Help with a change of car.

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Sheal, Nov 7, 2013.

  1. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    I've just come across a Daihatsu Terios and it reads quite well, what do you think all?
     
  2. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    Before I got married, while it was still in the planning stage, I thought it might be a nice surprise if I hired a car for me to drive that really stood out as something exceptional. I figured I normal choose sensible cars, but it would be nice, seeing as it is one day in my life, to have something really cool. I sought out car hire firms that claimed to do such cars. I thought a nice ferrari would be good, or even just a lotus or something. I thought I'd turn heads by turning up in that, then after the formalities my new wife and I could go for a bit of a cruise for an hour or so through the deserted moor roads (not reckless, but just spirited) before heading to the reception where the car could be collected while we were in the party.

    I phoned a few companies, who, it turned out, had the MX5, and in one case, the 2 litre version of the Vauxhall Corsa down as 'exceptional'. I was very clear when I said I wanted something sporty, but classy, so imagine how the conversation went when, having been referred from one company to the next, I finally got put onto a private owner of a car who would hire it out and collect it exactly as I wanted, but... it was (as described) a Mazda RX8, 'modded' with twin superchargers, lowered suspension, blacked out windows, and aftermarket large rear spoiler and front splitter, bilstein shocks, uprated ceramic brakes etc etc. I told the chap 'I said something stylish and classy, I'm, not showing up to my own wedding in the flipping Bat Mobile'.
     
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    • longk

      longk Total Gardener

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      Don't laugh - that is absolutely perfect for a spirited drive across the moors! The original is still a much loved car.

      I think I'm gonna pewk!
      Absolutely NOT the thing for a spirited drive on anything other than a racetrack! Hit a pebble and it'll launch across the road.
       
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      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        Surprisingly robust from what I can gather of them - never driven one, and not my cup of tea, but should be cheap as chips to run and fairly reliable.
         
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        • longk

          longk Total Gardener

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          Dull as dishwater, but should be tough as old boots asDaihatsu tend not to push the limits of engineering.

          One thing I would say is to avoid the "grey" Japanese imports as getting parts can be a nightmare!
           
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          • Sheal

            Sheal Total Gardener

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            Thanks FC, it looks like we might be getting somewhere. We're not fussed about looks, just something small, cheap to run and does the job necessary. The only drawback we can see with this one is, it's permanent 4wd, would that have an effect on fuel consumption?

            Longk.......All we're looking for is something to get my other half up and down a farm track, it's a second car so will only be used to and from the work place.

            You're right about the 'grey' imports, there's quite a few people been 'fleeced' here having bought one.
             
          • longk

            longk Total Gardener

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            Yes.

            Exactly. So the dull as dishwater bit is good, as it will probably not be too sought after making them a bit of a bargain!
            Is there a Daihatsu dealer on the island?
             
          • Sheal

            Sheal Total Gardener

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            There is a dealer here but we're not buying new. We have a friend in the car trade so if we can't get one here he'll find one for us and ship it, if that's what we decide on of course. :)
             
          • longk

            longk Total Gardener

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            I was more concerned about spare parts, so that's covered then:blue thumb:
             
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            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

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            • shiney

              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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              That would be the perfect car if you could find one. :blue thumb:

              The original specification by the designer Pierre Boulanger was as follows:- note the last three lines :)

              “four wheels under an umbrella”
              space for 4 adults (and tall enough to take the owner and passengers to church in their Sunday-best hats)
              big enough to carry 50kg of potatoes
              within the 2 horsepower fiscal bracket
              front-wheel drive
              maximum speed: 60km/h
              3-speed gear box. (In fact, there is also a supercharger position, which acts as a fourth gear.
              easy to maintain )
              able to carry a basket of eggs over a ploughed field without breaking one of them
              3 litres per 100km fuel consumption (about 90-95 miles/gallon)
              cheap


              The original ones were only made in grey.
               
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              • clueless1

                clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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                What is the 2hp fiscal bracket?
                 
              • shiney

                shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                In those days (pre WWII) in France and other countries there was a tax for vehicles calculated on their fiscal horsepower. It was to do with the vehicles cylinder dimensions.

                Here's more info:-

                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_horsepower
                 
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                • clueless1

                  clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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                  Still puzzled though. It seems to imply that the 2cv had about 2 horsepower, but that would make it about as powerful as a small lawnmower.
                   
                • shiney

                  shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                  I think they were about 400cc. The whole thing only weighed about 600 - 1000lb (depending on model) so that would be enough to use as a runaround.

                  The horsepower reference was not horsepower as we know it but cylinder dimension.
                   
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