The old car thread
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Funnily enough, I had a 406. I carefully chose the HDi 90 as it had neither DMF or FAP, and it was faultless. I bought it at 54k miles, passed it on to the new Mrs D who I was then dating at about 105k, and she took it to about 125k before chopping it in without it needing so much as a bulb jn that time.
DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
369lb/ft from 1600rpm. Cliff climber!One of the advantages of a diesel - they've got loads of low down torque.
mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
You are all a bunch of showoffs with your "I have the highest mileage cheapest car - beat that!"
Willy wavers.
mustang1
Legendary Member
- Location
- London, UK
This reminds me of the opposite: when a little guy gets out of a big SUV.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
But it's still going. When the electric rack/column fails on a 10 year old car then many owners would probably bin the car. Not so that little Fester.
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
No no no, we're virtue-signallers - not the same thing at all.
Ner, ner, ne-ner ner.
I hope that clears that up.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I like your thinking @swee'pea99. You are now promoted from Capo to Underboss. Keith mac, if he ever visits this thread, is in line for the Consiglieri position.
I love the whole ethos. Were keeping mechanical skills alive, and these are transferrable skills - if you can cha ge the diff bearings on an Astra you'll have no trouble immediately figuring out how to set up a new derailleur.
Were saving money. People moan they have to work until they're eleventy-eight years old before they can retire, but these people almost always have something in common - loans, finance or contract plans for shiny cars. A friend of mine was moaning recently that he couldn't afford to pay into a pension - I'm not surprised, the repayments on the 6 month old BMW 330D must be eye watering.
On top of that, the recession of the late 00's shows how fragile an economy based so heavily kn credit can be. Therefore, it is also our patriotic duty not to over extend ourselves in that regard.
And we genuinely are benefitting the planet. Sure, a new electric car would generate less local emissions and air pollution (although it's now reckoned more than half of partick,ate emissions comes from brake dust and tyre wear), in NET terms the pollution side of the spreadsheet manufacturing a new electric car is off the scale compared to keeping an old one running.
And we'fe recyclers. Every used card part we bolt on to our steeds is one less piece of landfill, at least for the time being.
So we are Virtue-Signallers, and you know what? Its chuffing great!
I love the whole ethos. Were keeping mechanical skills alive, and these are transferrable skills - if you can cha ge the diff bearings on an Astra you'll have no trouble immediately figuring out how to set up a new derailleur.
Were saving money. People moan they have to work until they're eleventy-eight years old before they can retire, but these people almost always have something in common - loans, finance or contract plans for shiny cars. A friend of mine was moaning recently that he couldn't afford to pay into a pension - I'm not surprised, the repayments on the 6 month old BMW 330D must be eye watering.
On top of that, the recession of the late 00's shows how fragile an economy based so heavily kn credit can be. Therefore, it is also our patriotic duty not to over extend ourselves in that regard.
And we genuinely are benefitting the planet. Sure, a new electric car would generate less local emissions and air pollution (although it's now reckoned more than half of partick,ate emissions comes from brake dust and tyre wear), in NET terms the pollution side of the spreadsheet manufacturing a new electric car is off the scale compared to keeping an old one running.
And we'fe recyclers. Every used card part we bolt on to our steeds is one less piece of landfill, at least for the time being.
So we are Virtue-Signallers, and you know what? Its chuffing great!
Last edited:
swee'pea99
Legendary Member
Joking aside, I think we're actually in the early stages of one of those massive realignments of the zeitgeist that takes place once or twice a generation.
When I was young, everyone smoked, anywhere. Over my lifetime the image of smoking has evolved to the point where smokers are pitied rather than thought cool, and don't do it round me, mate. In a similar vein, drink-driving was regarded indulgently when I was young; not any more. I suspect we're now beginning to see the death throes of a car culture which goes back to those fantastic chariots of Eisenhower America, and now has people keeping up with the Joneses, even at the cost of, as you say, eye-watering monthly payments. But I suspect we're approaching the point where gas-guzzling behemoths will attract not envy but disdain. The young in particular are resolutely unimpressed.
As a denizen of trendy north London, I have to say that not a single one of my friends and acquaintances has a big powerful car. (And believe me, it's not for want of cash.) On the contrary, Chelsea tractors are reviled, and the people who drive them regarded with contempt. The worm is turning. Let's hope places like India and China get there direct, cutting out the cultural middleman. But certainly over here I think the days of the 'look at my wheels!' culture are numbered. "You really need that to feel good about yourself? How pathetic."
Jody
Stubborn git
My old Mk2 Golf GTi was the heaviest no power steering I've ever driven. Unreal how heavy that thing was when parking.
The quote from Seasick Steve stuck with me about how driving his old car is better for the environment than melting it and making another new economical car. Mainly out of plastics and with a limited shelf life before they become uneconomical to repair. There are way to many cars on the road already and that's without taking into account all the cars in massive car park sales pitches and huge storage facilities of new cars waiting for their owners. I'm not an eco warrior by any stretch but I'm waking up to the shear amount of waste humans produce.
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Welcome to the fold Jody.
lane
Veteran
Snap mine was a HDi90 as well. Estate. One of the very last ones they made. I bought it new but with a large discount because by then the model had been superseded by the 407. The engine was OK but always some issue at service such as suspension, clutch etc. I run it to over a 100k but the electronics finished it off. In hindsight wish I got rid of it earlier. My Toyota on the other hand has been faultless.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
