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

My Mk1 Leaf experience has been fairly painless. Mk1 has terrible range in winter so avoid. Charges to full overnight on the 13A granny charger from empty (as in no range left at all).

Super cheap motoring in complete comfort. Other road users tend to underestimate the acceleration. I used to amuse myself on the commute with the inevitable SUV traffic light grand prix.

Edit.. I can get a 29er HT in the boot with seats folded down and front wheel off.

Tesla are the only game in town for long distance travelling.

100%. Looking forward to doing a 600 mile day in August down to France (lockdowns etc willing).

Watched a video of some dude recently (engineering guy or something) drive across frozen Canada or some such and pull some seriously impressive mileage in sub zero temps. Very impressive heat management.

The latest ones (with the heat pump) use barely any energy when heating the cabin any more. Also, with pre-warming (if you can), the actual energy efficiency of the motor is ridiculous too.

Very impressed with mine still.

I can see why their chassis is so sought after on the conversion market. Would be interesting to see what the ‘to failure’ mileage is like on the batteries.

I saw a Kia SUV up close today... I think I was a little unfair, the KIA looked a million miles better than that Bimmer...

Absolutely better. I'd actually prefer a Kia Stinger GT to a new BMW M3 at this stage.

Ami

that's weird looking even for me!

test mule.

Anyone ever had underseal / rustproofing / Dintrol / Waxoyl done? Was it worth it? Anything to consider? I have bought a reasonably new / good condition 4WD which I intend to keep until diesel engines finally made illegal, so seriously considering it. thanks

But so damn cool.

I just watched some YouTube stuff about the Ami.

It’s potentially as revolutionary as the Smart originally was - before it went all swanky with a silent “s”

£43k Kia is pretty punchy though!

Ah depressing numbers. Even for middle of the road stuff like Austin Metros, which I'd love another one of just for old times sake (my first car and the one I learned in), which I happen to think are ageing really nicely, are down to a hundred or so in total

65 MG Metros still going strong!

Only 8 Metro 6R4s, oh the humanity!

Ha!

ah that made me just check how many of my first car are still on the road.

well not one since 2014. currently three or SORN.

had a lot of fun in that Citroen Visa GT.

Did the UK get the 1.6 gti?

Have seen them in France but not the UK. The diesel was enough 'fun' the 1.7 engine would brake the camshaft so meant a new head and camshaft but 1.9 was cheaper and dropped in and had more power

Lots of 6r4 weren't road registered as there are quite a few that still compete.

Lots of metros rusted, and weren't worth repairing so scraped. Especially as the mini people bought them for the disc brake front and the a+ engine.

no it was the 1.4 GT. would have loved a GTi but were even more rare and new driver me wouldn't have been able to stretch to the insurance even if I found one

Just a 250 GTO being opened up a bit on the M4...

The diesel was 'fun', in a car that weighs something like 750 kg and was the heaviest of the lot.

Does seem strange doesn't it. I'm sure it's happened but I can't think of another manufacturer that's just stopped supporting / selling into a whole country before. I assume it won't be the first (manufacturer or industry) over the coming years

Lancia pulled out of the UK, as did Lada.

And of course many European manufacturers have pulled out of the US market. Rover, Fiat, Alfa, Renault

Of all those Mitsubishis I'd have the Galant 2000

My dad had the 2 door version when I was a kid and it was so cool after his Mk1 Escort GT. Cloth seats, carpets, pillarless coupe with wind-down windows for us kids, twin cam balancer-shaft 2 litre engine.

Mad how the Escort is worth £50k now, and the Galant probably about £5

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