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Post by Big Blue on Mar 30, 2022 16:58:04 GMT
Interesting write up. On your rare longer journeys how far does it go on a full charge before petrol kicks in? Depends on: - how much charge you have - how you’ve decided your journey Theoretically if you set up the nav and it sees a jam or defined low emissions town ahead it saves the charge for when you get there. However it just seems to eat all the charge as soon as it can as far as I can tell so I force it into petrol only by selecting sport then flick to hybrid myself when needed. This is a great strategy when driving from my (very) outer London home to the (very) central London office or Club. I can get 70+ mpg doing that if I start with a full charge but of course it’s only a 23mile round trip so unless I did it every day it is never really reflected across an entire tank’s mpg. Also if I’m pootling locally on charge then mash the accelerator to the carpet the engine cuts in. Also the regen helps. My journey to Warrington was tracked from start to finish to do an expense claim and just attach the read out on Concur. I started with 6 miles of charge showing and didn’t charge at all on the journey, neither plug in nor engine charging yet did some 24miles+ on an almost exclusively motorway journey. Every traffic jam, every slow running to park, every off-ramp is electric and the system keeps a chunk in reserve for it then regens to get some back.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 30, 2022 12:45:59 GMT
Nothing is more annoying than the lack of a 545e Touring! (or it seemed so at the time of ordering). Not sure I'm bothered now.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 30, 2022 11:48:46 GMT
Well, six months has passed and I've actually done what might be classed as a reasonable journey (to Warrington from home, so 435 miles) so I might as well see if this hybrid stuff is all its cracked up to be. I'll start by saying I can't be arsed to offer more pictures: you've seen them already and having done a grand total of 1680 miles as I type this she's no dirtier or damaged than new. Firstly let's do the engine, drivetrain stuff as that's the main difference between Eva and the Gorilla. Fuel economy astounds after the Gorilla, with a small 46 litre tank still capable of 400 miles on a run, something the Gorilla needed a 70 litre tank for. Currently averaging 34.4mpg, bearing in mind most of my driving is local stop start. On the long runs it's showing 44mpg and the long run refills are giving 39.12mpg, which includes some pootling as well as the motorway stuff. Most of you are scoffing at such poor economy but compared to its predecessor this is approaching double the miles per gallon. The economy is helped by charging at home / the club and my spreadsheet-of-dullness shows pure petrol economy is 23.57mpg, still better than the Gorilla and reflective of a 2-litre turbo dragging a 5 series touring plus a load of batteries around. The long run tankfuls still managed 33.5mpg of petrol-only which is not bad either (I'm not the lightest footed person). My assumption is that a 540i would be better on average but I'd not have the joys of infinite mpg on the short runs. So to performance: Eva's not underpowered at all and at motorway speeds I was surprised to see it was using battery-only power to maintain speed when I lifted off - the e-mileage indicator lights up blue to show you this. The switch between power sources is imperceptible and if you have any form of media on it’s not audible at all - which is good because the engine note is not pleasant as far as I'm concerned. If you turn on the electric generation function (so the engine makes electricity) you have a distinctly tractor like sound track and as this is allied to plummeting mpg I just ignore that function in the main. I've not really had cause to step off the line in a hurry but it does do that electric-motor-instant torque thing so feels fast to 30mph. It's very fast once moving and dials up new speeds on the motorway with no issues. It also passed the M40 Princes Risborough test v 250d Merc thing (the one that looks like a barrage balloon) and showed a suitable clean set of heels. But as we'll see now, that's not the essence of Eva's usability. Inside is exceptionally quiet and where the road surface is good (M6 Toll road) it's akin to being in the library at motorway speeds - I'll not say what they are on the toll road but appear to be much different to the rest of the UK..... When we then consider that inside is a fabulous place to be the overall persona of Eva is very calming, probably not at all similar to whatever madness the original Eva Braun instilled in her lover! So there is no need to hoon around and setting the cruise control and adjusting the massage function and seat cooling is more likely to keep you away from being the kind of guy that is driving the A13 on a Friday night live-streaming on TikTok before crashing and it catching fire (if you saw it you know what I'm talking about). Its a cruising car as opposed to a push-it-to-the edge-of-the-tyres car. The media / iDrive / touch screen / addressable buttons interface is quite simply excellent: the very correct mix of technology and tactility. Hey BMW, the voice control function, also works well - far better than my very unsuccessful attempts to get Alexa to work in the car! I've set it all up, it works on the driveway then refuses to on the move, telling me I need to set it up. Alexa has recently fucked up some of my lights at home, making me re-assign them, so she's on thin ice! Let me annoy many of you with those dash clocks: the majority of the content is utterly redundant most of the time as HUD tells you what you need to know. The shape is immaterial to me as the right one isn’t even a rev counter most of the time, with it telling you how much power you are using and how much recovery charging is going on. This is meaningless bollocks as the car is going to do what it needs to do whether it shows me on the dash or not. It is a rev counter in Sport mode, when the hybrid bit is turned off and e-power is for increasing power available only, but again: meaningless in an 8 speed auto that simply won't allow you to over rev it. The fuel gauge and electricity gauge are easy to see and the Speedo is easy to read as it makes the speed you are doing clear on the dial and in numbers next to it. The Bit in the middle could be more adjustable as it's the nav, directions or blank with a side section of journey data, fuel use, g-force ( ), power and torque delivery ( ) or media output. Basically it's a screen and they need to fill it with info - the issue that we need to address is what do we actually need the dash to tell us in cars that have all manner of control systems that prevent us needing to know things that we used to have to keep an eye on when we were in Morris Minors. As a built item there are lots of high quality bits and the wheels are superb - they both look great and are easy to clean as I can put my (XL) hand in and clean the inside of the rim. You can feel the cheaper bits (lower bumpers) but the cabin has no shortcomings, even that cubby to the right of the steering wheel is now lined, which I recall wasn't when the G30 was first sold. So, do I miss the Gorilla? Not at all - certainly not at filling up time. Even after the thrill of being new has passed and a mundane trip to Warrington has been travelled Eva remains the queen. An utterly lovely place to be. And I've not seen another red one on the road.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 28, 2022 13:10:32 GMT
Well, rocket blasts, gigantic crash, driver meetings and a Red Bull lead lost under a safety car….. a busy weekend.
I thought LeClerc managed the race really well considering how much speed deficit he had to the Red Bull. Shame Hamilton missed the pit opening otherwise he’d have recovered what was essentially a lost weekend although Merc are still somehow 2nd in the team standings.
Biggest issue is again stewarding. How did it take so long to bollock Perez for his shoving on Sainz? I also thought Perez moved before lights out at the start but then caught himself, although that could just be the vitriol speaking. The other big issue is how the fuck can they justify going there? Maybe if the pre-race entertainment is a public stoning at turn 1 or the winners prize is the freshly sliced-off head of a criminal to drink the rose water from ( a “skully” in Ricciardo terminology) they might have second thoughts but as Toto said “it’s different round here to Europe” so that’s all fine then.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 27, 2022 21:03:08 GMT
Short stay. Walk to terminal. I did it last week at T5 to go to Nice.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 27, 2022 0:20:45 GMT
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 27, 2022 0:14:19 GMT
I’ve seen Billion Doller Brain on TV recently, and late last year as well. It’s not aged well. Yes, the final scenes are cringe worthy. Funeral in Berlin is good, probably the best of the three. Needless to say I have all three on ye olde discs. “I’ll have a beer, danke schön.” ”Bitte, mein Herr.” ”I’d rather have a Löwenbrau.” timeless. 😁
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 25, 2022 9:39:40 GMT
So Seb misses the Saudi race this year, having missed the previous Middle Eastern round in Bahrain. Given his outspoken and very visible views of the lack of freedoms and rights in these places, I’m betting F1 are breathing a huge sigh of relief he’s not there.
If he’s not there because of covid, of course. Nothing like a conspiracy theory to start a race weekend.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 25, 2022 9:27:47 GMT
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 24, 2022 22:20:51 GMT
Can you even begin to imagine the hand-wringing and car-vandalism if something like this was even spoken of in the U.K.? I reckon a good 40% of Guardian readers would actually explode in some kind of mass spontaneous combustion episode at the thought car, and especially SUV, drivers would be given money to buy fuel with.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 23, 2022 20:01:41 GMT
I used to upgrade every 2 years at least, but it doesn't feel like the last couple of models have moved things on all that much My view point exactly, but for longer as I have a 7! I'm waiting for September and the next iPhone launch. I’ve been doing that for 6 years 😆
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 23, 2022 11:43:57 GMT
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 22, 2022 19:37:04 GMT
Each iPhone I have had hasn’t given me anything other than the feeling of “it’s the same as the old one.” The GUI is always the same, the apps I use are the same and I tend to select the same size. I currently have a 7 and it needs to go soon because it runs really hot because a lot of the app upgrades are making the processor run at 99% really often. I’ll get a 13 mini and it will feel the same as the 7. All that said I like familiarity hence I’m on my 4th BMW 5 series.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 22, 2022 12:24:10 GMT
I got Covid yesterday for the first time. It sucks, I feel bloody awful. People kept telling me it was no more then a mild cold these days, they lie! Just been speaking to a colleague and he said the same. Knocked him right down for a few days. Said he felt cheated as so many just had mild symptoms and he got it bad. Get well soon.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 22, 2022 9:17:12 GMT
I managed to go on 2 international holidays in summer 2020 with the extended family and again spent the whole summer of 2021 with overseas based family in three different countries outside the U.K. There were restrictions but they were nothing compared to being a Ukrainian right now.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 21, 2022 14:14:04 GMT
I'm still surprised about the negativity towards Verstappen, he's the best thing to happen to the sport since Hamilton. The Ferrari boys actually have a similar driving style to Verstappen so it'll be interesting to gauge the reaction from folk if they start beating on Hamilton. Hard to disagree but it’s not possible to be objective about sport. All the stuff I’ve read about Max is about what a fabulous driver he is, with ex drivers noting his natural car control etc. Hopefully having got the title he probably thought he had deserved for a couple of years, and on reflection deserved last year as much as Lewis did, he can look at other aspects of his mood, behaviour and occasional over-exuberance as he’s no longer the mad puppy that can’t control his limbs. Hunt always said he was a much better driver in ‘77 than his title winning season ‘76 as he’d lost the desperation of the need for the title and could use his knowledge more rationally. I think Max would like to be the next Kimi: not caring what he says on the radio, walking away without a word if he feels there’s no point, not seeming to give a fuck but he’s a Red Bull product so that’s never going to wash. He is a good driver and I agree he’s boosted the sport but he’s a bit “I am” which no doubt Horner pushes him along to be. Vettel was a far better person when he left RBR but was also a Red Bull product and then got older and saw the world outside the bubble. It’s like playing for a Mourinho team for a football analogy.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 21, 2022 10:10:26 GMT
IIRC we’ve got the non-cappuccino version of Martin’s DeLonghi. It still makes it but doesn’t have the milk float: you need to steam your own milk. It’s super, adjustable for grinding size and strength; you choose the length of your espresso, doppio etc. and the frother is great if you buy yourself a decent stainless jug. The only PITA is decalc time but that’s not going to be any different for any machine.
If you’re really into it or if it’s for an Office get a Franke machine. I’ve ordered them for two offices - but not the cheapest one as it’s not a genuine Franke, rather a rebadged other machine.
The other one to look at is the Sage Barista bean to cup. I think that’s the one with two boilers so you don’t burn you coffee if you use the milk frother in between cups. I worked with a coffee snob once and he swore by that one.
Oh yeah: find your favourite beans and stick with them. All this pissing around with different ones is nonsense.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 21, 2022 9:40:59 GMT
Let’s see if we can maintain a chat for each race.
Well, Red Bull. I’m still laughing my arse off.
Great to see the red cars 1-2 and LeClerc showed that it’s not just Max that can push to the front. Hard not to say Merc were lucky not to be 8th and 9th because they have two exceptional drivers - I reckon they’re going to need them. As to Surrey’s finest: WTAF happened there? Dreadful weekend for Lando and Daniel.
Haas were strong and showed what having a proper driver adds and as ever Sauber/ Alfa will start strong and then lose ground.
Not a bad season opener but lm looking through rose tinted glasses because Red Bull got nil points. 😂 🤣
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 18, 2022 15:05:02 GMT
I think I joined but no idea how to see the rest of the league. Nope. You’ve not joined either. So it looks like you’re playing F1 Fantasy but haven’t joined your team to the group link using the team number Rodge gave.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 18, 2022 13:31:47 GMT
Well, I think I joined.
Russell. 24m
Norris. 16m
Sainz. 17m
Alonso. 12.5m
Occon. 12m
McLaren. 18.5m
Can't see you in there
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 16, 2022 21:32:40 GMT
I’ve just registered a team on formula one.com and created a private league for anyone here who wants to do it. I’ve never done it before so not sure how good it is. Very different format to our usual one but less work for anyone. The code to join is 299c6129a5 Join the F1 Fantasy The Motor Forum with invite code 299c6129a5 here: fantasy.formula1.com/app/#/league/246978#F1Fantasy I’m in.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 16, 2022 19:18:42 GMT
Chris did it before but I think it is probably more work than the rest of us realise. Indeed. When we had a flouncing I wrote a spreadsheet to do the rules and it’s not simple. Chris then picked up the mantle properly and has served us proudly for a few seasons.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 15, 2022 22:59:09 GMT
My problem with anything too flashy is the supermarket test. If I’m not willing to park it in Waitrose I’d be worried that it would hardly ever get used. FYP. The kind of Bentley drivers that go to Tesco are the reason they have a reputation that might not be as lofty as it could be.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 14, 2022 13:36:44 GMT
Yep. Saw that pop up on my timeline. Great life lived well.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 11, 2022 13:45:14 GMT
Interesting. Thanks Given the price of fuel, I've been reconsidering whether an X3 M40i would be a better choice than a Macan. Because it takes the best bit of my car (ie an engine with a remarkable performance/economy ratio) and puts it in a suitably-sized and not ugly SUV. Problem is that I just don't look at an X3 M40i, nice car though it is, with anything like the same level of desire as a Macan. Fuel economy aside, the Macan feels like as close to having cake and eating it, in terms of my wants and needs, as I have been able to find. With the X3 M40i, I look at them and cannot escape the feeling that I prefer my existing car. How many miles do you do and what stretch of your personal budget is the price of petrol to have the car you actually want to be in when you're relaxing from being engaged at a high maintenance job?
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 11, 2022 13:13:26 GMT
Do BMW not already offer a sort of in house Alpina with cars like the 550i? I see Alpina being nothing more then a spec option on M and M light cars.
This understanding of Alpina is why in the UK Alpina has never had the following it has had elsewhere. The B5 is based on a 550i, not an M5. It is then given a different engine (with Mahle pistons and other internal changes, like cams and fuelling.), different electronic settings, different dampers, different camber settings, different exhaust treatments, different turbochargers etc. all of which make it dynamically a different prospect to a 550i and nothing like as violent as an M5 can be. It is then also given the cosmetic differences: the front air dam being the most evident, but trims are replaced, there is a much higher spec of leather available and of course two paint colours that are unavailable anywhere else (the blue and the green). The long term Alpina owners and repeat customers in Germany have long made their desires known and the move to electric propulsion is not one of them, as has been cited by Andreas B for some time.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 11, 2022 12:05:31 GMT
The little arm that passes you the seatbelt when you sit down, absolute godsend to those of us who struggle to twist in the seat. The airscarf for when the roof is down. The feeling of solidity for a convertable I recall being utterly amazed by those seat belt passers in what I think was (if my memory serves me right) a 500 SEC quite a few years ago. That felt fast and as though it was carved from granite, it was so solid. Sounds like Mercedes still use the same recipe. Yep. Boris had those arms passing the seatbelt. It was a long way back to the b pillar as the doors were huge so rear passengers didn’t need to struggle for access and egress.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 11, 2022 12:00:51 GMT
Interesting point on Mutti. One presumes she saw the good bits of Soviet life and assumed changes she herself had seen and been through were wider felt so took this softer line - or she is as Bob suggests a sleeper.
Without going down an EU wormhole, it remains apparent that there is only one sovereign nation in western Europe. Has its own atomic weapons, makes a surfeit of nuclear electricity, has an agricultural and manufacturing programme that benefits its internal labour markets and a decent reserve of internal raw materials. They’re also going to win the 6 nations.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 11, 2022 9:13:44 GMT
(From my counter post)Not that shocked: Alpina would have had to move away from pure ICE cars and Andreas Bovensiepen never seemed to be keen on the idea. On the plus side I assume the next Alpina B5 will be a hybrid and be discounted like any other big engined BMW.
Don’t confuse BMW with Daimler Benz. Even the badged M-Sport cars are not ever called M-Cars. BMW have long understood that there is a different client that wants an Alpina and is willing to pay for it, hence Buchloe is allowed to develop cars alongside new models.
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Post by Big Blue on Mar 10, 2022 20:47:41 GMT
Yep. Having had voodoo lights on a holiday rental a couple of years back they were a no brainer on Eva. Magical things.
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