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Gas Guzzling Money Pits
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1635		 Page 478 of 613
Author:  Cavey [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 18:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
I have absolutely never, ever sussed out Mercedes' driver interface stuff when I've hired a C-Class or E-Class (both great, comfy barges for soaking up endless motorway miles in complete, cossetted comfort and surprising turn of speed/good economy too, especially the E-Class which is a great place to sit). What is it with that thing that sort of looks like an old Motorrola flip-phone from the late 90s ("Hello Moto" :facepalm: ), but doesn't appear to do fuck all?

As for the lack of touchscreen... gnnngh...GNNNGH....PLEEEASE_MAKE_IT_STOP I just want directions to the shops you bastard.... I mean, it was all so easy and simple on a £99 TomTom with touchscreen c.2003, why can't we have one now? I seriously, seriously could not buy any car, no matter how good, which did not have a touchscreen - the Amarok, RR and GT4 all have them.
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 18:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
The Merc might have a touchscreen?
Author:  Cavey [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 18:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Hearthly wrote:
The Merc might have a touchscreen?


None of the ones I've driven have. You can probably pay extra for one......

Someone's ranting about this very thing here (Google is a wonderful thing :D ) and they even manage to reference the old Williams coin-op classic Tempest... so frankly I think I'll leave it to them, no sense reinventing the wheel eh? ;)

Quote:
Carmakers still deluding themselves into thinking that any rational person prefers sliding around an awkward little control stub or twirling a fat knob like we were trying for the high score in Tempest need to wake the fuck up, already.


http://jalopnik.com/any-carmaker-still- ... 1788825213
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 19:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Oh yes I totally agree with the sentiment, having very quickly got used to the touchscreen in the Type-R - (along with pinch/swipe/drag/etc as EVERYONE including my 81 year old mother-in-law is entirely familiar with thanks to her iPad) - it's fair to say I'm not missing the MMI system in the S4 one little bit, with its 475 buttons, little joystick and twirly wheel thing.

It's not even like touchscreens will cost much more to implement, but I suppose they may take some programming work on the part of the manufacturers.

But yeah, if I were buying a new car, especially a pricey one, and it didn't have a touchscreen - I'd be narked. (I mean, Vauxhall are putting them in Corsas....)
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 19:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
One thing I will say though is you can't replace everything with a touchscreen, some controls still need to have physical buttons I think.

Obvious really simple examples are volume controls, next/previous track, the telephone controls, cruise controls etc - all those are on the steering wheel in the Type-R as physical buttons as well as on the touchscreen.

Similarly all the climate control/windscreen clear/heated rear window etc are still physical buttons, lights and fog lights etc - anything that you would legitimately want to be changing whilst on the move needs to be available on physical buttons you can feel your way to without having to take your eyes off the road.

No one would use an iPad whilst they were driving, after all.
Author:  Cavey [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 19:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Oh, I've got no problem with buttons (within reason).
Its stupid menus, sub-menus and sub-sub-sub menus for fairly mainstream functions, as accessible only via some stupid twirly knob/"enter" and "back" keys whilst distractedly trying to bloody drive, with no ability just to touch the screen choices that I have a problem with. No-one invents a phone or tablet with a wheel to enter one digit at a time, so I really don't see why a car UI is fundamentally any different.
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 19:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
So the S4 spent just about one day on sale before being punted on......

I thought it'd go pretty quickly TBH, it's very a nice car.

It's only because I've wanted an FK2 Type-R so much since I first clamped eyes on one that I've made the change.

Attachment:
s4soldo.JPG
Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 19:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
The commute was a joy today with my newly fixed rear wash wiper water jet.
Author:  ApplePieOfDestiny [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 20:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Cavey wrote:
I have absolutely never, ever sussed out Mercedes' driver interface stuff when I've hired a C-Class or E-Class (both great, comfy barges for soaking up endless motorway miles in complete, cossetted comfort and surprising turn of speed/good economy too, especially the E-Class which is a great place to sit). What is it with that thing that sort of looks like an old Motorrola flip-phone from the late 90s ("Hello Moto" :facepalm: ), but doesn't appear to do fuck all?

As for the lack of touchscreen... gnnngh...GNNNGH....PLEEEASE_MAKE_IT_STOP I just want directions to the shops you bastard.... I mean, it was all so easy and simple on a £99 TomTom with touchscreen c.2003, why can't we have one now? I seriously, seriously could not buy any car, no matter how good, which did not have a touchscreen - the Amarok, RR and GT4 all have them.

The thingy is the touchpad for the non touchscreen. Ive no idea why either. Maybe after 34 months on the lease I'll have worked it out.
Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 21:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
A very fine, even spray that covers the whole rear.
Author:  DavPaz [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 22:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Zardoz wrote:
A very fine, even spray that covers the whole rear.

And then, the wipe
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 22:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
I've sure I've seen a film about that at some point.
Author:  Mr Dave [ Mon Aug 14, 2017 22:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Cavey wrote:
I think, like most things, the safety nags become more onerous and invasive over time.

In 20 years we won't even be able to pull away without entering a destination for the self-drive to lock on to, so I suppose I should just enjoy this stuff whilst I still can. :(

But at least you won't find yurself dangling upside down in you car that has mysteriously put itself on its head.
Author:  Sir Taxalot [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 0:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Problem solved. Sinister facebook must know our troubles and is kindly offering suggestions. This was on one of those 'listicles' that FB loves to promote:
Author:  Grim... [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 17:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Mother of Christ look at how fit the new NSX GT3 is:

Image

Image
Author:  Hearthly [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 17:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
EASILY DEFEATED BY..... Speed bumps.
Author:  myp [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 17:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Much nicer than the vanilla NSX, which isn't a patch on the old one imo.
Author:  devilman [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 17:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Grim... wrote:
Mother of Christ look at how fit the new NSX GT3 is:


How many cup holders though?
Author:  MaliA [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 18:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Grim... wrote:
Mother of Christ look at how fit the new NSX GT3 is:

Image

Image


Malicool
Author:  myp [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 18:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Welp, you ruined it
Author:  GazChap [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 20:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
devilman wrote:
How many cup holders though?

Don't know about cup holders but it's got a decent ironing board.

Also, is it just me or has car insurance pricing gone up massively in the last month or two? I was getting quotes on 5GTs that were about £400-500 per year for my circumstances, and now I'm buggered if I can get below £750.
Author:  MaliA [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 21:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
£411 for a Rover 25 mate.
Author:  ApplePieOfDestiny [ Tue Aug 15, 2017 22:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
GazChap wrote:
devilman wrote:
How many cup holders though?

Don't know about cup holders but it's got a decent ironing board.

Also, is it just me or has car insurance pricing gone up massively in the last month or two? I was getting quotes on 5GTs that were about £400-500 per year for my circumstances, and now I'm buggered if I can get below £750.

I had to downspec this car. Only a five class jump, but a seven class jump from current for the Amg line was going to triple my premium. It's all down to the Ogden case and a tiny bit extra due to Ipt but it's a one off bump, 25% on average this year.
Author:  Hearthly [ Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
I've been watching a lot of this guy's videos on YouTube, they're really good.

He basically just picks one car per episode, and talks about the stuff he likes and doesn't like, takes it for a drive, talks about that, and then gives it a DOUG SCORE.

Simple enough format, the chap himself seems to know his stuff fairly well, and is frequently quite funny. He had many mean things to say about the new Type-R.

He also has an opinion of the 996 911 that Cavey may not find entirely agreeable....
Author:  myp [ Sun Aug 20, 2017 12:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Sounds like he's being contrary for the sake of views.
Author:  Dr Zoidberg [ Sun Aug 20, 2017 13:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Went out for a test drive in a Fiat 124 Spider yesterday as the sun was out. It was moderately brisk rather than stunningly fast, and seemed to grip nicely going round bends though there's only so much you can push things on a short test drive with someone sat next to you. Annoyingly, the seat was about an inch too narrow across my shoulder blades, so I couldn't get properly comfortable.

The engine and gearbox weren't as smooth as I was expecting, and it just didn't feel special enough to tempt me, plus the whole sales experience was pretty poor. They came out with no end of blatant nonsense about this car and other vehicles, gave a laughably poor part-ex valuation and then tried to insist this was really generous even though I'd already told them what I'd been offered by Mini.

Oh, and they wouldn't let me take the printout they'd done of the finance quote as that was "a legal document", so I just took a photo of it which seemed to annoy them slightly.

Underwhelmed/10

By contrast, when I'd been to Mini, there was no bullshit, no high pressure sales tactics and I'd just been given the keys and told to bring the car back before they closed that day.
Author:  Hearthly [ Sun Aug 20, 2017 14:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Lonewolves wrote:
Sounds like he's being contrary for the sake of views.


I think he makes a good case for the 996. Once you've got past the headlights, I agree with him that the rest of the car looks great. Then you've got the one thing that's known to fail on them which is a $2000 pre-emptive fix. (Remember the cylinder problem only affected the 996 for a short period of time, so you just get one that was built after they'd sorted that.)

Thereafter you're getting a 911 for tens of thousands of dollars less than any other iteration, which drives and handles like you'd expect a 911 to.

If it weren't for the fact that they totally fail the family test, I'd seriously consider one myself.

I mean, we're talking Civic Type-R money here, to be driving around in a Porsche 911.

Attachment:
porscheo.JPG

Attachment:
typerostupido.JPG
Author:  BikNorton [ Sun Aug 20, 2017 19:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
I'm not allowed a Porsche :(

If not a 996 a panamera - it's grown on me quite considerably, and the plummeting value does not hurt that.
Author:  MaliA [ Sun Aug 20, 2017 20:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Now, I really want a 996 911 some more numbers. But it isn't MaliCool.
That Alfa 124 is super Malicool.
Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Full engine rebuild rings alarm bells.
Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Passenger side electric window relay had gone all crunchy and has added constant ventilation to my car.
Author:  Findus Fop [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Would
Author:  Zardoz [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 10:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Those alloys would be a nightmare to clean.
Author:  DBSnappa [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Zardoz wrote:
Those alloys would be a nightmare to clean.

If you could afford it, you could afford for someone to detail it once a month.
Author:  markg [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Ideal for the environmentally conscious billionaire to get to their private jet.
Author:  Cavey [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 18:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Hearthly wrote:
Lonewolves wrote:
Sounds like he's being contrary for the sake of views.


I think he makes a good case for the 996. Once you've got past the headlights, I agree with him that the rest of the car looks great. Then you've got the one thing that's known to fail on them which is a $2000 pre-emptive fix. (Remember the cylinder problem only affected the 996 for a short period of time, so you just get one that was built after they'd sorted that.)

Thereafter you're getting a 911 for tens of thousands of dollars less than any other iteration, which drives and handles like you'd expect a 911 to.

If it weren't for the fact that they totally fail the family test, I'd seriously consider one myself.

I mean, we're talking Civic Type-R money here, to be driving around in a Porsche 911.

Attachment:
porscheo.JPG



I haven't seen the vid yet (at work :) ), but look at that car spec - it's had a blown up engine (surely not eh ;) ) and third party "rebuild" (which may or may not have been "thrashed in" by the previous owner who blew up the engine in the first place). It's also done 70000 miles, which is relatively shitloads (especially for a 996 911), assuming that's even a verifiable figure, which I doubt, given there's no mention of full Porsche service history (so it won't have it).

In terms of the car itself, it's a wobbly old cabrio, it's 4WD which nobody wants..... and worst of all it comes with whiny, awful, entirely defunct *TIPTRONIC* 'box....?

Fuck me, you don't half pick 'em. :D £24,000 for this?

This car is demonstrably and objectively vastly worse than the very nice, tidy, low mileage, manual, second-gen BOXSTER S that ~£25k buys you. It's at least as fast (probably faster 'cause it won't be a shagged old shitheap with rebuilt motor and power-sapping Tiptronic 'box), handles much, much better (smaller, stiffer, shorter wheelbase, lighter, variable damping (newer) shocks, mid-engined so much better weight distribution). The ONLY reason you'd spurn one for this old shed is to be able to say "I've got a Porsche 911" which is fine of course, it's a free country after all - but in that case about the only people you're actually going to impress are clueless anyway.

So yeah, bad idea. :)
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 19:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
I just picked one that looked shiny and was the same price I'd paid for the Type-R, if you search Autotrader nationally for 911s and then add a '996' filter there are 33 pages of them, so plenty to choose from, and loads around the £22-£25K mark.

Obviously if I were actually intending to buy one I'd do a whole lot more research, I wasn't highlighting that specific car as one I'd buy, but the 'right' 996. (Note the phrase 'I'd consider one myself')

Porsche Club GB don't seem to write it off - https://www.porscheclubgb.com/regions-r ... e-911-(996)-buyers-guide

It's all a moot point anyway really as we're a one-car family since Mrs Hearthly never managed to pass her test, so the chance of me getting a Porsche 911 as the family ride is precisely zero, but I stand by the basic point that if you were careful in choosing one, it seems to me like a (relatively) affordable way to own a perfectly good 911.

This fella is up at £24,990 and looks fantastic IMO.

Attachment:
996ero.JPG
Author:  MaliA [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 19:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
They start at £12k. Or 20 Exciting Rovers.
Author:  Hearthly [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 19:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
MaliA wrote:
They start at £12k. Or 20 Exciting Rovers.


You sound like my dad, he used to measure everything in how many Maxis he could buy for any given item. (He generally had a maximum budget of about £250-£300 to buy a car, and bought nothing but fucking Austin Maxis (1500 and 1750, in various trim levels) until the last ones had finally descended into the pits of hell, at which point he moved onto Maestros.)

I recall paying £1000 for an exotic Sony hi-fi separates system once I became eligible for credit, to be greeted with an incredulous 'One thousand pounds? I could buy four Maxis for that!'

The Austin Maxi was almost a legitimate unit of currency in our house.
Author:  ApplePieOfDestiny [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 20:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
34 months of unblemished service in the xtrail and it throws an engine management light the day before we need to use it to drive to the airport for th first time in 35 months. Dick.
Author:  Cavey [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 20:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Yep, nice shiny silver car picture. :)

Mate, in the nicest possible way you just can't be told, not the last time - or now. It doesn't matter that this is my thing, or much more importantly the guys I hang with love and breathe this stuff and have been directly affected etc., you know better, because shiny or whatever. I particularly like how the very example you chose had a blown engine... you make me smile, man. Don't ever change. :)
Author:  Grim... [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 23:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Findus Fop wrote:
Would

That's fucking glorious.
Author:  MaliA [ Mon Aug 21, 2017 23:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Grim... wrote:
Findus Fop wrote:
Would

That's fucking glorious.


Apart from the front. The front looks like a poor kid at a prom.
Author:  Grim... [ Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
What? No. That looks lovely too.
Author:  MaliA [ Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Grim... wrote:
What? No. That looks lovely too.


It's like a kid with horrid braces smiling.
Author:  MaliA [ Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41005208

Exciting Rover now quadruples in value
Author:  markg [ Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Is that £2K off what you would actually end up paying with no scrapper or £2K off the list price that nobody pays anyway?
Author:  Zardoz [ Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
No doubt it'll be £2k off the RRP.
Author:  MaliA [ Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
Quote:
Offer not available in conjunction with any other customer saving programme.
Author:  Dr Zoidberg [ Tue Aug 22, 2017 13:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Gas Guzzling Money Pits
MaliA wrote:

Exciting Rover now quadruples in value


Did you fill it with fuel?
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