Warren Works... An MG6. In for test. It fails. NOW Insignia Issues!

[LightBulbFun]

Just now, AnthonyG said:

@LightBulbFun needs one of those  1970s FX4s that were sold as sort of a halfarsed limousine, I assume they were registered as regular cars. 

Or track down Prince Philip’s, I doubt he had trouble insuring his. 

hah  an FL2 hire car (which is what I think your referring to? https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/austin/fx4/fl2-development-story/) would be Awesome, but I suspect they are all either £LOL or £Fucked

(also sadly dont think they are wheel-chair accessible, but I guess you could just borrow the ramp from an FX4 or such...) 

[chancer]

@LightBulbFun in reality, side opening doors are actually worse than rear opening. I have no end of problems trying to find somewhere suitable to load and unload wheelchairs in the taxi. Streets are just so congested that I end up abandoned on a corner hoping that the plod dont rock up. If i had rear loading i could stop anywhere, whack the hazards on, and lift the tailgate. Even for yourself, disabled parking bays, although much wider, wont have near enough width to put the ramp down and unload a chair or scooter. At least a rear access you could reverse into a bay with a walkway behind as most carparks have and be able to unload the scooter. I echo the sentiments above, get any car you feel comfortable getting in and out, and get some miles under the belt. Who knows, the freedom of the car might actually negate the need for a scooter for a fair amount of your journeys. Only trial and error will help you along the road. We all mean well here, nobody wants to see you wrong, but you desperately wanted your licence to get some freedom, and have yet to realise it

[warren t claim]

Or just buy aTransit?

[LightBulbFun]

30 minutes ago, chancer said:

@LightBulbFun in reality, side opening doors are actually worse than rear opening. I have no end of problems trying to find somewhere suitable to load and unload wheelchairs in the taxi. Streets are just so congested that I end up abandoned on a corner hoping that the plod dont rock up. If i had rear loading i could stop anywhere, whack the hazards on, and lift the tailgate. Even for yourself, disabled parking bays, although much wider, wont have near enough width to put the ramp down and unload a chair or scooter. At least a rear access you could reverse into a bay with a walkway behind as most carparks have and be able to unload the scooter.

I appreciate the feedback there, when you say streets do you mean just finding an empty space to pull up to the kerb in, or do you mean the pavement itself is so busy theres not space to open the ramp and wheel out the the chair?

 

my other main with a rear loading WAV, is apart from the risk of getting blocked in, is the fact your opening into traffic, and then would have to wrangle the scooter up over the kerb onto the pavement, if you cant find a dropped kerb to park next to

however I was thinking with something like a side loading WAV, you could just park up next to the pavement, open the door put the ramp down and just wheel the scooter out directly onto the pavement and away you go*

 

*well to be honest, I dont think any ramp based WAV is 100% for me, since I think on pretty much all of them regardless of side or rear, you have to bend over to fold the ramp back up?

 

I know most proper disabled parking bays are friendly to all types of WAV, but again remember I am in Central London here, where even the disabled parking bays are often still just kerb side bays

30 minutes ago, chancer said:

. I echo the sentiments above, get any car you feel comfortable getting in and out, and get some miles under the belt. Who knows, the freedom of the car might actually negate the need for a scooter for a fair amount of your journeys. Only trial and error will help you along the road. We all mean well here, nobody wants to see you wrong, but you desperately wanted your licence to get some freedom, and have yet to realise it

but I already own a car that I am ok getting in and out of and is quite comfortable for me to drive?

 

the want for the mobility scooter is mainly for large pedestrian only places, like for example if I wanted to go to one of those NEC classic car shows or such

I think they might frown If I raced around the halls in REV LOL even like an outdoor event like the FoTU, im not sure they would allow me to just run around in REV would they?

 

 

I was very kindly given use of a scooter during a couple FoD visits and it was a real game changer for me (previously I would just use REV as my mobility scooter around the FoD, but I have not had that option for a couple years now sadly)

 

hence the interest in getting a vehicle I can keep/transport one in, which came about when @warren t claim mentioned the idea of keeping one in a vehicle as a sort of mobile shed/autoshite version of thunderbirds (not only would the vehicle give me somewhere safe/dry to keep it, but also allow me to take it to places)

I had previously written off the idea of a scooter since theres no where to keep one safe here otherwise

[AnthonyG]

Re FL2s, I was thinking more of the non taxi FX4s that Carbodies/LTI sold under such names as London Coach, London Limousine etc.

Tickford and Jankel (of Panther fame) even offered properly luxurious ones with custom built walnut & leather interiors.

[AnthonyG]

@LightBulbFun’s second all time dream vehicle:

[JJ0063]

16 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

but I already own a car that I am ok getting in and out of and is quite comfortable for me to drive?

This is the bit you need to get your head round and I honestly think you’ll dismiss until you find out first hand that it’s not going to be what you’ve got it in your head it’s going to be. 
 

On paperwork you own that vehicle, you’ve not seen it in years, you’ve got no idea what state it’s in, even if it turns up tomorrow and it starts runs and stops, you will 100% not be nipping up to the NEC and back in it. 
 

I completely understand why you think you will and that you genuinely believe it’s going to be a perfectly good car to take you blasting across the county collecting all these lightbulbs people have kept aside from you. You’ll only be real with yourself when you realise it’s not a practical option. Look at the certain annoying YouTube person who has one, listen to what he says about them being dangerous things to drive and whatever else he’s said - and that’s coming from a chap who lives in an area with quiet rural roads and has years of experience.  You’ll be in absolute carnage driving round central London trying to dodge buses, taxis, cyclists and more.

I know everything will fall on deaf ears but just because you own the 3 wheeled peril, doesn’t mean it’s a practical car for day to day use. 
 

If you eventually get it on the road properly, you will have one of those moments when you realise everyone that’s tried to hell you was right but I think we all know until you see for yourself, you won’t listen 

[LightBulbFun]

11 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

I know I’m going to regret asking this, but why would you want to take the mobility scooter apart? 

I am not sure where that came up? I am hoping for the exact opposite , in that I explicitly *dont* want to faff with having to take the scooter apart

I am hoping with something like an LTI TX1/2/4 whatever, that I could just wheel the scooter into the passenger compartment as is, without having to faff about taking it apart or folding it up etc.

 

8 minutes ago, AnthonyG said:

@LightBulbFun’s second all time dream vehicle:

Hah I was just thinking about that one when you mentioned special FL2/FX4's, its like if an FX4 and a Checker Aerobus had an international love affair  

your not wrong, I would love one LOL

[chancer]

@LightBulbFun cant seem to pick out parts to quote, so here goes.....

Side access ramps, getting somewhere kerbside to park and unload safely is a challenge. Then even if you do, the ramp on an E7 or Transit ProCab is so long that it near reaches the far end of the pavement therefore i sometimes need to park with the offside of the cab protruding into the carriageway just to allow for the ramp length. 

Rear access ramps....i said it would be easier for me to stop in the road and let ramp down to unload chairs, however i realise that wouldn't work for you.

Guess what im saying is that whether you chose a rear or side access, there are going to be times that each one works for you, and equally against. 

I know you already own a car you are comfortable getting in and out. We all know that. Theres about 3thousand feckin pages documenting it lol. But, it doesnt work, and you have no idea where it is or what stage its at. The general consensus here is that we all agree Red5 is doing what he can, when he can, and for god knows how long. But in the meantime, until the wee blue meanie comes back home, we just want to see you getting miles in, using something practical that suits your needs, but isnt impractical for the area you need to park it in. The limousine was just fuckin bonkers....the london cab was practical but uninsurable. Therefore we need to find a decent compromise to get you out there, enjoying driving, and living life. None of us want to see you purchase something that doesnt fit your needs

[LightBulbFun]

4 minutes ago, chancer said:

Side access ramps, getting somewhere kerbside to park and unload safely is a challenge. Then even if you do, the ramp on an E7 or Transit ProCab is so long that it near reaches the far end of the pavement therefore i sometimes need to park with the offside of the cab protruding into the carriageway just to allow for the ramp length. 

fair enough, I will admit, I have not looked at the fine details of those particular vehicles, I have mostly been looking at LTI TX's,

5 minutes ago, chancer said:

Guess what im saying is that whether you chose a rear or side access, there are going to be times that each one works for you, and equally against. 

yeah im not totally against a rear loading ramp, as you say both have their pros and cons, as mentioned for example in a proper car park style parking bay, you dont have much side vehicle space so a rear loading ramp would be better

it just in my eyes I feel that a side access one would work better, given what I have personally observed in the urban jungle I live in.

I did give serious thought to the rear loading Berlingo Brownova had for example, but being a manual and needing work to get it back on the road put me off it

I dont want  to spend lots of money on what would be a pretty big compromise for me, if I am splashing the cash and faff on a 2nd car for a working roll like this, I want it to be something that will work well for me, and have as few compromises as possible 

 

even parking at home is all just street parking, 

and case in point I dont think a rear loading WAV would be able to phase through a brick wall...

[chancer]

1 minute ago, LightBulbFun said:

 

and case in point I dont think a rear loading WAV would be able to phase through a brick wall...

I thought the whole point of the vehicle was that it would give you storage for a scooter? So if thats at home, and where you will be parking the WAV, and ultimately the scooter within said WAV, then rear access is actually better because none of the feral little bastards that roam the streets of london could steal the scooter if it was backed up to the wall! 

[AnthonyG]

LBF, I misread ‘places’ as ‘pieces’ in your earlier post about buying a vehicle to transport a scooter about. I edited the post but you were too quick for me! 

That stretch FX4 pic is from this book, which is worth tracking down on EBay, Amazon etc, as it has an indecent amount of detail. Published in 2012 though, so prices and availability of cars/spares info is rather out of date. 

[LightBulbFun]

1 minute ago, chancer said:

I thought the whole point of the vehicle was that it would give you storage for a scooter? So if thats at home, and where you will be parking the WAV, and ultimately the scooter within said WAV, then rear access is actually better because none of the feral little bastards that roam the streets of london could steal the scooter if it was backed up to the wall! 

haha your not wrong on that last part! but it would make it a pain any time I did wish to use the scooter.

1 minute ago, AnthonyG said:

LBF, I misread ‘places’ as ‘pieces’ in your earlier post about buying a vehicle to transport a scooter apart. I edited the post but you were too quick for me! 

That stretch FX4 pic is from this book, which is worth tracking down on EBay, Amazon etc, has an indecent amount of detail. Published in 2012 though, so prices and availability of cars/spares info is rather out of date. 

hah awesome! I know they do/did a Routemaster one as well, which I'd love to get some day  

I knew of the stretched FX4 from here https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/austin/fx4/austin-fx4fl2-the-specialist-conversions/

I especially also like the FX4 postal van

 

[chancer]

5 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

haha your not wrong on that last part! but it would make it a pain any time I did wish to use the scooter.

Get in car. Move it forward. Get out car. Remove scooter. Put car back. Proceed on scooter. Its not exactly a full shift is it? I fear that what you feel is reasonable is out of touch with reality. What if you had a cycle. That was kept in a locked shed. You would have to go to shed and unlock it, remove cycle, lock shed up then go about cycling. Then do the same when you were finished. Compromise is a word that you really need to look up, and fully comprehend, if you wish to do anything gainful in life. Sounds harsh, but whether able bodied or disabled, it is a fact of life. Again, i wish you the best, and I have tried to give you advice from real world experience, but by god boy, you are a hard sell!! 

[New POD]

2 hours ago, AnthonyG said:

@LightBulbFun needs one of those 1970s FX4s that were sold as sort of a halfarsed limousine, I assume they were registered as regular cars. 

Or track down Prince Philip’s, I doubt he had trouble insuring his. 

When my dad had a company car working for the NHS, it was insured by the crown. ie they didn't actually have insurance, because the Queen would pay up. 

[alcyonecorporation]

On 04/01/2024 at 09:49, SiC said:

What's the red up arrow light for?

 

black tape roll to hide warning light (plan view), now!

[that's what it says] 

[Pieman]

FFS you've got your own thread to argue about this in, go and do it there.

Hope the MG hasn't had any further problems Warren, I'm quite enjoying seeing its progress.  Not seen that grey '6 I mentioned parked up yet so haven't got a pic, but have seen it driving about in town twice so it's definitely still around!

[Lacquer Peel]

11 hours ago, warren t claim said:

 Also, I've yet to have to do a headlamp bulb change or replace a fuse. 

In one of the ARonline MG6 minicab articles the owner was complaining about it needing headlight bulbs regularly and it being a time consuming bumper off job. 

Not to put off anyone who wants to buy this piece of Chinese class. 

[inconsistant]

Mods where did the MG6 taxi thread go please?
 

[loserone]

5 hours ago, Pieman said:

FFS you've got your own thread to argue about this in, go and do it there.

To be fair, he's just responding to points raised in the thread.  

 

The E7 things look useful and I bet they drive well.

[alcyonecorporation]

Fuck me, the MG6. 

A car that, when Kelsey ran it as a company vehicle, needed a new gearbox and clutch in 547 miles, owing to a ricked neutral safety switch. 

A car whose owners' manual spoke of 'KET FEATURES'. 

A car which, when it broke down, had MG Assist tell the driver (me) that it 'didn't come out at weekends' and, after taking the VRM, thought the car was 'a Maestro'. 

We'll get into the international persona non grata campaign that AROnline Facebook bestowed upon me later, because they were following MG Motor UK like puppies at that point and refused to concede any criticism of said firm. 

You see, I didn't like Kelsey's MG6, because it didn't work. Said car was later rebuilt after it twatted into the armco on the M25. 

[chancer]

7 hours ago, Pieman said:

FFS you've got your own thread to argue about this in, go and do it there.

Aw ffs man, my bad! I thought this was lightbulbdoesntbuyataxi. Threads seem to be merging into one now, I cant keep up. 

I had also had a few shandys

@warren t claim apologies for the thread derailment

[Sheefag]

5 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

Fuck me, the MG6. 

A car that, when Kelsey ran it as a company vehicle, needed a new gearbox and clutch in 547 miles, owing to a ricked neutral safety switch. 

A car whose owners' manual spoke of 'KET FEATURES'. 

A car which, when it broke down, had MG Assist tell the driver (me) that it 'didn't come out at weekends' and, after taking the VRM, thought the car was 'a Maestro'. 

We'll get into the international persona non grata campaign that AROnline Facebook bestowed upon me later, because they were following MG Motor UK like puppies at that point and refused to concede any criticism of said new cars. 

You see, I didn't like Kelsey's MG6, because it didn't work. Said car was later rebuilt after it twatted into the armco on the M25. 

[alcyonecorporation]

1 minute ago, Sheefag said:

Yes, that's the one. Were you the random from MacD who emailed and DM'd me on FB when everyone's brains melted? 
 

[Sheefag]

I may probably have done so, I'm afraid it's that long ago, I honestly can't remember.

MG Motor UK were that pissed off with MacDroitwich, they nicked one of the domains when admin forgot to renew it!

Funniest thing was that just one year later, MG Motor UK forgot to renew it and MacDroitwich admin nicked it back!!

Ineptitude from both ends of the British motor industry.

[wuvvum]

I would imagine that ten years down the line the "Friday" cars have likely all been scrapped, and the ones that are left are the ones that were put together properly.

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 hour ago, wuvvum said:

I would imagine that ten years down the line the "Friday" cars have likely all been scrapped, and the ones that are left are the ones that were put together properly.

 

That's for all MG6 models, registrations stopped in 2017 and the downward plunge seems to be accelerating?

[High Jetter]

To be unnecessarily pedantic, or dietetic, a plunge is likely to be descending, and gravity has an effect

[warren t claim]

13 hours ago, alcyonecorporation said:

Fuck me, the MG6. 


You see, I didn't like Kelsey's MG6, because it didn't work. Said car was later rebuilt after it twatted into the armco on the M25. 

I'd be interested to hear your opinion of it when it was working.

[warren t claim]

3 hours ago, EyesWeldedShut said:

 

That's for all MG6 models, registrations stopped in 2017 and the downward plunge seems to be accelerating?

That may be due to the somewhat limited parts supply causing perfectly good MG6s getting scrapped over something trivial like a windscreen.