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Post by andyhigham on Jun 9, 2021 7:51:51 GMT
The transport authority in Manchester area (TFGM) has got wasting public money off to a fine art. A number of years ago they decided Bolton needed a second bus station so businesses were evicted from a parade of shops which were bulldozed to make way for it. A few years ago they decided to completely refurbish/rebuild this bus station. Shortly after another 2 rows of shops and offices were demolished to make way for another new bus station along side the second, they even bragged about the cost of £48 Million. The original bus station is now demolished and just wasteland, the second is also demolished. Just under £5 million was then spent on making a road junction "cycle friendly" Most of the handful of cyclists who use this junction each week ignore the signs, traffic signals and cycle lanes and ride wherever they please. The junction with the inner relief road (cyclists are not allowed on this road) is getting the same treatment, another 7 months of delays and misery for drivers.
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Post by 92220 on Jun 9, 2021 8:45:30 GMT
Here is what I learnt over the years.... Vauxhall - biscuit tins. Ford - feel worn out from new. French cars - wiring is crap, petrol don't bother, diesel are good. German used to be built like a Tiger but now not so good. Japanese - overpriced. Cheepo chinese/taiwanese/korean/rumanian - OK but ultimately you get what you pay for. Me, I'm seriously thinking of a classic car as my next one. I think I would disagree with your comment regarding Vauxhalls....at least those after the early 1970s. I bought my first Vauxhall in 1972. Since then I have bought 25. In those 25, only one (the first Viva 2300) was always in the garage. The rest, all but 6, were new, and part from my Brabham Viva, were excellent in all respects. The only reason I changed them was milage, as they were used as the business car, and the secondhand value they had at 2-3 years. The only reason I mentioned the Brabham Viva, was because it rusted badly on one front wing. The rest were traded in with perfect bodywork and mechanicals. My Chevette HS 2.3 rally car (they made just 350 of them) was bought new in 1979, and traded in for one of the first Astras, in 1982, and is still taxed and MOTed for use on the road, by the current owner!! I have always had the performance Vauxhalls and have recently replaced my Astra VXR with a 1.4 Astra, because I don't drive quite like I used to!! However, it isn't the slow-coach that you expect a 1.4 to be. It develops 150bhp and can accelerate a good second faster than Vauxhall quote, from 0-60. It also saves fuels costs. On a local, dead flat road, about 5 miles length, it will do 65mpg indicated, at 70mph on the sat nav speed indicator. By refering to Vauxhalls as 'biscuit tins', I'm guessing you are refring to the body material thickness. Actually Ford were the worst for that in the Escort era. They used 2 gauges thinner than anyone else and you could push a dent on a wing, with almost no effort, and then it would spring back out. You have NEVER been able to do that with Vauxhalls, thought , in the early 1970s, the CEO of General Motors came over to UK to look around the factories, and told the staff to stop producing bodywork that would rust away, or he would close Vauxhall down. They sorted it the same year, though I can't remember which year. They have been good, reliable, vehicals ever since. Bob.
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Jun 9, 2021 9:05:15 GMT
Here is what I learnt over the years.... Vauxhall - biscuit tins. Ford - feel worn out from new. French cars - wiring is crap, petrol don't bother, diesel are good. German used to be built like a Tiger but now not so good. Japanese - overpriced. Cheepo chinese/taiwanese/korean/rumanian - OK but ultimately you get what you pay for. Me, I'm seriously thinking of a classic car as my next one. I think I would disagree with your comment regarding Vauxhalls....at least those after the early 1970s. I bought my first Vauxhall in 1972. Since then I have bought 25. In those 25, only one (the first Viva 2300) was always in the garage. The rest, all but 6, were new, and part from my Brabham Viva, were excellent in all respects. The only reason I changed them was milage, as they were used as the business car, and the secondhand value they had at 2-3 years. The only reason I mentioned the Brabham Viva, was because it rusted badly on one front wing. The rest were traded in with perfect bodywork and mechanicals. My Chevette HS 2.3 rally car (they made just 350 of them) was bought new in 1979, and traded in for one of the first Astras, in 1982, and is still taxed and MOTed for use on the road, by the current owner!! I have always had the performance Vauxhalls and have recently replaced my Astra VXR with a 1.4 Astra, because I don't drive quite like I used to!! However, it isn't the slow-coach that you expect a 1.4 to be. It develops 150bhp and can accelerate a good second faster than Vauxhall quote, from 0-60. It also saves fuels costs. On a local, dead flat road, about 5 miles length, it will do 65mpg indicated, at 70mph on the sat nav speed indicator. By refering to Vauxhalls as 'biscuit tins', I'm guessing you are refring to the body material thickness. Actually Ford were the worst for that in the Escort era. They used 2 gauges thinner than anyone else and you could push a dent on a wing, with almost no effort, and then it would spring back out. You have NEVER been able to do that with Vauxhalls, thought , in the early 1970s, the CEO of General Motors came over to UK to look around the factories, and told the staff to stop producing bodywork that would rust away, or he would close Vauxhall down. They sorted it the same year, though I can't remember which year. They have been good, reliable, vehicals ever since. Bob. I definitely agree with your comment on Ford's using thin steel. I was in the back seat of my dad's Austin Cambridge, dad driving, uncle in passenger seat. We were going down a country lane, single track with passing places. A brand new Escort mk1 estate was coming the other way. He was fiddling with his radio and not looking. Bang! His car was written off, the Cambridge was having its moderately dented wing removed a new wing put on that afternoon. Ps I had a mk2 Cavalier and a chevette.... The Cavalier was an awesome car, towed like a dream after I installed a manual override switch for the electric fan. The chevette... Well more like Shove-it
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 9, 2021 9:12:03 GMT
Peugeot and Citroen have migrated themselves down market over recent years, with their aquisition of Vauhall and Vauxhalls now being re badged Citroens I can't see Vauxhall being a quality brand any time soon
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Post by 92220 on Jun 9, 2021 16:39:47 GMT
I definitely agree with your comment on Ford's using thin steel. I was in the back seat of my dad's Austin Cambridge, dad driving, uncle in passenger seat. We were going down a country lane, single track with passing places. A brand new Escort mk1 estate was coming the other way. He was fiddling with his radio and not looking. Bang! His car was written off, the Cambridge was having its moderately dented wing removed a new wing put on that afternoon. Ps I had a mk2 Cavalier and a chevette.... The Cavalier was an awesome car, towed like a dream after I installed a manual override switch for the electric fan. The chevette... Well more like Shove-it Yes the Chevette was the lowest in the Vauxhall range, at that time. I think the max size engine was 1.6 ltr and 60 bhp. Its performance was considered a bit tame by any standards!! Mine was a little bit different. It was their rally car. It was actually totally different to the standard car. The way it was produced was utterly stupid too!! When they got an order for a HS, they went along to the end of the production line and just lifted a fully completed Chevette off the track, with a fork-lift, and put it down beside the line A gang then descended on the car and stripped it back to the raw shell, and put the stripped bits back into stores. They then sent the raw shell for repainting Silver. All HSes and HSRs were silver with a red stripe, except for 2 cars that were painted black, and the works manager had one and the other was a demonstrator. Once the shell was painted, they fitted the seating and all cab internals, plus a special 7 instrument dash. The engine was then fitted, together with a 5 speed close ratio Getrag gearbox. The engine was built on the Vauxhall slant-4, 2300cc engine. Lotus designed and produced the aluminium head, with 16 valves. The engine produced 135 bhp, with a single Stromberg carb. Diabolical!!! I changed mine to a 45mm twin pot Delorto, and fitted a straight through exhaust, at Aldon Automotive. Just those 2 mods gave me 175 bhp at the rear wheels compared with the standard 135 bhp. That gave me a 0-60 time of just fractionally over 5 seconds. Not bad for a 1979 car. Actually the reason it could accelerate like that is because the Getrag gearbox limited the top speed to 115mph, and the engine could 'red line' in top gear, if I wasn't careful! I always regret not keeping that car, but I needed to trade it in before it got spoiled due to rallying. It is still on the road, and if I could find a way of contacting the current owner, I might make him an offer!! Bob.
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Post by 92220 on Jun 9, 2021 16:43:45 GMT
Hi Andy. Yes. I don't think I'll be buying another new Vauxhall and sending any profits over the Channel!!!
Bob.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jun 10, 2021 0:22:51 GMT
Lots of lovely Chinese designed and built cars in China. Bits copied from other cars. We took quite a few photos of them. David and Lily.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jun 10, 2021 0:36:27 GMT
Not much of a bonnet to lie on. But Lily in usual RED. White being the favorite all over China. David and Lily.
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
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Post by JonL on Jun 10, 2021 8:03:35 GMT
In twenty five years of driving I've had forty cars. Quite a few classics, quite a few cheap and nasty, but a very eclectic collection. The one common element is that i have regretted parting with every Saab and Volvo. I still have a soft spot for a 740 i had which carted band equipment everywhere and was very over engineered. I drive a modern Volvo now and it's the best car I've ever owned, very easy to load my locomotives and wheelchair when needed, and a great balance of frugal and nippy.
I've always said the benchmark for a car is; if it was stolen off your drive overnight, would you go get another the same? The answer in this case is a strong yes.
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 10, 2021 10:03:41 GMT
I have had German, Russian, Japanese, British and Czech cars. Lada, chunky and agricultural but solid and dependable Audi A6 avant quattro, good quality and equipment level with great handling due to the 4 wheel drive BMW 320i A great car to drive, tail happy. Let down by bodywork and cylinder head issues Skoda, quality up there between BMW and Audi Range Rover 4.6, good comfortable car with a few niggles easily sorted Lexus LS400, the best car I ever owned, electric everything when I sold it 22 years old and over 300,000 miles it was still perfect Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, competent car, does everything it needs to do but no soul
Would I buy another? Audi A6 yes, Range Rover yes, Lexus Definitely YES
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Post by flyingfox on Jun 10, 2021 13:41:08 GMT
Greetings, as "Nobby" mentioned above, I too am a Volvo addict, I am on my 8th, and still revel in the build quality and comfort. My American friend described traveling in my current S80 as like riding in a big sofa down the road. I could go on forever. I wonder which model currently has Nobby's heart? Regards Brian
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
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Post by JonL on Jun 10, 2021 18:02:57 GMT
I have the XC40 mild hybrid, which means you get a 2.0l turbo petrol which still achieves 40mpg in normal (not careful) use.
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 10, 2021 18:29:41 GMT
My ex boss had couple of Volvo 740s, I loved driving them. Later he had a Volvo 850, I hated driving that. The steering went vague and mushy when the throttle was booted. Front wheel drive has no place on a powerful heavy car
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,907
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Post by JonL on Jun 10, 2021 20:07:57 GMT
Yes I always preferred the RWD Volvos. I'd have a 740 again in a heartbeat.
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Post by jon38r80 on Jun 12, 2021 10:59:56 GMT
I was given a SAAB 900S turbo (My sister in law decded it wasnt worth the effort of selling it) since then have always had SAABs. the current 9-5 AERo has just turned the clock at 100,000 miles. Im sad that due to American intervention SAAB no longer realy exist.
Dont know what I will buy when I need/want to buy a new car. Electric cars just dont appeal to me
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Post by modeng2000 on Jun 20, 2021 6:05:23 GMT
Posted in error :-(
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Post by Roger on Jun 20, 2021 6:35:41 GMT
I was given a SAAB 900S turbo (My sister in law decded it wasnt worth the effort of selling it) since then have always had SAABs. the current 9-5 AERo has just turned the clock at 100,000 miles. Im sad that due to American intervention SAAB no longer realy exist. Dont know what I will buy when I need/want to buy a new car. Electric cars just dont appeal to me I think you would change your mind if you drove an Electric car. Most people seem to be smitten once they've had the experience. When you think about it, the Internal Combusion Engine is completely unsuited to the application. It's noisy, vibrates, can't run to a stop, has a narrow rev range and doesn't delivery much torque at low RPM. They've spent a century trying to get them to work just like electric motors do, and still haven't achieved it. The complexity to achieve what they have is crazy compared to the simplicity of an electric motor. I'm just amazed that they have hung on for so long. It's only battery tech and vested interests that have made that happen.
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Post by andyhigham on Jun 20, 2021 8:19:30 GMT
Just about all modern locomotives use electric traction motors, either pure electric or diesel electric. A gearbox to handle the power and torque of a large locomotive would be unfeasibly massive and need about 10 men to stand on the clutch pedal while another heaves on the gear lever
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Post by jon38r80 on Jun 20, 2021 8:51:50 GMT
Roger "I think you would change your mind if you drove an Electric car." Sorry, just like you with certain types of solder for different purposes, I dont think I will ever change my mind. Having been brought up with smelly, dirty inefficient IC cars and tinkered a lot with them in my yoof( a real cooper S mini countryman being my favourite not a rebadged BMW) I just dont like electric cars, they arent as much fun to me.
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lesstoneuk
Part of the e-furniture
Retired Omnibus navigation & velocity adjustment technician
Posts: 373
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Post by lesstoneuk on Jun 20, 2021 9:00:31 GMT
Just about all modern locomotives use electric traction motors, either pure electric or diesel electric. A gearbox to handle the power and torque of a large locomotive would be unfeasibly massive and need about 10 men to stand on the clutch pedal while another heaves on the gear lever I used to love the BR Class 87s,nothing accelerated like them.... Proverbial s**t off a shovel. The overhead cable must have been nigh on glowing with the current pulled to do this.
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