Mr Whiplash (aka Recommend Provost A New Car)

[RGBVideo]

What do you need a car for?

Needing a car for (a) travelling to work in an urban environment and (b) the occasional meet-up with some friends within England?

If those are your only needs for a car, then Smart for two would be ideal.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Odin
What's that supposed to be? some kind of small hatch-back?

Something an American couldn't comprehend: a small car with a good mileage.

[Dis]

My car is rated for 32 mpg. Though the way I drive, I get around 30.

[Spiffor]

Well, with the Twingo, for $10,960, you get the following mileage:

on the road: 4.8l / 100km (that's the standard mileage measurement in France - I convert it ino 49 mpg)

in town: 7.6l / 100 km (31 mpg)

Source

[Provost Harrison]

Yeah, but it's a Twingo! Things haven't got quite that bad!

[CerberusIV]

PH - whiplash injuries can have long term effects. Pay attention to how you feel in a few weeks time after the initial effects have worn off.

As for cars, you're probably too young for what I'd advise. Get a Volvo - a large one. Not one of the current rebadged Fords but an older one. I have an 850 estate but the 9** series are good (avoid the 2 litre engines, they're puny and avoid the T5's, they cost an arm and both legs to insure).

Downside is fuel consumption (mine does around 27 mpg) but they do have advantages. On motorways Mr Arrogant Git in his 5-series Beemer will think twice about tailgating you in the outside lane and generally everyone else will not want to drive into you in case they scratch your paintwork whilst demolishing their own cars. Parts are relatively cheap as is labour as the cars are easy to work on.

If you need to move stuff you'll save a fortune on van hire as the estate versions will swallow pretty much anything apart from large items of furniture.

Volvo's do have something of an image issue. I don't care as I'm over 40 but image may matter to you.

In the last resort, if you have an accident in one you have a pretty good chance of walking away (that matters here with all the drunk, incompetent or Eastern European drivers on the roads).

[Provost Harrison]

I don't know how much money some of you think I am prepared to spend on a car!

[Winston]

Driving a car is evil. Leftists shouldn't be doing it.

[Provost Harrison]

Actually I am actually thinking about giving up driving, at least for a while. I find it very frustrating these days (and in this location) and I don't need it so much now anyway I have good public transport around here, unlike in Hull...

[Provost Harrison]

I'm off work this morning waiting for them to take my car away and bring the hire car...still no sign though...they were supposed to be here nearly half an hour ago...

[Winston]

They probably have you on ignore..

[Provost Harrison]

Getting them to find out where it is. Some of us have to go to work. What's your excuse, munDane?

[Winston]

I didn't do a thing, she bumped into me. Your Honour.

[Richelieu]

You wish.

[MOBIUS]

Driving in London...



I drove to London last w/e and was immediately reminded of one of the reasons I don't live there anyone...

I ditched my last car in London when my average mileage dipped to 2,000 miles pa including a trip to Cornwall and France!

Why not try just hiring a car whenever you really need one instead, which is what I did.

Otherwise, get an old banger - or, taking a leaf out of Spiff's book, get a Smart Car...

If my new property purchase goes through OK, I'll be having a big garage - I'm seriously thinking of getting myself a convertible Karmann Ghia...