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Post by Ben on Sept 10, 2022 2:20:50 GMT
Nice work
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Post by Ben on Sept 9, 2022 13:39:49 GMT
As an outsider it doesn't affect me very directly, but she clearly meant a lot to many people, so it's undoubtedly a sad day.
RIP. 70 years is a remarkable reign. Probably won't see the likes of it again.
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Post by Ben on Sept 5, 2022 14:59:34 GMT
Nobody voted for her in this poll...
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Post by Ben on Aug 15, 2022 13:51:21 GMT
Considering what I do, I guess I'm used to swapping between (many) cars. Some do take a bit longer to get used to than others though (like Tesla and their stupid screen).
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Post by Ben on Aug 12, 2022 12:36:18 GMT
Our Mini has got it, but after owning it three and a half years, still haven’t had the courage to try it. So has ours apparently, but whilst I can quite see how it works on an automatic car, I’m a bit puzzled as to how it works on a manual?! I think it will still require some degree of driver input. So you put it in reverse, let the system do its thing, and when it needs to go forward it will indicate as such for the driver to engage the gear accordingly.
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Post by Ben on Aug 11, 2022 13:41:55 GMT
Unfortunately it didn’t help their domestic car industry. Presumably residual values are a lot higher as a result, which should narrow the gap? It’s Singapore prices that make my eyes water, the £100k in UK, £145k in Australia RS6 would be £350k in Singapore! Yeah tell me about it...
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Post by Ben on Aug 10, 2022 15:45:01 GMT
I don't have any skin in this game, but I watched the debates before they whittled down to two just out of curiosity, and I gotta say, I don't envy you lot...
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Post by Ben on Aug 10, 2022 13:06:10 GMT
Welcome back Alan. Hope you've been well.
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Post by Ben on Aug 10, 2022 13:05:45 GMT
Not exactly surprising. Happens in lots of countries too in some form or another.
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Post by Ben on Aug 8, 2022 1:56:29 GMT
Neat!
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Post by Ben on Aug 6, 2022 3:57:40 GMT
Oh dear.
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Post by Ben on Aug 2, 2022 16:26:32 GMT
Piastri replaces Alonso at Alpine.
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Post by Ben on Aug 2, 2022 2:45:37 GMT
I use it sometimes, especially if it's a particularly large car, but honestly I do tend to do it faster myself most of the time.
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Post by Ben on Jul 28, 2022 15:59:40 GMT
He's the same age as me.
Man I feel old.
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Post by Ben on Jul 28, 2022 15:43:57 GMT
The thing I found out, obviously after test driving a few of these things, is that most plug-in hybrids (with an engine attached) can only accept 'slow' charging, something to do with their smaller batteries or some such. Whereas fully pure electric vehicles (with no engine at all) can accept fast charging, the type where they claim you can get 80 percent charge in 20 minutes or so.
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Post by Ben on Jul 10, 2022 17:31:20 GMT
I don't really keep track of these things, but I think I did over 700km once, from Bangkok to the Laos border, in a Mazda CX-3 I think. Took about 12 hours or so.
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Post by Ben on Jun 30, 2022 13:43:48 GMT
I like the colour, and these things are quite nice to drive. I actually prefer the One over the Cooper, because they fit right into the Mini ethos of less is more.
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Post by Ben on Jun 30, 2022 13:24:09 GMT
A dump truck coming the other way down a single lane (each way) road from me had his wheels slightly off the road and onto the grass, and it subsequently tipped over sideways, bizarrely in kind of slow motion with the poor driver helpless inside.
I honestly did not know how to react as I stared at the truck in shock. Within seconds however a smaller truck pulled up behind, containing what seemed to be the driver's colleagues, and they proceeded to render assistance (the driver was unhurt, just a bit stunned). My presence wasn't helpful apparently so I slowly left the scene, still in disbelief at what I just saw.
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Post by Ben on Jun 27, 2022 13:41:18 GMT
I live in public housing. There was a guy around here who had a Maserati Quattroporte for a while.
Also, I do wonder what people think when I bring the occasional sports car home...
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Post by Ben on Jun 21, 2022 9:27:44 GMT
Half a million is a lot of money, but man, I just love that.
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Post by Ben on Jun 18, 2022 3:30:25 GMT
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Post by Ben on Jun 17, 2022 13:34:17 GMT
I hope it doesn't look like that. An SUV should look like an SUV, not a supercar on stilts.
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Post by Ben on Jun 13, 2022 13:10:02 GMT
I think I did an estimated 230 or 240km/h in an Audi R8 down the Sepang F1 circuit. Think that's probably the fastest I've ever went.
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Post by Ben on Jun 11, 2022 16:36:30 GMT
Interesting point to ponder because I have no knowledge really of what other countries do to manage speed but are we the only ones with a points system that leads to a ban? I know in the states they write a ticket for speeding and all sorts of other infractions but presume they don't have points. Likewise the comments from those on here caught in Europe suggest the same. That then begs the question: is the law too harsh in the UK? Or is it too lenient in Europe where a €25 fine with no points poses little jeopardy to those choosing to drive at dangerous speeds? We have a points system too. 24 points is our limit.
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Post by Ben on Jun 6, 2022 13:48:18 GMT
I should probably tell the story of the two times I got stopped. Not sure if I've spoken of them before here, but they were interesting tales of foolishness in any case.
1) The first time was I think almost ten years ago now. I was driving a Ford Fiesta (not sure if it was the ST) down a narrow country road, about one lane in each direction. It was late at night, around midnight or so. Young and foolish me decided I had no patience for slower traffic, and so I first overtook a silver Mercedes E-Class at I think almost twice the speed limit, who expressed his displeasure by flashing his lights.
I then came up against a dark-coloured car, and I decided that since I was already overtaking the Merc, I might as well overtake this guy too. Big mistake, for it turned out that it was a copper. Pretty much the instant I passed the dark car, I saw flashing lights in the rear view mirror. Oopsie.
I pulled up a short distance ahead and awaited the bollocking I was going to recieve. Said policeman asked me what the hell was I doing. I was honestly at a loss and in a bit of a shock, but I apologised profusely and attempted to explain what I did for a living. Not that it helped.
The copper was seemingly about to let me go, when said previous Merc then pulled up, and the annoyed driver wound down the window and essentially complained to the copper about what I did earlier.
The policeman looked at me sternly and said, "Look what you've done." By this time I was thinking I was probably gonna get sent to be locked up for the night. He then asked me to call my boss for an explanation, but thankfully (I think) for me at that time my boss was abroad and thus uncontactable.
The policeman then said, "I'm gonna let you off with a warning. Get out of here and don't let me see you again." I had never felt so relieved in my life.
2) The second was about five or so years ago I think. I was driving the Mercedes AMG-GT, and as with such cars they can accelerate to law-breaking speeds in an instant. I was on a fast-flowing highway, relatively empty and in the bright daylight when I decided to give it a bit of speed.
Almost immediately I saw the police bike at the side of the road, and I thought "Oh shit, I'm done for". Within seconds the copper rode alongside and beckoned me to pull over.
I was again ready to express remorse, but before I could speak, the policeman showed me the radar gun, and said I was doing 119 in a 70 zone. He asked for my licence, and then said to wait for their letter in the mail, and that was that.
I later discovered that I got away by the skin of my teeth. Because over here, if you're 50 over the limit, that's an automatic court appearance and potentially a driving ban. 119 in a 70 zone meant I escaped a court appearance by 1km/h. My punishment was a $500 fine, 12 points and a speed awareness course.
I realise I was exceedingly lucky both times, but man do I not want to repeat those experiences again.
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Post by Ben on Jun 5, 2022 2:52:58 GMT
Oh I've been there too! Really fascinating place.
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Post by Ben on Jun 3, 2022 12:13:13 GMT
That looks like the old one I think.
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Post by Ben on Jun 2, 2022 13:02:08 GMT
Ooh, I do like that colour.
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Post by Ben on Jun 2, 2022 12:55:04 GMT
Oh, so many. Mostly cameras but I've also been stopped by the police twice. Part of the perils of having the occasional access to fast cars...
Having said that, I haven't had a ticket in over four years now, so hoping to keep that clean streak going.
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Post by Ben on May 31, 2022 17:01:35 GMT
I've driven it, and my biggest issue is the gearbox, which Renault says is a 'dog-clutch gearbox'. In practice it felt as clunky as a badly-sorted dual-clutch, while also weirdly feeling as whiny as a CVT.
The Talisman does look pretty neat though.
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