26 minutes ago, Incontro said:

Petrol. It would have to be almost a V6 diesel (or a pretty big diesel) to "only" get 40 MPG on the motorway. :)

Haha, yeah!  The 1.9TD never goes below 45 even in constant city driving.  Can't beat an old smoky IDI!

1 hour ago, chrisroberson99 said:

The first guy in my year passing his driving test! Passed first time, although he should do his dad is a driving instructor! 

He's getting a 6 month old Fiesta Titanium...only slightly jealous! Maybe he got a good deal as his dad has a 16 plate learners car...

At Least my Focus will be bigger! 

Your school is very different to how mine was...  The teachers didn't have new cars, let alone the students!  

45 minutes ago, Incontro said:

Petrol. It would have to be almost a V6 diesel (or a pretty big diesel) to "only" get 40 MPG on the motorway. :)

Depends what your motorway cruising speed is tbh...   I gave someone a lift yesterday and he was impressed by the current 50mpg on the trip computer...  I'm gutted by it!  Been all town and single track this week.  

9 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Your school is very different to how mine was...  The teachers didn't have new cars, let alone the students!  

Yeah, same here!  I can't believe the number of 17 year olds who can't even drive yet but have brand new cars.  Not saying there is anything wrong with that and the parents obviously work hard to earn the money, but I don't think it is the best idea.  Yes it will give them confidence and if they have an accident they will be best protected, but I think you have to work your way up in life, and starting off with a new vehicle just doesn't seem right to me...  Plus, as a new driver you won't really get the full benefit from a brand new car in the same way you would when you have been driving for a few years and have the confidence to push it to its limits etc...

There is also the factor of getting a better feel and appreciation for the road and road conditions in an older car, with heavier steering and weaker brakes.  If somebody who had only driven new cars suddenly had to drive a MK4 Fiesta (for example), they would be scared stiff!!  No ABS, TC, hill-start or anything like that. 

Mind you, I would never buy a new car even if I were a millionaire, so I'm biased!

20 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Your school is very different to how mine was...  The teachers didn't have new cars, let alone the students!  

Haha, my school is a little odd, it's a boarding school too so we have lots of international students (I'm a day pupil) but some of the Russians we have wear fur coats and have their own planes!  

Most of the teachers have fairly average cars, but most of them are under 15 years old. Although I always enjoy seeing the older cars (pre 51 plate) on the road tbh. 

My old food tech teacher had a brand new Range Rover Supercharged and I swear she used to aim for students in the car park! 

13 minutes ago, chrisroberson99 said:

Haha, my school is a little odd, it's a boarding school too so we have lots of international students (I'm a day pupil) but some of the Russians we have wear fur coats and have their own planes!  

Most of the teachers have fairly average cars, but most of them are under 15 years old. Although I always enjoy seeing the older cars (pre 51 plate) on the road tbh. 

My old food tech teacher had a brand new Range Rover Supercharged and I swear she used to aim for students in the car park! 

Nothing wrong with keeping the students alert

On 4/11/2016 at 9:43 PM, Stoney871 said:

Congrats Fella.

Welcome to the ball'n'chain club

Sent from my SM-G930F

Thanks matey, life is bad for a 24 year old!  As for ball n Chain, that's the polite way of calling her.  Doesn't even respond to clicking my fingers or whistling.  As for a cup of tea, I can go whistle dixies

4 hours ago, Incontro said:

Hyundai Tucson? Wow, you must feel quite high up. :) Not that bad surely? But I agree that it's handling characteristic is probably not as 'sporty' as the Focus.

At least you didn't end up with a Poxhaul!

Surely you must have anticipated that, when buying such a large and large engined car?

If it's any consolation for you, I'm currently getting "only" around 33 MPG from a 1.6.

I dream of 33mpg, 30.8 mpg from my tinky 1.6.  Had a nice steady cruise to & from London on Monday/Tuesday & got it up to 34.8 but it's back down again now.  Sole disadvantage of working 3miles away from home.  As for young kids in new cars.  My first car( here's the reg) M101 BLG Ford focus 1.8 Lx, couldn't pull you out of bed & I painted the drums & calipers blue.  No driver aids or nothing & that's how it should be, how's a kid going to get proper driving experience if he/she has all these ridiculous driver aids.  Also in my escort I could hear everything so I knew what was around me & my Focus? can't hear a thing.  Learn to drive in an old knacker first.  Winds me up seeing children in a new car full of dings.   

14 minutes ago, Preecematt said:

Thanks matey, life is bad for a 24 year old!  As for ball n Chain, that's the polite way of calling her.  Doesn't even respond to clicking my fingers or whistling.  As for a cup of tea, I can go whistle dixies

I dream of 33mpg, 30.8 mpg from my tinky 1.6.  Had a nice steady cruise to & from London on Monday/Tuesday & got it up to 34.8 but it's back down again now.  Sole disadvantage of working 3miles away from home.  As for young kids in new cars.  My first car( here's the reg) M101 BLG Ford focus 1.8 Lx, couldn't pull you out of bed & I painted the drums & calipers blue.  No driver aids or nothing & that's how it should be, how's a kid going to get proper driving experience if he/she has all these ridiculous driver aids.  Also in my escort I could hear everything so I knew what was around me & my Focus? can't hear a thing.  Learn to drive in an old knacker first.  Winds me up seeing children in a new car full of dings.   

I wasn't quite brave enough to say that myself for fear of getting another rollicking, but that's my sentiments exactly!

1 minute ago, jmurray01 said:

I wasn't quite brave enough to say that myself for fear of getting another rollicking, but that's my sentiments exactly!

Oh man it's mad, this is coming from me & I'm 24 lol.  I'm old fashioned I think.  Even if my dreams do come true & I end up like Christian Grey lol then my kids still won't be driving round in some new car.  Although saying that, I'm not sure how that would work, as all the 'decent' cars will be classics lol

9 minutes ago, Preecematt said:

Oh man it's mad, this is coming from me & I'm 24 lol.  I'm old fashioned I think.  Even if my dreams do come true & I end up like Christian Grey lol then my kids still won't be driving round in some new car.  Although saying that, I'm not sure how that would work, as all the 'decent' cars will be classics lol

I think it would be a good idea to put in place something like they have with automatic and manual (full) licenses.  If you pass your test in a new car then you can only drive a car made after a certain date (say, 2010) and with a minimum level of driving aids (ABS, TC, parking sensors etc...), and if you ever want to drive an older car you have to pass a separate test in an older car to demonstrate your ability to drive same.  Whereas if you want to get a full licence you would have to pass it the first time in an older car which would give you the ability to drive both old and new. 

As for the decent cars becoming classics, that won't happen as time is relative.  I.E. by the time your children are driving, a 2016 Ford Fiesta would be an "old banger" so they would drive that, as by then the new models would be ten times more modern.

Try driving a wolsely hornet special!!! That was terrifying!!! And my new wife was next to me!!!

11 hours ago, Ianb said:

Try driving a wolsely hornet special!!! That was terrifying!!! And my new wife was next to me!!!

It may have been better to take it for a test drive prior to the actual event!

5 hours ago, jmurray01 said:

It may have been better to take it for a test drive prior to the actual event!

The car or the wife? 

40 minutes ago, SeanW said:

The car or the wife? 

Hahaha always somebody that has to lower the tone.  

 

On 4/14/2016 at 1:29 AM, jmurray01 said:

I think it would be a good idea to put in place something like they have with automatic and manual (full) licenses.  If you pass your test in a new car then you can only drive a car made after a certain date (say, 2010) and with a minimum level of driving aids (ABS, TC, parking sensors etc...), and if you ever want to drive an older car you have to pass a separate test in an older car to demonstrate your ability to drive same.  Whereas if you want to get a full licence you would have to pass it the first time in an older car which would give you the ability to drive both old and new. 

As for the decent cars becoming classics, that won't happen as time is relative.  I.E. by the time your children are driving, a 2016 Ford Fiesta would be an "old banger" so they would drive that, as by then the new models would be ten times more modern.

I sort of agree.  I think the only drive a certain date one is/would be unfair as I learnt to drive(with instructor) a brand new 207 yet I went out with mum and dad in a 94/95 reg escort and I only had 7 lessons before I passed but I Couldn't ever afford a brand new car, not even now lol.  I do agree however on the minimum driving aids.  Say I learnt to drive in my Focus, I couldn't then go & drive a bog standard Escort.  I'd have to pass another test to learn to drive the Escort.  Although I think a compulsory old bangers only test with no driving aids at all.  Try a 3 point turn with no power steering.  Arnie muscles here you come!

21 minutes ago, Preecematt said:

Hahaha always somebody that has to lower the tone.  

 

I sort of agree.  I think the only drive a certain date one is/would be unfair as I learnt to drive(with instructor) a brand new 207 yet I went out with mum and dad in a 94/95 reg escort and I only had 7 lessons before I passed but I Couldn't ever afford a brand new car, not even now lol.  I do agree however on the minimum driving aids.  Say I learnt to drive in my Focus, I couldn't then go & drive a bog standard Escort.  I'd have to pass another test to learn to drive the Escort.  Although I think a compulsory old bangers only test with no driving aids at all.  Try a 3 point turn with no power steering.  Arnie muscles here you come!

Haha, indeed!!  Yes I think it would be best if instead of being able to pass your test in an instructor's brand new car, you were supplied with an old Escort (or similar) with manual everything and then had to complete the test.  If you can pass in that, then you can drive anything!! 

 

11 hours ago, jmurray01 said:

Haha, indeed!!  Yes I think it would be best if instead of being able to pass your test in an instructor's brand new car, you were supplied with an old Escort (or similar) with manual everything and then had to complete the test.  If you can pass in that, then you can drive anything!! 

 

They say that about Fiats.  If you can fix a fiat you can fix anything & if you can drive a fiat you can drive anything.  I've driven 2 fiats & they were both naff 

Me? Lower the tone? No-ohh maybe a little lol

I loved my Mk2 Punto. It was a fun car to drive, smiles per miles was very high!!

It was funnier to drive than the Focus, the Focus makes me happy in a totally different way.

It's like the difference between watching an episode of Tom & Jerry compared to something like NCIS - both good but for different reasons

7 hours ago, Preecematt said:

They say that about Fiats.  If you can fix a fiat you can fix anything & if you can drive a fiat you can drive anything.  I've driven 2 fiats & they were both naff 

If you can fix a board, you can fix a bike, then if you can fix a bike, you can fix a car, then if you can fix a car, then you can learn to fix a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, a Pacific 24 sea-boat, a four and a half inch naval gun, a Samsung radar system, or a type-45 destroyer and when you can fix all that, you can fix a fiat. 

😂

38 minutes ago, SeanW said:

Me? Lower the tone? No-ohh maybe a little lol

I loved my Mk2 Punto. It was a fun car to drive, smiles per miles was very high!!

It was funnier to drive than the Focus, the Focus makes me happy in a totally different way.

It's like the difference between watching an episode of Tom & Jerry compared to something like NCIS - both good but for different reasons

Unfortunately I never got to drive my Punto, but the 405 was certainly a trade up.  It may have been a fun car to drive and was economical, but it was certainly not as well made as the Ford Fiesta or even a Ka.  Considering I bought it for £100 and sold it for £300 though, I'm not complaining!!

8 minutes ago, Cookey09 said:

If you can fix a board, you can fix a bike, then if you can fix a bike, you can fix a car, then if you can fix a car, then you can learn to fix a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, a Pacific 24 sea-boat, a four and a half inch naval gun, a Samsung radar system, or a type-45 destroyer and when you can fix all that, you can fix a fiat. 

😂

If you can fix a board, you can fix a bike, then if you can fix a bike, you can fix a car, then if you can fix a car, then you can learn to fix a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, a Pacific 24 sea-boat, a four and a half inch naval gun, a Samsung radar system, or a type-45 destroyer then go out on a runashore & make a total drunken bellpiece of yourself with your plastered mates. ;)

23 minutes ago, Cookey09 said:

If you can fix a board, you can fix a bike, then if you can fix a bike, you can fix a car, then if you can fix a car, then you can learn to fix a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, a Pacific 24 sea-boat, a four and a half inch naval gun, a Samsung radar system, or a type-45 destroyer and when you can fix all that, you can fix a fiat. 

😂

Haha!

2 hours ago, Stoney871 said:

If you can fix a board, you can fix a bike, then if you can fix a bike, you can fix a car, then if you can fix a car, then you can learn to fix a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, a Pacific 24 sea-boat, a four and a half inch naval gun, a Samsung radar system, or a type-45 destroyer then go out on a runashore & make a total drunken bellpiece of yourself with your plastered mates. ;)

Haha or that!😂

Britain's got talent.  AKA Crufts, AKA Got No Talent.   

They say that about Fiats.  If you can fix a fiat you can fix anything & if you can drive a fiat you can drive anything.  I've driven 2 fiats & they were both naff 

If you can fix a board, you can fix a bike, then if you can fix a bike, you can fix a car, then if you can fix a car, then you can learn to fix a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, a Pacific 24 sea-boat, a four and a half inch naval gun, a Samsung radar system, or a type-45 destroyer and when you can fix all that, you can fix a fiat. 

😂

Yeah...the Navy can't even fix the T45's lol

12 minutes ago, SeanW said:

If you can fix a board, you can fix a bike, then if you can fix a bike, you can fix a car, then if you can fix a car, then you can learn to fix a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, a Pacific 24 sea-boat, a four and a half inch naval gun, a Samsung radar system, or a type-45 destroyer and when you can fix all that, you can fix a fiat. 

😂

 

Yeah...the Navy can't even fix the T45's lol

SUREEELLLYYYYY  we can forgive them for a few small teething problems?  Cough.