Six Cylinders Motoring Notes

[beko1987]

Is the FoD OK in all this wind? Imagine the Herald is becoming much lighter with every passing gust 😳

[AnthonyG]

I was following a Polestar 2 (? The saloon one) this afternoon. 

I want to like them, as they are a good alternative to ‘ze Germans’ and Tesla, but it like of looks like a 6 year old’s drawing of a Volvo S60 to be honest…

[DSdriver]

On 2/17/2022 at 12:20 AM, Zelandeth said:

Oh that looks so much better than VWs offerings to my eye...like it or loathe it, it actually was designed by someone who has some sense of style rather than just making as boring as possible a white good.

Two of the favourite cars we had through here before Chris lost access to the demo fleet through a job change were both Kias, being a top end Optima (which knocked the A5 he had at the time into next week on every count) and a Stinger.  The only gripe we had with the Optima was that the engine was a bit agricultural compared to the rest of the car.  On the Stinger it was that the exhaust was a bit too quiet for a V6 sports car and that the interior really needed a little bit more colour.

I really likes the styling of the Stinger, it's brash, it's in your face, it's a muscle car.

I especially like the detail in it, like how the rear door closure forms the same line as the bootlid.

Yes, if I were buying one you can be bloody sure it would be that colour too.

I'd really have liked to take a look at that one you've got there if circumstances allowed it, sadly not to be this time.

Those door handles are hurting my eyes!

[Bear]

Snap

[Six-cylinder]

What to do with a problem like Clio?

I have really taken to the Renault Clio 1.6i Auto I bought from RobT last August, it is my go to car. It always starts and runs without vices. Thing is if I keep it, it will stop me using the other lovely cars I have this summer because it is so easy just to hop into it when I want to go somewhere.

I have already bought a replacement for the Clio, the Fiat Seicento, but Mrs6C says I won’t use it like I have the Clio.

Do I SORN the Clio and put it away for next winter?

Do I advertise it here and elsewhere for sale?

Do I roffle it?  

This is the year of change. I bought 16 1/2 cars last year and sold just a couple so this year I must sell some more so I can continue buying!

[grogee]

On 2/17/2022 at 12:46 PM, SRi05 said:

That's a nice looking car. 50k for a Kia though, Jesus. The future is pricey

The past was also pricey.

£50k today is £15,600 in 1984.

The list price price of a Ford Granada in 1984 was £15,442 (apologies, I don't know the exact spec because Parker's didn't tell me).

[Fumbler]

Stow it away so you can use it next winter. It looks like a fantastic reliable winter runabout.

[Bear]

Get it an MOT so it doesn't expire right before winter unless it's MOTd into summer already, wash it, waxoil it, fill it with dehumidifier bags, put it on a battery conditioner and shove 50psi in the tyres or whatever you do to keep them from flat spotting, and then SORN/store it away until October when it'll be ready to do all those little runaround jobs with nice comfy seats and bigger footwells than most small cars.

(I like those Clios, they feel roomy and solid for a small car).

[Six-cylinder]

16 hours ago, RichardK said:

Snap

What were your thoughts?

When I collected it with 100% charge it had a predicted range of 211 miles. The salesman said the range was low because of the usage as a demonstrator and I should get 300 miles. I used it mainly in eco mode, at night with lights and heater on. I was disappointed that with my normal sort of car usage and just a couple of squirts of power to see what it was like to see the range prediction of 194 miles. Mine was a 2 wheel drive lower powered car. 

[Six-cylinder]

5 minutes ago, RichardK said:

Get it an MOT so it doesn't expire right before winter unless it's MOTd into summer already, wash it, waxoil it, fill it with dehumidifier bags, put it on a battery conditioner and shove 50psi in the tyres or whatever you do to keep them from flat spotting, and then SORN/store it away until October when it'll be ready to do all those little runaround jobs with nice comfy seats and bigger footwells than most small cars.

(I like those Clios, they feel roomy and solid for a small car).

MOT 10th Oct 2022. The problem is I have 26 cars in proper storage and I will never prep it for storage other than throw a sheet over it.

[Bear]

1 minute ago, Six-cylinder said:

What were your thoughts?

When I collected it with 100% charge it had a predicted range of 211 miles. The salesman said the range was low because of the usage as a demonstrator and I should get 300 miles. I used it mainly in eco mode, at night with lights and heater on. I was disappointed that with my normal sort of car usage and just a couple of squirts of power to see what it was like to see the range prediction of 194 miles. Mine was a 2 wheel drive lower powered car. 

I have yet to drive it anywhere properly. It claimed 284 miles when collected, I drove 40 miles including some very aggressive messing with the sport mode, it claimed 230ish when I plugged in. I like the HUD, I like the styling, I like the A-pillar top a lot, I like the power delivery (more than some EVs), the sunroof seems odd being big but not full length so it feels dark in the back, I love the fuselage bodyshape and recessed tail light sculpting.

'Mine''s a satin grey GT-Line and it's the first EV I've had on test that I actually wish I had long term. I liked the Mazda MX-30 but that has a tiny range by design.

No EV delivers full range in the current conditions, FWIW. My 3008's doing about 19 miles instead of 26 on EV mode - but it reports the distance available properly. And I can nuke that by using sport mode and the 6-sec 0-62 4x4 ability.

[Bear]

2 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

MOT 10th Oct 2022. The problem is I have 26 cars in proper storage and I will never prep it for storage other than throw a sheet over it.

In that case I would probably move the Seicento on and keep the Clio on the drive and ready for action all the time... it looks really clean, and a well-maintained Clio auto is a smooth little thing - neglected boxes explode but they're nice to drive until they reach that stage.

[beko1987]

I'd check you like the cinq first, then move it on... 

Box ticked job jobbed. Or you'll get annoyed looking at it when it's run out of mot in October and the brakes have stuck on.

[Six-cylinder]

18 minutes ago, grogee said:

The past was also pricey.

£50k today is £15,600 in 1984.

The list price price of a Ford Granada in 1984 was £15,442 (apologies, I don't know the exact spec because Parker's didn't tell me).

Fortunately I have a July 1984 Glass's Guide with new car list prices. I think as usual with Parkers data it is vague and inaccurate as the most expensive Granada is £14,291. You could get a Granada 2.8i Ghia X saloon for £13,616.

I have had a couple of MK2 Granada and liked them. The picture is my 2.8 GL Auto that I used to have.

[Bear]

5 minutes ago, beko1987 said:

I'd check you like the cinq first, then move it on... 

Box ticked job jobbed. Or you'll get annoyed looking at it when it's run out of mot in October and the brakes have stuck on.

IMO there's no comparison, Seicentos have an awful driving position and flimsy seats, they're fun and made sense as 'the cheapest transport possible' but if you could afford anything else, you'd have taken it, Proper Smart Fortwo/city coupe is a better 'hilariously small' option from a used/classic perspective, and the Clio is superior to the Seicento in every measurable way.

[Six-cylinder]

18 hours ago, beko1987 said:

Is the FoD OK in all this wind? Imagine the Herald is becoming much lighter with every passing gust 😳

Mrs6C has been to inspect the FoD now and reports quite a few plastic sheets are blow off, but no damage. With the wind coming from the Southwest the trees opposite shelter us a bit.

[Six-cylinder]

8 minutes ago, RichardK said:

IMO there's no comparison, Seicentos have an awful driving position and flimsy seats, they're fun and made sense as 'the cheapest transport possible' but if you could afford anything else, you'd have taken it, Proper Smart Fortwo/city coupe is a better 'hilariously small' option from a used/classic perspective, and the Clio is superior to the Seicento in every measurable way.

I have no problem with the Seicento seat and there is plenty of room for me. I enjoy the handling but I agree it does not feel so grown up as the Clio. Also the 1.6i Auto is a nice combination for buzzing around locally. The Clio's 35 mpg is a bit disappointing and has large engine Road tax at £280 compared to £170 for the Seicento.

I have only driven one Smart Fortwo and guess it was about a 2006 car, very young at the time loaned to me by a Mercedes dealer while my car was serviced. I hated it, the gearchange was dreadful, under powered and it felt unstable to me. 

[wuvvum]

1 hour ago, Six-cylinder said:

I bought 16 1/2 cars last year and sold just a couple and this year I have a massive new barn so I can do exactly the same thing again!

FTFY.

[Six-cylinder]

9 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

FTFY.

Unfortunately Amazon would not part with their warehouse in MK. So it is not that big and will have to accommodate things like the JCB, tractor and other equipment yet leave a working space or two for short term projects.

[Bear]

26 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

I have no problem with the Seicento seat and there is plenty of room for me. I enjoy the handling but I agree it does not feel so grown up as the Clio. Also the 1.6i Auto is a nice combination for buzzing around locally. The Clio's 35 mpg is a bit disappointing and has large engine Road tax at £280 compared to £170 for the Seicento.

I have only driven one Smart Fortwo and guess it was about a 2006 car, very young at the time loaned to me by a Mercedes dealer while my car was serviced. I hated it, the gearchange was dreadful, under powered and it felt unstable to me. 

Yes, the later ones are awful. Drop loads of revs between shifts, harsh ride. LHD pre-2001 is the right option

[Crackers]

You're clearly getting on a treat with the Clio. If the road tax and MPG is an issue, why not just sell the Range Rover? 😉

[AnnoyingPentium]

What you need to ask yourself is whether you'd rather the Clio which I imagine is a rather nice car... or one of these lumps or Red Leicester*...? I imagine the Seicento is a nice car,  but I'd personally opt for the Clio.

*They called them the cheese wedge in the department of Arnold Clark Fiat that my Mum worked in. 😆

[Six-cylinder]

6 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

What you need to ask yourself is whether you'd rather the Clio which I imagine is a rather nice car... or one of these lumps or Red Leicester*...? I imagine the Seicento is a nice car,  but I'd personally opt for the Clio.

*They called them the cheese wedge in the department of Arnold Clark Fiat that my Mum worked in. 😆

Mine is blue so a Stilton wedge!

[hairnet]

at your age auto is good

sounds like you like the clio without even using the fiat

move fiat on i think

 

[beko1987]

Tax does seem quite high for what you get to drive for it... 

[mat_the_cat]

10 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

The problem is I have 26 cars in proper storage

I'd love to have a problem like that. I think...

[hairnet]

id very much love to be your kind of insane christopher

beko its smol and french you should have a go no?

[smellypoo]

Try the seicento, if you like it, decide whether you like it more than the Clio and sell the one you like less, if you really want to.

If I were on that situation, I'd keep the Clio - you seem to like it, it seems to be in good shape and has proven to be dependable, it's a more solid car (which shouldn't matter, but you'd be grateful for it in anything more than a minor bump) not much* bigger in size but enough to be more practical.

Sometimes you just need a car to be just that, a dependable little donkey, so when you drive the other stuff, you can appreciate those cars more for all their interesting quirks and characteristics.

 

[Six-cylinder]

This year is the 40th Birthday of the Citroen BX and I have decided to get mine out early season so I can attend as many events as possible with it. It ran out of MOT Oct 2020 and stayed in storage last year so the first job will be an MOT as soon as my favourite garage can take it. 

Today in preparation for going for MOT Slowsilver kindly came over to help me move some cars about in storage so it is at the front of the barn ready to leave. It turns out only two were blocking in the BX, the Citroen GS and Lancia Trevi. Our first task was to make sure the BX started or moving the other cars would be a waste of time. The BX had a completely flat battery but the jump pack got it going just, as the jump pack was low only showing just one charge light.

With the success of getting the BX running it was time to tackle the Trevi, luckily I had disconnected the Trevi battery but it still needed a jump and fired up after a bit of churning and idled. As usual the GS took a fair bit of churning but idled well and the suspension rose quickly. The BX stalled while we got the others started. The jump pack did not have enough power left in it to restart the BX.

While we didn't achieve our goal of parking the BX at the front of storage, but we did ascertain that everything starts so when we are ready to take the BX for MOT it should be straight forward with a recharged battery and jump pack to get it out.

Thanks to @Slowsilver for his help today and my ride in a chauffeur driven Mondeo.

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, Six-cylinder said:

This year is the 40th Birthday  - i almost misread that

Today in preparation for going for MOT Slowsilver kindly came over to 

dribble over the other stuf

 

gs tho ❤️