Thursday 18 August 2016

What do you look for in a new car?


                              Résultat de recherche d'images pour "strange cars"

In general I suppose I look for aesthetics when I buy a new (s/h) car. Very rarely have I studied torques, or mpg's, or acceleration figures. For me it has to abide by certain design criteria, be an acceptable colour (not orange), and be reliable; the rest I leave to luck.

I remember my mother changing her car back in the late 1960's. I accompanied her to the Rover garage (they always bought British cars), and was amused to hear her ask the salesman for a car that would accelerate up hill.

She left with a Rover P6 3.5 litre V8 in dark metallic grey, which fulfilled all her requirements.

One old friend of mine (who I've known since we were about 5 years old) is a real petrol head. He always has several cars in his drive. Usually there are a couple of E Types, a fast runabout, and whatever muscle car that takes his fancy at the time. The last time I saw him it was a 4.5 litre TVR Cerbera; a beast of a car that he assured me was no less than a street legal Formula 1 car.

I have occasionally myself been tempted by sports cars, but have only ever owned one; a Triumph TR7 that was about as fast as a Renault 4. It was a very pretty car, but had no oomph; I eventually sold it to a man from my village who was leaving his wife. The deal was all very clandestine, and the car stayed in my drive until the time was right for him to steal away in the middle of the night, and head for Germany. It was all very 'cloak and dagger'.

My present car (The Compact Royce) is a 'break' version of a very classic French car. I shall keep her until she dies; hopefully well into the distant future. Not exactly 'keeping up with the Jones's', but frankly there are no Jones's here up with whom one would wish to keep.

How do you chose your cars?



61 comments:

  1. Practicality here - I have never really been interested in makes of car but I do love my La Festa.

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  2. Preacticality, my wife being a wheelchair user, it must accommodate the wheelchair and be fairly high seating for ease of getting in and out.

    Current Ford C-max diesel satisfies these conditions and has the added advantage of sliding rear doors.
    It also does a lot of miles per gallon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do seem to spend a huge amount of money on petrol these days; I could do with something more economical.

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    2. I bough my first diesel car 30 years ago when they weren't so popular, and haven't owned a petrol model since. More mileage, reliability and the diesel technology has improved so much they're hard to tell from the petrol equivalent.

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    3. Never owned one; I don't really understand them, and I'm only just learning about petrol engines.

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  3. We have a car called Betty she is old, grey, small, loyal and powerful. A vehicle chosen by boy racers to hot up unfortunately. The other week on the advice of our mechanic we have replaced the oil with a better quality lubricant Maxol C3; Betty now runs quieter, cooler and cleaner and like you we shall keep her, may be forever.

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    Replies
    1. I can't see the point of selling an old car unless she's truly on her last legs.

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  4. A Chauffeur. Joking aside, I like my old Land Rover. It is ideal for the life we lead.

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    Replies
    1. A 'go anywhere' vehicle is great out in the country which is why I'm still thinking of buying a Renault Express as a spare.

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  5. Something I can park in a normal car park, I have previously driven a 7 seater Mercedes and a huge Honda, needed when the children were all at home. Being spectacularly bad at parking it could take me ages to find a big enough space. Now it's just the 2 of us I drive a small Nissan Note and I can park it almost anywhere.

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    Replies
    1. There's no logic in my purchases. I've owned a crazy 3.5 litre Rover SD and a 900 cc Renault 4; both wonderful cars (in their own way).

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    2. I too have a ( used) Nissan Note. It is the second one I have owned and is my first automatic. Just the right size for easy parking, nice shape, and the "top of range" model that I own has everything I need in a car and more ( I have no idea how to use the cruise control for instance!!)It is slightly higher off the ground than some small cars.
      I am fussy about the colour of my cars. The previous Note was silver and the present one is dark blue. I could not have driven the slightly orangey red one that Nissan make!

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    3. Mine is Navy, I said I'd have any colour except silver, there are so many silver cars around I'd never find mine.

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    4. Mine's silver; resale is always easier.

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  6. I love 1940s cars. The nearest I could get was my PT cruiser. Couldn't turn on a cartwheel let alone a sixpence so not suitable for UK's mini roundabouts. Today's cars lack personality. I'd love a Morris Traveller.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Morris Traveller was a true classic, it's surprising that no-one has tried to re-make them.

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  7. I have a black Audi TT Roadster ...... I had a black Audi TT coupé before that. I had never had a convertible and thought that it was my swansong as far as having a convertible was concerned and, in this weather it is such good fun .... totally impracticle, I can only give one person a lift , but, what I love the most is that it's acceleration is amazing .... it actually frightens me sometimes !!! ... but when you have someone behind you driving so close that they are virtually in your boot, it is wonderful to be able to pull away and leave them for dead !!!!! As I am now getting on a bit { a lot }, my next car will have to be a bit more practical, maybe a mini .... whatever it is, it will be black !! XXXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been wanting a silver BMW Z3 for ages, but it would be very impractical. I think I shall have to accept that my 'sports' days are over. We need ROOM.

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  8. Anything that will start and get me from A to B is alright. We have 3 old vehicles from 12 to 20 years old on the go at the moment. My personal car is brand new and is a Citroen and is the fourth Citroen I have had. It has a fabric roof and the first thing I do is roll it back. Peter does not approve of new vehicles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I once had a Citroen with a fabric roof; it was a blue 2CV. I agree with Peter, I would never buy a new vehicle, the only reason my people bought new was for tax reasons.

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  9. As long as it gets me from A to B safely I don't care what kind of car I drive - when I kept livestock I drove a second hand yellow BT van - so I could load sacks of food in it etc. I loved that van.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tend to agree. Getting from A to B without mishap is essential. We usually buy roomy cars as we seem to carry so much junk around.

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  10. I had a VW beetle, a Fiat Panda and an Opel Corsa, I love colour but all my cars were white. They lasted me until they died. I now have a colourful bicycle; one car in the family is enough for us now.
    Greetings Maria x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A white VW Beetle was my very first car; I really loved it.

      Delete
  11. At one time, when we lived in the UK, I had a Citroen 2CV and loved it. Would have one now but it would not be meaty enough for use as a farm car. Fun to drive though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They're very expensive these days too. AS a farm car you need a Renault Express, like all the chasseurs.

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  12. Reliable, well built, reasonably practical, and it needs to put a smile on my face when I drive it.
    I had plenty of dull cars over the years and I became fed up with driving. Then eight months ago I bought a BMW 3 Series and suddenly I love driving again.
    Oh, and I definitely wouldn't buy another yellow car - yellow cars seem to fill other motorists with irrational hatred.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My present car was once described by a critic as being an old age pensioner's shopping car. I don't mind; she's good enough for me. Orange is my most hated colour, and I've owned two.

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  13. We bought a car that was reliable and cheap to run. If I wasn't so practical I'd have a camper van for travels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Reliable and Cheap to run' sounds pretty good to me, but if you could sleep in it as well....

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  14. We've always had VWs, usually golfs. When the kids were smaller (3 of them) we had a 7 seater VW Sharan for practicality. Current vehicle is a 16 yr old diesel Audi estate. Reliable and like a tank. We'll be keeping it til it dies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had a Beetle and a Golf; both great fun.

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  15. My husband 'chooses' the car as long as I get the colour I want, the dog gets a good back seat with leg room & good windows. I have now suggested that the garage where it is to be serviced is near a café and the shops.
    So far we have bought new each time usually with 5-8 yr gaps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I see you have your priorities spot on! A café and (clothes) shops close to the garage sounds about right. If I'd thought of such things mine would be near a very good restaurant or Deli.

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  16. Replies
    1. The Crockett and Jones Straight Eight (above) starts very well I'm told. It's getting it to stop again that's the problem.

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  17. Newest I can afford to pay cash for. Ford, big, low mileage. The Focus does me fine. Mulitpurpose, shopping, back seats down for a van to shift stuff, or to sleep in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Best of all worlds; it rather describes our 'Compact Royce'.

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  18. Cargo space.
    We plan on getting a car next summer when the boys graduate university. Someone recommended the subaru outback so I looked at it. The front seats seemed cramped and there was very little cargo space.
    I have to keep looking.
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Plenty of space is high on my list of priorities.

      Delete
  19. A car that is not on the "Most Stolen" list. Turbo, to get out of those situations on a freeway. Then, safety and comfort.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A bit of Ooomph is always welcome, as are good brakes.

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  20. Had a sports car when I turned forty. Could change from convertible to hardtop. I thought it was the most beautiful car in the world. Problem was, I couldn't fit anything in it and finally gave it to my daughter. I now drive a large truck and don't think I will ever go without one as I can haul tons in it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No doubt where you live a truck would be very useful; Europe hasn't taken to truck culture yet. They will.

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    2. No. Very bad for the environment. Nobody seems to think about that.

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    3. No. Very bad for the environment. Nobody seems to think about that.

      Delete
  21. While briefly living elsewhere in the 70s, I owned a Toyota. In all NYC years, I have never had any desire to own or drive a car.

    Funny thing about orange cars...there is some tv car advert appearing a lot nowadays. All the featured cars are orange. I remember the color, but not the brand of the cars.

    Best wishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh to be able to live without a car. Even when I lived in London I had one; I must have been nuts.

      Delete
  22. My husband has a black Mazda Miata convertible and I have a white Mazda hatchback. Both are stick, his a 5 speed and mine a 6 speed. His car is cute, mine is wonderful to drive and travel in, it's the one we take everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We need a second car. We keep saying it but do nothing about it.

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  23. We need something big to carry all our wine back to the UK. I like comfort too. And three pedals, I don't like automatics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And here was me thinking that you cycled back to Bath.

      The only place I've found an automatic useful was in London.

      Delete
  24. The farmer has a new Vauxhall every three years - always paying the extra to hae a black one. The last but one time he changed it I admired a long slung yellow sports car in the showroom and asked if we could have that instead. He suggested I got in it, which I did. After a couple of minutes he suggested I got out - and of course, as he anticipated, I couldn't get out unaided. Enough said.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I once considered buying a Westerham Super 7. It was so small that I couldn't have imagined myself driving it safely; it stayed unsold.

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  25. We have a VW diesel. I will not say/write the words that I feel about that company. They are not ladylike and rather crude. I think them, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved my VW Beetle, it was my very first car.

      Delete
  26. I have a bright red Toyota Scion. I love it. It's reliable, has good gas mileage, and there's plenty of room for our two large dogs.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Unlike most Americans, we drive our cars for about 15 years. I always let my husband pick them out because he does such a good job, both as to reliability and aesthetics.
    My current car is a Chevrolet Impala, royal blue, which we bought about 18 months ago. My only complaint is that the visibility is poor. It has a very good camera to aid in backing up but I still like to look over my shoulder. Since we are both over 3/4 of a century, this will probably be our last car.
    My previous car was a beige Oldsmobile Intrigue, which we sold to a neighbor. We still see it around town, still looks good and is apparently running just fine.

    ReplyDelete

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