New Technology in cars. Is it just me?

[arcadialover]

I wish they came with fuel as well. I have a real phobia about putting fuel in the car and have to get my partner to do it. When I collected a curtesy car I had to ask the man to come to the garage with me 1 mile down the road, which he did, no questions asked, but I bet he wondered why and thought strange person.

[Frank Manning]

The spaces are even smaller in Waitrose Winton, and in the underground car park the sensors on mine are beeping almost all the time especially if I try to park between two chelsea tractors both at divergent angles to the lines. Its hell down there, they should make a movie down there; ideal for Anglina Jolie.

Is the Tesco still on the opposite corner (used to be Victor Value many years ago)?

Sorry for the delay in replying, house in chaos with decorating in three rooms.
There are a few Tesco Express about, but that Sainsburys is long gone too. The big Tescos are on the old Hamworthy Engineering Sports Field at Fleets Corner, and in Westbourne. We dont use Tescos, too far away, just Sainsburys and Waitrose. I must be old, I remember Victor Value.

[Frank Manning]

Alder Road ... not me, we are more yer Sherborne Sainsbug type

Now, their's is a fascinating new tech type car park which causes utter confusion to the ' Ladies of Sherbun ' cos there's TWO unbroken lines between each of the car parking spaces. Watching some of them you do begin to wonder what exactly is going on in their minds as they shunt back n forth umpteen times and still manage to straddle at least two of the lines even in their little blue Yarises.

That would be me as well MOB. I usually have to tilt the wing mirrors down to get the car between the lines. Luckily these days new fangled automatic wing mirrors make it easy.

[Frank Manning]

Emjay.... I agree, it is annoying, sometimes I "squeeze" into a space only to find that there is plenty of space behind me!!!

Does yours come with little lights that tell you how close you are to the car behind? I have 1 to 4 lights for each rear corner of the car, just above the rear window which I can see in the mirror when reversing. When 4 show I know I'm nearly there.

New technology!

[Dark Knight]

Frank
what was your opinion of the A class? it is on my list for a company car and wondered if it was worth a look?
i would quite like a merc this time, but I have been put of by various reports and people's negative comments regarding the C and E class?

[Frank Manning]

Frank
what was your opinion of the A class? it is on my list for a company car and wondered if it was worth a look?
i would quite like a merc this time, but I have been put of by various reports and people's negative comments regarding the C and E class?

Well DK, you are obviously a lot younger than me so you might like it. But I am hoping to get a C class to replace my B class because I think it is a much better car than either the new A or the new B. The new A was very low and sporty, with loads of chrome inside, and a lousy view through the rear window. It was a 2.0litre version and the engine was very smooth with excellent power to weight ratio. Loads of gimmicky electronics which I did not get chance to try out, and also restricted space in the back if you especially if like me you have long legs and have the seat back. I think Merecdes were following the BMW 1 series trend when they designed it. I believe that all Mercs have quite a stiff ride and reveal every bump in the road, but I have to say my B class is 4 years old and I have been very pleased with it. Bit of a ladies car, but importantly for me, it fits in the garage, and there is lots of front leg room and footwell space. I have sixe 13 feet!

I get to drive the new A again next week and I'll send you a PM afterwards to tell you a bit more.

[Dark Knight]

Thanks Frank
I do quite fancy a C class estate, but a colleague of mine was a bit negative about them and so was What Car etc, as I will be doing a 100,000 miles before changing it, I want to get as many opinions as possible, to see if it worth a test drive or not
I agree about he B class but I have seen a couple of the new A class and I am not sure it is big enough for me, at 6"3 and 3 daft dogs although it looks well on the road

[Silver_Shiney]

The spaces are even smaller in Waitrose Winton, and in the underground car park the sensors on mine are beeping almost all the time especially if I try to park between two chelsea tractors both at divergent angles to the lines. Its hell down there, they should make a movie down there; ideal for Anglina Jolie.

Is the Tesco still on the opposite corner (used to be Victor Value many years ago)?

Sorry for the delay in replying, house in chaos with decorating in three rooms.
There are a few Tesco Express about, but that Sainsburys is long gone too. The big Tescos are on the old Hamworthy Engineering Sports Field at Fleets Corner, and in Westbourne. We dont use Tescos, too far away, just Sainsburys and Waitrose. I must be old, I remember Victor Value.

They say you remember exactly what you were doing the night JFK died. My parents and I went to the Victor Value on the corner of Wimborne Road/Leslie Road (I see from Google Earth that the shop is now a Boots) to do our weekly shop, then to the chippie in Anchor Road to get our supper before returning home to watch the Harry Worth show - only there was very sombre music being played instead and a voice-over saying that JFK had died.

Anyway, back to the topic.... I remember a long time ago a company called Mobelec produced in-car computers that worked out your petrol consumption amongst other things. I find it strange that such technology isn't more widespread in today's vehicles. After all, when I first started driving in '75, cars (apart from very top of the range models) did not come with heated rear windows, wing mirrors, screen washers, intermittent wipers, central consoles, music systems, electronic ignitions (Mobelec again) and so on - these were all third-party bolt-ons, but they've all been incorporated into even basic models these days.

I must say though, if you need a car that parks itself, should you really be out behind a steering wheel?

[Frank Manning]

Thanks Frank
I do quite fancy a C class estate, but a colleague of mine was a bit negative about them and so was What Car etc, as I will be doing a 100,000 miles before changing it, I want to get as many opinions as possible, to see if it worth a test drive or not
I agree about he B class but I have seen a couple of the new A class and I am not sure it is big enough for me, at 6"3 and 3 daft dogs although it looks well on the road

If you are 6' 3" DK I would not even consider the A class. That is the same height as me and it was too small. I think the only way to be saure is to go for the test drive of the C class.

I used to do 90K in two years in a Morris Marina in the 1970's, and I was driving an Aramco guy back to the airport in it one day (Stetson/big leather boots; you get the picture?) He said "How far d'you drive a car like this ('theeus') in a day." I replied "anything up to 500 miles". His reply was "Jeeeesuss H! Ah wouldn't drive 400 yards in theeus thung!"

[qbman1]

I used to do 90K in two years in a Morris Marina in the 1970's, and I was driving an Aramco guy back to the airport in it one day (Stetson/big leather boots; you get the picture?) He said "How far d'you drive a car like this ('theeus') in a day." I replied "anything up to 500 miles". His reply was "Jeeeesuss H! Ah wouldn't drive 400 yards in theeus thung!"

...to which my answer would have been "then you are more than welcome to get out and walk, pal"!

[gfwgfw]

Hey Ho

My nephew John is employed by Mercedes, Salisbury

His "employ" is to deliver Mercedes to new owners and explain the many on board gizmos, with a customer satisfaction follow up

His salary is moderate, but if the customer rates him with a ten he gets a very lucrative bonus

John is blessed with the good looks and charm of his Uncle Graham, hence most Mercedes ladies give him a resounding ten

For me the best Merc app is the Coffee cup holder for my Costa Americano, plus the Sat Nav showing the nearest rest rooms to ease my regular bladder needs

Lubooo all

Graham x

[gilly88]

my hubby works in a car dealership and the reason that courtesy cars have no fuel in them, is that they are normally assigned to a sale person who has to put their own fuel into the cars. if a customer has a test drive in one of these cars, or is lent a car, the fuel that may or may not be in the tank has been paid for by the sales person. and they do not get to claim it back, so my husbands car always runs on the red light. so this is my answer, there is no such thing as a free ride, the petrol/diesel is paid for by some one.

[Not so ancient mariner]

Hey Ho



For me the best Merc app is the Coffee cup holder for my Costa Americano, plus the Sat Nav showing the nearest rest rooms to ease my regular bladder needs

Lubooo all

Graham x

Perhaps if you drank less coffee.............

[Frank Manning]

my hubby works in a car dealership and the reason that courtesy cars have no fuel in them, is that they are normally assigned to a sale person who has to put their own fuel into the cars. if a customer has a test drive in one of these cars, or is lent a car, the fuel that may or may not be in the tank has been paid for by the sales person. and they do not get to claim it back, so my husbands car always runs on the red light. so this is my answer, there is no such thing as a free ride, the petrol/diesel is paid for by some one.

Well last Monday it was paid for by me, because I was driving the courtesy car through heavy slow moving traffic with the warning message on...more than my poor old nerves could stand They were very nice about it though.

[gilly88]

I know all about that frank, every time we go out the same refrain is heard, "we will have to go to the garage and put a few £s worth of petrol in". it drives me to distraction. But its no fun when you have put £20/£30 in to the tank to then be told, " someone will be using your car tomorrow " and when it returns, low and behold there's no fuel left and you are out of pocket.

[Silver_Shiney]

That reminds me of a time, many years ago, when I was driving a military vehicle. It was a disciplinary offence to let it run out of fuel. I went from a base near Nottingham to one on the outskirts of London and, on the way back, watched the fuel guage drop ever lower. I passed several RAF camps but felt I could get back. I would not have been allowed to fill up at a "civvie" petrol station. I made it back and parked up in the transport yard. The following morning, I got an irate phone call from the SNCO in charge of the transport - there wasn't enough fuel in the car to even get it started. A lucky escape...

[Onelife]

We’re in the market for a new Rav 4 all we need now is 23K to make it happen...can anyone help us out?

Regards

OL

[Manoverboard]

We’re in the market for a new Rav 4 all we need now is 23K to make it happen...can anyone help us out?

Regards

OL

You can have mine for £22k ..... yes / no ... but be quick I can't hang about waiting.

[Onelife]

We’re in the market for a new Rav 4 all we need now is 23K to make it happen...can anyone help us out?

Regards

OL

You can have mine for £22k ..... yes / no ... but be quick I can't hang about waiting.

YES....but only if you do one 1K yearly instalments?

[Manoverboard]

We’re in the market for a new Rav 4 all we need now is 23K to make it happen...can anyone help us out?

Regards

OL

You can have mine for £22k ..... yes / no ... but be quick I can't hang about waiting.

YES....but only if you do one 1K yearly instalments?

Up yours, I haven't got that long

[Onelife]

Actually Mob I’ve been reading some reviews about the new Rav 4 and they don’t read to well when compared with other 4x4’s in that price range. Is yours a new Rav? If so what do you think?


Regards

Keith

[arcadialover]

I have got my eye on a GT 86 in sexy silver. Had a test drive and loved it. Best to buy it now whilst I can see get in and out of it.

[oldbluefox]

whilst I can see get in and out of it.

Should you still be driving?

[Manoverboard]

Actually Mob I’ve been reading some reviews about the new Rav 4 and they don’t read to well when compared with other 4x4’s in that price range. Is yours a new Rav? If so what do you think?


Regards

Keith

It's a few years old now, OL, well nearly ten actually ...

Having said that I cannot see the point of replacing it cos apart from the petrol, one set of brake pads, a few tyres plus an annual service and a replacement screw fixing in the rear door hinge gizmo it hasn't cost me a bean ... not during any of it's 60,000> miles.

If like us you don't do a whole lot of miles then why not get a second hand variation and save yourself a fortune ?

Out of interest you presumably live in a City environment and don't do any off road stuff so why pay extra for a four wheel drive Sports Utility Ve-hickle ?

[Onelife]

Mob our Rav 4 Birthdays aren’t too far apart which makes your valuation of 22k look rather overpriced...less of course you’ve got diamond studded head-lamps.

My wife has to negotiate a few country lanes before putting her foot down on her 40 mile round journey to work. The lanes become very hazardous during the winter months hence the reason she prefers to drive a 4x4.

Btw ...if the scratches on my wife’s car are anything to go by then she must do an awful lot of off road stuff...please don’t tell her I’ve said that... squeak squeak.

I haven’t ruled out buying second hand as I’m fully aware of the depreciation when buying new...especially after the first year.

Regards

Keith