2024 Rendezvous

[grantp]

France seems to be heading in a very starnge direction at the moment.

I've seen reports suggesting that it is to be illegal to even question anything about the recent pandemic responses. Is that correct?

Make that stick and it will be a very short step to eliminate any opinions that do not match the needs of whoever is in charge.

I note that Germany is contemplating banning one of its main political organisations, according to reports.

Such things have been done before, usually with less than satisfactory results.

[grantp]

On the car repair subject.

I get the impression that no one in the developed world and in a position of power and influence has any interest in longevity of personal transport, new or old.

They would rather have some sort of State-run operation that would allow them to tick all sorts of Green and Social satisfaction boxes - presumably as long as they had their own options for personal exceptions.

What they dare not admit is that, one way or another, the world is likely to struggle to discover and produce enough energy that cheap and accessible enough to support what we have now let alone what the masses might expect in the future.

Anything that allows some options for setting expectations on a downwards trend, no matter how obviously illogical the policy might be in current circumstances, will be a straw they will cling to.

One wonders if a key part of that approach is reduction in education standards and the use of AI to simply make stuff up whether it is based on any form of honesty and truth or not.

For example, the young people of Just Stop Oil, etc., seem to fail to understand that their banners, and most of their clothing, bags and shoes are extremely dependent on oil source products. Eliminate them overnight and they might not survive long enough to care about the possible effects of what has been "business as usual" if and when the predictions come into play a century from now.

Cut back on farming at the same time and one might expect to fix the Obesity crisis but doing so will be costly in other ways.

If farming heads back to how it was in pre-industial times, given that electric power tractors seem unlikely at the moment and small nuclear powered devices may be some way off, the number of beast of burden required would surely result in an increase in both CO2 and Methane compared to modern standards. On the plus side many people would be needed on the land so unemployment might fall if only because working the land might be the only way to ensure access to some sort of food source.

Of course, when we get to that point, any concerns about whether or not one can repair older vehicles will be long forgotten.

Perhaps that is why there are steps to condition people's thinking at this time?

If it's going to be inevitable anyway, no politician is going to make it their "hill to die on" right now.

[grantp]

Meanwhile, on the subject of making good use of existing vehicles ...

If anyone knows anyone who might be interested in a 2018 5dr Audi A1 Sportback Nav 70kw, 1ltr, 5 speed manual with 32k on the clock, currently located on the Surrey/Berkshire/Hampshire borders area, let me know.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by grantp

France seems to be heading in a very starnge direction at the moment.I've seen reports suggesting that it is to be illegal to even question anything about the recent pandemic responses. Is that correct?

At the moment? Only at the moment? To be allowed to ask questions, whatever the subject, you need to be living in democracy. So you ask a question about another question from abroad and it's impossible for me to answer. See the picture?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by grantp

Meanwhile, on the subject of making good use of existing vehicles ...

If anyone knows anyone who might be interested in a 2018 5dr Audi A1 Sportback Nav 70kw, 1ltr, 5 speed manual with 32k on the clock, currently located on the Surrey/Berkshire/Hampshire borders area, let me know.

Sounds like a fleet car.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Sounds like a fleet car.

I see what you did there!

[GORDON STREETER]

A1984 Peugeot 205 has sold for an incredible £227,250. The sporty model is one of just 200 of the 'Homologation Specials' editions made by the French car giant.

The road-going motor, which has less than 10,000 miles from new, has now achieved a new UK auction record. Iconic Auctioneers say of the Silverstone Circuit sale: "It's a rare and sought-after jewel for automotive collectors and enthusiasts and capable of a blistering 137mph." I assume it's a group B rally car, but who would pay that sort of money and why ?

[Peter Mallett]

It is somewhat baffling. I went to our local cars and coffee yesterday. Apart from a modern Ferrari, there was a 720s McLaren. Apparently the extras specced by the owner were more than the cost of another McLaren.

[Gerard C]

Yes Gordon, they made 200 Homologation Specials it was madatory to obtain the FIA Grp B homolgation. They couldn't get rid of the last ones, they had a dedicated "bureau" hosting a sales team, located av de la Grande Armée, Paris. No secret they didn't work very well on the road, hence the bargain in period. Who would pay and why? Collector, speculator…

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Yes Gordon, they made 200 Homologation Specials it was madatory to obtain the FIA Grp B homolgation. They couldn't get rid of the last ones, they had a dedicated "bureau" hosting a sales team, located av de la Grande Armée, Paris. No secret they didn't work very well on the road, hence the bargain in period. Who would pay and why? Collector, speculator…

That's a lot of money to just speculate with ! Years ago I was shown a collection of about 20 80s saloon cars that the guy had bought brand new but at trade prices. He kept them all warm in a huge garage at 15c and started them all up several times of the year.
They were all about 10 years old when I saw them and looked just like they were out of the factory with only delivery mileage on them ! I lost touch with him but about 6 years ago I found an old mobile number that I had for him and he answered it ! He said that he had sold the lot and had made an "amazing" profit, with some of the models making 4 times what he paid for them. However he wouldn't divulge just how much he had made. I know that he had to keep them warm and dry, but the huge garage was purpose built and insulated on his own property and he was never short of a bob or two

[midgetman]

This'll exercise a few people:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1...98359ce5d3bcbe

If its behind a paywall ill cut and paste but here's the headline

Police ram runaway electric Jaguar after ‘brakes fault’

Police were forced to ram an out-of-control electric car to bring it to a stop after an apparent fault left the driver “unable to brake” on the M62

[Peter Mallett]

Pah, loads of diesel cars have brake failure!

[Gerard C]

Diesel or EV's, it seems that many drivers experience brake issues when arriving at toll gate.

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Pah, loads of diesel cars have brake failure!

However with an ICE vehicle one can switch off the motive power, or if it is a manual, engage neutral, which will bring the vehicle to a halt relatively quickly. The Times article implies that this was not possible for the I-pace driver - such that he had to be halted by a police vehicle physically intervening to bring it to a halt. Allegedly I-paces have suffered similar issues before.



I am a little sceptical as often when investigated these sort of issues have been significantly caused by driver ineptitude......

[Mike Harte]

Reading the BBC report, it appears that it was an electrical fault meaning that the car couldn't brake, which is somewhat different to a brake failure.

Having never driven a modern electrical vehicle - I had the misfortune to drive an electric milk float that we (a local Round Table) were gifted by Express Dairies to convert in to a Santa float - and with that, when you took our foot off the loud pedal, it would come to a stop after it's inertia had dissipated. I would have thought that something similar would have happened with this I-Pace.

[Tel 911S]

Originally Posted by midgetman

This'll exercise a few people:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/1...98359ce5d3bcbe

If its behind a paywall ill cut and paste but here's the headline

Police ram runaway electric Jaguar after ‘brakes fault’

Police were forced to ram an out-of-control electric car to bring it to a stop after an apparent fault left the driver “unable to brake” on the M62

Another report on this says that he tried to brake and the car just accelerated by itself up to over 100 MPH .
He called the cops and they escorted him in the outside lane for about 20 miles until it ran out of battery power and then gradually stopped by itself with the cop cars gently holding it back .
There was another similar one a few weeks back when the car " Kidnapped " the driver and the cops had to stop it . Not to bad if you have a lot of motorway miles you can do until the battery runs out .

[Peter Mallett]

Although it's a feature I didn't try when I had my Mache E there is an automatic braking system, whereby you lift off and the car brakes for itself. All EVs have them I believe, I wonder if perhaps this may have malfunctioned.

[Tel 911S]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-happened.html

Report of incident . Despite all of the media BS about "Ramming " etc , pictures show the car stopped with no noticeable front end damage which means it came to a stop just about by itself when the battery power ran out .

[VIVA GT]

I'm sure I remember reading a magazine article in the 1970's where a manufacturer (BMW?) was demonstrating emergency stopping procedures at a race circuit should your brakes fail. One suggestion that I remember was to pull over and gently into the armco barrier, increasing the steering angle (and friction) to bring the car to a stop.

[Gerard C]

We had something weird with a Vel Satis driver (and another Volvo driver too) pretending he was unable to stop his car. One of the answers given by the car maker was that in case of emergency you just have to quickly press five times the start/stop button. The procedure could be read in the thick owners manual, generally located in the glove box. Simple like that…

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

We had something weird with a Vel Satis driver (and another Volvo driver too) pretending he was unable to stop his car. One of the answers given by the car maker was that in case of emergency you just have to quickly press five times the start/stop button. The procedure could be read in the thick owners manual, generally located in the glove box. Simple like that…

My experience of French folk is that, when buying a car, computer or whatever, they just never ever read the instruction manual.

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

My experience of French folk is that, when buying a car, computer or whatever, they just never ever read the instruction manual.

So true! We're a real nightmare for any lawn mower dealer because the first thing done is remove the ugly tag and sticker. Its after and only after that we realize what is written on it: "Caution, delivered with no oil in the engine!" Sooo french.

[Gerard C]

John, did you have news about the OG's held in a suburb of Absurdistan? First, the wonderful swimming pool concept estimated at 68M went to 174M. What a relief to learn that it can't be homologated because… its too small! Then at least two security responsibles lost or had their stuff stolen, laptop and USB's containig many secrets. Well, yesterday secrets now. And two days ago, it was said that they found at least 200 people applying for securiy were in fact "Fiches S" which means very dangerous. From Absurdistan to Stupidistan in a blink of an eye!

[Gerard C]

Ha, last in date but not least, athletes appartements wont have an airco system. Too expensive, bad for the emissions and stuff.

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

John, did you have news about the OG's held in a suburb of Absurdistan? First, the wonderful swimming pool concept estimated at 68M went to 174M. What a relief to learn that it can't be homologated because… its too small! Then at least two security responsibles lost or had their stuff stolen, laptop and USB's containig many secrets. Well, yesterday secrets now. And two days ago, it was said that they found at least 200 people applying for securiy were in fact "Fiches S" which means very dangerous. From Absurdistan to Stupidistan in a blink of an eye!

OG? That's me! I'm an Old Greshamian (aka OG). It's my old school.