Passed

[Saitek]

My Grampy built them. They are a lovely car, he said they were beautiful - but he couldn't afford one when he retired.

[Hagar]

I think the Rover Doug is talking about was made by the original company before it was absorbed along with other British car manufacturers & BMC to become British Leyland in the late 1960s. That was the start of the rot. Rover made class cars in those days & should not be confused with MG Rover that you're familiar with. This is just the latest in a number of name changes over the years.

The Rover Car Company was originally based at Coventry & also produced the Land Rover in 1948 as a temporary measure until they could come up with something better. Some say they never improved on it. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/1300icmotors/0100news/tm_objectid=15407509&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=the-history-of-troubled-car-giant-name_page.html

[Craig.]

as an answer to your other question. Yes there are still some british companies. Aston Martin is the biggest. but at

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]Yes there are still some british companies. Aston Martin is the biggest. but at

[TSC.]

[quote]Aston Martin is the biggest. but at

[Craig.]

Well that sucks woodlouse. Oh well still built here at least. Again only 20 mins down the road.

TSC. Not new, but i have seen a couple of 1998 DB7's running at about 26/27 thousand. Worth the money if you have it.

[Hagar]

The P6 was probably the most popular car the original Rover company ever produced. It was launched in 1963 & originally known as the Rover 2000 with a 2 litre engine but was later available as the 3500 with a 3.5 litre V8. http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?p6storyf.htm

Its main competitor was the Triumph 2000. http://www.motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/391/

[Ivan]

Nice one Craig, now take a couple of hours motorway instruction. It could save your life

Worst thing ever to come in motoring: not getting driving lessons on the motorway. How many accidents happen with inexperienced drivers on the motorways?

In holland you get both motorway and country roads... where i live the motorway is actually safer (average speed 20kmh because of traffic jams) than the country roads (average speed 90-100kmh where 80 is allowed)

For the choice of car: Landies are nice, you can run them on cheap fuel and less chanche of getting speeding tickets

Oh i know they arnt cheap. Its not helped with the fact these hot hatches are so popular either. Thats why i am looking at the Neon. 1998 is pretty new, all the ones i have seen are in good condition, and all cheap. Not good for re-sale but good for now.

Chrysler Neons suck BIG TIME.

If you really want something special, get a commie jeep (UAZ or Beijng) or one of the ARO things

[Craig.]

Again all these nice suggestions for cars. But i really do need to point out once more. Yes i know the neon sucks, and there is a specialist car dealer just 30 minutes from here where i could buy a nice Camaro or Mustang(two cars i want) for a simmilar price of a 2000 golf or 306. However those really lovely people at the tax office seem to think its fair to charge 70% tax on gas so that puts anything with more than a 2 litre engine out. Secondly and most importantly, those friendly people at the insurance company seem to think the area i live in is very high risk, so my insurance is roughly 15% maybe more, higher than most areas, despite the fact no house round here goes for less than

[Hagar]

It's all very well having all these dreams Craig but you have to be practical. First of all you're an inexperienced driver so a big, powerful car would be a mistake. You would probably write it off in no time. The insurance companies do know what they're doing, it's their business to know. Secondly, Woody's quite right & you would be better looking at a European model. Except for something like the Neon most American cars are totally unsuitable for the roads in the UK & things are getting worse.

We all have to start somewhere & I doubt you could afford the car you really want, let alone the insurance or running costs. A small economical car would be much better. Easy to park with cheap spares. You know it makes sense. The way things are going, the big gas guzzlers will soon be forced off the roads. I can't say I disagree with that.

[TSC.]

Hagar's suggestion might sound boring - but i'm sure that all of the more experienced drivers at SimV will agree with his views.

Trust me - after a month of running a big 'gas guzzler' & paying through the nose for it (insurance aswell), you'll be wishing you'd bought a little economic car as your first car.

I'm not saying that 'gas guzzlers' are rubbish - far from it, they're excellent to drive.  They're just not an option when your trying to save some money to go to college/uni.

Cheers,

TSC.

[Craig.]

It's all very well having all these dreams Craig but you have to be practical. First of all you're an inexperienced driver so a big, powerful car would be a mistake. You would probably write it off in no time. The insurance companies do know what they're doing, it's their business to know. Secondly, Woody's quite right & you would be better looking at a European model. Except for something like the Neon most American cars are totally unsuitable for the roads in the UK & things are getting worse.

We all have to start somewhere & I doubt you could afford the car you really want, let alone the insurance or running costs. A small economical car would be much better. Easy to park with cheap spares. You know it makes sense. The way things are going, the big gas guzzlers will soon be forced off the roads. I can't say I disagree with that.

Now i am just banging my head against a wall I did actually say thats the reason i am not buying these cars for a good 3 or 4 years.

3 or 4 years time when my insurance comes down, i can start thinking about these nicer cars. I am still looking at perhaps going to college in the US so i cant afford to be spending tons on cars as its gonna cost a bomb to do that.

This Neon, will cost 800 to buy same price as a 93 VW golf, yet the Neon is

[TSC.]

[quote] This Neon, will cost 800 to buy same price as a 93 VW golf, yet the Neon is

[Craig.]

LOL nah its all good.
I do understand where everyone is coming from, and i am following the advice. My first motorway lesson is this friday, its only an hour but i did originally book it under the assumption i wouldn't pass my test. I will then book a further 6 hours worth of tution for my pass plus. That will bring my insurance down a little more, it might be 30p or as much as

[TSC.]

Hagar's suggestion might sound boring - but i'm sure that all of the more experienced drivers at SimV will agree with his views.

Trust me - after a month of running a big 'gas guzzler' & paying through the nose for it (insurance aswell), you'll be wishing you'd bought a little economic car as your first car.

I'm not saying that 'gas guzzlers' are rubbish - far from it, they're excellent to drive.  They're just not an option when your trying to save some money to go to college/uni.

Actually - I've just re-read this post & it dosen't come across as intended at all.  It was meant to be backing you up (& Hagar's views) on your decision to buy a smaller car like the Neon & going for financial practicality rather than wasting money on a 'nicer/bigger' car. Instead it comes across all preachy - 'thou shalt buy a small car!!'.

Ah well - another glass of 'red' anyone??

Cheers,

TSC.