|
Post by garry on Oct 19, 2021 5:31:25 GMT
The way the charging point opens on the etron always makes me smile. It feels like something off Star Trek The flex 7 seating on the zafira is a very smart piece of efficient design Is it electric like the Taycan? Yep
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 18, 2021 16:15:51 GMT
The way the charging point opens on the etron always makes me smile. It feels like something off Star Trek
The flex 7 seating on the zafira is a very smart piece of efficient design
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 18, 2021 13:31:48 GMT
I've driven quite a few EVs. JohnC nails it. As well as the Etron, I've also driven an ipace, a tesla model s, a taycan 4s, a mini e, even a fiat 500 electric convertible!
In reverse order of preference: The Telsa did nothing for me. Fast but very cheap feeling. Had no soul. Felt like a fast golf cart. The Mini is fine but the range is nuts The 500e was loads of fun. I could see this working for many. Felt like a very slightly more grown up version of a 500 with a significant uplift in quality, Audi etron is the most refine EV I've driven. A pudding on a B road, but a dream on the motorway Jaguar ipace is a great piece of kit. Not as refined as the etron but way better dynamically. I would have gone for one if I'd not got a knock out deal on the audi and I didn't have a GTS on order. The Taycan is outstanding. It feels like a Porsche sports car but rides amazingly well. A car that would definitely get you out of bed early for a Sunday morning blast, but manage a motorway trip with quiet ease. The soundtrack might be muted, but the senses get overloaded in other ways. If you like Porsches I'd challenge you not to like a Taycan. I'm still contemplating a Taycan Cross Turismo
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 14, 2021 9:51:38 GMT
I'm not sure I'd get too sentimental about a 1300cc four pot engine. I'm pretty sure that's what they started life with.
It's a good looking thing, but a £350,000 car?
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 13, 2021 14:07:17 GMT
I lived in Surrey when my eldest was born, I was having a coffee in Oxted town centre when this familiar looking older lady stopped to fuss over George, who was about one month old at the time. It was only as she walked away I realised it was Dame Judi Dench.
In my early twenties I was travelling business class back from Florida when a huge camp orange man sat next to me and said ‘well I’m not going to get much sleep tonight with those legs on show’. Luckily the strange man got bumped up to upper class. Turned out to be Dale Winton.
I’ve met Bradley Wiggins quite a few times. He lived in the next village and he’d often be out on training rides and would have a couple of minutes chat.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 12, 2021 9:23:29 GMT
It would have been as quick and easy to be nice to your nephew as it was to be nasty. Celebrity or not, I’ve got no time for anyone who thinks they can treat other people without respect.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 19:23:41 GMT
Ha. This human labrador is possibly slightly more athletic - he has rowed the Atlantic, skied to the North Pole, cycled across east Africa... My sister had to formally ban him from Everest. That is mightily impressive!
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 16:34:54 GMT
I might be a country man at heart but these do nothing for me. However, I get that many others go ga-ga for them. My brother-in-law, for instance, is a large blonde labrador of a man, and he is (unlike me) absolutely the sort of person who sees the countryside as one giant sports activity playground to be energetically invaded at the weekend laden with small children, tents, bikes, wetsuits, surfboards and half the contents of the nearest Decathlon, no matter the weather. I bet he'll love it. A large blonde Labrador of a man you say…..
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 14:56:52 GMT
FSH would make it easier to sell. Which is what you should do when you average 7 miles per week! From my wife's perspective, the small amount it costs her to run - just insurance (c.£160 pa), MoT, servicing and fuel - tax is nil, we have off-street parking, and it's pretty much stopped depreciating - is easily outweighed by the convenience of having it available should she need it. Plus she's probably about to start needing it for commuting again - she's got a new client assignment starting next week which is based near Heathrow and, having looked at the map, it's much easier and quicker by car from here than by public transport. That makes sense. I'd probably get the oil changed whist it's in for an MOT.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 13:59:50 GMT
I think it will get traction in the US where they are much more open to newer brands. The Tesla Model S is an old design now so this will be the new kid on the block. The charging infrastructure v Tesla may be a tougher sell though. That’s a good point re the US mkt.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 12:30:12 GMT
I don't see the majority of these being camper vans. I think it is much more likely that these will be 6 or 7 seat family wagons for the yummy mummy's and seen as a bit of a fashion statement. Yep. This vs a Galaxy or Sharan. It's a no brainer.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 12:25:31 GMT
FSH would make it easier to sell. Which is what you should do when you average 7 miles per week!
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 9:49:15 GMT
I struggle to see this gaining traction. They’re too late to capture any first mover advantage (Tesla mopped that up), and too conventional to offer a distinct advantage over the prestige brands that are now moving at pace into this market,
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 9:38:45 GMT
I’ve been reading more about this, The reviews are excellent (if you’re looking for the ultimate silent luxo barge), but I can’t get past the looks. It’s clearly been made ugly by pushing for efficiency. It’s got the lowest drag coefficient of any production car at 0.2 (Remember when Audi trumpeted the 100 with a 0.3cd? ). I could have been in the market for one if it traded a few miles of range for improved looks.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 9:28:47 GMT
Has this been talked about? Saw a YouTube video on it. Full electric, 350 miles of range, will come in van, transporter and campervan form. To my eyes a very cool family van. Launching in late ‘22.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 11, 2021 9:14:12 GMT
I’ve done lots to make our house energy efficient. Mostly because it seemed sensible as we replaced stuff (although my teenagers were very vocal with their environmental concerns) but I was also aware that living in a very old big house (it’s a 200 year old barn and circa 5000 sq ft) was going to be increasingly expensive and it might be wise to future proof as much as I could. Ground source heat pumps work well, but are very expensive to install, require a garden that you’re happy to trash and have a pay back period that runs into decades (although I guess this is dropping!). They’re also not really mass market, in that your local heating engineer has no knowledge of them (at least didn’t in my area circa 15 months ago) .
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 4, 2021 9:22:03 GMT
Firstly, from a copper's perspective, I and all my colleagues that I have spoken to are as appalled and disgusted as anyone else. Add on top of that the anger that comes when a bad apple is found as it undermines the very work we do every day and makes our job that bit more difficult. At work yesterday, patrolling on my own, even in a marked car, I was wondering just how I could deal with a lone female driver or burglary victim, without causing her anxiety about whether I was trustworthy and safe to be around. I've never thought about that before. Personally I think Couzens will do himself in if he gets half a chance. It's an awful and shocking case, breathtaking in how calculated it was and his callous disregard for his victim, her family and his own family. The fact there were known warning signs is a big worry. We have had various training packages and there are regular reminders on posters, the intranet, etc about standards of behaviour- particularly in regard to WhatsApp groups and the like. I don't partake in any at work. I've seen how they can go, seen people lose jobs, in some cases rightly and in others where you think that outcome was way over the top. Our Professional Standards dept will go at these things like a dog with a bone. I find that where I work you certainly can't be very relaxed about what you say or who you say it to. There's always a background "worry" about what might happen. That said, I've seen people lose their jobs so clearly whilst it does get investigated, it does happen. I'm not sure how my force will deal with this in the long term. Psychometric testing? Regular vetting of existing staff? Making it a mandatory requirement your WhatsApp chats and social media is open for regular vetting? No idea. There's significant considerations around all of that. In the short term I have read in the press all kinds of knee jerk responses such as officers leaving their warrant cards at work when off duty, letting a member of the public use your radio to speak directly to the control room - some genuine WTF suggestions. Suggesting the person stopped does not comply, runs off or screams and that the public could intervene is another suggestion and is a very, very slippery slope. On the flip side, and not widely reported in the press, is the praise given to the investigation team by the trial judge about just how fast, detailed and determined they were in bringing Couzens to justice. It's worth remembering that nobody hates bent coppers more than good coppers.He took a hooker to a colleagues wedding. That feels like some good coppers are willing to turn a blind eye to certain types of behaviour.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 4, 2021 8:52:19 GMT
Boils my piss that a group of middle class self righteous wankers think that they can block roads in an attempt to hold the government to ransom. What I find most frustrating is that the media give them exactly what they want - the name of their group plastered everywhere, a spokesperson for them on TV. There should be a blackout on them so that they get starved of the publicity they crave.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 3, 2021 8:41:19 GMT
My son started at Cambridge yesterday. As John described in another post, it’s a pretty traumatic event for a parent!! Anyhow, I thought I’d describe how we got on with the Etron.
Door to door, the trip is 210 miles each way. The plan was to get to the gridserve superhighway at Rugby services (circa 10 fast chargers) grab breakfast on the way down and use the same services for a quick top up on the way home.
Have to say that the etron is a super refined place to be. The weather was terrible, and is was great to waft along in supreme comfort. I’m not sure I’ve been in anything that’s noticeably more refined. It’s a pudding in terms of driving dynamics, but it’s a hell of a comfy pudding. Journey to Rugby services was uneventful. Got there, plugged in , started to charge at circa 150kw. There were five other cars charging (two etrons and three ipaces). I did wonder how busy it might get mid week. 20 minutes later we’re back on the road. We spent a couple of hours getting everything sorted in Cambridge before heading back. Got back to Rugby, plugged in, had a fifteen minute break and headed home. Completely uneventful, smooth and easy. If only all electric journeys were like this!
The gridserve superhighway charging stations are transformational. The biggest problem with electric cars are unreliable chargers and patchy coverage. Stick one of these at each motorway service station and most of the pain is gone. I know gridserve are rolling out lots of these over the coming year. I worked out that I don’t have range anxiety, I have charge station anxiety. Today, I’m going cross country to a birthday party for my brother. Charging on this route is both patchy and unreliable and I’m already a little anxious.
The etron with circa 400 miles of range and plenty of gridserve style charging stations dotted around would be a very strong proposition. But we’re not there yet so wish me luck on my drive today!
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 1, 2021 14:24:04 GMT
Me and my son are going tonight. None of the girls seem that bothered. I remember going on holiday to London in the mid/late 70's with my parents and watching The Spy Who Loved Me in Leicester square. It was impossibly glamorous and kicked off my love of 007 and sports cars (The Lotus Esprit was a star of that film). Me and my dad watch a couple of Bond films over Christmas, usually with a nice drop of Laphroaig.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Oct 1, 2021 13:49:37 GMT
What a terrible story. And what a ghastly piece of scum this man is. At times like these I'm pleased we don't have death sentence. A quick injection would be the easy way out for him rather than spending the next 30 years in fear, knowing he's got a target on his back, knowing that any number of his fellow prisoners will be just waiting for the chance get their version of justice. I wish him a very very long existence.
But the police really need to sort this out. There were enough signs that this guy should have been allowed no where near a police uniform (like the three(!) incidents of indecent exposure). And when his fellow police officers nicknamed him 'The Rapist' it does make me wonder what sort of organisation enables or tolerates that.
I'm generally pro police and I've brought my kids up to respect authority. But I know, without any shadow of doubt, that my daughters would have complied with Couzens in exactly the same way that Sarah Everard did. Last night we had a conversation about what they should do if stopped by the police and that non compliance was the right thing to do if they felt their safety was being compromised at all.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 30, 2021 9:24:47 GMT
When Starmer was interviewed this morning on the TV they asked who his favorite Bond was, he answered he doesn't have a preference however the next Bond should defiantly be a woman. How out of touch can you get! Which PR twat told him to say that? Barbara Broccoli owns the franchise and I can't begin to imagine her considering a female Bond for more than a millisecond. I think his natural position is to be woke, apologetic and worthy. He strikes me as someone who feels guilty for being male, white & wealthy. I've got no issue with that, as long as I don't have to join in with his nonsense.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 30, 2021 9:18:12 GMT
Panic buying doesn't seem to be a thing up here in rural Lancashire. I ride past two petrol stations on the way to work. Both open, both had stock, both had free pumps you could drive up to.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 29, 2021 15:10:08 GMT
I’m sure this sort of nonsense will sort itself out quickly enough. Not many businesses will be daft enough to put barriers in the way of customers for very long, or they’ll die. With John’s example, I’m sure that he’ll either find another organisation willing to meet his needs or the original firm will get their act together when they spot a hole in the their p&l.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 29, 2021 9:40:52 GMT
I think the government are preparing everyone for the electric car future - driving from service station to service station wondering if perhaps something will be working at the next one.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 28, 2021 15:18:37 GMT
I suspect truck drivers are the thin edge of a wedge. We’ve degraded many careers by the push to get so many students into universities and inflated that sector to such a ridiculous extent that we have key-worker shortages but a glut of unemployed media studies graduates. One of my neighbours kids has just graduated with a 2:2 in media studies from the local college. Unsurprisingly, businesses aren't rushing to employ him. His mum seems to think some high flying career is just around the corner. I suspect he'd be much better paid over his lifetime if he become a lorry driver or learnt a trade.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 28, 2021 15:06:10 GMT
Add it to the almost infinite list of consequences they omitted to put on the side of a bus. Are you suggesting they should have written "German golf ball manufacturers will lie and try it on"
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 22, 2021 9:19:09 GMT
That looks fantastic.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 8, 2021 11:33:07 GMT
OK so Jeff suggested someone would start a thread on this and as it's the biggest political news story for a while I thought I'd kick off the debate. So is it fair? Well possibly. Is it political suicide? Absolutely not, the main beneficiaries are the old who vote and the biggest losers are the young who don't. Will it work? Time will tell. I'm concerned that any increased funding for care will quickly be gobbled up by rising costs of staffing and generally running care homes. I dont see this changing that or raising standards to any degree. I also dont fully understand how this stops granny selling her house. The line was that this means the max cost of care will be £86k. But if you haven't got £86k and your only asset is the family home the outcome is the same. I guess it leaves more behind for the kids to inherit. And how will it really help the NHS. Will it again just be gobbled up by extra running costs and the bureaucracy for which the NHS is famed? As I'm no expert on this I'll leave it to others to decide how to answer the above poll. I'd give it zero chance of working. The money will be consumed by the NHS machine and deliver nothing. It's a (very expensive) sticking plaster when fundamental reform is what's required. I've got recent experience of dealing with the issue of elderly parents needing care. What i witnessed was a breathtakingly inefficient system where the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing.
|
|
|
Post by garry on Sept 8, 2021 8:43:47 GMT
I trust you've packed his monocle and hand crafted alpenstock with solid silver goose head atop it. We're going for more of a working class twist. Kentucky Fried Swan.
|
|