richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
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Apr 16, 2005 22:34:09 GMT
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The writing was on the wall as soon as Rover was old to BMw...
but... the lovely Stephen Byers should shoulder much of the blame, as he favoured the Phoenix bid over the more pragmatic Alchemy bid, and steered BMW towards the Towers crew.
Interestingly the 'wordly-wise' Byers has never worked in indusry: after leaving uni he worked in a uni - and then became an MP. Superb business expertise!
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Apr 16, 2005 22:34:23 GMT
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/\ what he said! lol /\
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Apr 16, 2005 23:16:44 GMT
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Steady on rev! I think you've misunderstood me. I believe that blind patriotism is a dangerous thing. It helped Hitler to get millions more people to support him... ....so surely no good can come of the British people being so filled with blind "We're Number 1! We're Number 1!" .....everything made outside the UK is the work of the devil.... ....I certainly don't believe that we should all be convincing ourselves that we're better than the competition simply by virtue of nationality..... I don't blame freedom of choice. I think you're going a bit far with that lot. I am not promoting fascism, fundamentalism, jingoism or anything else, i'm all for a free car market in the UK. I'm just saying that it's a shame the factor of 'supporting local jobs/industry' barely registers at all when people are choosing a product, whether it's cars or whatever. I certainly wouldnt force it on anyone to drive around in something when there was a better alternative, i'm all for free choice. And I accept the MGR cars were dated by the end but they were interesting and hardly expensive, with mega discounts from the dealers. Anyway, MGR is finished and theres nowt I can do about it, at the end of the day I left the UK 18 months ago to live and work in France! So my views on 'buying british' are of limited worth anyway!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Apr 16, 2005 23:18:20 GMT
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Maybe I'll start a car company next ,..
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richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
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Apr 16, 2005 23:20:19 GMT
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I too have plan on that front Mr HWire!
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Apr 16, 2005 23:22:19 GMT
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Well we can get together and talk about that, draw up plans,.. the decide against it ,... all the time thinking that perhaps we might ACTUALLY do it,.. but never seeming to find the time still keeps us out of trouble....
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richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
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Apr 16, 2005 23:22:31 GMT
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and....
Me and TopTaff have our eyes on one of those V8 75s....
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Apr 16, 2005 23:22:40 GMT
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having said that, i do like choose a british firm where i can. like when it comes to shops, but then, we do our weekly shop in ASDA, and who ones ASDA?
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Apr 16, 2005 23:25:46 GMT
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Steady on rev! I think you've misunderstood me. I think you're going a bit far with that lot. I am not promoting fascism, fundamentalism, jingoism or anything else, i'm all for a free car market in the UK. I'm just saying that it's a shame the factor of 'supporting local jobs/industry' barely registers at all when people are choosing a product, whether it's cars or whatever. I certainly wouldnt force it on anyone to drive around in something when there was a better alternative, i'm all for free choice. And I accept the MGR cars were dated by the end but they were interesting and hardly expensive, with mega discounts from the dealers. Anyway, MGR is finished and theres nowt I can do about it, at the end of the day I left the UK 18 months ago to live and work in France! So my views on 'buying british' are of limited worth anyway! Alright I did take it a little beyond it's logical conclusion, but you know what I mean, you can't expect us all to go our of our way to buy British, and there are more reasons for MGR going t!ts up than malicious and anti-patrotic British people not supporting our industry. Yes, they were cheap and cheerful, but there are other cars at that price, and evidently many buyers felt those cars suited them better, I'm sure if more buyers had been seriously tempted to buy an MGR then supporting local jobs might have pushed them over the fence and made them buy a Rover, but if they were never in the running in the first place then I doubt many people would have sacrificed the car they wanted for it, especially since I doubt people stopped and thought "but what if I don't support local industry, I personally could result in the end of MG Rover" the last time they bought a car, I mean until lately everyone knew they were a bit strapped, but they've always been like that since the BL days, and nobody really foresaw their collapse until recently, when it was too late for many people to reconsider what their next car should be, because the company had already gone down and supporting them would do no good.
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Nick
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,483
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i just want a rwd 75 shell thats it i can source the rest how cheap reckon i can get one for now? come on ideas and help:P
buy british is curse word, buy the best you can get for your money is what its all about
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idea stolen from rattely eddie.
this weeks car count "5"
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richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
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I'm on he case there - I have my trade contacts
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Apr 17, 2005 10:10:19 GMT
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buy british is curse word, buy the best you can get for your money is what it's all about I rest my case. All the Nissans, Hondas, Toyotas, BMW Minis, Lotuses, Peugeots, Land rovers, Jags, Vauxhall as.tras, Bentleys etc which are currently built in the UK could, be built (& sold) cheaper if all the production lines were shipped off to Eastern Europe or Asia. Do you think they should be, in order to get a couple of quid off at the showroom? The Peugeot and Ford-owned sites are on thin ice already. Now there are no significant uk-owned car companies, I hope folk will appreciate the cars which are at least built here. Buy what you want is what I say, but my point is, when choosing, to at least be aware of other factors than just the absolute bottom line.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Apr 17, 2005 10:16:46 GMT
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Most of the components are now being built in Eastern Europe and China,.. my wife was an Automotive buyer for a company that supplies Toyota etc. They are starting to ship their operations over to cheaper nations now as well.
But its a work ethic thing, they were trying to use UK suppliers to supply their component parts (they build gear boxes) however the parts that came back were shonky, or arrived late, or they had ridiculous conditions attatched to them. They send a part out to China saying they want it manufacured, it costs the same, but it arrives on time every time, and it is made to specification. This is in an industry where Nissan will fine you £1 million for every minute that their production lines have to be halted if your product is faulty and causes a recall. You can't afford to have poor quality parts in your production process.
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Apr 17, 2005 11:07:19 GMT
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I've worked with loads of UK suppliers, foundries, machinists etc and there are loads who deserve to be nuked! never mind outsourced to China! But its important not to tar all with the same brush, cos I think maintaining manufacturing industry in the UK is mega important for the future.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Apr 17, 2005 13:59:50 GMT
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I've worked with loads of UK suppliers, foundries, machinists etc and there are loads who deserve to be nuked! never mind outsourced to China! But it's important not to tar all with the same brush, cos I think maintaining manufacturing industry in the UK is mega important for the future. Damn right,.. we've turned into a country which exists only as a service industry,.. and now that is all being outsourced... Maybe HoTWire/Richy vehicle enterprises will have to start up just to keep the country going
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Apr 17, 2005 16:16:55 GMT
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Maybe Lord Lord HoTWire/Richy vehicle enterprises will have to start up just to keep the country going If you need a designer / car stylist, let me know! ;D
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Last Edit: Apr 17, 2005 16:17:11 GMT by Paul H
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Apr 17, 2005 16:17:36 GMT
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I'll deal with the suppliers if you want!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Apr 17, 2005 16:19:34 GMT
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Apr 17, 2005 16:19:54 GMT
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Yeah and i could be the Union rep ;D Right down tools everyone the coffee in the canteen is one degree to cold ;D ;D
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BS Nymph Singer Chamois Coupe Series 3 Landy
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Apr 17, 2005 16:21:35 GMT
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Blimey Rev we came up with the same idea at the same time
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BS Nymph Singer Chamois Coupe Series 3 Landy
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