The Car Thread

[EpsomWolf]

A wonderful assessment here from Harry Metcalfe delivered without any of the usual point-scoring hyperbole. Covers a lot of the points debated on here and the reasons we’ve all got significant changes to our car ownership, costs and the way we drive irrespective of any side we might sit on. He focuses a bit on performance cars but the big tech problems discussed are relevant to us all and really beginning to hurt.

Thought it interesting more people are choosing to control costs maintain driving pleasure by ditching new cars and going backwards as a means of going forwards, as the general forward direction is only one of frightening costs and tightening control.

Looks like the petrolheads with a bit of cash will be fine, likewise the ambivalent ‘it’s a means of transport’ drivers with the resources to renew every 3 years, but everyone else in between has got some real problems on their hands.

Anyway, Harry says it much better:

 

[sycophantia]

How the other half live eh.
He does raise some interesting points about depreciation though.
On his bike points, he's completely wrong, modern bikes are chock full of tech, not sure about lane assist I'll have to check but I think it's there. Quite a few already have front and rear radar to help the cruise control and will slow or raise your speed according to other vehicles around you.
Quite a few main dealers have gone to the wall over the last couple of years with 3 or 4 in the last couple of months, theyre all becoming far too expensive.

 

[ROVERT47]

Think I’m gonna fuck my Sportage off, they definitely have problems with the exhaust regeneration filter, Kia aren’t interested.
Anyway I’m off to Birmingham in the morning to look at nearly new Focus, I had one for 7yrs before I got the Sportage.

 

[Keef]

Is the focus an ecoboom engine with the wet belt? around £1-2k to change depending where you go, they can do between 25-80,000 miles before they need changing, using the wrong grade oil screws them quickly and gets you the engine death rattle because all the belt fibres have clogged the oil pick up in the sump, using the right oil gives you longer before the fibres clog the pick up

 

[ROVERT47]

Is the focus an ecoboom engine with the wet belt? around £1-2k to change depending where you go

Fuck me I know fuck all about cars, I would imagine I’ll have got rid of it by the time that needs doing.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Keef’s right about the wet belt versions, they’re susceptible to catastrophic failure and pre-emptive servicing and replacement costs a lot of money too. Ford are well aware of this and changed from a belt to chain on later models. It’s well worth checking to confirm it’s a chain version.

Wet belts are fitted in a few other manufacturers engines but the Ford eco boost is the one that has the ticking time bomb. Shame as it’s otherwise a cracking little engine.

Similar really to cambelt engines as opposed to the ones that have cam chains. Belts are generally an unwanted risk and an expensive pain in the arse.

You’re always going to have certain issues more associated with certain makes and models than others, and I’m pretty sure you’ll be absolutely fine with a nearly new, but definitely check it out as the eco boost wet belt one is not something to ignore.

 

[ROVERT47]

The one I’m getting tomorrow doesn’t have a wet belt it’s a 2023 MHEV, first question I asked the dealer.

 

[Keef]

I sounded like a right doom bringer with the earlier post, felt you needed to know about the possible huge bills

 

[pagey]

The one I’m getting tomorrow doesn’t have a wet belt it’s a 2023 MHEV, first question I asked the dealer.

Great, but did you ask about the anaspeptic catalyst converter, which seems to overheat on the new Focus, costing about 1200 to replace?

 

[AndyWolves]

It'll be interesting to see the results of this, I dislike driving at night far more than i used to

Headlight glare: Berkshire study to shed light on impact

A specialist car will have instruments installed to measure light levels from oncoming headlights.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Kenny]

It's nightmare. So many cars that look like they have full beam on but haven't...and then you go blind.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Driving back at night from the nearest proper town, and there is no street lighting for miles, so it is REALLY black.

When a road train comes round the corner with all of their full lights on its like something from close encounters of the third kind

 

[EpsomWolf]

Pretty miserable driving at night now with the glare from headlights and not being able to see the potholes until it’s too late also.

To be fair it’s pretty miserable driving at the best of times but in the dark is another level.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Potholes aren't too much of an issue. Stray kangaroos on the other hand are a real problem

 

[leedswolf]

Potholes aren't too much of an issue. Stray kangaroos on the other hand are a real problem

Drive around the CC, potholes are an issue...

 

[The Bear]

Potholes aren't too much of an issue. Stray kangaroos on the other hand are a real problem

I read the other day that horses account for the most deaths on the roads in Australia.

 

[sycophantia]

It'll be interesting to see the results of this, I dislike driving at night far more than i used to

Headlight glare: Berkshire study to shed light on impact

A specialist car will have instruments installed to measure light levels from oncoming headlights.

www.bbc.co.uk

This is interesting, I'd put my current dislike of night driving down to my age as most people I know are 60+ and all of them hate it too. We have all talked about how bright headlights are 'these days' but again thought it was probably age related.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Drive around the CC, potholes are an issue...

I haven't been down that far yet. My main experience here is the New England and Bruce highways and they are maintained in a reasonable state. Nothing like as good as say French roads though.

Horses is a new one on me! Most days I drive the 17k to the nearest town of Tenterfield and back to drop my mate at work and that is usually late at night as he is a baker. Virtually every day there is at least one dead roo, and if you hit a big bull you can expect the front of the car to be a bent-up mess and the radiator will be fucked in the impact, and that is in a best case scenario. Hence why all the utes have bull bars. As i am driving a Holden Commodore saloon, that isn't an option.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Won’t keep sticking Harry’s videos up but in the context of the rapidly changing face of motoring already spoken about on here, this one is very interesting.

Current and future legislation means new cars are leaving enthusiastic drivers cold and as their interest turns elsewhere it’s having a dramatic effect on the used car market. The Iconic auction features a lot of expensive vehicles but the same thing is happening further down the chain with prices of some very modest ‘drivers’ cars on quite a steep upward trajectory too. Some people have already done very nicely by getting ahead of the curve but there are plenty of opportunities to drive cost neutral or maybe even profit from being savvy and buying the right car (a Quick Look on eBay at the price of any crappy 40yo tax/mot/ulez exempt car that still has a pulse gives a clear indication of what’s happening at that end of the market too).

Not going to be of much interest if you see a car just as a means of transport, quite like EV’s and have the resources to stay ahead of the game, but those that don’t are beginning to splinter in different directions and the ramifications are starting to show.

Anyway, last one from Harry and an opportunity to spend some of that lottery winning money too: