what does your car...or other method say about you?

[jhopgood]

Not quite on topic, but having just got back home having driven just over 6,500km over the past 4 weeks in my 6 year old Citroen Picasso, I was intrigued to see a number of caravan's being towed by BMW or Porsche 4 wheel drives.
I may be wrong, but I thought caravan holidays were a way of keeping the cost down, which doesn't ring true if you drive a luxury car. I can understand needing a car with some pulling power, but there must be better and cheaper cars than BMW and Porsches.
They also look a little out of place towing. Bit like whichever Engine it was in the "Thomas the Tank Engine" stories.

(For those interested, my trip was Valencia, London, Flushing, London, CH, London, Belmullet, back to London via Dublin and Holywell, then Lisieux, Paray Le Monial, Barcelona and Valencia. Unusually all objectives were achieved.)

[Jo]

Yay.....another Picasso owner! Comfortable for long distance driving, but not very nippy - though mine's an automatic, I did test drive a manual (with a smaller engine) a couple of months ago and that was a bit more responsive. Great space in the back, and easy to remove all the back seats in the event of a particularly large load.

[loringa]

Fort Escort, S Reg, only 25,000 miles on the clock this time round, front bumper containing a fair quantity of P38 and P40, cleaned once a year if it needs it or not. At a public car park near Poole my sister received an expensive parking ticket for overstaying her time. Mine parked next door at the same time didn't receive one so obviously the parking attendant felt sorry for me! More significantly, after nearly 3 months parked in the long stay carpark of RAF Brize Norton and whilst so completely frozen over it took me 5 minutes even to open the door on one of the coldest days of the year, it still started at the first turn of the key. Unfortunately it now needs a new clutch which will probably cost more than the car is worth. I'm sort of tempted to trade it in for scrappage and buy a new more fuel-efficient vehicle but, then again, I probably won't. I don't trust any dealer to give me the deal the Government intended when they brought the scheme in, particularly as I don't want finance which they still seem desperate to sell.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Sometimes "Mr Plod" can be quite nice.
(I would say that, having been born into "The Job" -- and once being on the Police Authority ) BUT
Recently "The Yaris" was clocked at 36 MPH in a 30MPH zone, in our Village.
I "own" the car, and therefore the summons was sent to me.
Long silences and guilty looks from one member of the Family.
I decided to "Take the Rap " and filled in the form, with licence detais which was CLEAN of all Offences since 1947 !

I was invited to pay £60 for a "Driving Awareness Course" which would maintain my clean licence.
This I did -- and enjoyed it !

Nice "Mr Plod"

[chaosriddenyears]

Normally I drive once a year with the children to England it is really quite funny how drivers give way all the time very politely, and my approach to every roundabout makes them look anxious, a sort of collective "omigod-this-foreign-woman-may-now-create-havoc".

It's really very pleasant for me, really relaxing.

If I fly and borrow a car for a couple of days - ouch! A different world altogether!

[Mrs C.]

Yay.....another Picasso owner! . Great space in the back, and easy to remove all the back seats in the event of a particularly large load.

And me! We have one too - great for luggage space getting daughters to and from uni - and,believe it or not, school , even though the boarding house is no more than a 5 minute walk away!!
Friends bought one having been in ours, my parents, parents-in-law, brother, and brother-in-law all have one too. The grass at the front of our house resembled a Citroen showroom at a recent family celebration - my daughter even put price label on them all!

I`ve got a Yaris - I used to have a 3 door 2001 model but needed 5 doors for driving pupils to medical appointments - (working out who needed to get in first, constantly moving the front seat for them to do so, , and shoehorning 3 big senior boys in the back seat was becoming a real hassle.....) so now have a 2006 model - the old one had more character though!

Now, what I`d really like...........that`s another story!

[blondie95]

I just love my Mini she really is the loveliest car!!! And contrary to popular belief from people i know-not that hugely inpracticale!!!! Yes when we went away 2suitcases filled the car with the seats down-but its fine no one sits on the back seat anyway!!! Based on how long we had last car the Ibiza (who i also loved very very much) Dottie is probably our last fun and in pratical car before sense takes over in a few years!!!

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I am being "Persuaded" that it may be time for the Mondeo to go, (But see my previous Posts on the 3 door Yaris !)

Can anyone explain what is going on with the (Alleged) £2000 "Tradein" for cars over 10 years old ?
I am informed that Dealers are finding ways of reducing the £2000 "Off" the price, by various means.

Any experience out there ?

[blondie95]

all i know is that all weekend whilst the radio has been on there have been adverts from just about all car makers to go to their showrooms and see what you can get for trading in your old car in this £2000 allowance thingy! Im not sure just how much of its really going to help, are car dealers going to put prices up so that when the £2000 is taken off they are normally priced?

[englishangel]

If you watch the ads on TV the smallest Fiat has an extra £100 off on top of the £2000.

£1000 comes from the Gov. (i.e. the taxpayer i.e. you and me) and the other £1000 from the manufacturer. But there is a row as to how much VAT is charged, and on what, the full price or the reduced price.

[Sallz]

Last week we traded in our 13 year old Discovery (my dads pride and joy), as well as my 2 year old Aygo (which my mother has managed to destroy). Got £5000 for the Aygo and the £2000 for the Land Rover. Used the money to buy another Aygo for me and my brother to share (when he manages to pass his test). Thankfully we got in before the trouble began, as we had already got rid of the two cars and otherwise would have been left high and dry without a car.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Sallz ---- What trouble in Southampton ? I don't think it has spread to Poole --- but here in Corfe Mullen, we tend to find out things by a Runner with a cleft stick !

[Mid A 15]

My car says A to B as economically and reliably as possible whilst being large enough to transport 5 of us.

[Sallz]

Some people kicked up a fuss because it wasn't clear who was going to foot the VAT on the £2000
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8054679.stm

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Thank you -- Sallz !
We can now take down the Razor Wire and Tank Traps around Corfe Mullen !