Unpopular Motoring Opinion Thread

[loserone]

3 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Only if you’re a tight arse.

Not at all, there's something about an NA XUD which just brings a smile to your face.  Where a large petrol feels like pouring money away.

[dozeydustman]

On 20/03/2024 at 19:09, yes oui si said:

Having owned all three, I'd rather have another mk3 over a mk2 or mk1. 

I’m with you on this one. I can’t get behind the wheel of a Mk1 or Mk2 Golf without being forced into a foetal position with my knees around my ears.

Mk3 was so much more spacious inside, if a little flabby on the road.

[dozeydustman]

On 25/03/2024 at 14:34, Talbot said:

Balance it on one wheel while rolling it.  I know that sounds utterly stupid, but a wheelie bin (especially when empty) balanced on one wheel is noticeably quieter than when on both wheels.

Absolutely no idea why.  It just is.

There’s a tiny bit of play in the axle supports on the bottom of the bin. Only a millimetre or so. Any rattles and the body of the bin acts as a huge echo chamber/sound box. 
 

On 25/03/2024 at 09:31, MorrisItalSLX said:

I remember seeing a bin lorry pulling out of a junction and a river of juice poured out the back all over the road.

It smelled twice as bad as you imagine.

Sounds like a barrier seal has failed or not been cleaned.

Green waste bin juice is a great compost activator/tomato food.

[Rocket88]

8 minutes ago, dozeydustman said:

I’m with you on this one. I can’t get behind the wheel of a Mk1 or Mk2 Golf without being forced into a foetal position with my knees around my ears.

Mk3 was so much more spacious inside, if a little flabby on the road.

Try driving an old Mini/1100/ 1800……😱

[dozeydustman]

14 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

Try driving an old Mini/1100/ 1800……😱

I have driven a Mini, but when I was 18 and a bit more flexible than I currently am. It’s wasn’t comfortable but the position of the controls made it easier than the Golf. Size 15s on the tiny pedals was the hardest thing.

Different bodies fit in different cars.

[eddyramrod]

2 hours ago, loserone said:

Not at all, there's something about an NA XUD which just brings a smile to your face.  Where a large petrol feels like pouring money away.

I can see you and I are coming at this from opposite directions!

As a lifelong asthmatic I'm horrified at the promotion of diesel over the last 30 years or so.  I breathe much, much easier when petrol engines pass me in the street.  But also, having sat on top of diesels in trucks for so many miles, I really can't listen to the small shoddy things that are in modern cars.  I'd FAR rather listen to a slurping petrol V8.  I'd also far rather sit behind it and press on the pedal, especially with a Gentleman's Gearbox attached!

Vive la difference if it keeps the price of a V8 down to where I can have one!

[grogee]

On 25/03/2024 at 15:03, Talbot said:

An unpopular opinion:  Drivers should be re-tested on a regular basis, and to a far higher standard than they are currently.  This is actually more important than checking the car on an annual basis.

However, this will never happen as the Government makes far too much money from fuel duty and other vehicle taxation, so removing dangerous/idiotic/incompetent/blind/drunk/thick-as-shit drivers from the road will cost them too much money.

I would happily sit a driving test on a regular basis.

This could be a money spinner to replace lost revenue from fossil fuel sales:

Every UK driver has to renew their test every 12/24/whatever months. It involves a practical test for which there is a charge of about £100. 

If there has been an accident claim on insurance record, specific coaching is required (again, more £££) to teach how to avoid the same mistake. 

Driving tuition is semi nationalised on a franchise basis with XX% going to govt coffers. 

Forriners operating commercially in UK are subject to same rules. 

(Yeah I know, not gonna happen) 

Are there any countries that require a regular re-test? Feels like something the Swiss might do. 

[Boycie]

.......or we could just ban Audi drivers ...... 

Salesman " What car are you looking to purchase "

Buyer " Audi " 

Salesman " That's you banned , give me your licence .....next "

 

 

[Yoss]

3 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

Try driving an old Mini/1100/ 1800……😱

And?

I've had many Landcrabs and driven many thousands of miles in them and had no problem. I know it's an odd position but you get used to it and you certainly won't have any trouble getting in or out. 

Admittedly I cheated a bit. The best one was a Wolseley 18/85S. Must have been the most expensive Crab you could buy new, a Wolseley with twin carbs, an auto and optional power steering, though I paid £80 for it. I fitted Rover SD1 alloys and smaller steering wheel from a 1300GT (wasn't actually that much smaller). You could drive it with one hand and one foot and had front armrests to lean into when cornering. The auto box worked really well too as when the kickdown dropped in to second it was in just the right rev range to pick up and fly. The engine was MGB spec bit I reckon it went even better.

But I had several standard ones. Totally different driving experience but still relaxed and comfy. Like I say you get used to the driving position. Though it might have helped that I did own a bus too.

[Rod/b]

The classic F1 film “Grand Prix” is about 2 hours too long. 

[warren t claim]

3 hours ago, Rod/b said:

The classic F1 film “Grand Prix” is about 2 hours too long. 

And Bullitt is a slow and boring film other than the chase scene.

[Asimo]

On 31/03/2024 at 08:08, loserone said:

there's something about an NA XUD which just brings a smile to your face.

XUD was worthy of respect and I was smug about the 500mile range, but it never made me smile.
The noise and vibration was a constant reminder of how much better the BX would have been with a petrol engine.

[ProgRocker]

The 1994-98 Ford Scorpio is quite stylish.

[EyesWeldedShut]

6 minutes ago, Asimo said:

XUD was worthy of respect and I was smug about the 500mile range, but it never made me smile.
The noise and vibration was a constant reminder of how much better the BX would have been with a petrol engine.

My wallet smiled   changed from around a 30 mpg Montego estate to a 50 mpg BX - 150 miles a day, five days a week. Even at 1995 prices I was happy.
(But yeah - unrefined diesel by today's standards. Changed jobs and swapped it for a V8 Range Rover. Which leads us to the next fact opinion:

Land Rover: The Best 4x4 By Far

(best said in a plummy accent for full effect)

[loserone]

25 minutes ago, Asimo said:

The noise and vibration was a constant reminder of how much better the BX would have been with a petrol engine.

Maybe it's different now they're an old car, not a modern daily.

[UltraWomble]

All my BX were diesel (1.7 or 1.9) the one that gave the best MPG was an early 1.7 square port NA diesel - the car was "happiest" at 60mph - which returned nearly 60MPG.

The 1.4 3 banger Polo I drive now is proper rattly for a modern (OK, 18 year old) diesel car compared with the wifes diesel that when you are inside is whisper quiet.

[Asimo]

43 minutes ago, loserone said:

Maybe it's different now they're an old car, not a modern daily.

It was brand new!

[MrGTI6]

Blocking a live lane in anticipation of a merge point further up the road should result in an instant driving ban.

[grogee]

4 minutes ago, MrGTI6 said:

Blocking a live lane in anticipation of a merge point further up the road should result in an instant £1000 reward.

FTFY

[kevins]

3 hours ago, ProgRocker said:

The 1994-98 Ford Scorpio is quite stylish.

I had 3 of them (all estates) brand new as company cars, at the time I was driving  from Germany to the UK virtualy every week, great machine for that job ( the view from inside was fine!).

[Rocket88]

The Ford Capri is a vastly overrated car…. As is most Ford junk

[Metal Guru]

29 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

The Ford Capri is a vastly overrated car…. As is most Ford junk

Well it was just a Cortina really.

[scaryoldcortina]

35 minutes ago, Metal Guru said:

Well it was just a Cortina really.

Fat escort with a cortina engine.

[CaptainBoom]

Mike Brewer isn't all that bad.  I don't get why people dislike him so much, certainly he has a TV persona which can grate a bit, but in interviews, he seems to come across as normal and a bit humble.  It could all be acting as far as I know.

Ah, is that my coat?  Thank you, here is my membership card...

[Bazfr69]

43 minutes ago, CaptainBoom said:

Mike Brewer isn't all that bad.  I don't get why people dislike him so much, certainly he has a TV persona which can grate a bit, but in interviews, he seems to come across as normal and a bit humble.  It could all be acting as far as I know.

Ah, is that my coat?  Thank you, here is my membership card...

Agreed. I watched Jonny Smith interview him and came away from that liking him quite a bit. 
For balance I tried for quite a while to get into Edd’s solo stuff on YouTube and found it unbearably dull. 

[rattlecan]

2 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

The Ford Capri is a vastly overrated car…. As is most Ford junk

Wow that’s a statement !!

[Rocket88]

I’ve had the misfortune to drive a lot of seventies and eighties Fords when they were in current production….age has not improved them

[Marina door handles]

28 minutes ago, Bazfr69 said:

Agreed. I watched Jonny Smith interview him and came away from that liking him quite a bit. 
For balance I tried for quite a while to get into Edd’s solo stuff on YouTube and found it unbearably dull. 

Same here, I feel rather bad about that as I have met Edd and he is a nice bloke but yeah he is no youtuber. 

[rattlecan]

2 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

I’ve had the misfortune to drive a lot of seventies and eighties Fords when they were in current production….age has not improved them

Well I have, what is essentially a 70’s Ford (however mine is the last in the line) so it’s a 1980, mk2 RS2000. Whatever adjectives you’d like to use to describe the driving experience, surely you cannot pretend would describe the experience of driving, say a 2019 Ford Kuga, which I also own. Mmm bit of brand snobbery seems to be a foot here.

I’m guessing a mk1 Golf was always absolutely fantastic & the mk17 (or whatever rehashed number they are on) is equally as mind blowing 

[Supernaut]

One could almost argue that getting set off by somebody calling Fords over rated is also a form of brand snobbery, sorry, loyalty.

 

 

For the interests of balance, despite owning and enjoying a BMW from the 1990s I wouldn't touch one from after about 2005 with somebody else's bargepole. They're, in my opinion, vastly over rated junk.