DustyBin
Established Member
Yes. It's truly awesome.
Nice! They’re a real anomaly these days being a genuine homologation special.
I have a MK3 Focus RS parked in the garage and drive a Fiesta ST Performance Edition day to day. All good fun!
Yes. It's truly awesome.
Nice! They’re a real anomaly these days being a genuine homologation special.
I have a MK3 Focus RS parked in the garage and drive a Fiesta ST Performance Edition day to day. All good fun!
As a Cadillac? That was stretching things a bitVW actually sold a rebadged version [of a Skoda Felicia] as a Caddy for a while:
I expect it had been shortened by a previous owner when one of the original ends split. Nevertheless, I knew a guy who had worked in the Ford design offices. He said that everything was costed to 0.1 pence. When you are making millions of them that mounts up.the flexible tube link between the metal pipe from the petrol tank and the carburettor inlet was about 1/2" too short. ....
A friend who worked for BLMC (as it was then) said it was rumoured that they miscalculated the production costs and made a loss on every mini they sold! I wondered whether shaving 1/2" off the hose that let us down was one of their attempts to minimise the losses.
Needing only a motorcycle licence was plain silly. The things managed to combine most of the disadvantages of a car and a motorcyle. They seemed to be designed to roll over if you were braking and turning at the same time (just as you might to to avoid a collision). I changed a clutch on one once and they were awful to work on. Oddly enough, the Reliant Scimitar was a nice looking sports car and in a totally different league from the Robin - I drove one once and always fancied one myself.They [Reliant Robins] were cheap and I think you only needed a motorcycle licence.
No, SWMBO had it from new. I had to buy a length of the fibre-reinforced clear hose to make sure it didn't happen again. Still got the off-cut!I expect it had been shortened by a previous owner when one of the original ends split. Nevertheless, I knew a guy who had worked in the Ford design offices. He said that everything was costed to 0.1 pence. When you are making millions of them that mounts up.
Ford wondered how they could make one for the price they were asking so brought one and took it apart. They realised that it was impossible they could make it for what they were selling it for.A friend who worked for BLMC (as it was then) said it was rumoured that they miscalculated the production costs and made a loss on every mini they sold! I wondered whether shaving 1/2" off the hose that let us down was one of their attempts to minimise the losses...
Ford wondered how they could make one for the price they were asking so brought one and took it apart. They realised that it was impossible they could make it for what they were selling it for.
As for the worst car, I haven't owned a car but my Aunties KA must be the worst car that's been on that side of the family, brought brand new in 2006 replacing a Volvo 340 1.7GLE, had to have a fair amount of work on it over the years and got replaced by a K13 micra after 8 years as it wasn't really econimical to repair, was only on the road for two years after that. Also it's kit list seemed to extend to power steering, though at least it got the better tape radio rather than the very basic one they originally had as standard.
Later Robins and Rialtos were actually very difficult to turn over unless you were really trying to achieve that. Most or all of the famous Top Gear bits were achieved by modifying the cars in some way, or otherwise "assisting" the process, I believe.Needing only a motorcycle licence was plain silly. The things managed to combine most of the disadvantages of a car and a motorcyle. They seemed to be designed to roll over if you were braking and turning at the same time (just as you might to to avoid a collision). I changed a clutch on one once and they were awful to work on. Oddly enough, the Reliant Scimitar was a nice looking sports car and in a totally different league from the Robin - I drove one once and always fancied one myself.
Later Robins and Rialtos were actually very difficult to turn over unless you were really trying to achieve that. Most or all of the famous Top Gear bits were achieved by modifying the cars in some way, or otherwise "assisting" the process, I believe.
Isn’t there a “microcar” that can legally be driven on a motorcycle license as it considered a moped due to its low engine power and 30mph speed restriction. Quiet unsafe though the crash tests non those things looked horrific.
I recall them. I also recall seeing the remains of one that had been involved in a minor collision. No great surprise they were withdrawn from use.The Invacars could be driven without any licence at all. You just needed to very briefly prove you could actually drive it.
I recall them. I also recall seeing the remains of one that had been involved in a minor collision. No great surprise they were withdrawn from use.
I believe 4 wheeled vehicles that are limited to the same speed as a moped (48km/h iirc) can be driven on a provisional licence, having completed motorbike style CBT in a 4 wheeled vehicle (like a 3 wheeler), these are class AM vehicles. Naturally they can also be driven on a full mooed licence.You can drive anything which has up to three wheels on a motorcycle licence.
Four wheels or more (including quad bikes) and you need a car licence.
The Invacars could be driven without any licence at all. You just needed to very briefly prove you could actually drive it.
I believe 4 wheeled vehicles that are limited to the same speed as a moped (48km/h iirc) can be driven on a provisional licence, having completed motorbike style CBT in a 4 wheeled vehicle (like a 3 wheeler), these are class AM vehicles. Naturally they can also be driven on a full mooed licence.
Look up the Axiam GT and the special version of the Renault Twizy
1996 Suzuki Swift 4 door version 993cc automatic P530PYW.
My mum looked at getting one years ago as she has a moped only licence, wouldn't have been a good idea as she was bad enough on the bike (neighbour once commented on how much more confident I was on mine than her!).I'd forgotten about both of those in all honesty. Haven't seen either in ages.
Learn something new every day.
Yes.I keep doing a double take but have you posted the same car in both threads Peter?
Yes.
I only ever owned the one car... so I thought I'd see if anyone noticed... and it is, obviously, 100% accurate on both threads...
Exactly.Ah, a bit like when they talk about the weather and say ‘Since records began’.
That first day must have been the windiest, wettest, most frozen, sunniest, hottest day on record.
My wife had one of these for a while, it was the SX estate spec and a comfortable car. I don’t recall thinking it underpowered, though it would not have won a Grand Prix.Two contenders - both were company cars issued to me when I joined the company and I had until the car I chose arrived:
A Citroen ZX Diesel estate - not intrinsically bad but it was the non-turbo diesel version and had been specced with an automatic gearbox. Gutless genuinely wasn't the word - it was dangerously slow, it made pulling out of junctions a scary experience. It's the only modern (i.e. built after 1970) car I've ever owned which was incapable of exceeding 100mph - I took it along the newly opened A50 between the M1 and Stoke and with my foot to the floor on the long sections of dual carriageway it resolutely refused to exceed about 96mph. Dreadful thing.
My wife had one of these for a while, it was the SX estate spec and a comfortable car. I don’t recall thinking it underpowered, though it would not have won a Grand Prix.
The biggest issue we had with it was when the load sensing valve on the rear brakes began to leak.
I was at a set of lights with my foot on the brake when I realised the pedal had sunk to the floor!
Manufacturers often use the same part across a range of different vehicles, not so the ZX estate, the valve was unique to this model and had to be sourced from France by the dealer.
My worst car was my 2000W 1.4 VW Polo.
Not much power.
You're not kidding, 2000 Watts is under 3 h.p.
Did it make it go any faster?2. My neighbours boyfriend. By then it had been given front & rear spoilers and flared wheel arches.