tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10491005707012489662024-03-13T16:52:30.967-07:00Three PedalsJack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-65664363212907269442018-01-23T07:23:00.002-08:002018-01-23T07:24:36.489-08:00A Quick Announcement <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I suppose if there's to be one word to describe my commitment to this website over the past few months, it would be a bit 'flaky'. That, of course, is not what I want to be, but I have been facing a few barriers recently that I would like to clarify with you.<br />
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<li><b>University work.</b> Oh boo hoo, I'm such a hard-done-by student, aren't I? The problem I face is that my course is Journalism, and after a day of writing and producing news stories for my coursework, I find it hard to muster up the motivation to produce a story on here, as bad as that sounds.</li>
<li><b>Christmas.</b> Another cliche I suppose you could argue, but during the Christmas period, I definitely neglected to think about Three Pedals, which is quite bad. However, I've saved the most prominent point to last.</li>
<li><b>Legitimacy. </b>I find this to be an interesting one. I have this constant nagging feeling that Three Pedals just isn't quite legitimate, not quite professional enough to be taken seriously. For sure, it holds a decent portfolio of work that can be used to show off what I'm capable of, but I've never quite been able to shake off the whole 'amateur blogger' look of it all. In my eyes, for my work to really be seen, it needs to be on a platform that's more credible and bigger - ideally not a one-man-band like this is.</li>
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This is where this announcement comes into play. I'm not officially calling Three Pedals to be hung, drawn and executed (I paid good money for the URL god dammit), but what I will say is that I will, for now, be focussing my time and effort on a new joint-venture called 3WHEELDRIVE. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI30dk4-lPg-6NvAy2uYQNCSCyCGUB5VlRsGJ768SuTC0Akax7ItM2K0ny5AsSsw6KNgPV18QSJbXj6RNxDb-XkfFzfWF3TTLB3MvboP_1Nqg_KnC1MG4_-nT2Kr6rjjMpLPDiudcxQ7e/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-01-23+at+15.23.08.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGI30dk4-lPg-6NvAy2uYQNCSCyCGUB5VlRsGJ768SuTC0Akax7ItM2K0ny5AsSsw6KNgPV18QSJbXj6RNxDb-XkfFzfWF3TTLB3MvboP_1Nqg_KnC1MG4_-nT2Kr6rjjMpLPDiudcxQ7e/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-01-23+at+15.23.08.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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3WHEELDRIVE is an entirely new motoring website, founded by me and two other of my Journalism study buddies, who also take an interest in the industry. By working together, I believe we can create something far more powerful and legitimate than Three Pedals, and I'm essentially putting my eggs in the 3WHEELDRIVE basket, for the sake of my chase for the ultimate dream career. The work that gets posted there by me will be of a very similar style to Three Pedals, so if you have enjoyed what you've viewed here, I'd be immensely grateful if you looked at 3WHEELDRIVE, and gave it some love and support at this early stage.</div>
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As I say, Three Pedals isn't going to die - the website will still be live, but probably not updated that often for the time being. I want to thank everyone who has showed me support for Three Pedals thus far, and I'd be so thankful if you continued that support on the new platform. </div>
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Any further news regarding what I do in the automotive journalism world will be posted here still. Thank you for reading, and please do have a gander at 3WHEELDRIVE!</div>
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<a href="http://3wheeldriveonline.co.uk/">3wheeldriveonline.co.uk</a></div>
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-87369838287113165562017-12-13T04:35:00.001-08:002017-12-13T15:34:04.264-08:00Driving in Snow: Top Tips<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Shock, horror: it's the middle of December and the United Kingdom has seen a couple of inches of snowfall. It sounds painfully uninteresting, but those who aren't from the country would be surprised how much a flurry of snow brings our country to a halt.<br />
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It's not like snow never happens. Every winter you can always vouch there will be at least one 'big freeze' event, and yet every winter when the white stuff falls, the UK just runs around in circles, screaming. To the Nordic countries, or North America, we must look absolutely daft.<br />
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This snow pandemonium extends to cars and the roads, too. Other countries cope just fine, but here it just seems that even the busiest trunk roads grind to a halt. News bulletins constantly broadcast that cars have been 'abandoned', and while there will be some cases where you will become stuck beyond your own control, I reckon there will be other cases where it could've been avoided if some suitable techniques are utilised. Here's a few:<br />
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<b>Put winter boots on</b><br />
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No, not your feet, but your car. In some cold countries, winter tyres are more or less mandatory, but it's quite a casual thing in the UK. I personally know barely anyone who fits different tyres for the frosty season, but it's definitely worth the effort. Winter tyres are designed to heat up much quicker in cold conditions below 10 degrees celsius, which allows for optimum grip and braking. Additionally, winter tyres tend to have more rugged groove patterns in them, which gives your car far better traction on snow and ice. It won't transform your car into a go-anywhere 4x4, but winter tyres offer a substantial extra layer of safety in the lottery conditions that is snow.<br />
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Now obviously if the snow falls and you still have standard tyres on, you've probably left it a bit too late. Let us move on then, to more tips that you can use regardless of how ill-prepared you may be.<br />
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<b>Slow and steady wins the race</b><br />
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It's another one that sounds fairly obvious, but a surprising amount of people on the road barely adjust their speed at all in snow and ice conditions. Just because you can see the black tarmac does not mean the road is clear of all hazards, and has returned to its nominal grip levels. Black ice is one of the biggest killers in these conditions; you may be on a road that looks and feels safe enough to do 50mph on, but it only takes a small thin puddle to freeze over to send you into an uncontrollable spin - and at that speed, you're just a passenger. And these ice patches are invisible, as the clear water freezes over the black asphalt, hence the black ice name.<br />
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Going slow may feel like a chore if the road looks like it's been mainly cleared, but it will save your pride (and your wallet) in the long run.<br />
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<b>No sudden movements</b><br />
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Be sure to treat the gas pedal, brakes, and steering wheel like they're made of egg shell. Sometimes it's easy to forget how little traction is on the road in sub-zero conditions, but you'll sure as hell know about it when you pull out of a T-junction, turning left, but the car keeps going straight. Give yourself loads of breathing space for braking, especially if the road is on a decline, and do nothing more than tickle the gas with your big toe. Doing those things may not give you the quickest journey, but ultimately you will at least be in control of your 1.5 tonne lump of metal.<br />
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<b>As higher gear as possible</b><br />
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Provided you don't bog down the engine and can maintain your desired speed, try and keep the car in the highest gear you possibly can when travelling along. This is to help aid you with the sudden movements tip; a car which is in a high gear will not make much power, regardless if you put your foot down or not. The benefit of this is that it allows you to make linear progress without lighting your wheels up.<br />
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For example, I was on a back country lane in the snow a few days ago. It was an incline, and it was very icy. I stuck the car in third gear and put my foot down, and the car just about maintained 20mph up the incline at minimal revs. The fact I couldn't go any faster helped me massively, as it prevented the car from lighting up the front wheels, and ultimately sending itself out of control. I could've maybe done the icy climb in 1st or 2nd gear, but that would've been far more difficult trying to balance the throttle and dulling down the wheel spin.<br />
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So, there you have it. I could've mentioned a few more tips, such as carrying the appropriate emergency equipment in your boot, or wrapping chains round your tyres, but I wanted to mainly focus on what you could do if you found yourself in the snow unprepared. When driving, snow has to be respected. If you follow those relatively simple tips, though, you are most likely to be absolutely fine... provided one nutcase doesn't end up crashing into you! Stay safe.</div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-8614971670785660392017-12-05T13:48:00.000-08:002017-12-13T15:40:21.179-08:00How Good will McLaren be with Renault Power in 2018?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The 2017 season of Formula 1 went almost as quickly as it came, and, for me at least, it was a season of two halves. Before the summer break, the 2017 season was shaping up to become one of the classics; something I'd argue we haven't seen since 2012. We had two titans fighting for the title, using every ounce of strength in their bodies... that was until Ferrari faltered and Hamilton took advantage big time come autumn. Sigh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F6MqtF9L8L9RcnfIsjhNimWjCZIQaS-yp08PEMTY1UX9vmvAFEkd3g9Btgr2t1RZ1CeyiCT48HLRy_ofCveV-7LzHeAY6JjeUgWhT1ktY4Ev4prA5yOrOYqMDS8y-qsi01Qw1j-alKAd/s1600/McLaren_MCL32_Alonso_Barcelona_Test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="1200" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F6MqtF9L8L9RcnfIsjhNimWjCZIQaS-yp08PEMTY1UX9vmvAFEkd3g9Btgr2t1RZ1CeyiCT48HLRy_ofCveV-7LzHeAY6JjeUgWhT1ktY4Ev4prA5yOrOYqMDS8y-qsi01Qw1j-alKAd/s400/McLaren_MCL32_Alonso_Barcelona_Test.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But once again, there was absolutely no discussion regarding McLaren when it came to title contention talks. Newer fans of the sport may not find any surprise in that, but if you've been following F1 from any time before 2013, you'd know it should be expected to find the Woking team at the top. But ever since the chassis cock-up of 2013 and the now-infamous Honda partnership from 2015 to today, the once mighty McLaren runs midfield at best.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MP4-28 featured new suspension and chassis tech that backfired</td></tr>
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All that could be set to change from the upcoming 2018 season, however. It's hardly breaking news anymore, but for the more casual fans out there who may not be aware, McLaren have broken their partnership with Honda, and have announced that Renault will be their engine supplier from 2018 onwards.<br />
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It raises an interesting question, because without the significant power deficit that McLaren have suffered with for the past three years, they will have no scapegoat to hide behind when the car fails to qualify into Q2. Naturally, the team have always put blame on the Honda engine when the pace was lacking, but was Honda really deserving of 100% of the blame?<br />
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Continuing the theme of bold claims by the team, Alonso was often heard saying in 2017 that his car had the best chassis of the entire grid. Of course, that's easy to say when you can't really square up to teams with over 100bhp more power. In 2018, if Alonso is really correct, then theoretically McLaren should be a serious threat to Red Bull, who also use Renault engines. If they have the best chassis, then the occasional race win on less power-demanding circuits shouldn't be out of the question. Whether that will be the case or not is yet to be seen, naturally.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAn-91hmgIa5CswpeSNJUN3jAwj-RnWwJ7-PT245GD9yiz0tHgU2d7pAsYq19tai2AjkkVHiD8zeCQnUB14zLNtY6KFvP-xbBVWosufTXTWq8KB1HAUWfeOt6n6xTvqiC8qDwZ0W607kP/s1600/rb13_threequartes_carpagelead_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="1030" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAn-91hmgIa5CswpeSNJUN3jAwj-RnWwJ7-PT245GD9yiz0tHgU2d7pAsYq19tai2AjkkVHiD8zeCQnUB14zLNtY6KFvP-xbBVWosufTXTWq8KB1HAUWfeOt6n6xTvqiC8qDwZ0W607kP/s400/rb13_threequartes_carpagelead_0.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McLaren's fierce rival for 2018?</td></tr>
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I'm being carefully skeptical, but in truth, there are some small hints that they are telling the truth. Especially towards the end of the 2017 season, McLaren really seemed to nail down their aero and balance - to a point where they matched the top runners on some sectors on tracks where there are no straights. When racing with the midfield, the McLaren was visibly far quicker and nimbler round the twists and bends than the likes of Force Indias and Williams. It's important to remember, of course, that this doesn't translate to the 'best chassis of the grid'.<br />
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I suppose the only reason why I do sound slightly pessimistic of this whole situation is because McLaren is my personal team who I follow. The last thing I want to do is get over-hyped and then fall into a pit of disappointment.. like I did in 2017.<br />
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Anything I can cross for 2018 has been crossed, but I'm going in expecting nothing. Anything over that will just be a beautiful bonus.<br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-55381186282321810512017-11-17T08:05:00.000-08:002017-11-17T08:05:12.146-08:00Straight Outta Nowhere: The New Tesla Roaster is Here<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You'll have to forgive me for my recent post history for being so Tesla-centric. The thing is, though I knew there was a Tesla event yesterday, everyone was expecting them to unveil an electric semi truck. And sure enough, they did. But what came out of the truck came as a surprise to the world. Just like childbirth, it was a beautiful sight to behold - if not quite as natural.<br />
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The world suddenly had a brand new Tesla Roadster shown off to them, all shiny and showroomy. Let's start with the most conventional part of the car, because the rest of it sure as hell ain't 'conventional'. The design is gorgeous and bang up to date for 2017, but it's not radical and daring. It looks like a typical purpose-built sports car, with its aggressive silhouette and non-discreet rear diffuser. To my eyes, it's a good mix of sporty without being too obnoxiously in-your-face about it. It isn't trying to be different to other sports car though, and that's a good thing. As I explained <a href="http://www.threepedals.co.uk/2017/11/tesla-have-served-important-purpose.html">in this post</a>, for electric cars to be accepted by average consumers, they need to work and look seamless with the mainstream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4m_jXcePp6bhURRTi1-CcY6tRe52_n9ydwXwhHcmuKHERI_r-0d3snQPXiNztfqYESVOvR5AsLNzwJOwR47Qw0Rt4P9ObnHhnxDU-gGXvJcHMzmAhqNY4ciMfIvnE5yP6PQmLUxEGQaaL/s1600/tesla-roadster-side-view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="953" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4m_jXcePp6bhURRTi1-CcY6tRe52_n9ydwXwhHcmuKHERI_r-0d3snQPXiNztfqYESVOvR5AsLNzwJOwR47Qw0Rt4P9ObnHhnxDU-gGXvJcHMzmAhqNY4ciMfIvnE5yP6PQmLUxEGQaaL/s400/tesla-roadster-side-view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So the design is appealing but not industry-changing. Electric cars are fairly established now. Why is there so much hype over this car, then? Well, let's throw out some key figures:<br />
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<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>0-60mph in 1.9 seconds</li>
<li>0-100mph in 4.2 seconds</li>
<li>250mph top speed</li>
<li>8.9 second quarter mile</li>
<li>600 mile range</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
And no, none of those are typos. This 200KWh machine has landed on Earth, and if Mr. Musk's claims do hold true, many records are going to be shattered. A sub-2 second 0-60 time is something only a Formula 1 car can challenge, and even then only on a good day. Even beyond the initial sprint, the Roadster will be able to hold off even the most beastly of hypercars all the way past the 200mph point; we're talking Chrions and Agera Rs here. They may just pip the Roadster at top speed, but who does 270mph on the daily anyway?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOblKnGeoNzHYkEsrcY-a0vrZWxohz8GBPVGz-U-GVHXNgiuG2_xuPsRMsQ4XazO7JeTUCWOYcf8sYYarwZfrYMi57Aq1ld3uxtwtTPMljp6sQYqTEHghdxy7JDDwmD6L-N8jY8vsSkFK/s1600/raf6cpy8qocflnpjsa12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOblKnGeoNzHYkEsrcY-a0vrZWxohz8GBPVGz-U-GVHXNgiuG2_xuPsRMsQ4XazO7JeTUCWOYcf8sYYarwZfrYMi57Aq1ld3uxtwtTPMljp6sQYqTEHghdxy7JDDwmD6L-N8jY8vsSkFK/s400/raf6cpy8qocflnpjsa12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blink and you'll miss it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's not a one-trick pony, either. Musk claimed the Roadster will be able to do 600 miles on a single charge, which is just absurd. Everyone continues to hype over the fact that the Model S can do 400 miles on a single charge, but this sudden 50% improvement means for the first time, electric cars are beginning to equal traditional combustion engine cars on range. That in itself is groundbreaking, and a huge step forward to the mass-adoption of electric.<br />
<br />
The $200,000+ price tag means this isn't going to be a mainstream electric sports car for middle class people with a bit of disposable income. No, this car is up against the Ferraris and the Lamborghinis of this world, and it's boldly doing things its own unique way. If we look back at the old Roadster from 2008, it's amazing to see how far Tesla have come in such a short space of time. They've gone from quirky, Lotus-based alternative cars to in-house custom designed industry-shaking machines. The new Roadster won't be out for a few years yet, which will allow some competition to be developed, but any competition is good competition for this new, green age of our future vehicles.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik22piZAWe3KOE-TijICVLDaxJWZ4WlYtBpGWubmGzc1aVqUR2auVDiEeVooXKlmVE6Z5SBwDSmPFtToVnGbduUNY1pOXVtd-xAerqSjqOc7YHbC8Aj7KNaKuo9NqK5B8FzXAua_RZ7oHf/s1600/1200px-Roadster_2.5_windmills_trimmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1200" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik22piZAWe3KOE-TijICVLDaxJWZ4WlYtBpGWubmGzc1aVqUR2auVDiEeVooXKlmVE6Z5SBwDSmPFtToVnGbduUNY1pOXVtd-xAerqSjqOc7YHbC8Aj7KNaKuo9NqK5B8FzXAua_RZ7oHf/s400/1200px-Roadster_2.5_windmills_trimmed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Started from the bottom, now we here'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-71227625835492352532017-11-15T06:48:00.003-08:002017-11-15T07:54:33.053-08:00The Slightly Forgotten BMW i8 is Arriving Again, Somewhat Windier <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Remember the oddball that is the BMW i8? Honestly, nobody would blame you, if you were to admit that you had completely forgotten its existence in 2017. Hailed as The Future™with much fanfare at its release in 2013, it quickly disappeared into obscurity once the media hype had died down. Are we seeing the i8, or heck, even the i3, on the roads regularly? Nope. Perhaps they were just released a bit before their time. That or people flat-out refused to pay over £100,000 for some three cylinder 1.5l car. I know which reason I'd rather lean towards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEw_XQ64CGLhLrW35xDKtHJkeCLrRcY-SUXmH3jGwF-nWriCIqmEd0Aftm7zw3LAfosn5vC9vbljYhyphenhyphenCwpw_VZAfnun7wg2Qs5wQ8j94dIA6ky3GxSiV6ljLvSIt4Ho8znXpW3TDHj6vPI/s1600/CosyVehicleImage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1330" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEw_XQ64CGLhLrW35xDKtHJkeCLrRcY-SUXmH3jGwF-nWriCIqmEd0Aftm7zw3LAfosn5vC9vbljYhyphenhyphenCwpw_VZAfnun7wg2Qs5wQ8j94dIA6ky3GxSiV6ljLvSIt4Ho8znXpW3TDHj6vPI/s640/CosyVehicleImage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just as we thought the i project was a bit of a lost cause after no updates at all, BMW has recently dropped a clanger to all the media outlets and released pictures of the (admittedly pre-roadworthy) i8 convertible.<br />
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Details are very sparse at the moment, but it's probably safe to assume it will come with the same guts as the standard i8, with the usual drawbacks that come with lopping a roof off. So expect to see a marginal drop in performance and rigidity, as physics take their toll on the extra weight that comes from strengthening beams. There is some nattering about a longer range battery floating around, but that's nothing more than speculation at this stage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1ofrqkDnfylWX9nephxvu8OyBqwMghq7r9rXhAfZf-1hAtSHHpG86sAeWkhsJCf9kjxD44a2tCybMfOY6Hy6x6O6kr9VkJAqnBb7VB0YGXOCaU3YEDTJ3QR5xwb-Nf39XyFigquwO-g5/s1600/p90285291_highres_the-bmw-i8-11-2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1ofrqkDnfylWX9nephxvu8OyBqwMghq7r9rXhAfZf-1hAtSHHpG86sAeWkhsJCf9kjxD44a2tCybMfOY6Hy6x6O6kr9VkJAqnBb7VB0YGXOCaU3YEDTJ3QR5xwb-Nf39XyFigquwO-g5/s400/p90285291_highres_the-bmw-i8-11-2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture via topgear.com | BMW</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Curiously, one detail BMW has made crystal clear at this early stage is the CO2 figure, which is 48g/km. To put that into some form of perspective, the regular i8 emits 44g/km, so while that is a slight increase, it's impressively marginal. Expect it to continue to sip fuel at an eyebrow raising low rate, then. That is when you're not using all of its 357 horses.<br />
<br />
Will this turn the i8 into some sexy, fashionable sports car? The original i8, in my opinion, was almost <i>too </i>futuristic, to the point where it just looked plain awkward. Sure, it was cool to see something that looked like it came straight out of a sci-fi story, but in everyday traffic it just attracts attention, and not in a good way. "What are those weird wheels?" people would say. "Why are there random holes?" It just doesn't quite work for me, and I'm not convinced taking the roof off is going to give it any more sex appeal. Regardless, the convertible will be on sale from 2018.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSKaAIJsAOL_1qLjrcHhEIlnRPxiQfW4SSE6Y1dVUar2XSKd-RoelK5LPdiWezIRZhrIuYL4t0BY0hZHBop4vYypUbJGegXi6LMVmg3-ZEe7HsExp33_c2IvegJABWwzVZ0bYhUlSsCBJ/s1600/p90285292_highres_the-bmw-i8-roadster-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSKaAIJsAOL_1qLjrcHhEIlnRPxiQfW4SSE6Y1dVUar2XSKd-RoelK5LPdiWezIRZhrIuYL4t0BY0hZHBop4vYypUbJGegXi6LMVmg3-ZEe7HsExp33_c2IvegJABWwzVZ0bYhUlSsCBJ/s400/p90285292_highres_the-bmw-i8-roadster-.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture via topgear.com | BMW</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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With that all being said though, I have to give big respect to BMW for pushing the electric age of cars a little bit further, and being daring with their design. I'll be watching the i8 and the i3 carefully to see if they age gracefully, or whether they end up looking like some 1950s wet dream of the 'future' in 30 years time.<br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-2643223900970451332017-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:002017-12-13T15:34:26.855-08:00Tesla Have Served an Important Purpose: They Made Electricity Cool<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Electric cars look here to stay, whether you like it or not, folks. Fossil fuels are getting more and more negative press by the day; in fact it's gotten to the point where you're basically labelled as Satan if you buy a diesel car in 2017.<br />
<br />
Arguably though, that's the right direction. Us petrolheads do not want to accept change, because we love our combustion engines too much. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that the engine itself was probably what got over 90% of us into cars in the first place. So it should come as no surprise, then, that some people <i>really </i>hate electric cars.<br />
<br />
You only have to go to any car forum to see how much the community quite literally takes a dump on anything electric, regardless of how technically impressive the vehicles are. They'll be quick to point out, for example, that the electricity is generated from fossil fuels anyway, so it doesn't make a difference.<br />
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Alas, that simply isn't true anymore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0x35xbQcAFoQztyJRAsBAGso0tFbSWNH3hFDvGqP62DC2_MNc1mP6hNRlwmuMdNDeD6nja-PKWZy1d0mMI6_vDkq2OF6CABPthvA_A-T61bmfa_b-OeS14P-4BsbqkMwl9IHeN2oVr5_/s1600/the-largest-wind-farm-in-us-history-just-got-the-green-light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="1190" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0x35xbQcAFoQztyJRAsBAGso0tFbSWNH3hFDvGqP62DC2_MNc1mP6hNRlwmuMdNDeD6nja-PKWZy1d0mMI6_vDkq2OF6CABPthvA_A-T61bmfa_b-OeS14P-4BsbqkMwl9IHeN2oVr5_/s400/the-largest-wind-farm-in-us-history-just-got-the-green-light.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'll admit it's a bit geographically dependant, but a lot of Western countries these days are producing a considerable amount of their electricity from renewable sources. The UK, for example, is on the brink of cutting out coal altogether, which is amazing. Not many people know this though, because at the end of the day, it's a bit boring. To the average person, so long as they have their power, they aren't going to care how it was generated. Long story short, though, electric cars in general will be a lot greener than ICE cars in 2017.<br />
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But that ignores another fundamental problem with electric cars: they're so, so weird. Does anyone remember the G-Wiz? It was a horrible little Tupperware box that basically kick-started the negative electric car stereotype.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxaH0W6Az0aTf8_tcvZCGjMNe0z915SdQ8dEIS4FbViqSh2x5BJ8rGApqWGT2qPcMsBmg3wq14-gQ7KJTGynKM9JlZjROc028dDKyrzGCteq00dpc-ofik3P_e4gFRQ5ma8hqPEVJHztj/s1600/0198AF7400000578-3911626-image-a-66_1478481970005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="634" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxaH0W6Az0aTf8_tcvZCGjMNe0z915SdQ8dEIS4FbViqSh2x5BJ8rGApqWGT2qPcMsBmg3wq14-gQ7KJTGynKM9JlZjROc028dDKyrzGCteq00dpc-ofik3P_e4gFRQ5ma8hqPEVJHztj/s400/0198AF7400000578-3911626-image-a-66_1478481970005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since then though, electric car manufacturers seemed to have an obsession with making electric cars stand-out and plain awkward to the eye. I get they were trying to make their cutting-edge technology stand out from the dinosaurs of the road, but you're never going to get people to mass adopt electric when you have cars looking like the Peugeot iON.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8cmajKumF0twTvWiqcA0VpPJ8cFmRvoWH9jXSRKKhf1QphH1vP2ro10mBgO-Rfok8ppvXPPkxkh79WC2ctXvNOne8V3jUtYPQKFDcpOKT-dlhV8PoCJX44-wRUmlSmR1CXS96Rtc4gtC/s1600/ion-design-reason-to-choose.107528.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="605" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8cmajKumF0twTvWiqcA0VpPJ8cFmRvoWH9jXSRKKhf1QphH1vP2ro10mBgO-Rfok8ppvXPPkxkh79WC2ctXvNOne8V3jUtYPQKFDcpOKT-dlhV8PoCJX44-wRUmlSmR1CXS96Rtc4gtC/s400/ion-design-reason-to-choose.107528.27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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However, Tesla rocked up to the scene in 2012 with the Model S, their first mass-produced car. And would you take a look at it! Lo and behold, it looks normal. It looks like a regular car that I wouldn't be embarrassed to drive. The polished driving experience and good battery performance helps no doubt, but I'm convinced its normality is primarily the reason why Tesla is now by far the biggest player in the electric car industry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnZJgkrtLzVTZbW2HL36ecTk4-RiIsDrSbcNtwgAZMtX1jmcN_qkva-2iNi4_IrOsIpaHabA3FOF7tssNuGWW_C7W9pPJhA_0SAunOc143P3YJ31KwyuUjfWImgxdhqKeKfZ7ykRehwWE/s1600/2015-tesla-model-s-sedan-angular-front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnZJgkrtLzVTZbW2HL36ecTk4-RiIsDrSbcNtwgAZMtX1jmcN_qkva-2iNi4_IrOsIpaHabA3FOF7tssNuGWW_C7W9pPJhA_0SAunOc143P3YJ31KwyuUjfWImgxdhqKeKfZ7ykRehwWE/s400/2015-tesla-model-s-sedan-angular-front.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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By making the styling mainstream but modern, you're going to attract mainstream buyers. And when you get normal people buying these things, you start to find electric cars are no longer being considered left-field and quirky - they're now a legitimate alternative way to power your pride and joy.<br />
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In the era of weird cars, I thought electricity was never going to catch on. But now we see people lining up to place $1,000 deposits on a Tesla they won't even get for a year just goes to show how much things have changed. It's still going to take work to convince the hardcore petrolheads, but as far as I'm concerned, I welcome our electric overlords into the ongoing motoring history book.<br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-58484111339978812902017-11-10T08:12:00.001-08:002017-12-13T15:35:18.796-08:00Natural Aspiration VS Turbo VS Supercharging: What is the Best?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The induction argument is one that's almost as old as the car itself, and has been argued, I'd imagine, by probably millions of people over the years. Which means millions of conclusions have already been made. So why on earth am I even bothering to throw in my 2 pence? Because the viewpoint of a 20-year-old student is the most important, obviously. Duh.<br />
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<b>Natural Aspiration</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGQhvd_efV4_us_8QP8LzkT3nf2qzM3L-GoETC0HKvx5pSrTXosZ4vdDnv4tBUQLybwss3xEOxdyoOWm2PC-XVDFtd12B7EwdCp2gqMw126_RRsyzIT81R_KnYN0N-l4CD-qDEPbPY2_O/s1600/gm-opel-sidi-engine-family-explained-68707_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGQhvd_efV4_us_8QP8LzkT3nf2qzM3L-GoETC0HKvx5pSrTXosZ4vdDnv4tBUQLybwss3xEOxdyoOWm2PC-XVDFtd12B7EwdCp2gqMw126_RRsyzIT81R_KnYN0N-l4CD-qDEPbPY2_O/s400/gm-opel-sidi-engine-family-explained-68707_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1.6l block, as simple as they come</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is the most simple way of powering the car, and, until a couple of years ago, the most common in your everyday car. That isn't the case anymore, but we'll get to that when the time deems it appropriate. With N/A, you relying on just the engine itself to make all the power, and you're giving it no help from outside sources.<br />
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The pros of this are pretty obvious: N/A cars are more often than not far simpler to maintain and repair, and are more likely to be reliable. The engine is also more 'pure', and that means a less muted sound, and less throttle input delay - you're not waiting for other devices to wake up.<br />
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Cons? Well since you're leaving the engine to do all the work, they tend to be less efficient in terms of BHP per litre of displacement. They are more often than not more thirstier than equivalent forced induction alternatives, but this can be disputed somewhat.<br />
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<b>Turbocharging</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVEmzLk9Zt2NQm1knV3MEtdoub1Fha5JEpsgflVdD9vJSm-JY5BCR09nHflcQSvSTCfDs4CEeARn8Yl9BYxQYDcpoNFopkNBhhAH0AKsM3-sq4BuH3Olxz-h7wsphfLmroIQ7IDPt4Y65/s1600/garrett-turbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="985" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVEmzLk9Zt2NQm1knV3MEtdoub1Fha5JEpsgflVdD9vJSm-JY5BCR09nHflcQSvSTCfDs4CEeARn8Yl9BYxQYDcpoNFopkNBhhAH0AKsM3-sq4BuH3Olxz-h7wsphfLmroIQ7IDPt4Y65/s320/garrett-turbo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Garrett turbo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When you bolt a turbo to a car, you're effectively just putting a form of generator in the car to produce more power. Think of a water wheel, but instead of water, you use the cars exhaust gases coming from the engine. The exhaust spins a fan extremely quickly, and on the other side of the turbo, another fan on the same bearing sucks in air from the outside and forces it into the engine. More air = more fuel to maintain the air/fuel ratio, and that extra fuel means more power.<br />
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The most obvious pro from this is the amount of power you can get from such a compact displacement. That's why all modern hot hatches are turbocharged these days - N/A would not do the trick unless it was some nose-heavy V6. On the other side of the spectrum, turbos allow for better fuel consumption, since it allows you to use way smaller engines in equivalent cars. A 1.6 N/A unit can be replaced by a 1.0 turbo and see way better fuel consumption. <br />
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On the other hand, turbos make things in general way less reliable - there's simply more things to go wrong. Too much boost can completely ruin your engine's foundations by over-stressing, and as I previously mentioned, arguably it can take a hit on your economy relative to N/A if you stay in boost too much. You also do not tend to get a linear power delivery, but then again, some people love the shock that turbo laggy cars bring when they spool into life.<br />
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<b>Supercharging</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguFS91BwLBDzgblFineApvrrMAFoJ7IRmBgHhLY4BfM1DDlTTXVj3XxUEa13c3kGh3uj1rSep2wwcXvTgQBAz-LOj5P5yqY8t4Wxq8yfSeUmMRAN8GIrAwTx9-R-98eps5J6eUNkzdtUh/s1600/M-6066-M8627_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguFS91BwLBDzgblFineApvrrMAFoJ7IRmBgHhLY4BfM1DDlTTXVj3XxUEa13c3kGh3uj1rSep2wwcXvTgQBAz-LOj5P5yqY8t4Wxq8yfSeUmMRAN8GIrAwTx9-R-98eps5J6eUNkzdtUh/s400/M-6066-M8627_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The red and the blue spin together like two peas in a pod. That doesn't quite work..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately a dying breed, superchargers have gained a somewhat cult following over times due mainly to the quirks they exhibit. For example, the Vauxhall VXR8 (or Holden) is famous almost exclusively because of the whine it makes from its supercharger. They are a much less known form of power boost, so let's quickly explore how they work.<br />
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A supercharger by definition is still 'forced induction', but it doesn't use your cars exhaust gases to push air into the engine. Instead, a supercharger is attached to the crankshaft of the car; the faster your engine spins, the more the 'charger is going to spin and therefore pull in air with its mesh design.<br />
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The main benefit to supercharging your car is that you do not lose engine responsiveness. However quick your engine picks up revs will be how quick the supercharger spins up, too, so there's far less chance of being caught off-guard with no boost, like you would in a turbo. Superchargers tend to be a bit more reliable as well, since they're a slightly more robust and pig-iron form of engineering compared to turbos.<br />
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However, supercharging is mainly being phased out these days because its not the most economical way to get more power from the car. Just like air conditioning units, the supercharger needs a certain percentage of engine power to keep it spinning, even when sitting idle. That essentially means you trade some horsepower to make horsepower, all while using more fuel while you're at it. Turbos will not show any meaningful increase of fuel consumption if you're out of boost range.<br />
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<b>Final Thoughts</b><br />
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So, there you have it. Is there a clear winner? Not particularly, since they each have their own pros and cons. With that being said, if we look at the industry these days, they all seem to be migrating towards a turbocharged world. BMW rather famously does not have a single N/A car in its lineup anymore, and that's because turbo cars make getting through fuel consumption regulations so much easier when they're off the boost. However, normal drivers who do normal driving will attest they offer no real advantage in efficiency, since they use the boost.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOW1GlIhRWQJTl-RdlvisUmyubRAf0iDS712vtREWflWoXpgw7nr5OFdBBiGKtf8WwHiAaXg2jsAdFJINWf0WFrkSDwB5m_F-yT4oulEkvns1__cYZ0pm5n28rAcrh8_nrt3WqT_FHu-R/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOW1GlIhRWQJTl-RdlvisUmyubRAf0iDS712vtREWflWoXpgw7nr5OFdBBiGKtf8WwHiAaXg2jsAdFJINWf0WFrkSDwB5m_F-yT4oulEkvns1__cYZ0pm5n28rAcrh8_nrt3WqT_FHu-R/s400/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The industry loves Turbo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's a personal preference at the end of the day. Turbo is the most prevalent, but I personally love the purity and exquisite sound that natural aspiration brings - just look at the E92 V8 M3 and the Honda S2000 to see what I mean there. What is your favourite, though, and why?<br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-63945906434500841782017-02-22T18:38:00.005-08:002017-02-24T12:01:08.227-08:002017 F1 Cars: My Thoughts As They Launch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been running this blog since 2013, but never have I bothered to 'react' to every single car that launches in the F1 world at the start of each new season. Sure, I quickly had a look at the new McLaren last year, but that's only because they're my personal team. The reason why I've never done this before is because cars don't really change that much year-by-year. You might get a slight front wing change here, and some new paintjobs there, but there's nothing to really get the pulse raising.<br />
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2017, as you may already know, is different. Cars are going to look wider, meaner, and supposedly far sexier than their ancestors - all of which has caused a fair bit of hype within the community. I'm no different; I've been dying to see each and every new car. I will therefore be reacting to every new car this year, and updating this post regularly as new cars get the cloth lifted off them. So then, without further ado...<br />
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<b>Sauber C36</b><br />
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Being the first to give the F1 community the first glimpse of the future will always give you an advantage in terms of hype, because the fans at this point are starved of new content, and will devour anything that comes their way. Thankfully, however, the new Sauber's hype train is well-deserved.<br />
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Here we can see it next to the 2016 car, and besides the regulation 2017 physical changes, look at how much better that paint job is. The gold is nice, if risky, touch, that gives it a distinctively retro feel. Perhaps rightfully so, since Sauber are clearly celebrating their 25 years in the sport. The wing looks purposeful, and while I'm not a fan of shark fins, Sauber have done a good job camouflaging it by painting it black. Overall, I'd say a solid 7/10.<br />
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<b>Renault RS17</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
There wasn't much speculation in terms of which house colours Renault were going to use on its upcoming car, but the real question was whether they could pull it off in terms of looks. The 2016 car wasn't half-bad in all honesty, so can the 2017 contender keep the winning streak up?<br />
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<a href="https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/headlines/2017/2/renault-launch-the-r-s-17-in-london/_jcr_content/articleContent/manual_gallery/image1.img.2048.medium.jpg/1487783800301.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/headlines/2017/2/renault-launch-the-r-s-17-in-london/_jcr_content/articleContent/manual_gallery/image1.img.2048.medium.jpg/1487783800301.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mmmm yes, I'd say so. The official photos are annoyingly gloomy, but it's clear to see Renault have tastefully blended in a wonderful mixture of yellow and black to create a mean looking contender, and not just a banana. I love how the aero parts are matte black - it just gives a very good balance. The Renault has a shark fin as well, but black has also been used to mask it up somewhat. It also isn't offensively huge, so I'll let it pass. But the best thing? <i>Dat ass.</i><br />
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I'd say this just about clinches the beauty contest, but two cars have only officially been showed thus far (excluding Williams). It's nice to know those two cars are corkers, though.<br />
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<b>Force India VJM10</b><br />
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I liked Force India's car last year. Not just for how it looked, but as an overall package. Not only did it have a stylish and different design with a suitable colour scheme, it was also really rather quick. Considering how relatively low-budget Force India is when paired with McLaren, Ferrari and the like, it's mightily impressive to finish 4th in the constructors championship. Even if Hulkenberg still hasn't achieved a podium yet.<br />
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Unfortunately, I have to say their 2017 contender has to be the weakest of the cars revealed so far. The paint scheme is broadly similar to last year, but they've added a hell of a lot more silver - that wasn't the best part of the design last year. Additionally they've managed to reintroduce not only the ugly 2012 stepped nose (see just above the front wheels), but also the 2014 penis nose. It's like they've looked at all the ugly designs over the past decade or so, and just chucked them all into a melting pot to make this car. Sure, the front wing is quite nice, but that shark fin is just objectively gross. It literally looks like a piece of sheet metal that the factory had lying around. D minus, could try harder.<br />
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<b>Mercedes W08</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I strongly believe that Mercedes not only had the fastest car last year, but also the prettiest. Sure, the paint scheme has more or less stayed the same since 2010, but the aero parts - right down to the monkey seat around the exhaust - were designed with breathtaking elegance.<br />
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And it seems that Mercedes have no plans to stop any time soon with regards to this kind of thing. Sure, the paint is the same again, but look at that front wing. It's a thing of absolute beauty. I also really appreciate Mercedes for bucking the trend and not including a bloody massive shark fin on the back of the car. To my eyes, at least, that automatically makes it the best looking of the bunch so far. The only thing that I'm not too sure about is the sheer size of the thing. Obviously the cars are wider this year, but the length of the Merc seems to be absolutely insane. It might just be some camera trickery, so I'll reserve judgement until the car is sitting alongside its contenders on the grid.<br />
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<b>Ferrari SF70H</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Why, Ferrari? Why must you keep changing the naming scheme of your cars, making them hard to chronologically follow? Over the past 15 years, we've had the F2004, the 248 F1, the F60, even the 150° Italia. Only one of those actually tell us the year the car competed, and only one tells us the number of years Ferrari have been in the sport. With the SF70H, it seems Ferrari are keen to continue confusing us.<br />
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But anyway, the car itself. Lots of people go crazy for the Ferrari red, but I've never really been a big fan of the Italian firm. However, I can appreciate the car they've produced here; the sidepods look <i>mean</i>, and, much like the Mercedes, the front wing is a nice sight. Ferrari have opted for a shark fin, but they have at least given it a bit of paint and style, unlike Force India. I'd rank this car equally with Renault, but below Mercedes.<br />
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<b>McLaren MCL32</b><br />
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I was sad to see that McLaren were to drop the MP4 name from its cars, but at the same time I fully understood. You'll likely know that Ron Dennis has now been ousted from the company, and since Project Four (hence MP4, McLaren Project Four) was his thing, it was understandable they've fiddled the name a bit to reflect that. At least they're still keeping the model numbers cumulative.<br />
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Orange was hyped hardcore for the new McLaren, but did it deliver? Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that's it's a refreshingly different-looking car to come out of the McLaren Technology Centre, but no because it's not <i>that</i> great, once the initial surprise wears away. The shark fin returns again, but like other teams, McLaren have incorporated a design into it, which makes it more bearable. I can see a subtle visual McLaren boomerang in the engine cover, where the orange and black meet. Speaking of the black, I think it would've been better to use another colour in its place.<br />
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This quick mockup was done by a Reddit user. I know which one I certainly prefer.<br />
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<b>This post will be updated as more cars are launched.</b></div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-53227883718401788722016-12-06T07:28:00.000-08:002016-12-06T15:28:39.278-08:00Helloooo Nurse! The New Vauxhall Insignia is a Corker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Vauxhall Insignia has never really been the one to light the world on fire. Frankly if it did do such a thing, it would be doing its job all wrong. The Insignia was built as a workhorse, a bang-for-your-buck motorway mile muncher; the fact it was the replacement for the infamous Vectra should be enough to tell you the target market.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/content/dam/Vauxhall/Europe/united_kingdom/nscwebsite/uk/Home/Used%20Cars/Choose%20the%20Right%20Vehicle/Large/Insignia/768x432/INSIGNIA_768x432_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/content/dam/Vauxhall/Europe/united_kingdom/nscwebsite/uk/Home/Used%20Cars/Choose%20the%20Right%20Vehicle/Large/Insignia/768x432/INSIGNIA_768x432_1.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a car, and it just sort of exists</td></tr>
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That's not to say it was a bad car - no, it was just uninspiring. Here's your four doors, here's your big boot, here's your diesel engine; bish-bash-bosh and you're away. The no-frills characteristic of this car (both dynamically and visually) meant it sat firmly below the upmarket saloon segment, filled with the likes of 3-Series and A4s. But now Vauxhall have clearly had enough, and wants a slice of the German pie. We'll brush over the fact the car is already German.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/autoexpressuk/files/styles/gallery_adv/public/2016/12/opel-insignia-grand-sport-tourer-1.jpg?itok=b8hP4dNY" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn1.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/autoexpressuk/files/styles/gallery_adv/public/2016/12/opel-insignia-grand-sport-tourer-1.jpg?itok=b8hP4dNY" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it acceptable to wolf-whistle a car?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Say hello to the brand new Insignia, courtesy of <i>Auto Express </i>and <i>Carscoops</i>. Isn't she an elegant beaut? If you're wondering why it looks a but rough and unfinished here and there, that's because it is rough and unfinished. The car hasn't been officially revealed yet - and won't be until 2017 - but it's almost impossible to stop the craftiness of spying photographers and their long-lens cameras. Recently they caught a gem: an Insignia Tourer and a saloon with almost no camouflage. Just look at them.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8hzKBOiF9Fc/WEWPi_v_sPI/AAAAAAAA2ek/MxKOYzTDTpgH30jK23ujIgprJhrlb7jxQCLcB/s1600/2017-Opel-Vauxhall-Insignia-Spy-Camofree-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8hzKBOiF9Fc/WEWPi_v_sPI/AAAAAAAA2ek/MxKOYzTDTpgH30jK23ujIgprJhrlb7jxQCLcB/s400/2017-Opel-Vauxhall-Insignia-Spy-Camofree-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Don't get me wrong, it's not quite an Alfa Giulia, but I wouldn't say it's a million miles off. If a direct comparison were to be made, I would perhaps promote the VW Passat CC, which is a car which also has swoopy curves, and gives a coupé feel despite being a saloon. If you were to compare the current Insignia to the CC, you'd be branded a lunatic. So yes, the Insignia has gone upmarket, but can Vauxhall truly pull it off?<br />
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You'd think so: Insignia plus additional sex appeal should equal even greater success than the outgoing model. But the problem is when you go upmarket, you start grabbing the attention of a new target market. You are no longer appealing to those who just want to go 'from A to B' - instead you're looking at those with a healthy income who have the money to spend on a fashion icon. With this new Insignia, there is a very obvious fly in the soup: the badge.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGy0vGYrMbw/WEWPh8zrjAI/AAAAAAAA2eI/cCa8l32yMzYo1EiuC1K5r4smJGbHAH-XACLcB/s1600/2017-Opel-Vauxhall-Insignia-Spy-Camofree-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aGy0vGYrMbw/WEWPh8zrjAI/AAAAAAAA2eI/cCa8l32yMzYo1EiuC1K5r4smJGbHAH-XACLcB/s400/2017-Opel-Vauxhall-Insignia-Spy-Camofree-13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Be it for good or for bad, Vauxhall is known as a lower-end brand. Why would a successful manager want to jump into a car from the same company that makes the Adam Slam? Or the cheap-as-you-want-it Viva? The new Insignia could be an absolute game-changer, but the badge will always be a hold back. Vauxhall isn't the only one with this issue, but other manufacturers have come up with solutions. Think Citroen and their premium DS brand.<br />
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Vauxhall claims their solution will be to offer the premium car whilst keeping the lower price point. They haven't specified how low this will be just yet, so we can only wait and see. I really hope this car is successful, because I need something pretty to see on the road to counterbalance the new Prius...<br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-28995769712873829622016-09-18T18:28:00.002-07:002017-11-15T05:15:08.428-08:00Why You Should Avoid Telematics Car Insurance If You Can<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I hate black box insurance, but the hard reality is there's no other choice financially for many new drivers who are itching to get on the road. The problem is that insurance companies know this, and many will milk you for all its worth. Based on my own personal experience, here are my top five reasons why you should avoid telematic-based insurance, if your wallet allows it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbQZ10tvdV92G7EBsCUtHuamzGZWdw9fLnHd7X3_2gfOOwWe-_q3f2iVVenmok6YgndtP1Dph31CKZLFC6Y48Q8cY09RYIGGlHBhf7TizHjw9QZyCYAY_642CdbKRYmhYKNgAy6PlJhes/s1600/black-box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbQZ10tvdV92G7EBsCUtHuamzGZWdw9fLnHd7X3_2gfOOwWe-_q3f2iVVenmok6YgndtP1Dph31CKZLFC6Y48Q8cY09RYIGGlHBhf7TizHjw9QZyCYAY_642CdbKRYmhYKNgAy6PlJhes/s400/black-box.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>1: Constant fear and stress</b><br />
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Regardless of how well your black box scores your driving, you will always have the box on the back of your mind whenever you're driving. I guarantee it. The unpredictable nature of the scoring system (which I'll get to later) means you live in constant fear - especially since most policies will cancel without any refund if they deem you too poor. Being a new driver is all about fun and freedom; the black box sucks away any of that surprisingly well.<br />
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<b>2: Quick to penalise, slow to reward</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
You may hear people around you muttering how petrol companies like BP and Shell are quick to raise their prices, but are incredibly slow and reluctant to lower them when the price of oil takes a dip every now and then. The same principles seem to apply to black box insurance: if you have a bad day, your score will drop instantly and bring you more misery. Naturally you try to counterbalance it with trademark Good Samaritan Driving, but good luck seeing any improvement. I had a poor time once, and after driving like a granny for over a week, I was still being called a bad driver - despite it updating the scores daily. Eventually it improved, but then I made the mistake of accelerating to 70 on a motorway sliproad quickly and safely. God forbid I want to match the speed of traffic!<br />
<br />
<b>3: Frighteningly random</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I'd like to think the scores are calculated based on a mathematical algorithm that takes your data and turns it into a score, but that doesn't appear to be the case. My braking habits never change; I'm a big fan of lift and coast (where you just roll to a stop without any gas or brake), and tend to stop as gently as possible. It's just nice that way. And yet, my score will go from 84/100, down to 75, then up to 100, and then back down to 75, for seemingly no reason. It's like someone is just typing the number in for the shits 'n' giggles.<br />
<br />
<b>4: Night times are out of the question</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Well, you can still drive in the night, but you'll be penalised incredibly hard for it. About 3 times a week I have to drive past my 10pm limit for work reasons, and as a result my score sits at a constant 0/100. It's like I do nothing but night driving, but in truth my night driving makes up just 20% of my distance covered. So my score should be 80/100, no? Whatever. If you want to drive at night, you're given pretty much zero leeway with speed and acceleration, because the 0/100 score brings down your average so hard.<br />
<br />
<b>5: All faith has to be put in a GPS system</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Your speed is measured by GPS, which is overlaid on a map to compare against the road's speed limit. If that GPS system has a blunder and misplaces you, you could be in deep trouble. It happened to me: I was on a 60mph road doing 61 reported by the black box (yes cops, I'm guilty as charged, lock me away), but the box thought I was on a 30mph road. As a result it gave me an 'extreme speeding' warning. You what?! You've penalised me and ruined my score because your GPS fucked up? Nice. To this day that false-positive warning stays there, and is a constant crap reminder of how imperfect these boxes are.<br />
<br />
I hope these 5 points steer you away somewhat. If you can afford it, steer well away from them. You may just about maintain your sanity that way.<br />
<br />
<b>Extra info: </b>I was with Hastings Smart Miles. Different insurers will have different systems and rules, but this post can be used as a decent rule-of-thumb.</div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-67089097478742207412016-07-16T17:02:00.002-07:002016-07-16T17:08:42.518-07:00Review: My Car<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Wait, don't tell me what that is. I see these things all the time.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Yes indeed, it's the (arguably) infamous Vauxhall Corsa, specifically the 2006-2014 model, known to some as the 'D'. Due to it being not too old, yet not the freshest thing out there, this model of Corsa is one of the most common sights on British roads. They're just the right age for that cheap runaround used car purchase.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb34eiobDw6g20r2XXw2UC7w54EEUGPK0mk1TSZW0mKcPzhO8MPREC1ZaI6I3wRq04pm-2xS6-smSNH9HsFtCD0uZd_23KND3X_s0hsEUCVRVxqBBw4n3Lpxb4L_bTvB6PhkUDlWaUX92/s1600/Screenshot+%2528198%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghb34eiobDw6g20r2XXw2UC7w54EEUGPK0mk1TSZW0mKcPzhO8MPREC1ZaI6I3wRq04pm-2xS6-smSNH9HsFtCD0uZd_23KND3X_s0hsEUCVRVxqBBw4n3Lpxb4L_bTvB6PhkUDlWaUX92/s640/Screenshot+%2528198%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>It's so bland!</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-y0qqDxGJWOXhhmVA8n8GldihJy9y0LFojK8RYITX7ZBSSCaBsBCSaGjwwzmxHvmRKmICugrLsZin2AABDw-UngeUanxFJHpayc80FfA0ZvKmhSzNG9cV6Xwx_RwYh3LK-dAMnerfUbp/s1600/Screenshot+%2528197%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-y0qqDxGJWOXhhmVA8n8GldihJy9y0LFojK8RYITX7ZBSSCaBsBCSaGjwwzmxHvmRKmICugrLsZin2AABDw-UngeUanxFJHpayc80FfA0ZvKmhSzNG9cV6Xwx_RwYh3LK-dAMnerfUbp/s320/Screenshot+%2528197%2529.png" width="320" /></a><b><br /></b>
Well you'd think that, because you see them all the time. When you see the same thing so many times, it just kind of blends into nothingness. The Corsa is just that: it's so common, it's become the victim of its own success. However, if you stop and concentrate, you can appreciate some decent lines on the car, such as the door mirrors, and, er, that's about it. But come on, this is a mainstream car, so it can't afford to be radical.<br />
<br />
<b>Tell me about the engine.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Well it's a basic 1.2l unit producing 79bhp. It's get you to 60mph in 13 seconds, and will theoretically return 46mpg. I should put particular emphasis on the word 'theoretically' there. The engine is basically small hatchback 101.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJoTlil1d7dl5I408Zhf5iBXGF8e92a45PfJZ9DQT7-iIvmXfQWK0mUINofHZY1PiXbpta8YMXGk_Vv4-uoEO63ihN3VuKzbH7kaxg1NqiAGaX2fK1J2QcHj4zi1CxPJGT59r4JZPqGr5/s1600/Screenshot+%2528195%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJoTlil1d7dl5I408Zhf5iBXGF8e92a45PfJZ9DQT7-iIvmXfQWK0mUINofHZY1PiXbpta8YMXGk_Vv4-uoEO63ihN3VuKzbH7kaxg1NqiAGaX2fK1J2QcHj4zi1CxPJGT59r4JZPqGr5/s320/Screenshot+%2528195%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior is a good mix of fresh and inoffensive</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Those specs seem oddly familiar...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
And right you'd be. This is not a new engine by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, this engine first served it's purpose in the older 'C' model of Corsa.<br />
<br />
<b>That car was a hell of a lot lighter, wasn't it?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Yup. In that car, which is over 100kg lighter than the one I'm reviewing, the engine worked well. It propelled the car from 0-60 in 11.5 seconds, making the car feel peppy in town, and competent on the motorway. In this car, the engine feels very sluggish if you're not in the right gear. To keep up with traffic, be prepared to rev it out and watch your fuel economy tumble.<br />
<br />
<b>So the car's useless, then?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Well, no. For starters, you can get bigger engines for this model, so don't walk away just yet. And if I may say so myself, having an underpowered car creates a sense of engagement in what is otherwise a fairly disengaging (in other words: easy) car to drive. Having to work for your speed by rowing through the gearbox up and down is fun in its own silly little way. In high-powered cars, you can leave it in top gear and floor it and end up at your desired speed. If I want to go from 30 to 60 in this car, I have to drop it down to 2nd and plant my foot down. Legal fun.<br />
<br />
<b>You're a bit odd. Anything else worth noting?</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXedT7kJmH-CiPl1H1hE7ms4ZOCc-2RP8C4vPU7Fx0FZARACLgIB4tV-WHGzJIHMSmudivSvBpaOWxlqAe4wa6LE1C0nSJQfi0l8Lfj4GbNSFv0c7AGZSy-DawrPxNMe0TL_m3NbEhvYBm/s1600/Screenshot+%2528201%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXedT7kJmH-CiPl1H1hE7ms4ZOCc-2RP8C4vPU7Fx0FZARACLgIB4tV-WHGzJIHMSmudivSvBpaOWxlqAe4wa6LE1C0nSJQfi0l8Lfj4GbNSFv0c7AGZSy-DawrPxNMe0TL_m3NbEhvYBm/s320/Screenshot+%2528201%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't fret, for this is just a fake floor; the boot is actually deep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
There is a surprising amount of space inside the cabin for 4 adults, and even the middle seat isn't too bad. Boot space is very competitive, too. The refinement was top notch when this car came out, and it still makes for an easy cruiser to this day. Just not with this engine: at 75mph, the car pulls 4000rpm in top gear. I can only presume the short ratios are there to try and combat the lack of oomph, but it doesn't half hurt the economy. Try and look for a diesel, or a petrol with a six speed 'box. Everything else is very recognisably Vauxhall, from the centre console, to the little styling cues both inside and out.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHuGjdeEpZpZf6ZNcFk5HK_ZABQDoKz5a4UlLYN3FgI9ONhw2tQsyDiMyYGTNpJqO0pfl2FF7OdKVVcveFINjHGEt4yEec7P6tG_CfvdfCL3Hn7YsekPSBTltD5bBzIEqCYfciFz8EdwM/s1600/Screenshot+%2528196%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHuGjdeEpZpZf6ZNcFk5HK_ZABQDoKz5a4UlLYN3FgI9ONhw2tQsyDiMyYGTNpJqO0pfl2FF7OdKVVcveFINjHGEt4yEec7P6tG_CfvdfCL3Hn7YsekPSBTltD5bBzIEqCYfciFz8EdwM/s320/Screenshot+%2528196%2529.png" width="320" /></a><b>I'm a 18-year-old male driver. Is this the first car for me?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Well what a coincidence, as it turns out I too am an 18-year-old male, and this is my first car. In terms of insurance, the only cars cheaper are the C1/107/Aygo trio, or a 1.0l Corsa. But you don't want a 1.0l Corsa if you want to move faster than wind erosion. This car is a good first buy. Fuel costs are OK, but be aware you will never get 46mpg. Expect £45 worth of fuel to get you about 350 miles. Tax is £145, which ain't cheap. If you want to reduce those figures, buy a diesel. Be aware though, that your insurance will then go up; you will never be able to win.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjKr_BdnywDKBHiJZvfgIo3wcQ07bLd4sgNOwEUkSykMlBeJqUhc9Du8M5wvm-jn8El6VIerWp-Cix4g6WUItdRKqgaG_DCgVfvHIR2AdMoYJqb5eLmGrpNh1JwhzTt2_OGId0Bbqi6QU/s1600/Screenshot+%2528199%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjKr_BdnywDKBHiJZvfgIo3wcQ07bLd4sgNOwEUkSykMlBeJqUhc9Du8M5wvm-jn8El6VIerWp-Cix4g6WUItdRKqgaG_DCgVfvHIR2AdMoYJqb5eLmGrpNh1JwhzTt2_OGId0Bbqi6QU/s320/Screenshot+%2528199%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chrome exhaust is what stops you buying the Fiesta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Indeed not. Come on then, what's stopping me from getting a similarly specced Fiesta?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Nothing, if I'm totally honest. The current generation Fiesta (introduced in 2008) drives better, arguably looks tidier, and has a stronger range of engines. What I will say though is the Corsa is ever so slightly friendlier with the insurers, and spec-for-spec, you can pick up a Corsa somewhat cheaper than an equivalent Fiesta. So it does really depend on where your priorities lie. If you want driving dynamics, the Fiesta rudely tramples all over the little Vauxhall. But the Corsa is more likely to be ever-so-slightly friendlier to your wallet, especially if you get a model with a more frugal engine.<br />
<br />
<b>OK, just give me a quick overall rating for those who can't be arsed to read the review itself.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I shall give my Corsa a 6/10. I love the big car road mannerisms and the fairly upmarket interior quality (at least for its time), but my engine in particular is by far the weakest link.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-72546922030004716562016-05-21T07:25:00.001-07:002016-05-21T07:25:19.475-07:00The Iffy World of the 'Black Box'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have, for a long time now, been a voice against car insurance costs for young people, both male and female. I remember a few years back when it was announced that the gender cost gap would be more or less equalised, and being really excited about it. I was fairly young and naive (just entering my teens, I think), and my thinking was that male costs would be pushed down to female prices. Of course I was wrong.<br />
<br />
My main argument has always been: why start new drivers on a 'worse case scenario' kind of thing? Why charge them prices like they're the worst drivers ever? For sure, there are some dodgy kids out there, but then again there are some dodgy, blind OAPs as well. If I was in charge, I would start all new drivers - regardless of age - in the middle. Their premium will go down if nothing happens, but it will go up if they claim. Currently if a new driver makes a claim, their next policy won't really go up as such, because they're already being charged massively.<br />
<br />
But that's not going to happen any time soon, so we have to work with what we've got. In the past few years or so, telematic insurance has become popular. This involves your insurer fitting a recording device in your car, which then tracks your speed, acceleration, braking, time of driving, and sometimes your cornering, depending on who you're insured with. It's a bit creepy and breaks your freedom somewhat, but realistically it's the only way new, young drivers can get on the road. Case in point: myself. I have a bog-standard 1.2l Corsa from 2009. With a telematics box, the insurance worked out to be £1,300 for the year, which is OK. The cheapest policy without a box was over £4,000. Yes, really.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSzcQMJdmzuKYBbmB6tTlV75tBKQWeM0f5-DT_Gd58gCopdBHnGSFFu24dBNrfzq2qg4TAXz0RWXDWLR3d8fH7oVxti1nvwn-ocH-gCTYH4sRmyhvShQKlBx3fVBJlQNXsSvTEfhDKRem/s1600/Used_Vauxhall_Corsa_Hatchback_1_2i_16v_Sxi_5dr_ac_2009_Black_for_Sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSzcQMJdmzuKYBbmB6tTlV75tBKQWeM0f5-DT_Gd58gCopdBHnGSFFu24dBNrfzq2qg4TAXz0RWXDWLR3d8fH7oVxti1nvwn-ocH-gCTYH4sRmyhvShQKlBx3fVBJlQNXsSvTEfhDKRem/s320/Used_Vauxhall_Corsa_Hatchback_1_2i_16v_Sxi_5dr_ac_2009_Black_for_Sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My car is this exact model. As you can see, it's hardly a pocket rocket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So of course I have a telematics policy (otherwise known as Black Box insurance to others), and this post is all about my choppy experience with it so far. If any of you are curious, I am with <a href="https://www.hastingsdirectsmartmiles.com/" target="_blank">Hastings Smart Miles</a>, so other insurers may give you different experiences.<br />
<br />
Right from the very start, there were some peculiar gremlins. I had about two weeks of carefree driving before the box itself was actually fitted, though I didn't really drive like a maniac because I was still getting used to the new car. The box was fitted on the 3rd April 2016, in a place where I couldn't see it. Things were cool.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehPbR-qEHw6KQBQ-77MVPAZV8cc3DS0_hFUQ6Z37vUNjoPUE43w3kgHNkRJj5XD7MDdvgsRHpMuRTdXw4h02ZD4PewRG7YM0TJW5BE-2tUTHYxVF5BEIsL9OWBhV2eiGuTeZ1VpdfSXVR/s1600/297a7d906734722be2005a6f32faccfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehPbR-qEHw6KQBQ-77MVPAZV8cc3DS0_hFUQ6Z37vUNjoPUE43w3kgHNkRJj5XD7MDdvgsRHpMuRTdXw4h02ZD4PewRG7YM0TJW5BE-2tUTHYxVF5BEIsL9OWBhV2eiGuTeZ1VpdfSXVR/s400/297a7d906734722be2005a6f32faccfc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It took a few days before the first lot of data arrived for me to view, and these first results seemed a bit.. off. My speed, time of day and braking were all nice and high (in the 80s, 90s and even a perfect 100 for the time of day), but the acceleration was pegged at 0. What? I get that I might not be the most economical driver around, but to get 0 would surely mean every time you pull away you were doing burnouts. Though I may have done a spirited burst of acceleration every now and then, it was always neutralised by at least 20 'normal' rounds of acceleration. Even a score of 50 would've been a bit harsh. No matter though, I'll just wait for it to correct itself.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQPSM8yhKNN-DZ_n1fTjCSyMwszXu7Hynn3JQIozvvuwPdo3p9nf0gGsn5t-Ozyhd3jz4Xk02fowrxFeSHgv_3Vv30i1sBpkSkGE6tkzaf2RiVt92hbFoH5vE5EmHzR4z2XCeYGcGJ0Fo/s1600/hastings-direct-smartmiles-e0235a-h900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQPSM8yhKNN-DZ_n1fTjCSyMwszXu7Hynn3JQIozvvuwPdo3p9nf0gGsn5t-Ozyhd3jz4Xk02fowrxFeSHgv_3Vv30i1sBpkSkGE6tkzaf2RiVt92hbFoH5vE5EmHzR4z2XCeYGcGJ0Fo/s320/hastings-direct-smartmiles-e0235a-h900.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This has given me constant grief</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But this correction never happened. I know it never happened, because by this point I had started a part-time job, which involved me at times driving at what Hastings considers the night period. Yet my time of day score was kept at 100, so something obviously wasn't right. In fact, my score remained exactly the same for well over a month, which was a little concerning, because I couldn't keep track on how badly I was supposedly driving.<br />
<br />
The data did finally update just under a week ago, and the results were awful. My time of day, as I write this now, is now at 0. Yes, despite the fact 83% of my driving is done during the day, my score is now 0. My speed is 34, as is my acceleration. I accept I can fix that, because I, by my own admittance, don't do 20mph in the 20 zones, and my bursts of acceleration have become more frequent now that my confidence of driving has grown. But I find the new time of day score to be dangerously false. If my overall score drops below 25 (and it'd only take for me to brake sharply a couple of times to do that), then they will cancel my policy.<br />
<br />
Having this black box is scary and nerve-wrecking. I feel I'm being penalised, just because my job finishes later than the average Joe. It sucks away any freedom and flexibility driving should give you, but then again it does give you a big discount. So it's up to you really, it depends on how much you want to sacrifice. If I had my say, I'd point out that if you can afford to not have a black box, just go for that and pay the bit more. I don't think it's worth the fear that they have the power to randomly cut you off the road, and keep all your money while they're at it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-32489461939115382192016-02-21T08:29:00.001-08:002016-02-21T08:29:17.888-08:002016 McLaren: Furious Judging Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's that time of year again which drags massively for Formula 1 fans, such as myself. We are in that period where the constructors attempt to build up hype for their upcoming cars with crappy 'teasers' - almost suggesting their car will be the second coming. It never is, but we lap it up regardless, because this is the first bit of new F1 content we have seen since November last year. McLaren have recently introduced their new car, and since I'm a hopeless follower of the team, I shall be exploring the new car a little.<br />
<br />
Let us bear in mind that even if you think the new car is ugly, it will never beat the infamous 2014 penis era. Never forget the penis era.<br />
<br />
I think McLaren will be the most intriguing team to watch in 2016 - even from an objective point of view. If you follow F1 even just a tiny bit, you'll know that McLaren had an abysmal 2015 season. So it will certainly be interesting to see if and how they develop for this year. The car was revealed on the 21st February, and while we can't really tell if it means it'll be faster, we can still be judgemental pricks.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/mclaren-honda-mp4-31-2016-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/mclaren-honda-mp4-31-2016-c.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, what can I say? Not a lot, if I'm honest. It's a very uninspired piece of design, and incredibly angular. When I think of a modern F1 car these days, I think of many aerodynamic and sexy curves (and I try to forget about the ugly post-2009 rear wings), but this is very much wedge shaped. Here's a little comparison between the new and old car:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPdf0BPbMsUyYEhFF3OPe66aQX_ORmVlufbMjVIePHCxvwWEOKFHPcsiOfR2z_f5HovMnAIVjKESMx9mSNOpyOLjwn3LJsx-SpjJXYyaI3bcS4fENa0kkoxonif1uf77KDn_-Be4VuA9B/s1600/mclaren+comparison.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPdf0BPbMsUyYEhFF3OPe66aQX_ORmVlufbMjVIePHCxvwWEOKFHPcsiOfR2z_f5HovMnAIVjKESMx9mSNOpyOLjwn3LJsx-SpjJXYyaI3bcS4fENa0kkoxonif1uf77KDn_-Be4VuA9B/s640/mclaren+comparison.png" width="537" /></a></div>
<br />
Notice how much curvier (and in my mind, sexier) the MP4-30 is, especially at the front. Towards the rear they become somewhat similar, but if you look closely you may see that the 31's engine hump is somewhat wider than the 30's. If you need a point of reference, look at the distance between the two Esso sponsor logos. Hopefully this means they've beefed up the power unit.<br />
<br />
It's one of least attractive F1 cars out there so far, but looks don't give you a world championship. I have my fingers crossed that for this year, Alonso and Button get to drive the cars they deserve. </div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-69917082292006352322016-01-17T08:07:00.000-08:002017-11-14T14:42:41.780-08:00Why Turbos Don't Spin Me Up With Excitement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The car industry is entering a turbo era, and that is something that even the most hardcore naturally aspirated fan cannot deny these days. If, for pure example, you were a fairly successful person in life and you wanted to splash the cash on a brand new BMW, you wouldn't be able to purchase a single naturally aspirated car at all. That's right: all BMWs now (even the M range) have turbines and witchcraft force feeding their hearts some additional air.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.carbuyer.co.uk/sites/carbuyer_d7/files/styles/16x9_720/public/bmw-1-series-1.jpg?itok=oyfiRdxs" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn1.carbuyer.co.uk/sites/carbuyer_d7/files/styles/16x9_720/public/bmw-1-series-1.jpg?itok=oyfiRdxs" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even your basic 114i has a complex turbo system now. Via<a href="http://carbuyer.co.uk/" target="_blank"> carbuyer.co.uk</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">There always has to be a reason why such changes occur, and the turbo takeover is no different. Emission laws have been ever tightening, and they are getting more and more tighter quicker than manufacturers can make their engines as green as desired. So other options have to be explored in order to make the big cheeses happy. Volkswagen took a particularly extreme approach, but let's not get into that...</span></div>
<br />
If manufacturers wanted to avoid the costly and complex solution of electrical power in humdrum hatchbacks, the only other properly viable option was to go turbo. These magical spinning devices allowed engines to downsize and gain efficiency whilst still maintaining the same power as their larger predecessors. It seems like a complete win-win, which is probably why they're so widespread these days.<br />
<br />
However, whilst I'm no naturally aspirated hardcore nutcase (though they still are my weapon of choice), I just can't seem to warm up to the idea of a turbo-dominated range of cars. Here are a few of my reasons...<br />
<br />
<b>1) They aren't actually that efficient</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
While you see 1.2L turbo engines replacing the rock-solid 1.6L units we've become used to in typical hatchbacks these days, you may be slightly surprised to hear they don't bring much more in terms of fuel consumption. Yes, the new dinky engines perform well in official tests, but that's because they're driven in such a way that the turbo barely ever spools - by that I mean they're driven so slowly. In real life, you don't spend half a minute getting to 30mph, so you spool that turbo. The forced amounts of air (and therefore fuel too to keep the ratio tidy) means you pretty much perform no better than your big old engine lump you had before.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2) They ruin exotic sounds</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This one applies most heavily to performance cars that have been diluted by the new turbo era. The best example I can think of for this is the old V8 M3 to the new straight six turbo M3. The V8 M3 sounded juicy, menacing, and pretty damn orgasmic. The new M3 has a meaningful noise to it, but that's all it is: a noise. Engine sound can be subjective at the best of times, but I think most of you will be able to see my point of view here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nYfcPEFXzZ8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nYfcPEFXzZ8?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
V8 E92.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OI2PEGD7bNo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OI2PEGD7bNo?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Straight Six F80. Note a lot of sound is artificially produced through the car speakers...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>3) They are nowhere near as linear</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To be completely honest, this isn't nearly as much of a problem as it used to be. But it's still there, and comparisons can still be made. If we go back 10 to 20 years ago, turbo cars were a lot cruder. We had cars that famously had the 'nothing, nothing, nothing, BAM!' kind of power delivery, and for some people that was a huge amount of fun. That has more or less gone now thanks to twin turbos and whatnot, but it still isn't perfect. Turbo engines have a tendency to seriously trail off in power and torque towards the upper limits of the rev range, whereas a lot of naturally aspirated engines will keep pushing until only a few dozen RPMs are left over. It's a lot more convenient to have all the power and torque at the low end à la turbos, but there is so much more fun to be had when you have to work for your power.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://static1.bornrichimages.com/cdn2/683/384/91/c/wp-content/uploads/s3/1/2012/09/12/1347433266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.bornrichimages.com/cdn2/683/384/91/c/wp-content/uploads/s3/1/2012/09/12/1347433266.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pin up of turbo lag. Via <a href="http://bornrich.com/">bornrich.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So there you go, they are my three reasons as to why I shall try and be sticking to naturally aspirated cars for as long as possible. Want to add more to the list, or do you disagree? Comment down below, or send a tweet to <a href="http://twitter.com/threepedals__" target="_blank">@threepedals_</a>_.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-54226982209659468422016-01-10T15:13:00.002-08:002016-01-10T15:55:20.457-08:00Things F1 REALLY Need To Sort Out Now, According To You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You hear constant stories within the media world that F1 is getting declining audiences, less satisfied fans and whatnot - we've all heard it before. But these kind of situations don't just happen out of pure randomness; there has to be a trigger somewhere.<br />
<br />
Most people would tend to agree that the FIA's love affair with some particularly iffy rules is not exactly helping the sport. Things like the virtual safety car takes away the excitement of the pack bunching back up together <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">à la normal safety car. Others would perhaps point their blaming finger towards the constructors. Mercedes - through no particular fault of their own - have completely dominated the last two seasons and made the sport somewhat more tedious for people who don't follow the three-pointed star. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3-MRjGjJYqd9MmaJ8u3nDFZqWPnLXvILMyLDtlHmw_N-3ETJ805_C73PP7AG2kroLlf3apll6phlJAIOiHhB3P-eQwuMPel-VRHo-0lmjJz2xK6I978x_OWpX4cwzbUfdKzQAvWxBCbp/s1600/Pirelli_Formula-1_2013_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3-MRjGjJYqd9MmaJ8u3nDFZqWPnLXvILMyLDtlHmw_N-3ETJ805_C73PP7AG2kroLlf3apll6phlJAIOiHhB3P-eQwuMPel-VRHo-0lmjJz2xK6I978x_OWpX4cwzbUfdKzQAvWxBCbp/s400/Pirelli_Formula-1_2013_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The short-living Pirelli tyres are a particular sticking point these days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But in the grand scheme of things, saying what is and what isn't wrong with F1 right now is a very subjective manner, dependant on who you support and what you see falling under the definition of F1 itself. Therefore it's a bit too dense for me as the author to come up with all the points - it's in no way representative. Therefore, I've asked Reddit's fanatical F1 community down in <a href="http://reddit.com/r/formula1" target="_blank">/r/formula1</a> on what they believe the biggest issues F1 faces right now, and what they'd do to sort it all out. Here's what they had to say.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1) The nature of the hybrid systems and the restrictions on their development</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZITQUW2YgImBcGMeVnf6n1Jmu4NRZw0ThejxVmSmiMCKTMq43igQ7wPkbDO-XygDraemb5MKcLO3PEh6GHbakXCO8aT_SQrLNqyhPLaRMLpfcISSWKfrZNydUfn54YbWGYbJRVc9uwMS/s1600/mercedes-2014-v6-f1-engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZITQUW2YgImBcGMeVnf6n1Jmu4NRZw0ThejxVmSmiMCKTMq43igQ7wPkbDO-XygDraemb5MKcLO3PEh6GHbakXCO8aT_SQrLNqyhPLaRMLpfcISSWKfrZNydUfn54YbWGYbJRVc9uwMS/s320/mercedes-2014-v6-f1-engine.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857em; margin-bottom: 0.357143em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>"Problem: Introduction of the sports most complicated Power Train systems in history introduced at the same time as the sport's most restrictive testing and development regulations. <u>It was easy to see that one manufacturer was going to do it better than the others - you then protect their initial advantage in the regulations for far too long.</u></b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>
</b></span><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857em; margin-top: 0.357143em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Solution: Remove restrictive development regulations and allow the sport to function correctly rather than playing a waiting game until regulations change to see a major shake-up of the competitive order."</span> </b>-</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> u/webbymoto<span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></span></div>
</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<b>2) How finance is dealt with within the sport</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.0476px;"><b>Problem: Wildly uneven distribution of revenue.</b></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.0476px;"><b>Solution: Assuming dictator status: Equal revenue distribution with a performance percentage (championship points) bonus. - </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.0476px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">u/EnjoyingMyCoffee</span></span></blockquote>
This user does note, however, that if this was to come into effect, several big names would probably quit in protest.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbl8fuvEDd4tVPAKJiv1Q9bSYE3OFqE2UhWutYEyG5RML8yRC9_OEHHOijrjyKEQPjUI3FRVVmgIMFTs6Md7cITWutEBKJE-syB0nlN7Y6akKHOD-hWBkPfKA-xLSuZJMQxd3PsBupkMO/s1600/f1-hamilton-w05-finish-line-inline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbl8fuvEDd4tVPAKJiv1Q9bSYE3OFqE2UhWutYEyG5RML8yRC9_OEHHOijrjyKEQPjUI3FRVVmgIMFTs6Md7cITWutEBKJE-syB0nlN7Y6akKHOD-hWBkPfKA-xLSuZJMQxd3PsBupkMO/s400/f1-hamilton-w05-finish-line-inline.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mercedes recieves far more cash than some smaller teams, arguably <br />
leading to a snowball effect of more money = faster car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>3) The Promotion of F1</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 19.0476px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Marketing. I live in Canada and most people have never even heard of Formula one. How do you expect to get more fans without getting the name out to more people? -</b></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">u/JCDC64</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<b>4) The over-reliance of aero in modern F1 cars </b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857em; margin-bottom: 0.357143em; margin-top: 0.357143em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Problem: Dirty air.</b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Solution: Restrict aero, especially front wing. Provide more options on grip that isn't as affected by dirty air. -</span></b></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">u/starwatto</span></blockquote>
<br />
Just as a note, dirty air is what drivers face when they're behind another car. The car in front distorts the air and therefore the aero kit doesn't work as effectively to provide grip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1xEgmZzciG-6_RyQmL0ieGpSFQWL7H4BxHIUEUiJcvX59RcnWwjI_Q3XKtiIpt5ja_Sooh_2YYvxu-k6_erQrYQRUSbCgpIA3YI7oB0XfTaAQJ8nuR4qHOZVYEBxh7YayHC3CB67t4h6/s1600/hungary-budapest-hungaroring-hungarian-formula-1-grand-prix-red-bull-wing-austria_3330712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1xEgmZzciG-6_RyQmL0ieGpSFQWL7H4BxHIUEUiJcvX59RcnWwjI_Q3XKtiIpt5ja_Sooh_2YYvxu-k6_erQrYQRUSbCgpIA3YI7oB0XfTaAQJ8nuR4qHOZVYEBxh7YayHC3CB67t4h6/s400/hungary-budapest-hungaroring-hungarian-formula-1-grand-prix-red-bull-wing-austria_3330712.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A properly geeky mind had to work on this. Or a computer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>5) The coverage</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 19.0476px;">My biggest issue with Formula 1 right now is you can't escape the negativity. If you want to enjoy forums and discussions about Formula 1 you have to deal with constant negativity from one direction or another. That bleeds into the broadcasts, the announcers then mention there are fans complaining constantly, doesn't matter if there are a bunch of happy fans enjoying themselves, we can't avoid hearing about it.</span> -</span></b> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">u/Gian_Doe</span></blockquote>
Oops... </div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-20764441374747371992015-10-11T15:27:00.001-07:002015-10-11T15:29:03.801-07:00I've Created a New Superhero. His Name? Super Clarifier<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently, I have been noticing a few news stories flying around here and there that state that VW is not the only one that has been caught in this recent emissions scandal. "Oh god," I thought, "perhaps this 'defeat device' is on pretty much every car, and this is a worldwide issue." Then again, the first time I saw this story it came from the <a href="http://mailonline.co.uk/" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a>, so I instinctively took it with a handful of salt and read on.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdutj0EwgSX_qOrsYs7zFYhvqg95XdEcPGPDQdmobv2p2tQ50PtegQix3KOJZr6PAZy_QMHcQgM10fdlurCdSYfCMK89oizFecZZ4K1zbNm7267F_LTTydraGPaxUX8rbJKYD92DT1P-0d/s1600/New-VW-Golf_2457445c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdutj0EwgSX_qOrsYs7zFYhvqg95XdEcPGPDQdmobv2p2tQ50PtegQix3KOJZr6PAZy_QMHcQgM10fdlurCdSYfCMK89oizFecZZ4K1zbNm7267F_LTTydraGPaxUX8rbJKYD92DT1P-0d/s320/New-VW-Golf_2457445c.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Upon reading the article, I was left with bitter disappointment. It started by talking about VW, and how they emit much higher NOx levels on the road than they do in the lab tests. This is, of course, very true. These defeat devices have given a very false representation of how the cars are performing realistically, and VW are now getting shunned for this. It's all information we've known for weeks.<br />
<br />
But this article now claims that BMW, Mazda, Ford, and Mercedes are now also part of the scandal. So you must think that they have also been discovered to have defeat devices as well, right? Er, no. The article explains how real-world emissions from these manufacturers are also much higher than the lab tests (up to seven times higher, apparently), but there is a crucial difference here. Everything that these four manufacturers (who are suddenly getting named and shamed by the Mail Machine) were doing was entirely legal. You may not agree with the situation, but they certainly aren't crossing any red lines, unlike VW.<br />
<br />
The difference is that VW were using these defeat devices to manipulate the test results, whereas everyone else - to the best of our knowledge - has simply been following the official EU guidelines. So in short, it's not the car companies who are at fault, it's whoever came up with the daft EU test. The issue is that the test requires the car to do such delicate acceleration and breaking that's simply not possible in the real world. The end result is that the car usually ends up with a figure completely different to the real world (hence the cars getting higher NOx figures in real driving) - and the companies have no power to change these results into something more realistic. So although the results are a bit fabricated for cars these days, the fact that every car goes through the same test still means you can make comparisons between different cars. You just have to knock 10-20mpg or so from the lab result to get what you'll be getting. VW's software meant it gained an advantage in these tests, and it therefore no longer became a level playing field.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yeZ6vdewtFl9Xc6oYoB0HqGtaDhGXe0Fny8fFBmBNTh3iAVUEbz5MPIT5B3n2B3mTLv-D2S_x2xz5QPDNfydaUtu08vmzn-TItbx_XCrUEMcGqw4816e8yPyNnT1CiTBUyDCFISUTh-W/s1600/2D0EEF4500000578-0-image-a-19_1443912122783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yeZ6vdewtFl9Xc6oYoB0HqGtaDhGXe0Fny8fFBmBNTh3iAVUEbz5MPIT5B3n2B3mTLv-D2S_x2xz5QPDNfydaUtu08vmzn-TItbx_XCrUEMcGqw4816e8yPyNnT1CiTBUyDCFISUTh-W/s640/2D0EEF4500000578-0-image-a-19_1443912122783.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They may be over the limit, but it's not technically their fault. [Picture from <a href="http://mailonline.co.uk/">mailonline.co.uk</a>]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Daily Mail completely disregarded all of what I've just pointed out, and concluded that BMW, Mazda, Ford and Mercedes are all just as bad, and should be equally punished. No, just no. But it's the Daily Mail, after all. But then I saw the BBC publish a similar story, and I knew I had to take action. I hope Super Clarifier explained that while many other manufacturers are over the NOx limit with their diesel cars (probably all), they are still legal. VW isn't. Always doubt the media! Except, er, Three Pedals, I guess.</div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-6821231736742919022015-08-18T15:56:00.003-07:002015-08-18T15:59:01.539-07:00Why You Should Stop Giving A Damn About Mileage When Purchasing A Car<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFblZGebhPbnXYxgEdqJ3xHxACBb4l68VOYWxTeJ1S__5M0bOyFjjvhHwLm_KUq0AA1TzhrSsryI5m1nF2mZXfO_ghxI2PBdTCrvDWJPTnSYAlOv_A06JFr_NKg55TyT3xZAuOXA1vg59/s1600/L3bpBqf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFblZGebhPbnXYxgEdqJ3xHxACBb4l68VOYWxTeJ1S__5M0bOyFjjvhHwLm_KUq0AA1TzhrSsryI5m1nF2mZXfO_ghxI2PBdTCrvDWJPTnSYAlOv_A06JFr_NKg55TyT3xZAuOXA1vg59/s320/L3bpBqf.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most common things that starts wandering around
in many people’s heads when they buy a second-hand car is the mileage number.
It is, after all, a figure which gives you a clear indication of what kind of
use – to some extent – the car has had throughout its life. And logic would
dictate that the high mileage cars are the ones to avoid, right? After all, if
you find a car which has ticked into six figures, then surely the curse of the
wear and tear rabbit will be biting the car’s internals, and your bank balance
in the near future. Well, perhaps not exactly. Here are some other arguably
more important tips you should follow when seeking out your next dream ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: large;">Service history<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGx_q_AlCq5kPo7S_YBGdJalo6LOKdGfMcNbj-T8ReBYbId-tVgOayUETiVV72gR-ybQvTeoXbeDb3SCT_G87kyDASmDB30k5kGGY5pWi5qVQxSplLGqs6bIt9DTb-IaodQGN7PW4S2Rx/s1600/91nPp5Rsy8L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGx_q_AlCq5kPo7S_YBGdJalo6LOKdGfMcNbj-T8ReBYbId-tVgOayUETiVV72gR-ybQvTeoXbeDb3SCT_G87kyDASmDB30k5kGGY5pWi5qVQxSplLGqs6bIt9DTb-IaodQGN7PW4S2Rx/s400/91nPp5Rsy8L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? We all know that
service history is an important aspect to buying a second-hand car, and if the
car has had special service TLC done by the owner themselves, it’s always great
to see proof that they’ve done some decent tinkering with decent parts. If they
have the resources, you should always ask for receipts for past parts and/or
services to be seen. But more importantly, service history importance can vary
from car to car, as we are about to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Unleash your stereotypes</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDwwb1X4UQklbP9IEM4VGI0iPqe7dWQQfxV0XZMblwPWKd5RJ0HBDrqwHwEO-Kldx19AjSRraPUPN21x51BMc9fBg7pGArIVzw7CZGWvnzl1nufSRPInvl2jzqMbe053RfBqKinSbiM86/s1600/Honda_Fit_W_1300_4WD_Rear.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDwwb1X4UQklbP9IEM4VGI0iPqe7dWQQfxV0XZMblwPWKd5RJ0HBDrqwHwEO-Kldx19AjSRraPUPN21x51BMc9fBg7pGArIVzw7CZGWvnzl1nufSRPInvl2jzqMbe053RfBqKinSbiM86/s400/Honda_Fit_W_1300_4WD_Rear.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">By being internally judgemental, you can give yourselves
pretty good guidance by instinct alone. It’s a s<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ixth sense that all petrolheads
should develop, as it can have some pretty good payback. Let’s say, for
whatever reason, you are purchasing yourselves a bog standard Honda Jazz/Fit.
Your sixth sense should kick in; you need to ask yourself: ‘what kind of person
drives this thing?’ Your answer should be ‘the older generation’, if you were
to generalise drivers to the extreme. Let’s face it, older people (in the naive
general sense) are less likely to be actively changing the air filters, or
making sure that they are changing the oil every 5,000 miles. These are the
kind of cars where the mileage would matter quite a bit more than, say, an R34
Skyline GTR. Arguably, this is a car which is typically owned by car
enthusiasts – people who know what they’re doing, and know how to care for
their car. For sure you could say that not all R34 owners will be careful and
affectionate, which is sadly true, but you could at least be a damn bit more
confident than someone selling their Corsa ‘Limited Edition’ with equal
mileage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Briefly coming back to the service history thing, you might
want to consider how the cars would typically be driven. A Honda S2000 with no
history at all could be a ticking time bomb, due to the way they are often
driven hard (and rightly so, goddammit). On the other hand, you might not want
to worry about history as much on an old Land Rover, as they are easy to fiddle
with, should something go wrong. Use your car stereotyping skills on all cars
to determine how important the service history should be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><!--[endif]--><b>Analyse the seller<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmVg2RGxz4KUIFkvNBPxsSl2UdiZ-QHtMzkt1cEJD8SpJvI-xhDJGRv2cQlwnuOQSUGScGXjYu0NKBrlcB_WqHrMbJBdF2ydt8shktyHvft-JvUL2jg4JG0auQolDX_LMp7S_7fwHmNgy/s1600/sfmtgu4nxq3desm01uyz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmVg2RGxz4KUIFkvNBPxsSl2UdiZ-QHtMzkt1cEJD8SpJvI-xhDJGRv2cQlwnuOQSUGScGXjYu0NKBrlcB_WqHrMbJBdF2ydt8shktyHvft-JvUL2jg4JG0auQolDX_LMp7S_7fwHmNgy/s400/sfmtgu4nxq3desm01uyz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again, another fairly rude and intrusive method if you
didn’t keep this to yourself, but it’s such an important factor when it comes
to purchasing a car. Let’s imagine two scenarios: you have this sketchy-looking
guy who’s selling a car with 20,000 miles on the clock, but he doesn’t know too
much about the car – he has hundreds of other cars to remember about, after
all. On the flip side, we have this fastidious chap who’s just put up his
“pride and joy” classic BMW 635i on an enthusiast’s forum for the car. The
clincher? This baby has 150,000 miles clocked. I’d know who I’d rather shake
hands with. Try and quiz the owner intensely about the car, even the more
personal questions. I don’t know about you, but to know that a previous owner
gave the car genuine love and affection gives me a good piece of mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At the end of the day, I’m no Mike Brewer when it comes to
buying and selling cars. But I hope I have shown you that it’s great to look
beyond mileage sometimes, especially when you find your dream car in a mint
condition – even if it has got 120k on it. So far as I can see, low mileage is
just an excuse to slap on a much higher price. If that car has received more
love than the owner’s significant other, then mileage is just a number!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-231009848036184502015-03-14T17:50:00.002-07:002015-03-14T17:50:55.000-07:002013 Corsa 1.3CDTI EcoFlex Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycQUkWLMzKEsYFaTxS4LBQRsu5tKoBA4VrHCCJXer6WDUv-5nO-9r1o4g9Cn0Qv8KGMNUhjDoqErIrnxC-fAK9iV9jV4dNQzm5gQD6wKKt-1GbWxg0UUTz5LBcPmxHPOzkAfjtxESdPux/s1600/vauxhall-corsa-exclusiv-1-3-cdti-75ps-ecoflex-5dr-only-30-rfl-13153793-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycQUkWLMzKEsYFaTxS4LBQRsu5tKoBA4VrHCCJXer6WDUv-5nO-9r1o4g9Cn0Qv8KGMNUhjDoqErIrnxC-fAK9iV9jV4dNQzm5gQD6wKKt-1GbWxg0UUTz5LBcPmxHPOzkAfjtxESdPux/s1600/vauxhall-corsa-exclusiv-1-3-cdti-75ps-ecoflex-5dr-only-30-rfl-13153793-1.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What an outdated beauty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Damn, damn, damn. This is the time I finally get to review a car for real, and the model I have tested has <i>just </i>gone out of production. Improvisation is needed; let's call this a review for people looking for a decent car in the secondhand market. Phew, I think I've just about justified this.<br />
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As you may expect, my first car I get to review isn't exactly a glamorous one (or new, for that annoying matter), but nevertheless it's a car which you can buy right now somewhere near you. It's a 2013 Vauxhall Corsa EcoFlex. If you didn't know, 'EcoFlex' is Vauxhall's name to shut members of the Bill Oddie fan club up. A pretty silly name if you ask me, but then again, we do have Ford 'EcoBoost' cars. Weird names to please weird people.<br />
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<i>Click 'Read More' to carry on with this review</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a name='more'></a><i><br /></i><br />
Naturally with such a car, the headline figures come from the way it sips its fuel rather than the amount of lateral G it can pull round Stowe Corner. Those headlines aren't bad at all, even standing next to brand new cars of today. Vauxhall claim it will achieve 85.6mpg and splutter out an asthmatic 88g/km of Co2, which is very good. But then again, if you buy this car expecting to achieve these figures, then clearly you are a delinquent fool. The only good thing is that you will not pay any tax, no matter how much lead your right foot contains.<br />
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To put things into some form of perspective for you, I achieved around 50mpg. Bear in mind that this is a car born for the city, and I did a lot of out-of-city driving. If you drive this car in its natural habitat, expect to see a lot less.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8TC1VEJmiVb1cdcS2rrZ6AP5Y6kEqzzrCS68-_AA-171undjEvmr2-C6NlXr_WEinJGvhGbAf345frslel_toCjYjehw120nWJJ6YW_FD25QI6NErBjFiocLRHzCHPJMr_UzwyKbxzIH/s1600/Vauxhall_Corsa_Eco_061211_(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8TC1VEJmiVb1cdcS2rrZ6AP5Y6kEqzzrCS68-_AA-171undjEvmr2-C6NlXr_WEinJGvhGbAf345frslel_toCjYjehw120nWJJ6YW_FD25QI6NErBjFiocLRHzCHPJMr_UzwyKbxzIH/s1600/Vauxhall_Corsa_Eco_061211_(2).jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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But this brings me on neatly to an outstanding problem I must address before I can move on to the stuff that really doesn't matter with this kind of car. As I said, the Corsa is a car which is designed for the city. It's geared for the city, it has a high seating position for visibility in the city, and it has a ridiculously light steering system for, funnily enough, the city. So why have one with a diesel engine? For efficiency, I hear you say? No. Allow me to smack you down...<br />
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Diesels require DPFs (or Diesel Particulate Filters) to be fitted to them by law. Without them, our beloved Polar Bears may catch a cough. Now, imagine dust building up on a surface. What do you do to get rid of it? Well, if you're normal, you'd use a duster. But for the sake of this analogy, we could also blow the dust away. DPFs work in a similar fashion; if you pootle 'round town all the time, there's going to be nothing to blow the nasty stuff away. What diesel engines crave is a motorway blast, to clear their throats. City cars do not get that privilege, which can result in seriously decreased efficiency (especially when the engine is cold) and general system failure. Boy, the petrol 1.0l Ford Fiesta Ecoboost sure looks tempting right about now! <br />
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No matter, let's focus on the car itself and not a problem that affects all small oil-burners. The 2013 Corsa may only be two years old at the time of writing, but it is in fact a nine-year-old design which has been hidden with a rather mediocre facelift that went underway in 2011. It shows; the plastics are brittle, the centre console is bland, and the overall exterior just doesn't look as eye-catching as other fresher superminis out there, despite the Limited Edition's best efforts. Limited? My arse. So whilst the registration plate and engine may be fairly young, the rest of the package isn't. If a Corsa is priced the same as a similarly aged (and specified) Fiesta at your dealership, then you're getting a bad deal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKEeMh2RaiJNH5Erw-suX1wJNQ7eJCjMIMTyou8Yjdocrmfb6MHyxMKREbBAy8vTnHmuTmMld9RNd1iWMv0AMgvy0ZcdqDu6YNtqUPGSylsCmNW18krUygE1LW1FxHWxCsyUNDT-t3kYl/s1600/AETV76214078_4b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKEeMh2RaiJNH5Erw-suX1wJNQ7eJCjMIMTyou8Yjdocrmfb6MHyxMKREbBAy8vTnHmuTmMld9RNd1iWMv0AMgvy0ZcdqDu6YNtqUPGSylsCmNW18krUygE1LW1FxHWxCsyUNDT-t3kYl/s1600/AETV76214078_4b.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior is outdated and completely whipped by the Fiesta of same age</td></tr>
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<br />So what about actual performance? Not bad, surprisingly. Despite being only 1.3 litres, and giving decent economy figures (kind of), it still manages to develop 94bhp. While that will never bump-start a dead planet, it's enough for a Corsa. Interestingly, you will need to keep your revs up - going against the philosophy of diesel engines here - in order to get any pace going. Once you do keep it above 1800rpm or so, then you will have no issues with acceleration. A 0-60 time of 12.3 seconds doesn't sound great, but 140lb/ft or torque means you don't have to work the engine in order to get some oomph. It is, however, incredibly noisy. I really wasn't expecting it, since I've been in Corsas that have been virtually silent. Granted, they had petrol engines, but they still had great sound insulation. Get above 2500rpm (aka not a lot of revs), and the engine makes itself known. So do you keep the revs down and get overtaken by continental drift, or do you keep them up and suffer from an extortionate ear bleed? Tough one.<br />
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This car has rather good road manners. The suspension soaks up bumps well, and allows it to become a decent cruiser. Meanwhile, the steering is very light and easy to use, but it has absolutely no feel at all. But then again, why would you buy this car for the f-word: fun? It completely suits the c-word: city. Just a shame about th- alright, alright, I won't hack on about the diesel engine any more.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GRkWnlAeB7DCSovIBjU0n-Y-9Rnb1uXiT75i-vDH_ZdsTJRmUOV-8bHRIQMl6EAMiU9XETrz9n2ruLy_rLuYWhB4-45tcS2eI7vDJtUjyECnG8pS_vQ88_fd2k2rV7Mhn6rp3KE_0qid/s1600/2014-Vauxhall-Corsa-Limited-Edition-Specs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GRkWnlAeB7DCSovIBjU0n-Y-9Rnb1uXiT75i-vDH_ZdsTJRmUOV-8bHRIQMl6EAMiU9XETrz9n2ruLy_rLuYWhB4-45tcS2eI7vDJtUjyECnG8pS_vQ88_fd2k2rV7Mhn6rp3KE_0qid/s1600/2014-Vauxhall-Corsa-Limited-Edition-Specs.jpg" height="221" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So cute: a Limited Edition. You ain't foolin' nobody</td></tr>
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Price? Well, it was on sale for about £16,000, which is insane and ridiculous. But such is the nature of depreciation with undesirable brands such as Vauxhall, you will be able to pick this car up for something much more justifiable. Don't pay any more than £10,000 for it, but don't go too low. Corsas and chavs go together like bread and butter, so if it's cheap, then there's probably a reason behind it. Then again, I'd say just don't get this car full stop. Get yourself a 1.0L Ford Fiesta EcoBoost, and marvel how it never gets close to it's official figures, either.<br />
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<b><u>What I liked</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
The 2013 Corsa has excellent road capabilities, and is tailored to make city driving a doddle. Surprisingly commodious interior.<br />
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<b><u>What I disliked</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
The engine is far too loud and just doesn't suit sitting in a city car. The design is a bit tired, and it is horrifically expensive.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5/10</span></b><br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-28814360524991887002014-08-18T17:30:00.001-07:002014-08-18T17:30:42.697-07:00SDI - As Pointless as a Butter Grater<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2z-os6OBf7kmyaKUgCjVCJOiqFEeeKsILHCaUnXdc3edb8VyhU6s1Qp41edmng0Rq5S1P5UF20Kjty12nyZqDZQXmFfuTRcUxDML7SKvI_-_1XciEA4cSwPf4nFLHmHoHvfzVYQHg6suj/s1600/audi-tdi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2z-os6OBf7kmyaKUgCjVCJOiqFEeeKsILHCaUnXdc3edb8VyhU6s1Qp41edmng0Rq5S1P5UF20Kjty12nyZqDZQXmFfuTRcUxDML7SKvI_-_1XciEA4cSwPf4nFLHmHoHvfzVYQHg6suj/s1600/audi-tdi.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes bloody please.</td></tr>
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Ooh, hello there! I'm back briefly. My summer holiday wasn't meant to be this short, so after this post I shall return back to my hibernation at the wrong time of the year. So why am I posting now, you may ask? Well, quite simply, an idea popped into my head; I wasn't going to be spiteful enough to not write about it just because I am meant to be taking a break.<br />
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The name for the diesel engines from the Volkswagen group is a very recognisable one: TDI. Those three letters together have pretty much become the pinnacle for diesel itself now, and for a good reason. TDI engines were (and still are) some of the finest oil burners you could have in a car for their time. But did you know the TDI once had a brother? Welcome, ladies and gents, to the SDI engine.<br />
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TDI stands for 'Turbo Diesel Injection', whereas SDI stands for 'Suction Diesel Injection'. This gives a pretty obvious clue of how the SDI differs from the TDI: the SDI does not have any kind of forced injection (ie, a turbocharger).<br />
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Naturally, this means that SDIs produce a noticeably lower amount of power than their turbo'd brothers. For example, the 2.0L SDI in the VW Golf MK5 (the last VW SDI engine to be fitted in their cars to my knowledge) produced at best 74bhp, but the 2.0L TDI could achieve 161bhp. It shows how heavily diesels rely on a turbo; a naturally aspirated 2.0L petrol engine these days can achieve well into 200bhp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGouKlgcYGjERX1LgZZU1vc9OzBrIlEOkp_NSdSsS586iaY9J5alU0rXiwbIqjqClexMTBB5FRCDh9Dt3xf-HgNnhhl6MvFqlw-pVlzUIbnL0O_iyr1Umnq9oeit1F0LAv9J7UZYsS-aJ8/s1600/D5EA3E86-D115-4B9D-959D-CB41E1085975_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGouKlgcYGjERX1LgZZU1vc9OzBrIlEOkp_NSdSsS586iaY9J5alU0rXiwbIqjqClexMTBB5FRCDh9Dt3xf-HgNnhhl6MvFqlw-pVlzUIbnL0O_iyr1Umnq9oeit1F0LAv9J7UZYsS-aJ8/s1600/D5EA3E86-D115-4B9D-959D-CB41E1085975_17.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The SDI in all its miserable glory</td></tr>
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<br />So you may be thinking that the trade-off for less power would be improved economy. Surprisingly though, you'd be wrong. The 2.0L SDI and TDI achieve the <i>exact </i>same economy figures: around 50mpg from the top of my head. Which begs the serious question: why the hell would someone have the non-turbo?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbE-zIcBhDwW7kV50l0IgpaMywmKydo0rn0c51ku4T0D4s1eVNZ59_E-NVbQTUukMolYmjHVX-7hjWy76YdEm13dWSKhNM_BLxtsUPqLGkVmxzup9es5ZktbSEzzw0Nzi8nKz92KPFsUR/s1600/04_r8_lemans_tdi_livelo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbE-zIcBhDwW7kV50l0IgpaMywmKydo0rn0c51ku4T0D4s1eVNZ59_E-NVbQTUukMolYmjHVX-7hjWy76YdEm13dWSKhNM_BLxtsUPqLGkVmxzup9es5ZktbSEzzw0Nzi8nKz92KPFsUR/s1600/04_r8_lemans_tdi_livelo.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SDI may live in Golfs and Polos, but the TDI is living the high life</td></tr>
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One of the arguments may have been that the SDI was cheaper to buy than the TDI, which was probably very true. But let me put it to you this way: TDI engines are always a good one to two grand more expensive spec-to-spec than the petrol equivalent. Assuming that the SDI was about the same price as the petrol motors, it would still not be good value. Why? Well, 74bhp and 50mpg is not an impressive number for petrol engines, let alone a diesel one. I bet the petrol engines (that produced more power) were just as frugal as the SDI. So I'm still left wondering: why did people buy the SDI?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylDxtK4IKIxbNMmyYrv3z7ZCl4tmhuQhObPyC5feUvIJpdop-E9sEvbOTP8pDOXiThYFibHO4PDdLnVaa3VQFsxRhMQBtA9OTJq4OiA2xqkXZC474TIa9nko2VWW5KgJNsZEOkOsJFMOZ/s1600/01162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylDxtK4IKIxbNMmyYrv3z7ZCl4tmhuQhObPyC5feUvIJpdop-E9sEvbOTP8pDOXiThYFibHO4PDdLnVaa3VQFsxRhMQBtA9OTJq4OiA2xqkXZC474TIa9nko2VWW5KgJNsZEOkOsJFMOZ/s1600/01162.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can your SDI do this? Huh?</td></tr>
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I'm honestly stumped by it. The only other thing is that perhaps people didn't want the power of a TDI, but I can't help thinking that A) 74bhp is way too little for a mid-sized hatchback, and B) The SDI is vastly inferior against the similarly priced petrol engines, as I just explained above.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNawemm0eG7FZBBgZJUeXUZLMZz6W3QlDQ06wx-JGlsLaG2a_YNcPoG8JifZ2uH77iIKWzAaQzrLagaHvRJ4aj9e81v8EnavgxFH7BCcQ7rM21-n5DNp2VT3iM86WtNOlkPgCkS32R2Rk/s1600/images+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNawemm0eG7FZBBgZJUeXUZLMZz6W3QlDQ06wx-JGlsLaG2a_YNcPoG8JifZ2uH77iIKWzAaQzrLagaHvRJ4aj9e81v8EnavgxFH7BCcQ7rM21-n5DNp2VT3iM86WtNOlkPgCkS32R2Rk/s1600/images+(2).jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm glad this exists.</td></tr>
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Or maybe people are happy to do away with a top speed slower than continental drift if it means no turbo lag. Huh, what a world we live in.<br />
<br />Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-29578223984384626322014-08-06T12:48:00.002-07:002014-08-06T12:48:57.077-07:00A Break Is NeededI love cars, you love cars, we all love cars! Well, that's not true since we have Greenpeace. But hey. I have posted about seventy pieces onto this blog, and I believe I am well overdue for a break. Allow me to explain why.<br />
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This blog was set up to get me 'out there'. It has been met with moderate success; a few people have noticed me which of course is better than nothing. The good thing about my blog though is that even if I don't have any car-related jobs until I'm thirty, this will still be a good referral. A sign of dedication, if you will.<br />
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But I see little to no point of doing this blog all the time. Sure, 24/7 monitoring will show more dedication, but this is a time of life where I'm very busy with A-levels just around the corner. Not to mention, I want to have other hobbies, too!<br />
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So I've decided to have a summer holiday. It might last longer than that, it might only be for a few weeks - I don't know. What I do know is that when I do return, my posts will <i>not </i>be as frequent as they used to be. I do not have a large enough amount of regular visitors to justify me posting here so loyally every two or three days.<br />
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I hope, wherever you are, you are having a great summer. Don't forget Three Pedals, just know I have gone into a hibernation. And of course, thank you for everyone who has supported me so far.Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-85810253712345701102014-08-03T13:12:00.003-07:002014-08-03T13:12:41.766-07:00I Have Single-Handedly Saved A Gajillion LivesToday, me and my family made a short ten minute motorway sprint on the M1 between one junction to the next. Doesn't sound that exciting, but what I saw during those five miles was amazing.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMtSjIlS345bqjEKIuy6LKMnQK5klSgAIgL7P47F4mZBy7iKFnJq5d8YBQTzrrGqkBk_niOMEB0lDMETONXezNfDL_U4G25b_f2VWEMYCd6dgJBMSSCL1UTa4g-D5a9Y4GNviQr2kK0Ww/s1600/2891834_9df5f226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMtSjIlS345bqjEKIuy6LKMnQK5klSgAIgL7P47F4mZBy7iKFnJq5d8YBQTzrrGqkBk_niOMEB0lDMETONXezNfDL_U4G25b_f2VWEMYCd6dgJBMSSCL1UTa4g-D5a9Y4GNviQr2kK0Ww/s1600/2891834_9df5f226.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, something amazing on the M1 happened. I have<br />no life, in case you didn't notice.</td></tr>
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If you have ever driven on any road ever, then you'll know that you are occasionally sharing that road with some idiots. Idiots who often have to be reminded the dictionary definition of a 'mirror', to be precise. And lo and behold, that was exactly what I came across today.</div>
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The culprit was a standard 2003 1.6L Honda Civic, finished in a miserable grey colour. He or she was stuck behind a lorry, and clearly wanted to overtake. Well I have breaking news for the driver of this car: other people use the motorway too, and so you can't just pull out when you feel like it. Despite indicating, this car nearly caused a fatal crash.<a name='more'></a></div>
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They were one of these people who take about ten years to switch lanes. Slowly over they went - completely oblivious to other motorists - heading straight for a black Mercedes E200 CDI <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coupé</span><span style="color: #545454; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Merc driver was quick to think, slamming on his brakes as soon as he realised that Civic wasn't going to stop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now something caught my eye while he was braking. The driver obviously had to apply a lot of pressure to the brake pads to slow down as soon as possible, so the brake lights came on naturally. But then, after the driver pushed even harder into the carpet, the brake lights flickered very distinctively in an on, off, on, off pattern, about two pulses of light per second.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At first I thought the driver was being strange and going on and off his brakes quickly, but after shortly realising that would've been impossible, I realised it must've been a safety feature I have never seen before. And it makes complete and utter sense.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Think about it. When a car applies its brakes, the brake lights shine to warn other motorists. But the lights do not give an indication of how suddenly the car is </span></span><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">decelerating. The same lights could mean a light push of the pedal to maintain speed or a full-on emergency stop. That E-Class with the flickering lights to warn that it's doing an emergency stop is pure genius, in my opinion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> The only issue with this neat little feature is that it's not universal. The problem this gives is that other drivers might not know what it means if the Mercedes in front of them starts warning them. I experienced this issue first hand; as I just said, I first thought it was the driver being weird.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">So, let Professor Jack propose something new, and universal. How about all cars have 'variable' brake lights? If the driver gives the brakes a tiny squeeze to maintain their speed, the lights will shine, but ever so discretely. As the driver puts more and more pressure on the brakes, the lights will get brighter and brighter. This is an incredibly simple concept that will give surrounding drivers a much better idea of what the driver is doing, <i>potentially </i>reducing the risk of an accident.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Wow, I'm actually quite chuffed at myself for that one. I'm going to leave now, so I can blow my own trumpet outside my bedroom window.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">More about the flickering brakes I saw: </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">http://techcenter.mercedes-benz.com/en/adaptive_brakelight/detail.html</span></div>
Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-30259074681945786782014-07-30T17:05:00.000-07:002014-07-30T17:18:58.803-07:0070mph Motorway Limit In 2014? You're Having A Laugh!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq7I2H50WR2PrqNx5EwGn25_b1xvNSUqLPGbTjLa4DwmHEJFNc_jtUPimRG6qQEOkvoQUtwoH6whM8Ug7Sui2VX0uRpklcn5Ae2ZQE20ZPuggOpocC-G7jW0Nj2nK8Pb8vCX-Mh79hY86/s1600/autolinkdir.-com-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq7I2H50WR2PrqNx5EwGn25_b1xvNSUqLPGbTjLa4DwmHEJFNc_jtUPimRG6qQEOkvoQUtwoH6whM8Ug7Sui2VX0uRpklcn5Ae2ZQE20ZPuggOpocC-G7jW0Nj2nK8Pb8vCX-Mh79hY86/s1600/autolinkdir.-com-9.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This car has many labels, so it must be smart.</td></tr>
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We are continuously shown through adverts and demonstrations that cars these days are jolly safe. We have cars that drive themselves, cushion a pedestrian and detect when you fall asleep. Hell, even basic city cars will stop themselves if they think you're going to hit something. So the message here: cars are pretty damn safe these days.<br />
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Of course, we can't be naive though. Travelling in a car still does - and probably always will - carry a potential fatal risk. But if you want to think in that way, then surely every single thing you do carries a fatal risk? I have a drink on my desk right now; it can fall into the computer electronics next to it and start a blazing house fire, but the risk is small. Same applies to modern cars: the risk is there, but it's minute.<br />
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This rather sweetly leads me up to a question that I have had in my head for several years (before I was even a petrolhead): 'Why the bloody hell is the motorway speed limit still 70mph?' It seems that I am not the only one who questions the now sluggish pace for a maximum limit. A survey by the automotive giant <i>Autocar </i>reveals that a whopping 95% of UK drives exceed the motorway limit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXbW6mmNWjTIIVPNJnzk9qoIs_k8NdDvbduH3MwQIX1QzbUHbBGJCPxWLc_TI0xbu2gzb9nJw8Uwdy4P6-C7cYMQVRoZjx1MkF-WpZ9J8yw_kBHPLYF8KfQmCC6PUEHYLzt-RPFdLT4NE/s1600/RPMS+at+Speed+in+X5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXbW6mmNWjTIIVPNJnzk9qoIs_k8NdDvbduH3MwQIX1QzbUHbBGJCPxWLc_TI0xbu2gzb9nJw8Uwdy4P6-C7cYMQVRoZjx1MkF-WpZ9J8yw_kBHPLYF8KfQmCC6PUEHYLzt-RPFdLT4NE/s1600/RPMS+at+Speed+in+X5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is more common than people doing 70 these days</td></tr>
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Here's another more well known statistic: the UK motorway is one of the safest roads in the whole of Europe. And yet we have 95% of drivers speeding on them. I don't know about you, but that certainly says to me how outdated the 70mph limit is right now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t6EMuCuoRPLIfCyF3Wu7fLxOwkKkHo8wyvqNmDGFGwpDyrJDE6NGlMX9ZLhYjxYP1Cf6hcDY6sVPDUldpYmgCdQO3bf1hQSQNeklO64B9DcfxejVLqy6gqYgNo_zNJ196H8v2tRYftSk/s1600/M1_and_M621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t6EMuCuoRPLIfCyF3Wu7fLxOwkKkHo8wyvqNmDGFGwpDyrJDE6NGlMX9ZLhYjxYP1Cf6hcDY6sVPDUldpYmgCdQO3bf1hQSQNeklO64B9DcfxejVLqy6gqYgNo_zNJ196H8v2tRYftSk/s1600/M1_and_M621.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Listen to it screaming 'SAAAFE'</td></tr>
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To be honest, it should be no surprise that the 70mph limit comes across as outdated and too slow. This limit was introduced in the 1970's during the oil crisis, with the idea being that the slower speed will help to save fuel. It has remained unchanged ever since, but cars have most certainly changed in the past 40 years or so. We now have disc brakes, air bags, seat belts and crumple zones. Technically speaking, the speed limit should be double what it is now.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHNDA3mIqpWsx6LeEQ3kYfmul8zbdzAsntP1uN0AbwOt3ohMOB1F4LLeHjhJEbMMpbpOmL6LhH1xrwcwlJwCnksjSWiB8WxBHCwCrkg1qOrXpU3193ofh5L82h4hqRe7BbDe34BDDK6ly/s1600/Chris-Hume-return-of-the--007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHNDA3mIqpWsx6LeEQ3kYfmul8zbdzAsntP1uN0AbwOt3ohMOB1F4LLeHjhJEbMMpbpOmL6LhH1xrwcwlJwCnksjSWiB8WxBHCwCrkg1qOrXpU3193ofh5L82h4hqRe7BbDe34BDDK6ly/s1600/Chris-Hume-return-of-the--007.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oil crisis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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But the 70 limit has been ignored for some time now due to the safety (and arguably effortless cruising) that new cars bring. In fact, the average speed of cars on the motorway now is 79mph. Yes, that really is the average of all lanes, not just the 'fast lane'. But if our motorways are so safe, there is no pressing reason to penalise 95% of drivers. After all, it's not like school kids are going to be crossing the road on a blind corner.<br />
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However, that trend seems to be changing. In the recent couple of years, major motorway networks have been converted into 'smart motorways', which include underground sensors to detect traffic, hundreds of CCTV cameras and fancy graphical signs that can tell drivers pretty much anything. Most notably though, smart motorways introduce speed cameras.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C3n5Cfh1JOLDTCt_4kolFjXq0UIg4VeTy7076KyU_oRXmNhQxfQ5Yb5MWN4SqQl4Wi-SHvlOj-clkFnKlB0B6QeXiJ0_wz6eT-JWJJxa10qWcJfGHttfP0Mr5GxrdV6_wyIwg4g9nSPB/s1600/Motorway+Stealth+Cameras+Revealed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1C3n5Cfh1JOLDTCt_4kolFjXq0UIg4VeTy7076KyU_oRXmNhQxfQ5Yb5MWN4SqQl4Wi-SHvlOj-clkFnKlB0B6QeXiJ0_wz6eT-JWJJxa10qWcJfGHttfP0Mr5GxrdV6_wyIwg4g9nSPB/s1600/Motorway+Stealth+Cameras+Revealed.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the sodding camera</td></tr>
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What is interesting (read: annoying) about these speed cameras is that they are grey and very well hidden. Certainly, you wouldn't notice them doing your <del>eighty</del> seventy something along the asphalt. It leads me to beg the question though: if they are so hidden, then the vast majority of drivers who are speeding won't notice them and, you know, won't slow down? The whole point of speed cameras from my point of view is for drivers for notice them and then slow down accordingly. These hidden ones just scream 'WE WANT YOUR MONEY'.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqWNSHdI163-mnynkTt7nD8OZE9RU8-2mrx8x_MW_gKEtX3Xp1ldzGgIS2TdK_Svct-1R4_OHbxpddlpF8ipQHLK_wBPSwnvNwYZsE93AeAh6ghbBDGRxAs_eI7KW_9fmOU0K-pVtIncf/s1600/417943-speed-cameras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqWNSHdI163-mnynkTt7nD8OZE9RU8-2mrx8x_MW_gKEtX3Xp1ldzGgIS2TdK_Svct-1R4_OHbxpddlpF8ipQHLK_wBPSwnvNwYZsE93AeAh6ghbBDGRxAs_eI7KW_9fmOU0K-pVtIncf/s1600/417943-speed-cameras.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On bridges, completely out of the drivers' sight? Of course they did.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course, the government backs these cameras up by saying they are of the motorist's best interests. However, merely a year ago, they were seriously considering raising the limit to 80mph and listing all the pro points that come with it. Oh sweet, sweet irony.<br />
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So, a round-up is needed after this unusually long post. Here is what I have managed to conclude: the government are greedy bastards.<br />
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Goodbye.Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-82209263046717833382014-07-26T13:51:00.001-07:002014-07-26T13:51:46.828-07:00What Now?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbg3z4FlabdNhowAoS8Al5DniWsNfU3QKYUX5dvat4DzlaigiuUD9FrQsGpACLAT5vIkjWKP1BeEIsEnE92SsVOEFyXVaSswlR17sfz9wMKuHaRcdM6PNgR2IBu0xxivafup-1HkO3a9w/s1600/5382283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbg3z4FlabdNhowAoS8Al5DniWsNfU3QKYUX5dvat4DzlaigiuUD9FrQsGpACLAT5vIkjWKP1BeEIsEnE92SsVOEFyXVaSswlR17sfz9wMKuHaRcdM6PNgR2IBu0xxivafup-1HkO3a9w/s1600/5382283.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now what do I post?</td></tr>
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Amazingly, I have been working on this blog for about ten months now. That will not be breaking any records of course, but to write a different topic surrounding cars every time for ten months is pretty good going for my little brain. OK, I may be blowing my own trumpet now.<br />
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I've written about just about everything I know about cars, from Formula 1 to speeding adverts. And that is the issue - I've written about everything, so now what?<br />
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Today I came across a mental block. Normally when I want to post something on Three Pedals, it involves me of having a five minute think about a subject, and then a few more minutes of expanding it out to meet 500 words or so. But that just didn't happen today. Absolutely nothing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWO1xqZ9bS08XIssG8AMZXK3febnw3g0mcvPXKmvyHr1Da0tlEXP1bEu7olKn-stCQXfBF8MD5ZxQW0DjniuziIlEpiRQLZZUoLu1lJFpPcWhoTMM9iR4u_734hef34dAvgvKTYw7W_69/s1600/BMW-BMW-M3--F80--5085_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWO1xqZ9bS08XIssG8AMZXK3febnw3g0mcvPXKmvyHr1Da0tlEXP1bEu7olKn-stCQXfBF8MD5ZxQW0DjniuziIlEpiRQLZZUoLu1lJFpPcWhoTMM9iR4u_734hef34dAvgvKTYw7W_69/s1600/BMW-BMW-M3--F80--5085_9.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just to keep it car related - hey look, a car!</td></tr>
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Perhaps it's just the heat. Believe it or not, it's actually been pretty bloody hot in Britain for a while, which causes me to be that classic phrase of 'hot and bothered'. As I type this now, my room is a toasty 31.3°c (88.3°F). I'm sweating quite a lot, that's for sure.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8FoRZPL4cw-rYfG3WsLOW7KhgjQhYLzeal4yDIQTsHHeTOvh9z2oO68EzVtirvD0JXwqRW2H0eN1j9IF-h6-cIL46XNjdtXuqU6G-15QcfMAonaN5V1XVyav0zuwoObAE1556ZRLenH8/s1600/image+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8FoRZPL4cw-rYfG3WsLOW7KhgjQhYLzeal4yDIQTsHHeTOvh9z2oO68EzVtirvD0JXwqRW2H0eN1j9IF-h6-cIL46XNjdtXuqU6G-15QcfMAonaN5V1XVyav0zuwoObAE1556ZRLenH8/s1600/image+(1).jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey look, another car! Vroom vroom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />And just to keep this post car related, getting in the car is like taking a dip into hell. Black interior, black <b>leather </b>seats is a one-way ticket to getting a heat stroke.<br />
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So, for now, I'm putting my brain fart down to the heat. The weather is meant to cool down to something bearable shortly, so we will have to see what happens. If I can't come up with something again, posts will perhaps become less car-related and more, you know, like a bloody blog. What a novel idea.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQaPjoIkRxAgHKkJ8bVJj16ZJi6hLWItz5m2qlFJ2HsWAjc2F2n-7u4cSWTBEfigmuRZh8YzsxP1TOyfmA302lVhAJN0dYtMoaJTMAiF4EXqhTDT-8nvFAMh8M0OWe8DMd0O6Jgcr0Fgb/s1600/Liaz-5256.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQaPjoIkRxAgHKkJ8bVJj16ZJi6hLWItz5m2qlFJ2HsWAjc2F2n-7u4cSWTBEfigmuRZh8YzsxP1TOyfmA302lVhAJN0dYtMoaJTMAiF4EXqhTDT-8nvFAMh8M0OWe8DMd0O6Jgcr0Fgb/s1600/Liaz-5256.26.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey look, a bus from a game! Wait, what?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I might as well take this post space to say a big thank you to anybody who reads this blog. In a way, you are the reason why I'm still posting today. Would I still be posting to a zero audience? Hell to the no!<br />
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<br />Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-53714894705567081252014-07-23T15:26:00.001-07:002014-07-23T15:26:23.013-07:00"Rules Of The Road? What Rules?" - Supercar Driver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGufQ0-Y7lhODWDS04Wz0yEDwq77pSIDxvizPfMf0NQcSjzz-fXLTEGk_sL81ZaLL6WKNTDwTOrgcI1FOR-OPzmpLFzl88U7u8Eng9z3WWdUiX4JBGgCToXSObjNQCbD4du-r_-h5mODg/s1600/download+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGufQ0-Y7lhODWDS04Wz0yEDwq77pSIDxvizPfMf0NQcSjzz-fXLTEGk_sL81ZaLL6WKNTDwTOrgcI1FOR-OPzmpLFzl88U7u8Eng9z3WWdUiX4JBGgCToXSObjNQCbD4du-r_-h5mODg/s1600/download+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
Touch wood, wherever there is a road, there tends to be some form of rules in force. Of course, these rules are generally enforced for the best interest of the road user's safety, despite what we may think. While 30mph in built up areas can at times feel quite tedious, you can completely understand why that speed limit is in place.<br />
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Not only do we follow the rules because our subconscious mind knows that there's sense in <i>most </i>of the rules in place, but because we get one hell of a fine if we choose to ignore them. Fancy coughing up several grand for speeding? I know I don't.<br />
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But there is one very small group of drivers out there who seem to have no concept at all to the road rules. They are, of course, the supercar drivers. 70mph on the motorway? That's granny speed! Making safe lane manoeuvres? Cutting everyone up is much quicker.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong, this doesn't apply to every supercar driver. I have seen plenty of considerate Audi R8s and courteous Nissan GTRs. And of course, a little prod of the throttle down a clear stretch of road is never going to harm anybody. In fact, it's a crime not to mash your foot in the carpet every now and then. But when you do see those ignorant drivers, they do tend to be in a car that was tagged with a six-figure price.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pYAhDddsqoXD-2GF4pkA0o9HOP6sQnAQly7StvndXnSxtED_I7vspd1mqjfZ4ax4AZTbpwW5X55uoPy9_pUYlp8HfRrCoAAaA-ltqzG2XPWj_O55m2cQqmbPEAivl1h-rv7BiNs0ASsl/s1600/download+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pYAhDddsqoXD-2GF4pkA0o9HOP6sQnAQly7StvndXnSxtED_I7vspd1mqjfZ4ax4AZTbpwW5X55uoPy9_pUYlp8HfRrCoAAaA-ltqzG2XPWj_O55m2cQqmbPEAivl1h-rv7BiNs0ASsl/s1600/download+(2).jpg" height="224" width="400" /></a></div>
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So, ultimately, what does this lead to? Well for me at least, it means every time I see a supercar on the road, I start to wonder how much of a d-bag the driver is. People think I'm jealous of the car (of course I bloody am), but their "I don't care, I'm rich" way of driving has lead to create an awful stereotype. Sorry guys, you've brought it on yourself.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqsrGTm-9qraVo0yRSqcJioxCeSnFLuSqlcjpAhE8Xrxi0i9uozBzZMjw6MjhSQ_P9J77JOu0f0pfuuCjbxInfFSTyKpPjvDny_bXa4XQLgByzLvR5qZQ0MDOGd_qGvMIkkNfScHTekoq/s1600/Lamborghini-Aventador-London-600x331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqsrGTm-9qraVo0yRSqcJioxCeSnFLuSqlcjpAhE8Xrxi0i9uozBzZMjw6MjhSQ_P9J77JOu0f0pfuuCjbxInfFSTyKpPjvDny_bXa4XQLgByzLvR5qZQ0MDOGd_qGvMIkkNfScHTekoq/s1600/Lamborghini-Aventador-London-600x331.jpg" height="220" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at this d-bag in a bus stop. Tsk.</td></tr>
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The real sad thing about this is that I would actually be hesitant to drive a supercar in public later in life (if I had the chance to, obviously). I would imagine the joys of having your head thrown back will be completely overshadowed by other drivers staring at you with stereotypical disgust so intensely, you can almost feel the laser heat from their concentrated stare.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZehxDY9FznDkg5HMa3f0iUNsV1wZGbb52F1XRogRXBc11iFAHOFiCTFc4iPrsdSjjEcbVS9PIiKPKI0AB4aWrN3KJDtdfl6zktgqLnj8KdqGzhP2WAYCiQ6pB7oh9ZfcgDB6QZ028qYL/s1600/HondaS2000-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZehxDY9FznDkg5HMa3f0iUNsV1wZGbb52F1XRogRXBc11iFAHOFiCTFc4iPrsdSjjEcbVS9PIiKPKI0AB4aWrN3KJDtdfl6zktgqLnj8KdqGzhP2WAYCiQ6pB7oh9ZfcgDB6QZ028qYL/s1600/HondaS2000-004.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*Heavy breathing*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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But I guess a Honda S2000 will do just nicely. Vtec kicked - OK I won't say that.<br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1049100570701248966.post-34099230019641670572014-07-20T16:45:00.001-07:002014-07-20T16:45:27.451-07:00Children Production Factories Rejoice - A Drivers Car Has Landed At Last<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxhFGqgQM1UpvvxjEkL0ZwS9CC4jbtatK5DlBilLPhGZMNwqwFXEqOVEnaaDTF2NIdT_B5sP26YDsGBblIy1eQFzaBo4NzdKUnhcQQ2qqhkga_7d4gzZ7gO_Q1-MBBFkgutcGZ68fhLi/s1600/ford-galaxy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHxhFGqgQM1UpvvxjEkL0ZwS9CC4jbtatK5DlBilLPhGZMNwqwFXEqOVEnaaDTF2NIdT_B5sP26YDsGBblIy1eQFzaBo4NzdKUnhcQQ2qqhkga_7d4gzZ7gO_Q1-MBBFkgutcGZ68fhLi/s1600/ford-galaxy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a sexy beast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you are one of those people who have never heard of the word 'condom', or you just love that fresh smell of changing nappies, then you'll probably know that the choice for cars becomes quite beige. Forget your sports roadsters or even wafting saloons - it's MPVs or nothing now, once you go beyond three kids.<br />
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Now obviously, this doesn't really bother a vast majority of child-manufacturer parents. Not everyone is a car fanatic, and so a normal 1.9L diesel Ford Galaxy will do just fine. But what if you like cars <i>and </i> you didn't put a sock on the end of it? Well you were in big trouble - up until now, that is.<br />
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Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is very difficult to make a car as cumbersome as a family MPV 'sporty' or 'enjoyable'. That's not to say the badges haven't tried in the past: we have had the Vauxhall Zafira VXR, and the Ford S-Max with the same engine as the last Focus ST. These cars were quite fast, but physics soon took control when you tried to corner the boxy beasts - delicious, tasty understeer.<br />
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This is precisely the reason why 'dynamic' companies such as BMW have steered well clear of this segment of the market. After all, a MPV would surely ruin the badges' sporty rep? In fact, BMW seem to be so protective of their reputation, they even make the bog-standard 1-series rear wheel drive; despite a staggering 80% of owners thinking their car was front wheel drive. Unnecessary expense, much?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOi3SCa70toN0meL43FKJn0PgsbPyxUIvtWCajl19ZO4dsb2cE4kF70XuLucRgdgN67xdduOrVClhA6el1Zq53V1K6Cj7nKxsoXgMKwY7lBqZM1hyk5U_BdJHDmY0aWx-HM07d7hpEOP-/s1600/BMW-2-Series-Active-Tourer-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOi3SCa70toN0meL43FKJn0PgsbPyxUIvtWCajl19ZO4dsb2cE4kF70XuLucRgdgN67xdduOrVClhA6el1Zq53V1K6Cj7nKxsoXgMKwY7lBqZM1hyk5U_BdJHDmY0aWx-HM07d7hpEOP-/s1600/BMW-2-Series-Active-Tourer-002.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Think Mercedes B-Class</td></tr>
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So BMW have taken a big step and introduced their first front wheel drive car *gasps*, and it's an MPV *faints*! But BMW isn't going to make something crummy, oh no, this thing can be equipped with the 35i engine found throughout the range, so you can compete for the record of 'Quickest Way To Make Your Child Sick'.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpznkX0PoqUg9-5CPQS8ci7BAbRNCN13sOiMonUdRMbf1mhhABkWIgLYlkaY85moOmRUnfTI40e_Ms1NsFPoPPtsKnpKrv5ddZ55Ze3B7N27VXzb7xUKoXl4Qca9S1MzoFrZJT2I-t6OUI/s1600/2016-bmw-2-series-active-tourer--interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpznkX0PoqUg9-5CPQS8ci7BAbRNCN13sOiMonUdRMbf1mhhABkWIgLYlkaY85moOmRUnfTI40e_Ms1NsFPoPPtsKnpKrv5ddZ55Ze3B7N27VXzb7xUKoXl4Qca9S1MzoFrZJT2I-t6OUI/s1600/2016-bmw-2-series-active-tourer--interior.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids can half the value of this interior in ten seconds dead</td></tr>
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According to various reviews, it seems this thing is a guddun'. Not quite as sharp as the rest of the BMW range, but child-carrying petrolheads, consider this: BMW furiously tested this car on the Nurburgring and proudly state it can get round in less than nine minutes. It's like they can't help themselves.<br />
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Jack Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07378799216381765105noreply@blogger.com0