Modern Vespa

I'm sensing the imminent approach of a Bluemotion recommendation. And I'm going to second it in advance.

The rotor tips wear out very quickly and yes they do consume a fair amount of oil in thier first incarnation but I believe they have fixed it now.

The other problem is that if you start one up from cold and turn it off soon after they often flood thier combustion chambers with rich fuel so much so that they won't re-start.
Even if you wait or turn it over and over it still won't go and they only way to clear it is to take the spark pugs out of the bottom of the engine and then turn it over,refit the plugs and then it should go.

I don't think they do it anymore with the later versions.

Although the Prius is the cutting edge of hybrid technology is purpose is flawed by terrible logistics.

The Nikel that goes into the Prius battery is mined in Canada then put on a ship where it goes to Northern Europe where it's refined then put onto another ship where it goes to China where they change it into a foam then it goes onto another ship where it ends up in Japan where they put it into the car.
That car then gets shipped to back to America or Canada.
Now I don't know about you but doesn't that process seem a bit long winded and wouldn't that negate any enviromental benefit that you initially bought the car for ?

J is right, buy a car that has a uses lean burn technology and then there's no need to drag around a big battery and two electric motors around with you.

Blue Motion cars are usually cheaper to buy as well.

I think Toyota should be given an award for what they have done with Hybrids but when you can get the same mpg from a car without it all why bother ?
Around town they don't produce emissions when the car is being powered by the battery which is a great thing but on the highway the engine takes over and the battery re- charges but surely does this then make the battery and electric motors dead weight which in theory reduces the mpg ?

I'm happy to be corrected on any of this by the way.

I drove mine across Europe in the summer of 1993 or there about - greatest holiday I ever had - simple but a sense of adventure and wonder as the car stuck to the alpine roads all the way down to the South of France. Took my then "girlfriend" and she is now my wife of 15 years and has given me three bonkers daughters. All that because of a bloody Japanese roadster...

All misty eyed thinking about the car! One day I will buy another and we will relive that trip.

Charles.

Gordons Alive !! Where have you been Charles ?

Around! Reading (you call it "lurking")! Moping! Rearing Children! etc...

Anyway, thought just flashed into my head...

I am driving down to Dover tomorrow morning at 8.00am heading on a ferry to France (in-laws live near Dieppe) and the last time I did this journey was with the Donk's on that NUTTY night in the fog coming back from Belgium.

How the hell we are all still alive I really do not know!

If I remember rightly, I was desperate to catch the earlier ferry, but our navigator (was that you Bill?) took a wrong turn somewhere and well, that was that!

I may well make an honorary stop at that service station where Kam and I pulled over to recover, only to soon be met there by an even more terrified Doug, Genie and Kate I believe.

(For those of you who were not around then or forget, we were delayed as our boat (ship) could not even see well enough to navigate into the harbor, we then had to ride through very very thick sea fog for about 30 terrifying miles as 40 foot lorries passed us in the pitch dark (it was really only about 10 miles - but felt like a hundred - aged me by at least 10 years)).

Happy Holidays to all!
Charles

Wotcha Charles.

That was a scary ride for the first few miles back. Thank Deity for my Bob Heath V-wipe!

The V Wipe! I ordered one from the source you recommended, Jim and have got some incredible vfm out of it these past few months. Forgor to say cheers, so... eh... cheers!

Hic!

No I didn't take the wrong turn but as I was heading towards Maidstone I rode straight on afer the docks to pick up the M20 where as you guys got on the A2/M2 to towards London.

I think your return journey was far worse than mine though.

Bill X

Baz and Doug - how do you two feel about having a joint Birthday Party with me in February somewhere in London, probably the 6th/7th or the 21st/22nd ?

I could be an good excuse for another Koks meet and possibly a return to the Distillers in Hammersmith or maybe something closer to the East ?

Wot U fink ?

Bill X

+ the engine floods if used for short journeys (like the trip to my kids' school). otherwise i'd have bought one by now.

missed the earlier posts by charles.

sorry i've been so crap at arranging a drink.

i owe you a pint and lots of tales about my own road trip.

happy new year to you all!

The J, I'm waiting for a Ford Focus update. Wraps fingers on hard surface.

Happy New Year to everyone by the way.

Bill X

That sounds nice fellas, but it's not being offered in the US as of this point. Plus, most US VW are hecho en Mexico and have serious QC issues.

You mean there isn't a Blue Motion option on the Golf and Polo in the US ?

What what what ?

Bill X

Not that I could see on the VW USA website.

i've just watched a movie called 'dans ma peau'. one of my students is writing a dissertation about it, and she gave me a copy to view over the holidays.

good lord

i had to watch it in two goes.... i couldn't watch it all the way through. and i watched much of it through my fingers, with the sound turned down [*gag*], and the DVD window minimized. i don't think anything's effected me in quite that way since i read Stephen King's story 'Survivor Type'.

I had the same reaction a few nights ago when I bumped into Father Christmas and he told me that my Dad wasn't real.

Nice.

I second the motion on the MINI Cooper. My wife and I bought one last year and it's been an excellent car. We bought a 2007 C Convertible as the weather here allows us to use it nearly year round. I drove it around a little over the Christmas holiday and I opened the front half (sunroof mode) of the roof several times when the sun was out. We got the 5-speed manual shift as it was tons more fun than the CVT in the 2008 automatic hard top we tested. It's about as close to scooting you can do in a car. We did buy the dealers 100,000 mile service plan with it and the only expense we have had in 25,000 miles is 2 tires. We have had all other service and repairs free. So far the dealer has paid for the brake pads, wiper blades and a muffler support bracket in addition to all labor charges for everything.

I do have a soft spot for the Touring/Estate version whose name escapes me especially in the lovely metallic chocolate brown they do.

I think it's over priced for it's size but at least you know it's build quaility is a good as a BMW.

Have a good New Years Eve celebration everyone no matter what you end up doing and I hope that 2010 brings you all good things.

I want you all in bed by 12.00.

Love and Rockets

Bill X

Well, plenty news on the search for a new vehicle.

Having had a look at this Focus the other day, I decided to get my brother in to give a second opinion since he's bought a few cars in his time. We boldly headed out of the city and browsed a few different yards, eventually shortlisting 3 cars for consideration, all 5 door, all with 1.6l engines and all variations around silver.

There was a 2003 FIAT Stilo which was fairly well equipped and in good condition, but not the prettiest, and a few hundred quid over what we were hoping to spend.
Next (and I think my brother's favourite) was a 2003 Renault Megane which was much roomier than I expected, again fairly well equipped, but had been a Cat C write-off. The dealer was quick to point this out to us and showed us all the parts that had been replaced, which had been done to a high standard, but I find the Megane a bit dated compared to it's competitors anyway so wasn't massively enthused by it in the first place.

We finished the day having another look at the Focus and taking it out for a spin. We weren't able to drive any of the other cars since they all required digging out of the snow along with every other vehicle blocking them in and I wasn't captivated enough by any of them to wait about.
This wasn't my first time driving a Focus but I was still suitably impressed with the driving experience. Earlier this year I hired a brand new top-of-the-range 2l Diesel version which was great, but I didn't expect the Mark 1 to quite meet the same standard. Well it did. Great car. No knocks, grinds, whines or any noises of concern either, and I made sure to throw it around a bit. Also, the condition of the bodywork was better than I had remembered.

So, with all that in mind we retired to have dinner and muse over our findings. I'm sure you've worked it out already: I was keenest on the Focus. The interior was just leagues ahead of all the other cars we looked at, the history was complete and it passed all the inspections we gave it with flying colours.

This morning, myself and the good lady (who will after all be the main driver) went back for a final check, stuck a deposit down on it, and arranged to pick it up on Monday or Tuesday, depending on when the dealer can get it serviced. The insurance is arranged (with over a hundred quid back from the premium we paid for the Alfa) and the guy's taxing it for us.

Sorted.

ETA: Special thanks again to Bill for the valued advice!

To all of you in the UK, Happy New Year! Only missed wishing it on time by 15 min.

Survived New Year yet again, can't be bad. Thank God for Laphroaig.

Happy New Year Skoks.

Happy new decade folks! Now lets reset and have a 90s revival. Some parts were 20 years ago already.

Spirits are never really a good idea for me: I'm too generous with the measurements. I can vaguely remember my Mum's eyes near popping out her heid at a venture into a bottle of Morgan's last night.

I think the Mrs is driving today.

happy new year to anyone daft enough to be following this thread

this is the first new year's day in living memory that i haven't woken up with a combined hangover/mongover we had a lovely turkish meal, a few glasses of wine, then walked home just after midnight in a lovely little snowfall ahhh

Happy New Year everyone and all that cobblers.

Glad that you all survived it all. Once again I woke up with a clear and sober head. We'll I am nearly 45.

Good news on the Ford J. I hope you are happy with your purchase.

You forgot to tell me what the mileage was. Happy motoring regardless.

Spent today at the Tate Modern doing the Pop Art and the Baldessari exhibitions which were challenging especially the Jeff Koons room that was supposed to be erotic but come over as being smug and crass.

The best installation was in the main hall and it's a huge metal box about 75 ft high and about the same wide and is coated on its inside with black felt which sucks up all the light.

You walk into it using a huge ramp and as long as you keep facing forward you cannot see a thing. It's total black and you can only just make out people waking out of it towards you or spot the cheats using mobile phone to illuminate their way.

It's a brilliant sensation walking into nothingness not being able to judge distance or depth.
It reminded me of a huge hull on a spaceship from some science fiction novel by Iain Banks.
It gets stranger when you turn around to look out and all you can see is this slab of greyness outlined by empty black beyond black walls.
We had to walk in and out 3 times to experience it fully.

I'd buy that for a dollar.

Shame the return journey was ruined by many a "homeless person"asking me for money.
One even requested an amount which I found sadly comedic.
"No fine Sir I have no spare change" I replied as I tucked into my ginger muffin and sipped on my skinny latte. Now be off with you I said - In my mind.

Bill X

Hope all is well, now get out there and scoot.

I'm looking at buying another crash helmet ( yes another crash helmet which will make it 6 ) because someone quite close to me had voiced their concern as to the condition of my face if I ever mashed it into the tarmac so we've reached a compromise on a flip up.

The one I most like the the Caberg which is being sold on ebay for around £89.00 which seems a bit cheap to me ?
Can anyone offer any advice on the price and the helmet itself ?

Love and Rockets

Bill XX

I've had 2 Caberg Justissimo's in the last 6 years or so. They are a good quality helmet. Retail at £149 (can be picked up at shows and on e-bay cheaper though). I swear by mine, although it's not the quietest it is well made.

Nolan 103 is quieter - but their pin-lock inner visor is shit - the Caberg anti-fog whatever they use works very well. Shoei Multi-tech is quieter still, and their pin-lock works just fine, but this is a very expensive helmet, and unless you get a deal isn't worth the money.

If you can accept the use of ear-plugs even for 30mph stuff then the Caberg is very good value.

Thank You Jim and Pepy. It's looking like the Caberg then.

Much as I like an open face lid and the many benefits of it I'm thinking that it could be time to comprimise.

I'm getting like Doug and his scooters but with helmets.....

Bill X

I've been using ear plugs for quite a few years now and I think that they will save what's left of my hearing.

They are especially useful on open face lids that encounter more wind noise than the full face variety.

I've never had a flip before.....

I have only ever ridden with a caberg and have often wondered if it is noisy or am I a coward...

happy new year everyone!

it's my last day off before returning to work

Happy New Year everyone! I see I didn't miss much over Christmas as you were all talking about cars *yawn*

Bill, only two flip-front helmets get the maximum, 5-star rating from SHARP and coincidentally I've owned them both.

The Caberg Trip is fantastic for the money - comfortable and nice-looking (IMHO, YMMV, may depend on the shape of your head). In fact it's the second-most comfortable helmet I've worn. The most comfortable helmet I've worn is the BMW System 5 - which costs three times as much as the Trip and doesn't have an internal sun visor.

Get a Trip! Get it in ORANGE (OK, 'copper')!

why not get it in Dirty Copper?

That's the feller! Shame it doesn't come in 'Bent Copper'.

Nolan N43 Air helmet is very good and not expensive;
wear as open-face or with the (removable) chin-guard in place,
internal sun-visor,
quite quiet,
quite light,
not prone to misting even without a Pin-Lock inner,
Wide range of colours.

Take off the visor, replace with the peak and you're set for hot summer days!

Glad I bought mine.