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Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 12:05 pm
by Gareth
vanman wrote:what I look for in a car ...
- spare identical to road wheels
- dimmable instrument lights
vanman wrote:What I do not want ...
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 12:50 pm
by jont-
Gareth wrote:vanman wrote:what I look for in a car ...
- spare identical to road wheels
To that point, the Caterham is the most practical sports car I have owned, and still the only (modern-ish) one I can think of where this is true
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 1:12 pm
by Triquet
I've got full size spares in both my Saabs (courtesy of DCA), and they both have dimmable instrument lights. Saabs also have the "night time" panel where everything is off except the speedo. I believe that full size spares are essential if one is going to venture forth (eventually) the other side of The Channel. French tyre outlets will only sell by the pair.
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 6:45 pm
by jcochrane
I do not like to drive with windows down so air con is a must. Another must is a fixed metal roof. I've witnessed too many accidents in open top cars during my time in motor racing to know the dangers of not having roof protection.
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:27 pm
by Horse
Gareth wrote:vanman wrote:What I do not want ...
Until I got the Leon, I would have agreed. But not now.
That said, I have no idea on the maintenance and longevity aspects (although having a frozen handbrake cable on the Astra meant being 'creative').
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:07 pm
by Triquet
Horse wrote:Gareth wrote:vanman wrote:What I do not want ...
Until I got the Leon, I would have agreed. But not now.
That said, I have no idea on the maintenance and longevity aspects (although having a frozen handbrake cable on the Astra meant being 'creative').
Um. in the "old days" one could always adjust a brake cable. I have no idea as to how an electronic one works. You can't fix electronics with WD40 and a bed spanner.
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:29 pm
by Jonquirk
I doubt that they are very receptive to percussive maintenance either.
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:48 pm
by Horse
Triquet wrote:Um. in the "old days" one could always adjust a brake cable. I have no idea as to how an electronic one works. You can't fix electronics with WD40 and a bed spanner.
In ye olden days, bearings used to have grease nipples. On motorcycles, spark plugs were worn out at 5,000 miles, oil changes were often at 1,500 miles ... etc.
An electric parking brake then might have been a different matter to one now.
As for fixing electronics now, how many of us wouldn't buy a car with any electronic gizmos? So no EFI, no ABS, no entertainment system, no trip computer data system, no reversing bleepers or camera, no alarm, no central locking, no self levelling headlamps, ... etc.
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 9:02 pm
by Strangely Brown
Yup. I would buy a car without all that. I'll even provide the clothes peg to hold the choke out. I have long believed that youngsters these days miss out on so much jumping straight into brand-new as their first car. Learning to drive in something old and temperamental was a rite of passage and instilled a deeper appreciation, understanding and feel for the car. From that, I believe, come better drivers.
Re: Best fetures to look for when buying a new car.
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:41 am
by jont-
Looks at Caterham. Yup, that's me with no electronics, although it does have fuel injection and an ECU
Wouldn't have been bothered if it was carb though. Front bearings don't have grease nipples but they do need periodic repacking, and the prop shaft does have a grease nipple
As for electronic handbrakes, my biggest issue with them is servicing - it's yet another item that becomes difficult for the home mechanic to work on for no good reason. If you want to add them, give owners a way of putting them into service mode too without needing a diagnostic system to connect to
