New Car

[Richard A Thackeray]

No jokes from me nowadays, maybe back when I was a teen...

IIRC: Skoda is also one of the oldest car makers. Hitler invaded to acquire the factory for its engineering ability for tank production. The London Eye is a Skoda, well, the axle in the middle of the wheel was made at the Skoda foundry as it was the only place in Europe able to take on the job to specification.

Agreed, one reason why the top spec models were badged as 'Laurin & Klement'', after the company that was absorbed into Skoda.


Skodas factory was alleged to have been involved in ultra secret work for the Waffen SS in WW2, creating entirely new weapons ( as written about by Nick Cook in his book Hunt For Zero Point)

 

[asterix]

I would have to disagree. They may have been rust prone but so were most cars then. Renault and especially Fiats of the 60s and 70s were very well engineered, cars like the Fiat 128, 127 and Uno set the standard for small cars for years to come, the Renault 4 was probably the most practical car of all time.

The British industry offered such delights as the Morris Marina, Vauxhall Victor and Hillman Hunter in that period, cars which were just as poorly built as anything to come out of France or Italy but were also built using 1940s mechanicals. The Continentals were busy building the future in the 1970s while the British car industry were busy being stuck in the past (with a few exceptions).

In rural France it is common to see R4s still in use although good examples are being restored for show. A couple of times this year I have also driven behind Citroen Light 15s neither looking restored yet able to keep up with modern suburban traffic and even autoroute traffic with apparent ease. Their cornering was also surprisingly sharp.

My father bought his 2cv in the late 50's because British cars (Morris Oxford, e.g.) could not handle Cypriot roads. Springs broke and the water cooled engines boiled on hill climbs. The 2cv OTOH was in its element.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Low mileage, 3 years old & one careful lady owner...

I have not had loads of women in my life but those that I have have made me know that I would rather have a car owned by a male. It's not just having no mechanical sympathy, it is mainly not giving a shite about servicing and not really understanding how imperative it is to change the engine fluids every once in a while. I am pleased that adverts often state lady owner, as at least I know to avoid those cars.

 

[Arch]

I have not had loads of women in my life but those that I have have made me know that I would rather have a car owned by a male. It's not just having no mechanical sympathy, it is mainly not giving a s***e about servicing and not really understanding how imperative it is to change the engine fluids every once in a while. I am pleased that adverts often state lady owner, as at least I know to avoid those cars.

Of course, it could just be that you have lousy taste in women.

Or the sort of women who look after their cars don't think much of you....

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Of course, it could just be that you have lousy taste in women.

Or the sort of women who look after their cars don't think much of you....

Thanks for that really appreciated. I finally know where I have been going wrong with women, must keep a look out for Haynes manuals on their book shelf next time, then I know she's a keeper

 

[Arch]

Thanks for that really appreciated. I finally know where I have been going wrong with women, must keep a look out for Haynes manuals on their book shelf next time

Well, I believe Haynes do do a book on sex nowadays, alongside the manuals for the Starship Enterprise and the Spitfire...

 

[Night Train]

Thanks for that really appreciated. I finally know where I have been going wrong with women, must keep a look out for Haynes manuals on their book shelf next time, then I know she's a keeper

Well, it worked for me!

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Well, I believe Haynes do do a book on sex nowadays, alongside the manuals for the Starship Enterprise and the Spitfire...

Lol yes you got me. I apologise by the way I sometimes do not think before I write sweeping generalising comments based on my experiences, It is probably just because I was there to do it, likewise they were there to do things that I possibly found boring. Again sorry, something I am not in the habbit of doing.

Well, it worked for me!

Congrats. 2 failed marriages so I will possibly try that approach. Or maybe one that cycles or something.

 

[Arch]

It's a radical idea, I know, finding a partner who shares your interests.

In fact, I'm often amazed how many couples don't share interests, and even depise each other's interests. I know it's good to have space in a relationship, time to do different things, but lots of people seem to have very little in common! How did they ever get to being a couple?

NT and I have decided, we're perfectly matched in daftness and crazy ideas, so that's fine!

 

[Over The Hill]

Well, I believe Haynes do do a book on sex nowadays, ...

You are OK doing the one or two spanner jobs but the tricky things that have four spanners you need to call in an expert with the right tool.

 

[Arch]

You are OK doing the one or two spanner jobs but the tricky things that have four spanners you need to call in an expert with the right tool.

Fortunately, I have an expert with a very comprehensive tool kit.

And two workshops!

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Gotta luv badge snobs, at least they keep all the cocks driving Audis so we know where we are

(my xxth skoda )

And BMWs

 

[Night Train]

Will you get me a baby elephant to help?

My Octavia has just had a wash, first in about 4 years IIRC! Bucket (last used for mixing mortar), rag (found outside), squirt of car wash (don't know how old that is) and a rinse with a hose (had to wash the hose as it was filthy).
That's as good as it is going to get.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

My Octavia has just had a wash, first in about 4 years IIRC! Bucket (last used for mixing mortar), rag (found outside), squirt of car wash (don't know how old that is) and a rinse with a hose (had to wash the hose as it was filthy).
That's as good as it is going to get.

More than any of my Landies ever got!!!

I wash/scrub the alloys on the Octavia fortnightly, but that's to get the Brake dust off then, not to make them clean.

I do, however, clean/vacuum the interior, as I don't like it to be messy.

 

[Night Train]

More than any of my Landies ever got!!!

I wash/scrub the alloys on the Octavia fortnightly, but that's to get the Brake dust off then, not to make them clean.

I do, however, clean/vacuum the interior, as I don't like it to be messy.

My alloys are mostly brown speckles now, brake dust and road tar. Now sufficiently bothered to clean them often enough.

I do occasionally blitz the insides but mostly to remove the bits of tree bark, saw dust, gravel, and cement. The dash does get a wipe with a 'wet one' if I am ever sitting in the car waiting on someone.