2024 Rendezvous

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by grantp

Meanwhile, on the subject of making good use of existing vehicles ...

If anyone knows anyone who might be interested in a 2018 5dr Audi A1 Sportback Nav 70kw, 1ltr, 5 speed manual with 32k on the clock, currently located on the Surrey/Berkshire/Hampshire borders area, let me know.

Sounds like a fleet car.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Sounds like a fleet car.

I see what you did there!

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Sounds like a fleet car.

Nah, not with a 1ltr 3 pot engine ...



(No matter where it is.)

[GORDON STREETER]

A1984 Peugeot 205 has sold for an incredible £227,250. The sporty model is one of just 200 of the 'Homologation Specials' editions made by the French car giant.

The road-going motor, which has less than 10,000 miles from new, has now achieved a new UK auction record. Iconic Auctioneers say of the Silverstone Circuit sale: "It's a rare and sought-after jewel for automotive collectors and enthusiasts and capable of a blistering 137mph." I assume it's a group B rally car, but who would pay that sort of money and why ?

[Peter Mallett]

It is somewhat baffling. I went to our local cars and coffee yesterday. Apart from a modern Ferrari, there was a 720s McLaren. Apparently the extras specced by the owner were more than the cost of another McLaren.

[Gerard C]

Yes Gordon, they made 200 Homologation Specials it was madatory to obtain the FIA Grp B homolgation. They couldn't get rid of the last ones, they had a dedicated "bureau" hosting a sales team, located av de la Grande Armée, Paris. No secret they didn't work very well on the road, hence the bargain in period. Who would pay and why? Collector, speculator…

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Yes Gordon, they made 200 Homologation Specials it was madatory to obtain the FIA Grp B homolgation. They couldn't get rid of the last ones, they had a dedicated "bureau" hosting a sales team, located av de la Grande Armée, Paris. No secret they didn't work very well on the road, hence the bargain in period. Who would pay and why? Collector, speculator…

That's a lot of money to just speculate with ! Years ago I was shown a collection of about 20 80s saloon cars that the guy had bought brand new but at trade prices. He kept them all warm in a huge garage at 15c and started them all up several times of the year.
They were all about 10 years old when I saw them and looked just like they were out of the factory with only delivery mileage on them ! I lost touch with him but about 6 years ago I found an old mobile number that I had for him and he answered it ! He said that he had sold the lot and had made an "amazing" profit, with some of the models making 4 times what he paid for them. However he wouldn't divulge just how much he had made. I know that he had to keep them warm and dry, but the huge garage was purpose built and insulated on his own property and he was never short of a bob or two

[midgetman]

This'll exercise a few people:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1...98359ce5d3bcbe

If its behind a paywall ill cut and paste but here's the headline

Police ram runaway electric Jaguar after ‘brakes fault’

Police were forced to ram an out-of-control electric car to bring it to a stop after an apparent fault left the driver “unable to brake” on the M62

[Tel 911S]

Originally Posted by midgetman

This'll exercise a few people:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1...98359ce5d3bcbe

If its behind a paywall ill cut and paste but here's the headline

Police ram runaway electric Jaguar after ‘brakes fault’

Police were forced to ram an out-of-control electric car to bring it to a stop after an apparent fault left the driver “unable to brake” on the M62

Another report on this says that he tried to brake and the car just accelerated by itself up to over 100 MPH .
He called the cops and they escorted him in the outside lane for about 20 miles until it ran out of battery power and then gradually stopped by itself with the cop cars gently holding it back .
There was another similar one a few weeks back when the car " Kidnapped " the driver and the cops had to stop it . Not to bad if you have a lot of motorway miles you can do until the battery runs out .

[grantp]

Originally Posted by midgetman

This'll exercise a few people:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1...98359ce5d3bcbe

If its behind a paywall ill cut and paste but here's the headline

Police ram runaway electric Jaguar after ‘brakes fault’

Police were forced to ram an out-of-control electric car to bring it to a stop after an apparent fault left the driver “unable to brake” on the M62

Apparently the same chap in the same car had the same problem at the back end of last year.

Which is strange.

Also this - Albeit it's from The Sun so ....

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/26492381...es-76k-jaguar/

[Mike Harte]

Wearing my grumpy old man hat, It royally "pees" me off how manufacturers/producers of everyday items are, seemingly, taking advantage of the high rates of inflation that we have endured.

Today, I did my weekly shop in one of the local major supermarkets, and included a household item produced by one of the multi-national companies that I purchase about once a month. Over the last year, it's price has gone up by about 50%, which one has to accept if you want that product.

However, having just looked at the item, I have realised that they have reduced the contents from 300ml to 185ml, but the supermarket are still charging the same as I paid last time for the larger quantity.

Knowing supermarkets as I do and appreciating the ultra slim markups that they have to work to - yes, they do make large profits, but it is usually only 1% net even during good years - I would like to think that it's not them making hay whilst the sun shines; well not that extent. No, it the manufacturers that are raking it in at our expense. Yet it is always the retailers that are investigated for their sales practices, but rarely, if ever, the manufacturers/producers.

And that it just one example; so be careful out there.

[Tel 911S]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Wearing my grumpy old man hat, It royally "pees" me off how manufacturers/producers of everyday items are, seemingly, taking advantage of the high rates of inflation that we have endured.

Today, I did my weekly shop in one of the local major supermarkets, and included a household item produced by one of the multi-national companies that I purchase about once a month. Over the last year, it's price has gone up by about 50%, which one has to accept if you want that product.

However, having just looked at the item, I have realised that they have reduced the contents from 300ml to 185ml, but the supermarket are still charging the same as I paid last time for the larger quantity.

Knowing supermarkets as I do and appreciating the ultra slim markups that they have to work to - yes, they do make large profits, but it is usually only 1% net even during good years - I would like to think that it's not them making hay whilst the sun shines; well not that extent. No, it the manufacturers that are raking it in at our expense. Yet it is always the retailers that are investigated for their sales practices, but rarely, if ever, the manufacturers/producers.

And that it just one example; so be careful out there.

One of the biggest problems for businesses has been the rising cost of energy bills .https://www.ft.com/content/8463707c-...8-058a63e7898d
The 4 times increase is due to the NET ZERO insanity , and has led to hundreds of small businesses closing , [ pubs etc ], and has also caused large price increases for even large companies .
Steel making for example has been completely driven out of the UK along with lots of others industries , but mostly don,t get much mention in the media .

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Tel 911S

One of the biggest problems for businesses has been the rising cost of energy bills .https://www.ft.com/content/8463707c-...8-058a63e7898d
The 4 times increase is due to the NET ZERO insanity , and has led to hundreds of small businesses closing , [ pubs etc ], and has also caused large price increases for even large companies .
Steel making for example has been completely driven out of the UK along with lots of others industries , but mostly don,t get much mention in the media .

You are forgetting the huge benefits that Net Zero will bring to us all, just think how healthy it will be breathing good, clean, fresh air as you step out of your mud hut in the morning, ready to take your bow and arrow to go hunting. Naturally there will no meat, as cows produce methane, which is harmful to the atmosphere, so it might be better to till the soil, planting cabbages, and carrots for a healthy lifestyle instead. Your neighbours, Stop Oil, will be wondering how to get around without cars, bikes, trains etc, but will soon find some other way to disrupt peoples daily existence.
An extra benefit will be that some nations will no longer have the power to hold the civilised world to ransom over fuel supplies. No doubt there are many more advantages I have missed out, but I'm sure you can now see the need for a Zero Net - for catching fish?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Tel 911S

One of the biggest problems for businesses has been the rising cost of energy bills .https://www.ft.com/content/8463707c-...8-058a63e7898d
The 4 times increase is due to the NET ZERO insanity , and has led to hundreds of small businesses closing , [ pubs etc ], and has also caused large price increases for even large companies .
Steel making for example has been completely driven out of the UK along with lots of others industries , but mostly don,t get much mention in the media .

That may account for some products, however the product that I mentioned was actually produced in one of the EU countries although that country is not highlighted on the packaging. As the article that you linked to is behind a paywall, I have not been able to read it so am not aware what was written.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Tel 911S

Steel making for example has been completely driven out of the UK along with lots of others industries , but mostly don,t get much mention in the media .

Same here, Arcelor became Arcelormittal and now steel prices are set once or may be twice a year, coming out from an office located far away from Europ.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by grantp

Apparently the same chap in the same car had the same problem at the back end of last year.

Which is strange.

Also this - Albeit it's from The Sun so ....

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/26492381...es-76k-jaguar/

To add to the strangeness, the driver has since been arrested for dangerous driving. Seems like there might be more to this than a faulty vehicle?

[Mike Harte]

I'd love to know the truth behind this but just watching Derek on Bangers and Cash, and he said that the government departments, back in the day, would only buy Austin vehicles and not Morris ones. So when they needed a van, MG just badged the Moggie vans as Austins which the various departments purchased.

Can this be true as I don't always believe what I hear or see?

[Peter Mallett]

Pah, loads of diesel cars have brake failure!

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Pah, loads of diesel cars have brake failure!

However with an ICE vehicle one can switch off the motive power, or if it is a manual, engage neutral, which will bring the vehicle to a halt relatively quickly. The Times article implies that this was not possible for the I-pace driver - such that he had to be halted by a police vehicle physically intervening to bring it to a halt. Allegedly I-paces have suffered similar issues before.



I am a little sceptical as often when investigated these sort of issues have been significantly caused by driver ineptitude......

[Mike Harte]

Reading the BBC report, it appears that it was an electrical fault meaning that the car couldn't brake, which is somewhat different to a brake failure.

Having never driven a modern electrical vehicle - I had the misfortune to drive an electric milk float that we (a local Round Table) were gifted by Express Dairies to convert in to a Santa float - and with that, when you took our foot off the loud pedal, it would come to a stop after it's inertia had dissipated. I would have thought that something similar would have happened with this I-Pace.

[Gerard C]

Diesel or EV's, it seems that many drivers experience brake issues when arriving at toll gate.

[Peter Mallett]

Although it's a feature I didn't try when I had my Mache E there is an automatic braking system, whereby you lift off and the car brakes for itself. All EVs have them I believe, I wonder if perhaps this may have malfunctioned.

[Tel 911S]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-happened.html

Report of incident . Despite all of the media BS about "Ramming " etc , pictures show the car stopped with no noticeable front end damage which means it came to a stop just about by itself when the battery power ran out .

[VIVA GT]

I'm sure I remember reading a magazine article in the 1970's where a manufacturer (BMW?) was demonstrating emergency stopping procedures at a race circuit should your brakes fail. One suggestion that I remember was to pull over and gently into the armco barrier, increasing the steering angle (and friction) to bring the car to a stop.

[Gerard C]

We had something weird with a Vel Satis driver (and another Volvo driver too) pretending he was unable to stop his car. One of the answers given by the car maker was that in case of emergency you just have to quickly press five times the start/stop button. The procedure could be read in the thick owners manual, generally located in the glove box. Simple like that…