HMC- Mr Chowdhury’s Mercedes

[grogee]

I like them but then I'm a bit of a Focus fanboi. I would agree with anyone who said they're aesthetically challenged/dumpy. 

I think we are all waiting to hear just how waterproof this is. Devon will be a stern test. I'm in God's County at the moment and have seen more than four seasons in one day. 

Do they have comedy back seats? 

[Dobloseven]

A lady used to park one on our road for a long time whilst she worked at a nearby factory.Always thought it looked very good in metallic turquoise and beige leather seats.Perhaps they're a bit colour sensitive.Harks back to a time when car makers had convertible mania.

[Peter C]

WCPGW?

[RichardK]

On 29/03/2024 at 14:03, HMC said:

MGF progress 

After a pump up (i had a hand pump that i got off e bay years ago) it now sits at the spec ride height. So much more comfortable, presumably it was skittering about almost on its bump stops.  

I was a bit worried the shit ride quality was also blown displacers, but is now manages to be both sporty and a lot more supple.

 

 

That looks like the height for 17 degrees C...

I appreciate it's been warm, but has it been that warm?

[RichardK]

11 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

About as pointless as the Astra twintop of the same era! 

To be fair though, they're a lot more fun with the roof down than you'd think

I've always been tempted by them, but then the Volvo C70 exists...

[tooSavvy]

Slightly*off topic...

Isn't there a ghastly Nissan with similar axe cuts 🙄

🚙💨

[HMC]

 

 

I think its when they tried to do it in only 2 origami sections (like the micra and the focus) that the rear deck has to be quite long, 3 sections is presumably more complex to engineer, and more costly but more forgiving in the packaging.

 

GM decided to do it in 3; looks quite elaborate 

but the rear deck is quite a bit shorter…

[HMC]

Although ford have form in this category……

[HMC]

Is that the optional hot tub in the back?

[HMC]

Although apparently Peugeot  got there first

 

 

https://designyoutrust.com/2021/08/1934-peugeot-601-eclipse-the-first-automatic-retractable-hardtop-for-an-automobile/

[lesapandre]

2 hours ago, HMC said:

Is that the optional hot tub in the back?

That's where you put your luggage...

[HMC]

Its older cousin had been performing faultlessly. It even has a functioning aftermarket alarm system that you can see in the front window…

[timolloyd]

*had?

[lesapandre]

4 minutes ago, HMC said:

Its older cousin had been performing faultlessly. It even has a functioning aftermarket alarm system that you can see in the front window…

If you break into the car you get licked to death? 

*is "bunk rooms" a Devon euphemism?🤩

[HMC]

11 minutes ago, timolloyd said:

*had?

Got my tenses wrong- still is. The nasty parking damage on the OSR tends to make people steer clear in car parks, quite handy 😂

[mintwth]

14 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

*is "bunk rooms" a Devon euphemism?🤩

Nexia question

[HMC]

10 hours ago, grogee said:

 

Do they have comedy back seats? 

Yes. Unlike, say in a tt mk1 someone over 8 years old can sit in them but even with my fairly forward/ hunched favoured driving position, its more of a 3 seater with the legs of the rear occupant over in the opposing footwell.

[HMC]

I also discovered its a focus cc-3. This from an era of ka2/ ka3 etc. This gives your heated part leather seating and other bits. bonus!

 

Does my bum look big in this? No. (yes)

[Peter C]

12 minutes ago, HMC said:

 

 

I think that’s a great rear end, looks nothing like a Focus and is very distinctive.

[loserone]

I remember when we first got one in as a dealer demo and we really couldn't figure out the point of them - especially when we were selling ford direct ST2s for £13k.  Wish I'd gone balls deep on one of those!

[grogee]

I think there was a collective hysteria within the auto industry after the success of SLK and 206 CC. I remember writing a group test of Megane CC, Astra Twintop, VW Eos and 307 (or maybe 308) CC. Basically all of the mainstream were offering folding metal roofs (and the VW had a sunroof as well - mental!).

I think they all got their fingers burned from warranty claims on leaks and broken motors etc. Horribly complicated compared to a fabric roof, which is a much more mature technology.

Being mainstream, they all offered really mingebag engine options including fume-tastic diesels. 

I'm sure I read there was a class action against Ford and during the litigation an internal document was uncovered stating it was impossible to make the Focus CC waterproof. 

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, lesapandre said:

 

*is "bunk rooms" a Devon euphemism?🤩

Yes, with regular cycles

[brownnova]

I saw one of these in the dealer I went to view a Saab in… the towel on the parcel shelf suggested it might not be fully water tight… 

[tooSavvy]

But, to do it with 'style!'....

🚙💨

[Schaefft]

A mate of mine just bought one of these with the 1.6 recently for 700 quid I believe. Considering his daily driver is a 106 that's even slower he sees it as a huge upgrade for long distance traveling, especially with the leather seats etc. The roof naturally didn't work on his but it only needed a little soldering action in the door module to be functional again. As long as nothing leaks it's usually just a simple to fix electrical issue.

[Hertz]

Your dog looks sad the Roller is gone...

I like the Focus CC, must be bottom of the curve bargain motoring.

[bezzabsa]

Rare to see a Galaxy / sharan/ alhambra these days

[HMC]

Growing up there was one of these down my street. a 1.3 GL 4 door. Aged 10 you could keep your ferraris etc, what i really wanted was one of these. I absolutely loved them.

Back then they were cheap first cars (around 1990) couple of hundred quid and scrap it when the mot was up. That is assuming it hadnt dissolved already, or been crashed.

Then a strange thing happened. They vanished overnight and then slowly they started getting expensive. By the time i started driving they were not mega expensive, but just hard to find.

My route to a mk2 escort was avoid 2 door (££££££) avoid uk RHD (££££££ plus most heavily welded or rotten)

So here we have a solid LHD import 1.3GL which is being delivered next week…

 

 

 

 

 

[wesacosa]

bloody hell. nice. my first car was a mk2 Escort 2 door in Sahara beige which I used to drive around thinking I was Ari Vatanen. If you had told me I'd be 46 and never have owned another I'd never have believed you 

[wesacosa]

of all the cars I ever owned this is the one I'd love one more drive of