poor.
Yeah 2009 they go hard drive :y
I'd want Xenons though, so usually means sat nav to as always with Mercs, they are optional and not many have Xenons :(
You'll struggle to find Xenon lights on a Volvo of that age too... Expensive option that nobody ticks...
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If I had a pound for every Volvo D5 on ebay with "Spares or repairs" after it I'd not need to go to work. The fact that some of them have done 300k doesn't tell you anything other than that some poor bugger had to pay through the nose to keep it on the road.
The other thing to watch with the volvos is a truly SHOCKING turning circle. Like really really bad. So if parking in a multi storey daily might want to factor that.
If you've got the money for 2007+ mercedes I'd do that. Personally I wouldn't pay extra for sat nav as the pre 2010 (i think?) one is pretty poor.
Yeah 2009 they go hard drive :y
I'd want Xenons though, so usually means sat nav to as always with Mercs, they are optional and not many have Xenons :(
You'll struggle to find Xenon lights on a Volvo of that age too... Expensive option that nobody ticks...
Easier than CLS, seen quite few of them with it.
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I've decided to sell my motorbike :'(
Recently someone I had met only once, but was an extended family member on MrsT side had a bit of a smash. By the description of being air-lifted to hospital and it being touch and go, I assumed it was a 60mph+ smash. But no he was on a 30mph road, he went through back window of someone turning in front of him. (it was his fault sadly)
I'd seen smashes before, when riding into London you would see odd bike down and people around him/her. But this time it was how it affected his family, I was getting the stories of impact to his family. Wife having to get Kids with friends to be looked after, so she could go visit him. Kids asking where is Daddy and so on, he will also need a lot of after care having to go daily to a nurse/doctor even when he is released from hospital. Some of the meds were so strong, he was not making sense on a lot of visits his family would make to hospital as well. I could not put my family through that....
So that combined with fact I used bike for 60 days in total last year (I kept a record) and so far this year around 30, thanks to crappy June weather. I'm not using it that much, I don't ride in the rain, don't like it.
With 2.2 getting on a bit and to be honest I'm getting a bit fed up of a manual in heavy daily traffic (pass the humble pie?!) - I think it's time to let the bike go and put what I can together for a replacement to the Omega.
I'll open up the floor to guess what I'm looking to replace it with and no it's not another Omega. ;D
Fair weather biker ::) :P I miss the biking days especially the rides to Scotland :)
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I look enviously at the bikers filtering through traffic and think "Oh, how much quicker would the commute be on one of those"
Then I think of the smear I'd leave if someone changed lanes without looking, or how wet I'd get in the pouring rain, and I think maybe my cage isn't so bad after all..
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I look enviously at the bikers filtering through traffic and think "Oh, how much quicker would the commute be on one of those"
Then I think of the smear I'd leave if someone changed lanes without looking, or how wet I'd get in the pouring rain, and I think maybe my cage isn't so bad after all..
Yup, then add in when it's 25c + you arrive in a ball of sweat because of all the gear on and low speed riding and pi$$ed off at cars pulling out and you and getting stuck while filtering. Then take off all the gear, stuff it in a locker and change into normal work clothes. To be honest, that combined with putting on the gear the other end nearly writes off all time saved on the journey.
Then when it's dark cold and -5 outside you don't want to take the bike, you want a nice warm comfy car that does not need 3 layers, thick gloves which you can't feel the controls or thin gloves with heated grips.
it's also another thing that needs MOT, tyres and insurance!
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Those mittens are good once you get use to the finger positions :( I went for the heated gloves then had some bar muffs .. kept me toasty on long journeys .
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Those mittens are good once you get use to the finger positions :( I went for the heated gloves then had some bar muffs .. kept me toasty on long journeys .
I went bar muffs, very toasty with thin gloves. Forgot I bought them to be honest!
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I should keep the bike a bit longer. Don't let tales of spills frighten you. I rode my Velocette Venom to work till I was 34. Suffered no injuries through falling off, but collected several sprained ankles kick starting the beast.
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I should keep the bike a bit longer. Don't let tales of spills frighten you. I rode my Velocette Venom to work till I was 34. Suffered no injuries through falling off, but collected several sprained ankles kick starting the beast.
There were only 7 other people on the road in britain when you were 34 ::) ;)
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I should keep the bike a bit longer. Don't let tales of spills frighten you. I rode my Velocette Venom to work till I was 34. Suffered no injuries through falling off, but collected several sprained ankles kick starting the beast.
My circumstances have changed, I now provide for 2 others, so need to think of them :y
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I should keep the bike a bit longer. Don't let tales of spills frighten you. I rode my Velocette Venom to work till I was 34. Suffered no injuries through falling off, but collected several sprained ankles kick starting the beast.
My circumstances have changed, I now provide for 2 others, so need to think of them :y
I had my bike accident at quite a high speed. The sliding along the road was quite painless but by Christ did the stopping hurt. ;D
When my bones had healed properly again my parents and my Mrs begged me not to get another one. It made my mum age overnight with worry. :-[ :(
I still love bikes and get to ride my mates road bike now and again but I feel that, if I'd carried on riding the way I did it would be the death of me. ::)
The accident wasn't my fault by the way. :)
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Problem with riding a bike is the other idiots on the road, 25 yrs ago when commuting 60m per day , it was normal to have a change of underpants on average once a week , nowadays I reckon would be more often ( due to people not looking, not signalling, strange number plates,less bikes on road etc. etc.), but mine is now a week end plaything ( and uses same mpg as the Polo and works van - but brings a smile to my face)
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We describe bike riders as 'donors'
No matter how good you are, there is still the chance that the last thing you see is grandmas false teeth as you fly past her at speed having passed through her drivers side front window.
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Quite agree about the 'Donors' which I am registered for, but as with everything we do - risk assessment which can vary according to the circumstances etc.
I personally cannot go onto the roof of a house - as I start to shake - but am happy above 30m ( but can't see the stones on the floor from up there)
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I should keep the bike a bit longer. Don't let tales of spills frighten you. I rode my Velocette Venom to work till I was 34. Suffered no injuries through falling off, but collected several sprained ankles kick starting the beast.
Terry, I still remember kicking over my Panther M120 (a 650cc single cylinder, for those unfamiliar) when I forgot to operate the half-compression lever; it kicked back and I was off work for a week!
Ron.
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I always said that when I "sold" the ZX10 I wouldn't get another bike - for the cost, it was a hard act to follow. I rarely paid more than £40-£50 to insure it FC, tax was about £70, and its servicing needs were minimal. In return, it was plenty quick enough, effortless, and a great mile cruncher. With enough agility and acceleration to be fun as well.
Fairing was rare, which was a problem after I chucked mine up the road several years ago (and I still suffer from the aftermath on cold days), which gave mine a quite tatty look.
But I'm too old now. Injurys need longer to heal, and the quality of driving is so utterly piss poor now, frankly its not safe, no matter how defensive you can ride. I feel I've used my 9 lives already. And like Al says, stopping bloody hurts nowadays.
So after it was destroyed in the garage incident, it hasn't been replaced. Yes, I still get the urge which all bikers can sympathise with, but I have to accept those days are gone. Is that the sign of a mid life crisis? ;D
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Is that the sign of a mid life crisis? ;D
I think that means you're well past the mid life crisis stage :P The mid life crisis means going out and buying a big litre-plus sport bike after not having ridden a bike for 20+ years ;D (then throwing it at the tarmac..)
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I always thought that mid life crisis was that sudden awareness of ones mortality, and limited time on this rock... :P
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Show me something else for £6k with that level of kit with under 100k miles!
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Show me something else for £6k with that level of kit with under 100k miles!
When the spec level becomes a deciding factor in which make/model of car to buy, something is wrong....
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Show me something else for £6k with that level of kit with under 100k miles!
When the spec level becomes a deciding factor in which make/model of car to buy, something is wrong....
Don't agree, as I want Xenon/HIDS on the replacement, that dictates looking at specs.
Can't see you in a car with projector lights for your new commuter :)
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Show me something else for £6k with that level of kit with under 100k miles!
When the spec level becomes a deciding factor in which make/model of car to buy, something is wrong....
Don't agree, as I want Xenon/HIDS on the replacement, that dictates looking at specs.
Can't see you in a car with projector lights for your new commuter :)
Really? HIDs aren't a deal breaker for me. In fact, the nearest I've found is halogen ;)
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That said, probably the best replacement for me is another Omega, which will be harder to find than another marque :'(
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Says the bloke with a Zafira dti ;D
I reckon Tunnie should buy you a car that you fancy, and in exchange he gets a diesel mummy bus :y
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I like the 2.2 to work on, also far cheaper insurance wise for MrsT compared to the 3.2.
This is 'cheap' as a replacement, but tad rich maybe from what we are used to..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Vauxhall-Opel-Omega-2-2i-16v-Sport-Automatic-carlton-senator-/252495536681?hash=item3ac9e82229:g:EigAAOSw0RpXlfTm (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Vauxhall-Opel-Omega-2-2i-16v-Sport-Automatic-carlton-senator-/252495536681?hash=item3ac9e82229:g:EigAAOSw0RpXlfTm)
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Says the bloke with a Zafira dti ;D
I reckon Tunnie should buy you a car that you fancy, and in exchange he gets a diesel mummy bus :y
How many times do I need to say, this car is for work commute, not family bus ::)
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Says the bloke with a Zafira dti ;D
I reckon Tunnie should buy you a car that you fancy, and in exchange he gets a diesel mummy bus :y
How many times do I need to say, this car is for work commute, not family bus ::)
Ffs, you hear everything, but understand nothing...
The nice car is the one that you take out at weekends, do the shopping in and eventually use all the time... Fact.
Mrs T probably says she doesn't like manuals just to drive the nicer car. You won't get to drive the CLS, because she is always in it, and she definitely won't thank you after she has cracked her head for the fifth time that day after putting little one in/out of it... Assuming her back holds out...
So, no, it doesn't need to be a practical for your commute... But I will say I told you so when the 3.2 gets lpg'd/sold :-X
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I've just got back to riding on motorised 2 wheels after a break of about 15 years and I'm loving it. I use it most days but love the ride outs better, OK it's only an old Vespa but when there's 250 of you out for a ride on a Sunday, it's brilliant :)
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Says the bloke with a Zafira dti ;D
I reckon Tunnie should buy you a car that you fancy, and in exchange he gets a diesel mummy bus :y
How many times do I need to say, this car is for work commute, not family bus ::)
Ffs, you hear everything, but understand nothing...
The nice car is the one that you take out at weekends, do the shopping in and eventually use all the time... Fact.
Mrs T probably says she doesn't like manuals just to drive the nicer car. You won't get to drive the CLS, because she is always in it, and she definitely won't thank you after she has cracked her head for the fifth time that day after putting little one in/out of it... Assuming her back holds out...
So, no, it doesn't need to be a practical for your commute... But I will say I told you so when the 3.2 gets lpg'd/sold :-X
FFS? Really you want to use that? Why use that language? Seriously Al. Or what ever you want to call yourself today.
I think its time you had another tantrum, leave and perhaps rejoin with another name? ::)
She would never drive CLS as insurance will be too high, she is is not main driver on 3.2 either. Insurance too high.
So if you don't mind, stop telling me what I should or should not drive. Stop trying to tell me I should drive some shitty Vectra C or Zafira.
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Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262573455405
Best of both worlds mate ;D ;D
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Zafira.
Nobody, not even a woman, should have to tolerate one of those ;D. Or a Vectra for that matter. Urgh.
As to insurance, does yours come down if you add her as a 2nd driver? Many insurances do reduce, as they seem to like that arrangement. I've had some surprises at renewal by adjusting primary/secondary drivers, even though the combination picked the previous year was the cheapest option at that time. Also found similar with business use - Added Mrs TB with business use to both Omegas, and it brought premium down about £50 last time, yet when I tried adding her for business on the bus, it went up. Well worth trying all combos :y
Though not worded that well, Taxi Al does have a valid point. Really, you probably want a "2nd car", if this is what it is, that's perfectly capable as doing everything you need a car to do.
If its primarily a commute tool, forgive me I might have missed it, what's wrong with the green meanie? I thought it was cheap to run, easy to maintain, and reliable?
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Or if you need a replacement, what about a nice 3.0l auto LPG, with incontinence issues, and a healthy dose of iron oxide ;D
(Being an auto, it wouldn't be ideal, mpg wise, for your commute)
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Replacement Primary Role: Commuting
Green car has clutch on last legs, all suspension is shot and I'm fed up of a manual.
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Replacement Primary Role: Commuting
Green car has clutch on last legs, all suspension is shot and I'm fed up of a manual.
Then spend £500 on a 1.4 Astra, service it, fit 4 new tyres and forget about it until it breaks.
Spend the savings on something REALLY nice for the weekends
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Insurance on the 3.2 is real issue, if it's MrsT has main driver it's a 4 figure amount. She only has 1 years NCB, no points or other convictions.
2.2 is far better insurance wise, I might even consider a replacement 2.2 Auto :-\
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Green car has clutch on last legs, all suspension is shot and I'm fed up of a manual.
Being blunt, is that really it (as none strike me as a reason to change an otherwise good, reliable, cheap to run commuter car, and what you're looking at will be in similar or worse condition, plus you'll be paying £70ph to resolve)? Or simply bored of it/its badge?
You might find, knowing your commute, *any* (traditional, sludge pump type) auto will take a huge hit on MPG, due to not running with TC lockup. It can be dramatic, and the reviews and write ups never mention it. To give you an idea, my MV6 gets 300 miles from a tank of gas on my new commute, despite the spanking it gets. Old commute struggled to get 240 miles, and rarely got above 50mph...
A manual doesn't take that sort of hit under not cruising conditions.
Put another way, your 3.2 will easily manage way above 30mpg on a cruise down to the New Forest from your gaff. I bet you struggle to get 22mpg if using for work...
I know you'll get what you want (and as you should :y), I just didn't want you to base calculations on non-achievable maths. Obviously, if you're simply trying to justify your little wanter to yourself and everyone else, the maths and costs are irrelevant ;)
Post in no way intended to be controversial or piss taking or anything else, and hope not taken as such... ...fear not, piss taking will return on other threads ;D
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Insurance on the 3.2 is real issue, if it's MrsT has main driver it's a 4 figure amount. She only has 1 years NCB, no points or other convictions.
2.2 is far better insurance wise, I might even consider a replacement 2.2 Auto :-\
What about if you're primary on both, and she is secondary on both (check with your ins that she still earns NCD in this scenario). Defo worth trying all combos when renewing :y
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Replacement Primary Role: Commuting
Green car has clutch on last legs, all suspension is shot and I'm fed up of a manual.
Then spend £500 on a 1.4 Astra, service it, fit 4 new tyres and forget about it until it breaks.
Spend the savings on something REALLY nice for the weekends
Careful Nick, that could be misinterpreted as a sensible suggestion... :o
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Tunnie, put your toys back and calm down.
I merely suggested that TB swapped a car of your choosing...
As for the whole Ffs thing... Really? I wasn't even shouting ;D
Only typed it as it was easier than For Crying Out Loud.
You routinely ask for advice/opinion/direction on all sorts of topics, and routinely sneer/take issue with/deride any response...
So the Skoda superb is nice... What gearbox does it have? Oh yes a dsg unit...
My nearly new suggestion would actually be a Mazda CX. It's frugal, stylish and fits in with the perceived suburbia lifestyle.
In reality Nicks suggestion is the most sensible, practical and viable one.
You could even swap the LPG on to it...
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Tunnie, put your toys back and calm down.
That's rich coming from you ;D ;D ;D ;D
How many times have you pressed the delete button on your account and stormed off? 4, 5 times? :)
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Green car has clutch on last legs, all suspension is shot and I'm fed up of a manual.
Being blunt, is that really it (as none strike me as a reason to change an otherwise good, reliable, cheap to run commuter car, and what you're looking at will be in similar or worse condition, plus you'll be paying £70ph to resolve)? Or simply bored of it/its badge?
On a replacement, say S80/CLS, I would do basic service work myself. Filters, Oils, Pads etc. Only paying for wishbone type work, but yes it's a big concern that £70/ph+ to even look at faults is a concern.
You might find, knowing your commute, *any* (traditional, sludge pump type) auto will take a huge hit on MPG, due to not running with TC lockup. It can be dramatic, and the reviews and write ups never mention it. To give you an idea, my MV6 gets 300 miles from a tank of gas on my new commute, despite the spanking it gets. Old commute struggled to get 240 miles, and rarely got above 50mph...
A manual doesn't take that sort of hit under not cruising conditions.
Agreed. An auto is terrible for my commute, but that's why I want it because it's stop start.
Put another way, your 3.2 will easily manage way above 30mpg on a cruise down to the New Forest from your gaff. I bet you struggle to get 22mpg if using for work...
Even on a cruise and back to Wales, I'm lucky to see 27mpg out of the 3.2. But as it's cheap in other areas, can over-look it's terrible fuel use as family bus. I've never run 3.2 for a whole tank, I need to I think. But don't think your far off there, maybe 24 out of a tank for work use.
[/quote]
I know you'll get what you want (and as you should :y), I just didn't want you to base calculations on non-achievable maths. Obviously, if you're simply trying to justify your little wanter to yourself and everyone else, the maths and costs are irrelevant ;)
After 11 years, fancy a change, but as you say the maths is expensive on a replacement.
Post in no way intended to be controversial or piss taking or anything else, and hope not taken as such... ...fear not, piss taking will return on other threads ;D
Thanks ;D
Although I think a CLS is out of the cards, the prices I'm being offered for the bike mean I won't hit a CLS budget. :'(
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Replacement Primary Role: Commuting
Green car has clutch on last legs, all suspension is shot and I'm fed up of a manual.
Then spend £500 on a 1.4 Astra, service it, fit 4 new tyres and forget about it until it breaks.
Spend the savings on something REALLY nice for the weekends
I get this, i really do, it's just I spend 2 hours + a day going to work. After doing a days work, I'd like to relax in something comfy on the journey home.
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Replacement Primary Role: Commuting
Green car has clutch on last legs, all suspension is shot and I'm fed up of a manual.
Then spend £500 on a 1.4 Astra, service it, fit 4 new tyres and forget about it until it breaks.
Spend the savings on something REALLY nice for the weekends
I get this, i really do, it's just I spend 2 hours + a day going to work. After doing a days work, I'd like to relax in something comfy on the journey home.
I spent more years than I want to think about doing badly paid jobs 50 miles from home. There is no way I would commute in an expensive car even if I could afford it. I certainly wouldn't do it in an expensive to run car, like an automatic diesel Merc. A £500 snotter is the modern equivalent of the £100 snotters(some of them were much less than that) that I had 20 years ago. There is something really liberating about a car whose only function is to get you home. It's a pity that £25 Cortinas and Capris are no longer available, as they're perfect for the job. Hell, that use is the reason why only one of the 11 Capris I've owned was a V6.
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£500 Focus anyone ;D
Does 360 miles to a tank, has leather, working Aircon and a working radio/CD changer.
Ask nicely and I might even put a fresh ticket on it :-*
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£500 Focus anyone ;D
Does 360 miles to a tank, has leather, working Aircon and a working radio/CD changer.
Ask nicely and I might even put a fresh ticket on it :-*
He wants something comfortable! But it's exactly the sort of buy that I'm thinking of.
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Driven the original focus, ok to nip about town, but not for me. If it's that good, how come you've bought a 5 Series. :)
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Driven the original focus, ok to nip about town, but not for me. If it's that good, how come you've bought a 5 Series. :)
Because I can.
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.....
..... it's just I spend 2 hours + a day going to work. After doing a days work, I'd like to relax in something comfy on the journey home.
So do I ....... I use a Smart 451 though ::) ;D though I do vary it a bit between her car (C3) & the R Class :y
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Show me something else for £6k with that level of kit with under 100k miles!
Well, late to the party but we've just bought an 09 plate MX-5 Mk3 2.0 with 27k miles on it. 36 MPG, 0-60 in mid 7's and 160 BHP. Livens up the commute, when I can prise it out of Mrs. KW's hands.
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Though I'm not having enough of a crisis to go buying diesel shitbox Volvos... ...yet!
Show me something else for £6k with that level of kit with under 100k miles!
Well, late to the party but we've just bought an 09 plate MX-5 Mk3 2.0 with 27k miles on it. 36 MPG, 0-60 in mid 7's and 160 BHP. Livens up the commute, when I can prise it out of Mrs. KW's hands.
Maybe in a few years, but good value there for age/miles. But don't think I can justify a 2 seater ;D
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Maybe in a few years, but good value there for age/miles. But don't think I can justify a 2 seater ;D
How many of you go to work in the morning? Have you cloned yourself? ;)
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Oh, and the previous owner of the car is listed as a Mr. A Newey from an address an easy commuting distance away from Woking. ;D
Not sure if I should be worried. :-\
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Oh, and the previous owner of the car is listed as a Mr. A Newey from an address an easy commuting distance away from Woking. ;D
Not sure if I should be worried. :-\
At least you know it's a decent station car :D
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Oh, and the previous owner of the car is listed as a Mr. A Newey from an address an easy commuting distance away from Woking. ;D
Not sure if I should be worried. :-\
At least you know it's a decent station car :D
Was his other half's runaround, apparently.
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Oh, and the previous owner of the car is listed as a Mr. A Newey from an address an easy commuting distance away from Woking. ;D
Not sure if I should be worried. :-\
At least you know it's a decent station car :D
Was his other half's runaround, apparently.
I bet you said the same to the salesman about Emmas car... ::)
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It clearly wasn't believed because he offered me 300 quid fir it hence selling it privately. >:(
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It clearly wasn't believed because he offered me 300 quid fir it hence selling it privately. >:(
Feeky chucker :o
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If it's rust free you'll easily see more than that privately.. not many are rust free by now! ;D
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Couple of points, firstly....
Even on a cruise and back to Wales, I'm lucky to see 27mpg out of the 3.2. But as it's cheap in other areas, can over-look it's terrible fuel use as family bus. I've never run 3.2 for a whole tank, I need to I think. But don't think your far off there, maybe 24 out of a tank for work use.
Even I've managed 30mpg from a fully loaded 3.2 auto Elite, with 4 up, coming back from Tenby, to Oxford. That included some very high speeds. Granted, the 3.0 auto would have managed mid 30s on same run/driving.
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Secondly...
After 11 years, fancy a change, but as you say the maths is expensive on a replacement.
But you said it was simply a commuting tool...
...its either a commuting tool, or a family vehicle...
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Couple of points, firstly....
Even on a cruise and back to Wales, I'm lucky to see 27mpg out of the 3.2. But as it's cheap in other areas, can over-look it's terrible fuel use as family bus. I've never run 3.2 for a whole tank, I need to I think. But don't think your far off there, maybe 24 out of a tank for work use.
Even I've managed 30mpg from a fully loaded 3.2 auto Elite, with 4 up, coming back from Tenby, to Oxford. That included some very high speeds. Granted, the 3.0 auto would have managed mid 30s on same run/driving.
Clearly not trying hard enough, i've not seen 30mpg from 3.2 in ages. Bloody POS engine.
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Secondly...
After 11 years, fancy a change, but as you say the maths is expensive on a replacement.
But you said it was simply a commuting tool...
...its either a commuting tool, or a family vehicle...
Would need to fit both roles in some capacity for a few years, as I'll get a Galaxy/XC90 type for MrsT in a few years time. When that happens it will just be the commuter.
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Couple of points, firstly....
Even on a cruise and back to Wales, I'm lucky to see 27mpg out of the 3.2. But as it's cheap in other areas, can over-look it's terrible fuel use as family bus. I've never run 3.2 for a whole tank, I need to I think. But don't think your far off there, maybe 24 out of a tank for work use.
Even I've managed 30mpg from a fully loaded 3.2 auto Elite, with 4 up, coming back from Tenby, to Oxford. That included some very high speeds. Granted, the 3.0 auto would have managed mid 30s on same run/driving.
Clearly not trying hard enough, i've not seen 30mpg from 3.2 in ages. Bloody POS engine.
Nah, I was lucky I was able to maintain a reasonably constant, albeit quick, speed, with some proper high speed runs. All motorway and dual carriageway. Its the non cruise speeds that kill it, and if you choose to live near that hellhole, its a price you will pay in any combustion engine vehicle. Maybe tizzy is your answer, being so near to work.
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I never really take much notice of the MPG on the board computer, just know that the daily driver 3.2 can get up to 410 miles from a tank full with plenty of weight lugged around in the boot where as the lower mileage, better maintained, newer 3.2 cant get over 320 miles on a tankful...
I can only put that down to the fact that the daily driver is on a motorway 95% of the time doing around 3K a month... Probably also helps that virtually every sodding motorway in this country has a 50mph speed limit while they turn them into smart (no comment) motorways or replace the armco with concrete.
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Secondly...
After 11 years, fancy a change, but as you say the maths is expensive on a replacement.
But you said it was simply a commuting tool...
...its either a commuting tool, or a family vehicle...
or a toy.
It's very difficult to manage all three in the same car.
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Current train of thought:
Gas the 3.2, it becomes the commuter and buy a Zafira B for MrsT as insurance is surprisingly low for her. Just done a quote on a Design 1.9 CDTi
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Current train of thought:
Gas the 3.2, it becomes the commuter and buy a Zafira B for MrsT as insurance is surprisingly low for her. Just done a quote on a Design 1.9 CDTi
They've been getting bad press lately.. :-X
(http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/zafira-614149.jpg)
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Current train of thought:
Gas the 3.2, it becomes the commuter and buy a Zafira B for MrsT as insurance is surprisingly low for her. Just done a quote on a Design 1.9 CDTi
They've been getting bad press lately.. :-X
(http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/23/590x/zafira-614149.jpg)
Should be nice and cheap then ;D
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This thread might overtake young bears 0-60 thread, it seems to be gaining legs ;D