https://uk.corgi.co.uk/products/ford-focus-mk3-st-race-red-va15303?_br_psugg_q=ford+focus

At last, the things I do like thread get another welcome post, seems this thread is not getting the posts it used to. 

Wow £36 for a Corgi model !!

A nice looking model, I remember saving up a few weeks pocket money to buy them. I assume kids these days must be getting £12 a week 🤣

 

My 90 year old parents have still got my corgi cars in a box, been well used by there 7 grandkids, then 11 great grandkids . 

These 3 models are cars that my Dad actually owned back in the day.

I used to like to do up and repaint Corgi and Dinky models to match his real cars. The registration numbers are the actual ones that his cars had.

9 hours ago, iantt said:

My 90 year old parents have still got my corgi cars in a box, been well used by there 7 grandkids, then 11 great grandkids . 

As a kid, I use to collect, 'Matchbox' cars, had 100s of them including carrying cases, genuine garages, roadways etc. They were pretty pristine as I was a very fussy kid, most still had their boxes. Sadly, my mum thought it best to give them all away when I grew up, shame really as that would have been a nice retirement fund!

13 hours ago, unofix said:

I used to like to do up and repaint Corgi and Dinky models to match his real cars. The registration numbers are the actual ones that his cars had.

How on earth did you get those number plates so neat? Did you use Letraset or something?

25 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Did you use Letraset

I did indeed use Letraset for the original plates. Sadly over the many years the letters started to become worn and even started to peel off. So a year or to ago I seen a company on eBay advertising they could make number plates for models. It cost £5 for all three sets if I remember correctly. I know it matters not to anyone but me, but I just wanted to remember them the way they were.

I like the email I got today, my energy bill is coming down from October an 8% drop , they want to drop my actual payments by 17% because I'm so much in credit. I'll not cut the payment as much, I don't want to worry if it's really cold this winter.

4 minutes ago, Mark-UK said:

I like the email I got today, my energy bill is coming down from October an 8% drop , they want to drop my actual payments by 17% because I'm so much in credit. I'll not cut the payment as much, I don't want to worry if it's really cold this winter.

Are you unable to not just pay for what you use? I know it's old fashioned, but waiting for them to send out an invoice, and pay the bill? I just can't get my head round paying utility companies in advance, essentially giving them an interest free loan...

My old MR2 a 91 reg can't be found on the gov.uk MOT site, but your

GBH 178Y

Ford -Beige, MOT was due in December 1997 😂

8 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Are you unable to not just pay for what you use? I know it's old fashioned, but waiting for them to send out an invoice, and pay the bill? I just can't get my head round paying utility companies in advance, essentially giving them an interest free loan...

I could, but prefer the fixed monthly amount, in the past my energy company used to pay 5% interest on the balance, unfortunately they no longer do (and interest rates were much less than that, and no they would not let you put £100K on your balance as a lump sum) .

I pay on demand, but i'm a creature of habit so my leccy barely changes, whereas my gas does. I no longer cook with gas and seen a marked drop in costs i also got the 8% email, Octopus.

Summer £70 a month

Winter £120 ish

Which is still near 3 times what i was paying pre Brexit and Ukraine

7 hours ago, Mark-UK said:

I like the email I got today, my energy bill is coming down from October an 8% drop , they want to drop my actual payments by 17% because I'm so much in credit. I'll not cut the payment as much, I don't want to worry if it's really cold this winter.

I've just come off my 2 year fixed a few weeks ago. So missed all the price hikes luckily. Now on intelligent octopus. 6 hours at 7.5p and rest at 29p. First 2 weeks it's averaged out at just at under 12p /kwh. So looking  good so far. Will see how it works out once I've been on it a few more months. 

Just back from a very enjoyable few days in Filey on the Yorkshire coast. By an amazing coincidence the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire was based there over the weekend. Some of you may remember a similar amazing coincidence last year!😀

My days of standing in the dark in Cropton and Dalby forests being lashed by gravel are long gone, but it was great to see the "Grand Depart" on Friday evening and (slightly fewer!) cars at the finish on Saturday.

The historic classes were bursting with Mexicos, RS1600s and RS1800s, plus the odd original Cooper S, Fiat 131 Abarth, Opel Kadett GTE, etc. Some of the drivers looked pretty historic too!

I remember the days and evenings in the Welsh Forrest's watching the world  rallying in the early 80,s . One occasion I had just had major surgery on my knee but that didn't stop me hobbling along with crutches in the Forrest with up to 6 inches of snow and getting crutches stuck 

31 minutes ago, iantt said:

I remember the days and evenings in the Welsh Forrest's watching the world  rallying in the early 80,s

I was a marshal in the Circuit of Ireland, and the Ulster Rally in the early 80s. I still remember being distracted by a very attractive fan, not noticing an oncoming 6R4, and having to jump into a ditch to avoid death, all to great amusement from the crowd! 🤣

5 hours ago, StephenFord said:

I was a marshal in the Circuit of Ireland, and the Ulster Rally in the early 80s. I still remember being distracted by a very attractive fan, not noticing an oncoming 6R4, and having to jump into a ditch to avoid death, all to great amusement from the crowd! 🤣

I've driven a 6r4 on the road. Lots of people watching. 😂😂. We had a 6r4 in our showroom for some time on display and eventually it needed moving to Patrick motors museum in Birmingham  About 30 miles away. At the same time a talbot sunbeam lotus, 6 wheel Jag and our old Peugeot van went there too. 

Just seen the van up for sale last week in I motoring paper

 

Found it . Had many a journey in that van as an apprentice

3 hours ago, iantt said:

Had many a journey in that van as an apprentice

The Peugeot 304 was an ugly car, even in the dark. The 304 van looks like Herman Munster 🤣

5 minutes ago, unofix said:

The Peugeot 304 was an ugly car, even in the dark. The 304 van looks like Herman Munster 🤣

Must admit, the 304 makes the Trabant look elegant! LOL

And some mug just paid over £6k for it. Ulez compliant?? 😂😂

Can't remember if I've posted in this thread but anyway. I like my Zetec S focus. Yes it's been mistreated by its previous owners (shame on them) but I've thrown love and attention to it and it's one helluva ruddy good car.

I like my car and the one before.  Well , it's Been 12 months of ev motoring and I'm pleased to say totally enjoying the experience so far. As a mechanic of nearly 43 years, I thought I would have been the last to buy an ev. But I can see the advantages that maybe others can't see after working on engine/gearboxes etc all those years with all the faults you can imagine.

Posted up image  of  the gearbox on an ioniq/Kona to see the simplicity. 

The Car handles surprisingly well with low centre of gravity helping round corners. 

200+hp and 395 torque, so goes well. 

Current car does between 280-300 miles on a charge, don't know about winter yet but going on the ioniq I had before the range didnt drop more than 10 miles so we shall see. . Car has 3 times the range than my bladder can cope with. 😂. Normal commute and weekend run around require full charge once every 12 to 14 days or so. But tend to just top up on a Sunday night at 7.5p a kWh cheap EV tarriff for £2.40 for the week. 

Nearly all All my charging is from home so I'm isolated from the public charging which isn't up to scratch yet.

No problems to report, all the tech stuff works as it should. 

I intend to do a road trip down through France and may be further  next year so that will be the ultimate test I guess. 

I've not worked on EV's or had to face any servicing or repair costs so can't comment on that.

What I can say is that I have driven a number of different Make/model EV's recently and have been quietly impressed by all of them.

For my own vehicles, I've always insisted in the past that it had to be petrol & manual. Must be mellowing, or is it just technology improving 😌.

EV's are quiet but not worryingly silent and are very responsive on the road. The only downsides I've come across is having to pay more attention to speed and to occasionally have to  queue for a charger (usually in unfamiliar locations).