alfierose

I had one pushy salesman but for the most part I had the opposite issue. When I wanted questions answered no fucker was available apart from the young receptionists who knew next to nothing about the cars being sold.

Going back this weekend for a second look at a few things.

On 2/28/2023 at 3:00 PM, MillionsOfSpiders said:

Have you picked one yet @alfierose?

Lol. No. I keep changing my mind.

On 2/24/2023 at 8:28 AM, alfierose said:

Thanks. My Dad has Audi - not sure which one, a saloon type. He loves his, it must be at least 10 years old now and still seems like new. He is a careful owner though! He's also just bought  a small BMW as a local run around so I'm going to visit at the weekend and have a look at that. It's not the model I'm looking at but probably very similar.

Got to see my Dad's new BMW today. It's utterly gorgeous but it is not a small car! Clearly our ideas of what constitutes a local run around do not gel. 

For anyone interested in updates I spent the weekend trailing around showrooms. First time I've shopped for a car in many years so it was fun but I'm still nowhere near a decision.

The preconceptions of what I thought I would like were mostly smashed. The Volvo's that were at the top of my list I was very underwhelmed by in person. The Qashqai that I didn't think I would like I liked a lot. I also like the Kia Sportage although I think that comes in at 5-10k more (highish spec of both models). It does have the 7 year warranty though.

My absolute fave which I loved the minute I sat in it was the Mercedes GLC and GLB. This is the expensive option new although an ex demo/year or two old GLB can be picked up for around 35k. My husband is not keen and keeps making noises about mpg and repair costs. He's not exactly wrong but it was my favourite in a love at first sight sort of way.  The hybrid and EV versions are just way too expensive unfortunately, even used.

I still need to revisit BMW and Audi because neither had the models I wanted to look at in the showroom and it was too busy to wait for a salesperson.

Nissan have just launched something called e-power which is- A technology unique to Nissan. e-POWER uses a petrol engine to charge a battery and that alone drives an electric motor, powering the wheels. It responds similarly to an electric car, providing instant torque and also has lower tailpipe emissions and running costs compared to a traditional combustion engine [1], but without the need to plug it in. In addition to the petrol engine, e-POWER also uses regenerative braking to help keep the battery topped up.

I'm not convinced this isn't just a waste of time though. I've been offered a decent deal - just under 34k for a top spec e-power but I can't help feeling it's better to just either pay less and buy standard petrol or pay a bit more and get the plug in hybrid. Anyone have thoughts on this?

6 hours ago, Oldest Goat said:

I know fuckall about cars but I know people who do know quite a bit and apparently while BMW is a good German-made brand, their Achilles heel is they're really shit to maintain.

But actually now that I say that, it's possible they were maybe saying that just in the context of being in NZ, huge hassle getting spare parts down here or something.

We're not quite as difficult to reach here as NZ but ease and cost of maintenance is a good point. I was considering going to look at a Range Rover Evoque as they are a similar price to the Volvo and I see quite a few of them around here. I'm put off a bit by reading they don't have the best reputation re things going wrong and getting them fixed.

Thanks. My Dad has Audi - not sure which one, a saloon type. He loves his, it must be at least 10 years old now and still seems like new. He is a careful owner though! He's also just bought  a small BMW as a local run around so I'm going to visit at the weekend and have a look at that. It's not the model I'm looking at but probably very similar.

Also re the XC40. I've coveted the XC90 and 60 for years, when I had small kids it was my dream car but sadly back then I'd have had to sell them to buy it. I can't justify a massive car these days with only me in it about 80% of the time so the XC40 seems like a nice compromise. They do have a full EV version of it too as well as the hybrid and something called mild hybrid.

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm with you on the longevity of EV's - the jury is out somewhat. We've had two as company cars and husband is about to get a 3rd - the technology has really advanced since the very first one we drove. Even though you can get some impressive mileage out of some models the batteries do degrade over time and hold less charge (like a mobile phone). To me this makes them ideal for leases and PCPs where you pay to upgrade every 3 years or so. Even more so when it's a work scheme and not a personal car.

Another thing that's a downside of EV is the 'who forgot to charge the car?' argument. On a few occasions I've got up to a message saying "forgot to charge the car so had to take yours" then leaving me to sit around waiting for his bloody car to charge.  

I'm erring towards a hybrid of some kind but is it just more to go wrong on it? Also it's very hilly around here and the potholes are horrendous - I'm wondering how the suspension is on an automatic hybrid compared to maybe a more sprightly manual petrol?

UK based thread but all welcome to comment.

I'm looking to buy a new or nearly new car this year. This will be the first time in my life I'm buying a car I will (hopefully) really like rather than an old banger or make do type car with compromises for stuff like child seats etc.

I have a rough idea of what I want which is a small or mid size SUV type. Doesn't strictly have to be an SUV but I want a high seat position. I hate being low down when driving especially at night.

I'm currently considering:

Volvo XC40 (current fave)

Ford Kuga (budget option but have driven in one as a passenger and quite liked it)

BMW X3 and Audi Q series (expensive)

In reserve because I'm not sure I like it is the Nissan Qashqai.

Reason I'm making the thread really is because I feel a bit bamboozled by options and specs especially around the EV/Hybrid/MildHybrid stuff. I like electric cars and have driven them but my husband's work car is an EV and the idea of only having electrics is bothering me a bit.

I've also noticed that it's much more standard now for newer cars to be automatic and the manuals are harder to come by. I googled it and it seems the way things are going.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/analysis-are-manual-gearboxes-way-out

I've become used to driving without gears in the company lease EV's we've had but again I'm not sure how I feel about totally ditching manual? I know it's completely standard in many countries so it's probably a weird Brit thing.

I'm planning to buy the car then keep it for at least the next decade so build quality and retaining some value are maybe factors too. I've looked at the PCP finance plans but they don't seem to be great deals unless you want to essentially lease for a few years at a time then hand back.

Anyone have any of the above cars, other suggestions for me to look at or general comments about EV/Hybrid vs Fuel or automatic vs manual?

On 2/21/2023 at 10:17 PM, downzy said:

We're going to setup a sub-forum for all of these dates.  

Coming soon!

Thanks for getting all the dates done. Not had much time this week.

5 hours ago, Swedish said:

I'm not saying this NASCAR thing will lead to anything, I've given up hope on that years ago... But sponsoring a car in a NASCAR Cup Race costs several hundred thousand dollars, and I would assume that price would be even higher for Daytona 500.

Why would they waste that amount without something to promote? It would be idiotic. Which, well wouldn't be the first time they had idiotic promotion campaigns.

Because these are things that rich people do for fun?

Further to our last update @Dazeyhas generously agreed to stay on as a mod. Another WTF moment in GNR history. 

Welcome aboard and be lovely to him everyone!

7 minutes ago, avahland said:

Chinese Democracy starts now
This thread ends now

NOW !

Does this mean it's at 1000? My view is different so I can't tell.

Edited to say I'm not posting now until it hits 1000. Nobody wants to win their own party game. 

Just now, Tom2112 said:

Yeah Alfie/mods what's in for us? let's talk prizes otherwise we're going on strike

Apart from a strike not working because me and Jan could fill the last page ourselves I could give the first poster on page 1000 a club membership if they already have one they can nominate someone else. That's the best I can offer really.

1 minute ago, Tom2112 said:

I think it's far more GNR to leave it here at 999. Lock this som'bitch!

Tempting...

What page are we up to oh brave 1000 warriors? 

On 2/12/2023 at 7:37 PM, Gibson87 said:

995

Five pages left. You've had all weekend guys!

I'm disappointed it doesn't know his writing style. Could have had a lot of fun with that. 

Has anyone asked chatGPT to write something in the style of Axl Rose yet?

4 minutes ago, Sledge said:

Fill the thread you say? Very well:

It's all connected you see. Chinese Democracy 2, Lee Harvey Oswald, the balloon from China, Mugatu, the chips in our covid vaccine, etc. Etc.... Wake up people! You think bigfoot is behind all this? Don't be stupid, he's just the fall guy! The dark Lord platypus is behind all of this! You're all staring at the dots too closely to see how they all connect! Exclamation point! CAPS LOCK TO INDICATE THAT IVE RAISED THE VOLUME OF MY VOICE NOW ELLIPSES...

Good work. I like it.

42 minutes ago, JimiRose said:

Don't worry, there won't be an album drop between now and then, we can go slow and steady

That's not why we're doing it. I want it filled up fast so I can lock it. 

5 minutes ago, Tom2112 said:

This possibly is the saddest and most correct post in all of the 992 pages... let's keep saying depressing shit and fill this mothertrucker! I know what it's like to have purpose now🥲

That's the spirit!

34 minutes ago, Spike Killer said:

If there is a new album, I suspect it's not going to be released today.

Oh ye of little faith. Get these pages to 1000 and it's totally happening. The universe will make sure of it.

1 minute ago, Shacklermyrye said:

This is you lot finishing your marathon and still not getting an album. May as well sprint and rip off that bandaid.