I suppose my very first car, a white VW Beetle, 323 EBP, will always remain my first automotive love. We did so much together, even eventually moving out to France together in 1973. She had regular clutch problems, which needed changing every couple of years, but otherwise she was trouble-free. A real fun car that was probably my best possible introduction to motoring.
Then I had a 2CV, some Peugeots, and a Renault, before buying myself a ridiculously over-powered Rover SDI 3.5. The Rover was dangerous. It was a bit like driving a Spitfire without the wings. After that it was back to sensible Peugeots.
My present car, Debi (the Compact Royce Mark 2) is everything I want of a car. Every time I climb into the driving seat I feel comfortable and reassured. I know she will start instantly, and will take me to my destination and back again without any hiccups.
In fact I would like to take her out of the garage more often, just for the pleasure. She is more like a well-loved armchair than a car; she and I belong together.
Debi is an estate car, a station wagon, and with the back seats permanently folded down, she becomes a two-seater with space to carry all sorts of things. I recently put a large table in the back with plenty of space left over.
I have never tested her top speed, but she has plenty of oomph. She can hold her own against most others. She has good acceleration, and good brakes. Everything works well.
If I had one small complaint, it would be that changing gear is a tad 'wooden'. I might even spray some WD40 in the relevant 'hole' to see if it makes any difference.
I'm really looking forward to our hitting the road again in about 2 hours time. Saturday is my big shopping day, and we enjoy our time together.
Is Deb old enough to be a silent companion, without all of the so-called safety warnings that are mandatory on all new cars? We've recently acquired a new SUV (my wife needs the height for her back problems) and I find these audible warnings for lane discipline, speed limit violations etc highly distracting, and I would argue, a safety hazard of their own. The speed limit warning is particularly irritating, as it is so frequently just plain wrong. Within half a mile of our home, I can guarantee at least 3-4 invalid warnings as I negotiate a mini roundabout and get warnings from the side road speed limit, pass under a metro bridge where I am warned of a 19mph (!) speed limit, all distracting me from the more important business of avoiding pedestrians, kids on (illegal) e-scooters, and other drivers. There are times that I yearn for the simplicity of your old Beetle or 2CV, or the 1956 Series 1 Land Rover that was the first car I drove - no synchromesh on first or second, totally useless heater, but a real joy to drive around fields as a young teenager.
ReplyDeleteShe does reprimand me if I leave the safety belt off. She also tells me if a door isn't closed properly; but not much else. Of course, the engine is beyond my repair skills, and even after a few years, I still don't know what some of the buttons are for.
DeleteThere are a couple of Rovers and a Jaguar rusting away in a car repair yard here. I'm sure they once had English plates. A pity there's no one here to give them some TLC.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a wagon. Yes it was handy for carrying 'stuff' but not handy for parking or these island roads.
Enjoy your outing
I'm just back. The roads were a bit icy, but no-one sliding about.
DeleteShe sounds delightful. I hope Lady M isn't jealous?
ReplyDeleteShe did give me a strange look when I returned just now. She could be jealous!
DeleteYesterday I brought my new car home, a Skoda Fabia, I already really like it.
ReplyDeleteAn old school friend used to run the Skoda Rally Team. They used have a bad reputation, but these days things are very different. Good reliable cars.
DeleteOne of our neighbours way back had a Skoda Estelle (rear engine model) with a front spoiler. Useless as reliable transport, but the spoiler was great as a makeshift snow plough during a couple of bad winter.
DeleteI suppose if it was solid enough, a deep spoiler would be very handy in the snow.
DeleteIf your gear change is a bit wooden, might be an idea to get the linkeage checked out, sounds like it might be on the way out, you could end up out somewhere without any gears at all...like we did once...Simple enough job though, the sort that an AA man can bodge with coathanger wires if needs be!
ReplyDeleteI'll get them to look at it when it goes for its service/MOT. I think it's probably just a feature of the car; it's not a major problem.
DeleteAh yes, WD40! It solves most mechanical problems. In fact, I am surprised that you have not mentioned spraying it on your leg joints!
ReplyDeleteBelieve me; I have thought about it. I think it's a fish oil.
DeleteI always wanted a Beetle, a great first car. A great last car.
ReplyDeleteI loved my Beetle. I think everyone has a passion for their first car; mine was lovely.
DeleteIt's nice when we are happy with our car. I've had a few in my time ..... I had a couple of Audi TT's but they were really heavy but now I have my John Cooper Works Mini which is even faster than the Audis, can get away so fast from people driving up my backside, small enough to get into a small parking space , 0-60 in 5.9 seconds and nice to drive. ...... and, like nearly all of my cars, is black like yours ! Happy motoring Cro. XXXX
ReplyDeleteI did a removals job as a student, and one of the people we moved was John Cooper; from Kingston to somewhere on the S Coast. I was expecting his house to be filled with motoring memorabilia, but is wasn't. Just a few bits.
DeleteMy first car was an Orange VW Super Beetle 1974 model. I too loved it and was just the right car for me at the time.I was young and fit. Have been driving and love a clutch. Easier now, not to. Drive a Dodge Dakota pickup now 1993 model. Easy to get in and out of. Familiar and I know the sounds when something doesn't seem right.
ReplyDeleteOrange is my most disliked colour for a car, but I've managed to have TWO.
DeleteFunny, no choice in color. It was a demo car folks drove to see if they wanted to buy one and had less than 100 miles on it. Got a really good price on it...more or less new.
DeleteOver the years I have had several Peugeots, just the smaller ones. 205 GTI, a 206 and currently a 207, which I've had for about eight years. All have been almost trouble free, apart from the odd niggle easily corrected. When I bought my first 205 GTI, I was told that French cars have the most comfortable seats, rather like sitting in an armchair. My current one seems to bear that out.
ReplyDeleteI've had a 205, a 206, and a 207. I've also had others but I can't remember their No's. Peugeots are very solid, and built to last.
DeleteHaving a reliable car is my #1 priority. Second priority is cargo space. Speed is of no interest to me.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a Compact Royce on our Massachusetts roads. I like the lines and cargo space of your Royce. Black is always my preference for a car.
A well-know motoring writer in the UK (Jeremy Clarkson) described my car as an OAP's Shopping Car, which is exactly what I want. He, of course, meant it as an insult!
DeleteA good reliable workhorse estate has almost always been my criteria for buying a car. This will be my 65th year of driving. I passed an advanced test for the elderly last year just to be sure I was still fit.
ReplyDeleteWell done Graham. My late mother did the same, and had a badge on the front of her car!
DeleteThe joys of motoring. I have just recounted each car I have owned. I think my favourite was an orange Renault 5 with a 782 cc engine with a four cylinder wet block. Wonderful little car, though had some difficulty on a sleep slope outside Boulder Co as the air was a bit thin.
ReplyDeleteHappy days
I had an Orange Renault 4 which I loved. I had it resprayed beige. It was amazingly primitive; not unlike a 2CV.
DeleteYou are right about primitive. My partner took the engine out and put it on a workmate and replaced on of the pistons. You could just lift the engine out. He was a great little car. Would never have respirated it!
DeleteThe windscreen washer was operated by a rubber ball on the floor that you pumped with your foot.