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Dec 13, 2008 12:34:11 GMT
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*** Sorry if this point has been raised before  *** So Ladies and Gentlemen are we going to see a change in motoring attitudes? Meaning: Will people now be keeping cars longer? Will people not change there vehicle so often? Will less new cars be sold? Will people 'patch up' what they've got? Will the highways in a few years from now be more like a seen from 'Vietnam, Cuba or Russia? ;D Will the kids be "helping Daddy patch up the family Jalopy"? Views?  As a young urchin I can remember having to help Dad patch up what ever 'junk' was a family transport for us at the time "Close you eyes and press that piece of wood against that patch of metal I've positioned on the sill as I weld!" Then the time as I learnt to be a 'master sculpturer' with plastic padding  . It may not be so far from the truth for round where I live a lot of neighbours aren't doing the 'every-2-year-change-car-ritual' - they're are sticking with what they got. Some are even asking me for advice/help (when before I was 'that one' who messes with vehicles etc. etc.). Just a thought |
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Dec 13, 2008 12:42:06 GMT
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mad max is gunna happen
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Dec 13, 2008 13:34:06 GMT
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Interesting ideas. Nice to see ya back on the board mate BTW  Well I sort of predicted something like the credit crunch a few years ago where general wasteful spending and comfortable jobs were concerned, and STUPID house prices, all from real life and all very unrealistic. GF's bank working brother and sister in law disagreed with me no end."doom and gloom" Only thing was it didn't/hasn't/isn't happening exactly how I thought, the biggest changes are to come, no idea what the masses will do, we have seen a few changes of attitudes and purse tightening already.... All I know there is much less chance of me buying a runabout I can't afford and will depreciate violently. plan remains the same, fix up the clunkers one a time  although I will be selling one or 2 soon and cant help but wonder if eventually old cars will become a burden while paying for storage and get junked  |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts |
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Dec 13, 2008 13:53:06 GMT
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Well I sort of predicted something like the credit crunch a few years ago where general wasteful spending and comfortable jobs were concerned, and STUPID house prices, all from real life and all very unrealistic. GF's bank working brother and sister in law disagreed with me no end."doom and gloom" Only thing was it didn't/hasn't/isn't happening exactly how I thought, the biggest changes are to come, no idea what the masses will do, we have seen a few changes of attitudes and purse tightening already.... Having lived through the last recession I too was derided a couple of years ago when I had the temerity to suggest that it might be too good to last. Best quote levelled at me was "Oh, but you mustn't think of it as debt!" about a £250k mortgage. Bottom line, if you can't reasonably afford it within your working lifetime it's too much. Cars? I suspect three things will happen. (1)Povo-spec will be the new cool as we get the chance to buy cars that still drive great without electric windows, air conditioning and power steering. If you need power steering in a Corsa you should see a doctor, there's something wrong with your arms. (2)Models and manufacturers that have gone for the "No user serviceable parts inside" model and huge dealer servicing costs will disappear because buyers who've been stung once won't be a second time. Yes, I'm looking at you, Volkswagen. 100 quid at a dealer to change a headlight bulb because the bumper is removed to do it is not acceptable. And (3) a new crop of manufacturers and cheap-n-cheerful models from India and China will pop up. 3 grand for a Tata Nano, a Chery, a Geely or a BYD vs. twice that for a VW, FIAT or Peugeot? Sounds good to me. Budget Eastern Bloc cars did this in recessions of decades past, and the difference with those Chinese cars is that they're modern designs built by companies who want to compete on the global stage. |
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"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor |
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,159
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Dec 13, 2008 13:58:49 GMT
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The general population will snap up all the 2cvs and Fiat 126s - we'll gave to make do with the V8 Mercs and BMWs...
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Dec 13, 2008 14:39:36 GMT
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I think people who do average mileages and a couple of years would be quite happy to pay £250 a month to have something shiny and new sitting on their drive may think again.
The car you can buy without finance for 1000-1500 has much more to offer than it did 10 years ago. You can get E39 5 Series BMWs, mk3 Mondeo, VW Passats for that money now. Cars that have 4 airbags and an NCAP ratings without lumbering yourself with massive monthly payments.
New car wise I think a lot of Peoples priorities will change. So rather than wanting a more premium brand or 0-60in less than 2 seconds they'll start buying stuff like Kia's and Hyundias that come with 7 year manufacturer warranties.
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Dec 13, 2008 14:55:50 GMT
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Makes no odds to me. i'll carry on patching up the old toot i drive and have allways driven The main reason i drive old shitters is i don't live outside my means, unlike half the world who are now in shitstreet whereas i'm driving down shitstreet in a shitter |
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R.I.P photobucket
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Dec 13, 2008 14:59:58 GMT
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Makes no odds to me. i'll carry on patching up the old toot I drive and have allways driven The main reason I drive old shitters is I don't live outside my means, unlike half the world who are now in shitstreet whereas i'm driving down shitstreet in a shitter bang on, brilliant ;D |
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Dec 13, 2008 16:38:14 GMT
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yeah I was that kid who helped patch dads jalopy as a kid! But he always had old cars, how I was brought up ONE we had a new ish (18 month old) s-reg rover 416 TOURER  , we had it 12 months he got shot, pockted the cash and brought a 1991 volvo estate. I think thats the way I am, Never really felt the urge to own a new car. Working in the motor trade put me off a bit too! Some call me tight, But I'm always a firm believer in making things last as long as they can and unlike a lot of ppl with newish cars I'm happy to keep servicing and reparing even an old car in order to keep it fighting longer! My saff is my credit crunch weapon, and at the end of the day no finance company can come along and take it away! Same goes for all my cars! But i remember seeing somewhere sales of retro and older cars are already up ;D |
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Last Edit: Dec 13, 2008 16:39:43 GMT by Deleted
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,201
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Dec 13, 2008 17:40:36 GMT
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I think people will start to go for smaller diesel cars like we are seeing now. Tax is cheap, they are relatively reliable (to an extent), and they can now do reasonable speeds
As for the comment about Power Steering is for wimps, try driving a MkII Golf GTi without it. I know my mate hated it, saying that even my MGB and the Escort XR3i I had (a car well renowned for having heavy and cumbersome steering) was easier to parallel park. Because of this, I think other accoutrements will not disappear as quickly either. Manual windows are not without their faults either (mechanisms stick, handles break, etc.).
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Dec 13, 2008 17:57:29 GMT
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;D ;D ;D I didn't quite mean it like that! To me THAT IS thought provoking! Personally what I think will happen is people will tend to take more interest in what they've got be it old, retro, classic, vintage, fast, new, performance, cheap, expensive, whatever, etc. it doesn't matter what ... ...it's transport so . . . . . . e.g -Keep it running as long as possible! Our local Halfords branch has sold out of Waxoil (are people now obsessed with preserving that body shell for years?) plus as I said in first point I've suddenly had neighbours taking an interest in Home Maintenance (as per I remember 20/30+ year ago ;D ). Hence my humour at 'Cuban' 'Vietmanise' or 'Russian' motoring - you've got transport - it's all you can afford - so be greatful - look after it - MAKE IT LAST!
Times they are a changingP.S. Thank you Sir! (hope van is okay that you showed me at Chomondly car show ) ...And 'your view' very well put ! |
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Last Edit: Dec 13, 2008 18:05:29 GMT by TwincamGTi
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Dec 13, 2008 18:55:36 GMT
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I'm taking the upside that if SWMBO'd is going to force me into a reliable modern, it will be bought when dealers are on their uppers and let you B**ger their wives and pay you for it, if it got the sale.
Looking at Honest John, auction prices are getting silly. A 2 year old lexus LS430, 100k miles, and sold, not provisional, how much do you reckon?
£20k? £15k? Nope, £7.5k sold and cleared. And there was two of them.
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Dec 13, 2008 19:22:41 GMT
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We (finally!) service the Mini at home today, rather than getting a garage to do it. Not really money reasons though, so pretty daft mentioning it in this thread. But motor factors are apparently doing ok at the moment, so perhaps more folk have re-discovered their spanners in a bid to save a few quid. Considering it cost us about £20 including all parts and oil etc, it certainly did save a few quid!
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Dec 13, 2008 19:32:49 GMT
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Something i have noticed. don't know if it's time of year or a sign of the times
My garage has gone from "we can get you in.... be 3-4 weeks tho" to "yeah drop it down leave it with us should be able to do it later today or tomorrow"
Now i do a lot of my stuff my self, But they also do some stuff for me! I just hope they don't go bump! Hard to find a trusted Mechanic!
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Dec 13, 2008 20:01:17 GMT
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Perhaps the Government/Dept. Of Transport etc. will realise that people can no longer afford new cars so ... ...the M.O.T will have to be made easier/'slacken off' in certain areas! e.g. the emissions test section will have to be aborted - not an actual 'safety item' anyway. I agree there should always be a 'check' on most lights, brakes and tyres. But in view of what current motoring times my be just appearing then a return to the 60's style requirements may be called for. |
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Dec 13, 2008 20:47:10 GMT
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I dunno if they'd do that! They really could do with us all buying new cars to keep the makers happy. If no ones buying new cars they're in trouble!
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Dec 13, 2008 20:58:58 GMT
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Something I have noticed. don't know if it's time of year or a sign of the times My garage has gone from "we can get you in.... be 3-4 weeks tho" to "yeah drop it down leave it with us should be able to do it later today or tomorrow" Same with everything at the minute. We went from 6-8 weeks lead-in time, down to next week, then down to nothing at all. Very poo. Which also means I have to be a very scroogey bear too. Not even sure whether to put the BMW in for an MoT this week, seems a bit extravagant. Might just park it up for a bit & share the sensible car with 'Er Indoors... makes sense when income = ZERO. If it stays at zero for more than three or four months then the turd really starts hitting the fan.  |
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richy
Posted a lot
Flatheads forever....
Posts: 1,764
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Dec 13, 2008 22:36:20 GMT
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Austerity motoring? Nah....
I've got a '97 Daimler Six lined up for January. I must be getting old.
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Dec 13, 2008 22:50:26 GMT
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We've noticed that a lot of customers are now just having bare bones services and not spending out to have any defects repaired, also they only want minimum work done for mots.
This is a good thing because it means six months down the line when the vans are falling apart they'll need to spend twice as much putting them right.
I don't know if we'll see a return to the good old days really. With the councils coming down like the stasi on anyone who dares to change there oil in the street and the dvla making it almost impossible to buy cars for spares we might need some kind of cuban style inventivness to repair our own cars at home.
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beany
Part of things
Hmmmmm
Posts: 675
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yeah we've found alot of the general servicing side slowing down, people ringng round more for prices, but we're getting alot more big jobs coming in because of lack of servicing etc! also found alot more people asking about servicing their 1 and 2 year old cars because the dealer is too expensive
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***
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although I will be selling one or 2 soon and cant help but wonder if eventually old cars will become a burden while paying for storage and get junked 
, we had it 12 months he got shot, pockted the cash and brought a 1991 volvo estate. I think thats the way I am, Never really felt the urge to own a new car. Working in the motor trade put me off a bit too!
