#209

So it has that thing that means you can’t see zebra crossings right?

#210

yeah I think in an ideal world I would have gone for an A6 because it has some standard spec I would have liked and the additional internal size/boot space would have been good. However, given the amount of time I spend in carparks and things it just seems a little too big for what I’ll typically use it for.

#211

is there a ghost in the car give you the wanker sign? :laughing:

3 Likes
#212

Oh, thought it was an A6! A4 is it?

#213

yeah the A4 avant black edition

1 Like
MONDAY is a FUNDAY
#214

hello, after some advice please
I need to buy a car soon, 2nd hand budget ~£2k. The only other car I’ve owned I bought when I was 18 and had my parents to help advise.

Are Japanese cars less easy to service/get parts for in the UK? Mileage <100,000 ideal? I never learned to drive stick, but all the cars here seem to be manual so should I sort out a driving lesson instead of hunting for an auto? Is autotrader the best place to look as it has dealers and private sellers all included?

#215

Japanese cars are historically fairly reliable but just don’t get a Japanese import - you can get good deals on used ones because of their strict emissions laws but it can cause problems getting insurance and it just sounds like more hassle than it’s worth.

I’ve always found fiestas pretty reliable cars and often they’ll have been owned by those who do quite a low mileage.

#216

If you can’t drive manual car I’d guess you need to do a driving test here rather than just a lesson

#217

actually, as I had my NZ license converted to a UK one, I think there is a stipulation that I need to apply to have it altered if I want to legally drive a manual. Fuck

#218

Possibly. In Victoria after 3 years you are automatically eligible, which seems nuts to me but OTOH the ‘conversion’ if you want to drive one earlier is to just retake your test in a manual car! :grimacing:

#219

I drive an automatic now. I’d never have considered one pre-child as I enjoy the power of manual, but when you’re dealing with a child in the back who’s yelling or throwing sweets at your hair it’s really helpful to be essentially just driving a dodgem and focusing purely on steering and pedals. Also crazy to buy something mrshyg can’t drive without lessons etc, imo.

#220

I think the way things are going with electric/hybrid technology, automatics will basically become the norm in a few years, even for cheaper new cars. Basically everything will have some form of mild hybrid system at the very least and an automatic box to manage it all.

Just bought an automatic and really like it.

#221

why are autos so rare here? is it a European manufacturer thing cf. Japanese?

#222

Another for the auto fan club. Didn’t want one but was the only option on the merc from work. So much easier.
You don’t forget how to drive a manual either as I had a hire car last month and it was fine

#223

I’m selling my 2010 Peugeot 207 (72k on the clock) for under 2k if you’re anywhere near sheffield

#224

Oh. It’s a manual so maybe not

#225

thanks, but I’m after a wagon/SUV style car if I get to be picky

#226

Need to get a windshield wiper motor replaced in my Fiat Panda. Apparently it’s quite a common thing to get done. Anyone have any rough idea of how much I should be spending to get this done by a local garage?

#227

Just machismo and leftover bullshit from the days when they were significantly less good I think :wink: . Lots of, “You need a manual to drive through those English country lanes,” from people who do that once a year at most.

I dunno, it’s just a culture thing in the UK meaning people aren’t open to them. I think it will change due to the cars that are low emissions etc being automatic as standard.

1 Like
#228

You’ll need to use the term ‘estate’ in the UK instead of wagon. Not sure if SUV is much used either.

1 Like