Six Cylinders Motoring Notes

[SRi05]

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

[Snake Charmer]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

What is it with modern cars having strings of LED "ambient lighting" running here there and everywhere in the cabin?  Makes them look like a teenager's bedroom.

Reminds me of the Blue Oyster Bar in Police Academy. 

[Tommyboy12]

3 hours ago, SRi05 said:

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

The future of cars in general is pricey. Realistically once you add a bit of kit a Fiesta is a 20 grand car nowadays.

[Six-cylinder]

I gave back the Kia EV6 GT-Line S today. It was a very interesting to experience it, as it was my first electric drive. I like the one pedal operation, the car was pleasant except for the price. 

Now the always question with electric cars, did I run out of electricity. No but it was a bit disappointing. Claimed range is 328 miles and salesman told me 300 miles, I started with 100% charge. I did 148 miles with 24% battery left and the predicted remaining range was 46 miles. That would give it a range of only 194 miles.

[Mrs6C]

17 minutes ago, Six-cylinder said:

with 24% battery left

Interesting. It was at 51% charge with a 99/100 mile range when we got home last night. Where did you go this morning, other than back to its base?

[hairnet]

hoon mode engaged

[Six-cylinder]

8 minutes ago, Mrs6C said:

Interesting. It was at 51% charge with a 99/100 mile range when we got home last night. Where did you go this morning, other than back to its base?

Up and down the A5D then round the villages surrounding MK.

3 minutes ago, hairnet said:

hoon mode engaged

Rush hour, lots of traffic legal speeds only.

[Zelandeth]

3 hours ago, Six-cylinder said:

I gave back the Kia EV6 GT-Line S today. It was a very interesting to experience it, as it was my first electric drive. I like the one pedal operation, the car was pleasant except for the price. 

Now the always question with electric cars, did I run out of electricity. No but it was a bit disappointing. Claimed range is 328 miles and salesman told me 300 miles, I started with 100% charge. I did 148 miles with 24% battery left and the predicted remaining range was 46 miles. That would give it a range of only 194 miles.

It's a car I'll need to make a point of taking a closer look at myself I think.  I'm pretty certain that an EV is going to appear sometime in the next five years as the whole-family daily.  It's going to be a toss-up between a used Tesla or something like this.  I've zero interest whatsoever in the likes of the VW ID3, but I like this far more as it looks like they've tried to do something a bit different.

Even used a Model-S in the sort of spec I'll be after isn't going to be all that much cheaper (and you better believe I'll be picky about spec, even down to the interior colour), so broadening the potential pool is good.  The other maker I've got half an eye on is Polestar as I really like what of theirs I've seen so far.

Will be interesting when we get to actually seriously looking at that decision.

[beko1987]

Blimey Keith gets 200 miles out of their 'old' zoe driving like @hairnet 😂

[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!

[RichardK]

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.

[RichardK]

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.

[RichardK]

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.

[RichardK]

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.

[RichardK]

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.

[RichardK]

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? 😉