Because I like it and normal Ford are boring?

 

The 2.9 v6 Cosworth engine is one of the truly great engines to be produced in the 90's imo. I like the comfort the Scorpio gives but imo the 2ltr and 2.3ltr variants are underpowered for the size of the car.

 

If you're inferring that I shouldn't like fast/big engined cars then I'd best not tell about my other three cars!

 

Remember, whilst there is a speed limit there is no law stopping you getting to that speed limit as quickly as possible (as long as you do it in a controlled manner ofc) :-)

 

I was more concerned about the cost of running such cars i.e.fuel insurance spare parts thats all ' as the above vehicle is way out of my league hence my interest in this forum as i can manage to run an e-bike .! ..oh by the by could you please define boring regarding cars ? cheers n beers T.J.

Before pushing the merits of a 70 limit, it should be borne in mind that following a short trial period with it, it was only reinstated permanently as a fuel saving measure following the Arab oil crisis in the early 1970s.

 

Safety played no part in the decision.

 

Every speed above that the human body evolved for is a dangerous potentially killing speed. The governments road research laboratory state that above a speed of about 26 mph at the body surface, the impact results in death through the seat belt causing critical internal organ failure.

 

Well i think that is all the more reason to keep the limit at 70mph in view of the current economical crisis that we find ourselves today oh yes the oil crisis do you know i still have my petrol coupons for tho's dark days .!

 

Well i think that is all the more reason to keep the limit at 70mph in view of the current economical crisis that we find ourselves today oh yes the oil crisis do you know i still have my petrol coupons for tho's dark days .!

 

My conscience back then is clear since I didn't use my full ration, giving away some coupons. My cars mileages are still very low, but many of them are at very high speeds. I don't like speed limits, driver performances are far too variable for them ever to be "correct", so only the lowest common denominator is really safe. And that correct lowest common denominator speed is so low that the roads would be paralysed if it was in force.

I was more concerned about the cost of running such cars i.e.fuel insurance spare parts thats all ' as the above vehicle is way out of my league hence my interest in this forum as i can manage to run an e-bike .! ..oh by the by could you please define boring regarding cars ? cheers n beers T.J.

 

It's not too bad actually - I'll have had it three years this coming April and I think I've only spent about £400 on maintanence. insurance is £350 a year. Ok, so it only gets 20mpg around town but as I only drive it a few times a week I only spend about £25 a week in fuel (my Lexus LS400 with a 4ltr V8 is only slightly worse on fuel). Also, as it's a pre-2001 car it's just flat rate road tax of £205 a year.

 

To me, a boring car is one that can ONLY be viewed as an efficient means of transport - one that doesn't give you goosebumps, one that doesn't have any nice toys, one that isn't exciting to drive, one that is "too common", one that you could never think about "lets go for a drive" in.

 

Take my Westfield as an example - as a means of 4 wheel vehicular transport it's almost entirely and utterly inappropriate - it has no boot, no windscreen, no roof, no heaters - however it's undoubtedly the best car I've ever driven - you don't go anywhere in it - you just go out in it for the sheer enjoyment of "driving".

 

My attitude towards cars are actually very similar to why I'm now into ebikes - I like the technology, I like building stuff, I like tinkering. Saving money/the planet is of no concern to be as far as my ebike goes. Just as I like driving fast cars, I also like being on a bike - an ebike means I'll be on a bike more often as fitness is now an issue that I'm getting older. My ebike balances my car fleet perfectly - it means I can keep the mileage and maintenance down on them whilst getting some exercise :-)

It's not too bad actually - I'll have had it three years this coming April and I think I've only spent about £400 on maintanence. insurance is £350 a year. Ok, so it only gets 20mpg around town but as I only drive it a few times a week I only spend about £25 a week in fuel (my Lexus LS400 with a 4ltr V8 is only slightly worse on fuel). Also, as it's a pre-2001 car it's just flat rate road tax of £205 a year.

 

To me, a boring car is one that can ONLY be viewed as an efficient means of transport - one that doesn't give you goosebumps, one that doesn't have any nice toys, one that isn't exciting to drive, one that is "too common", one that you could never think about "lets go for a drive" in.

 

Take my Westfield as an example - as a means of 4 wheel vehicular transport it's almost entirely and utterly inappropriate - it has no boot, no windscreen, no roof, no heaters - however it's undoubtedly the best car I've ever driven - you don't go anywhere in it - you just go out in it for the sheer enjoyment of "driving".

 

My attitude towards cars are actually very similar to why I'm now into ebikes - I like the technology, I like building stuff, I like tinkering. Saving money/the planet is of no concern to be as far as my ebike goes. Just as I like driving fast cars, I also like being on a bike - an ebike means I'll be on a bike more often as fitness is now an issue that I'm getting older. My ebike balances my car fleet perfectly - it means I can keep the mileage and maintenance down on them whilst getting some exercise :-)

 

Ahh so it's a love affair in truth might i assume you are an avid Top Gear fan ?myold mate has just sold his lexus yes that was 4ltr 1990 ish reg. huge thing .You might laugh at this but the best car i ever owned well regarding reliability was my old Skoda Favorit six years i had that car passed every mot all i had was a set of tyres and a exhaust downpipe i can hear you laughing from hear anyhow thans for the info T.J.

 

You might laugh at this but the best car i ever owned well regarding reliability was my old Skoda Favorit

 

In terms of every ownership factor taken into account, the best car I've ever owned was a Skoda Fabia 1.2 which I had for five and a half years. I sold it exactly as I received it, every part original without exception, and still looking as good as when it rolled out of the showroom. It's only fault was that it didn't evolve into something different, which is why I sold it, just for the change.

I always buy stupid unreliable things. But I buy them because I like to learn about them and half my enjoyment comes from that education into how something works.

 

My first motorbike was two stroke that I spent more time rebuilding it than riding it. But loved it all the more when it worked. Numerous amounts of Italian cars and my first car was an alfa 145. Please bear in mind I'm not as old as some of you :-)

 

 

Head gaskets, gearboxes, clutches learnt alot about tuning in both 2 stroke and 4'stroke. All from things failing and taking them apart.

 

I was the same when I was 5, I'd spend more time taking a toy apart to see how it would work instead of actually using it. Nothings changed I guess.

 

Ebike so far has been super reliable.

Y

I always buy stupid unreliable things. But I buy them because I like to learn about them and half my enjoyment comes from that education into how something works.

 

My first motorbike was two stroke that I spent more time rebuilding it than riding it. But loved it all the more when it worked. Numerous amounts of Italian cars and my first car was an alfa 145. Please bear in mind I'm not as old as some of you :-)

 

Head gaskets, gearboxes, clutches learnt alot about tuning in both 2 stroke and 4'stroke. All from things failing and taking them apart.

 

I was the same when I was 5, I'd spend more time taking a toy apart to see how it would work instead of actually using it. Nothings changed I guess.

 

Ebike so far has been super reliable.

 

Yes understood Scottyf like you say ya aint as old as us i'msure Flecc will agree that many moons ago cars were not nearly as reliable as they are today yep had many a motor in bits plus cars were easier to work on back in the day yes we had our day us old un's plust heavy goods licence too i also remember the first part of the M1 being opened 1959 methink's feeling old now (groan)

 

I'm sure Flecc will agree that many moons ago cars were not nearly as reliable as they are today.

 

Indeed, my first car was a 1936 Vauxhall DX, 6 cylinders and having the infamous "curtsey", the front dipping deeply and gracefully on braking, causing much amusement to any pedestrian stopped for. It was the leading link independent front suspension pistons that were responsible for that, also for the way taking a corner threatened to grind down the door handles.

 

I reckon that car took the best part of an hours maintenance for every two driving hours, though much of that was occasionally replacing a main bearing or two. The crankshaft was worn out with journals oval, but I couldn't afford to have it reground. I regularly injected fullers earth into the clutch housing to soak up the oil from the rear main that brought on clutch slip, and some sawdust mixed with the oil in the gearbox kept that quiet!

 

Yes, it was worn right out, but as a teenager it was all I could afford and it gave me three years of service with those ongoing bodges.

 

New ones were often not much better. My first brand new car, a 1960 Mini, failed on the first trip home from the dealer, second gear just completely disappearing without a sound. Turned out a part hadn't been hardened and fell into pieces, typical of motor industry "quality" control in that era.

Indeed, my first car was a 1936 Vauxhall DX, 6 cylinders and having the infamous "curtsey", the front dipping deeply and gracefully on braking, causing much amusement to any pedestrian stopped for. It was the leading link independent front suspension pistons that were responsible for that, also for the way taking a corner threatened to grind down the door handles.

 

I reckon that car took the best part of an hours maintenance for every two driving hours, though much of that was occasionally replacing a main bearing or two. The crankshaft was worn out with journals oval, but I couldn't afford to have it reground. I regularly injected fullers earth into the clutch housing to soak up the oil from the rear main that brought on clutch slip, and some sawdust mixed with the oil in the gearbox kept that quiet!

 

Yes, it was worn right out, but as a teenager it was all I could afford and it gave me three years of service with those ongoing bodges.

 

New ones were often not much better. My first brand new car, a 1960 Mini, failed on the first trip home from the dealer, second gear just completely disappearing without a sound. Turned out a part hadn't been hardened and fell into pieces, typical of motor industry "quality" control in that era.

 

They were the days methinks we have turned this thread into a nostalgia trip while we are on the subject of old motors were you ever into the motor bikes i only had a couple Triumph speed twin (bath tub type) ab my old bsa c15 just as unreliable as the cars hee hee yes i was a greaser back in the days of mods n rockers happy days . T.J.

 

were you ever into the motor bikes i only had a couple Triumph speed twin

 

Yes, I was in the trade. Went though a quick succession of own bikes but rode customer bikes and with national service in prospect, it wasn't worth spending. In my main posting I rode in an army trials team for three years and had my own AMC 350 allocated (Matchless G3L). I had a smattering of bikes over the years after the army, last one a Honda CB500R twin which I sold in 2003.

 

In my first job we had a quaint workshop bike which any of us could use. It was an ancient BSA 250 with exposed overhead valves with stems that needed regular greasing via grease nipples, no upper end oil lubrication. The bottom end was fed by a Pilgrim pump on the side of the crankcase with a screw feed that had to be turned up for motoring "fast". Three speed with a hand change gear lever on the side of the tank, advance/retard and mixture levers on the handlebar meant that one really needed at least four arms to handle everything. On a good day it could reach an indicated 55 mph, probably more like 50 mph at best.

.

Edited November 12, 201114 yr by flecc

In terms of every ownership factor taken into account, the best car I've ever owned was a Skoda Fabia 1.2 which I had for five and a half years. I sold it exactly as I received it, every part original without exception, and still looking as good as when it rolled out of the showroom. It's only fault was that it didn't evolve into something different, which is why I sold it, just for the change.

 

Yes the old Skoda well goodly motors even if they were against us during the war but we must not mention the war i am looking at the new 14cc Fabia looks very tempting there are plenty of second hand models around here around 2-3 years old i was looking at a couple only 6-7000 mls on the clock well i woulden't put more than five thousand a year on it myself it's just that i have every confidence in the mechanics of the beast i.e. engine more than anything else i just want a motor that will start when i want it to rattles clicks n clonks are no matter to me so long as i dont have to faf about with the thing tho's days are far behind me now , just thought i would mention it Flecc .. cheers n beers T.J.