Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

How much does the pickup + motorhome attachment cost?

Edit: £12-20k according to eBay.

I think it sounds like a sensible route based on what you've said.

10 days camping/year balanced with 355 days driving a pickup.

I'd buy a big tent and throw it in the back of an estate for two weeks/year.

I had 2 camper vans, I loved them but I came to this exact conclusion that the economics and logistics were pointless

No idea on VAG, implementation timing differed across manufacturers and models. For me, Isofix is a real boon, I wouldn't go without again. Even tensioning up the seat belt secured seats as well as I could, they still had an amount of play in them which I found disconcerting. The quick installation and removal is a big additional benefit, of course more so if regularly moving seats around. The only issue I've ever found is when the Isofix bars are buried deep within the seat, I remember a sweaty wrestling session with a Toyota Previa before a nursery trip to Twycross Zoo.

If you don't aspire to own a toppola, can you ever call yourself a petrol head?

Hire a static caravan?

I know it's not the done thing to mention Top Gear, here,
but, I was disappointed on the 'Car-avan' episode that James May did not compete with a Toppola bolted onto a Carlsson.

How much to hire a RV in your country?

More rad Rascal

1 Attachment

they still had an amount of play in them which I found disconcerting

Car seatbelts have explosive tensioning devices that trigger in the event of an accident. That play would be gone in a millisecond or two.

pretensioners fire an explosive charge to drive a concealed piston when sensors detect the signature abrupt deceleration of an accident. The piston, in turn, rapidly drives the spool around which the fabric strap of a seatbelt is wrapped. That incredibly fast retraction of the belt fabric removes the slack from the belt instantly. This extra seatbelt "pre-" tension, moments prior to the full force of impact, pulls the bodies of the driver and front-seat passenger firmly into their seats.

Any thoughts on Leon vs Focus vs Civic as Golf alternatives?

Can't help but look at how much 3 series estate you can get for similar money tho...

Also am I correct in thinking the Skoda Octavia is a Golf with a bigger boot hanging off the back and a cheaper interior?

Cheers

I thought the placement and design also made them safer from a side impact POV?

Good point, although the car I was using didn't have rear pretensioners. I suspect most new cars do now.

Fucking heaps, silly monies. Also quite far from us so logistics will kill the let’s-get-away-over-the-weeekend thing.

Re pickups I’ve always had a soft spot for them so will have an unrationally positive view on them. Need to drive a few modern ones though before we decide

They’re fun (in 6.2 litre V8 form) but staggeringly shit compared to a modern car from a ride and handling perspective.

Can't help thinking that a car and tent is a much better overall solution.

We spent one night en famille in a Bongo Friendee and it was fucking uncomfortable.

Octavia and a4 and exon are all golf mk4 and 5 with larger are yes. Octavia has the largest arse.
Passat superb and a6 are the same.

3 series is small compared to all of the above. Older e90 I don't mind, harsh ride even on 16" though

Space age looking civic is my favourite of that era, go for any diesel that's already had its clutch and more important flywheel replaced (it had something wrong with it so they ALL fail, there are no exceptions), or 2.0 petrol in es or type s spec, get all the good stuff for same price tbh. Don't like the Honda leather though, their velour type material is incredibly hard wearing and still looks good even with 150/200k on them. Watch for rear tyres eaten on inside, bush's are easy and cheap to replace though

28.8 mpg on the run back today, get in.

Best value family estate lease deals. Hit me.

The outback is getting long in the tooth.

15.3mpg on a rapid dash to Luton Airport on Friday. Get in. To the petrol station, again.

I suspect mine was a testament to the economy benefits of tooling along bang on the speed limit, on a relatively clear M3.

Spent £150 moving the car from one location in rural shropshire to another, then stripped the fricken nut that holds on the cambelt tensioner!
good news is engine doesn't seem borked at all, just need to wait a little longer before its running again. new nut will take a few days to get here.

Cheers.

I still think an estate is off the card. But a Civic is quite appealing. Definitely no diesels though... and I'm going to have to do some of the boring calculations on running costs at some point. Although luckily we don't have to worry about parking permits any more so engine size is less of an issue.

Basically I want something child friendly, not too big for London/shops, but will comfortably get half way down France.