Random Thoughts...

[Zonda]

I'm really thinking of getting a fish tank.

 

[LaArtist]

^do it

 

[Giannis]

I'm really thinking of getting a fish tank.

Why would you want something that depends on you (fish) and will require extra arrangements when you want to leave for a few days?

I don't like most that depend on me, be it pets or wives

 

[Gianclaudio]

I'm really thinking of getting a fish tank.

I was thinking to do the same!

 

[Zonda]

Why would you want something that depends on you (fish) and will require extra arrangements when you want to leave for a few days?

I don't like most that depend on me, be it pets or wives

I have a good neighbour
They look so good so it's hard to resist!

 

[Giannis]

I experienced some brake lines pressure drop the last days with the Clio, so I visited the local garage this morning. It's either the brake pump (cost 25EUR) or there is some air in the system (I'll remove it alone on Sunday). I also found out the cost of some other parts that I want to replace like the outer tie rod of the steering rack and some ball joints. These spare parts prices are a revelation, because Volvo's spare parts are priced as if they were made from a combination of gold, diamonds, unobtainium and cryptonite.

Other than that, some son of a prostitute hit me yesterday while parked somewhere downtown and now I need a new left taillight.

Finally, later tonight I'll set off for a small trip, to visit a friend, which will prove once again that there's a place in Heaven for Volvo. There are times when a driving enthusiast wants to seat back and enjoy a comfortable trip without any urges to enjoy a turn in a way that would cost his/her driving license. Then again, shall things get utterly boring, (I tend to sing along the music while driving alone - I suck at it) this beige piece of automotive machinery has the ability to oversteer, with the help of God, some steering input to unsettle the suspension and a sudden hit of the brake pedal.

 

[Human]

I experienced some brake lines pressure drop the last days with the Clio, so I visited the local garage this morning. It's either the brake pump (cost 25EUR) or there is some air in the system (I'll remove it alone on Sunday). I also found out the cost of some other parts that I want to replace like the outer tie rod of the steering rack and some ball joints. These spare parts prices are a revelation, because Volvo's spare parts are priced as if they were made from a combination of gold, diamonds, unobtainium and cryptonite.

Other than that, some son of a prostitute hit me yesterday while parked somewhere downtown and now I need a new left taillight.

Finally, later tonight I'll set off for a small trip, to visit a friend, which will prove once again that there's a place in Heaven for Volvo. There are times when a driving enthusiast wants to seat back and enjoy a comfortable trip without any urges to enjoy a turn in a way that would cost his/her driving license. Then again, shall things get utterly boring, (I tend to sing along the music while driving alone - I suck at it) this beige piece of automotive machinery has the ability to oversteer, with the help of God, some steering input to unsettle the suspension and a sudden hit of the brake pedal.

My Greek friend sounds like you need a brand new, 'out of the box' car. Nothing too flashy, something from VAG's menu with a shifter and a lively but economical engine and a good sound system....Polo GTi?

 

[Giannis]

My Greek friend sounds like you need a brand new, 'out of the box' car.

Truth to be told, I do enjoy the ownership of the Clio, because I do a lot of things, maintenance and repairs-wise, myself. It's not easy to do so in modern, full of electronics cars. Not to mention the unspoiled, by modern hydraulics and electronics, driving experience. It's quite nice to drive and gives me tons of pleasure

Nothing too flashy, something from VAG's menu with a shifter and a lively but economical engine and a good sound system....Polo GTi?

Hmm, no. No VAG for me. It's either BMW/MB or something french

 

[Human]

Truth to be told, I do enjoy the ownership of the Clio, because I do a lot of things, maintenance and repairs-wise, myself. It's not easy to do so in modern, full of electronics cars. Not to mention the unspoiled, by modern hydraulics and electronics, driving experience. It's quite nice to drive and gives me tons of pleasure
Hmm, no. No VAG for me. It's either BMW/MB or something french

New car, extensive warranty = no repairs!

Shite, KIA comes to mind with their 7 year warranty...nah, keep the Clio

 

[Giannis]

New car, extensive warranty = no repairs!

Ahem. The Clio is 23 years old now. It has no A/C, no hydraulic, let alone electric, steering, no ABS, no ESP, no Airbags, no Xenons, no electric windows, no complicated fuel injection or carburator, just Bosch'es Monomotronic. It's got no fancy sensors and infotainment systems. As a friend says, whatever doesn't exist, it doesn't break down.

The only money spent on the Clio is about engine oil, filters and spark plugs, and then brake pads, dampers and occasionally some ball-joints, x-shafts or wishbones

I suspect that no warranty would cover a bent wishbone or a destroyed ball joint...

 

[Zonda]

I'm off to drive a Gallardo, should be fun!

 

[Human]

I'm off to drive a Gallardo, should be fun!

You lucky son-of-a-gun! ENJOY!!

PS: Don't forget the camera, mate

 

[Gianclaudio]

Does a "your drive of a lifetime" thread exist? I want to share the wonderful driving experience I had yesterday......

 

[mini_cooper4]

Does a "your drive of a lifetime" thread exist? I want to share the wonderful driving experience I had yesterday......

Start a new thread... you lazy @$$!

 

[Giannis]

Ah! I love shopping car parts!

 

[mini_cooper4]

I wonder if I should bet 1.500EUR on Vettel winning the championship

 

[Giannis]

Nothing's more depressing to me than forest fires. It's the ultimate form of nature destruction, for the stupidest reason: Politics

Photos from Reuters:

 

[Giannis]

I drove a Giulietta today, with the 1.6 diesel engine, about a year after my last drive in it and it was awful.

While the suspension and handling were quite good, I was totally disappointed with the controls: steering, gear lever and pedals. All were soft, and lifeless. Especially the steering. Throwing the car in some familiar corners I felt as if I were driving it through a playstation controler. The lightness of the controls was inconsistent with the tightness of the ride, making the whole experience quite unsettling.

While it was unbelievably easy to operate in the tight roads of the city centre and the medieval castle of the city, its driver reward away from downtone was lackluster.

I know that I am used to drive a manual steering car and a Volvo with an old (quite heavy for what it is) hydraulic steering system, the Giulietta's steering felt even lighter compared to a Fiat Panda! Even though the car had lots of traction, I didn't feel confident enough to push it more, as I felt that in a quick gearchange I would rip off the gear lever, the clutch would penetrate the firewall and I'd feel the loss of traction in my hands only after I've come off the road.

Truth to be told, my experience with electric steering systems is very limited so far (both in terms of variety and distance traveled), but I wouldn't stand living with such a car. It feels so much like a toy that is annoying!

Other than that, I was pleasantly surprised with the Start/Stop system, the bluetooth connectivity, the available traction, the vast amounts of low end torque for such an engine (it pulled surprisingly good from 800rpm in 3rd gear), the shift lights were quite accurate, as there was always enough torque in the next gear (very nice feature, but you won't need it after a week of ownership) and I'll never buy a diesel.

I expected the engine to liven up after 3500 rpm (I'm used to this point being halfway to the limiter), but it was out of juice. It was not a nice feeling while driving up a ramp to join a freeway.

I drove the Giulietta today in my most frequent roads and routes around the city, and I admit that the fuel consumption was shockingly low with this taxi-fuel burner, but I didn't enjoy the engine at any point through my drive.

 

[martinbo]

It's unseasonably wet in Jozi today. Our winters are normally cold, dry and biting. But not today. A rather wet frontal system seems set in for Woman's Day (public holiday). Such conditions would usually have me eyeing the keys of the little, light, nimble Rex for a bit of AWD lift-off oversteer tomfoolery.

Not today though; today sees me reluctantly contemplating having to delve beyond the F30's aloofness (in comparison) to try and get some sort of a bond going with the car's on and over the limit dynamics. I'm lacking in enthusiasm - I may have to get my fix from the Forester.

Does this mean I don't like my new car? Definitely not - I love it. It's the best blend of performance, luxury and economy that I can think of. I love the interior, I love the BMW clocks and displays and I absolutely adore that ZF 8 speeder. I love that it integrates properly with my iPod (it navigates everything right - including playlists) and I love the Bluetooth pairing with my mobile and "Say a Command". Yip there's a whole lotta love goin on right here...

Still, I can't help but feel sometimes that I should've stretched to an M135i and taken the fuel bills on the chin...

I will aim for that 330d next. And a Boxster.

 

[Human]

I am struggeling with my 'what's next' purchasing thoughts. As the unnecasarry (no kids) SAV craze faded away (until the next X6 shows itself) just becuase I satisfied the SAV craze by owning them. I was so sure about the 435i. Now it seems, maybe becuase I have to wait and missing the finesse of the X6M, I am suddenly thinking...BMW 535d. I don't need the space, yet I want best-of-both worlds. I want refined finesse, better materials, more luxurious seats and M-Sport + M-Sport Suspension + Adaptive drive. I want a 'Benz' for the choppy roads in town and a BMW for the road. F01 derived chassis. double whisbone front suspension and coil-overs at the rear...
(The X1 will have to stay with me and the wife for the foreseeable future. Or at least until it's Motorplan expires in 2015)

Test driving ^that car Monday. Brand new with all those mentioned extras, in white with Black Dakota Leather. Let's see what happens to my craze and mind that is driving me crazy! BMW 5, sounds so correct so right, right now!?!?